shieldwall

Overlapping barrier line

A shieldwall is a defensive military formation in which soldiers stand shoulder to shoulder with overlapping shields, creating a barrier against enemy attack.

The tactic was used by ancient Greeks, Romans, and medieval Norse and Anglo-Saxon warriors.

The term appears frequently in historical fiction and fantasy: The shieldwall held against the cavalry charge.

military

phalanx

Massed infantry formation

overlapping · interlocking · spears · battle · defense · Hastings · infantry · front line · cohesion · shoulder-to-shoulder

metaphor

solidarity

Unity among allies

resistance · collective · stand firm · defense · united front · bulwark · safeguard · alliance · mutual support · strength

gaming

ability

Power to do something

  • cooldownGradual intensity reduction
  • tankLarge storage vessel
  • blockSolid mass, or impede

damage mitigation · buff · aggro · raid · boss · mechanic · defensive stance · taunt · protection · party

Categories
Opposites
military formation

shieldwallskirmish line

Extended infantry formation

open order · guerrilla tactics · single combat · disarray · skirmishers

combat approach

shieldwallcharge

Cost or accusation

assault · advance · attack · flanking maneuver · pursuit

unit cohesion

shieldwallrout

Overwhelming one-sided victory

disarray · every man for himself · disorder · mob · rabble

Family

wall, shield, walls, shielded, walled, shields, shielding, walling, unwalled

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated PG