Craft and equip
Shield recipe: top row of board-iron-board, middle row of three boards, bottom middle cell - board. Total 6 boards and 1 iron ingot. Place the shield in your second hand and the weapon in your main hand. Reference: Minecraft: shield.
In Java, hold down the right button on an item without a competing application. In Bedrock, crouch with a shield in your other hand. Check the settings of the controller and screen in the settings; Having a shield in your backpack does not provide protection.
Practice against one skeleton
Choose a level spot with a rock shelter on the side. Look at the skeleton and raise the shield until the shot is fired, then approach between the arrows. In Java, a block needs a short delay after being raised; last minute reactions are unreliable.
After the reflected arrow, make one hit and close again. Watch out for the second enemy: the shield does not protect both the front and the back. In Java, hitting the weapon frequently before the attack is restored reduces the benefit of the hit.
A separate battle plan takes into account launching a raid and protecting the villager: Preparing a village for a raid in Java 1.21.
When a shield doesn't solve the problem
The ax in Java is capable of disabling the shield for 5 seconds. If the block is disabled, move behind solid cover. The vindicator is especially dangerous: its blow cannot be met with the usual expectation of the next arrow.
Warden's falling, lava, magic, and sonic attacks require different measures. Check durability before going. Mending helps maintain the shield, but does not restore it after complete destruction.
A backup attempt after death requires a separate procedure: Recovering your items after death without dying again.
