Absorption Shield

An absorption shield is a defensive ability employed by various enemies in combat. It manifests as a transparent bubble that surrounds the user. Elemental damage does bonus damage against certain types of shields. The most obvious way to tell if a shield is weak to a certain damage type is to see what color it is; for example, Fallen Captains with blue shields are weak to Arc attacks. A Vex Minotaur is vulnerable to Void damage. Wizards and Centurions both are vulnerable to Solar damage. If one pumps enough non-elemental rounds into a shield, no matter the color, it will deactivate, though this method takes longer. A high impact weapon of sufficient damage but different elemental type can deactivate absorption shields in a single hit.

Elemental grenades can take down shields of their respective element by simply detonating next to the target.

Fallen

 * Captain—Arc
 * Shank (Noble and higher)—Solar

Hive

 * Wizard—Solar
 * Knight (Anointed and higher)—Arc

Vex

 * Minotaur—Void
 * Harpy (Zealot and higher)—Arc

Cabal

 * Centurion—Solar
 * Psion (Elite missions)—Void
 * Psion Flayer—Arc; Solar; Void

Taken

 * Taken Captain—Solar
 * Taken Centurion—Arc
 * Taken Wizard—Void
 * Taken Acolyte—Void (on higher difficulty in Strike playlists)
 * Taken Goblin—projects a shield upon Taken allies that is invulnerable to all damage. Can only be taken down if Goblin is destroyed.

List of appearances

 * Destiny