Assault Rifle (gameplay)

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

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This article is about the weapon featured in most Halo games. For other uses of the term "assault rifle", see its disambiguation page.

Assault Rifle
Gameplay role
Faction:	Human (UNSC)
Weapon tier (?):	Tier-1 Loadout weapon
Weapon class (?):	Assault rifle
Weapon type (?):	Kinetic weapon
Firing mode:	Automatic
Effective range:	Close to medium
Counterparts:	Human (UNSC) (Silenced) SMG Covenant Needler Plasma Repeater (Brute) Plasma Rifle Storm Rifle Spiker Banished Pulse Carbine Forerunner Sentinel Beam Suppressor
Weapon stats
Damage:	Low
Projectile speed:	Slow to very high
Rate of fire:	Medium to high
Accuracy:	Very low to medium
Magazine size:	Varies

The Assault Rifle is an automatic weapon that has appeared in many Halo video games.

Universe and lore

Main article: MA5 series

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Overview

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Counterparts

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Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary

Assault Rifle
Gameplay role
Counterparts:	Covenant Needler Plasma Rifle
Weapon stats
Damage:	10
Damage type (?):	assault rifle\bullet
Projectile speed:	324 wu/s
Max range:	40 wu
Rate of fire:	15 rounds per second
Spread (?):	2 to 6.5 degrees
Magazine size:	60 rounds
Reserve ammo capacity:	600 rounds (10 magazines)
Tag name (?):	assault rifle

Main article: First-person shooter

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Campaign

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Multiplayer

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Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST

Assault Rifle
Gameplay role
Counterparts:	Human (UNSC) (Silenced) SMG Covenant Needler (Brute) Plasma Rifle Spiker Forerunner Sentinel Beam
Weapon stats
Damage:	7.5
Damage type (?):	bullet_slow
Projectile speed:	80 wu/s
Max range:	40 wu
Rate of fire:	10 rounds per second
Spread (?):	0.1 to 3 degrees (0.1 degrees min error)
Magazine size:	32
Reserve ammo capacity:	352 rounds (11 magazines)
Melee damage (?):	strike_melee
Tag name (?):	assault_rifle

Campaign and Firefight

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Multiplayer

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Changes from Halo 3 to ODST

• Bullet damage vs shields decreased to 50%

Halo: Reach

Assault Rifle
Gameplay role
Counterparts:	Covenant Needler Plasma Repeater Plasma Rifle Spiker
Weapon stats
Damage:	5.834 to 6.788
Damage type (?):	bullet_slow
Projectile speed:	3000 wu/s
Max range:	100 wu
Rate of fire:	10 rounds per second
Spread (?):	0.3 to 2.5 degrees
Magazine size:	32
Reserve ammo capacity:	288 rounds (9 magazines)
Melee damage (?):	strike_melee
Tag name (?):	assault_rifle

Campaign and Firefight

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Multiplayer

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Halo 4

Assault Rifle
Gameplay role
Counterparts:	Covenant Storm Rifle Forerunner Suppressor
Weapon stats
Damage:	Default: 7.5 Tuning: 9
Damage type (?):	bullet_slow
Projectile speed:	1500 wu/s
Max range:	100 wu
Rate of fire:	10 rounds per second
Spread (?):	Default:0.15 to 2.4 degrees Tuning:0.15 to 2 degrees
Magazine size:	32
Reserve ammo capacity:	224 rounds (7 magazines)
Melee damage (?):	strike_melee
Tag name (?):	storm_assault_rifle

Campaign and Spartan Ops

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Multiplayer

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Changes from Halo 4 to Weapon Tuning Update

• Damage increased to 120%.
• Max spread decreased from 2.4 to 2 degrees.
• Auto aim angle decreased from 5 to 3 degrees.
• Magnetism angle decreased from 10 to 7 degrees.

Halo 2: Anniversary Multiplayer

Assault Rifle
Gameplay role
Counterparts:	Human (UNSC) (Silenced) SMG Covenant Needler (Brute) Plasma Rifle Forerunner Sentinel Beam
Weapon stats
Damage:	7.5
Damage type (?):	bullet_slow
Projectile speed:	1500 wu/s
Max range:	75 wu
Rate of fire:	10 rounds per second
Spread (?):	0.4 to 2.3 degrees (0.2 degrees min error)
Magazine size:	32
Reserve ammo capacity:	224 rounds (7 magazines)
Melee damage (?):	strike_melee
Tag name (?):	h2a_assault_rifle

Multiplayer

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Halo 5: Guardians

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

Assault Rifle
Gameplay role
Counterparts:	Human (UNSC) SMG Covenant Brute Plasma Rifle Storm Rifle Forerunner Safeguard Sentinel Beam Suppressor
Weapon stats
Damage:	Default: 7.8 (2x headshot) Tuning: 6 (6x headshot)
Damage type (?):	bullet_slow
Projectile speed:	1500 wu/s
Max range:	100 wu
Rate of fire:	Default: 10 rounds per second Tuning: 10.5 rounds per second
Spread (?):	Default: 0.15 to 2.3 degrees (0.05 degrees min error) (0.09 to 1.38 degrees zoomed) Tuning: 0.15 to 2 degrees (0.05 degrees min error)
Magazine size:	36
Reserve ammo capacity:	216 rounds (6 magazines) 324 rounds with Ammo Mod
Zoom:	1.4x magnification (projection sight)
Melee damage (?):	strike_melee
Tag name (?):	assault_rifle
Variants and attachments
Halo 5 REQ variant(s):	None
Scope options:	Projection Sight (default) Recon Sight Longshot Sight Hybrid Sight COG Morph Sight
Attachments:	Kinetic Bolts Silencer Laser Targeter Long Barrel Stabilization Jets Energy Bayonet Extended Mag Knight Blade Threat Marker Sound Dampener

Campaign

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Multiplayer and Warzone

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Unlock and acquisition requirements

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Changes from Halo 5: Guardians to Weapon Tuning Update

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Halo Infinite

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

MA40 AR
Gameplay role
Counterparts:	Banished Needler Pulse Carbine Forerunner Sentinel Beam
Weapon stats
Damage:	11.77 (2.55x headshot)
Damage type (?):	Kinetic
Projectile speed:	360 wu/s
Max range:	100 wu
Rate of fire:	12 rounds per second
Spread (?):	~0.573 to ~2.3 degrees (~0.573 degrees min error)
Magazine size:	36
Reserve ammo capacity:	216 rounds (6 magazines)
Zoom:	1.4x magnification
Melee damage (?):	SP: strike_melee MP: strike_melee_mp
Tag name (?):	assault_rifle
Variants and attachments
Halo Infinite variant(s):	MA40 Longshot

Campaign

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Multiplayer

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Unlock and acquisition requirements

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The Assault Rifle is unlocked at 400 Valor and once unlocked can be summoned at any FOB in the campaign.

Variants

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Longshot Assault Rifle

The Longshot variant of the MA40 assault rifle has increased precision capabilities, raising its performance at long-range. It has additional yellow coloration on certain components, including the ammunition counter, the charging handle, and the magazine. Despite the name and increased ranged performance, the rifle does not appear to employ a Longshot sight.

In campaign, the MA40 Longshot is a legendary weapon awarded to the player in the Forward Operating Base progression system upon reaching 2,300 Valor. The weapon can then be acquired at any Forward Operating Base. It has a reduced magazine size from 36 to 25, though it has increased accuracy, much greater damage (killing a fully-shielded Spartan with 15 rounds instead of 20 rounds), and is capable of dealing headshot damage.

In multiplayer, when players pick up or spawn with the MA40 Longshot, their customization options are automatically applied to the weapon model, and the unique appearance of the MA40 Longshot is lost.

• 

  A Marine wielding the MA40 Longshot on Zeta Halo.

• 

  First-person view of the MA40 Longshot.

Halo: Spartan Assault and Halo: Spartan Strike

Assault Rifle
Gameplay role
Weapon tier (?):	Primary standard weapon
Firing mode:	Automatic
Effective range:	Medium
Weapon stats
Damage:	Low
Rate of fire:	High
Magazine size:	352

Main article: Twin-stick shooter

"Medium-ranged standard UNSC rifle"

— Halo: Spartan Assault loadout description

Campaign

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Unlock and acquisition requirements

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Halo: Fireteam Raven

Assault Rifle
Weapon stats
Magazine size:	60

Main article: Halo: Fireteam Raven

Campaign

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Skins and cosmetics

Halo 4

Main article: Weapon skins (Halo 4)

Assault Rifle v • d • e
Icon	Name	Description (MCC)	Unlock Requirements (Halo 4)	Unlock Requirements (MCC)
	Default	Default Skin applied.	Unlocked by default	Unlocked by default
	Prime (PRM)	Customized with the PRIME skin.	Purchase the Halo 4 Limited Edition or the Halo 4 Game of the Year Edition.	Unlocked by default
	Predator (PRD)	Customized with the PREDATOR skin.	Reach Pathfinder	Unlocked by default
	Turbine (TBN)	Customized with the TURBINE skin.	Purchase the Champions Bundle or Steel Skin Pack.	Series 4, Tier 45 ( 1)
	Teeth (TTH)	Customized with the TEETH skin.	Purchase the Champions Bundle.	Series 4, Tier 11 ( 1)
	Trauma (TRM)	Customized with the TRAUMA skin.	Purchase the Champions Bundle.	Series 4, Tier 48 ( 1)
	Riptide (RPT)	Customized with the RIPTIDE skin.	Purchase the Master Chief figure from the Series 2 line of McFarlane figures for Halo 4.	Series 7, Tier 19 ( 1)
	Pixel (PXL)	Customized with the PIXEL skin.	N/A (MCC-exclusive)	Series 7, Tier 87 ( 1)

Halo: Combat Evolved (MCC)

Main article: Skins (Halo: Combat Evolved)

Assault Rifle v • d • e
Icon	Name	Description	Unlock requirements
	Default	Default skin.	Unlocked by default
	Desert	Looks very stylish with a poncho.	Series 2, Tier 1 ( 1)
	Woodland	Camping is a legitimate strategy.	Series 2, Tier 29 ( 1)
	Squirt	It's good under pressure.	Series 2, Tier 46 ( 1)
	Corrosion	The Oxidation Sensation.	Series 2, Tier 69 ( 1)
	Great Journey	Don't worry... I know what the aliens like.	Series 2, Tier 83 ( 1)
	Lucky Shot	But you had something they didn't...	Series 2, Tier 100 ( 1)
	Golden	Bling on the ring.	Series 2 Challenge: Thanks, Misriah Defeat 300 opponents with the Assault Rifle in any game mode.

Halo 3 (MCC)

Main article: Skins (Halo 3)

Assault Rifle v • d • e
Icon	Name	Description	Unlock requirements
	Default	Default skin.	Unlocked by default
	Woodland	Camping is a legitimate strategy.	Series 3, Tier 8 ( 1)
	Squirt	It's good under pressure.	Series 3, Tier 24 ( 1)
	Corrosion	The Oxidation Sensation.	Series 3, Tier 33 ( 1)
	Golden	Bling on the ring.	Series 3, Tier 37 ( 1)
	Hazard Pay	Safety first!	Series 5, Tier 43 ( 1)
	Desert	Looks very stylish with a poncho.	Series 5, Tier 86 ( 1)
	Sapphire Raven	On land and stormy seas.	Series 6, Tier 91 ( 1)
	Vexing Tomorrow	Grim beauty.	Series 8, Tier 8 ( 1)
	Black Rhine	The king of the battlefield.	The Exchange ( 3)
	OGX	If it looked any more real, it would be real.	The Exchange ( 3)
	Scorned Fate	Neither tide nor time shifts before a conquering hero.	The Exchange ( 4)

Halo 2: Anniversary

Main article: Skins (Halo 2: Anniversary)

Assault Rifle v • d • e
Icon	Name	Description	Unlock requirements
	Default	Default skin.	Unlocked by default
	Black Tiger	A symbol of UNSC-affiliated partisans or ONI black ops, depending on who you ask.	Series 9, The Exchange 3
	Bloodscorched	Make any enemy a blood donor.	Series 9, The Exchange 3
	Chroma Blue	Chemically treated to resist corrosion in exotic atmospheres.	Series 9, The Exchange 3
	Sandstorm	Worn and faded by scathing sands and scorching suns.	Series 9, The Exchange 3

Halo 5: Guardians

Main article: List of REQ cards/Weapon Skins

Halo Infinite

Main article: Weapon coatings (Halo Infinite)

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: Combat Evolved (First appearance)
  • Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
• Halo 3
• Halo Wars
• Halo 3: ODST
• Halo: Reach
• Halo 4
• Halo: Spartan Assault
• Halo 2: Anniversary
• Halo: Spartan Strike
• Halo Online
• Halo 5: Guardians
• Halo Wars 2
• Halo Infinite