Assault Ops



Assault Ops, also known as Challenges in the Windows versions of Halo: Spartan Assault, are a optional challenges featured in Halo: Spartan Assault and Halo: Spartan Strike, which can be undertaken in order to earn currency to spend in the game's Armory. Assault Ops typically require the player to kill some number of a specific type of enemy, using a particular weapon, vehicle or grenade. In addition to each of three mission-specific Assault Ops per level, a rotating selection of three weekly Assault Ops was previously available, which could be completed on any mission. However, these have since been discontinued.

Three achievements are tied to Assault Ops; Extra Credit and Thorough can be earned by completing all of the mission-specific Assault Ops in Halo: Spartan Assault and Halo: Spartan Strike respectively. The third achievement, A for Effort, can be attained in the Windows version of Spartan Assault by completing all of the Assault Ops for Operation F: Hydra.

In both Spartan Assault and Spartan Strike, progess in the game is shared across all versions of the game on Microsoft platforms, and as well as between iPhone and iPad (although not between the Microsoft and Apple platforms). As a result, progress towards Assaults Ops carries over between these platforms. The Steam versions of the games do not include this feature.

Halo: Spartan Assault
Halo: Spartan Assault features 90 mission-specific Assault Ops in total, three for each of its 30 solo missions. The cooperative Flood Missions featured in the Xbox 360 and Xbox One ports of the game do not include Assault Ops. Assault Ops in Spartan Assault award the player with extra XP.

Halo: Spartan Strike
Halo: Spartan Strike also features three mission-specific Assault Ops for each of its 30 levels, making for a grand total of 90 Assault Ops. In Spartan Strike, Assault Ops award the player with additional CR.

Trivia

 * Unlike challenges in previous Halo games, Assault Ops are not integrated with Halo Waypoint in any way.
 * In contrast to Halo: Spartan Assault, the Assault Ops in Spartan Strike are not given unique names - instead, they are simply numbered "Assault Op 1" to "Assault Op 3".
 * Many of the Assault Op names in Spartan Assault are references:
 * Sting Like a Bee is a reference to a quote made famous by Muhammad Ali.
 * Ring of Fire is likely a reference to the song of the same name.
 * Up Close and Personal is a reference to the Halo 3 achievement.
 * Dirty Davis is a reference to the film and character Dirty Harry.
 * Premature Detonation may be a reference to a similar-sounding sexual disfunction.
 * Hammer to a Gunfight may be a reference to the Halo: Reach achievement Knife to a Gunfight.
 * Let It Rain! is likely a reference to the Halo: Reach achievement Let It Rain.
 * Road Warrior is a reference to the film Mad Max 2.
 * Perosus Latrunuculus Exterminatus, roughly translated, is Latin for "Hateful Bandit Exterminated". Perosus Latrunculus is the Kig-Yar's Forerunner designation.
 * Great Balls of Plasma is a reference to the song Great Balls of Fire.