Shield-X This Group has a Shield Save of X+. After Weapons have been assigned to this Group or Assets attack this Group, you may declare the use of Shield Saves for this Group. If you do, this Group replaces its Energy and Kinetic Saves with their Shield Saves for that attack sequence. Shield Saves can be used against Energy, Kinetic, and Core damage and ignore any modifiers to Energy and Kinetic Saves. Backup Saves may then be used after Shield Saves as normal.
A Group gains a single Spike each time it uses its Shield saves (regardless of the number of saves made per use).
Hits caused by Boarding Actions cannot be saved by Shield Saves.
Vanguard-X Groups with this rule may begin the game Directly Deployed, ignoring the normal Scenario Deployment and Approach Types (though still counting towards Groups Directly Deployed). If it does, it may be deployed up to X” away from your Deployment Zone.