Shields are a PSI ability in EarthBound Beginnings, EarthBound, and Mother 3. It was originally one PSI ability in EarthBound Beginnings, but was split into "Shield" and "PSI Shield" in the latter 2 games. It protects a single conscious character, or all characters, with a 50% or 100% reduction of enemy attacks, and even returns some of the blocked damage to the attacker, depending on the power level. Shield is realized in EarthBound Beginnings by Ninten and Ana, EarthBound by Ness and Poo, and in Mother 3 by Lucas.
In EarthBound Beginnings, shields are much stronger. They last indefinitely throughout the battle and block both physical and PSI attacks. The PowerShield is infamous for being the best shield in the entire Mother trilogy, reflecting both PSI and physical damage, and completely blocking all damage as opposed to halving it; although it lacks a variation for Counter Ω. Since it also lasts indefinitely, the only way for a member with it to die is by Status Ailments. In EarthBound and Mother 3, every shield blocks an attack up to 3 times, but can be regenerated back to full by using the same PSI again. "Shield" blocks 50% of physical attacks, whereas "PSI Shield" is different in both games. In EarthBound, PSI Shield blocks 100% of PSI attacks. In Mother 3 however, PSI Shield has the same strength as a regular Shield, only blocking 50% of PSI attacks. Different types of shields cannot stack (Regular vs. PSI or Regular vs. Counter)—the latter used will simply replace it—but the same type of shield that shields a different amount of members will regenerate it. Applying the same shield to an already fully healed shield will not increase its strength, 3 is the maximum.
A select few PK moves can bypass the PowerShield such as PK Freeze γ and PK Beam γ. It also does not protect from StoneOrigin or Confusion. If a party member that has PowerShield happens to attack another party member who also has PowerShield, the one attacking will take its own reflected damage without it reflecting back.
EarthBound Beginnings[]
| Level | Users | PP | Effect |
| Shield α | Ninten LV. 13 Ana LVL 4 |
4 | Halves all damage; shields one member. |
| Shield β | Ninten LV. 30 Ana LV. 9 |
9 | Halves all damage; shields every member. |
| PowerShield | Ninten LV. 34 Ana LV. 24 |
9 | Reflects all damage; shields one member. |
EarthBound[]
| Level | Users | PP | Effect | Description |
| Shield α | Ness LV. 12 Poo LV. 15 |
6 | Halves physical damage; shields one member. | "Protect one person with the shield of light. It reduces the damage caused by an enemy's attack by 50%. Using a different shield will cancel these effects." |
| Shield Σ | Poo LV. 16 |
18 | Halves physical damage; shields every member. | "Protect everyone with the shield of light. It reduces the damage caused by an enemy's attack by 50%. Using a different shield will cancel these effects." |
| Shield β | Ness LV. 34 Poo LV. 15 |
10 | Halves, then reflects physical damage; shields one member. | "Protect one person with a power shield. Cuts damage in half and some of the blocked damage is dealt back to the enemy. Using a different shield will cancel these effects." |
| Shield Ω | Poo LV. 51 |
30 | Halves, then reflects physical damage; shields every member. | "Protect everyone with a power shield. Cuts damage in half and some of the blocked damage is dealt back to the enemy. Using a different shield will cancel these effects." |
| PSI Shield α | Paula LV. 6 |
8 | Negates all PSI damage; shields one member. | "Protects one person with a psychic shield. It blocks an enemy's PSI attack. Using a different shield will cancel these effects." |
| PSI Shield Σ | Paula LV. 27 Buzz Buzz |
24 | Negates all PSI damage; shields every member. | "Protects everyone with a psychic shield. It blocks an enemy's PSI attack. Using a different shield will cancel these effects." |
| PSI Shield β | Paula LV. 51 |
14 | Reflects all PSI damage; shields one member. | "Protects one person with a psychic power shield. It reflects an enemy's PSI attack back at the attacker. Using a different shield will cancel these effects." |
| PSI Shield Ω | Paula LV. 60 |
42 | Reflects all PSI damage; shields every member. | "Protects everyone with a psychic power shield. It reflects an enemy's PSI attack back at the attacker. Using a different shield will cancel these effects." |
Mother 3[]
| Level | Users | PP | Effect | Description |
| Shield α | Lucas LV. 22 |
6 | Halves physical damage; shields one member. | "Halves physical damage to one ally. Some attacks can't be halved, however." |
| Shield Ω | Lucas LV. 35 |
18 | Halves physical damage; shields every member. | "Halves physical damage to all allies. Some attacks can't be halved, however." |
| Counter α | Lucas LV. 27 |
12 | Halves, then reflects physical damage; shields one member. | "Reflects physical damage to one ally. Some attacks can't be reflected, however." |
| Counter Ω | Lucas LV. 51 |
28 | Halves, then reflects physical damage; shields every member. | "Reflects physical damage to all allies. Some attacks can't be reflected, however." |
| PSI Shield α | Lucas LV. 28 |
8 | Halves PSI damage; shields one member. | "Halves PSI damage to one ally. Some attacks can't be halved, however." |
| PSI Shield Ω | Lucas LV. 45 |
20 | Halves PSI damage; shields every member. | "Halves PSI damage to all allies. Some attacks can't be halved, however." |
| PSI Counter α | Lucas LV. 33 |
18 | Halves, then reflects PSI damage; shields one member. | "Reflects PSI damage dealt to one ally. Some attacks can't be reflected, however." |
| PSI Counter Ω | Lucas LV. 53 |
34 | Halves, then reflects PSI damage; shields every member. | "Reflects PSI damage dealt to all allies. Some attacks can't be reflected, however." |
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