MA5D assault rifle

The MA5D Individual Combat Weapon System, abbreviated as MA5D ICWS, is a gas-operated assault rifle used by the UNSC Defense Force. Like the rest of the MA5 Series, the MA5D is designed and manufactured by Misriah Armory.

Overview
The MA5D Assault Rifle is an air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed, fully-automatic bullpup rifle that fires 32 rounds of 7.62x51mm ammunition. It possesses a built-in ammunition indicator and magnetic compass for orientation similar to that of all other MA5 series rifles.

The MA5D ICWS was in limited service use as early as 2526; it was issued to officer cadets, drill instructors, and security personnel at the Corbulo Academy of Military Science, as well as certain Spartan-II detachments. By 2557, the MA5D was standard issue amongst UNSC military personnel.

Campaign

 * The MA5D is the first weapon that the player starts out with. It proves fairly effective paired with the Magnum, and will take out Elites with just 75% of a magazine (depending on the selected difficulty).
 * It is effective against lighter enemies, such as Grunts, Jackals, Crawlers and Watchers. Ammunition for it is plentiful (at least when around UNSC sources) and most Marines are armed with it.

Multiplayer

 * The MA5D's fully-automatic fire makes it an effective close-range weapon. Compared with the other automatic weapons in Halo 4, it is much more versatile due to its hitscan properties and flexibility of range, though it is occasionally outperformed by these weapons at more extreme close-range. It takes 13 rounds to kill a fully-shielded player in matchmaking; ten to shields and three to the body, allowing for a bare maximum of two kills from its 32-round magazine. In close-quarters combat, it is often advisable to finish your opponent with a melee after firing at least six rounds into their shields.
 * The MA5D assault rifle is great as a secondary weapon to a precision weapon like the DMR or Lightrifle, allowing the player to effectively occupy nearly all ranges of combat. However, like the other automatic weapons, it is not recommended for use as a primary weapon except when playing on smaller maps. The MA5D assault rifle can also be used effectively at distances approaching medium-range by firing in short, controlled bursts. Though this will not drastically increase kill times, making it inadvisable against players that have already engaged the player with a precision weapon.

Differences from MA37 ICWS in Halo: Reach

 * Major cosmetic differences, resembling the MA5C from Halo 3.
 * Altered firing sound for realism.
 * Heavier but more controllable reticule bloom.
 * More damage per round (only 13 shots are needed to kill a fully-shielded Spartan instead of 16).
 * Slightly increased rate of fire.
 * Maximum reserve ammo has been reduced from 288 rounds to 256 rounds, and a standard reserve of 224 rounds, forcing the player to scavenge for ammo more frequently.

Videos
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List of appearances

 * The Commissioning
 * Scanned
 * Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn
 * Halo 4
 * Spartan Ops
 * Halo: Spartan Assault
 * Halo: Initiation
 * Halo: Escalation