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SR disambig icon This article is about the combat feature where a person is used as a shield. For the diversion involving stealing cars, see Hostage.
Ui hud use human shield

UI image in Saints Row: The Third, Saints Row IV and Gat out of Hell

Human Shield is a Combat feature in Saints Row 2, Saints Row: The Third, Saints Row IV[1] and Saints Row: Gat out of Hell.[2]

Overview[]

Human Shields can be obtained by pressing Left Bumper Xbox360, L1 PS3 or Left Ctrl PC when standing near someone in Saints Row 2. In Saints Row: The Third, the Action button is used to grab a Human Shield.

When holding a Human Shield, pressing the Grab button again Throws the person. A "Shield Kill" can be performed, see Controls for the specific button on each platform.

Civilians, police and gang members can all be used as Human Shields. However, some of them cannot be used and will push Playa away when attempting to do so. In Saints Row 2 when grabbing a civilian, police do not shoot at the lowest levels of Notoriety, but at higher they shoot whatever the circumstances. When using a police officer, the same applies but for higher levels they try to negotiate and outflank Playa and only shoot at the highest levels. Gang members only stop shooting if one of their own is used as a Human Shield, however at higher levels of notoriety they shoot regardless. It is not possible to grab Special Homies during missions, and using a Homie as a Human Shield causes them to become hostile.

Human Shield is featured in the mission "Down Payment" and "Bank Error in Your Favor" in Saints Row 2. Grabbing 50 Human Shields grants the "Love Thy Neighbor" Achievement.

Human Shields can be used for many reasons. The main reason is to stop the police and gangs from shooting, while freely shooting at them and refill health if it is low. Grabbing a Human Shield and executing them expends only one bullet whereas it normally takes more than one. This can be used to save ammunition, or to stop them attacking. Also, they can be used to throw from heights to get respect for the stunt "Throwing".

In Saints Row: The Third and Saints Row IV, pressing the Human Shield button while running near a NPC makes Playa tackle a NPC and take them as a Human Shield.

The Bloodsucker Pack DLC for Saints Row: The Third replaces normal execution animation with the Dracula Blood Sucking animation and gives the ability to restore player's health after executing Human Shield.

Weapons[]

Not all weapons can be used when using a Human Shields. These are the weapons that can be used:

Saints Row 2[]

  • Melee (Geiger Counter, Detonator and Stun Gun only)
  • Pistols (No Dual Pistols)
  • SMGs (No Dual SMGs)
  • Shotguns
  • Assault Rifles (Except the Mini-Gun)
  • Special Weapons
  • Thrown Weapons

Saints Row: The Third[]

  • Pistols (No Dual Pistols)
  • SMGs (No Dual SMGs)
  • Shotguns
  • Rifles
  • Explosives
  • Special (except the Reaper Drone)

Saints Row IV[]

Gat out of Hell[]

Trivia[]

  • This feature was removed from the Japanese version of the game, along with the Mayhem and Hitman activities.
  • If a homie's Human Shield is frozen with Freeze Blast or Buff, they will move as if the shield not frozen, although they will be covered in ice.
  • Saints members and enemy gang members will occasionally take human shields. In Saints Row 2, Saints will execute the human shield when recruited as homies, otherwise they will release the human shield. In other games, gang members will always execute the human shield.

Gallery[]

Carlos with a Human Shield promo

Carlos with a Human Shield

Human Shield SR:TT

Playa with a Human Shield

Bank Error in Your Favor - holding Jessica as a Hostage

Jessica being used as a Human Shield by Playa

Veteran Child (Mission) - Mid-mission Cutscene

Shaundi being used as a Human Shield by Veteran Child

Human Shield during I'm Free - Free Falling - Saints Row The Third promo

Promo for Saints Row: The Third with a Human Shield


References[]


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