STO mechanics / Short lessons
Shield subsystem power
Help your shields last and recover.
Higher Shield power improves shield damage resistance—also called hardness—and natural shield regeneration.
- Hardness / resistance: reduces damage applied to shields. These names describe the same defensive mechanic.
- Regeneration: restores depleted shield points over time.
- Capacity: how many shield points you can hold. Shield power does not directly increase this maximum.
Holding other factors equal, 20% shield hardness reduces a hit that would otherwise remove 1,000 shield points to 800 shield points. This example concerns the damage assigned to shields.
What to check: distinguish shield capacity, regeneration, and damage resistance when comparing improvements. A regeneration reading alone does not describe shield durability.
Hull resistance is a separate subject for a later lesson.