H5G:Assault Rifle

Due to a lack of official resources, all stats on this page are gathered using unofficial tools and may be inaccurate.

Assault Rifle
Gameplay role
Counterparts:	Human (UNSC) SMG Covenant Brute Plasma Rifle Storm Rifle Forerunner Safeguard Sentinel Beam Suppressor
Gameplay stats
Damage:	Default: 7.8 (2x headshot) Tuning: 6 (6x headshot)
Damage type (?):	bullet_slow
Projectile speed:	1500 wu/s
Hitscan range (?):	50 wu
Max range (?):	100 wu
Rate of fire:	Default: 10 rounds per second Tuning: 10.5 rounds per second
Spread (?):	Default: 0.15 to 2.3 degrees (0.05 degrees min error) (0.09 to 1.38 degrees zoomed) Tuning: 0.15 to 2 degrees (0.05 degrees min error)
Magazine size:	36
Reserve ammo capacity:	216 rounds (6 magazines) 324 rounds with Ammo Mod
Zoom:	1.4x magnification (projection sight)
Melee damage (?):	strike_melee
Tag name (?):	assault_rifle
Variants and attachments
Halo 5 REQ variant(s):	None
Scope options:	Projection Sight (default) Recon Sight Longshot Sight Hybrid Sight COG Morph Sight
Attachments:	Kinetic Bolts Silencer Laser Targeter Long Barrel Stabilization Jets Energy Bayonet Extended Mag Knight Blade Threat Marker Sound Dampener

This article is part of a series on Assault Rifles

First-person shooters

Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo 3
Halo 3: ODST
Halo: Reach
Halo 4
Halo 2: Anniversary
Halo 5: Guardians
Halo: Fireteam Raven
Halo Infinite (Avenger variant)

Halo: Campaign Evolved

Twin-stick shooters

Halo: Spartan Assault

Halo: Spartan Strike

For more gameplay weapon articles, see here!

v • d • e

The Assault Rifle is a weapon featured in Halo 5: Guardians. As with all prior iterations of the weapon, the Assault Rifle is a fully-automatic loadout weapon that is commonly available in both campaign and multiplayer. The biggest changes from prior games are the inclusion of Smart Scope functionality, allowing the weapon to aim in for increased range and accuracy, and the addition of headshot multipliers—both new to Halo 5.

Universe and lore

Main article: MA5D assault rifle

In Halo 5, the Assault Rifle featured is the MA5D assault rifle; a 7.62x51mm rifle in the MA5 series utilised by the United Nations Space Command. It is the successor to the MA5B model and MA5C models featured in prior games.

Gameplay

Counterparts

• 

  SMG

• 

  Brute Plasma Rifle

• 

  Storm Rifle

• 

  Safeguard Sentinel Beam

• 

  Suppressor

Campaign

In the campaign of Halo 5: Guardians, the Assault Rifle is the default primary weapon for players playing as either Master Chief (on Blue Team levels) or Buck (on Fireteam Osiris levels). A notable exception is the first level of the game, in which Buck starts with a Shotgun and Tanaka instead has the Assault Rifle.

It can also be seen in the hands of the Liang-Dortmund mining security forces in the levels set on Meridian (Glassed, Unconfirmed, Meridian Station, and Evacuation), who will use them to fight the Prometheans.

Multiplayer and Warzone

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In Halo 5 multiplayer, the Assault Rifle is one of the default loadout weapons in most gametypes, with the exceptions being Breakout and SWAT. Ranked Arena would later drop the Assault Rifle in favor of Magnum-only starts.

In Warzone, Assault Rifles are the standard weapon used by Marines.

Unlock and acquisition requirements

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Changes

Changes from Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta to Halo 5: Guardians

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• Magazine capacity raised from 32 to 36.
• Damage reduced from beta to final release.
• Smart-scope accuracy decreased from beta to final release.
• Headshot multipliers decreased from beta to final release.

Changes from Halo 5: Guardians to Weapon Tuning Update

In the Weapon Tuning Update for Halo 5 (released as part of the Overtime patch in late 2017), 343 Industries rebalanced the Assault Rifle with the goal of giving the weapon more depth to use. The final changes lowered the weapon's overall damage-per-second by approximately 19%, raising the amount of shots required to drop an enemy's shields from 9 to 12, and the amount needed to remove a player's health from 15 to 20. Alternatively, the weapon went from needing 24 to 32 rounds to kill a player with full health and shields. In return, however, the weapon's headshot damage multiplier was doubled, making the weapon more effective if used at medium ranges. Full changes included:

• The outer reticle effectiveness was reduced by 7% in size compared to the original default AR – this slightly reduces how forgiving it is for aim assist and magnetism.
• The inner-reticle value of the AR was modified to be less forgiving and generous for registering headshots – thus requiring more accuracy on the part of the player. This value was reduced by approx. 99%.
• The effective magnetism range was reverted to the default AR value while the close-range impact of magnetism was reduced by approx. 20% (making it a little less “sticky” on close range targets).
• The rate of fire for the AR has been increased by approx. 5%
• The headshot damage multiplier bonus has been increased by approx. 200%. compared to the original AR value.
• Base damage per bullet has been reduced by approx. 23%.

Skins

Main article: Weapon skins (Halo 5: Guardians)

The Assault Rifle featured a myriad of skins that could be unlocked and utilized in Halo 5's multiplayer suite. Most were unlocked through the game's Requisition system, with REQ packs providing the bulk of the weapon's unlocks. Nearly every update from Battle of Shadow and Light to Overtime would add in more skins for the Assault Rifle; as it was the main starting weapon alongside the Magnum, the Assault Rifle features far more skins on average than the Battle Rifle, DMR, or SMG.

Assault Rifle v • d • e
Icon	Lore	Rarity	Introduced In	Unlock Requirements
Default	Assault Rifle with its original paint job.	N/A	Introduced on launch.	Unlocked by default.
Fade	Spring inevitably turns to fall.	Uncommon		Purchase a Silver REQ pack for 5,000 REQ points.
Spiral	The golden ratio rules all.	Rare		Purchase a Silver REQ pack for 5,000 REQ points.
Steel	What is victory without resolve.	Rare		Either: Pre-order Halo 5: Guardians from Best Buy to receive a code for an Advanced Promotional Pack containing the skin. Purchase a Silver REQ pack for 5,000 REQ points.
Vengeance	Thus I refute thee.	Rare		Either: Watch all videos on the Experience Halo 5 website to receive a code for an Advanced Promotional Pack containing the skin. Purchase a Silver REQ pack for 5,000 REQ points.
Lagrange	Death seeps out from cold stars. Be prepared.	Ultra Rare		Either: Pre-order Halo 5: Guardians from the Microsoft Store to receive a code for an Advanced Promotional Pack containing the skin. Purchase a Gold REQ pack for 10,000 REQ points.
Ruptive	Approved by the UNSC Ordnance Commission in 2557.	Ultra Rare		Purchase a Gold REQ pack for 10,000 REQ points.
343 Industries	Employee Discount.	Legendary		Originally exclusive to 343 Industries employees. Later released through the HCS and Spartan's Armory REQ packs.
Bracer	Though frowned on, troops in the field often adopt their own distinctive stylistic trappings.	Legendary		Purchase a Gold REQ pack for 10,000 REQ points.
HCS Contender	The champion's prize purse often contains a few items of esoteric significance.	Legendary		Released through the HCS REQ pack.
Green Machine	Spartans use the same wargear as other UNSC military personnel, with their own stylistic flair added.	Rare	Battle of Shadow and Light	Purchase a Silver REQ pack for 5,000 REQ points.
Gold Standard	You can settle for less, but why?	Legendary	Cartographer's Gift	Purchase a Gold REQ pack for 10,000 REQ points.
Last Slice	Hotter than Covenant plasma.	Rare	Infinity's Armory	Purchase a Silver REQ pack for 5,000 REQ points.
Old Abe	Hear that? Sounds like freedom taking flight!	Rare		Purchase a Silver REQ pack for 5,000 REQ points.
Scratched	You could have painted this, but you didn't.	Rare		Purchase a Gold REQ pack for 10,000 REQ points.
Boomco AR Blaster	Epic blasting action brought to life!	Ultra Rare		Purchase a Gold REQ pack for 10,000 REQ points.
Prestige	A, U! Where did you get that fancy weapon skin?	Ultra Rare		Purchase a Gold REQ pack for 10,000 REQ points.
Ehh, Arr	A Scotsman, pirate, and space monkey walk into a bar...	Legendary		Purchase a Gold REQ pack for 10,000 REQ points.
Last Dawn	Hope is renewed at light's break.	Rare	Hammer Storm	Purchase a Silver REQ pack for 5,000 REQ points.
Blue Steel	If looks could kill.	Rare	Ghosts of Meridian	Purchase a Silver REQ pack for 5,000 REQ points.
Unicorn Fist	Unknown	Legendary		Exclusive to 343 Industries employees.
Azure Dream	Get cozy with your fireteam and dominate War Games.	Rare	Memories of Reach	Purchase a Silver REQ pack for 5,000 REQ points.
UNSC	Defending Earth and her colonies since 2163.	Rare		Purchase a Silver REQ pack for 5,000 REQ points.
Fireteam Osiris	Chief Tested, Buck Approved.	Ultra Rare		Purchase a Gold REQ pack for 10,000 REQ points.
ODST	Make every shot count.	Ultra Rare		Purchase a Gold REQ pack for 10,000 REQ points.
Sharktooth Grin	The ravenous maw betrays an insatiable taste for violence.	Ultra Rare		Purchase a Gold REQ pack for 10,000 REQ points.
Spirit Of Fire	Forged to perfection.	Ultra Rare		Purchase a Gold REQ pack for 10,000 REQ points.
Blue Team	Olly olly oxen free!	Legendary		Purchase a Gold REQ pack for 10,000 REQ points.
Noble Team	To the last breath.	Legendary		Purchase a Gold REQ pack for 10,000 REQ points.
Aurum	You don't get the riches without some risk.	Ultra Rare	Hog Wild	Purchase a Gold REQ pack for 10,000 REQ points.
Counter Logic Gaming	Play like a champion.	Legendary	Warzone Firefight	Purchase the HCS Counter Logic Gaming (CLG) Pack for $9.99 (USD)
Evil Geniuses	Make 'em bleed... blue.	Legendary		Purchase the HCS Evil Geniuses (EG) Pack for $9.99 (USD)
Optic Gaming	Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe.	Legendary		Purchase the HCS Optic Gaming (OG) Pack for $9.99 (USD)
HCS Contender Blue	The next best thing to getting a pony.	Legendary		Available as a potential bonus unlock through a purchase of any HCS-branded REQ pack.
HCS Contender Red	Let's all take dying as an open action item.	Legendary		Available as a potential bonus unlock through a purchase of any HCS-branded REQ pack.
Master Control	Survive.	Rare	Anvil's Legacy	Purchase a Silver REQ pack for 5,000 REQ points.
Landgrave	Power truly does flow from the barrel of a gun.	Legendary		Purchase a Gold REQ pack for 10,000 REQ points.
Team EnVyUs	Blue with envy.	Legendary		Purchase the Team EnVyUs Pack for $9.99 (USD)
Monstrous	Fear is highly articulated.	Rare	Monitor's Bounty	Purchase a Silver REQ pack for 5,000 REQ points.
Pop Culture	Just kitten, this description is totally serious business.	Rare		Purchase a Silver REQ pack for 5,000 REQ points.
Skulls And Roses	There is a cruel irony in the use of anagathic medical treatments to enhance the hyper-lethality of Spartans.	Ultra Rare		Purchase a Gold REQ pack for 10,000 REQ points.
Sticker Shock	Every sticker has a story.	Ultra Rare		Purchase the Sticker Shock REQ pack for 80,000 REQ points or $9.99 (USD).
Fire Unicorn	Work your way up the burndown list.	Legendary		Be featured on the Halo Community Spotlight, first obtainable in 2017, unable to be obtained after 2021.
Ice Unicorn	CU II: The Wrath of Conn.	Legendary		Match a squad of 343 Industries employees during specially announced events, first obtainable in 2017, unable to be obtained after 2021.
Allegiance	Unified.	Legendary		Purchase the HCS Allegiance Pack for $9.99 (USD)
Team Liquid	Skill, passion, and friendship. But mostly skill.	Legendary		Purchase the HCS Team Liquid Pack for $9.99 (USD)
Luminosity	Thanks for being #LGLOYAL!	Legendary	Overtime	Purchase the HCS Luminosity Pack for $9.99 (USD)
Splyce	Strike hard and strike fast like a champion.	Legendary		Purchase the HCS Splyce Pack for $9.99 (USD)
Str8 Rippin	Start fraggin' like a pro.	Legendary		Purchase the HCS Str8 Rippin Pack for $9.99 (USD)

Gallery

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