Shield Sheldon

"I couldn't prevent the professor from becoming a Maverick. I failed to protect him. But I'm going to fulfill the duty as a bodyguard now. He gave me a second chance... I'll protect him, even though I may have to sacrifice my life for it! Come on! X!"

- Shield Sheldon

Shield Sheldon, also known as Shieldner Sheldon (シールドナー・シェルダン) in Japan, was a giant clam-based Reploid working as a Nightmare Investigator in Mega Man X6.

Characteristics
Shield Sheldon has a design based on a clam, but with a humanoid twist. His armor is mostly pink like the inside of a clam, and he possesses round shapes and horns on his body to reflect their soft interiors. The clam shells themselves sit atop his shoulders and arms, and are so large that he can easily fit inside both of them combined. He possesses Gate's rhombus-shaped gem in his forehead.

Shield Sheldon felt guilt for being unable to protect his assignment, Dr. Jim, and feels that he has gained another chance by being resurrect to serve Gate. He now fights to protect Gate no matter what, lest he waste this second chance.

History
Shield Sheldon was created by Gate to serve as a bodyguard for important people (mainly chiefs of other research institutes). Sheldon apparently failed in his job as bodyguard when Dr. Jim, a laser researcher he was protecting, went Maverick. However, Dr. Jim was still able to control himself. Nevertheless, Sheldon still felt it necessary to dispose of Jim because of his Maverick corruption, but his actions were misinterpreted by the Maverick Hunters that arrived on the scene and he was charged as a Maverick himself. He could not deal with the stress and shame of the incident and decided to take his own life, believing that he was useless. He was later resurrected by Gate to examine the Nightmare in the Laser Institute. Seeing this as a second chance, he tries to fulfill his duty as a bodyguard protecting Gate, even at the cost of his life again.

Strategy
He's weak against Metal Anchor and Rakukojin, being knocked back when hit by them, but it's still necessary to wait for him to drop his guard first.

Attacks
Shield Sheldon will initially appear, then teleport to a different area of the screen.


 * Shield Throw: If Shield Sheldon appears in one of the two lower corners, he is going to throw both of his two shells. He will throw one shell straight forward, then almost immediately throw the other one at a 45 degree angle upwards. The shells will act as boomerangs, and Shield Sheldon may or may not teleport to a new location to which the shells will return. The player should crouch to avoid the attack. As Zero, this is a good opportunity to use Rakukoujin; the player should use a good double-jump to get in between the two shells as they were being thrown, and they have a split second opening (literally) to hit Sheldon from above.


 * Bound Attack - If Shield Sheldon appears at the top middle of the screen, he will withdraw into his shells, then bounce around the room in a pseudo-figure-8 pattern.


 * Guard Shell - Used after losing half of his health. If Shield Sheldon appears in the middle of the screen, he may surround himself with Guard Shells, then proceed to float around the room. Any attack that hits the Guard Shell will be reflected in the standard Guard Shell way (a small ball of energy).


 * Mirror Shell - If Shield Sheldon appears in the middle of the screen, he will clone himself. The lighter, less solid one is the clone, and cannot be damaged.
 * If the two appear in the upper corners, they are going to throw their shells in a symmetric pattern and they will bounce around the room. Most of the time, crouching in one of the corners can help avoid it. After this attack, they will reconverge.
 * If the two appear in the lower corners, they will just fling their shells over themselves and reconverge.
 * After losing half of his health, Shield Sheldon appears in the middle of the screen and throws four shells to the corners of the arena, then will fly from one shell to another. It's relatively random which direction he will fly. If the shells are hit with any type of attack, they will counter with small blue energy blasts.

In-Battle Quotes
Note: As the lines are only available as audio, text may not be accurate.

When Playing as X
X: Shield Sheldon! I thought it was you...

Shield Sheldon: Sure.

X: I'm very sorry about the case. If only I could have been there in time.

Shield Sheldon: Don't be. I couldn't fulfill my role as a bodyguard, that's all.

X: You had been protecting the professor. When the professor became a Maverick, there was no other way. Our officers misinterpreted your action and you were hunted as a Maverick. And then you retired yourself. That was so unfortunate...

Shield Sheldon: I couldn't prevent the professor from becoming a Maverick. I failed to protect him. But I'm going to fulfill the duty as a bodyguard now. He gave me a second chance... I'll protect him, even though I may have to sacrifice my life for it! Come on! X!

When Playing as Zero
Zero: Shield Sheldon... Too bad about your previous life...

Shield Sheldon: Don't be. I was new as a bodyguard. That's all.

Zero: Maverick Hunters are supposed to be able to tell a Maverick from a Reploid... Our officers are not good enough... They could cost us everything...

Shield Sheldon: Reploids all over the world have been needing you. I was useless as a bodyguard... And was useless to everyone else. When I accepted that fact, I accepted my fate. However, there turned out to be someone who needs me. He has given me one more chance... And therefore, I am going to fulfill my mission as a bodyguard now. I'll protect him, even if it means that I have to sacrifice my life. Come on, Zero!

Other appearances

 * Shield Sheldon appeared in two stages from the X Challenge in Mega Man Legacy Collection and Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2, being fought alongside Volt Kraken and Ground Scaravich.
 * Shield Sheldon appeared in Battle Memory from Rockman Xover.

Archie Comics
Shield Sheldon was included in the Worlds Unite crossover event between Archie's Mega Man and Sonic the Hedgehog lines, along with the vast majority of the X series' Mavericks.

Trivia

 * Along with Armored Armadillo, Launch Octopus and Toxic Seahorse, this Maverick is misnamed in the Music Gallery in the Mega Man X Legacy Collection and 2. There, he is Shieldner Sheldon.