Snipers Perch

 The Ultimate Guide to Halo Sniping Techniques

Note:  This Guide does not include tips or information for the PC version of Halo

Introduction:                       Halo: Combat Evolved is one of the biggest First Person Shooters (FPS) of all time.  With up to 16 different weapons (including guns, grenades, and vehicles), Halo has, in my opinion, the best FPS Multiplayer mode out there so far.  With all of the weapons to choose from, its easy to fall in love with one or two guns, but for the Sniper fans, its not as easy as it looks.

The Basics and Tips:                    A Snipers weapons include the M6D Pistol, and the S2 AM Sniper Rifle.  Note:  No matter what people think, the M19 SSM Rocket Launcher is NOT a sniper weapon!  There are a few steps to successfully sniping without being killed easily, and here they are:

-        The Sniper Rifle is a long ranged weapon and usually your main weapon of choice.  If you are in close combat and have to use the Sniper Rifle or any other weapon besides the Rocket Launcher, do not use the Sniper Rifle.

-        The Pistol is one of two really good choices for close combat fighting if you hold the Sniper Rifle.  The Pistol is both short and long range, and is easy to use.  The second weapon is the Shotgun.  Although slow to load, it packs a serious punch and will take out anyone stupid enough to enter your perch.

Note:  The Pistol should always be used for short range sniping, while the Sniper Rifle should only be used for long range sniping!

-        The Perch or hiding place for the Sniper, is a key factor.  Your perch must always be a high place, so that you cant be run over by a vehicle.  You must also change your perch every so often so that no one can get an idea of where you are and sneak up on you.

-        When using radar, always periodically check it to make sure no one is too close to your position.  Sometimes when you are so fixed on a target, you forget that you are still out in the open for anyone to attack you.  If you arent using radar, just occasionally check your 60 to make sure no ones behind you.

-        Other Snipers are lethal.  Take them out before anyone else (besides tanks and Demolitionists).  If they spot you, dont bother trying to kill them before they kill you, it just wastes ammo and health.  Try to sneak away from your position and lay low until you think they arent watching, then find their position and strike hard and fast.

-        Headshots are essential to being a Sniper.  A single frag should only consist of up to 3 and sometimes 4 shots.  Headshots are what make this whole sniping thing work.  If you empty and entire clip of ammo, move on and find a new perch, and new target.  If you were able to score at least 2 shots off the person, he/she will be easier for other teammates or yourself to kill later.

-        Beware the Tank.  The tank is the absolute anti-Sniper.  Rocket Launchers only come in second, due to the fact that they cant run you over.  Avoid the tank at all costs.  If they see youRUN!  Once you feel confident about your sniping skills, tanks wont be as much of a hassle, provided you can take out the driver before he/she sees you.

-        Vehicle Selection is one the last important facts especially if youre playing with a team.  When playing with a team, the other players generally tend to want to take control of multiple seating vehicles like the tank and the warthog.  Although the tank does some serious damage, it is too slow, too obvious, and too loud.  The warthog has a tendency to slip on ice and can be heard from a mile away like the tank.  Plus, it has no in-motion weapons, making you an easy target.  The ghost is the perfect vehicle.  It is second fastest, it has in-motion weapons capable of slowing down a tanks rate of fire (if you circle the tank repeatedly), and only holds one person.  Taking a vehicle that can hold three or more is pretty greedy.  However, when playing in a single match, or with only one other teammate, its best to use either the ghost, or warthog.  The warthog can be used as a mobile turret with its chain gun, and it still is the fastest vehicle in the game.

Setting up the Perfect Sniper:

1. Choosing your Color.

Choosing your color is essential to being a good sniper.  Camouflage is always going to be youre best friend, so choose your color wisely.  Never choose the colors Black, White, Gray, or Pink.  In some cases, Purple is okay to use but try not to keep it as your primary.  The best choices that I have found are Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, and Orange (occasionally).  Whats so important about the color?  That is something that is almost always overlooked.  Although your name always appears above your head when someone has you targeted, choosing the right color may help you blend in with your environment and make you a lot harder to notice.  Normally, for darker areas, the universal color is Blue, but for levels like Blood Gulch, Battle Creek, Chiron TL34, and sometimes Prisoner, colors like Red, Yellow, and Orange can be a life saver.

2. Choosing the right name.

Names are another essential piece to the pie.  Often, people try to put in the biggest and flashiest name they can within the space limit.  However, a Sniper should have a name that usually consists of 3 or less letters.  For those of you who think your sniping skills are much better than the average player, you may then choose to change it to whatever you like.  Usually, using only one letter, or if you feel like being a total jerk, none, will make you less noticeable to someone who accidentally brushes his crosshair in your general direction. 

3. Controls

I have always found it interesting to play around with the controls to see what will make things easier.  Some people prefer to change the button control setting, but I have found the default setting to be the easiest.  I also set my controls inverted due to the fact that Ive played so many games that require you to have inverted controls (mainly Fighter Pilot games).  Also the Look-Sensitivity should be at least set to 5.  I my self have it set to 7 to make it easier for me to swing around quickly when some attacks from behind, or to catch up with the target Im sniping if he/she is moving in a vehicle.

Training:

The best way to train, that I have found, is to play the Truth and Reconciliation level on Legendary with or without a friend to for cooperative help.  The level starts you off immediately with a Sniper Rifle and with way more ammo than you should normally have for it.  If you play your cards right, you can take the Sniper Rifle with you through the entire level and even find ammo while doing it too! 

            Another way to train is have a friend play you in multiplayer.  You can do this one of two ways.  One play an average game of slayer or team slayer that includes the Sniper Rifle or the Pistol.  Two Setup a special Snipers Only game and set everyones health to 200%.  Then ask your friend(s) to be moving targets, whether they run around or just get into a vehicle and drive off.  Try to take out as many people as you can within the Frag limit without using too much ammo on each person. 

            The last way is to play online.  You never really know how good you are until you play someone else online.  Trust me, I know.  Ive been used as a mop to wipe the floor with many times before, but eventually, you will learn from you clumsy mistakes and lack of skills and even become a match for the online gamers.  After that, playing your friends wont be a problem, that is, of course, that they havent been playing online.

            This concludes the Snipers Perch guide to Sniping.  Hopefully, this will help make you into a better, much wiser, Halo player.  See you online!

                                                                                                                                    - Hybrid X