Human shield

A human shield is a type of maneuver in which an attacker forcibly pins an enemy from behind while facing another enemy, with the implied threat that if the enemy tries to take them out by shooting them, their partner might end up dying with them. In some cases, the attacker will also seize the opportunity to shoot the enemy while his guard is lowered, or otherwise throw the soldier at the enemy. They also may point a weapon at their hostage on their most vulnerable points as further insurance.

Instances of human shield usage
Shortly after Ocelot's failed attempt at shooting the CIA agent Naked Snake with a Makarov technique from the Middle East during the Virtuous Mission, Naked Snake, while overpowering the various members of the Ocelot Unit, proceeded to pin one of the Ocelot soldiers and then threw him at the enemy via his CQC skills.

A week later, during Operation Snake Eater, Ocelot himself will attempt this when trying to lure Snake over so he could best him in a duel by holding a female biker, EVA, hostage. However, the attempt was spoiled by his wasting all of his rounds due to forgetting that the Single Action Army revolver has two rounds less than the Makarov. This incident, which caused him to smell EVA and discover her gender and a perfume-like waif to her, is what later led to him deducing her role as a spy within Volgin's inner circle.

The Outer Heaven mercenary Dirty Duck utilized three Outer Heaven prisoners of war, including Jennifer's brother, as human shields in an attempt to ward off the FOXHOUND member Solid Snake, although Snake managed to spot an opening and take him out without harming the hostages.

Late into the Big Shell Incident, Vamp grabbed Emma Emmerich and placed her right between himself and Raiden and with knives placed against her when threatening Raiden. Although Raiden ultimately shot him and forced him to release Emma, he nonetheless dealt a fatal blow to Emma by stabbing her in the gut.

As Raiden found the remaining unharvested children during his mission into Mexico, the head scientist marched into the room as the children are being gassed and proceeded to point a gun at an escaped unharvested kid, George, in front of Raiden in an attempt to force him to surrender, although this ended up backfiring on the doctor when Raiden, at George's request, proceeded to cut them down.

Behind the scenes
A human shield can be used on several enemies, especially to cause them to hesitate in regards to firing on the player and give the player an opportunity to attack.

In Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, during the Snake Tales scenario "Confidential Legacy", Sergei Gurlukovich's first appearance had him placing Meryl in a human shield as Snake entered the Metal Gear's hangar in an attempt to force him to surrender. It was only after Snake surrendered that he realized that Meryl and Sergei were actually allied with each other.

Appearances

 * Metal Gear (first appearance as a story event)
 * Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (first appearance as a gameplay mechanic)
 * Metal Gear Solid 2: Subsistence (Snake Tales, non-canon)
 * Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
 * Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
 * Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
 * Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
 * Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
 * Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance