Shield
Shields have been with Link for as long as his Swords have and been about as important. Protecting him from all sorts of otherwise fatal damage.
Various Properties
Throughout the years, Link has collected all types of different shields. These types could be wood, metal, iron, or in some cases, a Special Shield.
Wood
Wooden Shields are made of wood, and therefore they share properties with its main material. Wood, while durable, will burn when exposed to fire, and considering how much Link's enemies tend to use fire base attacks, this is a fatal weakness for any shield Link carries around. They can also be stolen by Like Likes.
Metal
Metal shields have no special properties besides the fact that being made out of metal, they cannot burn in fire and therefore are much more durable and useful than their wooden counterparts. However, in the newest Zelda title The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, metal shield are given a new characteristic; they are weak against electricity based attacks. They can also be stolen by Like Likes.
Special Shields
These shields are usually only acquirable once per game, and rarely, if ever, through a shop. These shields have magical or unique properties. These shields do not burn from fire, and cannot be stolen by Like Likes, making them the best shields.
Functionality
Automatic
In some games, Link's shield functions automatically, regardless of what the player does. These games are The Legend of Zelda, The Adventure of Link, A Link to the Past, Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures, Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks
Manual
Starting in Link's Awakening the shield must be used manually, by having it equipped. This function is also used in Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons. This function appears again in Four Swords and Four Swords Adventures, in which the shield can bounce some attacks back at enemies.
Ocarina of Time was the first game to require you to press and hold the shield button while the shield was active, but you were able to hold other items as well, this method allowed for two methods of use. He can hold it while crouching, tilting it in whatever direction he faces. He can also, while targeting, Link can focus on his enemy while moving freely and defending with his shield, all at the same time. All manual shields can deflect certain enemy projectiles.
Twilight Princess while using the targeting system, Link automatically lifts his shield in defense. Projectiles can be reflected with the Shield Attack
Shields Appearances in Games
This section covers each shield as it is in each Zelda game.
The Legend of Zelda (Game)
Link starts out with his first shield, the Small Shield. This can block simple projectiles such as arrows, spears, and rocks, however it cannot stop magical attacks. Link is able to buy the Magic Shield from any shop that sells it, assuming he has the rupees. This shield can block any projectile thrown at Link, however it's quickly stolen by Like Likes, whereas the Small Shield isn't.
Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link
Your shield doesn't have a name in this game, it's just a shield. Regardless, your shield can't be stolen, and blocks all projectiles that come at you.
You can however, learn a magic spell that reduces all damage you take, its called Shield.
A Link To The Past
You get the Fighters Shield fairly early on in the game, at the same time as the Fighter's Sword. You can buy the Fire Shield at a shop for a nice little sum, or you can drop your old shield in a Great Fairy's pond, and exchange it there for free, this shield can block fireballs as well. Both of these shields can be eaten by Like-Likes. However though, the Mirror Shield, which is found in Turtle Rock is larger than both, can't be eaten by Like-Likes, and it can reflect Beamos lasers.
Link's Awakening
You get the Standard Shield pretty early on, not quite starting out with it. In the Eagle's Tower you find the Mirror Shield it cannot reflect attacks, but it does stop pretty much anything throw at you.
Ocarina of Time
You can buy the Deku Shield as soon as you manage to get 40 rupees at the Kokiri's shop. It's a wooden shield though, and has all the properties thereof. Later, you can find the Hylian Shield in one of the graves in Kakariko Village's graveyard for free, or pay 80 rupees to buy it at the Castle Town Bazaar. Both can be stolen by Like Likes. Once you reach the Spirit Temple, you can find the Mirror Shield as an adult, this shield cannot be stolen by Like Likes, and it can reflect beams of intensely bright light.
Majora's Mask
You start the game with the Hero's Shield, which is incredibly similar in appearance to the Hylian Shield. You can find the Mirror Shield much later on, at the end of the Well in Ikana Canyon.
Oracle of Seasons & Oracle of Ages
You never obtain a shield beyond the basic one you start with.
Wind Waker
You get the Hero's Shield from your Grandma after Aryll is kidnapped. Once you reach the Earth Temple you can find the Mirror Shield
Four Swords & Four Swords Adventures
You never obtain a shield beyond the basic one you start with.
Minish Cap
You obtain the Small Shield and can obtain the Mirror Shield only once Link has already completed his quest once. You have to fuse Kinstones with a certain Goron (this causes Biggoron to appear) then you have to feed Biggoron Links Small Shield. He will later give you the Mirror Shield. This one works the same way as the Small Shield, only difference being that if a projectile hits it, the shield will fire off a retaliatory beam.
Twilight Princess
You find the Ordon Shield in the loft of the house with the waterwheel in Ordon when you return as a wolf. You can also buy Wooden Shields at various shops, these shields are larger and have a different design, but function exactly the same. Both are Wooden Shields. You buy the Hylian Shield from Malo's shop in Kakariko Village for 200 rupees.
Phantom Hourglass
The Wooden Shield can be purchased at any of the shops on Mercay, Molida, and Goron Island for 80 rupees. Despite its name, it doesn't qualify as a Wooden Shield since it doesnt burn from fire.
Spirit Tracks
You can buy Link's regular shield at a great deal many shops, but the first one is the one in Hyrule's Castle Town. If you find 10 stamps then you can take them to Niko and he will give you the Shield of Antiquity, which cannot be stolen by Like Likes.
This is the same shield Link used at the beginning of The Wind Waker.
Skyward Sword
Skyward Sword features the most expansive collection of shields ever. There are 10 different shields that can be acquired throughout the game. These shields are separated by four categories: Wood, Iron, Sacred, and Hylian.
Wood
The first shield Link acquires is the Wooden Shield. He can get it two different ways, either from Instructor Owlan, or from the Gear Shop in the Bazaar. The only difference is that Instructor Owlan gives it to Link for free, while Rupin, owner of the Gear Shop, sells it to Link for 50 Rupees. The Wooden Shield can be upgraded to an enhanced version of it called the Banded Shield. It shares the eaxact same properties of the Wooden Shield, the only difference being it has slightly more endurance. The final Wooden Shield upgrade is the Braced Shield, which is the strongest of the Wood Shields. These upgrades can be performed at the Scrap Shop by Gondo.
Iron
The Iron Shield is the fourth shield available in Skyward Sword. It has much better endurance than the Wooden Shields, and is not weak against fire. It is however, weak against electricity. It can be purchased from the Gear Shop for 100 Rupees. It can be upgraded at the Scrap Shop into the Reinforced Shield, a shield that has more endurance. The final shield in the Iron family is the Fortified Shield, which is the strongest of all the Iron shields.
Sacred
The next group of shields are very useful. They all block well against fire, electricity, and evil power attacks. These shields also can repair themselves slowly is they have been damaged. The first of these shields is the Sacred Shield. It can be purchased at the Gear Shop for 500 Rupees. The Sacred Shield can be upgrade to the third best shield in Skyward Sword, the Divine Shield. It has more endurance than the Sacred Shield. It can be upgraded into the second best shield in the game, the Goddess Shield. This shield has a crazy amount of endurance, and combined with the property of self-repairing, it will last a crazy long amount of time.
Hylian
The final and arguably best shield found within Skyward Sword is the Hylian Shield, a shield that has appeared in quite a few Zelda games. It has a special property in which it will never break or even get damaged. It can be acquired by defeating a certain number of Bosses in the Thunder Dragon's Boss Rush.
