Normal

The Normal shield, as per Halo: The Master Chief Collection's release.

"Hordes of aliens vie to destroy you, but nerves of steel and a quick trigger finger give you a solid chance to prevail."

— Description from Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, and Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

"Face firm resistance from competent, determined enemies, but burn through enough ammo and you will eventually triumph."

— Description from Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach

"Face firm resistance from determined enemies. Fight hard and you will triumph"

— Description from Halo 4

"Hordes of enemy forces converge to destroy you. Show no mercy. Recommended for players with first person shooter experience."

— Description from Halo 5: Guardians

"The enemy will not relent, but a considered strategy should earn you a victory. Recommended for players with RTS experience."

— Description from Halo Wars 2

"Brutal enemies threaten humanity and test your indomitable spirit. First-person shooter experience recommended."

— Description from Halo Infinite

Normal is the default difficulty rating on Halo: Combat Evolved, 2, 3, 4, Halo 3: ODST, Halo Wars, Halo: Reach, Halo 5: Guardians, Halo Wars 2, and Halo Infinite. It is ranked second in the list of four difficulties.

Summary

The original Normal shield.

Normal is not too hard, but correspondingly not as easy. The enemies will behave competently, and they can deal a reasonable amount of damage. Players are expected to put forth the effort and think on their feet. While Normal mode represents strength, firepower, and health for Master Chief, Elites, and all other Covenant and Marines, Heroic accurately depicts intelligence, enemy accuracy, and enemy numbers.

The icon for the Normal difficulty setting is represented with a shield that has the Marathon Logo encrusted into the center. Over the shield is a UNSC machete from right to left; in Halo 3: ODST, the knife is replaced with an M7S SMG.

Elites, Brutes, and Hunters are the more challenging enemies the player must prioritize on taking down first. The most dangerous threats at close range are Elites with Energy Swords and Brutes armed with Gravity Hammers. From a distance, the player must also watch out for Hunters with their Fuel Rod Cannons, Brutes armed with Brute Shots, and Jackal Snipers. Grunts can easily be dispatched of. They will seldom throw Plasma Grenades and can potentially overwhelm a careless player in groups. But they will often flee in terror if the Elite or Brute leading them is killed. Drones will come in swarms, but they are manageable if the player can engage them properly. Jackals can easily be dispatched if the player can utilize the weakness on their shielding. However, precautions should be made on Majors, as will often rely on charging their Plasma Pistol shots to disable the player's shields.

When the player encounters the Flood, the biggest threats to consider are Combat Forms armed with Rocket Launchers and Shotguns. The Shotgun and Energy Sword are generally the best weapons to take down the Combat Forms and Carrier Forms, while the Assault Rifle, SMG, and the Plasma Rifle can dispatch swarms of Infection Forms. As the Flood often comes in large swarms, it is best to avoid getting surrounded or cornered, as that will lead players to get killed quicker.

Sentinels will often come in swarms of at least 2 to 3. In clusters, they can easily drain the player's shields. But if the player can access plasma weapons, they can quickly eliminate them.

Marines are well-balanced as allies. They can dispatch a file of Grunts and Jackals with minimal effort. And in squads, they are very likely to prevail against lower ranking Elites and Brutes. However, they will not fare well if facing against higher ranking Elites and Brutes, and Hunters. This will require players to prioritize on fighting the stronger enemies while having the allies focus on the weaker enemies.

Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo: Anniversary

Awards

• In Halo: Anniversary:
  • The Birth of a Spartan achievement is awarded for completing Halo: Anniversary on Normal.
  • The Standard Operating Brocedure achievement is awarded for completing a level of Halo: Anniversary on Normal, in cooperative play.
• In Halo: The Master Chief Collection:
  • The Birth of a Spartan achievement is awarded for completing Halo: Anniversary on Normal.
    • The blue Normal nameplate is awarded to the player.
  • If the player has completed all other Normal campaign missions or playlists and obtained the associated achievements, they will also unlock the Veteran achievement.
    • Additionally, the platinum Normal nameplate is awarded to the player.

Halo 2

Awards

• In Halo 2: Vista:
  • The Warrior achievement is awarded for completing the game on Normal.
• In Halo: The Master Chief Collection:
  • The Warrior achievement is awarded for completing the game on Normal.
    • The bronze Normal nameplate is awarded to the player.
  • If the player has completed all other Normal campaign missions or playlists and obtained the associated achievements, they will also unlock the Veteran achievement.
    • Additionally, the platinum Normal nameplate is awarded to the player.

Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST

The Halo 3: ODST Normal shield.

Awards

• In Halo 3:
  • Completing Tsavo Highway on Normal will unlock the EVA chest for multiplayer use.
  • Completing The Ark on Normal will unlock the EVA shoulders for multiplayer use.
  • Completing the campaign on Normal will unlock the EVA helmet for multiplayer use.
  • The Campaign Complete: Normal achievement is awarded for completing the game on Normal.
• In Halo 3: ODST:
  • The Campaign Complete: Normal achievement is awarded for completing the game on Normal.
• In Halo 3 on Halo: The Master Chief Collection:
  • The Prophet's Bane achievement is awarded for completing all levels of Halo 3 on Normal.
    • The silver Normal nameplate is awarded to the player.
  • If the player has completed all other Normal campaign missions or playlists and obtained the associated achievements, they will also unlock the Veteran achievement.
    • Additionally, the platinum Normal nameplate is awarded to the player.
• In Halo 3: ODST on Halo: The Master Chief Collection:
  • The Urban Warfare Badge achievement is awarded for completing all levels of Halo 3: ODST on Normal.
    • The silver Superintendent nameplate is awarded to the player.

Halo: Reach

The Halo: Reach Normal shield. Notice the lack of the Marathon symbol.

Awards

• The The Soldier We Need You To Be achievement is awarded for completing Halo: Reach on Normal.

Halo 4

Awards

• In Halo 4:
  • The Wake Up, John achievement is awarded for completing Halo 4 on Normal.
• In Halo: The Master Chief Collection:
  • The Wake Up, John achievement is awarded for completing Halo 4 on Normal.
    • The gold Normal nameplate is awarded to the player.
  • If the player has completed all other Normal campaign missions or playlists and obtained the associated achievements, they will also unlock the Veteran achievement.
    • Additionally, the platinum Normal nameplate is awarded to the player.

Halo 5: Guardians

The Halo 5: Guardians Normal shield.

General differences

• Promethean Crawlers' built-in Boltshots start exhibiting tracking behavior.

Awards

• The Legacy achievement is awarded for completing Halo 5: Guardians on Normal.

Halo Wars 2

The Halo Wars 2 Normal shield.

General differences

This section needs expansion. You can help Halopedia by expanding it.

Halo Infinite

General differences

This section needs expansion. You can help Halopedia by expanding it.

Awards

The Bare Your Fangs achievement is awarded for completing Halo Infinite on Normal.

Trivia

• In Halo 3, Normal difficulty or higher is required for the player to collect skulls.
• Halo Wars and Halo Wars 2 are some of the only Halo titles to not include achievements for completing the campaign on Normal.