Support weapon

Support weapons are a class of heavy weapons.

These weapons are much larger than the standard handheld weapons, and require two hands to heft. Consequentially, players move more slowly while holding them, and cannot throw grenades or melee opponents while holding the weapons, thus they become very vulnerable to enemy grenades and vehicles, since they almost can't be dodged.

With the exception of the flamethrower, which is described as being usually carried about on a cart, support weapons are generally weapons that were originally designed to be fired from stationary mounts, but have been ripped off of their bases and carried around. Thus while they have limitless ammunition while in their mounts, once removed and carried the ammo they have becomes limited. Also, the accuracy of the turret can become more of a problem, being handheld of course.

List of UNSC support weapons

 * Anti-vehicle weapons
 * LAU-65D/SGM-151 - otherwise known as the Missile Pod, featured in Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST.


 * Machine guns
 * AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun - the machine gun turret featured in Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST.
 * .30 caliber light machine gun
 * Heavy Machine Gun-38
 * M202 XP machine gun
 * M247H Heavy Machine Gun - the machine gun turret featured in Halo: Reach and Halo 4.
 * M247 General Purpose Machine Gun - the machine gun turret featured in Halo 2.
 * M739 Light Machine Gun - Squad automatic weapon (SAW) used by the UNSC Defense Force. The weapon is fed ammunition by a 72-round belt. Featured in Halo 4.
 * T261 Arm-Mounted Gatling Gun


 * Shotguns
 * M45 Tactical Shotgun
 * M90 Close Assault Weapon System


 * Incendiary projectors
 * M7057/Defoliant Projector - otherwise known as the Flamethrower, featured in Halo PC, Halo 3, and Halo 3: ODST.
 * NA4/Defoliant Projector


 * Grenade launchers
 * M319 Individual Grenade Launcher

List of Covenant support weapons

 * Directed energy support weapon
 * Type-42 Directed Energy Support Weapon- otherwise known as the Plasma Cannon, featured in Halo 2.
 * Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon- otherwise known as the Plasma Cannon, featured in Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, and Halo 4.


 * Mortar weapons
 * Assault cannon
 * Plasma mortar

List of Forerunner support weapons
Z-390 High-Explosive Munitions Rifle
 * Anti-vehicle weapons

Z-180 Close Combat Rifle/Asymmetric Engagement Mitigator
 * Shotguns

Trivia

 * In Halo PC, Flood combat forms have the animation and programing required to wield the Flamethrower. However, when they shoot it at a player directly in front of them or below them, they point it at a 45 degree angle in the air, making them not so effective when wielding it.
 * In Halo 3, If the Arbiter is killed near a support weapon that is off its mount, he will use it when he gets back up.
 * Other than the Flamethrower, all deployed support weapons in multiplayer have limited ammo regardless of whether the infinite ammo option is turned on or off.
 * Standard weapons like the Brute Shot and the Sentinel beam function similarly to support weapons: they are held the same way, and have more firepower than normal weapons though the player can still melee or throw grenades and the player can only carry one other weapon while wielding them.
 * Support weapons are especially useful in multiplayer because the third-person point of view allows the wielder to see around corners without making them visible or vulnerable to enemy fire.
 * Shields and armor compensate somewhat for the limited mobility. As such, support weapons are more of a liability in SWAT or sniper games, as the gunner can easily be killed with a headshot.

List of appearances

 * Halo 3
 * Halo Wars
 * Halo 3: ODST
 * Halo: Reach
 * Halo 4