Loadout

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Halo 4's loadout menu right before a game on Haven begins.

Loadouts are a multiplayer feature in Halo 4. Returning from Halo: Reach, Halo 4's loadouts are heavily expanded upon and allow for a greater level of player customization and freedom. Players are able to choose from primary weapons, secondary weapons, grenades, tactical packages, and support upgrades. In-universe, loadouts are based on mandatory protocols issued to SPARTAN-IV personnel which dictate that they carry a primary weapon like a rifle, carry a secondary weapon like a pistol, choose grenades, equip an armor ability, choose tactical packages, and assign a support upgrade.

In a manner similar to Reach, and later, early Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer, Halo 4 features predetermined loadouts for players to use. These featured armor abilities such as hardlight shields and holograms, with assault rifles and DMRs respectively. Certain gametypes may also force premade loadouts, including Legendary gametypes, and those seen in the ranked playlists of Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Loadouts can be edited for use in custom gametypes. In this situation, power weapons like sniper rifles and rocket launchers can be added. Additionally, options that the player hasn't unlocked for use in War Games can still be used, including Specialization-specific tactical packages and support upgrades.

The original release of Halo 4 allowed players to customize their loadouts mid-game, although this functionality was removed with the release of Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Players can rename their loadouts by entering any name they wish, up to 12 characters. This differs from Halo: Reach, in which names were chosen from a pre-selected list. Unlike service tags, loadout names are not censored against profanity, as they are not visible to other players.

Like with armor, guest profiles are able to customize their loadouts with any and all options which have been unlocked by their host.

Loadout options[edit]

Loadout slots[edit]

Loadout slots	Description	Unlock requirements (Halo 4)	Unlock requirements (Halo: MCC)
Loadout 1	Select the weapons and abilities in each Loadout.	Unlocked by default	Unlocked by default
Loadout 2		Reach
Loadout 3		Reach
Loadout 4		Reach
Loadout 5		Reach

Primary weapons[edit]

"Primary Weapons are the all-purpose starting weapons in each Loadout. Choose between short-range, mid-range and long-range weapons."

— Menu description.

Primary weapons	Description	Unlock requirements (Halo 4)	Unlock requirements (Halo: MCC)
Assault Rifle	Standard fully automatic firearm of all UNSC branches, effective at both close-range and mid-range combat.	Unlocked by default	Unlocked by default
Battle Rifle	Utilizes precise, three-round burst functionality, making it a formidable mid-range, semi-automatic weapon.	Reach and purchase for 1 Spartan Point
DMR	Premiere marksman rifle of the UNSC, offering impressive single-fire accuracy at reasonably longe distances.	Reach and purchase for 1 Spartan Point
Storm Rifle	Fully automatic energy weapon widely considered the successor to the traditional Plasma Rifle.	Reach and purchase for 2 Spartan Points
Covenant Carbine	Notable semi-automatic mid-range accuracy, firing ballistic rounds unlike most other Covenant weapons.	Reach and purchase for 2 Spartan Points
Suppressor	Fully automatic Forerunner infantry weapon, firing bolts of hard light in rapidly accelerating succession.	Reach and purchase for 2 Spartan Points
Lightrifle	Precision weapon that fires beams of hard light for mid-range to long-range combat.	Reach and purchase for 2 Spartan Points

Secondary weapons[edit]

"Secondary Weapons are short-range to mid-range handguns. You can equip Primary Weapons into this slot with the 'Firepower' Tactical Package."

— Menu description.

Secondary weapons	Description	Unlock requirements (Halo 4)	Unlock requirements (Halo: MCC)
Magnum	UNSC's personal sidearm of choice due to its excellence at close-range to mid-range engagements.	Unlocked by default	Unlocked by default
Plasma Pistol	Semi-automatic energy weapon capable of a scaled-burst effect which disables electronics.	Reach and purchase for 2 Spartan Points
Boltshot	Forerunner particle dilator used for both its precision at mid-range and its burst functionality when up close.	Reach and purchase for 2 Spartan Points

Grenades[edit]

"Grenades are thrown projectiles that detonate on a timer."

— Menu description.

Grenades	Description	Unlock requirements (Halo 4)	Unlock requirements (Halo: MCC)
Frag Grenade	The Fragmentation Grenade, which as existed relatively unchanged for centuries, is used to efficiently clear any dug-in enemies.	Unlocked by default	Unlocked by default
Plasma Grenade	The Plasma Grenade, when triggered, is engulfed in latest plasma, allowing it to cling to targets before detonating.	Reach and purchase for 2 Spartan Points
Pulse Grenade	The Pulse Grenade forcefully detonates and forms a hazardous ionization sphere which eventuyally collapses, destroying any nearby targets.	Reach and purchase for 2 Spartan Points

Armor abilities[edit]

"Armor Abilities are additional hardware components which provide specific combat ability."

— Menu description.

Main article: Armor abilities

Armor abilities	Description	Unlock requirements (Halo 4)	Unlock requirements (Halo: MCC)
None	No armor ability equipped.	Default selection	Unlocked by default
Promethean Vision	Allow users to detect enemy signatures through walls and other hard surfaces.	Reach and purchase for 2 Spartan Points
Thruster Pack	Enables a powerful burst of movement offering the ability to evade or quickly close the gap.	Reach and purchase for 2 Spartan Points
Jet Pack	Allows users limited flight through a vertical lift propulsion system similar to that of EVA reentry packs.	Reach and purchase for 3 Spartan Points
Hologram	Allows users to generate a nearly identical holographic decoy to deceive enmeies during combat.	Reach and purchase for 3 Spartan Points
Hardlight Shield	Allows users to generate a protective barrier of hard light which stops most small arms fire and some explosives.	Reach and purchase for 3 Spartan Points
Active Camouflage	Allows users to generate a visual effect astonishingly close to invisibility.	Reach and purchase for 3 Spartan Points
Autosentry	The Fragmentation Grenade, which as existed relatively unchanged for centuries, is used to efficiently clear any dug-in enemies.	Reach and purchase for 3 Spartan Points
Regeneration Field	An automated turret which can be deployed to defend its user or command a key battlefield chokepoint.	Reach and purchase for 3 Spartan Points

Tactical packages[edit]

"Tactical Packages are armor mods which enhance your combat capability."

— Menu description.

Main article: Tactical package

Tactical packages	Description	Unlock requirements (Halo 4)	Unlock requirements (Halo: MCC)
None	No modification equipped into the Tactical Package slot.	Default selection	Unlocked by default
Shielding	Shielding speeds up your armor's energy shield recharge rate.	Reach and purchase for 1 Spartan Point
Mobility	Mobility allows unlimited sprint.	Reach and purchase for 1 Spartan Point
Resupply	Resupply allows the recovery of grenades from fallen allies and foes.	Reach and purchase for 1 Spartan Point
AA Efficiency	AA Efficiency increases rate at which energy recharges for Armor Abilities.	Reach and purchase for 1 Spartan Point
Grenadier	Grenadier increases grenade carrying capacity.	Reach and purchase for 1 Spartan Point
Firepower	Firepower allows the use of a primary weapon in the secondary weapon slot.	Reach and purchase for 1 Spartan Points
Requisition	In modes with personal ordnance, Requisition lets the player request new choices when an ordnance is granted.	Reach Spartan Rank TK-10
Wheelman	Wheelman increases the durability of vehicles the player is commandeering and mitigates the effects of EMPs.	Reach Spartan Rank OP-10
Fast Track	Fast Track allows user to advance quicker in rank.	Reach Spartan Rank PR-10	Unavailable
Resistor	Resistor allows the player to maintain their full mobility and dexterity while taking incoming fire.	Purchase the Champions Bundle	Unlocked by default as of December 2022 update^[1]

Support upgrades[edit]

"Support Upgrades are armor mods which enhance your support capability."

— Menu description.

Main article: Support upgrade

Support upgrades	Description	Unlock requirements (Halo 4)	Unlock requirements (Halo: MCC)
None	No modification equipped into the Support Upgrade slot.	Default selection	Unlocked by default
Ammo	Ammo increases the ammunition capacity for both starting weapons and ordnance drops.	Reach and purchase for 1 Spartan Point
Dexterity	Dexterity speeds up and weapon swapping.	Reach and purchase for 1 Spartan Point
Sensor	Sensor increases motion sensor range.	Reach and purchase for 1 Spartan Point
Awareness	Awareness allows the use of motion sensors while using a scope.	Reach and purchase for 1 Spartan Point
Explosives	Explosives alters grenade performance, increasing blast radius and decreasing grenade damage received.	Reach and purchase for 1 Spartan Point
Ordnance Priority	In modes with personal ordnance, Ordnance Priority offers more frequent ordnance drops to user.	Reach and purchase for 1 Spartan Point
Stability	Stability steadies your weapon while being struck by incoming fire.	Reach Spartan Rank RG-10
Gunner	Gunner increases how long a mounted weapon can fire before overheating as well as movement speed with detached turrets.	Reach Spartan Rank PT-10
Stealth	Stealth dampens your footsteps, making you harder to see on Promethean Vision, and increases your assassination speed.	Reach Spartan Rank WK-10
Nemesis	Nemesis marks enemy responsible for your last death.	Reach Spartan Rank SK-10
Drop Recon	Drop Recon calls out ordnance drops in advance.	Reach Spartan Rank EN-10
Recharge	Recharge lowers the time it takes before one's shields begin recharging.	Unlocked by default as of August 20, 2013^[2]	Unlocked by default as of December 2022 update^[1]
Survivor	Survivor prevents the death of operators when their vehicle is destroyed.	Unlocked by default as of August 20, 2013^[2]	Unlocked by default as of December 2022 update^[1]

Gallery[edit]

Menu images[edit]

The loadout menu of Halo 4 on the Xbox 360 edition of the game, in a preliminary video detailing the game's loadout and unlock system.
The loadout menu of Halo 4 on the Xbox 360 edition of the game, in a build of the game seen at E3 2012.
The loadout menu of Halo 4 on the Xbox 360 edition of the game.
The loadout menu of Halo 4 on Halo: The Master Chief Collection prior to the inclusion of Halo 4 on PC in 2020.
The loadout menu of Halo 4 following the inclusion of Halo 4 on PC in 2020.