09-13-2010, 03:04 PM
The day has arrived, and I got my copy in the mail already (too bad I'm still at work). I won't be having a launch party this time, but I'd like to have a get-together maybe the Saturday after next when I get back from vacation. As always, screenname: El Kabonggg. I think I'm going to play some campaign today, then dabble in some of the different multiplayer modes. Maybe tomorrow we can get a crew together to do some multiplayer and firefight (custom maybe?).
Anyway, for those who didn't play the beta compulsively like I did, here are some tips and tricks with the new stuff I learned while playing the beta.
New(ish) Weapons
Magnum Pistol
The Magnum is vastly improved in Reach and is now a reasonable strong weapon that you should get good with. It takes the same amount of shots to kill someone with the pistol as it does with the DMR (4 shots to drop the shields + one for the headshot). It fires faster than the DMR but becomes more inaccurate more quickly as your shooting rate increases.
Use it at close or medium range to get headshots or take out guys with jetpacks. A lot of the time switching to the handgun helped me win really tight battles at close range.
DMR/Needle Rifle
The DMR is the replacement for the Battle Rifle from Halo 3 and it's been slightly toned down. The firing rate is a bit slower so at close-ish range the Assault Rifle and pistol will win most of the time.
The major difference from the BR with the DMR is reticule bloom. The faster you shoot the bigger the reticule gets. Bloom was there in Halo 3 but you had no visual indication of it. Reticule bloom doesn't mean you should slow your shooting down to once every 3 seconds or anything, but if you're trying to pick someone off at range slowing down just a little bit will give you the advantage. Think methodical.
The Needle Rifle is like the DMR but once someone's shields are down three more shots will make explode like the needler. You can also get headshots with the needle rifle.
Plasma Launcher
This is easily my favorite new weapon. It basically launches plasma greandes. It locks on so you can hit moving targets at a distance but it has to charge. The longer you charge the weapon the more grenades get launched at one time, up to 4.
One trick I learned is that you don't really want to launch more than one or two grenades at someone to kill them. If you're charging the launcher for too long before you fire you might launch more grenades more than you need to. So if I find myself charging for too long I'd switch to my other weapon to cancel the launch.
The major downside to the Plasma Launcher is that it is pretty ineffective at close range. If you have to engage someone at close range you're better off using a more conventional weapon most of the time.
Grenade Launcher
The grenade launcher is a finesse weapon unlike CoD's noob tube. It's not particularly good at getting kills with splatter damage. To kill someone in one shot with it you have to pretty much bullseye them with it, and I've only really been able to do that at close range.
The real use for the grenade launcher is the EMP effect it has. You can take down shields, down jetpack guys, and immobilize vehicles with it. When you fire it and hold down the trigger you can control when it detonates so you can time it to take out air vehicles or jetpacks. You can also use it to set a trap but I didn't really get much use out of that strategy.
On balance the grenade launcher is probably best when paired with a headshot weapon.
Focus Rifle
The Focus Rifle is basically a laser beam that you hold down to cook people. Not nearly as effective as the sniper rifle, but it's pretty strong against jetpack guys and people out in the open. If you can't put it on someone for about a second and a half you're not going to kill them so sometimes it's better to hold your fire until your target is in a position where he can't get to cover quickly.
It can be decently effective at close range but obviously you're not going to beat a shotgun/sword/hammer with it.
Armor Abilities - How to Use
Jetpack
The basic rule with the jetpack is the higher you fly, the more time people have to shoot at you on the way down. When I'm using it I try to fly to a specific destination using the least exposed route. Flying around in the open is asking to get capped.
The jetpack is great for getting to a good perch with your rifle or getting to a power weapon before anyone else can. Not good for trying to attack tanks, unless they don't see you coming.
Also, you will die if you don't feather your landing from a high altitude or if you're already hurt.
Sprint
Use it to get to power weapons early in the match. Works really well with close range power weapons like the hammer, just run up and smash em. The only problem is that there is a delay after you stop sprinting so if you sprint into battle and the other guy sees you at the same time, he is going to be able to get a few shots off before you can return fire.
Sprint is the absolute best armor ability for Headhunter.
Armor Lock
Best when used with a teammate. You engage someone and if you can't kill them, armor lock and let your buddy finish the job. Other ways to use it:
*block grenades
*stall for time while your shields regen
*protect yourself if someone starts shooting at you from an angle you can't see
It's very useful in games of oddball. What I would do is get the ball and hide in a corner. If more than one guy was coming up on me I'd drop the ball and armor lock and let the other guys fight it out. Maybe one guy would be left by the time my armor lock was done and I'd just kill him and get the ball again.
Evade
Evade is nothing more than a really quick roll that Elites can do that will break the target lock of the plasma launcher and makes you difficult to hit. Not much to using it, except that it is faster than walking so I use it to get around faster. I like using it to pop out of cover and shoot, then roll back behind cover to let my shield's recharge. Also really fun to roll behind people and assasinate them
Active Camo
It functions pretty much the same as Active Camo in Halo 3 except it scrambles the radar of opponents when you activate it, so it's hard to truly sneak up on someone. However, you can use the radar scrambling to hide your teammate's position and surprise someone.
Anyway, for those who didn't play the beta compulsively like I did, here are some tips and tricks with the new stuff I learned while playing the beta.
New(ish) Weapons
Magnum Pistol
The Magnum is vastly improved in Reach and is now a reasonable strong weapon that you should get good with. It takes the same amount of shots to kill someone with the pistol as it does with the DMR (4 shots to drop the shields + one for the headshot). It fires faster than the DMR but becomes more inaccurate more quickly as your shooting rate increases.
Use it at close or medium range to get headshots or take out guys with jetpacks. A lot of the time switching to the handgun helped me win really tight battles at close range.
DMR/Needle Rifle
The DMR is the replacement for the Battle Rifle from Halo 3 and it's been slightly toned down. The firing rate is a bit slower so at close-ish range the Assault Rifle and pistol will win most of the time.
The major difference from the BR with the DMR is reticule bloom. The faster you shoot the bigger the reticule gets. Bloom was there in Halo 3 but you had no visual indication of it. Reticule bloom doesn't mean you should slow your shooting down to once every 3 seconds or anything, but if you're trying to pick someone off at range slowing down just a little bit will give you the advantage. Think methodical.
The Needle Rifle is like the DMR but once someone's shields are down three more shots will make explode like the needler. You can also get headshots with the needle rifle.
Plasma Launcher
This is easily my favorite new weapon. It basically launches plasma greandes. It locks on so you can hit moving targets at a distance but it has to charge. The longer you charge the weapon the more grenades get launched at one time, up to 4.
One trick I learned is that you don't really want to launch more than one or two grenades at someone to kill them. If you're charging the launcher for too long before you fire you might launch more grenades more than you need to. So if I find myself charging for too long I'd switch to my other weapon to cancel the launch.
The major downside to the Plasma Launcher is that it is pretty ineffective at close range. If you have to engage someone at close range you're better off using a more conventional weapon most of the time.
Grenade Launcher
The grenade launcher is a finesse weapon unlike CoD's noob tube. It's not particularly good at getting kills with splatter damage. To kill someone in one shot with it you have to pretty much bullseye them with it, and I've only really been able to do that at close range.
The real use for the grenade launcher is the EMP effect it has. You can take down shields, down jetpack guys, and immobilize vehicles with it. When you fire it and hold down the trigger you can control when it detonates so you can time it to take out air vehicles or jetpacks. You can also use it to set a trap but I didn't really get much use out of that strategy.
On balance the grenade launcher is probably best when paired with a headshot weapon.
Focus Rifle
The Focus Rifle is basically a laser beam that you hold down to cook people. Not nearly as effective as the sniper rifle, but it's pretty strong against jetpack guys and people out in the open. If you can't put it on someone for about a second and a half you're not going to kill them so sometimes it's better to hold your fire until your target is in a position where he can't get to cover quickly.
It can be decently effective at close range but obviously you're not going to beat a shotgun/sword/hammer with it.
Armor Abilities - How to Use
Jetpack
The basic rule with the jetpack is the higher you fly, the more time people have to shoot at you on the way down. When I'm using it I try to fly to a specific destination using the least exposed route. Flying around in the open is asking to get capped.
The jetpack is great for getting to a good perch with your rifle or getting to a power weapon before anyone else can. Not good for trying to attack tanks, unless they don't see you coming.
Also, you will die if you don't feather your landing from a high altitude or if you're already hurt.
Sprint
Use it to get to power weapons early in the match. Works really well with close range power weapons like the hammer, just run up and smash em. The only problem is that there is a delay after you stop sprinting so if you sprint into battle and the other guy sees you at the same time, he is going to be able to get a few shots off before you can return fire.
Sprint is the absolute best armor ability for Headhunter.
Armor Lock
Best when used with a teammate. You engage someone and if you can't kill them, armor lock and let your buddy finish the job. Other ways to use it:
*block grenades
*stall for time while your shields regen
*protect yourself if someone starts shooting at you from an angle you can't see
It's very useful in games of oddball. What I would do is get the ball and hide in a corner. If more than one guy was coming up on me I'd drop the ball and armor lock and let the other guys fight it out. Maybe one guy would be left by the time my armor lock was done and I'd just kill him and get the ball again.
Evade
Evade is nothing more than a really quick roll that Elites can do that will break the target lock of the plasma launcher and makes you difficult to hit. Not much to using it, except that it is faster than walking so I use it to get around faster. I like using it to pop out of cover and shoot, then roll back behind cover to let my shield's recharge. Also really fun to roll behind people and assasinate them
Active Camo
It functions pretty much the same as Active Camo in Halo 3 except it scrambles the radar of opponents when you activate it, so it's hard to truly sneak up on someone. However, you can use the radar scrambling to hide your teammate's position and surprise someone.
2018 Ducati Panigale V4
Past: 2018 Honda Civic Type-R, 2015 Yamaha R1, 2009 BMW M3, 2013 Aprilia RSV4R, 2006 Honda Ridgeline, 2006 Porsche Cayman S, 2012 Ducati 1199, 2009 Subaru WRX, 2008 CBR1000RR, 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R, 2000 Toyota Tundra, 2005 Honda CBR600RR, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1997 Honda Civic EX
http://www.aclr8.com
Past: 2018 Honda Civic Type-R, 2015 Yamaha R1, 2009 BMW M3, 2013 Aprilia RSV4R, 2006 Honda Ridgeline, 2006 Porsche Cayman S, 2012 Ducati 1199, 2009 Subaru WRX, 2008 CBR1000RR, 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R, 2000 Toyota Tundra, 2005 Honda CBR600RR, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1997 Honda Civic EX
http://www.aclr8.com
![[Image: jetpack.cartoon.jpg]](http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Technology/Pix/pictures/2008/10/29/jetpack.cartoon.jpg)
