Hidden Shrine

[Spinal]

No, it's not always shield first, but there is a bug in the game initialization (discovered by Jarulf after a long, long time) which makes the shrine hit the shield first (or armor first if equipped with a bow or other two-handed weapon) if you haven't entered enough levels to properly randomize the shrine. The same bug explains why enchanted shrines tend to lower the level of your chain lightning.

Whether or not you should take advantage of this bug is an ethical issue. I recommend that you just equip all your best (non-indestructible) items before hitting a hidden shrine (if you are a rogue, equip your trusty bow, otherwise equip your shield and one-handed weapon, unless you are playing some sort of warrior or mage variant who uses a two-handed weapon to reduce his effectiveness) . In the long run, this will work to your benefit (unless you have a really good shield and don't play constantly ;) ).
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I'm playing a mage (why would i use a Thinking Cap otherwhise? :P) anyway, i don't care about the staffs dur (it doessn't take any dmg anyway) so i will just equip a random junk shield togheter with the best other stuff i got (so far the shield has taken all negative dur)