Halo Campaign Evolved Weapons — All 9 New Weapons & the Best Ones

Halo: Campaign Evolved keeps every weapon from the original Halo: Combat Evolved and adds nine more from across the series — the Energy Sword, Battle Rifle, Needle Rifle, Fuel Rod Gun, Sentinel Beam, SMG, Beam Rifle, Brute Plasma Rifle and Spiker. The original CE roster had 8-9 player weapons; the remake ships with 17 in total, and for the first time in this campaign the Energy Sword is fully usable by the player.

This guide lists every weapon, explains the nine new additions in depth, notes where they appear, and gives the community's tier rankings.

All Weapons in Halo: Campaign Evolved

Returning from Combat Evolved

MA5B Assault Rifle · M6D Magnum (Pistol) · M90 Shotgun · S2 AM Sniper Rifle · M19 SSM Rocket Launcher · Type-25 Plasma Pistol · Type-25 Plasma Rifle · Type-33 Needler

The 9 New Weapons

Official source: Xbox Wire — Halo: Campaign Evolved feature article — "The addition of nine weapons from other titles in the Halo franchise creates an extra layer of fun, while not feeling out of place."

Energy Sword

The headline addition. In the 2001 original, the Energy Sword existed but wasn't usable; in Campaign Evolved it's fully playable — lunge, one-hit kills, the works. It is the community's unanimous S-tier weapon: anything in melee range dies, and it makes the tight-corridor Flood sections (Keyes, The Library) dramatically easier. The trade-off is range — pair it with a rifle or the Magnum for anything across the room.

It appears from mid-campaign onward, most reliably in the Operation: METEORITE missions and as a common drop in remix runs with the Reload skull.

Battle Rifle

The BR55 needs no introduction to Halo fans: a 3-round burst rifle that's accurate at mid-range and rewards headshots. In Campaign Evolved it's first found in Assault on the Control Room and appears sparingly through the rest of the campaign — the remake treats it as a special find, not a staple. Some community tier lists rank it lower than its legend because ammo is scarce; others swear by it for the Elite fights. Either way, grab it when you see it.

Needle Rifle

The T-31 is the newest gun in the remake's roster (from Halo: Reach). Semi-auto precision needles that explode after 3 hits on the same target, dealing area damage — a fast supercombine that works on Elites and Hunters alike. It's a strong mid-range pick, especially in the METEORITE missions where it debuts.

Brute Spiker

The surprise hit of the remake. The Spiker (from Halo 3) fires spikes that pin enemies to nearby surfaces, stripping shields fast and locking them down for follow-ups; the front-mounted blades make melee exchanges favor you. It only reliably appears in Operation: METEORITE — some tier lists put it at S-tier for versatility, though you'll rarely carry it far.

Best New Weapons (Community Tier List)

Community rankings (Destructoid, allthings.how, games.gg and others) converge on:

• S-tier: Energy Sword (close range), Sentinel Beam (Flood swarms, shield-breaking, drops from Sentinels), Assault Rifle (now genuinely good — reliable ammo and handling).
• A-tier: Sniper Rifle, Rocket Launcher, Fuel Rod Gun, Beam Rifle, Brute Plasma Rifle, Spiker.
• B-tier: Battle Rifle, Needle Rifle, Shotgun, Needler, Magnum, Plasma Rifle.
• C-tier: SMG, Plasma Pistol — situational last resorts (the Plasma Pistol's charged shot still strips shields for the classic Elite combo).

Where New Weapons Appear

• Operation: METEORITE is the debut stage for the Energy Sword, Spiker, Needle Rifle and Brute Plasma Rifle — play the prequel to see the full new arsenal (see the Operation METEORITE guide).
• Battle Rifle: first pickup in Assault on the Control Room; sparse after.
• Sentinel Beam: dropped by Sentinel drones from 343 Guilty Spark onward.
• Fuel Rod Gun: Covenant heavy-weapon carriers from mid-campaign.
• Remix runs (with the Reload skull) can surface any weapon in any mission — the fastest way to test the full roster. See the Campaign Remix guide.

FAQ

What are the new weapons in Halo: Campaign Evolved? Nine: Energy Sword, Battle Rifle, Needle Rifle, Fuel Rod Gun, Sentinel Beam, SMG, Beam Rifle, Brute Plasma Rifle and Spiker.

Is the Energy Sword in Halo: Campaign Evolved? Yes — fully usable by the player for the first time in this campaign, and it's the community's top weapon. It debuts in Operation: METEORITE.

What is the best weapon in Halo: Campaign Evolved? The Energy Sword for close range, the Sentinel Beam for Flood, the Sniper/Rocket for vehicles and high-value targets — the AR is the reliable workhorse. Full tier rankings above.

Where do you get the Battle Rifle in Halo: Campaign Evolved? First found in Assault on the Control Room, then sparingly through the rest of the campaign and in remix runs.

Are there more weapons than the original Halo: Combat Evolved? Yes — 17 total vs CE's ~8-9: all originals plus 9 new from later games.

Related Guides

• Halo: Campaign Evolved Vehicles Guide
• Halo: Campaign Evolved Operation METEORITE Guide
• Halo: Campaign Evolved Campaign Remix Guide
• Halo: Campaign Evolved Missions 4-7 Walkthrough
• Halo: Campaign Evolved Guide — Everything Explained
• Halo: Campaign Evolved Review — Scores & Verdict

Official resources: Steam store page · Xbox Wire feature · Screen Rant — complete weapons guide · Destructoid — weapon tier list

Last Updated: August 13, 2026