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 pummeling. Pummeling is a kill 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 your opponent looking like a fool. Assassinations performed in multiplayer matchmaking also count towards the Rear Admiral commendation.

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

Spartans
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 should one be using a SECURITY shoulders).

Basic Assassination 1: Both players are on the ground
This assassination involves Player A to be standing on the same surface as Player B. Player A will press and hold the melee button which results in Player B's gun dropping and Player A's knife plunged in the back of Player B's.

Basic Assassination 2: Assassin in airborne but victim is not
This assassination involves Player A jumping 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 cocyx and slamming both fists into B's back, breaking him/her's back.

Elites
When playing as an Elite warrior, you can use your energy belt on your hip to assassinate foes.

Basic Assassination 1: Both players are on the ground
This assassination involves Player A to be standing on the same surface as Player B. Player A will press and hold the melee button which results in Player B getting impaled in the back by Player A and gets thrashes around.

Basic Assassination 2: Assassin in airborne but victim is not
This assassination involves Player A jumping right behind (Close enough proximity to melee) Player B. Player A will initiate the assassination, which will involve Player A kicking Player B then plunging the energy knife into his/her's mouth.

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 quickly stab his/her's energy knife into layer B's spine, killing him/her.

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 moves. During an assassination, you run a risk of getting your kill stolen by a teammate will result in your teammate getting a Yoink medal. You are also able to be damaged during the animation.

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

Unggoy

 * Assassination #1: The player grabs the Grunt and breaks its neck.
 * Assassination #2: The player grabs the Grunt and knifes its head.

Jiralhanae

 * The player pushes the Brute down, then he knifes him in the back.
 * The player stabs his knife in between the Brute's shoulderblades and throws him to the side in a quick motion.

Kig-Yar/Skirmisher

 * The player drags the Jackal/Skirmisher by its hair and knifes it's neck.

Sangheili

 * The player hops on the Elite and knifes his neck.
 * The player hops on the Elite and breaks his neck.
 * The player jumps on the Elite's head, penetrating his skull.
 * The player slashes the Elite's back, the he stabs him in the neck.
 * The player stabs the Elite in the head.
 * The player hits the Elite to the ground, jumps on it and then stabs it in the face.