-Castlevania Symphony of the Night-
            -For Sony Playstation-

Author: Shinya 
E-Mail: kain_is_evil@yahoo.com

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Shield Rod FAQ
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-Contents-

*Introduction*
*Shield Rod*
*Status Changing Shields*
*Spell Casting Shields*
*Alucard Shield*
*Legal Stuff*

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Introduction
------------

I've been playing this game for quite some time now
(about 3 years), and reading all of the other
wonderful FAQS for this game, I decided why not write
a FAQ about one of the most agile weapons in the game,
the Shield Rod. This FAQ will not tell you how to
obtain any of the shields that are required to do the
wonderful stuff that the Shield Rod can do. Most of
the information is pretty accurate to my knowing of
the game. If there are any mistakes, please let me
know.

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Shield Rod
----------

If you do not know where the Shield Rod can be
obtained, it is in the far bottom room of the
Colleseum in Castlevania. The Shield Rod can be paired
up with any shield that you own to create status
changes, give protection to an element, or to cast an
elemental spell.
 
Item Shield Rod: Attack +16 Def +4
Description: Extra effective with shield

To use the Shield Rod to its full effect you must
equip a shield in one hand and the Shield Rod in the
other. Hitting the Sqaure Button ([]) and Circle
Button (O) at the same time, with both Shield Rod and
shield of your choice, will cast whatever that shield
has to offer. 

NOTE: Controls set at default

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Status Changing Shields
-----------------------

The shields listed below with change Alucards physical
traits for a short period of time.

*Leather Shield*
Casting cost: 10mp
Effect: Summons a Cow to increase Alucards Def +20.
 
*Shaman Shield*
Casting cost: 10mp
Effect: Summons a Flying Ram to increase Alucards 
INT by an unknown amount.

*Knight Shield*
Casting cost: 10mp
Effect: Summons a Horse to increase Alucards Def by an
unknown amount.

*Herald Shield*
Casting cost: 10mp
Effect: Summons a Princess to give Alucard protection
from Fire and Thunder.

*Goddess Shield*
Casting cost: 40mp
Effect: Summons a Totem to give Alucard protection
from Dark.

*Alucart Shield*
Casting cost: 10mp
Effect: ?

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Spell Casting Shields
---------------------

The shields listed below are all used to cast spells
that do damage on enemies.

*Medusa Shield*
Casting cost: 30mp
Spell: Summons a Medusa head to make a high screen
attack on enemies.

*Fire Shield*
Casting cost: 50mp
Spell: Summons 3 fire dragons to make a full screen
attack on enemies

*Skull Shield*
Casting cost: 40mp
Spell: Summons a huge pile of skulls to make a
mid-screen laser beam attack on enemies.

*Axelord Shield*
Casting cost: 20mp
Spell: Summons an Axelord to make a running ground
attack on enemies.

*Iron Shield*
Casting cost: 20mp
Spell: Summons a Knight that does a twin sword attack
across the whole screen on enemies.

*Dark Shield*
Casting cost: 30mp
Spell: Summons an Undead Soul that casts a Dark
elemental Spell on all enemies.

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Alucard Shield
--------------

The reason this has its own topic is that the Alucard
Shield, paired with the Shield Rod, is one of, if not,
the best weapon in the game. This shield has great
power, in that it can deal large amounts of damage and
heal you at the same time. Casting this shield will
give you these powers:

-Every time you hit something, weither it be a candle
or enemy, it will heal you 8hp.
-Every enemy you hit with it will take out 255hp no
matter what.
-Hold the shield button down will slowly drain your MP
bar, so be careful.
-The effect lasts quite a bit if your MP bar  doesn't
hit 0.

This shield almost makes you invincible, and is
considered really cheap, and by far the quickest way
to kill Dracula.

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Legal Stuff
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This document may not be used for personal public
re-distribution, and may not be posted on any other
site other than GameFAQS. Any information you take
from here and use it for any other FAQ or Tips Guide
without my personal consent is prohibited by law.

This document is a copyright of Shinya 2000.

Thank you for reading.

12/6/2000 Shinya