BR85HB battle rifle

The BR85 Heavy Barrel Service Rifle (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.

History

Initially fielded late in the Covenant War, manufacturing concerns and logistical issues involved with its ammunition meant the BR85 service rifle was not widely adopted until after the conflict ended.

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 in 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
• Scope is now square instead of round
• Misriah Armory's symbol is now on both sides of the stock on the weapon.

Halo: Spartan Assault and Halo: Spartan Strike

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

In Halo: Spartan Strike the battle rifle appears in several campaign missions and excels in taking down enemies.

Changes from Halo 4 to Halo 5: Guardians

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• Zoom function replaced with "Smart Scope" feature
• Sight changed from rectangular ACOG style to open-topped holographic sight
• Accuracy increased
• Much higher cyclic rate of fire

Halo Online

In Halo Online the BR85HB comes in several variants.

• The default BR85HB has a 36 round magazine and 108 rounds in maximum reserve ammo.
• The DMG BR85HB does more damage than the standard BR85HB at the cost of fire rate, accuracy, and a scope. It has a 30 round magazine and 60 rounds in maximum reserve ammo.
• The ROF BR85HB is fully automatic while not zoomed in, but returns to the standard three-round burst if the player zooms in. It has a 36 round magazine and 108 rounds in maximum reserve ammo.
• The ACC BR85HB is more accurate than the standard BR85HB. It has a 30 round magazine and 90 rounds in maximum reserve ammo.
• The MAG BR85HB has a five-round burst in place of the usual three-round burst. It has a 40 round magazine and 120 rounds in maximum reserve ammo.
• The SNP BR85HB is more accurate than the standard BR85HB and features a variable-zoom scope similar to the SRS99 series. It has a 36 round magazine and 108 rounds in maximum reserve ammo.
• The golden BR85HB has superior stats all around. It has a 48 round magazine and 144 rounds in maximum reserve ammo.

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.
• Despite the lack of a flash suppressor or muzzle brake, the BR85 produces a cross-shaped muzzle flash.
• In Halo: Spartan Assault and Halo: Spartan Strike, the BR85 makes the report of Halo 2's BR55 when firing.

Gallery

Normal Gallery

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  Concept art of the BR85HB SR for Halo 4.

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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 BR85HB.

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  A Spartan-IV firing the BR85HB on Haven

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  A render of the BR85HB SR's scope

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  A render of a BR85 in Halo 4.

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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 on Complex.

• HSA-SpartanEdwardDavis-LastFight.jpg

  Edward Davis using an BR85HB during the Battle of Draetheus V in Halo: Spartan Assault.

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  John-117 with a BR85HB in Halo: Escalation.

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  Talitha Macer with a BR85HB during the Mission to Alpha Shard in Halo: Nightfall.

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

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  A hologram of a Spartan-II with a BR85HB in Hunt the Signal.

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  A Spartan-IV with a BR85HB during a simulation of the Battle of Mombasa in Halo: Spartan Strike.

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  Frank Kodiak using a BR85HB during the Mission to Installation 00 in Halo: Hunters in the Dark.

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  Concept art of the BR85HB customization in Halo 5: Guardians.

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  A render of the BR85HB SR from the pre-Beta development stage of Halo 5: Guardians.

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  The BR85HB in the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta on Regret.

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  Smart Scope with the BR85HB in the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta on Crossfire.

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  First-person view of the BR85HB in Halo 5: Guardians on Escape from ARC.

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  Smart scope with the BR85HB in Halo 5: Guardians.

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  A REQ card of a BR85 in Halo 5: Guardians.

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  The default BR85HB in Halo Online.

• HO-BR85.png

  The BR85HB in the Halo Online customization menu.

Halo 4 Skins

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  DNE(Dunes) skin

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  ACT(Arctic) skin

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  STM(Steam) skin

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  SLV(Salvage) skin

Halo 5: Guardians variants and skins

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  REQ card of BR85HB with Bloodthirst skin

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  The Sentinel BR85HB with Bloodthirst skin

Halo Online variants

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  The DMG BR85HB on Riverworld

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  The ROF BR85HB on Riverworld

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  The ACC BR85HB on Riverworld

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  The MAG BR85HB on Riverworld

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  The SNP BR85HB on Riverworld

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  The golden BR85HB on Riverworld

Videos

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List of appearances

• Halo 4 (First appearance)
  • Spartan Ops
• Halo: Spartan Assault
• Halo: Escalation
• Halo: Nightfall
• Hunt the Truth
  • All Hail (HUD only)
  • Hunt the Signal
• Halo: Spartan Strike
• Halo: Hunters in the Dark
• Halo: Last Light
• Halo 5: Guardians
• Halo Online