Magnum (gameplay)

This article documents its subject as it pertains to the gameplay of the Halo games, rather than the lore.

Magnum
Gameplay role
Faction:	Human (UNSC)
Weapon tier (?):	Loadout weapon / Dual wield weapon
Weapon class (?):	Pistol
Weapon type (?):	Precision weapon
Firing mode:	Semi-automatic
Effective range:	Close to medium
Counterparts:	Human (UNSC): Sidekick Covenant: Plasma Pistol Mauler Banished: Mangler Forerunner: Boltshot
Weapon stats
Damage:	Low to medium
Damage type (?):	Kinetic
Projectile speed:	Medium to very high
Rate of fire:	Low to high
Accuracy:	Medium to very high
Magazine size:	Varies
Zoom:	Varies
Variants and attachments
Base variant(s):	CE Pistol Automag Flagnum Survivor Magnum

The Magnum is a human precision weapon featured in most major Halo games, starting with Halo 2. A successor to the Halo: Combat Evolved Pistol, it has gone through a wide variety of changes from game to game resulting in a few weapon variants as well. What remains consistent is its role as a human pistol capable of performing headshots and featuring either dual wielding or a scope. It is a predecessor to Halo Infinite's Sidekick.

Universe and lore

Main article: M6 Series

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Overview

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Major Variants

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• 

  CE Pistol
  Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 5: Guardians

• 

  Automag
  Halo 3: ODST and Halo 3 (MCC)

Counterparts

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• 

  Sidekick
  Halo Infinite

• 

  Plasma Pistol
  Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, Halo 4, Halo: Spartan Assault, Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer, Halo: Spartan Strike, Halo Online, Halo 5: Guardians, Halo: Fireteam Raven and Halo Infinite

• 

  Mauler
  Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo Online

• 

  Mangler
  Halo Infinite

• 

  Boltshot
  Halo 4 and Halo 5: Guardians

Halo: Combat Evolved

Main article: Halo: Combat Evolved Pistol

The term Magnum never appears in Halo: Combat Evolved, instead featuring the CE Pistol. The Pistol serves a completely different gameplay role from the Magnum, behaving more like a rifle than a sidearm. Despite the actual term magnum referring to a type of pistol, later appearances would retroactively classify the Pistol as a variant of Magnum. The Magnum would remain the typic human handgun of the Halo game series, even adopting traits from the CE Pistol, until being replaced by the Sidekick in Halo Infinite.

Halo 2 and Halo 2: Anniversary

Magnum
Gameplay role
Weapon tier (?):	Dual wield weapon
Effective range:	Close
Counterparts:	Covenant: Plasma Pistol
Weapon stats
Damage:	SP: 8 (can headshot) MP: 5.5 (can headshot)
Damage type (?):	bullet_slow
Projectile speed:	400 wu/s
Max range:	40 wu
Rate of fire:	0.1s fire recovery time (10 rounds per second)
Spread (?):	0.25 to 1.5 degrees
Magazine size:	12 rounds
Reserve ammo capacity:	48 rounds (4 magazines)
Tag name (?):	magnum

Main article: First-person shooter

Campaign

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Multiplayer

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Changes from Halo 2 to Auto Update 2

• Damage decreased to 5.5.

Halo 3

Magnum
Gameplay role
Weapon tier (?):	Dual wield weapon
Effective range:	Close
Counterparts:	Human (UNSC): Automag (MCC) Covenant: Plasma Pistol
Weapon stats
Damage:	15 (can headshot) dual: 0.7x (10.5)
Damage type (?):	bullet_slow
Projectile speed:	180 wu/s
Max range:	40 wu
Rate of fire:	0.4s fire recovery time (2.5 rounds per second)
Spread (?):	0.5 degrees dual: 0.5 to 1 degrees
Magazine size:	8 rounds
Reserve ammo capacity:	40 rounds (5 magazines)
Tag name (?):	magnum
Variants and attachments
Base variant(s):	Automag (MCC)

Campaign

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Multiplayer

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Halo: Reach

Magnum
Gameplay role
Weapon tier (?):	Default: Loadout weapon Anniversary: Utility weapon
Firing mode:	Default: Semi-automatic Anniversary: Automatic
Effective range:	Close to medium
Counterparts:	Default: Covenant: Plasma Pistol Anniversary: Human (UNSC): DMR Covenant: Needle Rifle
Weapon stats
Damage:	Default: 17.5 (can headshot) does not pierce shields Anniversary: 26.25 (can headshot)
Damage type (?):	bullet_slow
Projectile speed:	3000 wu/s
Max range:	100 wu
Rate of fire:	Default: 0.19s fire recovery time (~5.26 rounds per second) Anniversary: 0.285s fire recovery time (~3.51 rounds per second)
Spread (?):	Default: 0.6 to 4 degrees Title Update 1: 0.6 to 3.4 degrees
Magazine size:	8 rounds
Reserve ammo capacity:	40 rounds (5 magazines)
Zoom:	2x magnification
Tag name (?):	magnum

Campaign and Firefight

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Multiplayer

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Changes from Halo: Reach to Title Update 1

• Enabled shield damage bleed through.
• Bloom reduced to 85%.

Changes from Title Update 1 to Anniversary Settings

• Changed firemode to automatic.
• Increased damage to 150%.
• Increased fire recovery time by 150% (decreased firerate to 67%).

Halo 4

Magnum
Gameplay role
Weapon tier (?):	Loadout weapon
Effective range:	Close to medium
Counterparts:	Covenant: Plasma Pistol
Weapon stats
Damage:	Default: 15 (can headshot) does not pierce shields Tuning: 17.3 (can headshot) does not pierce shields
Damage type (?):	bullet_slow
Projectile speed:	3000 wu/s
Max range:	250 wu
Rate of fire:	0.2 fire recovery time (5 rounds per second)
Spread (?):	0.15 to 1.75 degrees
Magazine size:	8 rounds
Reserve ammo capacity:	32 rounds (4 magazines) 40 rounds with Ammo Mod
Zoom:	2x magnification
Tag name (?):	storm_magnum
Variants and attachments
Base variant(s):	Flagnum

Campaign and Spartan Ops

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Multiplayer

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Changes from Halo 4 to Weapon Tuning Update

• Damage increased to 115%.

Halo 2: Anniversary Multiplayer

Magnum
Gameplay role
Weapon tier (?):	Loadout weapon / Dual wield weapon
Effective range:	Close to medium
Counterparts:	Covenant: Plasma Pistol
Weapon stats
Damage:	7.25 (can headshot) does not pierce shields
Damage type (?):	bullet_slow
Projectile speed:	400 wu/s
Max range:	40 wu
Rate of fire:	0.1s fire recovery time (10 rounds per second)
Spread (?):	0.5 to 1.5 degrees dual: 0.7 to 1.6 degrees
Magazine size:	12 rounds
Reserve ammo capacity:	48 rounds (4 magazines)
Tag name (?):	h2a_magnum
Variants and attachments
Base variant(s):	Survivor Magnum

Multiplayer

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Changes from Magnum to Survivor Magnum

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Halo: Online

Disclaimer: all below statistics are derived from unofficial tools and may be inaccurate

Multiplayer

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Halo 5: Guardians

Disclaimer: all below statistics are derived from unofficial tools and may be inaccurate

Magnum
Gameplay role
Weapon tier (?):	Loadout weapon / Utility weapon
Effective range:	Medium
Counterparts:	As a pistol: Human (UNSC): CE Pistol Covenant: Plasma Pistol Forerunner: Boltshot As a utility weapon: Human (UNSC): Battle Rifle Halo 2 Battle Rifle DMR CE Pistol Covenant: Covenant Carbine Forerunner: Lightrifle
Weapon stats
Damage:	17.5 (can headshot) does not pierce shields
Damage type (?):	bullet_slow
Projectile speed:	3000 wu/s
Max range:	250 wu
Rate of fire:	0.28 fire recovery time (~3.57 rounds per second)
Spread (?):	0 to 0.6 degrees
Magazine size:	12 rounds
Reserve ammo capacity:	48 rounds (4 magazines) 60 rounds with Ammo Mod
Zoom:	2x magnification
Tag name (?):	magnum
Variants and attachments
Base variant(s):	Flagnum
Halo 5 REQ variant(s):	Gunfighter Magnum Tactical Magnum Whispered Truth Halo: Combat Evolved Pistol
Attachments:	Extended Mags

Campaign

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Multiplayer and Warzone

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Changes from Halo 5: Guardians to Weapon Tuning Update

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Unlock and acquisition requirements

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• 

  Magnum REQ card.

Variants

Gunfighter Magnum

Main article: Gunfighter Magnum

"Lightweight competition pistol carried by Spartan operators who prefer a no-frills backup firearm. Quick draw Magnum with fast-reload magazines. Iron sights only, no Smart-Link module is attached."

— REQ description

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Tactical Magnum

Main article: Tactical Magnum

"Whisper-quiet tactical pistol loaded with armor-piercing rounds, tailored for Spartan force reconnaissance missions. Match grade Magnum with integral baffle-free suppressor and full-VISR Smart-Link."

— REQ description

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Whispered Truth

Main article: Whispered Truth

"Let the lady talk. Mythic Magnum machine pistol with burst fire and integral Silencer. Wielding the Whispered Truth increases movement speed."

— REQ description

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Halo: Combat Evolved Pistol

Main article: Halo: Combat Evolved Pistol

"You’ll have to find ammo as you go. Classic Magnum with increased damage and higher recoil. Infuses the user with nostalgia and increased movement speed."

— REQ description

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Halo Spartan Assault

Main article: Twin-stick shooter

Campaign

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Unlock and acquisition requirements

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Halo Spartan Strike

Campaign

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Unlock and acquisition requirements

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Skins and cosmetics

The Magnum has seen many equipable weapon skins and coatings across the various games it's been featured in.

Halo 4

Main article: Weapon skins (Halo 4)

Magnum v • d • e
Icon	Name	Description (MCC)	Unlock Requirements (Halo 4)	Unlock Requirements (MCC)
	Default	Default Skin applied.	Unlocked by default	Unlocked by default
	Static (STC)	Customized with the STATIC skin.	Reach Operator	Unlocked by default
	Combustion (CBN)	Customized with the COMBUSTION skin.	Purchase the Champions Bundle or Steel Skin Pack.	Series 4, Tier 9 ( 1)
	Indigo (IND)	Customized with the INDIGO skin.	Purchase the Champions Bundle	Series 4, Tier 6 ( 1)
	Flare (FLR)	Customized with the FLARE skin.	Purchase the Champions Bundle	Series 4, Tier 28 ( 1)
	Edgework (EWK)	Customized with the EDGEWORK skin.	N/A (MCC-exclusive)	Series 7, Tier 13 ( 1)
	Blood (BLD)	Customized with the BLOOD skin.	N/A (MCC-exclusive)	Series 7, Tier 24 ( 1)
	Pixel (PXL)	Customized with the PIXEL skin.	N/A (MCC-exclusive)	Series 7, Tier 79 ( 1)
	Maw (MAW)	Customized with the MAW skin.	N/A (MCC-exclusive)	Series 7, Tier 81 ( 1)

Halo 3 (MCC)

Main article: Skins (Halo 3)

Magnum v • d • e
Icon	Name	Description	Unlock requirements
	Default	Default skin.	Unlocked by default
	Hunter’s Blood	Well armed. Well armored.	Series 3, Tier 1 ( 1)
	Blue Heaven	Reach for the sky.	Series 3, Tier 22 ( 1)
	Sharpshooter	The bite stuff.	Series 3, Tier 31 ( 1)
	Golden	Bling on the ring.	Series 3, Tier 44 ( 1)
	Tech Camo Bravo	Gunner's seat, please.	Series 5, Tier 40 ( 1)
	Hazard Pay	Safety first!	Series 5, Tier 57 ( 1)
	OGX	Used on a select target audience.	The Exchange ( 3)

Halo 5: Guardians

Main article: List of REQ cards/Weapon Skins

Production notes

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Trivia

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Gallery

Concept art

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Renders

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HUD icons

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Screenshots

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List of appearances

• Halo 2 (First appearance)
• Halo 3
• Halo: Reach
• Halo 4
  • Spartan Ops
• Halo: Spartan Assault
• Halo 2: Anniversary
• Halo: Spartan Strike
• Halo 5: Guardians
• Halo: Fireteam Raven