- For the medal see Assassin Medal
The assassination is a new gameplay feature in Halo: Reach that allows player to enter a third-person view while beating a player down. Note that assassinations are different from beat downs. A beat down occurs when Player A melees Player B by simply tapping the melee button. An assassination occurs when Player A presses and holds the melee button when directly behind Player B, resulting in an elaborate kill and will earn the player a special medal. This results in your opponent looking like a fool. Assassinations performed in multiplayer matchmaking also count towards the Rear Admiral commendation.
Types of Assassinations
For both Elite and Spartan III players, there are three different basic assassination animations that are played according to the situation.
Spartans
When playing as a Spartan in Halo: Reach matchmaking, you can perform several different assassinations using your combat knife that is located on your left shoulder (Right should one be using a SECURITY shoulders).
:Basic Assassination 1: Both players are on the ground
This assassination involves Player A to be standing on the same surface as Player B. Player A will press and hold RB (Default controls) which results in Player B's gun dropping and Player A's knife plunged in the back of Player B's.
:Basic Assassination 2: Assassin in airbone but vicitim is not
This assassination involves Player A jumping right behind (Close enough proximity to melee) Player B. Player A will initiate the assassination, which will involve Player A landing on Player B's back (Player B will be on the ground) and breaking Player Bs neck.
:Basic Assassination 3: Both players are airborne
This assassinaions involves Player A and B to be airborne with Player A right behind Player B. A will initiate the assassination, which will cause Player A to knee Player B in the cocyx and slamming both fists into B's back, breaking hi/her's back.
Elites
When plaig as an Elite warior, you can use your energy belt on your hip to assassinate foes
:Basic Assassination 1: Both players are on the ground
This assassination involves Player A to be standing on the same surface as Player B. Player A will press and hold RB (Default controls) which results in Player B getting impaled in the back by Player A and gets thrashes around
:Basic Assassination 2: Assassin in airbone but vicitim is not
This assassination involves Player A jumping right behind (Close enough proximity to melee) Player B. Player A will initiate the assassination, which will involve Player A kicking Player B then plunging the energy knife into his/her's mouth
:Basic Assassination 3: Both players are airborne
This assassinaions involves Player A and B to be airborne with Player A right behind Player B. A will initiate the assassination, which will cause Player A to quickly stab his/her's energy knife into layer B's spine, killing him/her
Beat Downs vs. Assassinations
With normal beat downs, one will quickly melee the opponent's back resulting in an instant kill but will stay in first person view. This earns them a medal but no credit or commendation increase. With an asassination, the player goes into third person view and performs a special finishing moves. During an assassination, you run a risk of getting you kill stolen by a teammate whih wil result in your teammate getting a Yoink medal. You are also able to be damaged during the animation.