MA5B Assault Rifle — Stats & Guide
The MA5B Assault Rifle is the standard-issue UNSC automatic weapon, trading precision for sheer volume of fire. Its 60-round magazine and blistering fire rate allow you to suppress enemies and shred through unshielded targets at close to medium range. While it lacks stopping power against Elite shields, it excels at mopping up Grunts, clearing Flood infection forms, and laying down covering fire for teammates.
Damage
12
Fire Rate
15/s
DPS
180
Magazine
60
Max Ammo
600
Range
medium
Headshot Multiplier
1.5x
Tier
C
Stat Visualization
Overview
The MA5B Assault Rifle is the standard-issue UNSC automatic weapon, trading precision for sheer volume of fire. Its 60-round magazine and blistering fire rate allow you to suppress enemies and shred through unshielded targets at close to medium range. While it lacks stopping power against Elite shields, it excels at mopping up Grunts, clearing Flood infection forms, and laying down covering fire for teammates.
Best Use Cases
- Clearing Grunt squads — the high fire rate cuts through massed infantry in seconds
- Flood infection forms — spray into swarms of popcorn Flood to clear them before they overwhelm you
- Stripping Jackal shields — sustained fire forces Jackals to stagger, exposing their body for a follow-up shot
- Suppressing fire in co-op — lay down a wall of bullets to cover a teammate advancing with a power weapon
Strengths & Weaknesses
✅ Strengths
- +Massive 60-round magazine for prolonged firing
- +Highest fire rate in the game (15 rounds per second)
- +Large reserve ammo pool (600 rounds)
- +Reliable at close to medium range against unshielded enemies
❌ Weaknesses
- −Low damage per bullet (12 base) struggles against Elites
- −Heavy bullet spread at medium range reduces effective accuracy
- −Cannot scope, making long-range fights a losing battle
- −Rapid ammo consumption leads to frequent reloads under sustained fire
Pro Tips
- Is the MA5B Assault Rifle good for campaign on Legendary?: The MA5B is serviceable for the early missions but falls off sharply against Elite-heavy encounters on Legendary. Its average damage and lack of precision make it a poor choice for breaking Elite shields compared to plasma weapons. Swap it for a Plasma Rifle or Magnum as soon as possible, but keep it handy for Flood missions where the high fire rate tears through infection forms efficiently. On Truth and Reconciliation and 343 Guilty Spark, the AR remains a solid tool for crowd control.
- How should I pair the MA5B with a secondary weapon?: The best pairing is the M6D Magnum or a Plasma Pistol. Use the Plasma Pistol's overcharge to strip Elite shields, then switch to the AR and hose them down with body shots if you cannot land the headshot. Alternatively, carry the Magnum for ranged encounters and use the AR exclusively for close-quarters spraying. Avoid carrying two automatic weapons — you will have no answer for enemies at long range.
- What is the most effective range for the MA5B?: The MA5B performs best inside 20 meters, where the bullet spread is tight enough to land most rounds on a single target. Beyond that range, tap-firing in 5-7 round bursts preserves accuracy better than holding the trigger down. At extreme close range against a single Elite, circle-strafe while firing from the hip to dodge return fire while keeping your crosshair centered on the enemy's upper chest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MA5B Assault Rifle good for campaign on Legendary?
The MA5B is serviceable for the early missions but falls off sharply against Elite-heavy encounters on Legendary. Its average damage and lack of precision make it a poor choice for breaking Elite shields compared to plasma weapons. Swap it for a Plasma Rifle or Magnum as soon as possible, but keep it handy for Flood missions where the high fire rate tears through infection forms efficiently. On Truth and Reconciliation and 343 Guilty Spark, the AR remains a solid tool for crowd control.
How should I pair the MA5B with a secondary weapon?
The best pairing is the M6D Magnum or a Plasma Pistol. Use the Plasma Pistol's overcharge to strip Elite shields, then switch to the AR and hose them down with body shots if you cannot land the headshot. Alternatively, carry the Magnum for ranged encounters and use the AR exclusively for close-quarters spraying. Avoid carrying two automatic weapons — you will have no answer for enemies at long range.
What is the most effective range for the MA5B?
The MA5B performs best inside 20 meters, where the bullet spread is tight enough to land most rounds on a single target. Beyond that range, tap-firing in 5-7 round bursts preserves accuracy better than holding the trigger down. At extreme close range against a single Elite, circle-strafe while firing from the hip to dodge return fire while keeping your crosshair centered on the enemy's upper chest.
How does the MA5B compare to the Plasma Rifle?
The Plasma Rifle generally outperforms the MA5B against shields due to plasma weapons dealing 1.5x damage to energy shielding. However, the MA5B has a larger magazine, no overheating mechanic, and better flesh damage once shields are down. Against the Flood, the AR is clearly superior since Flood forms lack shields entirely. In PvP, the Plasma Rifle has a slight edge in duels while the AR is better for cleaning up weakened opponents.
Where can I find the MA5B in each mission?
The MA5B is the default starting weapon on Pillar of Autumn and appears in Marine loadouts throughout the entire campaign. You can find it in weapon racks inside UNSC structures, on the ground near fallen Marines, and in most armories aboard human ships. It is one of the most abundant weapons in the game, so you should never struggle to locate ammunition or a replacement if yours runs dry.
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