Call of Duty: Ghosts

Ghosts Riot Shield

SpecialsCosts 8 Squad PointsTakes camo
SpecialsRiot Shield — Call of Duty: Ghosts weapon render

How do you unlock the Riot Shield?

The Riot Shield costs 8 Squad Points and is the only non-firearm in Ghosts with the twelve standard camouflage challenges. Its objectives replace firearm conditions with shield bashes, absorbed damage, equipment kills and defensive actions. Its camo track finishes at Woodland (Get 3 shield kills in one life 3 times). Complete every camo challenge on it and Gold unlocks.

Unlock8 Squad Points
Takes camoYes
Gold camoComplete every camo challenge on this weapon

Reviewed July 27, 2026. Game identity, platforms and customization context were checked against Activision material. Current product and add-on availability was checked against Xbox, PlayStation and Steam listings, while weapon rosters, Squad Point costs, magazine descriptions and the class-specific camouflage matrix were cross-checked against dedicated historical references. Real-world weapon bases are qualified where the in-game model is fictional or uncertain. Setup advice is editorial and avoids unsupported damage or time-to-kill claims.

Sources: Activision — Call of Duty: Ghosts fact sheet · Activision — Ghosts customization and DLC weapon article · Activision Support — Ghosts DLC compatibility · Xbox — Call of Duty: Ghosts · Xbox — Ghosts Customization Bundle for Windows · PlayStation Store — Call of Duty: Ghosts Gold Edition · Steam — Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC catalog · Steam — Call of Duty: Ghosts · Activision — Ghosts collector's edition content sheet · Xbox — Ghosts Legend Pack: Soap · Steam — Flags of the World Pack · Call of Duty Wiki — Ghosts camouflage catalog · Call of Duty Wiki — Call of Duty: Ghosts · Call of Duty Wiki — Squad Points · Call of Duty Wiki — Gold Camouflage · IMFDB — Call of Duty: Ghosts weapon identification reference · GameFAQs — Ghosts multiplayer guide · GamingBolt — Ghosts launch weapon roster and Squad Point guide

How does the Riot Shield play in Ghosts?

RoleDefensive protection and shield-bash weapon
Real-world basisGeneric modern ballistic riot shield; no exact named model is verified
StrengthsFront-facing protection can help cross exposed space or contest an objective; Its bespoke camo matrix rewards both defense and close shield eliminations
TradeoffsFlanks and poorly faced explosives bypass the protected angle; Several camo steps require specialized class setups rather than ordinary bash kills
Attachments and setup notesRadar, Scrambler and Titanium Frame are the Riot Shield's three selectable modifications; equip one at a time; Create separate pistol, Throwing Knife, C4 and no-perk classes for the relevant camo conditions
Challenge noteComplete Riot Shield's twelve class-specific multiplayer challenges—Snow, Brush, Autumn, Ocean, Red, Caustic, Scale, Crocodile, Green, Net, Trail and Woodland—to unlock Gold on this weapon. Clan Wars and downloadable camos are not required.
Progression tipCamo progress is stored on the Riot Shield itself. Read each challenge's shield requirement before building the class, because Ghosts does not use one shared objective for every gun.
Camo tipKeep the shield square to the active threat and close distance only after the opponent commits to firing, reloading or turning.
Compared withThe Combat Knife is faster and entirely offensive; the Riot Shield trades speed for frontal protection and its own Gold path.

Every camo, exact unlocks — see the full Ghosts camo directory.

Browse camos

Riot Shield — common questions

How do you unlock the Riot Shield in Ghosts?

The Riot Shield costs 8 Squad Points per soldier in Call of Duty: Ghosts; it is not locked behind a player-rank level. The level cap is 60, and prestige is 10 Prestige levels in the original multiplayer progression, with the squad system linking soldiers to Prestige milestones.

How do you unlock camos on the Riot Shield?

Camo progress is per-weapon. The standard Ghosts ladder contains Snow, Brush, Autumn, Ocean, Red, Caustic, Scale, Crocodile, Green, Net, Trail and Woodland. The condition changes by class, so every camo page includes the exact assault-rifle, SMG, LMG, marksman, sniper, shotgun and Riot Shield matrix. Only primary firearms and the Riot Shield use the normal twelve-camo path. Handguns, launchers, the Combat Knife, Gold Combat Knife and Gold PDW do not earn those camos. On the Riot Shield the final tier is Woodland — Get 3 shield kills in one life 3 times. After that, Gold needs every camo challenge on the weapon done.

Can you unlock the Riot Shield for me?

Yes — our Ghosts Multiplayer Unlock All service covers Prestige 1–10, max Squad Points, every weapon and camo, plus Colored Classes on supported Xbox 360 recovery accounts, from $19.99. See the service.

Skip the grind

Our Ghosts Multiplayer Unlock All service includes Prestige 1–10, max Squad Points, every weapon and camo, plus Colored Classes on supported Xbox 360 recovery accounts, from $19.99.

See Ghosts servicesSee exact inclusions on the service page