In **ARC Raiders**, equipping Medium and Heavy shields comes with certain restrictions. Initially, you’ll only have access to Light shields, but as you progress, you’ll unlock Medium shields. However, you can’t equip these more advanced shields right away—you’ll need a specific piece of specialized tech first.
### How to Equip Medium & Heavy Shields
Medium and Heavy shields can only be equipped if an Augment allows them. Most Augments available early in the game only support Light Shield Compatibility. Over time, you’ll gain access to better Augments that provide Shield Compatibility for Light, Medium, and Heavy shields.
To equip a Medium or Heavy shield:
1. Find and equip an Augment that offers improved Shield Compatibility.
2. Once equipped, you can then equip the shield of your choice, whether Medium or Heavy.
### Benefits and Drawbacks
Upgrading to better shields gives you higher shield charge and better damage reduction, meaning you take less damage. However, the heavier the shield, the more it will impact your movement speed, potentially slowing you down during combat.
To counter this drawback, consider investing skill points into the **Used to the Weight** skill within the Conditioning branch of the Skill Tree. This skill helps offset the movement penalties from using heavier shields, allowing you to maintain better mobility while benefiting from stronger protection.
By carefully selecting the right Augments and skills, you can effectively use Medium and Heavy shields to enhance your survivability in ARC Raiders.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146677/equip-medium-heavy-shields-arc-raiders
