Shields

Shields are held by zombies. They protect the zombie that holds them from Peas, Spores, Stars, and Spikes; and prevent them from being frozen from Snow Peas. It also prevents them from receiving extra damage from Flaming Peas.

Types of Shields

 * Newspaper -Absorbs 8 normal damage shots. Can't be taken by a Magnet-shroom, but easy to destroy.)
 * 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 DS versions) -Absorbs 40 normal damage shots. Can be 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 you should do fine. Screen Door Zombies are a little harder, but if you have Fume Shrooms, Gloom-shrooms, Magnet Shrooms,or Catapult plants you should do fine. The same goes for the Ladder Zombie. Luckily, you first encounter him on the roof, so you will probably have Catapults. Hypnotizing a shield zombie is useless since other zombies can bypass their shields, unless you hypnotize a Ladder Zombie.

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.
 * If you hypnotize a Ladder Zombie he will protect himself from other zombies, unlike the Screen Door Zombie and the Newspaper Zombie