Weapons Mastery Tips & Tricks

Games Other Halo
1

Poll Question
Besides the Plasma Pistol, which weapon do you think will be the most difficult to master?

Hello, I would first like to say that I’ve finally achieved Weapons Mastery.
And because of this, I’ve decided to help others do the same.
Therefore, I’ve created this, so I (and others) can share tips to help you get that awesome armor.

You should thank any posts you find helpful.
Remember to ask any questions you’d like.
Good Luck!

P.S. The following tips I made are rather short.
For the best tips, I suggest you read through the posts.

Loadout: Precision

Battle Rifle

I suggest keeping to small team-based variants such as Infinity Slayer or Team Throwdown.
However, if you’re in a big hurry, you could just play SWAT.
Also, Damage Boost is great when using the Battle Rifle.

DMR

This weapon dominates at long range, being only somewhat challenged by the Light Rifle.
With that in mind, Big Team Infinity Slayer is the obvious choice.
Also, for that extra advantage, equip Stability.

Covenant Carbine

The Carbine’s more of a support weapon, so expect a good amount of Assists.
It’s best to stick to smaller maps such as Haven or Simplex.
And just like the Battle Rifle, smaller team-based variants are best.
The biggest advantage to the Carbine is how much Flinch you deal to others.
By the way, don’t bother using Damage Boost. It makes very little difference.

Light Rifle

The same concept as the DMR.
However, playing Lightning Flag in the Team Action Sack playlist is much faster.

Loadout: Automatic

Assault Rifle

Anything besides Big Team will do just fine.
I suggest using Mobility as it helps you to get closer to your target.
While the Armor Ability isn’t very important, I recommend Thruster Pack.
If an enemy attempts to melee you, which they often times will, Thruster Pack helps you to escape his range before he gets the chance.
Also, with Speed Boost, Thruster Pack is amazing for closing the distance.
And one more thing, Damage Boost works quite well for the Assault Rifle.

Storm Rifle

Free-For-All variants such as Regicide and Rumble Pit seemed to be easiest for me,
but that might just be me.
Team Objective and Capture The Flag are also good playlists for this weapon.
For some reason, I always did best on Abandon, which again, might just be me.
Pacing your shots is very important as the Storm Rifle overheats rather quickly.
And just like the Assault Rifle, Mobility, Thruster Pack, and Speed Boost work well.
However, the Storm Rifle with Damage Boost is much, much better.
In fact, the Storm Rifle, when combined with Damage Boost, is an absolute monster.
Just try for yourself and you’ll see what I mean.
Also, I recommend you equip Ammo as you’ll run out pretty fast.

Suppressor

Once again, you’ll want to have Mobility, Thruster Pack, and Speed Boost whenver you can.
And Regicide is definitely the easiest way to get kills with this.
But Team Objective and Capture The Flag also work very well.
Don’t rush, wait for others to come after you.
Stick close to corners and as the enemy comes around, take your chance.
Being at very close range is necessary when using the Suppressor.
And even at such close range, you’ll need to lead your target ahead of his movement.
Damage Boost does very little for this weapon, don’t bother with it.

Loadout: Secondary

Magnum

No tips for this really, other than keep a decently close distance.
Also, SWAT makes this commendation very easy and fast.

Plasma Pistol

There are two methods to mastering the Plasma Pistol.
The first one is the better of the two.
What you do is you gather a group of six good friends and play Regicide.
However, you must set very strict rules, those being the following:
[/li]1. Plasma Pistol kills only! No other weapons, grenades, melee, or anything.

  1. Players may not use other weapons to drop one another’s shields and then attack with the Plasma Pistol, nor may they melee or use grenades.
  2. Players may not use Camo, Regen, or Sentry Armor Abilities.
  3. No boosting! All players must be actively playing the game.
    You can alter these rules however you like of course.
    Except for the fourth one, but it’s not my job to enforce that.

Moving on to my second method, which honestly sucks!
This also consists of you playing Regicide.
However, you’re playing against normal players who use normal weapons.
Imagine a DMR vs a Plasma Pistol. shudders
Doing this will undoubtedly drop your K/D a good bit.
Here’s my tricks:

  1. Use Active Camo and wait for the right moment to attack.
  2. Always target players who are weak from a very recent skirmish.
  3. Pay close attention to how you pace your shots, it makes a difference.
    I prefer to use 3-4 shot bursts.
  4. Be smart and adapt.
    These tips can only do so much. it’s up to you to figure it out.
    Good luck, you’ll need it.[/SPOILER]Boltshot

This plays similar to the Suppressor.
Don’t rush and use corners to your advantage.
Regicide, Rumple Pit, Team Objective, and Capture The Flag are all good options.
Also, Explosives might help, it depends.

[/SPOILER]Loadout: Grenades

  1. Frag Grenade*

Quite simple, use Resupply and Explosives.
Any playlist is okay, but Big Team is slightly more difficult due to the vehicles.
The best playlist is Team Objective, just spam the objective area, very easy.

  1. Plasma Grenade*

Once again, Resupply and Explosives, but Grenadier’s good too.
Especially in Big Team, that extra grenade can make the difference.
Big Team is obviously the easiest way to master the Plasma Grenade.
Using a Plasma Pistol to EMP vehicles works very well.
A still target is much easier to stick than a moving one(obviously).

  1. Pulse Grenade*

Grenadier is definitely the better choice for this one.
This being because nobody ever uses Pulse Grenades, so Resupply isn’t too useful.
I’m not so sure about Explosives as I’ve heard it doesn’t affect Pulse Grenades.
I’d always play either Regicide or Team Objective.
Just position yourself near the objective and wait for enemies to come around.
Corners are your best friend while you’re trying to master this weapon.
As an enemy turns a corner coming after you, throw one at his feet.
Immediately after, toss another one at his feet.
The first one drops his shields, the second one kills him.
It’s actually very easy.
Also, you could just melee or otherwise to drop his shields and then use only one to kill him.
Haven, Abandon, and Adrift are great for this.
Especially Haven as Pulse Grenades spawn regularly.

2

Ordnance: Close-Range

Shotgun

The easiest method is definitely Flood.
However, Shotty Snipers works well too.

Energy Sword

The quickest way is definitely Binary Slayer in the Team Action Sack Playlist.
However, if you don’t like that, Grifball is also an option.

Gravity Hammer Grifball. Enough said.Scattershot

Small team-based variants are best when chasing this one.
The Scattershot is an initial ordnance drop on Abandon, Adrift, and Haven.
These three are very common maps in Team Infinity Slayer.
If you’re having troubles getting there first, I suggest using Mobility.
And Drop Recon is also useful as you’ll know when it’s about to drop.
A big issue is the Scattershot’s horrible inconsistency.
You’ll often die because your Scattershot suddenly decided it didn’t feel like killing Spartans.
There’s nothing to be done about it. It is what it is.

Ordnance: Explosives

Rocket Launcher

Rock N Rail, in the Team Action Sack Playlist, is a fast way to master the Rocket Launcher.
However, the Jetpacks and Railguns will quickly get on your nerves and you’ll be wishing there were a gametype simply called “Rock”.
Fiesta is also very effective, probably just as much so as Rock N Rail.
Of course, if you don’t like those two options, Dominion also works well.
If you decide to play in Dominion, you should use Ammo.

Fuel Rod Cannon I would go with Fiesta as FRCs are quite common.Incineration Cannon

Team Fiesta is probably the best way to master this weapon.
However, I’ve found that it’s rather uncommon.
Your other options are team-based variants on Solace or FFA variants on Haven.
Also, ICs spawn quite often in Dominion on the map Meltdown.

Ordnance: Snipers

Sniper Rifle

Your best option is obviously Team Snipers.
However, if you don’t like that, Big Team and Dominion are good choices as well.

Beam Rifle Team Snipers, but once again, Big Team will do it too.Binary Rifle

Binary Slayer is obviously the best choice.
This variant can be found in the Team Action Sack Playlist.

Ordnance: Others

Railgun

The Team Action Sack variant, Rock N Rail, is best.
But you could also play Dominion, and it also spawns on the red team side of Ragnarok near the cave.
The Railgun also spawns bottom purple on Simplex.

SAW

Dominion is pretty good for mastering this weapon.
On Exile, the SAW spawns directly in front of you.
If you’re desperate to rush through this commendation, I suggest you use Ammo.
If you don’t like Big Team, The SAW also spawns on Abandon.
One in the purple forest, and the other on gray ramp(opposite side).

Sticky Detonator

I find lots of Sticky Detonators in Team Infinity Slayer.
On Haven, it spawns on top blue hall at the start of the match.
On Abandon, it spawns right next to the tree in the middle of the map randomly.
And on Adrift, it spawns at one of the corners.
I highly recommend Mobility and Drop Recon, especially Drop Recon.

Concussion Rifle

Besides the Plasma Pistol, this was the hardest weapon for me to master.
The best way is to play Fiesta in Team Action Sack.
By the end of it, you’ll not only hate the Concussion Rifle, but all explosive weapons as well.

Needler

It spawns at the start of the match on Haven and Abandon.
On Haven, it drops at the opposite end of the Sticky Detonator.
And on Abandon, it drops near your initial spawn point.
Since the Needler runs out of ammo really fast, I suggest you equip Ammo.

3

I’m in my final stages of the UNSC Mastery; just the Railgun and splaser to go 4/5 and partway though for both. My ultimate goal is to achieve what you have. Well done BTW!

The two items/weapons which I am concerned most about are the Boltshot and Plasma Pistol as they will probably be the last two I complete. I had been worried about teh Pulse nade but am progressing through it now since I worked out some ways to use it effectively.

Any advice on the Plasma Pistol would be awesome and also for th BS as I am a n00b with it. Advice as to which play lists and game modes would be best to seek out would also be appreciated.

Cheers

4

Team Action Sack?

It would have been great if you added some tips to get the ball rolling. Considering you created the topic and all.

5

> I’m in my final stages of the UNSC Mastery; just the Railgun and splaser to go 4/5 and partway though for both. My ultimate goal is to achieve what you have. Well done BTW!
>
> The two items/weapons which I am concerned most about are the Boltshot and Plasma Pistol as they will probably be the last two I complete. I had been worried about teh Pulse nade but am progressing through it now since I worked out some ways to use it effectively.
>
> Any advice on the Plasma Pistol would be awesome and also for th BS as I am a n00b with it. Advice as to which play lists and game modes would be best to seek out would also be appreciated.
>
> Cheers

For Splaser, I suggest you play Dominion, preferably Longbow.
Just chill in your base and let them come to you.
I’d say it’s best to have Jetpack so you can quickly get on top of the bases.

Railgun’s pretty simple, just play Rock N Rail in the Team Action Sack Playlist.
Stay in the air, but use your teammates as distractions and hang to the side unnoticed.

Boltshot will get very aggravating, you should use Active Camo and play Rumble Pit.

As for the Plasma Pistol, I’ll make a dedicated post because of how difficult and complex it is.

Pulse Nades are also annoying, but overtime you realise just how great they are.
Also, you’ll see why it is 343 limited the Pulse Nade to only one off spawn.
Obviously you should use Grenadier and Explosives.
Haven’s a good map choice because Pulse Nades often drop in ordnance.
Adrift is also good because of all the corners on the map.
BTW, throw them at the ground as a player is turning the corner coming after you.
Afterward, just toss the second one and you’ll have an easy kill right there.

6

> Team Action Sack?
>
> It would have been great if you added some tips to get the ball rolling. Considering you created the topic and all.

I was going for a more community-driven topic, but I see your point.

7

>

Thank you!:slight_smile:

8

What is the poll question? All it says is “BESIDES THE PLASMA PISTOL, WHICH WEAPON DO YOU THI”. It doesn’t finish the sentence.

Also, for the LightRifle, Lightning CTF is probably best if you can stand it. (I can’t. It’s like SWAT but easier to spawn kill.) If you’re using it in a normal match, though, you can do one scoped shot and three normal shots and still get the four shot kill.

9

Suppressor loadout
Suppressor
magnum
any grenade (Depends on gametype and map)
any armour ability (Jetpack, as map travel will be easier)
Mobility
stealth

Think of your self as a guy who can always run around and murder. Avoid groups of people. Remember the suppressors strength, and huge bloom.

10

> What is the poll question? All it says is “BESIDES THE PLASMA PISTOL, WHICH WEAPON DO YOU THI”. It doesn’t finish the sentence.
>
> Also, for the LightRifle, Lightning CTF is probably best if you can stand it. (I can’t. It’s like SWAT but easier to spawn kill.) If you’re using it in a normal match, though, you can do one scoped shot and three normal shots and still get the four shot kill.

Thanks for letting me know about the Poll Question.
Also, thanks for the good advice.

11

Thank you for undertaking this project.

I respect the hell out of members that go out of there way to help others.

12

Pulse will be the second hardest one to complete

Also, Pur3…Binary Rifle, Incineration Cannon, and Scattershot mastery’s can be obtained when players play Action Sack, Fiesta. However, the maps i recommend are Adrift (for Scattershot), Solace (for Incineration Cannon), and Haven or Abandon (for Binary Rifle). They’ll still get it as a Personal Drop, if they have Requisition and Drop Recon equipped. Just wanted to point that out.

13

> Pulse will be the second hardest one to complete

Not really. I’ve Mastered them, and it wasn’t even that hard. You just have to make sure their shield have been damaged a bit. Also, oddly enough, Explosives doesn’t affect Pulse Grenades.

14

OP, one more thing.
-Gravity Hammers can be easily mastered by Playing Griffball.
-Energy Sword is best in Griffball and in Flood.
-Shotgun can also be mastered in Flood and in Team Snipers (Shotty Snipers).
-Sniper Rifle, like i said with Shotgun, Team Snipers, Shotty Snipers.

> > Pulse will be the second hardest one to complete
>
> Not really. I’ve Mastered them, and it wasn’t even that hard. You just have to make sure their shield have been damaged a bit. Also, oddly enough, Explosives doesn’t affect Pulse Grenades.

Wow…and i thought they were tough to use. I may start using them soon, i guess. What playlist would you recommend Pulse Grenades to be used?

15

Suppressor:

I finished that back in January. I mainly used it in completing CTF Mastery. It is good at very close range; if your protecting the flag, wait for the enemy to approach and then unload with this weapon. It is also good in Infinity Slayer and BTIS. Use it in CQC, wait around corners and such places and surprise your enemy for quick kills. Also works for other objective game modes such as Extraction/Dominion if your are defending.

Fuel Rod Canon:

Treat this beast with care. If used right, you should get between 8 and 12 kills per pickup. This is best used indoors on maps such as Exile, Longbow as well as in caves and other spots on most maps. Let the enemy come to you and they will, over and over again. It is one shot kill so don’t spam the trigger. Use your radar and note how many enemies are on the way and react accordingly. After each kill, if time, move to a new location in your general area and keep the enemy guessing.

Note the spawns for the FRC on Exile over near the Scorpion cave just below the bridge and, in the cave leading to top middle on Longbow.

Concussion Rifle:

It spawns over in the cave near Banshee rook on Exile. Not sure where else. Use it like the FRC. It is best in CQC and indoors or caves…surprise the enemy. You need to ensure you pull the trigger fast and off load a clip but the enemy will die.You can get usually three kills each time with the weapon if used right.

It can also be used to flip Hogs etc. Fire a clip at a hog and finish it off with a nade or other weapon.

Storm Rifle:

This one I haven’t finished but, have worked it out. It is IMO, the better of the three assault weapons (AR/Suppressor/Storm) due to its slightly longer range. You will be surprised at how well it can net you double kills. It is good to use too if you like jumping about/staffing/etc, as long as you keep the reticle on the enemy and not spam trigger while doing so as this weapon has an overheat feature which will make it inoperable for a couple of seconds…sort of like reloading, as this weapon does not need reloading, similar to the Beam Rifle; burst shots while maneuvering about will net kills.

It is good for Infinity Slayer/BTIS and almost any game mode/play list where you’ll encounter CQC combat and combat at a short distance.

16

Another weapon I forgot to mention.

-Beam Rifles are also in Team Snipers so thats another way to obtain it…Or on BTB Slayer, like the Sniper Rifle, it will spawn in the same area 3 minutes after you picked up the Sniper on the Blue side of Exile, by the Banshee platform. It will also appear on Vortex and Longbow

-Fuel Rod Cannon can be found on Action Sack, but don’t always count on that, b/c you mostly get other Covie Drops. You find Fuel Rod Cannons on Longbow, inside the tunnel and on Vortex.

-Sticky Detonator, i personally despise this weapon, but players can master it by picking it up on Adrift and it is a very common Ord Drop.

-Concussion Rifle you’ll find in Action Sack. Shame 343 didn’t put in Dino-Blasters, but at least change the name to Spart-Blasters, giving Spartans the Concussion Rifle and equip with Jetpack.

-Railgun…you’ll find it at the top of the Ridge on Settler, however, i don’t think players want to step foot on that map. Sometimes it appears on Adrift and Complex. You’ll only get it as a Personal Ord Drop though on BTB Slayer.

-Needler…another common Personal Ord Drop. You’ll find it on every map, except Solace and Adrift unless it gets dropped.

-SAW…again, another common Personal Ord Drop. You’ll find this also on Adrift, Complex, Exile, Wreckage, Shatter, Outcast, and Harvest.

-Rocket Launcher…you’ll find this most likely on every map. Most of the time it will be a Map Ord…not very common as a Personal Drop.

I have a few more best locations to find certain ords, so I’ll be back with an update for you

17

> -Sticky Detonator, i personally despise this weapon, but players can master it by picking it up on Adrift and it is a very common Ord Drop.
>
> -Railgun…you’ll find it at the top of the Ridge on Settler, however, i don’t think players want to step foot on that map. Sometimes it appears on Adrift and Complex. You’ll only get it as a Personal Ord Drop though on BTB Slayer.
>
> -Rocket Launcher…you’ll find this most likely on every map. Most of the time it will be a Map Ord…not very common as a Personal Drop.
>
[/quote]
Sticky Detonator:
>
> Also found on the Scorpion side of Exile underneath top middle caves in that through cave. Also spawns down near Red base on Ragnarok. Was fun to master.
>
> Hang in cover near enemy vehicles, wait for them to load-up and get your multi-kills. Also stick it to a team mate in say CTF or Regicide in CQC where he/she runs into a large enemy group…more multi-kills.Also good to use in Dominion, Extraction and CTF. While enemies are spending that short period of time interacting with a terminal etc, use the SD to take them out. It is great in CTF if your defending; wait for the enemy to almost grab teh flag and fire off the SD as they are committed to the flag and have no time to react.
>
> Railgun:
>
> It can also be found at the entrance to the Cave near Red base on Ragnarok.
>
> Another one shot beast that should be treated with care. You should get 3 to 4 kills each pickup. Again,wait for the enemy to come to you. Also,a direct hot is not necessary as this weapon has good splash damage radius. So,if two or more enemies are approaching your spot, aim at the ground/feet of one of the two/three and you can net multi-kills.
>
> In 1v1 situations, don’t panic/rush, you will net the kill more often than not. Aim at the chest area and let rip for insta kill. Dexterity helps with reload times if multiple enemies are coming your way.
>
> Rocket Launcher:
>
> This was fun too.For example, using Mobility on Longbow, beeline for the RL which is located near both bases and continue to top middle. Stop and crouch at either lift entrance and wait for the enemy to appear,as they surely will, often netting multi-kills as either their Hog comes flying to top middle near the spawned splaser, or foot soldiers do so.
>
> In general:
>
> Treat all map pickup and OD power weapons as precious Gold! Don’t run about with a spray & prey mindset, only to die without getting to use whatever power weapon it might be or get only a single kill, thus allowing the enemy to get it it and use it devastatingly against your own team. Pick cover in caves, indoor areas, behind rocks and top middle locations and wait for the enemy to come to you. Have patience as it is about getting the most kills with the power weapon and thus have a quicker journey to mastering it, not about having a ton of kills in the particular game. Once you used the power weapon, then go after other kills etc.
>
> Also, if you have mastered a power weapon, IMO, it is best not to pick those up anymore as there is no need too. Seek out spawn spots of weapons you have yet to master. Know there re-spawn times and during your general play/killing, allow yourself the time to go to the spawn point as the time roles round for it to respawn. If I have an OD with a power weapon I have mastered, if I’m near a team mate using the same weapon, I’ll drop it for them to have, especially the sniper rifle.
>
> Also, don’t jump into a vehicle with a power weapon. I often see people grab a sniper/other power weapon and jump into a banshee or ghost or hog and race off somewhere and either get blown up or ditch the vehicle when they get to wherever they are going, wasting the vehicle for our team.
>
> On the other hand, if you happen to get the Damage Boost and have a sniper and a friend, have them drive a hog while you wrack up a killionaire! No, I haven’t done it, but I have been in three games now where that has happened!

18

> Sticky Detonator:
>
> Also found on the Scorpion side of Exile underneath top middle caves in that through cave. Also spawns down near Red base on Ragnarok. Was fun to master.
>
> Hang in cover near enemy vehicles, wait for them to load-up and get your multi-kills. Also stick it to a team mate in say CTF or Regicide in CQC where he/she runs into a large enemy group…more multi-kills.Also good to use in Dominion, Extraction and CTF. While enemies are spending that short period of time interacting with a terminal etc, use the SD to take them out. It is great in CTF if your defending; wait for the enemy to almost grab teh flag and fire off the SD as they are committed to the flag and have no time to react.
>
> Railgun:
>
> It can also be found at the entrance to the Cave near Red base on Ragnarok.
>
> Another one shot beast that should be treated with care. You should get 3 to 4 kills each pickup. Again,wait for the enemy to come to you. Also,a direct hot is not necessary as this weapon has good splash damage radius. So,if two or more enemies are approaching your spot, aim at the ground/feet of one of the two/three and you can net multi-kills.
>
> In 1v1 situations, don’t panic/rush, you will net the kill more often than not. Aim at the chest area and let rip for insta kill. Dexterity helps with reload times if multiple enemies are coming your way.
>
> Rocket Launcher:
>
> This was fun too.For example, using Mobility on Longbow, beeline for the RL which is located near both bases and continue to top middle. Stop and crouch at either lift entrance and wait for the enemy to appear,as they surely will, often netting multi-kills as either their Hog comes flying to top middle near the spawned splaser, or foot soldiers do so.

Wow, lol, guess i’ve been hiding in one spot for too long on Longbow, Exile, and Ragnarok. However, i didn’t know there was a Sticky Detonator on Exile. I thought it was the Shotgun.

19

> > Sticky Detonator:
> >
> > Wow, lol, guess i’ve been hiding in one spot for too long on Longbow, Exile, and Ragnarok. However, i didn’t know there was a Sticky Detonator on Exile. <mark>I thought it was the Shotgun.</mark>
>
> Exile:
>
> The shotgun spawns in the side cave just off the Scorpion spawn spot. Under the little bridge in front to right looking out from Scorpion spawn spot is the Fuel Rod Canon. Where the Rocket Launcher spawns on Exile, that little door/cave to its tight/left, depending which way your looking is where the Sticky Detonator spawns. During the game subsequent Rocket Launchers spawn in top middle. At start of game you have the SAW spawn in front of Red and Blue bases as well as snipers. During the game, down Blue base, just off the bridge near cave entrance is a Splaser.

20

Firstly, I’d like to say that this topic is coming along very well so far.
And I’m really liking all the cooperation and support.

However, I have bad news.
I originally promised to quote users who posted helpful tips in the original post.
But I’ve run out of space in both of the first two posts.
Even though I have about 300 Characters remaining in both, I can’t seem to post it.

I’d like to say I’m sorry to those of you who’ve contributed so much to this topic.
But even still, I’ll give them a shoutout.
Both WolfBlade XIII and Riot Rojas have done exceptionally to help others here.
Thanks guys for being great members of the Halo community!