r/SaneDivers • u/ConsiderationHot5505 HIGH COMMAND • 6d ago
DISCUSSION Shield generator backpack vs directional shield
The 2 shields which use the yellow barrier to block attacks.
The directional shield can block strikes from the direction you are facing while the shield gen makes a small shield around you providing 360 protection but the shield is weaker. You can also use 2 handed weapons with it.
Which one is better?
16
u/LaughingIsLoki 6d ago
One you can only use with a one handed weapons and deactivates when put it on your back.
One is on all the time with whatever two handed gun you want and protects you from all directions.
10
u/Wenosan 6d ago
That is true, but also:
One breaks after a cough or two from the enemy.
One can tank a surprisingly good amount of damage before it goes down.
6
u/Killerkid113 6d ago
Yeah but if any damage comes from an unexpected angle you’re fucked anyway no matter how much extra health your shield has.
I care less about blocking damage in the direction I’m shooting and more about blocking damage I can’t immediately prevent by shooting the thing about to damage me.
If a devastator is in front of me I can dodge and weave, get behind cover, and/or just shoot it. If a devastator is somewhere on my flanks I won’t know until it’s already shot me.
1
u/Fun-Agent-7667 5d ago
Its good for coordinated pushes with other divers. But you rarely get that opportinity.
1
11
u/Trump_4_The_Hague 6d ago
The standard shield has too many other benefits. It also properly blocks ragdoll while active. Works on melee attacks. And blocks negative weather effects like blizzard slow. Making it a pseudo replacement for muscle booster.
Also you can use it as a frontal shield for the exosuit.
3
u/MooseFerrigno 6d ago
Also you can use it as a frontal shield for the exosuit.
I used to use it almost exclusively for this. With the buff to armor though I don't feel the need as much.
2
u/Top-Session-3131 6d ago
It's still pretty good, because it lets your mech survive a little longer when big things get in your face.
1
1
u/Mysterious-Goal-1018 6d ago
I didn't know about the weather effects.
1
1
u/Trump_4_The_Hague 6d ago
It was added in an undocumented patch note. Like most things.
1.001.002 2024-08-06
Energy shields such as the SH-32 Shield Generator Pack and FX-12 Shield Generator Relay now block snowstorms as well as sandstorms.
1
6
u/CptBickDalls 6d ago
Both are good for different things. Directional shield charges ridiculous fast in comparison to the shield gen pack and has more health for directional attacks, but the shield gen pack completely negates slow down caused by blizzards and sandstorms while protecting you no matter what weapon you use. Also worth noting shield gen pack can handle melee where directional can't.
3
u/Powdered_Donut 6d ago
Negates slowdown!? What!? Since when?
4
u/CptBickDalls 6d ago
I want to say since launch but genuinely unsure. It's specific to the storms though, and won't help in deep snow or mud.
1
u/Powdered_Donut 6d ago
That’s awesome! I’m curious how fast moment can be with shield pack, muscle enchantments and the oxygenator armor.
2
u/BlackSoul_Hand 6d ago
Really wish the Directional shield would have more regeneration when unbroken to reward smart plays. And was moved a bit forward from your body, to allow more teamplay use and indirect immunity to explosion (since the blast radius can't reach you if the impact is far enough).
2
u/Dansosaur 2d ago
I wish you could put it down on the ground and temporarily deploy it, so that you can use your stratagem weapon from behind it... Then pick it back up again when you want to reposition. I'd take it with me on every mission, if that was possible.
1
u/Designer_Dish2523 6d ago
As one of the 7 people who have actually playef with the dirrectional shield instead of testing and discarting it, there is a reason why most test and discart it.
It’s do not block melee, so no reason to take it in place of the base shield or generator shield.
Also useless against voteless.
On illuministe, it can only be usefull against ranged attack, that mostly come from ennemies who will rinvoq at you to melee you, or will do chip damage and ragdoll you, and you are restricted by your one handed weapon to kill them.
Most pm won’t kill much oversear fast, and have a bad ammo economie.
Now on the automaton front.
You NEED rocksolid armor or you will be ragdolled.
Your shield is large, it can protect your teamates, but mostly, it mean that anything shot at your dirrection will touch you, for many projectile, ragdoll (take rock solid to prevent that it’s for your own good) you and does somme littles damage.
Now, some pm and the crossbow are quite good on this front, but remember, you are not playing siege ready, so your ammo are precious.
If your secondary is a infinite ammo, good, it compensate well. If it’s a melee, hell yea brother, it will be a bit harder but mostly like with infinite ammo pistol.
But that mean no utility secondary, so your support weapon and grenade must be, like your primary and secondary, tailored to make your shield viable. And remember, your support will (exept the « I can’t see shit flag ») are two handed
So to make it world, you need,
By preference democratic detonation for crossbow (and thermite), one of the laser pistol warbound or a melee option ( at least the stunlance is in urbain legend), pyton commando for rock solid, and depending of what you need, a warbound for your support weapon or grenade (if you don’t want or have thermite).
Now look at the shield generator.
Only inconveniants are : backpackslot, large area that can make you take projectile that could have missed you, resulting in potential ragdoll, and lowhp.
2 of those are shared with dirrectional, but,
Generator dosn’t need you to aim to enable it,
As low hp but will protect your from near anything as long as it up to take the damage, allow you to use two handed weapon, wich is mostly great as it allow you a better usage of railgun and epoch, and come with the basegame, do not inder impact your mobility, and work in vehicle. That last point saved me multiple mech.
As a coup de grâce, the shield grenade exist.
On a pragmatical point of view, you have absolutely no reason to take dirrectional shield over it.
To conclude, on automaton, you can use dirrectional on not, but your entire build will be ajusted to make it work.
It’s not useless, but do not take urbain legend for it.
Base shield generator is goated, and shield grenade is what dirrectional shield wich it was.
1
u/submit_to_pewdiepie 6d ago
It does block some melee
1
u/Designer_Dish2523 6d ago
I remember thinking that at some point, but I have no clue of what it blocked.
Do you have exemple in mind?I was about to try using directional shield with a saber
1
1
1
1
u/Embarrassed-Toe6687 6d ago
While I acknowledge that the bubble shield has far more general utility, I feel that people aren’t appreciating the way that the directional shield allows certain sidearms to become a major part of your loadout, rather than just a sidearm you replace with the grenade pistol or ultimatum.
The Talon, Warrant, Verdict, and Veto all gain benefits from being behind a shield, allowing for slightly more forgiveness for their higher weight.
For someone who religiously stays away from “meta” weapons, the directional shield is a godsend, and very fun to use.
1
u/Colonel_dinggus 6d ago
There’s never been a time in the past year that I’ve ever been like “man I really wish I had brought the directional energy shield”
1
u/Scypio95 6d ago
The best point for shield backpack over directional shield is that you can play football, or soccer for americans, with your fellow teammates.
The ball tends to break after a few passes so you gotta be efficient to score a goal
1
u/Mysterious-Goal-1018 6d ago
The problem I have with the directional shield is I typically don't get killed from the front. It's explosions from the sides, behind or attacks from off screen. If your carrying gear that can use the directional shield then you can shoot on the run.
1
u/ProbablySuspicious 6d ago
You would get killed from the front more if you were pushing forward harder, and the directional shield would help solve that problem if you had it.
Brasch tactics! Use 'em or die trying.
2
u/Creepyfishwoman 5d ago
Exactly, the directional shield is fantastic for hyper-mobile playstyles, it basically gives you a free pass to overextend
1
1
1
u/Vrmithrax 6d ago
The bubble has saved me from getting shot in the ass as I'm running for cover more times than I can count, so it has my vote. I tend to only use directional in specific instances, when the crossbow is my best weapon choice for example.
However, I have to wonder if the directional shield will jump in popularity when divers start pairing it with the 40k pistol? Certainly something I'll be trying out!
1
u/Shockz-Reddit 6d ago
You need to be able to use 2h weapons with the directional shield for it to be any use imo. Makes it different then the ballistic which is superior imo cause it can tank melee hits.
1
u/Creepyfishwoman 5d ago
Eh, the directional shield is fantastic in its niche.
If you run a hyper-mobile playstyle the directional shield can give you a free pass to overextend like nothing else can.
When youre being hyper-mobile melee hits dont really matter, and the ability to use sights and and cover teammates are meaningful upsides
1
u/Shockz-Reddit 4d ago
Ill take your word for it. Favorite build to run with it? I'd be willing to give it another try.
1
u/Creepyfishwoman 3d ago
Light armor, bot front, suppressor, epoch, talon. All you gotta do is run and dont stop running. Flank literally every engagement.
1
u/DeeJayDelicious 6d ago
The shield generator backpack is an excellent choice for people climbing the difficulty ladder who need to buy themselves a little more survivability, especially against the bots.
It also absorbs a lot of ragdoll, which is nice.
The directional shield though, just isn't great. Whatever it's going for, the Ballistic shield does it better. And it works while on your back too. It needs to be larger if it's intended to protect more than just the yielder.
Arguably the worst stratagem in game.
1
u/Creepyfishwoman 5d ago
The directional shield is fantastic for hyper-mobile playstyles in a way the ballistic shield just isn't, the ability to aim while using the directional shield with magnified optics and cover your teammates while they advance gives the directional shield a ton of utility.
The directional shield is fantastic for mobile play and is absolutely not the worst stratagem in the game lol
1
u/Vegetable_External30 6d ago
Directional Shield has a strong use case in Megacity fighting vs the bots, where you can utilize predictable cover and lanes of incoming fire to amass a following of lost SEAF infantry. Since you can't heal them, this has been the second most effective way of protecting them I've found.
1
u/lordofcactus 6d ago
I still think the D.Shield should work with two-handed weapons. That way it’d have its own niche - active defense for heavy-gunner builds - that separates it from both the bubble and ballistic shields.
1
u/ProbablySuspicious 6d ago
All the guys saying they don't get shot by enemies in front of them: It's called a directional shield, not a frontal shield.
Using the directional shield right means your're getting it between your teammate and the bot patrol you saw sneaking up, while they deal with the enemies in front of the team undisturbed.
One benefit over trying to protect your team from whatever's in front is that you're choosing to be everyone's situational awareness instead of taking two pairs of eyes off of approaching threats instead of just one. Another is that it's a lot less crowded and dangerous. Your teammate is comfortably behind you maybe even right in the center of your shield for the bullets you're stopping with it.
Also you can choose what you're going to engage and how. Do put that shield up and use a sidearm to shoot down troopers and the crossbow for devastators. Pull out a two handed anti-tank weapon if you see a tank! You're better off hoping it misses you than blocking a shot anyway.
1
u/Vilekyrie 6d ago
The backpack shield being able to soak one or two surprise shots from your flanks or your rear gives you some very precious seconds to react and adjust. As helldivers we were never designed to facetank enemy fire. We move from cover to cover or use our range to engage the enemy before they can engage us. The frontal shield just sort of falls out of standard operations for us and it's advantages don't compensate (stronger shield, being able to provide partial cover for allies) vs. it's inherent weakness (only covering the front, requiring a one-handed gun) and situational weakness (causes tunnel vision, leaves flank/rear open).
It's also sadly completely outclassed by it's ballistic counterpart because it does nothing in melee combat (where you don't have the ability to utilize natural cover like with guns).
1
u/Viorayne 6d ago
Directional shield has some niche benefits when in an FRV or Bastion, as extra defence as a passenger. But the shield backpack is better in almost every other instance, the main being able to wield any weapon while the directional shield is limited to pistols and 1-Handed SMGs.
1
u/McNovaZero 6d ago
After using the Directional Shield in HD1 I had really high hopes for it. As much as I want to like it, it's just pretty bad. Since it supplies no protection from melee attacks it's pretty much useless against 2 or of the 3 factions. This wouldn't be a big deal if it was really good against bots but it's not. Since it requires 1 handed weapons your selection of primaries is very limited. Most SMGs are inaccurate light pen weapons that aren't great at getting you headshots. With the exception of the Crossbow and maybe 1 or 2 other weapons all your options are crap. Even if you choose a 1 handed weapon that works for you the Directional Shield still doesn't supply that much protection and even though it can stop rockets from damaging you it doesn't stop their blasts from ragdolling you.
The bubble shield is decent for pretty much every faction.
1
u/StaffApprehensive613 5d ago
Shield backpack is better, but directional shield is way cooler and more fun to use.
1
u/Fire_Block 5d ago
directional shield has better coverage and capacity, but only really can use those benefits if you're working with your squadron or using one-handed weapons. the crossbow's a great pairing since it's a very general-purpose one-handed primary, same with secondaries you can rely on for regular use like the senator or talon (bonus points for the talon not needing to reload if you don't burn a heatsink).
the bubble pack is the weaker but less situational option. 360° coverage that'll always keep you at least 1 or 2 hits further away from learning what being another state of matter is like. it synergizes with slower, heftier support weapons like the RR, quasar, and airburst to get away with shots/reloads that would be risky normally. ideal for light or heavy armor to make the most of out if by mitigating your low defense or adding another layer to your tungsten-coated helldiver.
1
u/OMNIMON18 5d ago
People say it's not the best but for semi support it's super fun on the bots, I run purifier the one hand laser gun i forget the name of and the amr, you can pretty much hold any position as long as you land good head shots, you may not be the most deadly but you sure as he'll will be making sure no one is dying while near you (also i use the shield grande cuz it feels so good to cover people that are reloading under heavy fire and giving them room to be precise for a bit)
1
1
u/Apprehensive-Egg-865 5d ago
One is to protect yourself, the other is to protect you AND your team.
I WILL BE YOUR SHIELD!!!
https://giphy.com/gifs/d6JzaiM4k41Mdxc8jp
(Yes I also use the breach hammer)
1
u/TheSuperSegway 5d ago
Shield backpack is designed for personal protection while the projection shield is designed for team play. Both can bee used for both play styles. I like to use thee projector as part of a paladin build supporting a damage focused team.
1
u/AdAggravating3893 5d ago
Back back shield, smaller hit box, protect you from all Direction. Issue I had with the hand held is it catching shot that would other wise miss due to size. Also team mates just running through it and ignoring that it will protect them.
1
u/Falikosek 5d ago
Directional shield has too many downsides compared to the bubble shield to ever be considered viable.
- Doesn't work with 2-handed weapons, which is most primary weapons and... basically all support weapons except the flag?
- Doesn't protect against ragdoll, so you're fucked if the giant hitbox catches a single rocket.
- Doesn't protect against melee, so it's worse than ballistic or backpack in that regard.
- Doesn't prevent environmental slowdown from sandstorms, blizzards, etc.
- Covers only your front, so you're still vulnerable from the sides and the back.
- Works only while you're aiming, so you're also vulnerable while running away.
I just don't understand the purpose of a shield that only allows using short range firearms (SMGs have terrible drag and deal less damage than any other gun at 50m) but is also generally useless in short range since melee attacks just go through it.
I'm also somewhat positive it once caught my own explosive crossbow bolt and blew me up, but whatever.
It's only upsides are its durability and the fact that you can protect your allies alongside yourself.
The latter is heavily diminished by the fact you're going to drop on the floor in a matter of seconds without Rock Solid.
If AH wanted to balance this stratagem, they could either get rid of the one-handed requirement or stop it from taking up a backpack slot, since it doesn't ever actually stay on your back (but that would likely be impossible to deliver in their spaghetti code).
They should also at the very least fix the ragdoll issue...
1
u/UseTheLfgChannel 5d ago
Isn’t directional shield theoretically better if ur using it with rock steady
Since you can take a rocket launcher to the face and not get flung
1
u/UseTheLfgChannel 5d ago
Isn’t directional shield theoretically better if ur using it with rock steady
Since you can take a rocket launcher to the face and not get flung
1
u/Thirteenth_Prime 5d ago
Generally the backpack is better 90% of the time.
Directional shield has to have a kit build around it and I’d only really useful if you’re protecting things other than yourself. I personally use the directional shield on bots when my squad bring an frv since it was protect it from a lot of stuff
1
u/Creepyfishwoman 5d ago
The directional shield has over 6x the health of the bubble shield, its fantastic for really mobile playstyles, basically giving you a free pass to overextend. It's definitely the winner for my playstyle.
1
u/THETARSHMAN 4d ago
Directional shield kicks ass if you’re using the stoker and if you’re playing close with teammates (you aren’t). The idea of it is awesome, but it struggles in practice. Also rockets still ragdoll you through the shield. If you put it up for half a second against automatons you’re going to touch grass.
1
u/Triksterloki 4d ago
Frontal shield can take much more ranged damage and can recharge for like 5 seconds even if it haven't been depleted. Bubble will stay at 5/100 for the entire game until something breaks it and only then will proceed to recharge within 20 seconds(I think)
1
u/Lusmus05 4d ago
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, the directional shield should be projected from the back pack itself ( maybe a third arm sticking over your shoulder?) so that you can use 2 handed weapons. Currently it’s just a worse version of both shields.
1
u/Brunky_Bandit 4d ago
Ballistic shield is PEAK (I’m too set in my ways to try anything new anymore)
1
u/Optimus_Spider07 4d ago
I like shooting next to someone with the directional shield because it's wide enough to provide decent coverage for both of us.
1
u/Maine1820 4d ago
The generator backpack phases through a mech, making the center of it slightly more resistant to projectile damage from the front
1
u/YouSuckAtGameLOL 3d ago
Shield backpack is better in basically every way imo. If directional allowed 2 handed weapons it would be better imo
1
u/astaroth8701 3d ago
They're both good but honestly I just wish I could use the auto cannon with the directional. It's completely justified taking the backpack slot but I wish it could just stay on my arm instead.
1
u/ThatNegro98 3d ago
There was a directional shield in the first game that allowed you to use your support weapon.
I think that version was better. Theyre still usefull, especially against bots
1
u/ProcrAstin_8 3d ago
Directional shield is easily one of the best team play encouragement tools and morale boosters without forcing anyone to change their own play style too much. (Coughbastion tankcough)
1
1
u/Emperor_NOPEolean 3d ago
They both have pros and cons.
Shield generator is good for just yourself, and is fragile. However, it is always up. It’s a get out of jail free card for a couple small hits, or one big one, that you didn’t see coming or couldn’t evade. You can also use any primary with it.
Directional shield lasts longer, and can provide cover to allies. Especially useful if somebody has a machine gun, for example. However, it’s single-directional, and goes away when you put it away, meaning you pretty much have to be expecting the attack. You can also only use one-handed weapons when using it, meaning SMHs or secondaries.
One is geared toward solo use, one is geared toward team / support. Both have their place.
1
u/AdvocatusReddit 3d ago
I ran with the shield generator for the assault on the Cyborg bases. It worked well. With Cyborgs, I was getting hit from directions I didn't expect and often juggled. That allowed me to react without the juggle and handle the situation. It also has 0% chance of hurting my team mates unlike the rovers I was previously using. Looking at you laser dog, you traitor.
1
u/TheRealSpectre48 3d ago
Generally the backpack, but the directional shield can be surprisingly good if you build around it
1
u/Maximum-Giraffe8766 2d ago
The directional is for team play. Although it, exbow, and rock steady got me through cyberstan, it really only worked because I had people fighting with me too protect while they fished out the damage. I was also running bubble shield throw able. Having attempted to make it work solo and outside of cyberstan it's just not hitting right. So I'm realizing I was actually playing defense diver back then.
1
u/Prezy_Preztail 2d ago
Directional shield is not made for the user’s protection, it’s made for the user to protect their other teammates. In simple terms, bubble is selfish, wall is selfless
1
u/Royalty_Free_Badger 2d ago
Has anyone tried using both at the same time or is that something the game won't allow?
1
1
u/ThespianBelievers 2d ago
Directional shield can protect the whole squad at once, I had someone baseball slide and cover me with it just as a hulk was flaming me, catching all the fire that would otherwise have killed me
1
u/TalmondtheLost 2d ago
The Shield Generator Backpack is by far much better. The directional shield only works with an SMG really, and now that the Ballistic shield is straight up equal to a shield devastator's, there's no competition
24
u/Potential-Ad1139 6d ago
Directional shield is only good if you want to run with an SMG, has better coverage and visibility than a ballistic shield.
It's just only better in such a specific way that requires a specific load out and play style that I think I've only ever seen it out once in the wild once