TL;DR
- The Rhonid Large Shield is inside a locked chest in Lioncrest Manor, northwest of Hernand City
- Bring a Key and a Mask before you go — both can be bought from the Back Alley Vendor southeast of Hernand
- Climb through the middle second-floor window on the right side of the manor
- Go through the double doors, cross the indoor balcony, steal or use the Key on the locked door, open the chest
- Stealing the key with NPCs present will earn you a small bounty and a Hernand Contribution Point penalty
- You can also craft it at a Blacksmith using 7 Iron Ore and 2 Copper Ore after learning the Shields of the World, Vol. II manual
- Stats: DEF 6, Guard Rate 22–45, 2 Abyss Core slots, 11 refinement levels
The Rhonid Large Shield is one of the best early-game shields in Crimson Desert. It has solid base defense, two Abyss Core slots for customization, and can be refined all the way to level 11. Best of all, you don’t need to fight any bosses to get it. You just need to know where to look and how to sneak in.
There are two ways to get it — looting it from Lioncrest Manor or crafting it. This guide covers both.
For everything else, check the Crimson Desert Guide Hub.
Rhonid Large Shield Stats
Before heading out, here’s what you’re getting:
- DEF: 6
- Guard Rate: 22–45
- Abyss Core Slots: 2
- Refinement Levels: 11
- Type: Epic Large Shield
The two Abyss Core slots are what make this shield stand out at its stage of the game. You can customize it with Abyss Gear effects to suit your build. The base defense is solid and refinement headroom is generous.
The one trade-off is a movement speed penalty when equipped. This is a large shield built for players who commit to blocking. If you’re playing a tank-style or sword-and-board build, it’s worth picking up as early as possible.
Method 1 — Loot It From Lioncrest Manor
What to Prepare First
Before heading to the manor, grab two things:
A Key — You need this to open the locked door inside the manor. Keys can be bought from the Back Alley Vendor southeast of Hernand City, or found as random loot from bandits and other enemies.
A Mask — You need this equipped if you want to steal the key from inside the manor instead of bringing one. The Mask enables criminal behavior and prevents guards from immediately detecting theft. You can buy a Mask from the same Back Alley Vendor southeast of Hernand for just 10 Copper. You can also get one by completing the Bounty for Jeffrey, or by looting bandits near Hernand.
The cleanest approach is to bring your own Key so you don’t have to steal anything inside and avoid any risk of a bounty.
How to Get to Lioncrest Manor
Lioncrest Manor is located northwest of Hernand City. On the map, look for the “D” in Hernand — the manor sits directly underneath it. Head northwest from the city center and you’ll reach it without much trouble.
Step-by-Step — Getting Inside and Finding the Shield
Step 1: From the main entrance of Lioncrest Manor, circle around to the right side of the building.
Step 2: Look up at the wall and you’ll see three windows. You want the middle one on the second floor. Climb up and open it to enter the manor.
Step 3: Once inside, you’ll be in a large room. Ignore it and head forward through the large double doors to reach the central hall.
Step 4: Cross straight through the central hall to the other side. You’ll reach an indoor balcony area.
Step 5: On the balcony, look for a table near the corner with a candelabra on it. There is a Key sitting on that table.
- If you brought your own Key, skip this table entirely.
- If you need to steal the Key from the table, make sure your Mask is equipped first. Stealing it with NPCs present will trigger a Hernand Contribution Points penalty and put a small bounty on your head.
Step 6: Use the Key to open the locked door directly across from the table on the balcony.
Step 7: Open the chest inside the room. You’ll find the Rhonid Large Shield and a Palmer Pill.
That’s it. No combat required at any point if you go in stealthily and bring your own Key.
Method 2 — Craft It at a Blacksmith
If you’d rather not do the heist, or if you want a second copy, the Rhonid Large Shield can be crafted.
What you need:
- Read the Shields of the World, Vol. II crafting manual to unlock the recipe
- 7 Iron Ore
- 2 Copper Ore
Take those materials to any Blacksmith and craft the shield directly. This is the only top-tier shield in the game that can both be found in the world and crafted from scratch, which makes it easy to get however you prefer to play.
For guides on gathering the ore you need, see:
Tips for Using the Rhonid Large Shield
Refine it early. The shield starts at refinement level 1 and goes all the way to 11. The earlier you start refining, the more defense you squeeze out of it before you move on to stronger gear.
Fill the Abyss Core slots. Two Abyss Core slots give you a lot of flexibility. Aegis and Fortitude Abyss Gears are solid picks for a defensive setup.
Pair it with a good one-handed weapon. The Rhonid works best alongside a strong one-handed sword. For ideas, check our best one-handed swords guide.
Manage the movement penalty. The speed reduction from a large shield is real. If you find it affecting your combat rhythm, consider using dodge-heavy playstyles and relying on the shield for parries and counters rather than constant blocking. Our how to parry, counter, and dodge guide covers this well.
Other Shields Worth Getting
Once you outgrow the Rhonid, here are some other shields worth hunting down:
- Shield of Conviction — the best purely defensive shield in the early-mid game, found at the Church of Calphade
- Demeniss Royal Guard Shield — arrives pre-refined to level 5 with strong Abyss Gear already slotted
- Lucon Large Shield
- Oath Ring Shield
- Ancient Shield
- Artisan’s Ornamented Shield
- Shotgun Shield
- Bringer of Balance
More Useful Guides
- How to Upgrade Weapons and Armor
- How to Reinforce Equipment
- How to Remove Item Durability
- How to Get Better Equipment
- How to Steal Items
- How to Pickpocket
- How to Remove Bounty
- How to Hide Weapons and Shields
- How to Flip Enemies with a Shield
- Best Unique Weapons and Armor
- Best Early Build
- Accessories Guide
- How to Harvest Apples — Kamu’s Request
Crimson Desert is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games Store.
