Canon

MA5K carbine

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

This article is about the weapon and its "Avenger" variant featured in Halo: Infinite. For the similarly named medal, see Avenger.
MA5K carbine
A cropped screenshot of the MA5K Avenger in Halo Infinite.
The "MA5K Avenger" variant of the carbine.
Production overview

Manufacturer:

Misriah Armory[1][2]

Model series:

MA5 series

Type:

Carbine

Specifications

Ammunition type:

M118 7.62×51mm Full Metal Jacket Armor-Piercing[3]

Capacity:

  • 30-round detachable box magazine (standard variant)[3][4]
  • 60-round detachable box magazine ("Avenger" variant)[2]

Operation:

Gas-operated

Service history

In service:

Human-Covenant War
Post-Covenant War conflicts

 

"She’ll serve you well in tight quarters should your 'recon' get a little more interesting."
Amber C. to SPARTAN-G059.[2]

The MA5K carbine is a firearm in the MA5 series of rifles produced by Misriah Armory. It is almost exclusively used by United Nations Space Command special operations forces.[3]

Overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

The standard MA5K is a cut-down version of the standard MA5B assault rifle.[5] It is fully automatic and receives a thirty-round magazine of 7.62×51mm FMJ-AP ammunition.[3] The most conspicuous difference between the MA5K and other MA5 models is the replacement of the distinctive electronics housing with a removable carrying handle similar to that of the BR55 battle rifle.[6] The rear of the rail is fitted with a digital display capable of showing the weapon's remaining ammunition count, alongside a compass for navigation.[7]

Various iterations on the MA5K's design exist; the seemingly-standard variant is a cut down version of the MA5B assault rifle with the aforementioned rail system.[2] However, the MA5K "Avenger" variant is instead built atop the frame of an MA40 assault rifle, notably using 60-round magazines.[2][7] Some iterations of the weapon utilise an alternate, more angular body and rail system.[8]

Usage[edit]

In February 2526, MA5Ks were utilised by SPARTAN-II Blue Team during their mission to board and capture Radiant Arrow, a Covenant frigate orbiting Netherop. During the mission, John-117 ran his MA5K with a suppressor.[9] This use by Spartan operatives was continued with the SPARTAN-IIIs, who used the weapon between 2531 and 2552—especially during the Onyx Conflict.[2] In the post-war era, SPARTAN-G059 also used an MA5K Avenger during her reconnaissance mission to investigate Luro 'Taralumee's salvaging efforts near Unyielding Hierophant.[2]

MA5Ks were used in the Battle for Zeta Halo in 2560. During the Battle of the beacon tower, Robin Dimik gave her MA5K, salvaged from the wreckage of one of the UNSC Infinity's lifeboats, to Spartan Tomas Horvath to use against the defending Banished forces. However, Dimik only had forty-six rounds left for the weapon and, even with precision shooting to conserve ammo, Horvath ran out of ammunition before the rest of the boat crew rejoined him, forcing Horvath to switch to scavenged Banished weapons.[4][10]

In-game information[edit]

Halo Infinite[edit]

A fully automatic rifle with a high rate-of-fire and increased magazine size. Effective at short range.[11]

The MA5K, dubbed the "MA5K Avenger",[12] was implemented into Halo Infinite alongside the Great Journey event in November during Winter Update 2024.[13] Labelled as a weapon in the SMG weapon class,[1] it is intended for killing opponents in close range while being outperformed by the MA40 assault rifle at medium range. Similar to the MA5B, the MA5K Avenger possesses a high rate of fire and digital ammo counter. Its magazine holds 60 rounds, while 300 rounds can be carried in reserve by players.[14]

The Avenger was designed to fill a role similar to the SMGs of prior Halo games (notably Halo 2, Halo 3: ODST and Halo 5: Guardians). Its inclusion was inspired from the Halo 2 20th anniversary throwback playlist; when developing the playlist, Halo Studios noted that Infinite did not currently have an SMG-equivalent weapon to fully emulate Halo 2's gameplay. Due to the lack of dual wielding in Infinite, the MA5K's balance was based on dual-wielded M7 SMGs in Halo 2 and the single-wielded M7S SMG and M20 PDW of ODST and Halo 5, respectively.[1] The weapon's visual appearance is a model variation on the preexisting MA40 assault rifle already in Halo Infinite, with many of the decals removed. Despite the weapon's doubled magazine capacity when compared to the MA40, the two share an identical magazine model and reload animations.

Trivia[edit]

The "K" in this weapon's designation follows the tradition of 20th and 21st century German weapons including the letter in their designations. "K" stands for kurz, German for short.

Gallery[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Halo Waypoint, Sandbox Overview | Great Journey (Retrieved on Oct 31, 2024) [archive]
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Coming of Age (Retrieved on Nov 13, 2024) [local archive] [external archive]
  3. ^ a b c d Halo Waypoint, Assault Rifle (Retrieved on Mar 23, 2011) [local archive] [external archive]
  4. ^ a b Halo: The Rubicon Protocol, chapter 35: "'It's got sixteen rounds left, and here's thirty more,' she said, passing him a spare magazine. 'Don't go crazy.'"
  5. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, chapter 20
  6. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx: Cover art
  7. ^ a b Halo Infinite, MA5K Avenger in-game weapon
  8. ^ Halo Mythos, page 134
  9. ^ Halo: Silent Storm, chapter 2
  10. ^ Halo: The Rubicon Protocol, chapter 36
  11. ^ Halo Infinite, Forge - MA5K Avenger description: "A fully automatic rifle with a high rate-of-fire and increased magazine size. Effective at short range."
  12. ^ X.com, Halo (@Halo) (Retrieved on Oct 31, 2024) [archive]
  13. ^ X.com, Halo (@Halo): "“I need a weapon.” Operation: Great Journey arrives 11.5.24" (Retrieved on Oct 30, 2024) [archive]
  14. ^ YouTube - HALO, Winter Update Community Livestream | Halo Infinite