Small Shields in Elden Ring Nightreign are shields that usually sacrifice defensive capabilities for higher windows of parry. Out of all shields they have the lowest guard stats. They are ideal for builds that utilise parries and focus on high critical damage. However, missing a parry window can be very punishing.
NightreignSmall Shields - Nightreign Wiki

Blue-white Wooden Shield
Small Shield • Lvl Required 1
Small wooden roundshield that has been reinforced with metal. It is light and easy to handle, but cannot offer the damage negation of a true metal shield. The design is said to represent the stars of the night sky, portending fate.

Buckler
Small Shield • Lvl Required 1
Weapon Skill: Buckler Parry
Use this skill in time with a foe's melee attack to deflect it and break that foe's stance. This is faster than a regular parry.
A small metal roundshield. The bump in the center is designed to parry. A well-timed parry deflects an enemy's attack, breaking their stance and leaving them open to a critical hit. Though risk is inherent, this shield favors aggression.

Coil Shield
Small Shield • Lvl Required 1
Weapon Skill: Viper Bite
Give the shield a quick shake to temporarily bring the bronze viper to life, inciting it to lash out and bite foes.
Armament designed for gladiatorial combat. rises above its peers as a particularly showy specimen. The sculpted bronze snake is a poisonous breed.

Gilded Iron Shield
Small Shield • Lvl Required 1
Weapon Skill: Parry
Use this skill in time with a foe's melee attack to deflect it and break that foe's stance. This provides an opening to perform a critical hit.
Small metal roundshield. Heavier than a wooden shield, but boasts higher damage negation. Though the gold leaf is peeling and the effect is slight, it still boosts holy damage negation.

Ice Crest Shield
Small Shield • Lvl Required 1
Small metal roundshield. Heavier than a wooden shield, but boasts higher damage negation. The ice crest originates from a Carian princess. Though the effect is slight, it boosts magic damage negation.

Iron Roundshield
Small Shield • Lvl Required 1
An ordinary small roundshield made of metal. Heavier than a wooden shield, but boasts higher damage negation. Finely balanced, this shield is easy to use.

Man-serpent's Shield
Small Shield • Lvl Required 1
Small copper dome-shaped roundshield carried by the man-serpents of Mt. Gelmir. Said to have been tempered in lava, it boasts great resistance to fire.

Perfumer's Shield
Small Shield • Lvl Required 1
Weapon Skill: Parry
Use this skill in time with a foe's melee attack to deflect it and break that foe's stance. This provides an opening to perform a critical hit.
Golden shield used by the perfumers of Leyndell during military service. Made to be thin and light of weight, even those lacking strength can employ this shield.

Pillory Shield
Small Shield • Lvl Required 1
Pillory made to punish serious felons, used as a shield. Though made of good, sturdy wood, it is only a makeshift tool and performs as such.

Red Thorn Roundshield
Small Shield • Lvl Required 1
Weapon Skill: Parry
Use this skill in time with a foe's melee attack to deflect it and break that foe's stance. This provides an opening to perform a critical hit.
A small, wooden roundshield. It is light and easy to use, but cannot offer the damage negation of a metal shield. Its emblem is an ancient thorn design. Though it isn't much, it boosts fire damage negation

Rickety Shield
Small Shield • Lvl Required 1
Weapon Skill: Parry
Use this skill in time with a foe's melee attack to deflect it and break that foe's stance. This provides an opening to perform a critical hit.
A creaky old wooden shield, circular in shape. Roughly reinforced with vines. There are countless other shields available of better make. This piece of scrap isn't worth the effort of equipping.

Rift Shield
Small Shield • Lvl Required 1
Small metal roundshiled depicting a sinister rift. An antiquated charm that glares back at an enemy.