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 Property's

Link has had many different shields, and they tend to have a great variety of special property's, usually good, but sometimes bad.

Wood

Wooden Shields are made of wood, and therefore, any shields made out of this material, while durable, burn when exposed to fire, and considering how much Link's enemys like fire, this is a fatal weakness for any shield, and Link. They can also be stolen by Like-Likes.

Metal

Metal shields have no special property's 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. They can still be stolen by Like-Likes though.

Special Shields

These shields are only acquirable once per game, and rarely, if ever through a shop. These shields have magical or unique propertys. These shields do not burn from fire, and cannot be stolen by Like-Likes making them the best shields.

Functionality

Link has always used the shield to defend himself. Sometimes, the shield is even necessary to defeat specific enemies. However, the way the shield is utilized varies; depending on the game, Link is limited to defending either automatically or manually.

Automatic

In The Legend of Zelda, Link's shield is always held in front of him, but he can only deflect projectiles and attacks in the direction he is facing. Once again, in A Link to the Past, the shield deflects attacks in the same way as in The Legend of Zelda. But, he doesn't only need to use it in the direction he's facing. As he charges his sword for a Spin Attack, Link can hold his shield on his right side (except when looking east, in which case he holds it on his left side), leaving that side guarded but his front open.

In The Adventure of Link, Link's shield can not only reflect ranged attacks, but direct ones as well. This is crutial for fighting enemies like Iron Knuckles and Stalfos. However, without the Deflect Spell, Link's shield cannot deflect attacks from chain hammers, axes, clubs, and fireballs. In Four Swords Adventures can also deflect both ranged and direct attacks, but as before, they are vulnerable to certain attacks. In Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, Link's can protect against ranged and close-ranged attacks. Only in Phantom Hourglass, however, can Link use the power of Wisdom Gems to augment the defensive powers of his shield.

Manual

The shield in Link's Awakening is used every other item in that game; it's assigned to a button. Because of this, this is the first Zelda game to allow Link to utilize the shield whenever desired. 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 break this pattern; all shields must be equipped before using. Link can use the shield in two ways. He can hold it while remaining stationary, 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. In certain cases, like when Child Link equips the Hylian Shield, Link carries the shield on his back at all times, even when defending, because the shield is too heavy for his current state. This method of defending can be used to block the debris that falls from Death Mountain, and a similar defending mechanic is present in Majora's Mask and The Wind Waker.

Twilight Princess takes the shield mechanics to the next level again. When targeting an enemy, Link automatically lifts his shield in defense. However, he can't automatically reflect projectiles without use of the Shield Attack, a learned ability he can also use to open the defenses of enemies and stun them.

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

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.

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.

Skyward Sword

In Skyward Sword you can have MANY different shields, you can get the first one, a Wooden Shield fairly early in the game, and later upgrade it through the Upgrade System to the Banded Shield and then the Iron Shield. There are also at least two purple shields that fall (most likely) directly after the Iron Shield. The last (and most difficult and expensive) shield you can obtain is the Hylian Shield this shield is practically invincible.