Shield Build
![Common - Mercenary (Sword and Shield): Shield Build [Survivability] icon](/icons/1210006.webp){kind=icon}
Recommended skills
Quick-use items
Talent picks
Shield Buildup
Sword Tip stacks gained from normal attacks and Impalement are replaced by Shield Pressure. Upon reaching 6 stacks of Shield Pressure, you gain 1 stack of Momentum. Momentum can accumulate up to 2 stacks. Shield attacks from skills also grant 2 stacks of Shield Pressure on hit. When you have Momentum, you can press and to consume 1 stack of Momentum and unleash Shockwave Strike.
Perfect Defense
After Block, there is a very brief window to trigger Perfect Block, but using Block consumes Energy. After a successful Perfect Block, you can immediately enter the Momentum status. Block has a lower base Energy cost in trio mode. Additionally, a special Block skill can be cast during the Breakaway window. This skill can only be used to trigger Perfect Block and cannot maintain the shield for long.
Foresight
The Whirling Cut (Bounce) skill becomes available on Sword and Shield. Whirling Cut (Block): Raise the shield for an omnidirectional Perfect Block, then perform a fierce slash dealing Physical Damage. Use this skill again to cast Whirling Cut. Whirling Cut (Block) has a shorter base cooldown in trio mode.
Block Damage Boost
All Perfect Blocks grant you a shield and briefly increase damage dealt and your Movement Speed.
Equipment set
How to get this build's gear
Loadout planner →Each piece below, and the shortest route to it — bought, forged, or farmed. Drop chances are the best rate recorded for that piece across every source; open the piece for the full table.
| Piece | How to get it | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Iron Sword and Shield | Drops from 22 sources · up to 15.03% | 72g |
 Veteran Armor | Drops from 22 sources · up to 15.03% | 74g |
 Guard Pants | Sold at Standard StoreDrops from 16 sources · up to 12.07% | — |
 Guard Helmet | Sold at Standard StoreDrops from 16 sources · up to 12.07% | — |
 Decorative Ring | Drops from 16 sources · up to 12.07% | — |
 Brass Necklace | Drops from 16 sources · up to 12.07% | — |
 Guard Boots | Sold at Standard StoreDrops from 16 sources · up to 12.07% | — |
 Guard Bracers | Sold at Standard StoreDrops from 16 sources · up to 12.07% | — |
 Rusty Crude Hammer | Market only | — |
The 2 pieces currently listed on the market come to 146g. The other 7 have no listing, so the real cost of the full kit is higher than that figure. Compare gear value →
Loads this build's gear and talent picks into the planner, where you can swap pieces and spend the rest of Mercenary's points yourself.
