The shotgun in Halo 1 was a short to medium range weapon with middling accuracy and real stopping power at short range, capable of one-shot kills for most unshielded targets. Reportedly this weapon is little changed from the first game.

The shotgun cannot be dual-wielded.

The shotgun holds 12 8-guage rounds and is most effective at close range.

The rocket launcher in Halo 2 has slower projectiles than the SPNKR from the original game, but if you get a lock on a target, the projectiles will seek. Especially good against vehicles. Damage radius is also reduced.

It cannot be dual-wielded.

The sub machine gunfires faster than Halo 1's Assault Rifle, and can be dual-wielded, but is not very powerful.

The SMG's magazine holds 60 5mm rounds and fires them in a fully automatic mode. Not accurate at long distance.

The Battle Rifle fires 3-shot bursts in normal mode and single shots while zoomed.

It is widely thought of by some as a combination between Halo 1's too-powerful pistol and too-weak Assault Rifle. The submachine gun, or SMG, is perhaps more comparable to the Assault Rifle.

The Battle Rifle cannot be dual wielded.

The BR55's magazine holds 36 rounds of 9.5mm ammunition. The Halo 2 manual refers to it as a "useful all-around infantry weapon."

The pistol in Halo 2 has no scope for zooming, unlike Halo 1's pistol, and it is less powerful. However, it can be dual-wielded.

It is magazine fed and uses 12.7 mm armor-piercing rounds. The magazine holds 12 rounds and fires in semiautomatic mode.