Shields

Shields are objects held by zombies. They protect the zombie that holds them from peas, spores, stars, and spikes from in front; and prevent them from being frozen from Snow Peas. It also prevents them from receiving extra damage from flaming peas from in front.



Types of Shields

 * Newspaper - Absorbs 8 normal damage shots. Can't be taken by a Magnet-shroom, but easy to destroy. Unlike others, it is vulnerable to Torchwood fire.
 * Screen Door - Absorbs 55 normal damage shots. Can be taken by a Magnet-shroom.
 * Ladder - Absorbs 25 normal damage shots. Can be setup on a defensive plant so that zombies can climb over it. Can be taken by a Magnet-shroom while being held and while placed on a defensive plant. Can also be removed by instant kills, even if it has already been placed.
 * Trash Can (Only found in Xbox Live Arcade and Nintendo DS versions of Plants vs. Zombies) - Absorbs 40 normal damage shots. Can be taken by a Magnet-shroom.
 * Target (Only found in Xbox Live Arcade and Nintendo DS versions of "Plants vs. Zombies") - Useless against anything. Can't by taken by a Magnet-shroom.

Strategy
Newspaper Zombies are the easiest of the bunch to kill. Try to have at least two peas of damage on him, and the player should do fine. Screen Door Zombies are a little harder, but if the player has Fume-shrooms, Gloom-shrooms, Magnet-shrooms, or lobbed-shot plants they should do fine. The same goes for the Ladder Zombie. Luckily, the player first encounters him on the roof, so they will have catapults. Hypnotizing a shield zombie is useless since other zombies can bypass their shields, unless you hypnotize a Ladder Zombie. Catapult plants are most effective against shield zombies as they can pass over the shield.

Trivia

 * The Newspaper Zombie and the Ladder Zombie are the only zombies which eat without using their hands, even if their shields are destroyed.
 * The Screen Door Zombie, when eating, will put his shield on its side. But even if the Screen Door is on the side, the zombie is still undamaged.
 * The Screen Door is the strongest shield in the game, while the Newspaper is the weakest shield (And armor in general) in the game.