Is the Knight's Cape required on a Spear User?

[zeteginara 5]

I finally started playing 1.9, planning on having Edgar take full advantage of the tanking rules.  I have a question, however.

I noticed that spears now allow characters to occasionally cover.  Is this the exact same effect as the Knight's Cape; and if so, I assume it does not stack?

Ideally, this would make it so Edgar doesn't have to wear the Knight's Cape, ergo, has room for more relics?

Apologies if this has been already asked.  I did spend a reasonable amount of time looking.

[BTB 353]

Same effect, doesn't stack.