The Weapons of Halo 3 Online – X-box 360

Halo 3 offers a wide range of weapons adding to the fun of the game. For a novice, the choices can be overwhelming. Understanding each weapons capabilities and the types of battle it is suited to can ive you an edge.

Halo 3 Basic Weapons

Battle Rifle (BR) - In 50% of all games, players will start with a battle rifle. A battle rifle fires in bursts of three. In short range situations, they will perform adequately though a shotgun or mauler would be better.  Long range situations require a little more skill as you must aim ahead of your target, estimating his movements in order to score the hit. BRs works best at medium range.

Assault Rifle – Nearly all of the remaining  50% of games will start with the assault rifle. It is a machine gun and fires in bursts. You will need to reload after every 60 bullets. This weapon is worthless at long distances. It is better at medium ranges and very good close up. The reason it is good for close range shots is that it takes down the shields of the opponent and because you are close, you can melee him and score the “beatdown”.

Carbine – Normally found during game play as are the rest of the weapons outlined here, it fires a single, glowing green bullet. Though it fires a little quicker than a battle rifle, it requires more skill because you have to fire manually as rapidly as possible. Its range accuracy is the same as the battle rifle.

Needler – This weapon fires glowing, purple needles with some homing capabilities. It is used for moving targets and is best in medium range situations. Because the homing feature isn’t precise, at close range it can’t follow the quick, sharp movements of its target. At long ranges, it can’t determine what the target is. The needles do damage individually but after a number have struck the target, the needles explode, killing him.

Plasma Pistol or Rifle – These weapons are best for destroying shielding. They don’t perform well for a kill. You can use them to assist a teammate by taking down an opponent’s shields so the teammate can make the kill. They work faster than any other weapon for taking out shields.

Spiker/SMG (Submachine Gun) – Spiker and SMG are similar to the assault rifle. The major difference for the spiker is that it is smaller and fires metal spikes which takes out shields slightly faster than the assault rifle. The SMG’s bullets aren’t as powerful as the assault rifle but it has more ammunition available for it than for the assault rifle.

Magnum – This Halo 3 weapon shoots slightly faster than a battle rifle. Ten hits to the body or six shots to the body and one to the head will kill the opponent. It is not recommended for close or long range. It is best suited for medium range combat.

Mauler – Similar to but weaker than the shotgun, the mauler is the weapon for close quarter combat. In tight spaces and around close corners, it is exceptional at taking out shields leaving the enemy vulnerable to the melee kill.

Power Weapons

Shotgun – Shotgun is the mauler’s cousin with a little more power. It works like the mauler but in situations where the enemy is within 1 to 2 feet, the single shot will be a one-shot kill without having to go for the head shot or the melee kill.

Energy Sword – This Halo weapon is excellent for close combat and adequate at about an 8 foot  range. When the crosshairs are red, you press the shoot button to lunge with immense speed and the sword will kill the enemy.

Gravity Hammer – While it is similar to the energy sword, it lunges only half its distance. Any hit with the gravity hammer causes a kill. When you hit the enemy with the gravity hammer, it causes a shock wave which can cause damage to the shields of other players in vicinity. In some cases, the shock wave may cause a player to fall to his death and you will be credited with the kill.

Sniper Rifle – Very accurate and powerful, this weapon is favored for long range assault. In close situations, any shot to the body will take down the shield and the opponent can be killed in a beatdown. If you can make a head shot, it is counted as a one-shot kill.

Beam Rifle – Beam rifles are similar to sniper rifles but run off an energy supply with a finite amount of firepower. If fired too rapidly, they can overheat.

Rocket Launcher - This weapon is not recommended for close range as the explosion will kill you too, causing a suicide and negating the kill. Medium range is the choice as opponents cannot react quickly enough to escape the explosion. It has the ability to take out as many as four opponents if they are positioned closely together. If another person is near your intended target, fire the rocket launcher and immediately switch to another weapon such as the BR. When the second opponent is damaged by the explosion – his shields will be knocked out – you can fire and get the second kill. Long distance assault is more difficult because you have to anticipate where the target is moving to before firing. Long distance attacks on vehicles are almost impossible because the vehicle moves faster and is harder to anticipate.

Hopefully these descriptions and tips will make you a better Halo 3 Online player.