Need a bit more firepower? Spartans can now carry up to six grenades, consisting of two Fragmentation Grenades, two Plasma Grenades, and two Splinter Grenades. While Spartans start every match with two Fragmentation Grenades, Plasma and Splinter Grenades can be found scattered throughout Arena maps—simply walk over these grenade pick-ups to add two to your inventory. The grenades you’re carrying are represented by icons in the top left corner of the HUD. Use the directional pad to cycle through the available grenades in your possession.
Fragmentation Grenade
The Frag Grenade is a high-explosive, dual-purpose explosive device used by UNSC forces.
Faction: UNSC
Field Notes
» All Spartans enter combat with two of these grenades, so don’t forget to use them. The Fragmentation Grenade utilizes a timed fuse—the fuse is triggered after striking a hard surface. This allows the grenade to bounce and skip off surfaces, increasing its effective range before eventual detonation. Try to score some indirect kills by bouncing these grenades around corners.
» With some practice, these grenades can be thrown great distances with reasonable precision. During Arena or Breakout matches, toss your Fragmentation Grenades at the start of a round in an effort to take out opponents rushing toward power weapons or power-ups.
» The grenade’s tendency to bounce can make it difficult to score kills with, particularly at close range. So always keep an eye on the bouncing grenade and be ready to thrust away. If you’re not careful, it may bounce back toward you.
Plasma Grenade
Covenant antipersonnel grenade. Intelligently adheres to infantry targets for maximum lethality.
Faction: Covenant
Field Notes
» The Plasma Grenade has the ability to stick to targets, making them extremely deadly during close-quarter engagements. After sticking to a target, the grenade’s internal plasma generator destabilizes, triggering an immediate devastating explosion, ideal for taking out shielded opponents. The grenade is equally effective against vehicles.
» Hitting a fast-moving Spartan with a Plasma Grenade takes some practice and skill. For starters, wait until an opponent has already thrust—this limits their ability to evade the grenade. If your target is strafing, moving laterally, lead the target before throwing. While tagging an opponent with a Plasma Grenade proves lethal, you’re much more likely to hit a nearby wall or the floor, only damaging your opponent. In such instances, be ready to finish off the target by hitting them repeatedly with a rapid-fire weapon, like an Assault Rifle.
» In Arena matches, power weapons are often located in exposed areas, watched by opponents. Instead of making a dash for one of these weapons, toss a Plasma Grenade near it. If the grenade lands on the far side of the weapon, the explosion will knock it back toward you, making it easier to acquire.
Splinter Grenade
The Splinter Grenade is a field-generating attenuation device used to damage any targets that fall within its ionization radius, eventually collapsing in a violent and deadly pulse of energy.
Faction: Forerunner
Field Notes
» When thrown, the Splinter Grenade splits open, creating an orange spiderweb-like barrier consisting of individual explosive submunitions. When approached by opponents, the submunitions swarm toward the target before exploding, dealing heavy damage. If left undisturbed, the grenade eventually explodes after a few seconds.
» The Splinter Grenade is best used to cut off access to choke points like doorways and narrow hallways. If you’re being chased, toss one of these grenades down to halt (or kill) your pursuers. These can also come in handy for limiting access to high-traffic areas where power weapons and power-ups spawn.
» You can clear out submunitions left from a Splinter Grenade by detonating another grenade in close proximity to them.