How to use an enemy as a Body Shield in Black Ops 6

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is full of new features for veteran CoD players and newcomers alike to enjoy, including the ability to use a Body Shield.

Sometimes known as a “meat shield” like in Gears of War, this new gameplay mechanic allows you to pick up an enemy player and hold them in front of you as a human shield to absorb enemy gunfire. It’s classic action movie stuff.

This feature is not a throwaway addition. It’s fun to troll your enemies with, but it’s also pretty useful to save yourself from a couple of gunshots from the enemy. And that’s all the difference you may need to stay alive in a big one-vs-one gunfight on an objective.

Taking a Body Shield in BO6 is easy once you know how to do it. You also need a little bit of guts and some luck to sneak up on an unsuspecting enemy who doesn’t know you’re there so you can grab them from behind and take control of the situation.

Here’s everything there is to know about how to use a body shield in Black Ops 6.

How to use a Body Shield in Black Ops 6

To use your enemy as a Body Shield, or a “Meat Shield,” in Black Ops 6, approach them from behind and hold the melee button to pick them up and hold them hostage. While doing this, you can use them to absorb gunfire coming your way and also use a weapon with one hand to defend yourself.

This is the default setting. But this setting can be changed by going into Settings, then Controller or Mouse & Keyboard, then Combat, then Combat Advanced Settings, and finally, Swap Body Shield and Execution Behavior.

If you have this toggled On, you hold the melee button to use a Body Shield. If you have it toggled off, you double-tap the melee button to use a Body Shield. The opposite button input will then be used for an Execution finishing move.

Make sure you check out this setting within your game before you head out onto the battlefield trying to take Body Shields and instead end up in a long execution animation, only to be finished off by the enemy’s teammate.

While holding the enemy as a shield, you can fire your weapon with your off-hand, but it will be inaccurate. Keep this in mind when trying to engage enemies at long range, and try to keep your distance if you can.