**How to Equip Medium & Heavy Shields in ARC Raiders**
In ARC Raiders, equipping Medium and Heavy shields comes with certain restrictions. At the start of the game, you’ll only have access to Light shields. Eventually, you’ll unlock the ability to use Medium shields, but you can’t simply equip them right away—you’ll need to obtain additional specialized tech first.
### Shield Compatibility and Augments
Medium and Heavy shields can only be equipped if you have an Augment that allows for it. Most early-game Augments provide compatibility only with Light Shields. However, as you progress, you’ll acquire better Augments that support Shield Compatibility for Light, Medium, and Heavy shields.
To use a Medium or Heavy shield, make sure to:
1. Equip an Augment that offers enhanced Shield Compatibility (Light, Medium, and Heavy).
2. Once the proper Augment is equipped, select and equip the desired shield.
### Benefits and Trade-Offs
Upgrading to Medium or Heavy shields increases your shield charge, meaning you receive more protection, and improves damage reduction, allowing you to take less damage in combat.
However, heavier shields come with a downside—they significantly impact your movement speed. To counteract this effect, invest skill points into the **Used to the Weight** skill found in the Conditioning branch of the Skill Tree. This skill helps you maintain mobility even with heavier shields equipped.
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By carefully upgrading your Augments and investing in the right skills, you can effectively utilize Medium and Heavy shields to enhance your survivability in ARC Raiders.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146677/equip-medium-heavy-shields-arc-raiders
