Halo: Reach Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: Why the AR is a great weapon
  • Subject: Why the AR is a great weapon
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • of 4
Subject: Why the AR is a great weapon

It seems there's a general consensus on this forum that the AR is a horrible weapon that doesn't require any skill to use. But I haven't seen any compelling argument as to why it's supposed to be so bad. The argument that is always brought up is that it's easy to use and kill with, and that it is very inaccurate and lacks range.

While this may be true if you just hold the trigger, it's far from the truth if you burst-fire. More accurately, fire in 2-shot bursts. This is important, as it allows you to fire almost as fast as full-auto, while still staying completely accurate. This also greatly increases it's effective range.

It takes about 19 rounds, or 9,5 2-shot bursts, for an AR to kill someone. It takes 5 shots for a DMR to kill, and 7 for a needle rifle. At full-auto, an AR wouldn't be able to beat them at a reasonable distance. It would miss way too many bullets, and seeing the AR hasn't got that big of a magazine, every bullet counts.

However, 2-shot burst fire can achieve a speed fast enough to beat the DMR and Needle rifle, as showcased in this video.Though doing this extremely difficult, let alone do it consistently. This way the AR can fire off it's needed 10 bursts to kill faster than the needle rifle can get it's 7, and the DMR can get it's 5.

Of course, this only works if you can get all bullets to hit. You can't depend on it's auto-aim for that. It's guaranteed you will miss at least a quarter of your shots if you don't aim right in the center. And you desperately need those hits if you want to do good.

I'm not saying the AR is the best weapon and that everyone should use it. It has plenty of flaws like small magazine and no-scope. But it seems the hate on the AR is purely based on ignorance and past iterations of the weapon. The AR in reach is very different than earlier versions. It just seems that barely anyone knows how to effectively use it and I aim to put that right.

Note: Naturally, I'm talking about vanilla reach, where the weapons were still semi-balanced.

  • 02.16.2012 12:58 PM PDT


Posted by: Destiny 7
That's a very nice opinion.

Nope, these are tested facts.

  • 02.16.2012 1:00 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

My Level. Get on it.


Posted by: RC Clone
Nope. SouthPole isn't a person. He's the avatar of the force of tryhards everywhere. He stalks the web looking for retards to set straight. He can not be stopped by mere bans or thread locks for he shall rise anew.

You clearly know what you're talking about.

  • 02.16.2012 1:01 PM PDT

Welcome to the internet. Joy dies here.

The forum population is still adapting to bloom. Give them time.

  • 02.16.2012 1:02 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

My Resume
Reach Stats
Halo 3 Stats

"In Halo 3 not all 50's were good players, but all good players were 50's."

Your opinion is invalid.

lol Halo 3 AR was the best AR. Kills very quickly at close range, but does basically no damage at medium and long range. In Reach the DMR beats the AR at every range.

  • 02.16.2012 1:03 PM PDT


Posted by: WhackyGordon
The forum population is still adapting to bloom. Give them time.

That video isn't a good example of what I'm talking about. Firing more than 2 shots per burst will make it take too long for the bloom to settle. The guy in the video still missed to many shots and his opponent also missed a lot of shots.

Still, doing that is much better than firing full-auto.

  • 02.16.2012 1:07 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

I know how to use an AR properly, and let me say, it will only get you so far. At best, it'll be effective against average and below average players, but once you get up to skilled players, you can do NOTHING.

  • 02.16.2012 1:09 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

My Level. Get on it.


Posted by: RC Clone
Nope. SouthPole isn't a person. He's the avatar of the force of tryhards everywhere. He stalks the web looking for retards to set straight. He can not be stopped by mere bans or thread locks for he shall rise anew.

No one cares about the AR being a good or bad weapon. Fact is, it should not be a starting weapon.

  • 02.16.2012 1:11 PM PDT

spiral out

H3 was good. The AR was like a 6-shot -> bash for a kill. In Reach its like a full clip -> bash fr a kill.

  • 02.16.2012 1:14 PM PDT


Posted by: SouthPoIe
No one cares about the AR being a good or bad weapon. Fact is, it should not be a starting weapon.

On the contrary. It coupled with a pistol is probably the best starting loadout there is. Not only do the AR and the pistol complement eachother perfectly, but neither is particularly easy to use and encourages more weapon variety.

Combined, they can kill 3 players without reloading. One has more power against shields, any the other more effective against armor. They nicely fill in every role from close range to mid range.

I'd say they are more than qualified to be starting weapons. They have all the characteristics needed for them.

  • 02.16.2012 1:21 PM PDT


Posted by: beastage1458
H3 was good. The AR was like a 6-shot -> bash for a kill. In Reach its like a full clip -> bash fr a kill.

That technically isn't an AR kill but a melee kill. Also this is only possible because of bleedthrough and is incredibly easy to do.

  • 02.16.2012 1:23 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

My Level. Get on it.


Posted by: RC Clone
Nope. SouthPole isn't a person. He's the avatar of the force of tryhards everywhere. He stalks the web looking for retards to set straight. He can not be stopped by mere bans or thread locks for he shall rise anew.


Posted by: Wobbly_guy
neither is particularly easy to use and encourages more weapon variety


Full Retard

  • 02.16.2012 1:25 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

My Resume
Reach Stats
Halo 3 Stats

"In Halo 3 not all 50's were good players, but all good players were 50's."

Your opinion is invalid.

This thread

  • 02.16.2012 1:25 PM PDT

spiral out


Posted by: Wobbly_guy

Posted by: SouthPoIe
No one cares about the AR being a good or bad weapon. Fact is, it should not be a starting weapon.

On the contrary. It coupled with a pistol is probably the best starting loadout there is. Not only do the AR and the pistol complement eachother perfectly, but neither is particularly easy to use and encourages more weapon variety.

Combined, they can kill 3 players without reloading. One has more power against shields, any the other more effective against armor. They nicely fill in every role from close range to mid range.

I'd say they are more than qualified to be starting weapons. They have all the characteristics needed for them.

The AR has no range and the magnum is best at medium-close range. The DMR is best at medium-long range, but can be used up close and at long distance. In every 1 on 1 battle between someone with and AR and someone with a DMR, the DMR will win. The DMR is just more versatile, probably even the most versatile in the game, which makes it a better weapon for a starting loadout.

  • 02.16.2012 1:28 PM PDT

spiral out


Posted by: Wobbly_guy

Posted by: beastage1458
H3 was good. The AR was like a 6-shot -> bash for a kill. In Reach its like a full clip -> bash fr a kill.

That technically isn't an AR kill but a melee kill. Also this is only possible because of bleedthrough and is incredibly easy to do.

Wasn't that how the AR was used? If you wanted to just shoot, not bash after 6 shots, then the BR is better.

  • 02.16.2012 1:30 PM PDT

Posted by: Recon Number 54
Life is a journey, if you spend all of it with your nose in your map, you may miss some of the best parts.

Not sure if srs.

  • 02.16.2012 1:35 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

If you have to use labels like 'Retarded' to describe anyone who disagrees with you, Then your arguement has lost any weight it might of had, and I personally will assume you are just trying to get a rise out of people.

Also to those who think that having a high KDR means you're beast; just the fact that boosters exist is a prime reason that any thumbless noob can achieve it throwing the 'my high KDR validates my opinion" logic out the window.


Posted by: SouthPoIe

Posted by: Wobbly_guy
neither is particularly easy to use and encourages more weapon variety


Full Retard
That's like, the only adjective you know, isn't it? Almost every thread I see you respond to something. seriously, it's old. And people probobly stop listening to what you have to say afterwards.

  • 02.16.2012 1:43 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

My Level. Get on it.


Posted by: RC Clone
Nope. SouthPole isn't a person. He's the avatar of the force of tryhards everywhere. He stalks the web looking for retards to set straight. He can not be stopped by mere bans or thread locks for he shall rise anew.


Posted by: IamCornn

Posted by: SouthPoIe

Posted by: Wobbly_guy
neither is particularly easy to use and encourages more weapon variety


Full Retard
That's like, the only adjective you know, isn't it? Almost every thread I see you respond to something. seriously, it's old. And people probobly stop listening to what you have to say afterwards.


What other word would you prefer? Stupid? Ignorant? Misinformed? Uneducated? Oblivious?

  • 02.16.2012 1:46 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

If you have to use labels like 'Retarded' to describe anyone who disagrees with you, Then your arguement has lost any weight it might of had, and I personally will assume you are just trying to get a rise out of people.

Also to those who think that having a high KDR means you're beast; just the fact that boosters exist is a prime reason that any thumbless noob can achieve it throwing the 'my high KDR validates my opinion" logic out the window.


Posted by: SouthPoIe

Posted by: IamCornn

Posted by: SouthPoIe

Posted by: Wobbly_guy
neither is particularly easy to use and encourages more weapon variety


Full Retard
That's like, the only adjective you know, isn't it? Almost every thread I see you respond to something. seriously, it's old. And people probobly stop listening to what you have to say afterwards.


What other word would you prefer? Stupid? Ignorant? Misinformed? Uneducated? Oblivious?
Any of those are actually preferable (and probobly more accurate), though If I had to pick one, Ignorant would be the best choice.

It's like calling something you dislike 'ga y'. While not as insulting, it still has the same insulting vibe to it. What if someone where actually mentally retarded? You wouldn't call them that every time they did or said something that you don't agree with/ find stupid/offensive, It's just as offensive to people who are retarded as calling things 'ga y' would be to people who are infact homo-blam!-.

Edit; ..That really got -blam!-'d? What the hell.

[Edited on 02.16.2012 1:56 PM PST]

  • 02.16.2012 1:51 PM PDT


Posted by: beastage1458

Posted by: Wobbly_guy

Posted by: SouthPoIe
No one cares about the AR being a good or bad weapon. Fact is, it should not be a starting weapon.

On the contrary. It coupled with a pistol is probably the best starting loadout there is. Not only do the AR and the pistol complement eachother perfectly, but neither is particularly easy to use and encourages more weapon variety.

Combined, they can kill 3 players without reloading. One has more power against shields, any the other more effective against armor. They nicely fill in every role from close range to mid range.

I'd say they are more than qualified to be starting weapons. They have all the characteristics needed for them.

The AR has no range and the magnum is best at medium-close range. The DMR is best at medium-long range, but can be used up close and at long distance. In every 1 on 1 battle between someone with and AR and someone with a DMR, the DMR will win. The DMR is just more versatile, probably even the most versatile in the game, which makes it a better weapon for a starting loadout.

Haven't you read the OP? I clearly state that the AR can beat a DMR in a 1 on 1 fight.
This way the AR can fire off it's needed 10 bursts to kill faster than the needle rifle can get it's 7, and the DMR can get it's 5.
The AR actually has decent range. In fact the AR is better at mid range than it is at close range. This is because while other weapons need to slow down at larger ranges, the AR can just keep firing as fast as always without any accuracy loss.

Also this thread isn't about whether it should be a starting weapon or not. I think it works great as a starting weapon but that's just my opinion. I can't back this up with facts (which I can do for the AR), so I'll just leave it be.

  • 02.16.2012 2:04 PM PDT
  •  | 
  • Veteran Legendary Member

Always up for REACH customs!


Posted by: Sandtrap
I know how to use an AR properly, and let me say, it will only get you so far. At best, it'll be effective against average and below average players, but once you get up to skilled players, you can do NOTHING.

True, except in the first phase of Invasion, where having a good AR game goes a long way once you burn through your Magnum clip. If you use your AR like OP showed in his video, you'll be beating the Plasma Repeaters every time.

The AR is not a great weapon, but mastering it is a good idea because sometimes you'll have to fall back on it.

[Edited on 02.16.2012 2:15 PM PST]

  • 02.16.2012 2:04 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Sometimes, I dream about cheese.

lolno the AR sucks big time, i use to wish the Halo 3 AR was slightly underpowered: perhaps a faster ROF, extra damage and longer range but once i used the Halo Reach AR, mannn...

[Edited on 02.16.2012 3:35 PM PST]

  • 02.16.2012 3:34 PM PDT

Posted by: LordMonkey
Posted by: ICanHasRofl
Bungie created the host-selection system.

And you know this how?


LOL, Mains kids


Posted by: SouthPoIe

Posted by: Wobbly_guy
neither is particularly easy to use and encourages more weapon variety


Full Retard

Posted by: SouthPoIe

Posted by: Wobbly_guy
neither is particularly easy to use and encourages more weapon variety


Full Retard

  • 02.16.2012 3:40 PM PDT

The AR has so much bullet magnetism on it that its impossible to miss with.

  • 02.16.2012 4:05 PM PDT

  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • of 4