Small ShieldChanged in 3 patchesVerified on build 25080141

Buckler

With its requirements met (Str 8 · Dex 13), Buckler reaches 184 attack rating at +25; the strongest affinity at those stats is Flame Art at 285.

Show all 8 on the map →

Merchant: Gatekeeper Gostoc, 1,500 runes 7 in Stormveil Castle
Merchant: Twin Maiden Husks, 1,500 runes Roundtable Hold

Attack rating (+25): 184
Scaling (+25): Str E · Dex D
Class: Small Shield
Weight: 1.5
Requires: Str 8 · Dex 13
Skill: Buckler Parry
Upgrades with: Smithing Stones (+25), takes Ashes of War

Buckler, rendered from the game's 3D model — Rendered from the game's model

Attack rating by affinity 13

At Str 10 · Dex 13 · Int 10 · Fai 10 · Arc 10 (each stat at the weapon's requirement, 10 where it has none), one-handed.

Affinity	+0	Max	Damage at max	Scaling at max
Standard	72	184 +25	Physical 184	Str EDex DInt –Fai –Arc –
Heavy	68	178 +25	Physical 178	Str BDex –Int –Fai –Arc –
Keen	71	188 +25	Physical 188	Str EDex BInt –Fai –Arc –
Quality	67	172 +25	Physical 172	Str CDex CInt –Fai –Arc –
Fire	112	251 +25	Physical 125Fire 126	Str CDex EInt –Fai –Arc –
Flame Art	116	285 +25	Physical 137Fire 148	Str EDex EInt –Fai CArc –
Lightning	114	264 +25	Physical 129Lightning 135	Str EDex CInt –Fai –Arc –
Sacred	102	284 +25	Physical 139Holy 145	Str EDex DInt –Fai DArc –
Magic	102	284 +25	Physical 136Magic 148	Str EDex EInt CFai –Arc –
Cold	108	241 +25	Physical 131Magic 110	Str EDex DInt DFai –Arc –
Poison	61	163 +25	Physical 163	Str EDex DInt –Fai –Arc D
Bloody	61	163 +25	Physical 163	Str EDex DInt –Fai –Arc D
Occult	63	165 +25	Physical 165	Str EDex –Int –Fai –Arc C

Try your own stats, two-handing and any upgrade in the AR calculator.

Attack rating by stat (Standard, +25)

Dexterity
Strength

Each line raises one stat from the requirement to 99 with the others held at the requirement; dashed lines are Dexterity's soft caps.

Show the numbers

Stat level	Dexterity	Strength
10	–	184
13	184	186
16	189	187
19	193	189
22	197	190
25	201	191
28	205	193
31	208	194
34	212	195
37	215	196
40	219	197
43	222	198
46	225	199
49	228	200
52	231	201
55	234	202
58	236	203
61	238	204
64	240	204
67	242	205
70	244	206
73	246	206
76	248	207
79	250	208
82	251	208
85	252	208
88	253	209
91	253	209
94	254	209
97	255	209
99	255	210

Stat	Soft caps	AR per point, by stretch	At 99
Dexterity	18, 60, 80	13–18: +1.6 · 18–60: +1.07 · 60–80: +0.7 · 80–99: +0.21	255 from 184
Strength	18, 60, 80	10–18: +0.5 · 18–60: +0.36 · 60–80: +0.25 · 80–99: +0.11	210 from 184

Soft caps are the breakpoints of the scaling curve the game assigns this weapon; past each one a point adds less (or, for some curves, more).

Attack rating by upgrade, by affinity

Standard
Flame Art
Sacred
Magic

At the weapon's requirements (Standard and the 3 strongest other affinities at those stats).

Show the numbers

Upgrade level	Standard	Flame Art	Sacred	Magic
0	72	116	102	102
1	76	122	109	108
2	80	128	116	116
3	85	135	123	123
4	89	141	130	130
5	94	149	138	137
6	98	155	144	144
7	103	162	152	152
8	107	169	159	159
9	112	175	167	167
10	116	183	174	173
11	121	189	181	181
12	125	196	189	188
13	130	202	196	195
14	134	210	203	203
15	139	217	210	210
16	143	223	218	218
17	148	230	225	225
18	152	238	233	233
19	157	244	240	239
20	162	251	248	246
21	166	257	255	254
22	171	265	262	261
23	175	272	270	269
24	180	278	277	276
25	184	285	284	284

Status buildup by upgrade

Cold · Frost
Poison · Poison
Bloody · Blood loss

Per hit at Arcane 10. Affinities not shown keep the same buildup at every level.

Show the numbers

Upgrade level	Cold · Frost	Poison · Poison	Bloody · Blood loss
0	66	66	57
1	67	67	58
2	69	68	59
3	70	69	60
4	72	70	61
5	73	71	62
6	75	73	63
7	77	75	64
8	78	76	65
9	80	77	66
10	81	78	67
11	83	80	69
12	85	81	70
13	86	82	71
14	88	83	72
15	89	84	73
16	91	86	74
17	92	87	75
18	94	88	76
19	96	89	77
20	97	90	78
21	99	91	79
22	100	93	80
23	102	94	81
24	104	95	82
25	105	96	83

#12 of 19 small shield weapons by attack rating

Standard affinity at max upgrade, each weapon at its own requirements. A full bar is the class's strongest (Shield of Night, 303).

Moveset from the game files

Damage with Standard +25 at the stats above, before the enemy's defense; two-handed moves include two-handing's Strength bonus. MV (motion value) is the hit's share of attack rating (100 = all of it).

One-handed15players can parry them

Move	MV	Damage	Stance	Stamina	1st hit
R1 1Strike	100	184	5	8.4	0.47 s
R1 2Strike	101	186	5	8.4	0.37 s
R1 3Strike	102	188	5	8.4	0.40 s
R1 4Strike	105	194	10	8.4	0.47 s
R2Strike	120	221	10	14	—
Charged R2Strike	140	258	30	20.5	0.97 s
R2 2Strike	120	221	10	14	—
Charged R2 2Strike	140	258	30	20.5	0.97 s
Running R1Strike	105	194	5	9.3	0.53 s
Running R2Strike	115	212	10	14	0.57 s
Rolling R1Strike	90	166	5	7.4	0.37 s
Backstep R1Strike	90	166	5	7.4	0.53 s
Jumping R1Strike	107	197	7.5	7.4	0.43 s
Jumping R2Strike	122	225	20	13	0.50 s
Guard counterStrike	130	240	30	13	0.67 s

Two-handed15players can parry them

Move	MV	Damage	Stance	Stamina	1st hit
R1 1Strike	103	192	6.5	10.2	0.53 s
R1 2Strike	104	194	6.5	10.2	0.50 s
R1 3Strike	105	196	6.5	10.2	0.47 s
R1 4Strike	110	206	13	10.2	0.53 s
R2Strike	125	234	11	16.7	—
Charged R2Strike	145	271	33	25.1	0.97 s
R2 2Strike	125	234	11	16.7	—
Charged R2 2Strike	145	271	33	25.1	0.97 s
Running R1Strike	110	206	6.5	11.2	0.53 s
Running R2Strike	120	224	11	16.7	0.57 s
Rolling R1Strike	95	177	6.5	9.3	0.37 s
Backstep R1Strike	95	177	6.5	9.3	0.53 s
Jumping R1Strike	112	209	9.8	9.3	0.47 s
Jumping R2Strike	127	237	22	15.8	0.50 s
Guard counterStrike	140	262	33	15.8	0.67 s

From the player's animation events, BehaviorParam_PC and AtkParam_Pc. First hit: seconds at normal speed from the start of the move's animation (uncharged R2s start from a released charge, so they show —). Criticals include the weapon's critical multiplier. * The elemental motion value differs from the physical one shown; the damage uses each.

By upgrade level (Standard)

Level	AR	Physical	Cost
+0	72	72	—
+1	76	76	Smithing Stone [1] × 2
+2	80	80	Smithing Stone [1] × 4
+3	85	85	Smithing Stone [1] × 6
+4	89	89	Smithing Stone [2] × 2
+5	94	94	Smithing Stone [2] × 4
+6	98	98	Smithing Stone [2] × 6
+7	103	103	Smithing Stone [3] × 2
+8	107	107	Smithing Stone [3] × 4
+9	112	112	Smithing Stone [3] × 6
+10	116	116	Smithing Stone [4] × 2
+11	121	121	Smithing Stone [4] × 4
+12	125	125	Smithing Stone [4] × 6
+13	130	130	Smithing Stone [5] × 2
+14	134	134	Smithing Stone [5] × 4
+15	139	139	Smithing Stone [5] × 6
+16	143	143	Smithing Stone [6] × 2
+17	148	148	Smithing Stone [6] × 4
+18	152	152	Smithing Stone [6] × 6
+19	157	157	Smithing Stone [7] × 2
+20	162	162	Smithing Stone [7] × 4
+21	166	166	Smithing Stone [7] × 6
+22	171	171	Smithing Stone [8] × 2
+23	175	175	Smithing Stone [8] × 4
+24	180	180	Smithing Stone [8] × 6
+25	184	184	Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone × 1

From +0 to +25: 12 Smithing Stone [1], 12 Smithing Stone [2], 12 Smithing Stone [3], 12 Smithing Stone [4], 12 Smithing Stone [5], 12 Smithing Stone [6], 12 Smithing Stone [7], 12 Smithing Stone [8], 1 Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.

Where to find Buckler

Sold by 3

Gatekeeper Gostoc · 1,500 runes · stock 1
A merchant · 1,000 runes · stock 1
A merchant · 1,000 runes · stock 1

Patch history 3

Every patch that changed its numbers, read from the game's balance file (regulation) of each version.

1.03.1from 1.02.1
- Physical guard negation58→61
- Magic guard negation28→30
- Fire guard negation28→30
- Lightning guard negation14→16
- Holy guard negation28→30
- Guard boost30→37
1.12.1from 1.10
Every changed value (1)
Value Before to After Change
Health, stamina and weight 1
Weapon Regain HP Amount 30 45 +15+50%
1.14.1from 1.13.2
- Physical guard negation61→74
- Guard boost37→45

Value	Before	to	After	Change
Health, stamina and weight 1
Weapon Regain HP Amount	30	→	45	+15+50%

Other small shields with similar AR

Overview

Class: Small Shield
Weight: 1.5
Requires: Str 8 · Dex 13
Affinities: Standard, Heavy, Keen, Quality, Fire, Flame Art, Lightning, Sacred, Magic, Cold, Poison, Bloody, Occult
Game ID: 30000000