Editing Weapon types

Many different weapons exist across the [[Halo (disambiguation)|''Halo'' video games]], all of which can be grouped together and classified in numerous ways. The following is an overview of classifications created by or officially recognized by the developers of ''Halo'', and how they affect gameplay.

*'''Flag'''{{Ref/File|Id=H2EKFlag|H2EK|tags\objects\weapons\multiplayer\flag\flag.weapon}} - Pole shaped multiplayer weapons used for CTF gamemodes. [[Flags]] are [[Dual wielding|dual wielded]] with [[Magnum|magnums]] in ''Halo 4'' and ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.

Also known internally as "support_low" weapons{{Ref/File|Id=H2EKSupport|H2EK|tags\objects\weapons\support_low\brute_shot\brute_shot.weapon}}, '''support weapons''' are any weapon held in first person down by the character's hips. Support weapon animations are very similar to those of the [[flamethrower]] from ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', which may have directly inspired the category. Only two support weapons appear in the finalized games, being the [[brute shot]] and [[sentinel beam]]. Both weapons, along with the class itself, did not return in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', marking ''[[Halo 3]]'' as the final appearance of the weapon class. Later appearances of the brute shot and sentinel beam use rifle animations with overlays positioning character arms to hold the weapons in their typical support location. It is because of this reason that Marines in ''Halo Infinite'' are able to use the sentinel beam for the first time.

Most weapons are able to perform melee attacks, but for energy swords, gravity hammers, and multiplayer weapons this is their only means of attack. Some ranged weapons also feature increased melee damage, denoted by slow and heavy animations or by featuring blades and bayonets. The only games to feature ranged weapons with different melee damage types are ''Halo 2'', ''Halo 3'', ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', and ''Halo Infinite''.

Being comprised of multiple projectile types such as bullets, spikes, and the impact damage of explosives, '''kinetic weapons''' are the most common form of projectile damage. Often times kinetic weapons deal consistent damage against a variety of different materials but usually lack the ability to significantly damage vehicles. In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo 3: ODST'' bullet damage is reduced against [[shields]], and in ''Halo: Reach'' and the ''[[Reclaimer Saga]]'' games the [[sniper rifle]] deals extra damage against vehicles. In ''Halo Infinite'' kinetic weapons can be refilled with kinetic ammo.

'''Plasma weapons''' are [[Covenant]] or [[Banished]] weapons that are very effective against energy shields. While they always deal reduced damage to player health, this trait is not mutually exclusive against the health of other characters. In ''Halo Infinite'' plasma weapons can be refilled with plasma ammo.

'''Hardlight weapons''' are [[Forerunner]] in origin and disintegrate targets upon inflicting critical damage. Their use differs slightly from game to game. Introduced in ''Halo 4'' they glow orange and possess a damage type similar to the [[covenant carbine]], having no bonus against any material but able to destroy [[Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|Jackal shields]] and deployable cover. In ''Halo 5: Guardians'' they now deal bonus damage to vehicles and [[Promethean]] weakspots. In ''Halo Infinite'' hardlight is now purple, can kill vehicle occupants without destroying the vehicle itself, and can be refilled with hardlight ammo.

First introduced in ''Halo Infinite'', '''shock weapons''' are extremely weak per shot but can chain damage to multiple targets, as well as [[EMP]] vehicles. Shock weapons can be refilled with shock ammo.

'''Precision weapons''', sometimes called "anti-materiel" weapons{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HRManual}}, are any weapon capable of instantly killing a character with a headshot. Depending on the character they may not actually have their head region marked as vulnerable and are thus immune, such as [[Drones]] in ''Halo 2'' or the [[Warden Eternal]], while other body regions may be marked as headshot vulnerable like the exposed backs of [[Hunters]] in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. In all games prior to ''Halo 5: Guardians'' precision weapons will always instantly kill when scoring a headshot on an unshielded enemy, regardless of how much health they had remaining. ''Halo 5: Guardians'' introduced weapons with headshot multipliers that deal bonus damage without performing instant kills. In ''Halo Infinite'' the [[shock rifle]] features a headshot multiplier that still applies while shields are active. With the introduction of these additional headshot parameters the term precision weapon is still used to describe weapons that can kill with a single unshielded headshot. Any form of headshot damage can be applied to kinetic, plasma, hardlight, and shock weapons. Even the impact damage of some explosives can cause headshot damage.

'''Explosive weapons''' are any weapon or projectile that creates an area of explosive damage. Explosives can also detonate other explosive projectiles and are effected by the explosives [[support upgrade]] and grenadier [[armor mod]]. In ''Halo Infinite'' explosive damage can be applied to kinetic, plasma, hardlight, and shock weapons.

Over the years the ''Halo'' community has also created its own terminology based on the way weapons are obtained in [[multiplayer]] and their roles within the context of multiplayer gameplay. The following are notable multiplayer weapon terms both created by ''Halo'' developers and officially recognized by them.

'''Loadout weapons''', also known as "starter weapons" and "initial weapons"{{Ref/Reuse|Id=CECustom}}{{Ref/Reuse|Id=H2Custom}}{{Ref/Reuse|Id=H3Custom}}, are weapons given to players at the start of a match and upon respawning{{Ref/Game|Id=HRInvasion|HR|Invasion}}{{Ref/Game|Id=HRFirefight|HR|Firefight}}{{Ref/Game|Id=H4WarGames|H4|Infinity (mode)}}{{Ref/Reuse|Id=H2AMPCustom}}{{Ref/Game|Id=H5GWarzone|H5G|Warzone}}. Loadouts and starting equipment settings always grant at least a primary weapon, and may also contain a secondary weapon, grenades, and/or equipment. Certain gametypes in ''Halo: Reach'', ''Halo 4'', ''Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer'', and ''Halo 5: Guardians'' offer players a choice of preset loadouts, while ''Halo 4'' also allows players to create up to 5 custom loadouts for use in ''[[Infinity (mode)|Infinity]]'' gamemodes. Of all weapons that have occupied the loadout role the most common have been the [[assault rifle]], magnum, and [[battle rifle]].

'''Primary weapons''' are comprised of loadout weapons belonging to the rifle weapon class{{Ref/Reuse|Id=H4WarGames}}. Whenever a match starts or a player respawns, these weapons will immediately be available within the player's hands. An additional primary weapon may also be equipped to any ''Halo 4'' custom loadout given the firepower [[tactical package]] is selected.

'''Secondary weapons''' make up the remaining loadout weapons apart of the pistol weapon class{{Ref/Reuse|Id=H4WarGames}}. Secondaries are at the disadvantage of needing to be swapped to after every spawn, as players are unable to equip them to the primary custom loadout slot.

'''Utility weapons''' are a contentious role, both in terms of their gameplay balance as well as the designation of the role itself. Originating from the ''Halo'' community and adopted by [[343i]], utility weapon now officially describes any starting, mid-ranged, scoped, headshot weapon that remains viable both at close and long ranges alike{{Ref/Site|Id=WaypointTuning|URL=http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/halo-5-weapon-tuning-test|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Halo 5 Weapon Tuning Test|D=19|M=09|Y=2017|LocalArchive=https://archives.halopedia.org/waypoint/www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/halo-5-weapon-tuning-test.html}}{{Ref/Site|Id=WaypointRanked|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/ranked-competitive-reveal|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Halo Infinite Ranked Competitive Reveal|D=07|M=12|Y=2023}}. While other weapons possess utility functions such as the plasma pistol and its ability to emp shields and vehicles, weapons like the battle rifle instead provide players themselves with utility by allowing the user to deal consistent damage across multiple engagement ranges. This ability to contest at virtually any range has made weapons like the battle rifle viewed as essential in multiplayer. For the weapons that have alternative utility functions, they have sometimes been described as "specialized" or "specialist" weapons{{Ref/Reuse|Id=H5GForge}}{{Ref/Site|Id=WaypointSupport|URL=https://support.halowaypoint.com/hc/en-us/articles/6882880281364-Halo-Infinite-Weapon-Equipment-and-Vehicle-Inventory-|Site=Halo Support|Page=Halo Infinite Weapon, Equipment, and Vehicle Inventory|D=05|M=05|Y=2023}}

Introduced in ''Halo 2'', some weapons can be dual wielded to increase firepower or mixed and matched to create deadly combos without the need to switch weapons. While useful in some circumstances dual wielding is not without its drawbacks. Players cannot melee, throw grenades, or switch weapons without dropping the left hand weapon. Dual wield weapons are typically designed to be weak when used on their own, with plasma weapons having a noticeable decrease in power compared to their ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' incarnations. Even the stats of weapons are affected when held in dual wield: accuracy is decreased, damage is nerfed, and the dual wield animations use their own set separate from the weapon class, often resulting in longer reloads. In ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' the penalties to weapon spread and dual wield damage are only active when two of the same weapon are fired at the same time. These same penalties are always active in ''Halo 3'' regardless which weapon combinations are held or when they are firing.

'''Power weapons''', which were previously named "heavy weapons" in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo 2''{{Ref/Reuse|Id=CECustom}}{{Ref/Reuse|Id=H2Custom}}, are any weapon with the potential to kill fully shielded players with a single shot (or extremely quickly in the case of the flamethrower and [[SAW]]){{Ref/Reuse|Id=H3Custom}}{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HRCustom}}{{Ref/Reuse|Id=H4Custom}}{{Ref/Reuse|Id=H2AMPCustom}}{{Ref/Reuse|Id=H5GForge}}. Similarly to dual wielded weapons, the advantage they offer is usually offset by a shortcoming. Slow firing speed, lengthy reloads, and limited range are some of the balancing tools used to prevent multiple one hit kills from occuring simultaneously or in quick succession. Due to their desirability power weapons are usually found at a central spawn location on multiplayer maps. ''Halo 5: Guardians'' and ''Halo Infinite'' further accentuate this by placing these weapons on marked [[weapon pad|weapon pads]]. Despite having its own icon in ''Halo Infinite'' power is not a damage type, instead it is displayed to notify players that power weapons can only be refilled with power ammo.