The Aegis Knight in Star Trace Resonance is a class that excels both in offense and defense. Among these, the "Light Shield" build is very popular among tank players who enjoy pursuing damage output. So, how exactly does one play the Aegis Knight in Star Trace Resonance? The core gameplay involves giving up shield strikes and instead using vanguard strikes as the primary offensive method, building around the "Lightforged Barrier" (or Light Shield for short). This build is more like an offensive tank, maintaining self-healing capabilities while continuously stacking the Light Shield to increase toughness. The Light Shield itself can absorb damage, but it loses layers when attacked, so survival relies on frequent skill usage. It lacks the stable damage reduction mechanisms of traditional defensive tanks, making survival slightly challenging against high-pressure mechanics or powerful bosses.

Characteristics of the Light Shield Build:
The most significant change in the Light Shield build is that special attacks are changed from shield strikes to vanguard strikes. Each use consumes a Holy Command, dealing damage and gaining two layers of Light Shield, which is the core skill for obtaining Light Shield layers. Basic attacks are almost useless and are only used temporarily when resources are insufficient. The Light Shield has a maximum of 10 layers, with each layer increasing the maximum health by 2%, lasting for 25 seconds. Layers are lost when hit, and the duration is reset by new acquisitions. This mechanism means that the Light Shield build must continuously use vanguard strikes or Holy Sword skills to maintain its "shield wall." Compared to the protection build, which focuses on damage reduction and hard tanking, the Light Shield build emphasizes rhythm and cycling.

Talent Skills:
In terms of talents, the first-tier "Swift Holy Command" makes haste a highly beneficial attribute for the Light Shield build, reducing skill cooldowns and improving overall cycle efficiency. Therefore, it is recommended to prioritize stacking haste. The second attribute can be critical strike, balancing output performance. Additionally, versatility is also a good choice, as the Aegis Knight benefits from its increased damage, reduced damage taken, and healing bonuses, making it highly compatible overall.
The Aegis Knight has three resources: Holy Commands, Light Energy, and Light Shields. Each use of a Holy Command restores 10 points of energy and grants a Light Shield equal to 30% of attack power (absorbing 50% of damage). Light Energy has a maximum of 100 points and is the basic resource for casting skills like "Judgment." The Light Shield is an additional shield, serving as a passive defensive measure. The "Lightforged Barrier," exclusive to the Light Shield build, is the core for stacking shields, accumulating with each vanguard strike or similar skill to increase health and skill strength. When the cycle is smooth, the player will be in a positive loop of output and self-reinforcement.

Skill Combinations:
For skill combinations, it is recommended to always carry [Judgment], [Holy Sword], and [Cold Conquest]. The fourth skill can be chosen between [Luminous Resolve] and [Holy Guardian]. Judgment is an AOE damage and healing skill, restoring 30% of current lost health after consuming energy, with a minimum of 5%. Holy Sword is a key skill for stacking Light Shields, providing five layers of Light Shield upon hitting, along with a burst of damage. Cold Conquest is a burst skill, converting up to 8 layers of Light Shield into a damage aura, healing, and continuously enhancing vanguard strikes, creating a high-intensity burst window. Luminous Resolve is an opening skill, providing minor damage reduction and energy recovery; Holy Guardian offers a 10-second major damage reduction and one death immunity, crucial for survival at key moments.
Some secondary skills, like Shield Toss, have some value, reducing enemy output, but it is recommended to rely more on active skills for cycling. Skills like Holy Ring, which provide small healing and area damage, are less practical and not recommended, relying on the talent-provided ones instead.

Combat Techniques:
In terms of combat techniques, the Light Shield build's cycle is not complex but requires high-frequency operations. The main focus is to maintain high layers of Light Shield to ensure stability under continuous damage. During the burst phase, activate Cold Conquest, using vanguard strikes and Holy Sword for quick output and continuous healing, while ensuring Light Energy does not overflow, and promptly use Judgment for damage and recovery. When resources are low, use the ultimate skill "Majestic Infusion" to quickly restore energy and Holy Commands, preparing for the next burst.
It should be noted that the Light Shield is a "the more you attack, the more it drops" mechanism, somewhat conflicting with the core logic of a tank. Excessive attacks can lead to losing shields, making the player more vulnerable. This requires faster operational rhythms and tighter skill releases to maintain protective effects. Additionally, due to the complex interplay of talents and skill triggers, along with the current UI's unclear buff indicators, players need to frequently monitor skill bars and status bars, often leading to a hectic experience. Although the playstyle is not difficult to understand, it requires quick judgment and operation to achieve the best performance.

Overall, the Light Shield build of the Aegis Knight in Star Trace Resonance is a well-designed build, integrating output, defense, and healing. It has strong burst phases but weaker base damage absorption, requiring a fast pace and high button density. It is suitable for players who enjoy exhilarating output and do not mind frequent skill rotations. Although it demands skilled handling, once mastered, it can become a versatile player in dungeons, capable of both taking and dealing damage. If you seek a sense of impact and are willing to face some operational challenges, the Light Shield build is worth a try.