Originally posted by Kalysm:

Guns that is how I usually do it. Thanks for the info Weaver I will just make the banded one as the iron cost is low. I am doing a no (blew it already) to low death run. Decided after multiple restarts to make it a one death per biome run. In the swamp now.

Shield info can be found here: https://valheim.fandom.com/wiki/Shields
Parry Mod multiplies the block value for parry only.
The stats increase by .5% per skill point in block.
You just need the block/parry value to be higher than the damage.

Maxing the shield is always the first thing I do. It will be interesting to see what changes are coming. In the swamp I find bow shooting leeches is best, and carry the hoe to make paths, if you want

Usually I do the shield fist as well and like you I bow down the leeches and blobs.

A Bronze Buckler can parry 90(100,110) a 0 star wolf does 70, so yes.
However it's block is only 45 so you can't block a 0 star wolf with it.
As to parrying starred wolves its dependent on your block skill, as each lvl increases the block by .5% (so by 1% since the parry of the bronze buckler is x2).

However H&H will be out within the next month reworking shields so this may all change.

For me I don't like to rely on being able to parry so I always end up getting the banded shield for entering the mountains. Then I make sure to have a silver one for the plains.

I really don't like to die to things I can avoid.

Guns that is how I usually do it. Thanks for the info Weaver I will just make the banded one as the iron cost is low. I am doing a no (blew it already) to low death run. Decided after multiple restarts to make it a one death per biome run. In the swamp now.