Shields can't be used alongside a two-handed weapon. They can, however, be used with a versatile weapon (so long as you're using only one hand for the weapon).
There is one generalization of "shield" in 5E, which cannot be used with a 2h. If your DM wanted to homebrew something you can, but in standard rules it's not allowed. Hope this helps!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
Shields. A shield is made from wood or metal and is carried in one hand. Wielding a shield increases your Armor Class by 2. You can benefit from only one shield at a time.
To benefit from a shield, the character must be actively using it with one of their hands, which eliminates the possibility of using a two-handed weapon at the same time (unless the character has more than 2 arms I guess).
As VanZoeren notes, there isn't a separation of different types of shields in 5th edition.
The design seems to assume that a character will use whatever shield fits their fighting style, so it could be a quick fencing style with rapier and buckler or a heavy infantry style with a spear and large kit shield or Roman scutum - they all count as +2 AC for game balance reasons.
A buckler is held in a punch grip, a small round shield strapped to the forearm still requires you to hold a handle otherwise it's virtually useless. Examples of this are the targe and the rotella
i do understand the reality, i played SCA for 25 years...but this is fantasy...:)
It's also a game, not a simulation.
D&D doesn't do piecemeal armour (which is what something strapped to your forearm is). You wear one "armour" item and hold one "weapon" item or "shield" item in each hand. "Weapon" items with the two-handed tag take both hands, so you can't use a shield item. Unless you are a thrikeen.
I was lucky enough to find an animated shield which allows me to attack with a 2 handed weapon which has been very handy. Before that however I had to make a choice between the 2 handed battle axe or a shield. As a pally I went with the 2 handed.
Semi-old thread, but interesting that DnD Beyond allows a character to hold a two-handed weapon and still give the +2 bonus of a shield when selected in your Equipment.
Sorry to dig up this old topic, but for those saying "try it in reality", there's this video from Shadiversity : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttJ8LdOQdSc In reality, it IS doable, and was probably done. But yeah, this is a game, with mechanics thought to balance it, so unless house ruled, you can't. I houseruled the "strapped to the forearm" small shield as giving +1 instead of +2 yo AC.
They linked to the magic item Bracers of Defense, which are included in the Basic Rules.
For what my 2 cents are worth, a shield strapped to your arm that does not occupy your hand for the purposes of wielding weapons is just a description of your armor the same way you might describe some big pauldrons or cool greaves with flames painted on them or something. Armor is abstracted in this game to a point where anything that doesn't follow the rules of a shield is just a part of your chainmail or half plate or whatever.
Usually what people really seem to want when they ask this question is an extra 1 or 2 AC at no real cost (minus 50gp or so for their "buckler"). To that the answer is just no. You can have a buckler as a part of your armor, but its bonus (and the bonus of any other descriptive elements you want to include) is already factored in to how well your armor protects you.
Sorry to dig up this old topic, but for those saying "try it in reality", there's this video from Shadiversity : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttJ8LdOQdSc In reality, it IS doable, and was probably done. But yeah, this is a game, with mechanics thought to balance it, so unless house ruled, you can't. I houseruled the "strapped to the forearm" small shield as giving +1 instead of +2 yo AC.
I skimmed the video and I didn't see any plausible tactics that worked.
At no point was the shield being wielded in any significant way to block attacks from multiple defenders, and the early picture of the spear wielder was clearly working in a fighting line so no need to worry about attacks from other directions.
Hence why it was only a +1 to AC in the poster's HB rule. If you want to make it +2/1 but only if your fighting a single target, then I guess that could work.
Either way I feel like GWF/GWM don't really need the buff, and this homebrew rule kind of takes away from traditional Sword and Board characters.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
if I edit a message, most of the time it's because of grammar. The rest of the time I'll put "Edit:" at the bottom.
can shields be used with two handed weapons? what about a buckler that can be strapped to your arm?
Shields can't be used alongside a two-handed weapon. They can, however, be used with a versatile weapon (so long as you're using only one hand for the weapon).
There is one generalization of "shield" in 5E, which cannot be used with a 2h. If your DM wanted to homebrew something you can, but in standard rules it's not allowed. Hope this helps!
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
From the rulebook:
To benefit from a shield, the character must be actively using it with one of their hands, which eliminates the possibility of using a two-handed weapon at the same time (unless the character has more than 2 arms I guess).
As VanZoeren notes, there isn't a separation of different types of shields in 5th edition.
The design seems to assume that a character will use whatever shield fits their fighting style, so it could be a quick fencing style with rapier and buckler or a heavy infantry style with a spear and large kit shield or Roman scutum - they all count as +2 AC for game balance reasons.
Pun-loving nerd | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
A buckler is held in a punch grip, a small round shield strapped to the forearm still requires you to hold a handle otherwise it's virtually useless. Examples of this are the targe and the rotella
i do understand the reality, i played SCA for 25 years...but this is fantasy...:)
I was lucky enough to find an animated shield which allows me to attack with a 2 handed weapon which has been very handy. Before that however I had to make a choice between the 2 handed battle axe or a shield. As a pally I went with the 2 handed.
Also if this seems unfair to you try and block blows with a shield and effectively use a two handed axe
You can hold a two-handed weapon and hold a shield. You just can't use a two-handed weapon and hold a shield.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Semi-old thread, but interesting that DnD Beyond allows a character to hold a two-handed weapon and still give the +2 bonus of a shield when selected in your Equipment.
There is nothing wrong with holding a two-hander in one hand and a shield in the other. You just can't swing the two-hander.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Sorry to dig up this old topic, but for those saying "try it in reality", there's this video from Shadiversity : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttJ8LdOQdSc
In reality, it IS doable, and was probably done.
But yeah, this is a game, with mechanics thought to balance it, so unless house ruled, you can't.
I houseruled the "strapped to the forearm" small shield as giving +1 instead of +2 yo AC.
may I please see it?? or like, do you have the description ?? if its not much to ask
They linked to the magic item Bracers of Defense, which are included in the Basic Rules.
For what my 2 cents are worth, a shield strapped to your arm that does not occupy your hand for the purposes of wielding weapons is just a description of your armor the same way you might describe some big pauldrons or cool greaves with flames painted on them or something. Armor is abstracted in this game to a point where anything that doesn't follow the rules of a shield is just a part of your chainmail or half plate or whatever.
Usually what people really seem to want when they ask this question is an extra 1 or 2 AC at no real cost (minus 50gp or so for their "buckler"). To that the answer is just no. You can have a buckler as a part of your armor, but its bonus (and the bonus of any other descriptive elements you want to include) is already factored in to how well your armor protects you.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
I skimmed the video and I didn't see any plausible tactics that worked.
At no point was the shield being wielded in any significant way to block attacks from multiple defenders, and the early picture of the spear wielder was clearly working in a fighting line so no need to worry about attacks from other directions.
Hence why it was only a +1 to AC in the poster's HB rule. If you want to make it +2/1 but only if your fighting a single target, then I guess that could work.
Either way I feel like GWF/GWM don't really need the buff, and this homebrew rule kind of takes away from traditional Sword and Board characters.
if I edit a message, most of the time it's because of grammar. The rest of the time I'll put "Edit:" at the bottom.
I allow bucklers in my games. Theyre +1 and allow two handed weapon and duel weapon use.
You can't hold a buckler and a weapon in the same hand without not being able to use either of them effectively
Buckler referring to the fantasy small shield gripped to your arm, not the irl buckler that you hold with your fist and punch away swords with.
At least that's what I assume so.
if I edit a message, most of the time it's because of grammar. The rest of the time I'll put "Edit:" at the bottom.
If your DM allows it, but RAW, not really no, unless you use a versatile weapon, but then it's not a true 2handed weapon.
Altrazin Aghanes - Wizard/Fighter
Varpulis Windhowl - Fighter
Skolson Demjon - Cleric/Fighter