In this work, shear localization resulting from pore collapse is studied, in potential relation to damage and failure under shock compression. Ti-6Al-4V specimens, with cylindrical pores, were fabricated through additive manufacturing (AM). We conducted plate-impact experiments and employed a soft catch set-up for post-mortem analysis. In our experiments, the 1–2 mm voids underwent collapse, followed by the evolution of shear bands (SB), emanating from the void’s surface. Furthermore, experiments with multiple pores show the interaction of the local damage of each pore, to create mutual failure surfaces. Numerical simulations employing a plasticity damage model successfully replicated many of the observed phenomena. The experimental findings were extrapolated to real micrometer-sized pores at higher pressures and the applicability of this mechanism is examined in relation to different materials and pore morphologies.