Captain AmericaCaptain America, Spartans & Vikings
Shield Costumes
Costume Wall has 16 shield costume guides, and the shield is the piece that names the character before anyone looks closely at the rest of the outfit. Captain America carries the round vibranium disc. King Leonidas holds the bronze-faced Spartan shield beside a spear and a crested helmet. Link raises the blue Hylian shield from The Legend of Zelda. Below you will find the Viking raiders, the medieval knights, the comic-book heroes and the game leads, with the foam, plastic and painted versions that survive a full night of trick-or-treating.
16 costume guides Editorial reviewed Oct 3, 2026
Which Shield Costume Should I Pick?
Start with the shape you like, because a round disc, a kite outline and a painted wooden board each point at a different kind of fighter. Match the prop to the outfit you already own, and the rest of the look follows.
Captain AmericaA blue star-spangled suit and a round shield
King LeonidasA red cape, a crested helmet and a hoplite shield
Link (Breath of the Wild)A blue Champion tunic and a wooden shieldShield Costume Ideas by Character
Browse the guides below by character, from comic-book heroes and historical fighters to game leads and cartoon picks. Each one lists the pieces the look needs, including the prop itself.
16 Shield costumes
Shield costumeAchilles
Troy’s dark-armored warrior look: black muscle cuirass, armor skirt, arm bracers, shin guards, lace-up boots, a blond wig, the notched Troy shield and a foam spear.
Shield costumeBjorn Ironside
Vikings’ armoured warrior look: soldiers leather body armour, medieval viking tunic, open collar shirt, banded pants, leather bracers and the handmade viking shield.
Shield costumeBlack Knight
Fortnite Season 2 knight skin: black plate armour, plumed helmet, gauntlets, greaves, boots and the black shield.
Shield costumeBraveheart
William Wallace’s Scottish warrior look: blue face paint, long brown curly hair, viking leather armour, brown forearm armour, viking shield, red flannel and viking boots.
Shield costumeCaptain America
Marvel’s star-spangled super-soldier look: a blue suit with the white star, a matching cowl, red gloves, boots and the round shield.
Shield costumeKing Leonidas
300’s Spartan king look: a red cape, crested bronze helmet and the battle-ready hoplite shield and spear.
Shield costumeLagertha
Vikings shield-maiden look: steampunk corset, long sleeve shirt, suede leggings, vintage maxi skirt, leather bracers, brown slouch boots and a viking shield.
Shield costumeLink
Legend of Zelda’s classic hero look: short yellow wig, the Zelda costume, a sword belt strap, dress boots and the Triforce shield.
Shield costumeLink (Breath of the Wild)
Hyrule’s champion look: the cosplay wig, wooden viking shield, the Sword of Time, recurve bow, brown boots and a belt.
Shield costumeMagnus Chase
Dress up like Magnus Chase, the Norse demigod hero of Rick Riordan’s book series, in denim and olive layers.
Shield costumeRagnar Lothbrok
Vikings’ legendary warrior-king look: viking leather armour, medieval tunic, lace-up pants, belt, dragon bracelet, viking axe, shield and engineer boots.
Shield costumeRed Knight
Fortnite knight skin look: crimson plate armour, the horned knight helmet, gauntlets, greaves and the red shield.
Shield costumeRose Quartz
Steven Universe’s pink Crystal Gem leader look: pink hair wig, white corset, ruffles skirt, the pink star, rhinestones and the Quartz sword and shield.
Shield costumeSpartacus
Starz’s rebel gladiator look: spartan costume, roman wrist guard, body armor, gladiator sandals and a shield and sword.
Shield costumeWonder Woman (Undercover)
Secret agent in circled framed glasses: a women’s trench coat, a white button down shirt and black leather gloves.
Shield costumeWWII Captain America
1940s super-soldier look: blue uniform with the star, leather jacket, winged helmet, shield, gloves and boots.Showing all 16 Shield costumes
No matches. Try another character or clear your filters.
Make Your Shield a Costume
Pick the prop first, then add the clothing that tells everyone which fighter is carrying it.
Bjorn IronsideLeather armour, a tunic and a wooden shield
BraveheartBlue face paint, a kilt and a wooden shield
Rose QuartzA pink wig, a white corset and a quartz shieldSuperhero Shields: Captain America and the Comic Look
Marvel's round vibranium disc is the shield most people picture, and it is the easiest one to wear over an ordinary outfit. WWII Captain America carries the earlier triangular version, so the two reads are easy to tell apart at a party: army drab and leather on one side, stars and stripes on the other. A cape, a mask and a pair of gloves finish the silhouette without any other kit.
For a group, give everyone the same disc in a different colourway and let Captain America anchor the photo. Keep one shield per person, skip the plastic chain-mail sleeves, and pick a foam or hollow plastic piece so you are not carrying dead weight by the end of the night.
Spartan, Viking and Medieval Shield Costume Ideas
Historical shields are cheap to build and easy to read in photos. King Leonidas, from 300, sets the Spartan reference with a bronze-faced round shield, a crested helmet and a spear. Viking raiders used a plainer wooden disc, which is why Bjorn Ironside and Ragnar Lothbrok, both from the series Vikings, look like television rather than museum pieces: leather, fur and a painted board.
The shield-maiden version wears the same disc over a tunic and braids, which is the whole appeal of Lagertha. For the medieval end, the kite shape is the one to copy, and the Fortnite knight builds, Red Knight and Black Knight, pair it with plate armour. Keep the shield arm free in photos so the face stays visible.
Video Game and Animated Shield Costumes
In games and animation the prop is a signature rather than an accessory. Link (Breath of the Wild) carries a blue Hylian shield from The Legend of Zelda on his back through most of the artwork, and Rose Quartz, from Steven Universe, is one of the few characters whose weapon is a shield at all. Both are inexpensive builds, because the outfit does the recognition.
Cartoon and family picks: the animated builds are the cheapest on the page, since a painted shape and a simple tunic do the work. Rose Quartz needs pink hair, a gem and a flowing dress, and the round shield is the one piece that ties the whole look together.
Building a Shield That Survives the Night
Store-bought props are fine, but the homemade version is usually lighter. Two layers of foam board or corrugated card, an edging strip and a coat of primer will take acrylic paint and a clear sealer, and the finished disc then survives a whole evening. Braveheart and Spartacus both work with the simplest build: a plain shape, a strap and a painted face.
Check the strap before the paint. Two short handles let you hold the prop in front of your body without a hand on the rim, and a shoulder strap keeps it out of the way when you need both hands free. Finish the outfit with boots, a belt and a vest, and read the kit list on each guide.
Shield Costume FAQ
How do I make a shield that looks real?
Start with the shape and the finish rather than the detail. A smooth painted face with a raised rim reads as metal or wood from a few feet away, and a light scuffing of silver or bronze along the edges does more than any engraved pattern.
What is the lightest material for the prop?
EVA foam over a foam-board core is the lightest option that keeps its shape, and it takes paint well. Hollow plastic is the next lightest for a flat disc, while a solid wooden board looks the most convincing and is the one to avoid if you plan to carry it all night.
What size should I carry?
A prop that spans shoulder to waist when stood upright suits most adults, and a child's version should end between the shoulder and the waist on them. Measure the person rather than the character, because an oversized piece is heavy and it hides the face in every photo.
Can a child carry one all evening?
Yes, with a light material and a single strap. Foam and cardboard both stay comfortable for hours, the edges should be rounded and taped, and a small prop is easier to manage in a crowd than a full-size one.
Do I need the rest of the outfit to match?
One strong garment is usually enough. A tunic, a dress or a coat in the right colour does most of the work, and the prop carries the character. Add the belt and the footwear only if the look depends on them.
Choose Your Shield Costume
Pick the prop first, because it sets the era faster than any single garment. A round disc reads as a comic-book hero, a kite shape reads as a medieval fighter, and a painted wooden board reads as a raider. Match the material to how long you plan to carry it, then build the outfit around the one piece the character always wears.
