If you like tower shields, you could make the serpent scale shield. It's tricky because you need to get the snakes to shore, but provides passive piercing resistance even if you don't block with it (so long as you are wielding the shield). That allows you to equip full padded armor (or anything else you prefer) instead of root harnesk.

Originally posted by Trike:

Nah bro my reflexes hot garbage; haven't gone near the Souls series for that exact reason.

Nothing wrong with a Tower Shield / Spear combo. It's actually quite amazing when you figure out that the knock back helps you throw the spear right after the block. Works tremendously well vs Wolves. Cheesy? Maybe. Legit? Hell yeah. This loadout vs the Mountains is actually top tier. Drakes harassing you? Block the ice balls you cannot parry anyway, and throw spear when they stop moving, bring extra Spears and make them come close. No Bow required.

If you want the good cheese, you use small shields and learn to parry. Costs more stamina, but it blocks more, and opens up everything but bosses to crit damage.

Wait, why am I running from a troll? I've got an atgeir!

No need for good timing to stagger. Does eat stamina if you don't eat well though.

Nah bro my reflexes hot garbage; haven't gone near the Souls series for that exact reason.