I don't like the pose much but that's a really well done sprite
I love the color choice, shading and the texturing and everythinggggg
love how the helmet actually seems to be a part of his head
The blade seems to be misaligned with the hilt, and one leg is twice the size of the other. The rendering is pretty good though, especially the shield.
The shield has a nice shading and contrast. Also, i like the reddish colour for the flesh parts, it adds a nice vibe.