Elden Ring: How to Get Shield of the Guilty

This article is part of a directory: Elden Ring Guide Hub: Weapons, Items, Tips, Tricks, Bosses, & Builds

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When it comes to small shields, the Buckler is considered the best for its amazing Buckler Parry skill. However, given the vast variety of possible builds and weapons in Elden Ring, shields can do more than just parry. For example, the Coil Shield comes with a unique weapon skill called Viper Bite, which lunges a snake at the target and inflicts them with deadly poison. As poison isn’t exactly a strong status effect, the Coil Shield doesn’t see much use. Players who are looking for a shield with a powerful status build effect will love using the Shield of the Guilty.

The Shield of the Guilty is one of the unique shields in Elden Ring. It is among the few shields with innate blood loss build-up. Along with blood loss, players equipped with the Shield of the Guilty also gain an increase in their focus stat, 40 points to be exact. This may not seem like a lot, but in PVP gameplay, players will often find themselves fighting gankers using annoying Madness and Sleep builds. Having extra focus from the Shield of the Guilty will let you tank some extra hits during the fight, which can prove to be a deciding point. And the best part? You can get the Shield of the Guilty early in Elden Ring. It's pretty easy to find. Here’s how you can get this small shield easily.

Elden Ring: Small Shields Tier List

Elden Ring's small shields aren't the most protective pieces of gear in the game, but there are a few stand outs that are worth picking up.

Shield of the Guilty Location

Elden Ring - Obtain Shield of the Guilty

The Shield of the Guilty can be found locked inside a chest in the cellar beneath the Demi-Human Forest Ruins located in Weeping Peninsula. These ruins are guarded by demi-human enemies who are led by a Demi-Human Queen. There’s no need to worry about the enemies, as you won’t have to fight them to unlock the cellar’s entrance. Head to the south of the Demi-Human Forest Ruins to find a cellar guarded by walls. Use Torrent’s jump ability to make it to the cellar and claim the Shield of the Guilty from the chest.

Players who are new to the Lands Between might not know how to reach the Demi-Human Forest Ruins in Weeping Peninsula. Continue reading this guide to learn how to get to Demi-Human Forest Ruins and claim the Shield of the Guilty.

The first step is to reach the Bridge of Sacrifice located at the southern tip of Limgrave. To get to this bridge, start your journey by going southeast from The First Step site of grace. You will soon reach the Agheel Lake South grace site. From here, continue going south using the path going between two cliffs to reach the Bridge of Sacrifice. Carefully cross the bridge to make it to the Bridge of Sacrifice site of grace.

Elden Ring - Cellar with Shield of the Guilty

From Bridge of Sacrifice, go west to find the Demi-Human Forest Ruins. Players can choose to avoid enemies inside the ruins and head straight for the cellar in the south of the ruins. However, there will be a Demi-Human Chief right beside the cellar. Players might have to fight this enemy if it starts following them into the cellar. Once inside the cellar, players can claim the Shield of the Guilty from the chest.

Is the Shield of the Guilty good or not?

The Shield of the Guilty is an amazing short shield, especially for players who partake in PVP action. With its lightweight design and modest stat requirement of just 8 Strength, this shield seamlessly integrates into any build. When facing enemies with Madness or Sleep buildup attacks, equipping this shield will help fend off these statuses. For those seeking to enhance its capabilities further, equipping a Parry skill such as Golden Parry or Carian Retaliation can elevate its utility.

Moreover, the Shield of the Guilty's inherent blood loss buildup may pique the interest of players aiming for a shield-only playthrough. Yet, for those mainly seeking to enhance their Focus, they might want to look into the Spiralhorn Shield. This shield boosts Immunity, Focus, and Robustness by 50, but obtaining it entails traveling to northern Liurnia. Early on, the Shield of the Guilty proves to be a superior choice within the realms of Elden Ring.