Editing Dual wielding

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[[File:SMGSMG.png|thumb|250px|[[John-117]] dual-wielding [[M7/Caseless Submachine Gun]]s.]]
'''Dual wielding''' is gameplay feature in which a gunman wields two [[weapons]] at once, one in each hand. This feature was first introduced into the ''[[Halo universe|Halo]]'' video game series in ''[[Halo 2]]'' and later in ''[[Halo 3]]''. It was removed from ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', and ''[[Halo 4]]'' due to gameplay considerations.

== Gameplay ==
=== Overview ===
Dual wielding allows a player to use two weapons at any time. This allows players to experiment with weapon combinations to achieve the most effective outcome in combat. The feature is restricted only to small firearms such as [[pistol]]s and the [[SMG]] ([[#List of dual wieldable weapons|See list of dual wieldable weapons]]). The [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]] was previously made available as a dual wieldable weapon in ''Halo 2'' but no longer in ''Halo 3'' to balance the unexpected ease of killing a target with two Needlers.

The feature is also made available to the [[Sangheili|Elites]] AI units in both ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo: Reach''. They are typically seen dual wielding a pair of [[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle|Plasma Rifles]] on [[normal]] or higher difficulty.

=== Advantages ===
#'''Enhanced firepower''': When a player is dual-wielding, the two weapons in conjunction are more powerful than a single weapon of the same type. This allows for enhanced firepower, with double the ammo capacity and firing rate. 
#'''Greater versatility''': Two weapons wielded in conjunction can perform multiple roles at the same time. For example, a player could wield an [[M6G Personal Defense Weapon System|M6G Magnum]] in one hand, allowing him/her to shoot accurately over longer range, and a [[Type-52 Pistol|Mauler]] in the other for close range firepower. 
#'''More effective combos''': Likewise, dual-wielding a plasma weapon and a ballistic weapon can confer a unique advantage: Plasma weapons are stronger against shields, and ballistic weapons are stronger against armor as well as other unshielded targets. For example, a player may choose to dual-wield a [[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle|Plasma Rifle]] and an [[M7/Caseless Submachine Gun|SMG]] at the same time. The Plasma Rifle can take down the shields of an opponent and the SMG can shred through the opponent's armor, allowing for a very fast and efficient kill. At longer ranges, a charged [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|Plasma Pistol]] shot followed by a quick [[M6G Personal Defense Weapon System|Magnum]] headshot will also kill an opponent. 
#'''Doubled ammo reserve''': When you dual-wield certain weapons of the same type, such as two SMGs or two Needlers, the player character can carry double the amount of reserve ammunition for the weapons. This is a trick also exploited when [[triple wielding]]. 
#'''Constant firepower''': While dual-wielding, it is possible to reload or cool-off one weapon and fire the second one at the same time. This allows for a constant barrage; it generally takes longer to empty a magazine than to reload one. The only disadvantage is when reloading your automatic or long-range weapon, you may be stuck with your alternate weapon in a life threatening situation. Constant fire is helpful when you are in a place with enemies out in the open, or in point blank range where a rapid firing will result in a deadly strike. 

=== Disadvantages ===
#'''Inability to Melee Attack, Throw Grenades, or Use Equipment''': When a player is dual-wielding, the player must drop the left weapon in order to free a hand to throw [[M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade|grenades]], and deploy [[equipment]]. This action of dropping a weapon takes time and is disadvantageous. However, if you [[Melee]] while dual-wielding, the left weapon will automatically drop by itself and the Melee will come out straight away. 
#'''Reload/Overheat Window''': When a player must reload their weapons, or if the weapons overheat, the player is vulnerable because they can't melee attack or throw grenades without dropping their weapon. Reloading a weapon also takes longer time when dual-wielding than while single-wielding the same weapon; however, for Covenant weapons, the "cool down" time remains the same, as does the [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]]'s reload time. 
#'''Accuracy Decrease''': Most weapons are slightly more accurate when single-wielded than when dual-wielded, such as the [[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle|Plasma Rifle]] and the [[M7/Caseless Submachine Gun|SMG]]. 
#'''Consumes Twice the Amount of Ammo''': If the player is carrying two of the same weapon, then they can carry twice the amount of ammunition. However, the weapons also reload from the same pool, thus using up twice the amount of ammunition per reload.

=== Changes between games ===
There have been several minor changes made to the feature in ''Halo 3'' from ''Halo 2''. The primary difference between ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3''<nowiki />'s dual wield is that the player can now fully control the reloading process. In ''Halo 2'', the player is forced and strained to reload the two weapons simultaneously. In ''Halo 3'', players could reload the left weapon first while keeping the right weapon ready, vice versa, or both at once, independent of each other. Another difference between ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'' dual-wield is the alteration in the amount of damage dealt per weapon. In ''Halo 2'', there is no change in the amount of shots needed to kill if you are single or dual wielding. In ''Halo 3'', every weapon (with the exception of the Plasma Pistol) becomes imperceptibly weaker by varying degrees when it is dual-wielded. This becomes especially noticeable when [[Overshield]]s are in use.

Dual wielding, as a player-accessible feature, was removed in ''Halo 3: ODST'', ''Halo: Reach'' and ''Halo 4''. With regards to ''Halo: Reach'', the removal was due to the new weapon sandbox which could not support the overall gameplay design. Similarly, ''Halo 4'' does not support dual wielding.<ref group="note" name="wield">In ''Halo 4'', when a player wields a flag, they would be given a magnum (with up to three magazines) automatically. While this is technically considered as dual wielding, the action is a scripted action rather than a player-accessible feature.</ref>

=== List of dual wieldable weapons ===
;''[[Halo 2]]'' 
*[[M7/Caseless Submachine Gun|SMG]] 
*[[M6C Personal Defense Weapon System|M6C Magnum]]
*[[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|Plasma Pistol]] 
*[[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle|Plasma Rifle]] 
*[[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle/Jiralhanae variant|Brute Plasma Rifle]]
*[[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]] (no longer dual-wieldable in ''[[Halo 3]].'') 

;''[[Halo 3]]'' 
*[[M7/Caseless Submachine Gun|SMG]] 
*[[M6G Personal Defense Weapon System|M6G Magnum]] 
*[[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|Plasma Pistol]] 
*[[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle|Plasma Rifle]] 
*[[Type-25 Carbine|Spiker]] 
*[[Type-52 Pistol|Mauler]]

;''[[Halo 4]]'' 
*[[Flag|Flag]]/[[M6H Personal Defense Weapon System|M6H Magnum]] (Magnum given automatically when wielding the flag)<ref group="note" name="wield"/>

== In the Halo universe ==
The act of [[wikipedia:Dual wield|dual wielding]] is an ineffective practice with gameplay put aside. A regular shooter would not achieve the same accuracy as he would normally would if he dual wields two weapons. There have been several occasions where regular individuals have successfully pull off this feat; [[Miranda Keyes]] dual wields a pair of [[M7/Caseless Submachine Gun]]s, and a combination of [[M6G|pistol]] and a [[M90 Close Assault Weapon System|shotgun]] to fend off Covenant forces in ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'' respectively,<ref name="quarantine">'''[[Halo 2]]''', ''[[Quarantine Zone (level)|Quarantine Zone]]''</ref><ref name="thecovenant">'''[[Halo 3]]''', ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]''</ref> [[Gretchen Ketola]] dual wields a pair of SMGs in an engagement with [[Kojo Agu|Kojo "Romeo" Agu]] and [[Taylor H. Miles|Taylor "Dutch" Miles]]. Romeo later dual wields a pair of [[M6D Personal Defense Weapon System]]s during the [[Battle of Ariel]]. [[Black-Three]] also dual wields M6D Pistols during the [[Battle of Line Installation 1-4]].

On the other hand, augmented humans such as the [[SPARTAN-II]]s, [[SPARTAN-III]]s, and [[SPARTAN-IV]]s, and species with superior physiology such as the [[Sangheili|Elites]] and [[Jiralhanae|Brutes]] are able to put this practice to a considerable success.<ref group="note">In ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''<nowiki />'s [[Keep It Clean (trailer)|Keep It Clean trailer]], several [[Jiralhanae|Brutes]] are seen dual wielding a pair of [[Spiker]]s. As such, this article assumes that the Brutes are capable of dual wielding weapons like the Elites since they are of the same, if not superior physiology.</ref><ref name="clean">'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''', ''[[Keep It Clean (trailer)|Keep It Clean]]''</ref> SPARTAN-IIs, SPARTAN-IIIs, and SPARTAN-IVs saw no reduced performance when they dual wield a range of weapons. For example, [[Raid on the Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence|in an ONI-led operation]], [[Kelly-087]] was still able to keep up with [[Fred-104]] and [[John-117]] whilst firing both of her Plasma Rifles.<ref name="thepackage">'''[[Halo Legends]]''', ''[[The Package]]''</ref> In another example, [[Douglas-042]] and [[Alice-130]] were able to perform acrobatic feats over and around the Elites while dual wielding their SMGs as they tried to unload the ''[[UNSC Spirit of Fire|Spirit of Fire]]''<nowiki />'s [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine|slipspace engine]].<ref name="monsters">'''Halo Wars''', ''[[Escape]]''</ref> Even [[SPARTAN-B312|Noble Six]] was still able to fend off several Elites while dual wielding a pistol and an [[MA37|assault rifle]] before he was taken down.<ref name="lonewolf">'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Lone Wolf]]''</ref> Aside from dual wielding Plasma Rifles and Plasma Pistols, the Elites are also seen dual wielding [[Energy Sword]]s.<ref name="fiveyears">'''[[Halo Wars]]'''</ref><ref name="succor">'''[[Halo: Graphic Novel]]''', ''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]'''</ref>

==Trivia==
*Miranda Keyes is seen dual-wielding a shotgun and a magnum in the third to last cinematic on [[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]] in ''[[Halo 3]]''. This is not possible during any of the games and would be rather cumbersome, as after the first shot the shotgun would need to be pumped, which would need the other hand. However, she never actually fired it, and given the current situation may have simply been meaning it for intimidation. Miranda is also seen dual-wielding and firing SMGs in ''Halo 2'', and doesn't seem to be affected by the recoil.
*Even though the ability to dual-wield is removed for the player in ''Halo: Reach'', enemy Elites, especially [[BOB]]s, will occasionally spawn dual-wielding Plasma rifles. Like [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Brute Chieftains]], they cannot be [[Assassination|assassinated]] once they are aware of your presence.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Needler-1.jpg|Dual wielding two [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needlers]] in ''Halo 2''.
File:1179041764.jpg|Dual wielding a pair of [[Brute]] [[Type-25 Carbines|Spikers]] in the ''[[Halo 3 Beta]]''.
File:Spikers.jpg|Dual wielding a pair of Spikers in ''Halo 3''.
File:HaloWars-ArbiterRipaMoramee.png|[[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]] dual wielding Energy Swords.
File:Gretchen fight.png|Gretchen Ketola, one of the few regular humans seen dual wielding, in ''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''.
File:Reach 1641379 Medium.jpg|An [[Sangheili Ultra|Ultra Elite]] dual wielding a pair of Plasma Rifles in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:Linda 058.jpg|[[Linda-058]] dual wielding in ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion]]''.
File:H4-Exile-2.jpg|A [[SPARTAN-IV Program|SPARTAN-IV]] dual wielding a flag and magnum in ''Halo 4''.
File:H4-CmdrPalmer-DoublePistols.jpg|[[Commander]] [[Sarah Palmer]] wielding a pair of [[M6H Personal Defense Weapon System|M6H pistols]] against invading [[Promethean]]s in ''[[Spartan Ops]]''.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[The Package]]''
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''

== Note ==
<references group="note"/>

== Sources ==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[[Triple wielding|Triple Wielding]]
[[Category:Real world terms and phrases]]
[[Category:Multiplayer Lexicon]]