Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Advanced Warfare Heavy Shield

SpecialsUnlocked at Level 12No camo
SpecialsHeavy Shield — Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare weapon render

How do you unlock the Heavy Shield?

The Heavy Shield unlocks at Level 12 in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. It is one of the 34 selectable weapons in the original multiplayer launch roster in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and fills the deployable defensive shield role. It can be carried as protection or deployed to create a piece of cover. After reaching a rank-gated launch weapon's level, spend one standard Create-a-Class Unlock Token to equip it. It does not take camo.

UnlockLevel 12 · 1 Unlock Token
Takes camoNo
Original launch weapon gated at Level 12 and one standard Create-a-Class Unlock Token on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Windows PC.

Reviewed July 28, 2026. Release identity, modes, Exo movement, Pick 13, DLC and M1 Irons access were checked against Activision sources. The final roster, launch access gates and post-patch class challenge matrix were reconciled against dedicated historical references and individual camouflage records. Weapon advice is editorial; unsupported damage and magazine statistics are intentionally omitted.

Sources: Activision — Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare · Activision — Advanced Warfare multiplayer reveal · Activision — Advanced Warfare release · Activision — Day Zero Edition · Activision — Havoc DLC overview · Activision — AE4 availability · Activision — Ascendance and Ohm · Activision Support — M1 Irons · MP1st — launch multiplayer roster · MP1st — later weapon update and old-generation scope · Call of Duty Wiki — Advanced Warfare challenges · Call of Duty Wiki — M1 Irons camouflage profile · GameFAQs — post-patch camouflage values mirror · PlayStation Store — Advanced Warfare Digital Edition pack · Steam — Backdraft Personalization Pack · Steam — Psychedelic Personalization Pack · Steam — X-Ray Personalization Pack

How does the Heavy Shield play in Advanced Warfare?

RoleDeployable defensive shield
Real-world basisA fictional or substantially redesigned Advanced Warfare special weapon; no exact production counterpart is asserted
StrengthsIt can be carried as protection or deployed to create a piece of cover; The Heavy Shield has a defined deployable defensive shield purpose instead of being treated as interchangeable class filler
TradeoffsIt has no weapon-camouflage track, and an isolated shield user can be bypassed or attacked from another angle; The Heavy Shield still depends on route choice and first-shot discipline in Advanced Warfare's fast Exo-movement fights
Setup notesBuild the class around the weapon's unique input and engagement window instead of forcing a normal rifle template onto it; Use perks and equipment to reach the situations its special mechanic is designed to solve
Challenge noteThe Heavy Shield has no weapon-camouflage gallery or challenge track in Advanced Warfare. It cannot earn Gold, Diamond or Royalty.
Progression tipHeavy Shield is retained in the selectable 34-weapon launch roster but excluded from the 48 camo-eligible weapon count and from Royalty.
Use tipDeploy it where it protects an objective interaction or a teammate's firing position instead of dropping it in an open route with no follow-up.
Compared withThe Heavy Shield is defensive utility; the MDL and Crossbow are offensive special weapons.

Every camo, exact unlocks — see the full Advanced Warfare camo directory.

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Heavy Shield — common questions

What level does the Heavy Shield unlock at in Advanced Warfare?

The Heavy Shield unlocks at Level 12 in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare multiplayer. After reaching a rank-gated launch weapon's level, spend one standard Create-a-Class Unlock Token to equip it. The level cap is 50, and prestige is 15 original Prestige levels followed by 15 Master Prestige ranks, ending at Grand Master Prestige.

Does the Heavy Shield take camos?

No — the Heavy Shield cannot equip weapon camouflage in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. It uses its own weapon challenges instead.

Can you unlock the Heavy Shield for me?

Yes — our Advanced Warfare Xbox 360 Unlock All service covers a 1–2 day Xbox 360 recovery for Prestige, Unlock All, weapons and camos, from $19.99. See the service.

More Specials

All Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare weapons →
MDL — Call of Duty: Advanced WarfareMDLLevel 22 · SpecialsCrossbow — Call of Duty: Advanced WarfareCrossbowLevel 48 · SpecialsM1 Irons — Call of Duty: Advanced WarfareM1 IronsFree title update · Specials

Skip the grind

Our Advanced Warfare Xbox 360 Unlock All service includes a 1–2 day Xbox 360 recovery for Prestige, Unlock All, weapons and camos, from $19.99.

See Advanced Warfare servicesSee exact inclusions on the service page