H4:Battle Rifle

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Battle Rifle
Gameplay role
Faction:	Human (UNSC)
Weapon tier (?):	Utility weapon
Weapon class (?):	Rifle
Weapon type (?):	Bullet
Firing mode:	Semi-automatic Burst
Effective range:	Medium
Counterparts:	Human (UNSC) DMR Covenant Covenant Carbine Forerunner (Promethean) Lightrifle
Gameplay stats
Melee damage (?):	Strike Melee

The Battle Rifle is a human utility weapon featured in Halo 4.

Universe and lore

Main article: BR85HB battle rifle

In Halo 4, the battle rifle used is the BR85HB battle rifle, a 9.5×40mm rifle that is a standard service arm in the United Nations Space Command.

Gameplay

Counterparts

• 

  DMR

• 

  Covenant Carbine

• 

  Lightrifle

Campaign and Spartan Ops

A rack of Battle Rifles on Dawn.

In Halo 4's campaign, the Battle Rifle is introduced during Dawn, being able to be found on a rack shortly before venturing outside to prime the Hyperion missile. It is a common weapon to find, and the player is usually able to top out on ammunition when they come across it. Due to its burst-fire functionality, this weapon is exceptional at clearing out smaller targets such as Crawlers, Grunts, or Jackals.

Within most of Spartan Ops, loadouts from multiplayer are able to be utilized, allowing players to spawn with the Battle Rifle by default over needing to find it, although it functions identically otherwise. The Battle Rifle wasn't subject to the Weapon Tuning Update in Halo 4's campaign or Spartan Ops, thus, it features reduced damage with an increased rate of fire and overall range. Like other weapons that can be customized, the Battle Rifle is able to use multiplayer skins in both campaign and Spartan Ops, although the former option is only available through Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

Multiplayer

The Battle Rifle is one of four primary precision-based utility weapons available to the player through its loadout system. In the Xbox 360 version of Halo 4 the Battle Rifle requires the player to reach before it can be purchased with 1 Spartan Point; the version of Halo 4 played through Halo: The Master Chief Collection allows the player to select the weapon by default for loadout-based gametypes. The Battle Rifle is also the default starting weapon for Legendary gametypes, along with gametypes in the ranked playlists present in The Master Chief Collection.

Much like its predecessor, the Battle Rifle of Halo 4 is a dominant precision within the sandbox, boasting high damage with the ability to kill an enemy in four bursts, burst-fire functionality, and a default red reticle range of approximately 28 meters. It also features a 2x zoom which will buff its scoped-in range to 55 meters. Using the Damage Boost will boost the Battle Rifle's efficiency, allowing it to kill enemy players in two bursts outright, with an Overshield only taking five bursts to burn through. Pairing the Battle Rifle with the Speed Boost or Dexterity support upgrade will shift its base reload from approximately 1.8 seconds to 1.1 seconds.

While dominant, armor abilities like the thruster pack are able to break its magnetism properties, forcing an enemy to reacquire their target mid-fight. Additionally, the DMR and Lightrifle are able outrange it, while automatic options such as the Assault Rifle or Storm Rifle can out-damage this weapon in close-quarters.

The Battle Rifle also has a commendation for players to progress through in multiplayer, featuring seven tiers that require a cumulative 1,935 kills with the weapon to complete. Completing this commendation rewards XP per tier, and maxing this out along with all other UNSC loadout-specific commendations will ultimately reward the player with the PROTECTOR armor and the "Projectile" emblem.

Changes from Halo 4 to Weapon Tuning Update

• The Battle Rifle's damage has been increased by 28%. The Battle Rifle is now capable of killing in 11 bullets enabling it to kill players in four bursts instead of five.
• The Battle Rifle's rate of fire has been decreased by 16%.
• The Battle Rifle's red reticle range (range at which auto-aim benefits kick in) has been decreased.
• Two bursts from a Battle Rifles followed by a melee will now kill an opponent (2-shot melee).

Skins

Main article: Weapon skins (Halo 4)

The Battle Rifle featured several skins that could be unlocked and utilized in Halo 4's Spartan Ops and multiplayer suite, with more being added in DLC packs released in 2013. Upon Halo: The Master Chief Collection's launch in 2014, only the base series of skins for the Battle Rifle were available, with both the DLC skins and entirely new skins being added during Series 4: Reclaimer and Series 7: Elite in 2020 and 2021.

Battle Rifle v • d • e
Icon	Name	Description (MCC)	Unlock Requirements (Halo 4)	Unlock Requirements (MCC)
	Default	Default Skin applied.	Unlocked by default	Unlocked by default
	Arctic (ACT)	Customized with the ARCTIC skin.	Pre-ordering Halo 4 at specific retailers, or by purchasing the Halo 4 Game of the Year Edition.	Unlocked by default
	Dunes (DNE)	Customized with the DUNES skin.	Reach Stalker	Unlocked by default
	Steam (STM)	Customized with the STEAM skin.	Purchase the Champions Bundle or Steel Skin Pack.	Series 4, Tier 46 ( 1)
	Salvage (SLV)	Customized with the SALVAGE skin.	Purchase the Champions Bundle.	Series 4, Tier 45 ( 1)
	Blast (BLS)	Customized with the BLAST skin.	N/A (Cut)	Series 4 Challenge: Fireteam Frenzy
	Edgework (EWK)	Customized with the EDGEWORK skin.	N/A (MCC-exclusive)	Series 7, Tier 67 ( 1)
	Maw (MAW)	Customized with the MAW skin.	N/A (MCC-exclusive)	Series 7, Tier 74 ( 1)
	Pixel (PXL)	Customized with the PIXEL skin.	N/A (MCC-exclusive)	Series 7 Challenge: Pixel Perfect

Production notes

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Gallery

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