Every Halo Infinite Weapon Ranked

Microsoft and 343 Industries caught everyone by surprise by releasing the "Halo Infinite" multiplayer beta a few weeks before the full launch of the game. Since then, players have been going wild over the game's varied maps and over the top action. "Halo Infinite" didn't include fan-favorite modes like campaign co-op and Forge mode at launch, but the multiplayer has already been hailed by fans as one of the best in the series' history — and more mods are set to be added further down the line. "Halo Infinite" multiplayer already includes a massive suite of weapons, ranging from the classic Assault Rifle and Stinger to newer guns like the Shock Rifle.

Unlike other modern shooters powerhouses like "Call of Duty" and "Battlefield," "Halo Infinite" does not allow for custom classes, instead placing weapons throughout each map. This means being familiar with every weapon in the game is important — and you might want to know which weapons are the best. With that in mind, here is a ranking of every weapon in "Halo Infinite."

The Hydra launcher is an explosive weapon that fires small missiles. The weapon contains six missiles, which it rotates through as it fires, much like a revolver. In "Halo Infinite," the Hydra users can toggle between two firing modes. One features a lock-on function that will track enemy spartans and vehicles. The other is a free fire mode that will shoot missiles in a straight line. The Hydra shares a similar problem to the Ravager, in that it doesn't deal damage quickly enough to be a viable weapon against enemy Spartans.

Adding to the frustration is the fact that Hydra's free fire mode deals more damage than the lock-on mode. The Hydra also only creates a limited area of splash damage, so unless you are a total savant with the free fire mode, it will take way too long to kill an enemy — especially if they are jumping around.

Another underpowered plasma weapon, the Pulse Rifle is an okay opener and a bad closer. Plasma weapons in "Halo Infinite" deal more shield damage, whereas standard bullet weapons deal more unshielded damage. The Pulse Carbine fires a three-round burst that will track an enemy, if you are at the right distance. Get too close, and it doesn't have time to change trajectory; too far, and your fire just slowly goes in a straight line. At the perfect distance, the Pulse Carbine can melt shields very quickly, but as with the Plasma Pistol, you're better off swapping weapons to finish your opponent off.

Unfortunately, there are too many weapons in "Halo Infinite" that are capable of killing an enemy quickly enough to not need to switch to another weapon, putting the Pulse Carbine pretty low in the ranking. That said, combining the Pulse Carbine with a headshot-capable weapon like a Battle Rifle or Pistol makes for a fairly deadly combo, even if it's more cumbersome than other weapons.

The Sentinel Beam is a weapon typically obtained by destroying Sentinels, a Forerunner machine designed to destroy the Flood. The weapon fires a single beam of energy continuously for a period of time, before it needs to reload. At this point in the ranking, every weapon from here on out is viable in a 1v1 fight, it's more a matter of ease of use and speed. The Sentinel Beam ends up lower on the list because it is slightly unwieldy to aim while the beam is firing.

If you can track a player accurately, the Sentinel Beam can kill an enemy in roughly two seconds of continuous fire before needing to cooldown. The problem is that the recoil will pull the weapon up sharply, which can be hard to deal with while an enemy is moving. The Sentinel Beam also goes through enemies, so it can deal damage to opponents behind your target. Of course, lining that up is easier said than done. 

In the campaign, however, the Sentinel Beam is easily one of the most powerful and worthwhile weapons in the game.

The other new electric weapon in "Halo Infinite," the Shock Rifle, is the pinnacle of "high risk, high reward." Similar to the Sniper Rifle, the Shock Rifle is a one-shot kill at full health if you hit the opponent in the head. However, while the Sniper Rifle can also kill an enemy in two body shots and has a high fire rate, the Shock Rifle takes three body shots to kill an enemy and has a slower fire rate. It can also be difficult to aim up close, so if an opponent gets in your face, there's going to be a problem.

The Shock Rifle does have a few other things going for it, though. The electric shock can jump from one enemy to another nearby, dealing some damage to them as well. It can also be used to disable vehicles in a single shot, proving very useful in Big Team Battle matches. The Shock Rifle is a powerful weapon, but one that requires precision.

A staple since the original "Halo: Combat Evolved," the Needler functions as an SMG. It has a high rate of fire, but a low damage output. However, enemies will explode when you put enough Needler rounds into them. The Needler shoots faster in "Halo Infinite" multiplayer than in other entries in the series, making it a menace in combat — assuming you're in range.

The downside to the Needler is that it quickly loses its value if there is more than one enemy in front of you. There are enough Needlers in a single magazine to explode two people, but this requires you to know how many needles it takes to kill opponents. If you keep shooting until they explode, you'll actually use more needles than necessary. If there are two enemies in front of you, there is a risk you will split your shots between them, resulting in neither of them dying. 

The Needler is excellent in a 1v1 scenario, but a bit trickier to use if the enemy brings a friend.

The CQS48 Bulldog, essentially the standard shotgun, is still a different take on the typical "Halo" shotgun. In previous "Halo" games, the shotgun had a slow fire rate, but could kill someone in one shot from a pretty good distance. The shotgun in "Halo Infinite," however, is not capable of killing someone at full health in a single shot, even if you are physically touching the other person. It can kill in two shots at close range and three shots at medium range. To make up for no longer being a one-shot kill at close range, the "Halo Infinite" shotgun received two buffs.

First of all, the shotgun is fully automatic. Old school players might not realize this, because the old one wasn't automatic and the Bulldog has a pump animation. However, the Bulldog will continue firing if you hold down the trigger. Second, instead of being reloaded one shell at a time, the Bulldog gets reloaded in a single magazine, which speeds up the process. While it isn't the powerhouse the old shotgun used to be, it is still a fast and powerful weapon, not to mention a menace at close range.

The Stalker Rifle feels like the spiritual successor to the Carbine Rifle from previous "Halo" games. The Stalker Rifle is a precision plasma weapon with an incredibly low time-to-kill — if you can land that headshot. It takes three shots to break an enemy's shields and a fourth body shot to kill them, but the Stalker Rifle is one of the few weapons with which headshot damage bleeds through shields. 

If the third shot is a headshot, it will kill the enemy, even if their shield isn't broken yet. The only other weapons that can headshot through shields in "Halo Infinite" are the Shock Rifle and the Sniper Rifle, making the Stalker Rifle part of an elite trio.

Because the Stalker Rifle is a plasma weapon, players can fire roughly 6 shots before it needs to be vented, but the Stalker Rifle can be vented earlier at any point for a quicker cooldown. 

The MK50 Sidekick functions extremely similarly to the M6H magnum in "Halo 5: Guardians,"  as it's a precision weapon that has a high fire rate and deals solid damage. The recoil can be a bit much if you are firing it as fast as you can, but it's not as inaccurate as other weapons with high recoil, like the Mangler or the Commando. 

A skilled player can win most one-on-one situations with this weapon. The pistol is one of the weapons you spawn with in most playlists, — outside of Ranked, Tactical Slayer, and Fiesta — so it's an important weapon to master, since you will probably spend a ton of time using it.

The pistol magazine holds 12 shots, taking seven shots to kill if you end with a headshot, and 9 shots if you don't. Combine that with one of the fastest reloads in the game and the Sidekick is a deadly weapon. A player skilled at hitting headshots can beat someone with an Assault Rifle easily.

An iconic staple of "Halo" multiplayer since it became a usable weapon in "Halo 3," the Gravity Hammer has a few new quirks in "Halo Infinite" that put it lower on the list. However, the Gravity Hammer is still a force to be reckoned with. 

The two downsides to the Gravity Hammer are its slow swing time and what happens if you interact with an opponent with a sword. The swing time is longer than in previous games, which might make the weapon more balanced — but that's not what people like about power weapons.

The other issue is that if you hit someone with an Energy Sword at the same time they hit you, it results in both players bouncing off each other. Due to the long swing time, the sword user has the advantage. Still, the Gravity Hammer can be combined with the Grapple Shot to give you the ability to close any gap between you and the enemy.

The Energy Sword takes the number three spot on this list, primarily for reasons outside of the weapon itself. The Energy Sword is largely unchanged from previous games, although it does appear to run out of energy quicker than in previous games. It can still lunge pretty far and kill enemies in a single slice. The Energy Sword gains a serious edge for two reasons: The first is the previously mentioned advantage over the Gravity Hammer. The second (and more important) reason is how it can be combined with the new equipment in "Halo Infinite."

Movement-based equipment, like the Grapple Shot and Thrusters, make it easier than ever to get up close and personal with the enemy. Now, instead of camping corners or trying to flank the enemy, you can fling yourself across the map to get in close. Even without the equipment, other players will frequently panic when they see someone running at them with a sword, resulting in missed shots. Picking up the Energy Sword is a one-way ticket to a killing spree for any well-practiced player.

The BR75, also known simply as the Battle Rifle, is the best weapon in "Halo Infinite." While it certainly lacks the raw firepower of a power weapon like the Rocket Launcher, you will find it in your hands more often than not. It's found on most maps in standard arena and Big Team Battle modes. It is also the default weapon in Ranked mode (and the only one you spawn with), meaning you will need to be proficient with the Battle Rifle if you want to climb through Ranked.

The biggest reason for it being the best weapon is its versatility. It takes four bursts to kill someone with a headshot and six to kill someone without the headshot. The Battle Rifle's magazine holds 36 shots, which translates to 12 bursts, so you could theoretically kill three enemies without reloading. It has low recoil and the zoom function makes it viable both at close range and at a distance. It might not be as flashy or exciting as other weapons, but you can never go wrong with the old reliable Battle Rifle.