Editing Melee

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[[Image:hand-wack.gif|right|thumb|A strong arm, a key asset in the melee attack.]]
'''Melee''' is the act of using one's [[weapon]] as a bludgeon. In the ''Halo'' series, this action can be executed by pressing the '''B''' button on the [[Xbox]] version of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', ''[[Halo 2]]'', and ''[[Halo 3]]'', or by pressing the '''F''' key on the [[Halo PC|PC version]].

Melee attacks are stealthy and conserve ammunition. The close-range attack causes damage to the target's bones and tissues, allowing an attacker to injure a target without using ammunition. A melee from behind (an '''assassination''') functions by breaking the target's neck or spine, and is sufficient to kill virtually any enemy in the trilogy, regardless of how much shielding or armor they happen to be wearing.

Melee attacks are commonly used in [[Multiplayer]] matches, where only a few blows are needed to kill an opponent; they allow one player to kill another without the sound of gunfire revealing their location or the weapons they are carrying. Melees are usually used to assassinate, when using a melee [[weapon]] (such as the [[Energy Sword]] or [[Gravity Hammer]]), or when an opponent is too close to shoot. Players who are [[dual-wielding]] weapons are less likely to melee, as a melee attack causes a player to drop their left-hand weapon.

== Lunging ==
When wielding a melee weapon, it is possible to lunge at a distant enemy. If a target is close enough that aiming at them turns an attacker's [[reticule]] red, then the attacker can aim at them and press '''RT'''. This will cause the attacker to lunge forward before striking.

A lunge delays a melee. If an attacker is wielding the Gravity Hammer, they may find a target and approach them. If the attacker aims away from the target, they can swing the hammer the moment their target gets within the "blast radius", killing the victim almost instantly. If, however, the attacker aims ''at'' the target, then the attacker will lunge before striking, even if the target is already within range when '''RT''' is pressed. The lunge delays the swing, giving the target more time to react, and creating extra risk for the attacker.

By contrast, lunging is extremely helpful when using the Energy Sword, as it lacks splash damage.

== In ''Halo 2'' ==
''Halo 2''<nowiki/>'s melee system was based on three levels of player movement, with a stationary melee doing the least damage, a running melee taking down roughly half of the target's shields, and a jumping melee almost completely removing the target's shields.{{fact}} With the introduction of [[dual-wielding]], a new feature was added: if a player performs a melee attack while dual-wielding, they will drop their left weapon.

In ''Halo 2'', melee attacks had the added benefit of canceling various animations and delays. This trait was shared by various other actions, and was exploited in the form of [[Button Combo|special button combinations]]. A common combination is the [[Double Melee]], a rapid repetition of the button sequence '''B''' + '''X'''.

The range of the melee attack was decreased in ''Halo 2'', but the distance at which a lunge can be attempted was increased.

== In ''Halo 3'' ==
In ''Halo 3'', the attack's power increased, such that two blows to a normally-shielded opponent's body were sufficient to kill them. The attack also became more effective against some Campaign enemies, with fewer hits required to kill a [[Flood Combat Form]]. A ''Halo 3'' title update balanced melees; if two unshielded players melee each other, both will die, and both will receive a point.

The increased power of ''Halo 3'''s melee attack has led to various new tactics and techniques regarding its usage. A common tactic is to charge an opponent using an [[MA5C Assault Rifle|Assault Rifle]]; the attacker drains their opponent's shields with the rifle, and then uses a melee to finish them off. Melees are also used in [[Noob Combo]]s, with a common combo being the usage of a [[Mauler]] to drain an opponent's shields, followed by a melee.

A new feature is the ability to perform a normal melee attack while using melee weapons. Such weapons have both an '''RT''' attack and a '''B''' attack; the former attack is powerful, whereas the latter is faster. The Energy Sword's '''B''' attack is a rapid swipe; when pressing '''B''' with the Gravity Hammer, a player's character will jab the butt of the hammer forward.

Assassinating an opponent in multiplayer earns the player an [[Assassin Medal]], while a normal melee kill yields a [[Beat Down Medal]].

== Character compatibility ==
*[[Spartans]]
*[[Elites]]
*[[Hunters]]
*[[Brutes]]
*[[Drones]] (only when [[boarding]])
*[[Marines]] (''Halo 2'' and ''3'' only, very close enemies, and they usually kick instead of punching or whacking)
*[[Flood Combat forms]]
*[[Flood Pure Forms]]
**[[Flood Tank Forms]]
**[[Flood Stalker Forms]]
**[[Flood Thrasher Form]]

==Trivia==
*In ''Halo 3'', it is possible to assassinate a player through thin glass, such as that found in the bases on [[Valhalla (Level)|Valhalla]] and [[Snowbound (Level)|Snowbound]].
*In ''Halo 2'', assassinations are not always successful against Brutes on [[Legendary]].
*In the ''Halo 3'' Campaign, the Arbiter can melee while dual-wielding Plasma Rifles without dropping them.
*In the ''Halo 3'' Campaign, it's impossible to melee while wielding [[Support Weapons]]. However, Brute Chieftains who carry [[Plasma Cannon]]s can still melee you with it, most likely due to their colossal strength. 
*In ''Halo 3'', players can be assassinated even if [[Custom Game]] settings have made them invincible.
*If a player gets too close, [[Hunters]] will use their shields as melee weapons.
*Some fans have called using melee attacks "whacking" and "nutting", and in Campaign, "Whack-Attack" or "Ammo-Saver-fest '07".
*Flood Combat Forms cannot be assassinated.{{fact}}
*In ''Halo 2'' Multiplayer, it can take up to three melee strikes to the front or side to kill a normally-shielded enemy. In ''Halo 3'', only two strikes are needed.
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', a melee attack in the back can kill a Marine instantly. However, in ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'' allies cannot be assassinated by a single hit to the back.
*In the popular internet video series [[Arby 'n' the Chief]], the Chief is frequently angered by the intricacies and perceived unfairness of the melee system in ''Halo 3'', an attitude mirrored by many real-life gamers. 
*In the pre-beta ([[Bungie]] employees and staff only) versions of ''Halo 3'' Multiplayer, the melee was less powerful, with a single melee failing to significantly deplete a player's shields.
*In ''Halo 2'''s Campaign, just one melee from an [[Elite]] on [[Normal]] can kill a player immediately, whether the attack is to the back or front. If the Elite is wielding a [[Carbine]], however, then the melee will have no effect at very close distances.
*In ''[[Halo Wars]]'', the Spartans will often "drop" their weapon to start meleeing a close enemy. 
*In ''Halo 2'', if you have the [[Halo 2 Skulls#Sputnik|Sputnik]] [[Halo 2 Skulls|skull]] activated and keep meleeing a dead body for a while, the body will fall through the floor.
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