How does one get better shields? I am getting slaughtered in crucible
Well, technically resilience gives more health but it's very small. I don't know the new numbers, but it's honestly not worth getting worked up over. 4 was the old number people went for at minimum (it might translate to 40 now).
Arc and void titans have some natural shield perks. The real shining beauty for titans is the exotic helmet One Eyed Mask (OEM). If you get hit, the enemy is marked and if you kill them you start to regenerate your health, shields, and gain an over shield (blue layer over health bar) immediately, along with a minor damage boost bonus. This is considered very powerful for anyone that knows how to win a gunfight. It won't help you if you don't know how to maneuver around and catch opponents off guard.
Warlocks can generate an over shield if you use healing rift as opposed to empowering rift, but only if you stand in the rift. The middle tree for dawnblade (solar) has a super, well of radiance, that regenerates health, shields, and gives an over shield, all very fast. It's pretty useless in Crucible as shutdown supers like blade barrage, thundercrash and novabomb are common. Some people still use it to control key points or attempt to win final round point captures.
Hunters right now have a super powerful thing going on this season. The seasonal artifact has a mod that let's hunters generate shields when dodging. Pair that up with wormhusk (chunky instant health/shield boost) and bottom tree arcstrider for some insane, top tier synergy. Win and escape any engagement, and even jump right into another.
I hope this helps. These are basically training wheels. The real key is landing your shots, knowing the map lanes, and knowing how to move fast and use obstacles for cover as you travel around like a beast.
I am assuming seasonal artifacts are not permanent, is that correct?
Currently a hunter right now. I am not making effective use of my dodges and thinking of switching another class. ---