Mullets have six points (rather than five as in Gallo-British heraldry), and beasts may be colored with patterns, (barry, bendy, paly, chequy, etc.).

[3] These two charges in particular had a special significance in Germany, where the eagle became symbolic of the Holy Roman Empire, and the lion came to represent certain feudal lords.

Black charges occur on red fields and vice versa more often than in other countries, as in the arms of Stadler, Roder and Homberg.

[7] While each of these variations and some others exist in German heraldry, it is worth noting that even ermine is uncommon, vair is seldom found, and the others are rarer still.

German heraldry (and with it, Nordic heraldry) does take a distinct approach to divisions of the field, however, in dividing by the scheme of "im (Gemeine Figur)-schnitt (X:Y) (Richtung des Schnitts)," or, "by (common charge)-section (X:Y) (direction of the cut)," where X signifies the number of charges issuant above the cut, and Y signifies the number issuant below.

[9] The seal (German: Siegel) was used extensively in the late Middle Ages, and was instrumental in spreading heraldry to the various institutions.

[11] In German heraldry, as in other European heraldic traditions, the most commonly used charges include the cross, the eagle, and the lion.

Unlike other traditions, however, German heraldry features charges, especially lions, colored with patterns such as barry, paly, chequy, etc.

[13] Lions and other charges colored with furs, such as ermine, and semés, but not barry or chequy, are found in French heraldry.

The two most commonly occurring animals in heraldry, the lion and the eagle, bore special political significance in medieval Germany and the Holy Roman Empire.

German coats of arms are frequently depicted in period sources with a helmet and crest over the shield, often surrounded by mantling.

[21] The arms of the last margraves of Brandenburg-Ansbach consist of a shield with twenty-one quarterings topped with a record thirteen helmets and crests.

These cities typically bear a large open crown over the shield, a privilege granted under German town law.

The coat of arms of Hamburg, since a city seal dating from 1245, have featured two stars over a white castle upon a red shield.

The arms of Weimar, since the 14th century, has depicted a black lion rampant upon a semy of red hearts on a gold shield.

There was no structured Church heraldry until the 17th century, when a formalized system for ecclesiastical hats attributed to Pierre Palliot came into use.

[27] The full system of emblems around the shield was regulated in the Catholic Church by the letter of Pope Pius X Inter multiplices curas of February 21, 1905.

[28] The Collegio Araldico (College of Heraldry) in Rome is recognized by the Holy See but has no enforcement powers, and the Annuario Pontificio ceased publishing the arms of Cardinals and previous Popes after 1969.

[29] International custom and national law govern limited aspects of heraldry, but since 1960, shield composition has depended on expert advice.

The Armorial Wijnbergen contains 168 arms of German nobles (vassals of Philip III of France) dating from c. 1270 - c. 1285, including Henry of Petersheim (blazon: Gules billetty a lion rampant argent) and Ferry II of Daun, lord of Oberstein (blazon: Argent fretty sable).

[33] Although the rule of the use of the tilting helmet by burghers was not always obeyed, it has still become the norm in many countries of the German-Nordic heraldic tradition, e.g. in Swedish heraldry.