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.[1][2]
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.[3][note 1] 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.[1][2]
Gameplay
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. The BR85 seems to be weaker than the BR55/HB in Halo 2 and Halo 3. This is possibly a balance choice due to the inclusion of four precision weapons in Halo 4 as opposed to the usual two (excluding sniper rifles) featured in previous games, allowing the BR85 to fill a more specialized role in the weapon sandbox.
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 allows for better situational awareness than the scoped-in Lightrifle.
- 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".
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. Due to its three-round burst fire with a 36-round magazine capacity, the battle rifle only has enough ammo for 9 or 12 burst-shots. Additionally, as the magazine empties the report increases in pitch, allowing aware opponents to time their attacks so that the wielder is helpless.
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.
Trivia
- The earliest known in-game model of the BR85 was erroneously labeled "BR55HB SR".[4] This is fixed in the final build of the game.[5]
- The BR85 is found on the Template:UNSCship in Halo 4. However, since the BR85 presumably entered service after the war,[note 2] 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
Concept art of the BR85HB SR
A BR85HB with the "Dunes" skin
A BR85HBSR with the "Steam" skin
A camouflaged BR85HB SR for operations in snowy environments
The BR85 compared to its predecessors, the BR55HB and the BR55
An older render of the BR85HB SR with the placeholder label
John-117 holding a BR85.
A SPARTAN-IV firing the BR85
A render of the BR85HB SR's scope
A first-person view of the BR85 from John-117's HUD
First-person view of the BR85HB SR in multiplayer
The BR85HBSR as it appears in Halo 5: Guardians.
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Videos
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List of appearances
- Halo 4 (First appearance)
- Halo: Spartan Assault
- Halo: Escalation
- Halo: Nightfall
- Halo 5: Guardians
Notes
- ^ All official sources claim that the BR85HB is a "semi-automatic weapon optimized for three-round burst firing". This is a convoluted way of identifying the weapon as select-fire.
- ^ No official source has explicitly stated when the BR85 was introduced. It might have been in limited service before the end of the war, perhaps field-tested during Operation: BLIND FAITH, explaining its presence aboard the Dawn.
Sources
- ^ a b Halo Waypoint: The Halo Bulletin: 3.15.12
- ^ a b Halo 4 Official Site - Ordnance + Armor
- ^ Spartan Ops, Artifact introductory cutscene
- ^ Image of the BR55 label on the BR85 as seen in a development screenshot
- ^ Halo 4 Official Site: Renders
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