BR85HB battle rifle

The BR85 Heavy Barrel Service Rifle, commonly shortened to the BR85HB SR, is a select-fire battle rifle used by the United Nations Space Command. Like its predecessors, the BR55 and BR55HB service rifles, the BR85 is manufactured by Misriah Armory.

Design

The BR85HB Service Rifle is a gas-operated, magazine-fed battle rifle. A select-fire weapon, the BR85HB is optimized for firing three-round bursts, though it is capable of semi-automatic and fully automatic fire. The BR85HB is effective against most Covenant battle armor and the energy shielding of Sangheili combat harnesses; it also proves effective against the shields and plating of GEN2 MJOLNIR armor during War Games exercises. Like its predecessors, the BR85HB features a 2x magnification scope and receives a 36-round detachable box magazine. In the hands of a skilled marksman the weapon's precision and accuracy make it versatile at a variety of ranges. The BR85HB battle rifle features multiple design improvements on the BR55 and BR55HB battle rifles which were in service during the Human-Covenant War. The BR85HB also features a new lightweight frame and rail mounts for weapon attachments and other accessories.

Gameplay

HUD icon of the BR85HB Service Rifle

Halo 4

The weapon features hitscan and lacks reticule bloom. When fired the barrel rises vertically, but in a suppressible way. The rifle's three-round burst is particularly effective for mid-range combat. It performs adequately in close- and long-range engagements as well, though the MA5D assault rifle and M395 DMR outperform it at these ranges, respectively. The player can carry a maximum of 216 rounds of reserve ammunition for the BR85 from a normal load of 108 rounds. If all the bullets in a three-round burst (one shot) hit a player in matchmaking, it will take four shots to down a player provided the last shot hits the player as a headshot. Only one round from a burst to the head is required to kill an unshielded enemy.

Advantages

While the effective range and accuracy is less than those of the DMR or a scoped-in Lightrifle, it has a faster kill time than the DMR and unscoped Lightrifle and allows for better situational awareness with its lower zoom magnification. Its effectiveness at closer range is also higher than these weapons, roughly on par with the Covenant Carbine. This makes the BR85 one of the most well-rounded weapon choices as it excels in mid-range combat and is capable of going toe-to-toe with other weapons in close- and long-range combat.

• The battle rifle can kill a standard-shielded enemy in four bursts, via three bursts breaching the shields and the fourth with a headshot.
• Headshots with the battle rifle in general are easier to obtain, as there are three chances to get one per shot. As such it is recommended for use in SWAT for players who are not fully comfortable using the DMR, or on maps with smaller sight lines, such as Adrift.
• Two bursts to the body from a battle rifle followed by a melee will kill an opponent; this common technique is called a two-shot melee or a "bang-bang-whack".
• 36-round magazine capacity allows 12 bursts, or a maximum of 3 kills (fully-shielded SPARTANs) per magazine in the hands of a skilled user. This is one more potential kill than the DMR, Covenant Carbine, and unscoped Lightrifle.

Disadvantages

As previously stated, the battle rifle lacks the accuracy, damage, and range of the other, more specialized primary precision weapons. The recoil is detrimental, but it can be controlled into a predictable vertical flow with practice to gain headshots. Mid-magazine reload time is also rather slow (especially without the Dexterity support upgrade); if the magazine is empty the full reload time takes even longer. Additionally, as the magazine empties the report increases in pitch, allowing aware opponents to time their attacks so that the wielder is helpless.

Changes from the BR55HB SR in Halo 3

• Once again features hitscan properties
• Larger reticle and higher magnetism at close range, lower magnetism at long range

Halo: Spartan Assault

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The battle rifle is not available in Halo: Spartan Assault's campaign mode, appearing only in the Flood Missions cooperative mode, and as the primary weapon of Spartan Davis in the cutscenes.

Changes from Halo 4 to Halo 5: Guardians

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• Zoom function replaced with aiming down a physical reflex sight
• Much higher cyclic rate of fire

Trivia

Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

• The earliest known in-game model of the BR85 was erroneously labeled "BR55HB SR". This is fixed in the final build of the game.
• The BR85 is found on the Template:UNSCship in Halo 4. However, since the BR85 presumably entered service after the war, it can be assumed that canonically John-117 used the BR55 before rendezvousing with the Template:UNSCship. This is likely because the developers forwent creating a separate model that would only be used during perhaps a single level, which can also be said for the 2554-model Warthogs stored aboard the Dawn.
• Despite the lack of a flash suppressor or muzzle brake, the BR85 produces a cross-shaped muzzle flash.
• In Halo: Spartan Assault, the BR85 makes the report of Halo 2's BR55 when firing.

Gallery

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  Concept art of the BR85HB SR for Halo 4.

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  A BR85HB with the "Dunes" skin

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  A BR85HBSR with the "Steam" skin

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  A camouflaged BR85HB SR for operations in snowy environments

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  The BR85 compared to its predecessors, the BR55HB and the BR55

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  An older render of the BR85HB SR with the placeholder label

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  John-117 holding a BR85.

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  A SPARTAN-IV firing the BR85

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  A render of the BR85HB SR's scope

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  A first-person view of the BR85 from John-117's HUD

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  First-person view of the BR85HB SR in multiplayer

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  An early, unused render of the BR85 for Halo 2 Anniversary.

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  The BR85HB SR as it appears in Halo 5: Guardians.

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  The BR85HB in the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta

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  The BR85HB while zoomed in

Videos

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List of appearances

• Halo 4 (First appearance)
  • Spartan Ops
• Halo: Spartan Assault
• Halo: Escalation
• Halo: Nightfall
• Halo 5: Guardians
• Halo Online