When you're deep in a frantic battle in Black Ops 6, bullets fly everywhere, and your options run thin. At that moment, all you have is quick thinking and nearby enemies.
Thankfully, BO6 introduces the Body Shield mechanic, letting you pull off the action-movie move of using an enemy as a shield. This article explains how to use the Body Shield mechanic effectively in the game.
How To Use an Enemy as a Body Shield
To effectively execute this move, your first step is to sneak up behind them without being detected.
Use perks like Ninja to help muffle your footsteps and stay under the radar. Approach your target carefully, sticking to cover and flanking routes to avoid detection.
Be cautious of your environment and stick to the outskirts of the map to avoid being seen.
You need to be accurate with your timing, especially in high-pressure or goal-oriented scenarios where players tend to be distracted.
When directly behind your target, execute the Body Shield move by double-tapping the melee button. The controls vary depending on your platform:
- PC: Use the
‘V’key - PlayStation: Tap
‘R3’ - Xbox: Press
‘RS’
Avoid holding down the melee button, as this will trigger the Finishing Move instead of allowing you to pick up the shield.
This feels like how executions work since both are tied to the melee button. You could expose yourself to enemy attacks if you perform a finisher by mistake.
You can tweak the settings to focus on Body Shield or Finishing Moves, depending on what better fits your playstyle.
Grabbing an enemy turns them into a shield that absorbs the bullets intended for you.
How To Make the Most of Body Shield Mechanic
While this can give you a temporary upper hand, it does come with limitations.
Your movement speed will slow down, and you'll be limited to hip-fire, which lowers your accuracy. This trade-off means you should focus on close-range encounters and avoid long-range shootouts.
The shield is only up for a short time, usually up to 15 seconds, or until the enemy’s health runs out, so make every second count.
Use this window to reposition, reload, or eliminate nearby threats. Choosing a melee weapon over a firearm can improve your movement speed when using a Body Shield.
This gives you greater agility and makes it more difficult for you to hit. Remain vigilant about when you release your shield.
Holding it for too long can also open you to attacks, especially if you’re surrounded or need to take a more aggressive stance.
The Body Shield mechanic is ideal for escaping tight spots or turning the tide when outnumbered.
It’s especially useful in modes like Domination or Search and Destroy, where players are usually locked in on defending or attacking positions.
Picking up a Body Shield here can throw off the enemy’s plans and make their teammate a liability. What makes this feature even more interesting is the integration of proximity chat.
If it’s turned on, you can hear your hostage’s reactions or talk to them. You might hear their frantic pleas for help or taunt them for fun.
However, the enemy team can quickly counter by targeting exposed areas like your hostage’s head or feet, so be ready to adapt.
How To Survive When You're the One Being Used as a Body Shield
It all feels under control until you end up being the one helplessly shielding your enemy from shots.
If you find yourself as the hostage, the first thing to do is stay as calm as possible. Getting grabbed might be stressful, but panicking won’t help.
Your best chance of survival comes from acting smartly, not frantically. Proximity chat is one of your most powerful tools as a Body Shield.
If proximity chat is enabled, it can become your lifeline. Quickly call out the enemy’s position, movement direction, and any nearby threats to your teammates.
Besides just making callouts, you can take this opportunity to play mind games with your captor to throw them off balance.
While being held, you’re also restricted in your actions, but that doesn’t mean you can’t seize an opportunity to break free.
Pay attention to where your captor is moving. If they get too close to water or take a fall, you’ll be released from their hold.
At times like these, be prepared to act swiftly and get to cover or move away from danger.
The enemy might also be forced to let go of you if they’re under heavy fire, or the shield timer might run out.
When it happens, react instantly and get to cover or a safer location.
That wraps up all the tips you need to master the Body Shield mechanic and survive if you are used as one.
Would you rather perform a Finishing Move or take an enemy as a Body Shield, and why? Comment down below!
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