How to become a better sniper in Halo: Reach.
Snipers are essential to any squad, and sometimes becoming an effective one is tough. They are often preferred due to their effectiveness, stealth and ability to pick off enemies who normal infantrymen cannot reach. Hopefully, the guide below will help you improve your sniping ability and help you support your squad. If you just need a quick helper, glance at the first header.
A few sniping rules to live by.
Be quick. Get in, crack skulls and get the hell out.
Be quiet. Stay safe, stay silent, stay smiling.
Be efficient. Reloading a sniper could be the key to your death, time your shots.
Be observant. Check every corner and angle every so often, and before advancing.
Be very patient. The more patient you are, the easier it is to be quick, quiet and effective.
Stay hidden. You are in no condition to deal with close range enemies, so stay hidden. Out of sight, out of mind.
Finding a spot.
First, pick a nice spot with cover and plan a panic route, somewhere to run. Next, broadly spot the area from where you currently stand, looking for enemies. If there are threats, see to it that they are taken care of. If there are no threats, quickly and quietly run from cover point to cover point until you arrive. Stay as isolated as possible from the general population as you do this. It is recommended that you do not take a vehicle to a sniping spot, as they attract lots of attention and leave signs of your presence. Once you are finally there, get situated, check your sights and make sure you’re good. Then, you can begin the dirty work.
Scoping the horizon.
It is crucial that you atleast have a basic knowledge of your map. This way, you can quickly evaluate typical sniping spots, teleporters, and crowded areas. Assuming you are using the standard issue USNC sniper rifle, look down your sights with 5x zoom (one click) and quickly scan the horizon, all around. Check typical spots extra carefully, maybe even zooming in further to check crevices in cover. Remember, just because you don’t see anyone right away doesn’t mean get up and run away. Wait it out, some poor sucker will eventually stoll by for you. Scan fields, cliffs, bases, everything ever.
Target spotted.
So, your search for blood and flesh has yielded successful. Now, your patience and efficiency are absolutely key right here. You can approach this a few ways. Now, assuming you have been keeping tabs on the area and making sure it is clear, you can now direct all your attention to your newly found target. You should probably zoom in to 10x zoom and train on your target, for when the golden moment rolls by, and trust me, it could be quick. Either wait for them to stand still and take the shot, or if you are confident, take the shot as is, when ready. Shoot when you are confident, remember, you have the element of secrecy and plenty of time. There is no rush, as a sniper, take a deep breath and wait for the moment. As long as they aren’t running away, you have no urgency on your hands. Aim for the head, and once you are finally ready, fire. If your work was done properly, your threat is dead, congratulations. If not, hopefully you have atleast made a hit. If so, quickly dismiss rounds into your target until your work is finally done. If you are perfect, you can deal with anyone without them firing back, or even seeing you.
What was that noise?
Sometimes, a person of two will run up on you with a battle rifle, leaving you seemingly outsmarted and outgunned. Luckily, there are ways to get it done against all odds, leaving you alive. Most people stress here due to the gunfire, but the key is to think quickly. Don’t jump around and tickle the trigger, you won’t go any further than your grave. Now, a good sniper should carry should always carry a reliable sidearm, however if you are caught off guard, there are always other ways. As they fire, either step back, zoom in and throw out all your rounds, or attempt to outrun and hide from the bullets until you hear a sudden stop. This is either them coming for you, reloading, or retreating. Never the less, your time to shine is now. Step out and fire, whether scoped or not, aiming for any skin you can. Try and get somewhat close, as you can aim easier, and do more damage. Once close enough, try desperately to melee your target. Whether you die or survive the duel, you now know it is time to find a new spot, as you are exposed.
I am new to the Waypoint forums, and this is my first guide related to Halo. I write out of personal experience and a few things I have discovered while attempting to improve my sniping skills. I would love a few suggestions, and from there, I can add to and polish this guide into something fantastic! Thanks for reading, especially if you actually read the entire thing.
