Doesn't protect characters behind the barrier

The description suggests this[1]. As shown, Enemy Y will not be protected from the shield despite being "behind" the shield. You have to be within the shield for the protection to occur, at least from EvG that's the case.

Also a side note, when Thundered you can still load Lightning Shield to block the damage but then if equipped a shield loading Defense can block as much damage as well, not to mention Vales Shield.

Wait, I thought Defense and shields doesn't reduce magic damage?

Defense with Vales Shield reduces damage from all sources by an extremely huge amount for some reason. I think he meant Wind Guard.

Considering the mastery gives additional magic def/prot, it does to some extent...

He said Defense skill. Loading the Defense skill. Which only adds Defense and Protection.

Oh...I had to reread the whole thread to make sure what thell's going on.

Well for whatever reason, the Vales Shield and only that shield creates this odd bug to where...well here's the thread at nexon forums.

It's just the Vales shield and nothing else.

Defense is very weird ever since the Enlightenment. With a shield equipped (preferably Medium Shields) and having Defense loaded reduces damage of all types. This continues to reduce damage so as long as the attack you're blocking does not activate/cancel Defense. For instance take a look at this video and you can see that with a Tikka Shield (which is a Medium Shield, ergo same effect as a Kite Shield and whatnot) reduces Adniel's Meteor. Even if it's not 1 Damage, it still reduces damage, so if you're a Shield using Human/Elf don't be afraid to mimic the Vales Shield technique but take note it's not as effective. Also as mentioned in various places, the Vales Shield Defense doesn't work in Duels.

Have you tried a small shield?

As a Giant I don't have access to one. I know there's stuff like the Composite Shield but I don't have one myself. If a Human/Elf wants to go test with a small shield then go ahead. Also take note that normally Adniel does like 100~300 on me no crit, and with Defense loaded and a Tikka Shield reduced the critical meteor to 145 whereas the surrounding enemies took nearly 1k. That's a pretty big damage reduction.

I'm not yet sure on whether or not I would classify this a glitch or game-breaking bug...

Supposedly, it's happening overseas as well.

If it was a full fledged glitch then it would work in Duels (unless the mechanism of Duels make it that our defense/protection stat doesn't matter). But then again regarding the Vales Shield, it will render every attack to 1 damage with Defense loaded even with 0 Protection and Rank F Defense. Now that sounds unintended. I would understand if such a thing is only available with Rank 1 Defense, but Rank F Defense? It's like telling you that you don't need to rank Defense if you have a Vales Shield.

But then we won't know until they maybe change it or address it in a Q&A, until then I'm gonna tank myself against OP enemies.