Gameplay

Heroic

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

The Heroic shield, as per Halo: The Master Chief Collection's release.

"Your enemies are as numerous as they are ferocious; their attacks are devastating. Survival is not guaranteed."
— Description from Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, and Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

"Fight against formidable foes that will truly test your skill and wits; this is the way Halo is meant to be played."
— Description from Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo: Reach.

"Fight against foes that will truly test your skill - this is the way Halo is meant to be played!"
— Description from Halo 4.

"Formidable opposition will test your resolve. Skilled, tactical play required. Recommended for veteran Halo players."
— Description from Halo 5: Guardians

"You will have to utilize every skill and tactic you've learned to survive. Recommended for players who have mastered Halo Wars 2."
— Description from Halo Wars 2

"Your foes are well-armed and resolute. Quell the storm and ride the thunder. Recommended for veteran Halo players."
— Description from Halo Infinite

Heroic is the second hardest difficulty in the Halo series campaign mode.

Summary[edit]

The original Heroic shield.

The symbol for the Heroic difficulty setting in the trilogy is represented with a shield that has the Marathon logo encrusted into the center; over the shield are two UNSC machetes crossed over each other. In Halo 3: ODST, it is represented by two silenced SMGs crossed over a shield with the Marathon symbol encrusted into the center.

Heroic pits you against the Covenant, who now rely on more efficient battlefield tactics, and their weapons inflict more damage per hit than their Normal-level counterparts. Elites will often take cover when their shields are down, and Grunts can withstand quite a few bullets. It is otherwise considered "Hard", in other games. While Normal represents health, strength and firepower of the Master Chief, Covenant and Mariness, Bungie has stated that Heroic difficulty is the "true Halo universe", due to the fact that enemy numbers, behavior, and accuracy are more realistic.

The following are a list of changes in the Heroic difficulty:

  • Health meter is smaller. Hits do more damage.
  • Enemy numbers increased.
  • Increased AI on enemies. They will behave much more intelligently to defeat the player while also maintaining defense.
  • Energy shields are only 75% their "normal" capacity.
  • Increased shields and armor for enemies.
  • Enemy placements have changed. Lower ranking Covenant troops will be replaced by higher ranking ones. Tougher enemies like Hunters will appear in certain areas of the level where they were not originally present in Normal.
  • Enemies will wield more powerful weapons than they did in their Easy and Normal counterparts.
  • Marines have reduced effectiveness and are weaker; their tactical intelligence has also been reduced.

Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo: Anniversary[edit]

General differences[edit]

Awards[edit]

Halo 2[edit]

General differences[edit]

Awards[edit]

  • In Halo 2: Vista:
    • The Demon achievement is awarded for completing a level of Halo 2: Vista without dying on Heroic or harder.
    • The Hero achievement is awarded for completing Halo 2: Vista on Heroic.
  • In Halo: The Master Chief Collection:

Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST[edit]

The Halo 3: ODST Heroic shield.

General differences[edit]

Awards[edit]

Halo Wars[edit]

General differences[edit]

Awards[edit]

  • The Adjudicate the Arbiter achievement is awarded for completing Halo Wars on Heroic.
  • The Mr. Punctual achievement is awarded for completing all missions in Halo Wars on Heroic, under the par times.
  • The Big Al's Scooter achievement is awarded for winning a Heroic Skirmish game against AI in under ten minutes.
  • The Penny Pincher achievement is awarded for obtaining a winning high score against a Heroic AI with ten or less squads.

Halo: Reach[edit]

The Halo: Reach Heroic shield.

General differences[edit]

Awards[edit]

Halo 4[edit]

The Halo 4 Heroic shield.

General differences[edit]

Awards[edit]

  • In Halo 4:
    • The Bropocalypse achievement is awarded for completing any campaign mission cooperatively on Heroic or harder.
    • The Bromageddon achievement is awarded for completing Halo 4 cooperatively on Heroic or harder.
  • Shared between Halo 4 and Halo: The Master Chief Collection:

Halo 5: Guardians[edit]

The Halo 5: Guardians Heroic shield.

General differences[edit]

Awards[edit]

  • The Enemy of my Enemy achievement is awarded for helping the Elite General Kitun 'Arach charge the hill in Osiris on Heroic difficulty.
  • The Savior achievement is awarded for keeping 6 miners alive at the elevator in Evacuation on Heroic difficulty.
  • The Fire Drill achievement is awarded for completing Evacuation within 18 minutes without dying on Heroic difficulty.
  • The No Witnesses achievement is awarded for destroying the Phantom at the Covenant camp in Reunion on Heroic difficulty.
  • The Take a Hike achievement is awarded for traversing the canyon without a Phaeton in Reunion on Heroic difficulty.
  • The Rolling Thunder achievement is awarded for operating four different vehicles at once during Genesis on Heroic difficulty.
  • The Prison Break achievement is awarded for simultaneously destroying two Wardens in The Breaking on Heroic difficulty.
  • The Icy Cool achievement is awarded for using a ground pound on an exterior power core in Guardians on Heroic difficulty, as per the achievement's official description.
    • It is actually unlockable on any difficulty.
  • The Double Stuff achievement is awarded for simultaneously destroying two cores in Guardians on Heroic difficulty.
  • The My Rules achievement is awarded for completing any mission with three or more skulls active on Heroic difficulty.
  • The One for All achievement is awarded for completing any mission in co-op on Heroic difficulty.
  • The All for One achievement is awarded for completing all missions in co-op on Heroic difficulty.
  • The Heroes Rise achievement is awarded for completing Halo 5: Guardians on Heroic difficulty.

Halo Wars 2[edit]

The Halo Wars 2 Heroic shield.

General differences[edit]

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Awards[edit]

  • The The hard fight achievement is awarded for completing Halo Wars 2 on Heroic.

Halo Infinite[edit]

General differences[edit]

Help.png This section needs expansion. You can help Halopedia by expanding it.

Awards[edit]