First off, let me save you some pain: Shields in ARC Raiders do NOT work like in other games. You know how in Halo or Apex, your shield is basically just extra health? Yeah, not here. In this game, your shield is more like damage reduction armor. When you get shot, you still take damage to your actual health bar, even if your shield is full. If you dont understand this, you are gonna get melted and wonder why.
This page explains exactly how the Damage Mitigation system works so you stop dying with a full blue bar. We also break down the three main types: Light, Medium, and Heavy. Light shields are great cause they dont slow you down, but they break super fast. Heavy shields make you a tank, but you move like a snail, which can get you killed if you are trying to outrun a Grenadier.
We also cover the durability mechanics—because yes, your shield can break permanently in a raid if you take too much damage—and how to use Shield Rechargers to fix them up. Knowing when to pop a recharge versus when to just use a medkit is literally the difference between life and death. Check out the stats below to see which shield fits your playstyle best.
| Name | Description | Durability | Shield Charge | Damage Mitigation | Movement Penalty | Augment Compatibility | Weight | Trader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Shield | A lightweight shield that offers limited protection without severely impacting mobility. | 5x Shield Rechargers 20%/shield (5 shields) | 40 | 40% | 0% | All Augments | 5kg | Lance |
| Medium Shield | A standard shield that offers fair protection at a moderate cost to mobility. | 5x Shield Rechargers 35%/shield (2.8 shields) | 70 | 42.5% | 5% | Tactical MK.1 Combat MK.1 Tactical MK.2 Combat MK.2 Tactical MK.3 (Healing) Combat MK.3 (Aggressive) | 7kg | Lance |
| Heavy Shield | A heavy shield that blocks a large portion of incoming damage, but carries a significant cost to mobility. | 5x Shield Rechargers 40%/shield (2.5 shields) | 80 | 52.5% | 15% |
Combat MK.3 (Aggressive) Tactical MK.3 (Defensive) |
9KG | Lance |