Weapon types: Difference between revisions

Many different weapons exist across the [[Halo (disambiguation)|''Halo'' video games]], all of which can be grouped together and classified in numerous ways. The following is an overview of classifications created by or officially recognized by the developers of ''[[Halo]]'', and how they affect gameplay.

*'''Flag'''{{Ref/File|Id=H2EKFlag|H2EK|tags\objects\weapons\multiplayer\flag\flag.weapon}} - Pole shaped multiplayer weapons used for CTF gamemodes. [[Flags]] are [[Dual wielding|dual wielded]] with [[Magnum|magnums]] in ''[[Halo 4]]'' and ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.

Also known internally as "support_low" weapons{{Ref/File|Id=H2EKSupport|H2EK|tags\objects\weapons\support_low\brute_shot\brute_shot.weapon}}, '''support weapons''' are any weapon held in first person down by the character's hips. Support weapon animations are very similar to those of the [[flamethrower]] from ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', which may have directly inspired the category. Only two support weapons appear in the finalized games, being the [[brute shot]] and [[sentinel beam]]. Both weapons, along with the class itself, did not return in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', marking ''[[Halo 3]]'' as the final appearance of the weapon class. Later appearances of the brute shot and sentinel beam use rifle animations with overlays positioning character arms to hold the weapons in their typical support location. It is because of this reason that Marines in ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' are able to use the sentinel beam for the first time.

Most weapons are able to perform melee attacks, but for energy swords, gravity hammers, and multiplayer weapons this is their only means of attack. Some ranged weapons also feature increased melee damage, denoted by slow and heavy animations or by featuring blades and bayonets. The only games to feature ranged weapons with different melee damage types are ''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[Halo 3]]'', ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', and ''[[Halo Infinite]]''.

Being comprised of multiple projectile types such as bullets, spikes, and the impact damage of explosives, '''kinetic weapons''' are the most common form of projectile damage. Often times kinetic weapons deal consistent damage against a variety of different materials but usually lack the ability to significantly damage vehicles. In ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' and ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' bullet damage is reduced against [[shields]], and in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' and the ''[[Reclaimer Saga]]'' games the [[sniper rifle]] deals extra damage against vehicles. In ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' kinetic weapons can be refilled with kinetic ammo.

'''Plasma weapons''' are [[Covenant]] or [[Banished]] weapons that are very effective against energy shields. While they always deal reduced damage to player health, this trait is not mutually exclusive against the health of other characters. In ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' plasma weapons can be refilled with plasma ammo.

'''Hardlight weapons''' are [[Forerunner]] in origin and disintegrate targets upon inflicting critical damage. Their use differs slightly from game to game. Introduced in ''[[Halo 4]]'' they glow orange and possess a damage type similar to the [[covenant carbine]], having no bonus against any material but able to destroy [[Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|Jackal shields]] and deployable cover. In ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' they now deal bonus damage to vehicles and [[Promethean]] weakspots. In ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' hardlight is now purple, can kill vehicle occupants without destroying the vehicle itself, and can be refilled with hardlight ammo.

First introduced in ''[[Halo Infinite]]'', '''shock weapons''' are extremely weak per shot but can chain damage to multiple targets, as well as [[EMP]] vehicles. Shock weapons can be refilled with shock ammo.

'''Precision weapons''', sometimes called "anti-materiel" weapons{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HRManual}}, are any weapon capable of instantly killing a character with a headshot. Depending on the character they may not actually have their head region marked as vulnerable and are thus immune, such as [[Drones]] in ''[[Halo 2]]'' or the [[Warden Eternal]], while other body regions may be marked as headshot vulnerable like the exposed backs of [[Hunters]] in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''. In all games prior to ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' precision weapons will always instantly kill when scoring a headshot on an unshielded enemy, regardless of how much health they had remaining. ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' introduced weapons with headshot multipliers that deal bonus damage without performing instant kills. In ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' the [[shock rifle]] features a headshot multiplier that still applies while shields are active. With the introduction of these additional headshot parameters the term precision weapon is still used to describe weapons that can kill with a single unshielded headshot. Any form of headshot damage can be applied to kinetic, plasma, hardlight, and shock weapons. Even the impact damage of some explosives can cause headshot damage.

'''Explosive weapons''' are any weapon or projectile that creates an area of explosive damage. Explosives can also detonate other explosive projectiles and are effected by the explosives [[support upgrade]] and grenadier [[armor mod]]. In ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' explosive damage can be applied to kinetic, plasma, hardlight, and shock weapons.