Editing Melee

{{Status|Gameplay}}
{{references}}
{{disambig header|the gameplay mechanic|the ''Halo 2'' medal|Bone Cracker}}
[[File:Melee Render.gif|thumb|A strong arm, a key asset in the melee attack.]]

A '''melee''' is the act of physically attacking an enemy by hitting them with a weapon. In the ''[[Halo universe|Halo]]'' series, the majority of melee attacks involve using a ranged weapon as a bludgeon, while there are a few weapons that are melee-only. 

== Overview ==
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 functions by breaking the target's neck or spine, and is sufficient to kill virtually any enemy in the games, regardless of how much shielding or armor they happen to be wearing (with the exception of Hunters and Flood forms). Also, one melee against a sleeping [[Unggoy]], regardless of difficulty or their rank, will kill them instantly.

In ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', a new melee feature called an [[assassination]] was added. The player must hold the melee input while being behind the enemy, and upon doing so, will be presented with a third-person animation involving their character killing their enemy through a scripted sequence.

In campaign, melees are classified as "silent".

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 more efficient when used from behind.

Occasionally, two players with depleted or near-depleted shields will hit each other at around the same time, resulting in both players dying.

The melee action can be executed by pressing the '''B''' button on the default controller layout for the [[Xbox]]/[[Xbox 360]] version of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', ''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[Halo 3]]'', ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', and ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' by pressing the '''F''' key on the PC version of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved (PC port)|Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' and ''[[Halo 2 (Windows Vista)|Halo 2]]'', by pressing the '''RB''' button on ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'', ''[[Halo 4]]'', and ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' with the default control setting, and by pressing the '''space bar''' in ''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]'' and ''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]'' with the default control setting.
== Lunging ==
{{#widget:YouTube|id=YA0HBampRQs|thumb|width=250px|caption=An example of Sword 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 [[reticle]] 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 and approaching an enemy, and 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.

The lunging function is present in all games for ''all'' weapons following Halo: Combat Evolved. The range of the lunge for standard weapons, however, is much smaller than that of melee weapons. Additionally, the energy sword possesses a far greater lunge distance than that of  the gravity hammer in ''[[Halo 3]]'', ''Halo: Reach'', and ''[[Halo 4]]''.
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==Gameplay==
===''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''===
Melee is introduced in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''. There is no lunge function, however, and melees are only powerful enough to deplete roughly two thirds of an enemy's shields (in [[multiplayer]]). Consequently, melees are a viable combat option only when dispatching unshielded opponents or attacking from behind.

In campaign, melees cause almost no damage to non-Pod infector [[Flood]]. By contrast, they are easily used to finish stray [[Pod infector]]s while conserving ammunition.

In multiplayer, there are 3 levels of melee momentum that dish out different amounts of damage.
* A standing melee will take down an opponent's shield 75%. 
* A running melee will completely take out an opponent's shield. 
* A jumping melee will completely take out an opponent's shield + 1 bar of health.
A double running melee will take out an opponent, but both melees must be moving.

In addition, there are 4 tiers of weapon melee range, 1 having the longest reach and 4 having the shortest reach.
# Rockets 
# Assault Rifle, Sniper 
# Plasma Pistol, Plasma Rifle, Shotgun, Needler 
# Magnum

If two players kill each other with a melee at the exact same time, one of the deaths will be attributed to The Guardians, since the game doesn’t allow a player waiting to respawn to have ownership of a melee.

===''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 2: Anniversary''===
''Halo 2'''s melee system was based on three levels of player movement as well as the weapon held. A stationary melee does the least damage (with some weapons taking six melees to kill a fully shielded Spartan), a running melee taking down roughly half of the target's shields (giving some weapons a three hit kill), and a jumping melee almost completely removing the target's shields (giving some weapons a two hit kill). With a patch, this system was updated massively to buff most weapons{{Ref/Site|ID=Halo2Melee|URL=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/xbox/562116-halo-2/faqs/36514|SiteName=GameFAQs|PageName=Halo 2 – Melee Damage FAQ}}.

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]].

Meleeing flood combat forms in ''Halo 2'' does not deal any damage and this has been used in certain levels as a way to skip large portions of the level by "flying" during a speed run.

Melee attacks now have a lunge to assist in dealing blows. 

The range of the melee attack was decreased in ''Halo 2'' from ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.{{Citation needed}}

===''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 [[Type-52 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. It should be noted that this attack causes much less damage than the gravity shockwave, but costs no energy.

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

===''Halo 3: ODST''===
In ''Halo 3: ODST'', the power of the melee attack has been ''drastically'' reduced, because the player characters, ODSTs, are ordinary humans, much weaker than the playable SPARTAN-IIs and Elites from previous titles. Although attacking from the rear is still lethal, it can take several hits from other angles to take down even the lowly [[Kig-Yar|Jackal]], and trying to take on a [[Jiralhanae|Brute]] in hand-to-hand combat is risky, though 3-4 hits on normal difficulty is still lethal. However, it's still possible to board a tank and destroy it with a few melees. If you use the Brute Spikers/Brute Shot's "knife" melee however, you would get the same result as a Spartan's melee because of the blades underneath.{{Citation needed}}

=== ''Halo: Reach'' ===
[[File:Reach Assassination.gif|thumb|250px|A slow-motion example of one of the [[Assassination]]s in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.]]
In ''Halo: Reach'', the melee is weaker than in previous games. Additionally, a new melee feature called an assassination was added to the game where players will be pulled into third-person view and watch an animation of their player model executing the enemy, with many of the Assassinations featuring UNSC [[Combat knife|combat knives]] (or Sangheili [[energy dagger]]s if the player is an Elite). The feature is accessible to players by holding down the melee button while behind the enemy. There are more than 40 different animations that change depending on the position, weapon, gametype, and Armor Ability used.[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_081310] Melee attacks are also able to "clang", where if two melee hits connect, instead of both players receiving damage they bounce off of each other instead. This can be used to counter the Energy Sword's "Lunge" attack, which, in previous games, was an instant kill.[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7H9_1f_KxM&feature=player_embedded#!] In addition, if an enemy is in the act of being assassinated my a member of your team, you can in turn steal their kill by quickly killing the individual being assassinated. If you can manage to do so, such an act rewards you with the "Yoink!" medal, and an immediate voice announcing so. It also important to note that when being assassinated an ally can kill the opponent attempting to kill you giving them the medal ''Showstopper!''.

===''Halo 4''===
[[File:Halo 4melee.gif|thumb|250px|A player melees another player within ''[[Halo 4]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Infinity (mode)|Infinity mode]].]]
Melee returns in ''Halo 4''. Assassinations also return, but with entirely new animations.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/03/08/The-Halo-Bulletin-30712.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''The Halo Bulletin: 3.07.12'']</ref>
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===''Halo: Spartan Assault'' and ''Halo: Spartan Strike''===
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===''Halo 5: Guardians''===
The classic melee and assassination mechanics are featured in the game, however the new [[Spartan abilities]] provide players with additional options. If a player is sprinting and presses the melee button, they will perform a Spartan charge. If a player jumps and holds the melee button in the air they will perform a ground pound. Melee deals the same damage as in Halo 3, allowing for 2 attacks to kill a target. Melee attacks cannot cancel [[Type-1 energy sword|energy sword]] swings, and energy swords will clash, dealing reduced damage to both attackers. If [[Gravity hammer (fiction)|gravity hammers]] clash, both will die. Gravity hammers will cancel energy sword hits. Each weapon has multiple melee animations.
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===''Halo Online''===
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===''Halo Infinite''===
Halo Infinite takes on the Halo 3 mechanics of the basic melee. Melee weapons can clash twice dealing half damage with the exception of Two Energy Swords clashing, which can clash 4 times dealing 25% damage. Assassinations have been removed in favor of a Medal where you jump over someone and back smack them, called a [[Ninja_(Halo_Infinite)|Ninja)]].{{Expand-section}}

==Trivia==
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', a melee attack in the back can kill a Marine instantly. This was changed in ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3''.	
*If a player gets too close, [[Mgalekgolo|Hunters]] will use their shields as melee weapons. A common tactic in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' was to get close to a Hunter, then duck behind them while they swing to get an unobstructed shot at the weak point on their back. In ''Halo 2'', Hunters were given rearward attacks specifically to counter this tactic.	
*In ''Halo 2''<nowiki />'s campaign, one melee from an Elite on [[Normal]] difficulty can instantly kill the player, Rarely, the player doesn't die; the player should not have taken any damage, and the melee was delivered in the front.
*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.{{Citation needed}}	
*In the ''Halo 3'' Campaign, the Arbiter can melee while dual-wielding Plasma Rifles without dropping them. Similarly, Brute Chieftains who carry {{Pattern|Pek|plasma cannon}}s can still melee the player with it, most likely due to their colossal strength. The player, who takes control of a Spartan-II, the Arbiter, or Elites in Campaign and multiplayer have the strength needed to perform such feats, however allowing this would affect game balance.
*In Halo 3, beserking Brutes will often appear to attempt to ''bite'' opponents, though damage inflicted remains the same.	
*In ''Halo 3'', it is possible to assassinate a player through thin glass, such as that found in the bases on [[Valhalla]] and [[Snowbound]]. Also, a melee on the right shoulder will grant an Assassination Medal, the left shoulder will not.{{Citation needed}}	
*In ''Halo Wars'', the Spartans will often "drop" their weapon to start meleeing a close enemy.	
*If the player melees during the right time in ''Halo: Reach'' when an enemy lunges with the energy sword, the player can survive. However, the damage performed leaves behind very little health and the next lunge will kill.
*In ''Halo: Reach'', the [[Type-1 energy sword]] does not consume its energy when an assassination is performed.	
*Marines can melee in ''Halo 2'', but the attack is weak, and is only seen when the marine is sneaking up on an unaware enemy. Their melee attacks aren't enough to kill most enemies even from behind.	
*The melee description in'' Halo: Reach ''from bungie.net is "Not The Face!" possibly quoting a ''[[Red vs Blue]]'' line in which Grif cries "Not the face!" when Tex threatens to punch him.	
*In ''Halo: Reach'' it is possible to "[[yoink]]" an extended assassination from a player by shooting or meleeing the player being assassinated. Killing an enemy assassin performing the same act nets a "[[showstopper]]" medal.	
*The melee animations of ''Halo: Reach'' have been changed from ''Halo 3'' to more closely resemble the animations from ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. An example is that the melee with the Magnum is you hitting an enemy with the bottom of the grip while holding the gun by the barrel.	
*Unlike the other games where only the Plasma Pistol melee involves a punch, in ''Halo: Reach'' a punch will be used 50 percent of the time.
*In ''Halo 5: Guardians'', Grunts and Jackals will melee the player if they are close enough.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Melee on halo 2.jpg|A melee performed within ''[[Halo 2]]''. It is seen from a [[First-person shooter|first-person perspective]].  
File:Halo3holdstill.jpg|[[John-117]] melees a [[Flood combat form]]; one of the most effective methods of dealing with Flood combat forms in ''[[Halo 3]]'''s [[campaign]]. 
File:Flag kill.jpg|A player using the flag to kill another player during a game of [[Capture the flag]]. 
File:Melee Kill.JPEG|A player receives a melee to the back. 
File:HaloReach-Melee--image.jpg|An assassination in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''. 
File:Reach 15709855 Full.jpg|Melee is the only method of attacking other players in gametypes like [[Grifball]]. 
File:HCE-Melee-StrongArm-Attack.jpg|Punching with a strong arm while wielding a [[Type-25 plasma pistol]].
File:Bungienet ODST Melee.gif|The ''Halo 3: ODST'' melee attack icon from Bungie.net
</gallery>

==Sources==
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[[Category:Real-world terms and phrases]]
[[Category:Multiplayer lexicon]]