User blog comment:MilitaryBrat/Master Chief vs Xenomorphs/@comment-4749025-20120204030950/@comment-181289-20120204043340

It depends on the shields strength, and all sheilds can be brought down if enough strain is put on them. Plasma weapons work better against sheilds thans normal bullets, they wear them down faster. They have 100% coverage but enoguh force a big enoguh strain can take them down. I bthe game this depends of difficulty level, on legendary human weapons are pretty mcuh useless against stronger elites, you need plasma weapons to even take them down. On Legnendary energy swors won't take Elites sheild in one hit it usally takes several. Now story line wise Spartan Sheilds are supposed to be superior to the Elites, but game play wise it can vary.