Shields mark 4.
Shields mark 3.
Shields mark 2.
Shields mark 1
Shields are a system that projects a protective barrier around your ship, which absorbs damage until it is removed. In detail:
- Laser blasts and asteroids will remove one layer of shields if there are any layers and damage the ship if there are not. An ion blast will ionize the shield system if one hits a shield layer. Removed layers of shields regenerate quickly so long as there is sufficient reactor power in the shield system.
- Beams cannot reduce shield layers by hitting them, but can damage ships through shields if they are strong enough. For instance, the Glaive Beam does three damage to each room it hits, or two damage per room through one shield layer, or one damage per room though two shield layers.
- Having shields up reduces hull damage due to solar flares (as noted in an in-game tip), though fires cannot be prevented.
- Missiles, bombs, teleporters, boarding drones, and the Artillery Beam ignore shields entirely. Cloaking and defense drones counter some of these.
Every two points in shields provides one layer of shielding. Keep in mind that upgraded shields still need to be powered in order to provide increased protection.
| Shield Level | Cost | Shield Layers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50* 
|
|
| 2 | 100
|
1 Layer |
| 3 | 20
|
|
| 4 | 30
|
2 Layers |
| 5 | 40
|
|
| 6 | 60
|
3 Layers |
| 7 | 80
|
|
| 8 | 100
|
4 Layers |
| 9 | 0**
|
|
| 10 | 0**
|
5 Layers |
- The only ships that can buy a shield system, the Stealth Cruiser A & B, get the system and first two bars for 150 scrap; since the Noether starts with the system and first bar, and requires 100 scrap to get the second bar, the system and first bar effectively cost 150-100=50 scrap. Note that you cannot buy only the first bar for 50; you must buy both bars for 150.
- Some enemy ships (AI ships at least) can have 5 layers of shields.
A variant of the regular shield, called the Zoltan Shield, is present only on Zoltan ships and on the Rebel Flagship. It is an additional layer of damage-absorbing barrier, but it is coloured Zoltan-Green. Unlike regular shields, the Zoltan variant does not regenerate over time, instead requiring an FTL jump to reappear. Also, beam weapons can reduce Zoltan Shield. It is available on the Zoltan Cruisers, layout A and B.
Notes
- Since version 1.03.3, your crewmember now only gains experience when the shields are hit. If you are fighting an enemy that cannot penetrate your shields, you can still safely level your crewmembers' shield skill by letting the enemy attack you. Remaining in an asteroid field after a fight is also a safe way to level this skill.
- Manning the shields increase their recharge rate by 10%; a fully leveled crewmember gives a 29% bonus instead.