Sleek, stylish, and unsurprisingly lethal, Forerunner weaponry is important to become familiar with. Found in abundance on Forerunner worlds, these weapons are also commonly dropped by the constructs as they’re slaughtered in battle.
Binary Rifle
Range: Long
Headshots: Yes
Magazine: 2
Spare Ammo: 8
Firing Speed: Semi-auto
Secondary Fire: None
The Prometheans’ ultimate long-range precision weapon, the Binary Rifle packs a tremendous punch across long distances. Comparable to the UNSC’s Sniper Rifle, the Binary Rifle’s powerful scope features a double-zoom function, letting you sight targets and score lethal headshots across incredible distances. Only two rounds can be loaded into a Binary Rifle at a time, so the weapon needs to be reloaded often. Ammo is always scarce, so make every shot count!
» Only two shots can be fired before having to reload.
» Frighteningly powerful—defeated enemies are disintegrated, leaving nothing to revive.
» Advanced scope lets the user zoom in twice to fire on distant threats with incredible accuracy.
Boltshot
Range: Close-medium
Headshots: No
Magazine: 24
Spare Ammo: 72
Firing Speed: Triple-shot semi-auto
Secondary Fire: None
Many Promethean troops wield a small, semi-automatic sidearm called a Boltshot. This weapon fires bolts of energized particles quickly and accurately, making it effective at close- to medium-range combat. Like the Battle Rifle, the Boltshot fires in bursts of three, allowing for maximum impact per trigger pull. Its particles have a limited tracking ability, helping them zero in on more distant and evasive targets. The Boltshot is designed to pierce armor, making it effective at weakening Prometheans and exposing their susceptible cores.
» Surprisingly accurate with the aid of its homing projectiles.
» Triple-shot firing mechanism devours ammo but piles on damage.
» Very effective at breaking the armor of Soldiers and Knights; ineffective at damaging their exposed cores.
Incineration Cannon
Range: Medium-long
Headshots: No
Magazine: N/A (energy based)
Spare Ammo: N/A (energy based)
Firing Speed: Semi-auto
Secondary Fire: Charged shot
An advanced Forerunner weapon, the Incineration Cannon is one of the most powerful portable weapon systems available. Although slow and somewhat easy to dodge, the Incineration Cannon’s explosive bombardments will decimate anything they strike. Tap the Fire button to unleash two-shot barrages that can be lobbed over cover, or hold the button to charge up a devastating volley that’s guaranteed to cripple or destroy anything struck. Very little can survive a direct hit from this weapon.
» Portable heavy weapon platform carried by many Knights, especially Knight Commanders.
» Lobs explosive payloads to distant threats, with devastating results.
» Charged shots are lethal—two direct hits will defeat a Knight head on.
LightRifle
Range: Medium-long
Headshots: Yes
Magazine: 12
Spare Ammo: 36
Firing Speed: Semi-auto
Secondary Fire: None
This powerful rifle is frequently wielded by Promethean sharpshooters. Its scope lets the user zoom in for a clear view of remote targets, and its light mass particles find their mark at the speed of light. Picking off threats from a safe distance is always a good idea, and the LightRifle helps you do just that. Use it to hit Promethean cores from afar after blasting off their protective armor.
» Scope lends the weapon excellent accuracy, and wider, more powerful shots are fired from the weapon while you're zoomed-in.
» Slow rate of fire but high damage output per shot.
» Handy for headshots and for finishing off Soldiers and Knights whose cores have been exposed.
Scattershot
Range: Close
Headshots: No
Magazine: 5
Spare Ammo: 20
Firing Speed: Semi-auto
Secondary Fire: None
The Prometheans’ equivalent of a Shotgun, the Scattershot is the construct army’s ultimate up-close weapon. Its generous spread of ionized particles decimates anything unfortunate enough to bear the Scattershot’s full brunt. The weapon's projectiles uniquely bounce off of objects, homing in to strike nearby enemies; this allows for creative firing angles. Scattershots hold just five shells, and each shell must be individually loaded, so always reload between skirmishes to ensure you aren’t caught without ammo.
» Delivers devastating payloads to close-range threats.
» Shells must be loaded one at a time, making for long reload periods.
» Thrust and dodge around powerful enemies like Hunters and Knights, then blast their vulnerable backs and cores to defeat them quickly.
Splinter Grenade
Range: Medium-long
Headshots: No
Magazine: N/A
Spare Ammo: 2
Firing Speed: Single thrown grenade
Secondary Fire: None
Every faction has its flavor of grenade, and the Prometheans are no exception. Their Splinter Grenade is cleverly designed to function as both an offensive and defensive weapon. After its initial detonation, a Splinter Grenade fragments into crackling particles that hang in midair for several seconds. Anything unfortunate enough to touch these lethal particles will likely be annihilated. This persistent “death cloud” left behind by Splinter Grenades makes them useful as defensive tools. Toss one or two at an area to impede the enemy’s advance, then turn your attention elsewhere.
» Powerful thrown explosive.
» Bounces once and then explodes into a “death cloud” that persists for several seconds.
» Useful for locking down key areas and preventing the enemy’s advance.
» Other grenades can be thrown to clear out an enemy Splinter Grenade's "death cloud" more quickly.
Splinter Turret
Range: Medium-long
Headshots: No
Magazine: 30 (detached)
Spare Ammo: None (detached)
Firing Speed: Semi-auto
Secondary Fire: None
Splinter Turrets are stationary Promethean weapon systems designed to deliver deadly mortars across a battlefield. Not only are Splinter Turrets lethal, but also they never run out of ammo—a formidable combination. Seize control of a Splinter Turret and you can detach the weapon from its mount; this lets you carry it around the field as a third weapon, albeit at a loss of agility. Detached Splinter Turrets lose their infinite ammo advantage, but usually it doesn’t take many shots to get the job done.
» Heavy bombardment weapon designed to batter enemy lines with explosive payloads.
» Good accuracy, great damage.
» Unlimited ammo while affixed to mount. Can be detached for portability.
Suppressor
Range: Close-medium
Headshots: No
Magazine: 42
Spare Ammo: 168
Firing Speed: Full-auto
Secondary Fire: None
Carried by Promethean Soldiers and Crawlers, the Suppressor is a powerful automatic weapon of great destructive capability. Its mighty light bolts quickly shred armor at close and medium range, making the Suppressor an ideal weapon for crippling constructs and revealing their vulnerable cores. As with the Boltshot, a Suppressor’s light bolts feature a limited tracking capability, curving through the air as they zip toward their prey. The Suppressor fires more rapidly while the trigger is held down, becoming more powerful as it gains firing speed.
» Unleashes fast-traveling rounds that inflict heavy damage with each hit.
» Surprisingly accurate with the aid of its homing projectiles.
» Very effective at breaking the armor of Soldiers and Knights; ineffective at damaging their exposed cores.