What shields are you using and why? What is the significance of bleedthrough and absorption?

goodscotch · August 2015

Questions are in the discussion title.

seaofsorrows · August 2015

Bleedthrough is how much of the damage goes to your hull vs. your shield. If you get hit for 100 damage using a shield with 10% bleed through, you will take 10 points of damage to your hull and 90 points to your shields. Now note, that's base damage before any resistances, so lets say you have an Alloy Console that grants your hull 10% resist, then that also comes off the 10 damage meaning you take 9 to your hull.

If a shield has 5% Absorption, then it absorbs that 5% damage making it disappear completely. So a shield with 5% Absorption and 5% Bleed through in the previous case would send only 5 damage to the hull before any other resistances are applied.

All shields have 75% Kinetic Resistance.

There are 3 types of shields:

Covariant Shield: has a 10% higher maximum capacity, but 25% slower regeneration rate.

Regenerative Shield: has a 25% faster regeneration rate, but 10% lower maximum capacity.

Resilient Shield: has 5% lower capacity and regeneration, but allows for 5% absorption and 5% bleedthrough, as opposed to the normal 10% bleedthrough.

Personally, I use Covariant or Resilient, usually Resilient. I don't generally use Regenerative, but it's all a matter of preference. Usually, on ships with less hull I like Resilient because less damage gets through to my softer hull. I use an Adapted MACO Covariant on my Presidio Cruiser and I have been very happy with it.

There really is no 'best' or 'worst' shield, I find that opinions on Shield Effectiveness is usually a matter of personal taste.

toiva · August 2015

Now another question is whether Resilient shields actually have the 5% absorb or not now. There's been some tests showing not so long ago that resilient shields were actually broken and took 95% damage to themselves (instead of advertised 90% and 5% 'absorb') and 5% bleedthrough.

Otherwise Seaofsorrows described it all nicely above.

eighrichte · August 2015

I'm using the Breen shield. Because nothing looks as great on the Annorax.

koraheaglecry · August 2015

Fleet Elite Resilient RegenB shields

potasssium · August 2015

Depending on the character I use KHG, Maco, Aegis, Fleet, or on one character JEM Hadar.

dd1m · August 2015

I currently use the assimilated regenerative for the two piece set bonus, although i've always liked the Dyson shield.

tigeraries · August 2015

shields? what are those... even with 6 ranks of power insulators I find I fight without a shield most times anyway. they drop to nil within 5 seconds of pewpew... your better off with regen shields if your gonna use shields... since they come back faster.

lianthelia · August 2015

Using the Iconian rep shield...

woodwhity · August 2015

Usually Covariant or Resilient fleet shields. One char uses the iconian shield. All are well. In ancient times Resilient were better compared to covariant, since there was less bleedthrough. But nowadays we have so much excess heal that there is no big difference anymore.

somebob · August 2015

tigeraries wrote: »

shields? what are those... even with 6 ranks of power insulators I find I fight without a shield most times anyway. they drop to nil within 5 seconds of pewpew... your better off with regen shields if your gonna use shields... since they come back faster.

IMHO, Regen shields are terrible because they have low capacity and crappy regen (despite regening faster). I mean, who actually doesn't use Emergency Power to Shields and Transfer Shield Strength and Science Team (and everything else) to regen shields an order of magnitude faster than native shield regen?

Native shield regen -sucks- no matter what shield you have. You're far better going with a high cap shield and use your BO/Captain powers to get it back faster.

shadowwraith77 · August 2015

toiva wrote: »

Now another question is whether Resilient shields actually have the 5% absorb or not now. There's been some tests showing not so long ago that resilient shields were actually broken and took 95% damage to themselves (instead of advertised 90% and 5% 'absorb') and 5% bleedthrough.

Otherwise Seaofsorrows described it all nicely above.

I know what from which you speak, it was always my understanding, that the 5% bleedthru and the 5% absorption was in fact the shield absorbing the other 5% dmg to itself.

This I believe is WAI, I just cannot remember off hand, what the Dev had commented about this game mechanic.

I believe it was stated, that the array does in fact absorb the additional 5% to itself, just need a Dev to reverify this!

seaofsorrows · August 2015

The 5% absorption is supposed to be 5% of damage that is negated completely. I have also seen the tests mentioned that show that it's actually not working, or at least doesn't work all the time. The 5% that is supposed to absorb is instead going to shield damage which is not working as intended.

It should be noted, I saw this about 6-7 months ago, and have no idea if it's ever been fixed or not. I still personally like Resilient Shields, they just seem to give me the best overall performance. My Mark XIV Adapted MACO Covariants are nice though, they have over 10k total shields which helps me keep my shields up for 1.2 seconds against borg instead of the usual 1.1 seconds.

goodscotch · August 2015

The reason I started this thread is because I've been using the KHG shields, the Covariant ones with the very high capacity, but not so good regen rate. I like the big shield facing number they give me when all the other bonuses are added in. However, I was looking at the Nukara shields being that I have the two other pieces from that set that I use regularly, and thought I might give them a shot. The capacity is about 2000 less to start, but the regen rate is better. Also, the KHG shields are 10% bleedthrough while the Nukara shield array is 5% bleedthrough and 5% absorption. The Nukara shields also have some nice built in resistance settings that the KHG shields don't have. There's also the small percentage chance of redirecting the enemies attack back on their vessel. Once I get the Nukara up to Epic and slap them in, I'll post as to how they compare to the KHG Covariant.

sennahcherib · August 2015

resilient fleet shield (good shield + i like the visual), maco shield (for my toons who don't have the leech), jem'hadar shield for the kinetic resist (3 of my toons use it, it is a very good shield). + i work on the iconian set for 1 of my recruit

i use only resilient shields for the 5% absorption and 5% bleedthrough,

woodwhity · August 2015

goodscotch wrote: »

very high capacity, but not so good regen rate. The capacity is about 2000 less to start, but the regen rate is better.

Forget the native regen. Its not something to calculate with. Capacity, Resistencies and Absorption/bleedthrough are the important stats. Even if the native regen would be zero, only few would notice that

kayajay · August 2015

Dyson, for the regeneration.

aesica · August 2015

Iconian rep shields. The baseline regen/absorption/bleedthrough/capacity properties shields generally have really aren't as important these days as the secondary properties. In the case of the Iconian shields, these properties are:

1) All energy damage reduced by 20% (!)

2) Shield disabled conditions removed after 1 second

3) Automatic cleansing of 1 debuff every 10 seconds

Even though they use the resilient model (5% absorb 5% bleedthrough), they'd be amazing shields no matter what because of those secondary effects, plus anything awarded via the Iconian rep set bonuses.

toiva · August 2015

aesica wrote: »

Iconian rep shields. The baseline regen/absorption/bleedthrough/capacity properties shields generally have really aren't as important these days as the secondary properties. In the case of the Iconian shields, these properties are:

1) All energy damage reduced by 20% (!)

2) Shield disabled conditions removed after 1 second

3) Automatic cleansing of 1 debuff every 10 seconds

Even though they use the resilient model (5% absorb 5% bleedthrough), they'd be amazing shields no matter what because of those secondary effects, plus anything awarded via the Iconian rep set bonuses.

Careful, Iconian resistance shield actually has only 10% resists to all energy damage. Reportedly it's even been mentioned in patchnotes back them. Only they forgot to update the tooltip.

It's still a nice shield though.

If I were choosing shields to get (and it so happens I am), I'd consider the Delta Alliance unimatrix shield. It comes with almost as much shield hp as the KHG shield, 10% resists to all damage, another proc to reduce all damage, stacking up to 15% and a working 50% resistance to shield drains.

That drain resistance still won't save you from Borg Tachyons and neutralisers, but you'll get noticeably more time to take appropriate measures.

seaofsorrows · August 2015

goodscotch wrote: »

The reason I started this thread is because I've been using the KHG shields, the Covariant ones with the very high capacity, but not so good regen rate. I like the big shield facing number they give me when all the other bonuses are added in. However, I was looking at the Nukara shields being that I have the two other pieces from that set that I use regularly, and thought I might give them a shot. The capacity is about 2000 less to start, but the regen rate is better. Also, the KHG shields are 10% bleedthrough while the Nukara shield array is 5% bleedthrough and 5% absorption. The Nukara shields also have some nice built in resistance settings that the KHG shields don't have. There's also the small percentage chance of redirecting the enemies attack back on their vessel. Once I get the Nukara up to Epic and slap them in, I'll post as to how they compare to the KHG Covariant.

The Nukara are my personal favorite Resilient Shields, I find they perform quite well.

If you want to see what they're like at Epic, you can see the stats by clicking here.

grayfoxjames · August 2015

I like regen shields, they come back online faster. Used to use Elite fleet shields but switched to the Dyson shield. Love the proc allows for the shields to almost be online all the time.

Dyson shield with two piece Delta set for a tank oddy is great!

mscowboy · August 2015

Classic MACO shields have never ceased to be my favorite. I don't use them much since I have leech available on most captains, but if leech or the conflict therein were not a thing, there would be no contest.

grayfoxjames · August 2015

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Actually regen shields are great. If you can get 130 shield power most of the time like I have your regen will be 4x what is indicated on the shield.

This helps negate some of the incoming damage.

toiva · August 2015

It would help greatly if actual regen rate was showing in the stats. That's one of the features that probably never worked as it only shows the base shield regen (regardless the map you look at it).

And regen can be boosted considerably: by high shield power (as well as shield damage resistance), by regen consoles, by some regen traits, by the science ships mastery passives.

For instance a fully mastered Vesta with a Mk X MACO shield and shds power near 70 actually has a regen over 1000 per 6 secs. Push the power to 125, throw some other regen buffs on top of it and even some regen shields and you can certainly get regen rates that will become very meaningful.

EDIT: Oh, and the regen also isn't actually applied once in 6 secs. It's applied in chunks every couple secs.

tigrovaya13akula · August 2015

I'm currently using the Assimilated Regenerative Shield Array with the other 2 set pieces (I like using full set bonuses as much as possible).

Set 3: Multi-Regenerative Shield Array

Passive
When receiving All Damage, 10% chance of applying Multi-Regenerative Shield Array when any shield facing falls below 20%

approximately 315 Shield Regeneration applied once to each facing
approximately 1485 Shield Regeneration over 10 sec to each facing
*** Cleanses all Hazard Debuffs, such as the Borg Shield Drain, and continues to cleanse every 0.5 seconds for 15 seconds.
Note: Amount of Shield Regeneration is determined by Starship Hull Repair.
Cannot trigger more than once every 60 seconds.

*** THIS part of the 3 pc bonus is mainly why I prefer the Assimilated set over the Adapted M.A.C.O. set.

Previously I was using the Adapted M.A.C.O. Resilient Shield Array & the other 2 set pieces that go with it. Even though I preferred the Adapted M.A.C.O. visuals on my T-5U Fleet Avenger over the Assimilated visuals; I just disable the visuals for the Assimilated set items & go with the baseline Fleet visuals; which IMHO make my Flt Avenger (The U.S.S. Retribution) look more sinister & warlike.

I also prefer the Assimilated Tractor Beam over the Mask Energy Field 3 pc set bonus; The -1 All Power Settings to the Target is a GREAT supplement to my Plasmonic Leech.

lianthelia · August 2015

toiva wrote: »

aesica wrote: »

Iconian rep shields. The baseline regen/absorption/bleedthrough/capacity properties shields generally have really aren't as important these days as the secondary properties. In the case of the Iconian shields, these properties are:

1) All energy damage reduced by 20% (!)

2) Shield disabled conditions removed after 1 second

3) Automatic cleansing of 1 debuff every 10 seconds

Even though they use the resilient model (5% absorb 5% bleedthrough), they'd be amazing shields no matter what because of those secondary effects, plus anything awarded via the Iconian rep set bonuses.

Careful, Iconian resistance shield actually has only 10% resists to all energy damage. Reportedly it's even been mentioned in patchnotes back them. Only they forgot to update the tooltip.

It's still a nice shield though.

If I were choosing shields to get (and it so happens I am), I'd consider the Delta Alliance unimatrix shield. It comes with almost as much shield hp as the KHG shield, 10% resists to all damage, another proc to reduce all damage, stacking up to 15% and a working 50% resistance to shield drains.

That drain resistance still won't save you from Borg Tachyons and neutralisers, but you'll get noticeably more time to take appropriate measures.

Hmm I didn't notice that...kinda lazy they still haven't changed the text yet lol...but I suppose this does make them a bit more balanced...but may consider going back to my Fleet shields then...not sure yet.

The debuff remover is nice though...it even removes the Photonic Capacitor debuff.

markhawkman · August 2015

toiva wrote: »

It would help greatly if actual regen rate was showing in the stats. That's one of the features that probably never worked as it only shows the base shield regen (regardless the map you look at it).

And regen can be boosted considerably: by high shield power (as well as shield damage resistance), by regen consoles, by some regen traits, by the science ships mastery passives.

For instance a fully mastered Vesta with a Mk X MACO shield and shds power near 70 actually has a regen over 1000 per 6 secs. Push the power to 125, throw some other regen buffs on top of it and even some regen shields and you can certainly get regen rates that will become very meaningful.

EDIT: Oh, and the regen also isn't actually applied once in 6 secs. It's applied in chunks every couple secs.

Yeah, this is weird, but it's the way it works. Regen doesn't matter vs spike damage, but for a protracted fight you will notice it a lot.

It's good to note that some special shields, for example Paratrinic and Numiri, don't actually fit any of the basic shield types. Paratrinic is like a Covariant, but with higher cap and lower regen. Numiri has crappy cap, but insane regen.

nikephorus · August 2015

I use to use a elite fleet resilient exclusively, but switched to the dyson a few months back. The regenerative mode it goes into when a facing goes down is crazy good. It can heal through almost anything.

jarvisandalfred · August 2015

Just gonna throw my two cents in here, since I've done a lot of testing lately on actual resilient functionality:

They only allow 5% of the damage to pass through to the hull (which is what you'd expect from 5% bleedthrough), unless your enemy has a shield-bypassing mechanic (Intel Fleet/Transphasic Torps/Intense Focus/etc), or you have an overshield active and stacks of your own Intense Focus (pretty sure this is a bug).

There is no 5% "absorption"; instead, you get a 5% all damage resist multiplier on top of your additional resists (which is a comparatively worse thing).

Personally, I swear by Resilient shields - I've moved from Elite Fleet Resilients to Nukara to Iconian (which only have 10% all energy resist, not 20% - this was apparrently in patch notes but never made it to tooltips), and I couldn't be happier.

dracounguis · August 2015

eighrichte wrote: »

I'm using the Breen shield. Because nothing looks as great on the Annorax.

Best reason to use any shield... how it looks!

kayajay · August 2015

dracounguis wrote: »

eighrichte wrote: »

I'm using the Breen shield. Because nothing looks as great on the Annorax.

Best reason to use any shield... how it looks!

I've got to admit...that's true and I'd just love to have the skin effects from the crappy stats.

What shields are you using and why? What is the significance of bleedthrough and absorption?

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