> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://critters-quest-1.gitbook.io/critters-quest-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://critters-quest-1.gitbook.io/critters-quest-docs/the-gathering/town-shields-and-raid-protection.md).

# Town Shields & Raid Protection

Your town can be raided by other players, and shields keep it safe. This page covers every way a town becomes protected: the free shield you start with, the Quick Shield you can buy, and the automatic shields you earn after a fight. It also covers the War Fever rule that stops attackers from hiding behind a shield.

### The Newcomer Shield (Free)

When you place your town for the first time, it is automatically protected for **72 hours**. There is no cost and nothing to click. It applies the moment your town is created.

* It applies once, on first placement only.
* Moving or re-placing a town later does not grant a new free shield.
* Use this window to build your walls, bank your $QUEST, and set a defense squad before you become raidable.

### Quick Shield (Buy)

Buy a Quick Shield from the Shield tab for protection on demand. It activates instantly, with no arming delay.

| Detail           | Value                                              |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| Cost             | **100 $QUEST** per charge                          |
| Duration         | **4 hours** per charge                             |
| Charges          | **2 rolling charges**                              |
| Charge refresh   | Each charge frees up **24 hours after you use it** |
| Maximum coverage | Shielded up to **24 hours** ahead at once          |
| Paid from        | Town Bank $QUEST or your connected wallet          |

**How the rolling charges work.** You have two charges. Each one recharges on its own 24-hour timer from the moment you spend it, not on a fixed daily reset. You can shield now, shield again a few hours later, and your first charge becomes available again 24 hours after that first purchase.

**Stacking.** Buying a Quick Shield extends your current shield rather than replacing it, but it can never push protection more than 24 hours into the future. If a purchase would not extend your shield, the game stops you so you do not waste a charge.

{% hint style="info" %}
Quick Shield can be paid from your Town Bank or connected wallet, but not from a critter's locked $QUEST. Town protection is a town-level cost.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
📷 **Image needed**: Shield tab showing the Quick Shield card (4h / 100 QUEST / 2 charges) with a live countdown.
{% endhint %}

### Automatic Shields (Earned)

Some shields are applied for you after a raid resolves, so you always get a moment to recover.

| Shield                  | Duration       | When it triggers                                             |
| ----------------------- | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Post-raid shield        | **1 hour**     | Your town was raided, so you get an hour of safety afterward |
| Undefended grace        | **15 minutes** | Your town was taken in a walkover with no defenders set      |
| Titan's Shield (potion) | **24 hours**   | You brew and drink a Titan's Shield (see the Potions page)   |

### War Fever

Attacking another town starts a **War Fever** timer on your own town. While War Fever is active you cannot raise a shield, whether a Quick Shield or a Titan's Shield. This closes the tactic of raiding someone and then immediately turtling up.

* Each attack you launch adds **10 minutes** of War Fever.
* War Fever is capped at **30 minutes** from the present moment.
* Launching an attack also immediately drops your own active shield if you had one. You cannot attack from behind a wall.

If you go on the offensive, you are exposed for up to half an hour after your last attack. Plan your raids for when you can afford to be counter-attacked.

{% hint style="warning" %}
If you try to shield during War Fever, the game blocks it with a "war timer active" message. Wait for the timer to run down (up to 30 minutes) before shielding.
{% endhint %}

### Common Messages

| Message                | What it means                                                                                   |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Town is shielded       | The town you tried to attack is protected right now. Pick another target.                       |
| War timer active       | You attacked recently and cannot shield yet. Wait out the War Fever timer.                      |
| No charges available   | Both Quick Shield charges are on cooldown. Wait for one to free up, 24 hours from its last use. |
| Shield wouldn't extend | Buying now would not add time to your current shield, so the charge was not spent.              |