Loadout

Loadouts are a multiplayer feature first introduced in Halo: Reach. They are classes that a player picks at both the beginning of a multiplayer match and during respawn in Halo: Reach. They are personalized starting equipment in Halo 4.

Overview
When a game begins the player is given the option of choosing a particular loadout.

In Halo: Reach, loadouts are gametype specific and vary between playlists, meaning players cannot create their own custom loadout to bring to Matchmaking. They can, however, create custom loadouts for Custom Games and user-created Firefight modes. Each loadout has particular weapon, grenade, and Armor Abilities combinations.

In Halo 4, loadouts are default in normal War Games modes. However, some modes do away with loadouts to allow more classic gameplay. Unlike Halo: Reach, loadouts are customizable in matchmaking and are better described as components of a player rather than options given by the mode.

Halo: Reach
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Spartan

 * Airborne, Air Assault
 * Armor Ability: Jetpack
 * Grenade Number/Type: 2 M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade (Frag Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System (Assault Rifle)
 * Secondary Weapon: M6G Personal Defense Weapon System (Magnum)


 * Scout
 * Armor Ability: Sprint
 * Grenade Number/Type: 2 M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade (Frag Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System (Assault Rifle)
 * Secondary Weapon: M6G Personal Defense Weapon System (Magnum)


 * Marksman
 * Armor Ability: Sprint
 * Grenade Number/Type: 1 M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade (Frag Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: M392 Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR)
 * Secondary Weapon: None


 * Recon
 * Armor Ability: Sprint
 * Grenade Number/Type: 2 M9 High Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade (Frag Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: M392 Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR)
 * Secondary Weapon: MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System (Assault Rifle)


 * Recon Marksman
 * Armor Ability: Sprint
 * Grenade Number/Type: 2 M9 High Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade (Frag Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: M392 Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR)
 * Secondary Weapon: M6G Personal Defense Weapon System (Magnum)


 * Expert Marksman
 * Armor Ability: Sprint
 * Grenade Number/Type: 3 M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade (Frag Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: M392 Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR)
 * Secondary Weapon: M6G Personal Defense Weapon System (Magnum)


 * Guard
 * Armor Ability: Armor Lock
 * Grenade Number/Type: 2 M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade (Frag Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System (Assault Rifle)
 * Secondary Weapon: M6G Personal Defense Weapon System (Magnum)


 * Operator
 * Armor Ability: Armor Lock
 * Grenade Number/Type: 1 M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade (Frag Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: M45 TS (Shotgun)
 * Secondary Weapon: None


 * Guard Operator
 * Armor Ability: Armor Lock
 * Grenade Number/Type: 2 M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade (Frag Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: M45 TS (Shotgun)
 * Secondary Weapon: M6G Personal Defense Weapon System (Magnum)


 * Expert Operator
 * Armor Ability: Armor Lock
 * Grenade Number/Type: 3 M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade (Frag Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: M45 TS (Shotgun)
 * Secondary Weapon: MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System (Assault Rifle)


 * Grenadier
 * Armor Ability: Sprint
 * Grenade Number/Type: 3 M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade (Frag Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: M319 Individual Grenade Launcher (Grenade Launcher)
 * Secondary Weapon: MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System (Assault Rifle)


 * Stalker
 * Armor Ability: Active Camouflage
 * Grenade Number/Type: 2 M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade (Frag Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System (Assault Rifle)
 * Secondary Weapon: M6G Personal Defense Weapon System (Magnum)


 * Medic
 * Armor Ability: Drop Shield
 * Grenade Number/Type: 2 M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade (Frag Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System (Assault Rifle)
 * Secondary Weapon: M392 Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR)


 * Specter
 * Armor Ability: Active Camouflage
 * Grenade Number/Type: 1 M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade (Frag Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: M319 Individual Grenade Launcher (Grenade Launcher)
 * Secondary Weapon: M6G Personal Defense Weapon System (Magnum)


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Elite

 * Ranger
 * Armor Ability: Jetpack
 * Grenade Number/Type: 2 Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade (Plasma Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: Type-51 Directed Energy Rifle/Improved (Plasma Repeater)
 * Secondary Weapon: Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol (Plasma Pistol)


 * Warrior
 * Armor Ability: Evade
 * Grenade Number/Type: 2 Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade (Plasma Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: Type-51 Directed Energy Rifle/Improved (Plasma Repeater)
 * Secondary Weapon: Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol (Plasma Pistol)


 * Gladiator
 * Armor Ability: Evade
 * Grenade Number/Type: 1 Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade (Plasma Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword (Energy Sword)
 * Secondary Weapon: None


 * Honor Gladiator
 * Armor Ability: Evade
 * Grenade Number/Type: 2 Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade (Plasma Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword (Energy Sword)
 * Secondary Weapon: Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol (Plasma Pistol)


 * Champion Gladiator
 * Armor Ability: Hologram
 * Grenade Number/Type: 3 Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade (Plasma Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword (Energy Sword)
 * Secondary Weapon: Type-51 Directed Energy Rifle/Improved (Plasma Repeater)


 * Zealot
 * Armor Ability: Evade
 * Grenade Number/Type: 1 Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade (Plasma Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: Type-31 Rifle (Needle Rifle)
 * Secondary Weapon: None


 * Royal Zealot
 * Armor Ability: Evade
 * Grenade Number/Type: 2 Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade (Plasma Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: Type-31 Rifle (Needle Rifle)
 * Secondary Weapon: Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol (Plasma Pistol)


 * Champion Zealot
 * Armor Ability: Evade
 * Grenade Number/Type: 3 Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade (Plasma Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: Type-31 Rifle (Needle Rifle)
 * Secondary Weapon: Type-51 Directed Energy Rifle/Improved (Plasma Repeater)


 * Assassin
 * Armor Ability: Active Camouflage
 * Grenade Number/Type: 1 Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade (Plasma Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher (Needler)
 * Secondary Weapon: None


 * Dark Assassin
 * Armor Ability: Active Camouflage
 * Grenade Number/Type: 2 Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade (Plasma Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher (Needler)
 * Secondary Weapon: Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol (Plasma Pistol)


 * Champion Assassin
 * Armor Ability: Active Camouflage
 * Grenade Number/Type: 3 Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade (Plasma Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher (Needler)
 * Secondary Weapon: Type-51 Directed Energy Rifle/Improved (Plasma Repeater)


 * Sentry
 * Armor Ability: Armor Lock
 * Grenade Number/Type: 3 Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade (Plasma Grenade)
 * Main Weapon: Type-31 Rifle (Needle Rifle)
 * Secondary Weapon: Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol (Plasma Pistol)


 * Champion
 * Armor Ability: Active Camouflage
 * Grenade Number/Type: 2 Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade (Plasma Grenade)
 * Main weapon: Type-50 Directed Energy Rifle/Heavy (Concussion Rifle)
 * Secondary Weapon: Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol (Plasma Pistol)


 * }

Additional names
Loadouts in Halo: Reach are fully customizable in Custom Games and local Firefight matches. Along with Armor Ability, grenade type, main weapon, and secondary weapon, players can also choose a name for their loadout. In addition to the names of existing loadouts, many additional name options are provided. These include:

Tiers
When players go into game settings and select Spartan/Elite loadouts, they will see which tier will correspond with which loadouts players will spawn with. Most gametypes only used 1 tier (Tier 1), in which players can only get loadouts from that tier. Infection uses 2 tiers, in which Tier 2 loadouts belong to zombies, and Invasion and Invasion Slayer use 3 tiers, which each tier number corresponds with each phase.

Halo 4
Loadouts are given an in-universe explanation. They are mandatory protocols issued to SPARTAN-IV personnel which dictate that they carry a Primary Weapon like a rifle, carry a Secondary Weapon like a pistol, equip an Armor Ability, choose a Tactical Package, and assign a Support Upgrade.

In default gameplay, they are personalized choices of equipment and allow a Spartan to enter battles with pre-made weapon sets.