I have relied heavily on a shield for stronger foes (a failed dodge = losing a lot of health), but mainly because I liked that style and the parry/stun bonus... you really don't need one for most mobs, blocking with a weapon is viable. I've not tried the two hand weapons yet but probably will try them out soon now that I am in the 'iron age' :P

The Mosquito made me a shield guy

Having a shield is extremely useful not only defensively, but also offensively. After parrying an attack, the parried enemy will take double damage for a short duration, not long enough for a 3 hit combo with most weapons but a sword or mace secondary attack after a parry will oneshot most enemies and will deal huge damage to minibosses.
Plus early two-handed weapons suck due to low parry ability. Stagbreaker and Iron Sledge can be very useful for their area damage but you might have to tank a few hits while using them.
it starts to change in the Mountains, where a Crystal Battleaxe can parry a wolf (provided it is isn't starred) but it has crappy dps so you are still better off with a 1handed weapon+shield.
2 handing really starts shining in the Plains though. Blackmetal atgeir can parry even Lox. and its secondary can clear Fulings. Just watch out for Berserkers and starred Fulings. Gonna want a shield if you want to parry those.

Originally posted by d¢:

I use dagger and bow, no shield

You should put on an iron buckler to really take advantage of that knife's parry bonus, my friend. Knife without a parrying shield is basically just neutering yourself for the sake of RP.

I use dagger and bow, no shield

Never played with shield on my first run. Mostly atgeir, knife and bow

Iam using atgeir for most tasks but i tested the other weapons in combination with the shield and some fights are more relaxed with a shield but still i use atgeir mostly.

I value defence too much to not use a shield when in melee, but I don't like tower shields.

I've never used atgeirs, even though one of my friends loves them and seeing him do that spinning attack is really cool. Maybe I'll try two-handed one day.

I only use shields when I go to the plains to kill goblin bases.

I don't use a shield. Atgeir only here too.

Shields are really heavy and slow you down when running, hence I find them inconvenient

Originally posted by Repo:

Shields are really heavy and slow you down when running, hence I find them inconvenient

Only tower shields slows you so much my man
Round and bucklers only 5% , gaining critical attacks when parry enemies , not seeing that its because you dont really didnt learned how to use them


On toppic
Since H&H update 2 handed weapons ( sledges , atgeirs and battle axes ) got a big buff in their block armor , making a parry attack with it in almost every wepon tier monster ( bronze atgeir can parry > almost all BF monsters , iron atgeir or iron sledge with swamp monster , silvet battleaxe with mountain monsters and BM atgeir with plains monsters ) , roll works of course but that critical damage is a big gift

I've never used a shield in Valheim. Just learn to time your rolls right and your 90% good. Atgeir master race.

i use the tower shield nothing is more funny when they recoil and you smack them lol

I got the iron band shield and I make good use of it. If I wouldn't have that I'd be far more often dead than I already am. ;)