Assassination


 * For the medal see Assassin Medal

The Assassination is a new gameplay feature in Halo: Reach that allows player to enter a third-person view while elaborately taking an enemy player down with either a Combat Knife, Energy Dagger, or Energy Sword. Note that assassinations are different from beat downs and pummels. Pummels are kills from a normal melee attack; a beat down occurs when Player A melees Player B by simply tapping the melee button while behind them, resulting in the breaking of the target's spine and thus an instant kill. An assassination occurs when Player A presses and holds the melee button when directly behind Player B, resulting in an elaborate kill and will earn the player a special medal. This results in the humiliation of the assassinated player. Assassinations performed in multiplayer matchmaking also count towards the Rear Admiral commendation.

Types of Multiplayer Assassinations
For both Elite and Spartan III players, there are three different basic assassination types that are played according to the situation. There are also different animations that run if assassinating an enemy of the other species, all depending on the situation during which they are performed.

There are also unique assassinations that can be performed when the player is holding an energy sword.

Spartan against Spartan
When playing as a Spartan in Halo: Reach matchmaking, you can perform several different assassinations using your combat knife that is located on your left shoulder (Right when wearing the SECURITY shoulder).

Basic Assassination 1: Both players are on the ground
This assassination involves Player A standing on the same surface as Player B. The specific animation that is used varies depending on which part of the back is meleed.

Basic Assassination 2: Assassin is airborne but victim is not
This assassination involves Player A jumping (or possibly falling) right behind (Close enough proximity to melee) Player B. Player A will initiate the assassination, which will involve Player A landing on Player B's back (Player B will be on the ground) and breaking Player B's neck.

Basic Assassination 3: Both players are airborne
This assassinations involves Player A and B to be airborne with Player A right behind Player B. A will initiate the assassination, which will cause Player A to knee Player B in the groin and slamming both fists into B's back, breaking his/her back.

Spartan against Elite (Also possible in campaign)
The specific animation that is used varies depending on which part of the back is meleed and the players postions.
 * The player jumps on the Elite's back and stabs its neck.
 * The player hops on the Elite and breaks its neck.
 * The player jumps on the Elite's head, breaking its skull.
 * The player slashes the Elite's back, then stabs it in the neck.
 * The player stabs the Elite in the head.
 * The player tackles the Elite to the ground then stabs it in its face.

Basic Assassination 1: Both players are on the ground
This assassination involves Player A standing on the same surface as Player B. The specific animation that is used varies depending on which part of the back is meleed.

Basic Assassination 2: Assassin is airborne but victim is not
This assassination involves Player A jumping (or possibly falling) right behind (Close enough proximity to melee) Player B. Player A will initiate the assassination, which will cause Player A to kick Player B, thus turning the latter to face the opposite direction, then plunge the energy knife into his/her mouth and subsequently toss the body off Player A's blade.

Basic Assassination 3: Both players are airborne
This assassination involves Player A and B to be airborne with Player A right behind Player B. Player A will initiate the assassination, which will cause Player A to quickly stab his/her energy knife into Player B's spine, killing him/her

Assassinations in Campaign
There are a few assassinations you can perform on Covenant warriors in Campaign:

Unggoy

 * The player grabs the Grunt and breaks its neck.
 * The player grabs the Grunt and stabs its head.

Jiralhanae

 * The player pushes the Brute down, and then stabs it in the back.
 * The player stabs the Brute between its shoulder blades and throws it to the side in a quick motion.

Kig-Yar/Skirmisher

 * The player drags the Jackal/Skirmisher by its feathers and knifes its neck.

Beat Downs vs. Assassinations
With normal beat downs, one will quickly melee the opponent's back, resulting in an instant kill, but will stay in first person view. This earns them a medal but no credit or commendation increase. With an assassination, the player goes into third person view and performs a special finishing move. During an assassination, the player runs a risk of getting their kill stolen by a teammate, which results in the teammate getting a Yoink medal. The player is also able to be damaged and even killed during the animation, which will cause the victim to be saved. This makes assassinations relatively unpopular for fast paced gametypes such as Oddball or Team SWAT. Also, performing assassinations will negate fall damage, unlike beat downs. This allows players to survive fatal falls if an enemy happens to be directly below. This is featured in the achievment, If They Came to Hear Me Beg.