# Small shield

[   small shield   

Appearance

small shield

Slot

shield

AC

1

Special

(none)

Base price

3 zm

Weight

30

Material

wood

The small shield is the cheapest and lightest kind of shield.
Unless made fireproof or rotproof, it can burn or rot when faced with fire or a black pudding/brown pudding's attack.
It does not inhibit spellcasting as much as the other shields due to its small weight.[1]

Generation
Knights and priests start out with one, as well as valkyries (theirs is enchanted +3 from the beginning).
Mercenaries are also generated with small shields sometimes.

Strategy
Main article: Shield § Strategy
The small shield is the best shield for spellcasters and characters with low carrying capacity.
A Valkyrie's starting small shield is worth wearing for a long time due to its high enchantment. Eventually, Valkyries will probably want to ditch the shield so they can twoweapon.

References

↑ src/spell.c in NetHack 3.6.6, line 1802: extra shield penalty doesn't apply for small shields