Weapons in Halo Campaign Evolved – Complete List of New and Returning Weapons

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Halo: Campaign Evolved significantly expands the original game’s combat sandbox. Instead of limiting players to the classic Halo: Combat Evolved arsenal, Halo Studios has added nine fan-favorite weapons from later entries in the series. Combined with the returning originals, players now have access to one of the largest weapon selections ever seen in a Halo campaign.

Quick Overview	Details
Total Weapons	18
Original Weapons	9
New Weapons	9
Weapon Types	Human, Covenant, Brute, Forerunner
Bonus Mission Weapons	Several debut in Operation: Meteorite

Complete Halo Campaign Evolved weapons list

Weapon	Faction	Weapon Type	Best Used Against
Assault Rifle	UNSC	Automatic Rifle	General infantry
Pistol	UNSC	Precision Sidearm	Headshots and medium-range combat
Shotgun	UNSC	Close-range Weapon	Flood and Brutes
Sniper Rifle	UNSC	Long-range Rifle	Elite enemies and distant targets
Rocket Launcher	UNSC	Heavy Weapon	Vehicles and bosses
Plasma Pistol	Covenant	Plasma Sidearm	Shielded enemies
Plasma Rifle	Covenant	Automatic Plasma Rifle	Sustained combat
Needler	Covenant	Tracking Projectile Weapon	Infantry via Supercombine
Energy Sword	Covenant	Melee Weapon	Close-quarters combat
Sentinel Beam	Forerunner	Continuous Beam Weapon	Flood swarms
SMG	UNSC	Automatic Weapon	Flood and light infantry
Fuel Rod Cannon	Covenant	Heavy Explosive Weapon	Groups and vehicles
Beam Rifle	Covenant	Precision Sniper	Long-range eliminations
Brute Plasma Rifle	Brutes	Plasma Automatic	High DPS against infantry
Spiker	Brutes	Spike Launcher	Medium-range combat
Battle Rifle	UNSC	Burst Precision Rifle	Versatile mid-range engagements
Needle Rifle	Covenant	Precision Needle Weapon	Fast Supercombine kills

(Original Grenades remain available alongside these weapons.)

Original Halo: Combat Evolved weapons

The remake retains every weapon from the original Halo: Combat Evolved, but nearly all of them have received updated visuals, improved animations, better audio, and refined handling.

Assault Rifle

The MA5B Assault Rifle remains the primary all-purpose weapon. It delivers a high rate of fire and a large magazine, making it excellent for clearing Grunts and supporting aggressive playstyles.

Pistol

The legendary Magnum returns with its devastating precision. It remains capable of landing accurate headshots and continues to be one of the strongest all-around weapons available.

Shotgun

Still one of the best close-range weapons, the shotgun excels against Flood combat forms and heavily armored Brutes that rush your position.

Sniper Rifle

The UNSC sniper rifle remains the premier long-range weapon, capable of eliminating high-value targets with precision shots.

Rocket Launcher

Nothing changes its role as the ultimate heavy weapon. It delivers massive splash damage against vehicles, Hunters, and clustered enemies.

Plasma Pistol

Its charged shot is still invaluable for instantly stripping enemy energy shields before following up with another weapon.

Plasma Rifle

The Covenant’s automatic rifle provides reliable sustained plasma fire and performs well during prolonged firefights.

Needler

The Needler’s signature Supercombine mechanic returns, causing enemies to explode after enough needles embed into the target.

Energy Sword

Although iconic throughout later Halo games, this marks the first time the Energy Sword becomes fully usable throughout Combat Evolved’s campaign, adding an entirely new melee-focused playstyle.

New weapons added in Halo: Campaign Evolved

Halo Studios introduced nine additional weapons from across the Halo universe to modernize the campaign sandbox and offer more tactical options.

Weapon	Why it’s worth using
Sentinel Beam	Continuous laser that melts Flood quickly.
SMG	High fire rate, excellent for swarming enemies.
Fuel Rod Cannon	Faster-firing explosive alternative to rockets.
Beam Rifle	Covenant equivalent of the UNSC sniper rifle.
Brute Plasma Rifle	Fires faster and hits harder than the standard Plasma Rifle.
Spiker	Launches razor-sharp spikes with excellent stopping power.
Battle Rifle	Accurate three-round burst weapon ideal at medium range.
Needle Rifle	Precision rifle capable of triggering Supercombine explosions with fewer successful hits.
Energy Sword	Now integrated into the campaign as a fully usable weapon.

Which weapons are the strongest?

Different weapons dominate different encounters, but several stand above the rest.

Situation	Recommended Weapon
Fighting Flood	Shotgun, Sentinel Beam, SMG
Long-range combat	Sniper Rifle, Beam Rifle
Breaking shields	Plasma Pistol
General combat	Battle Rifle, Assault Rifle
Heavy enemies	Rocket Launcher, Fuel Rod Cannon
Close quarters	Energy Sword, Shotgun
Precision kills	Pistol, Battle Rifle, Needle Rifle

How the expanded arsenal changes gameplay

The original Halo: Combat Evolved featured a relatively small but balanced weapon roster. Campaign Evolved dramatically broadens those options by introducing precision rifles, Brute weaponry, Forerunner technology, and several fan-favorite Halo 2 and Halo 3 weapons. The result is more varied combat encounters, greater freedom in weapon choice, and multiple viable strategies for tackling the same battles.

The addition of weapons like the Battle Rifle, Sentinel Beam, and Energy Sword gives players far more flexibility than the original release ever offered.

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At launch, Halo: Campaign Evolved features 18 playable weapons. This consists of all nine classic Halo: Combat Evolved weapons plus nine additional weapons imported from later Halo titles, making it the most complete version of the original campaign’s sandbox to date.