Athena’s Shield vs Radiant Armor? What is the difference and when to buy these items

There are two defensive items in Mobile Legends – Athena’s Shield and Radiant Armor that helps players deal specifically with magic damage.

If players face magic-heavy opponents, there is nothing better than these two tools that offer the highest magic resist stats available in the game. In addition, extra health points and regeneration will be provided to further increase survivability.

Keep in mind that choosing between these two items depends on the situation. Comparing the two, they all give similar stats. What makes them unique is their passivity. 

For Athena’s Shield, a shield will appear when taking magic damage. This shield decreases magic damage received by 25% for five seconds. For Radiant Armor, the magic damage reduction was increased by 5-8 points after receiving Magic Damage and can stack up to 6 times.

Finally, mastering the use of these items and knowing when to buy one over the other can greatly increase the chances of survival and success, especially for tanks or roamers.

Stats and passive effects of Athena’s Shield and Radiant Armor

Athena’s Shield provides 62 magic defense, 900 HP, and 2 HP regen. Its unique passive, Shield, gives the owner a whopping 25% magic damage reduction for three seconds. This effect resets five seconds after leaving combat.

Radiant Armor, on the other hand, gives 52 magic defense, 960 HP, and 12 HP regen. It has the Holy Blessing passive, which enhances magic damage reduction by 5 to 8 points for three seconds. The effect scales with hero level and is capped at 6 stacks.

When to buy these items?

If you’re facing a team that deals a lot of magic burst damage, Athena’s Shield is an essential item that can boost your survivability. The 25% magic reduction is huge and is a lifesaver in tough situations, even for squishy heroes. This item is especially effective against heroes that rely on a single skill or a combo to destroy you quickly, like the following:

• Aamon
• Aurora
• Bane (magic build)
• Cecilion
• Eudora
• Faramis
• Gusion
• Kadita
• Kagura
• Karina
• Lunox
• Luo Yi
• Lylia
• Nana
• Pharsa
• Selena
• Vale
• Valentina
• Vexana
• Xavier

If the other team heavily relies on magic damage per second, then go for Radiant Armor. This works incredibly against heroes who have spells that deal continuous magic damage over time, like these ones:

• Alice
• Chang’e
• Cyclops
• Edith
• Esmeralda
• Gord
• Guinevere
• Harley
• Harith
• Joy
• Julian
• Kimmy
• Natan
• Odette
• Silvanna
• Valir
• Zhask

However, where the enemy team has multiple sources of magic damage, it’s vital to equip both Athena’s Shield and Radiant Armor for optimal magic resistance.