The riot shield is back in CSGO, here's how to buy and use it
Fans of hostage game mode have a new tool at their disposal with the riot shield making its way out of Danger Zone.
As part of Operation Riptide, the riot shield is now available for purchase in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. It is only available in casual hostage mode and is still not available in competitive matches even though the weapon still appears normally in the heavy weapon buy menu in other modes. The change came with several unlisted buffs that improve the durability of the riot shield relative to what fans have seen from it before.
CSGO’s riot shield has been available for some time now in Danger Zone, where it functions as a defensive tool to keep players on the move. Its main purpose is to absorb enemy fire while equipped, but it can also absorb bullets when stowed away on the back. The shield can also be used as a melee weapon, which usually kills in three hits. All of these traits also apply to the new casual shield.
Casual riot shield buffed outside Danger Zone
In Danger Zone, the riot shield costs $500 and can only withstand a few bullets before breaking apart. The new casual hostage shield costs $1100 but has had its durability boosted to compensate. The casual CSGO shield also gained a grill in front of the peephole. The original Danger Zone shield has a blank hole that enemies can shoot through.
The armor absorption of the shield also appears to have been improved. The shield now takes about 40% less damage from pistols and 15% less damage from rifles, depending on the distance. Armor-piercing weapons like the AWP appear unchanged. That damage count includes blocked shots while the shield is unequipped.
Fans of Counter-Strikes past don’t have to worry about the OP riot shields of the past, though. Players don’t need to worry about players firing a pistol while blocking bullets.
How to buy the riot shield in CSGO
The riot shield can be bought from the heavy weapons buy menu, alongside shotguns and heavy machine guns, but only in casual hostage mode.
Casual hostage is a 10-on-10 game mode where the objective is to rescue captives held in the T spawn. The riot shield is only available to the CTs in this game mode for $1,100 and it takes the primary weapon slot. The casual hostage map pool includes Militia, Office, Italy, and Assault. It can also be played on two Operation Riptide maps, Insertion II and Agency. The casual mode unfortunately doesn’t contribute to
this week’s Riptide missions, but getting to try out the CSGO riot shield is plenty of incentive to play.
Read Also
Counter-Strike
IEM Cologne Major 2026 CS2 Stage 3 Pick’Em Predictions
Owen Harsono
It’s that time of the year again, as the next Counter-Strike 2 Major is right around the corner. The IEM Cologne 2026 Major is set to start on June 2, meaning you still have some time to lock in your Pick’Em predictions. The Pick’Em Challenge is one of the most exciting parts of the CS2 Majors, as it allows you to test your knowledge and predict which teams make it ...
Counter-Strike
Team Spirit concede just 10 rounds in Stage 2 of the IEM Cologne Major
Owen Harsono
It was pretty weird seeing Team Spirit having to start the IEM Cologne Major from Stage 2, but they quickly proved why that was a mistake. With donk shooting on all fronts, the Eastern Europeans speed ran the competition to book their spot in Stage 3. With how they’ve been playing, it’s hard not to wonder whether they can actually win the entire thing. These boys can sometimes be known ...
Counter-Strike
BIG pull off 0-12 comeback to stay alive – IEM Cologne Major Stage 1 recap
Owen Harsono
We’ve just witnessed arguably the worst choke in Counter-Strike Major history, and we’re only on the first stage of the IEM Cologne Major. If you didn’t tune into the Stage 1 matches, here’s what you need to know heading into Stage 2. Many fans tend to underestimate Stage 1 teams for fair reasons, but some survivors in this tournament look extremely promising. Two Eastern European teams, BetBoom Team and B8, ...
Counter-Strike
Who will win the IEM Cologne Major 2026?
Owen Harsono
If you’re looking to play it safe and back one team at the Counter-Strike 2 IEM Cologne 2026 Major, traders prediction markets platforms have a clear frontrunner – it’s Team Vitality. But if it’s not meant to be, there are a few other candidates that could lift the trophy. Here’s what traders on Polymarket and Kalshi think. If you haven’t been watching CS2 this year and are only jumping on ...
Counter-Strike
The 10 best CS2 players who have never won a Major
Owen Harsono
In Counter-Strike, winning a Major immediately puts you into legend status. It’s an achievement that proves you won the game’s biggest trophy. However, there have been some really good players that could never get their hands on the biggest trophy that Counter-Strike esports has to offer. Here is WIN.gg's list of best CS2 players who have never won a Major. ScreaM is one of Counter-Strike's most famous players for one ...
Counter-Strike
IEM Cologne Major 2026: All the teams, favorites, and outright betting odds
Owen Harsono
Mark your calendars, as the IEM Cologne Major kicks off on June 2, 2026. We’re going to see the best teams in the world compete, but which ones are actually favored to take the title? This will be the first time in 10 years that IEM Cologne will return as a Counter-Strike Major, so the stakes this year are much higher than they’ve been in a decade. In this guide, ...
Esports Betting
All IEM Cologne winners and rosters in Counter-Strike history
Owen Harsono
IEM Cologne is one of Counter-Strike’s biggest events, happening every single year. Some seasons, the event is labeled as one of Valve’s two Counter-Strike Majors of the year, but if not, still stands as one of the big events every player chases to win. With the IEM Cologne 2026 Major right around the corner, let’s take a trip down memory lane and check out every single winner of the tournament, ...
