The Assault Rifle is one of the most classic weapons in the Halo franchise. It currently sports a 32 round clip which is usually sufficient for most ground based combat. It is possibly the most effective weapon in close quarters against infantry. Because of the relatively large clip size and the unusually large reserve of ammo that can be carried (9 spare clips), it is generally the weapon of choice for dealing with large groups of weaker enemies.
While it has superior capabilities against shields and health, it is not precise enough to score a headshot to get the kill quickly. However, in close quarters where most combat ends with a melee attack, this will break the shields down low enough for a kill much more quickly than most other weapons.
