In the title. At the very least the game needs more than just two Battle Rifles or Commandos on any given map. Part of the problem is that the Sidekick is oppressively powerful, able to fire basically as fast as someone can pull the trigger and kill in just over half a second with pin point accuracy at pretty insane distances. If the goal was - as 343 stated - to replace the magnum with something that wouldn’t be quite as oppressive/dominant as it was in Halo 5 they failed in that goal. I’ve seen the Sidekick outduel almost everything and do it consistently at up to 30+ meters out or further, and it’s again creating situations where the assault rifle is an afterthought. The only guns I’ve seen really contest it short of power weapons are the Battle Rifle or Commando and only at the distances where they outrange everything short of the sniper rifle or Skewer.
I’m all for high skill ceilings but this is quickly turning back into the Halo 5 sandbox again, just minus the insane movement and bullet magnetism. Which, while an improvement… it’s not healthy for the sandbox or weapon diversity. It might be that some of the maps are just WAY too small as I’ve regularly found myself spawning in sight of the enemy team and taking fire before I can even orient myself or move to cover - which in turn puts the Sidekick right where it wants to be - but something needs to change. Either it needs some sort of tweak that better identifies it as a close quarters sidearm meant to complement rifles rather than replace them entirely (which is what’s happening), or something else needs to be looked at.
Right now there’s zero reason to bother with the assault rifle. You’re at an objective disadvantage if you do. The Sidekick is more accurate, has better range as a result and kills consistently faster in almost every scenario - even point blank if followed up with a melee. It’s creating a situation where weapons are again becoming redundant because the Sidekick is operating outside of its intended niche, at least based on 343’s explanation of what it’s supposed to be doing.