An Aegis' most loyal tool is the shield. Providing cover when defending and a powerful weapon when attacking. The Aegis sees the potential in a shield and can use their combat expertise to shift from defense to attack and vice versa in a moment's notice.

Shield Bash

When you choose this archetype at level 3, you gain proficiency in Shields as a Melee weapon. Standard shields deal 1d6 Bludgeoning Damage with the Versatile property at 1d10 damage. Smaller shields deal 1d4 bludgeoning damage, have the Light and Finesse properties and grant +1 to AC. Tower Shields deal 1d12 Bludgeoning damage and have the Heavy and Two-Handed Properties and grant half cover when equipped in the off-hand.

When using a shield as a two-handed weapon, you lose its AC bonus until you don it as a shield/one-handed weapon again.

Switching between Versatile and One-Handed for standard shields and Two-Handed and Donning for Tower Shields can be taken as an item interaction, but only once per round.

When wielding two shields with Two Weapon Fighting, you only gain the AC bonus from your main hand shield.

Shield Throw

At 3rd level, as an attack action, you may use your shield as a throwing weapon that can return to you. Your shield’s throwing range is (20/60). The shield can attack up to as many targets within 20 feet of each other as you have extra attacks before returning to your hand and each bounce requires an attack roll. This action takes up any extra attacks granted by the Extra Attacks class feature.

If using an off-hand shield, it may be thrown as part of your attack action, even if you attacked or threw your main-hand weapon or shield. However, the off-hand shield only targets one enemy and cannot bounce between them.

A thrown shield can attack a target it has hit before as long as it hits a different target first.

Guardian Stance

At 7th level, as a bonus action, you can see the openings in your opponents’ attacks to take advantage of them. Melee and Ranged attacks against you have disadvantage until the start of your next turn. Once, while Guardian Stance is active, when an attack misses within 5 feet of you, it can provoke a triggered attack from you.

You may use this feature as many times equal to your Proficiency Bonus. You must finish a long rest to regain its uses.

Improved Guardian Stance

At 10th level, triggered attacks from you may be provoked from up to two missed attacks within 5 feet of you while Guardian Stance is active.

The Best Offense…

At 15th level, your expertise in fighting with shields allows you to add your shields’ AC Bonus to attack and damage rolls (including bonuses from +1 to +3 shields) when attacking with said shield.

Immaculate Guardian Stance

At 18th level, triggered attacks from you may be provoked from every missed attack within 5 feet of you while Guardian Stance is active.