Hobbies And Interests
Single-handed Weapons
All single-handed weapons can be dual-wielded, allowing the player to use two guns at once at the expense of being able to throw grenades. Covenant weapons in this category include the Plasma Pistol, which can charge shots for extra damage, and the rapid fire Plasma Rifle. Both can overheat if used for too long during either sustained firing or charging. Covenant players can also use the Mauler shotgun and the Spiker, a weapon that launches spikes at a fast rate. UNSC single-handed weapons are the SMG, which behaves like a scaled-down assault rifle, and the Magnum pistol.
Close-to-Medium Range Weapons
Close-to-medium range weapons are all two-handed weapons. The two main UNSC weapons in this category are the rapid-fire Assault Rifle and the Shotgun, the latter of which is effective at close range. The Covenant players can use the Needler, a fast-firing weapon that shoots needlelike shards of crystal that can track the target at close range. Because two-handed weapons cannot be wielded at the same time, it is always possible to throw grenades while holding them.
Long-Range Weapons
With the ability to zoom in on enemies, these two-handed weapons are good for taking the enemy out from a distance. The UNSC gets the Battle Rifle, a gun that fires in three-round bursts with a single level of zoom, and the Sniper Rifle, a high damage, semi-automatic weapon with two zoom levels. The Covenant equivalent to these are the Carbine, a weapon with a high rate of fire that is good for taking down shields, and the Beam Rifle, which is similar to the sniper rifle except it overheats if used to excess and does not require reloading.
Heavy Weapons
Heavy weapons generally have low ammunition counts and cause devastating damage, especially against vehicles. The UNSC Rocket Launcher has two shots before it needs reloading and has a good blast radius for injuring enemies who aren't directly hit. The Spartan Laser takes a few seconds to warm up before firing but obliterates anything in its path. Covenant players get the Brute Shot, a grenade launcher that shoots grenades in a straight line that detonate on impact. Covenant players also have the Fuel Rod Gun, a high-damage weapon that is mainly useful against vehicles and large enemies.
Mounted Weapons
Some weapons on the battlefield will be mounted on a tripod in a fixed position, but they can be dismounted by the player for portable use at the expense of movement speed. The Heavy Machine Gun and Plasma Cannon are rapid fire weapons that are good for suppressing the enemy and quickly taking down shields. The Missile Pod holds more rockets than the standard rocket launcher, and the projectiles track targets.