Originals

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Support Upgrades

Ammo

Provides: Increased starting ammo for starting weapons and ordnance drops.

The Ammo Support Upgrade provides more ammo for your starting weaponry and any ordnance drops you collect. Ammo is typically doubled, though some weapons like Plasma Pistols and Sticky Detonators only receive 50% more ammo or less. Either way, for those who survive long enough to burn through a standard DMR loadout, this is the upgrade for you.

Pairs Well With: Grenadier, Requisition

Dexterity

Provides: Quicker reloading speeds and weapon swapping.

When you’re talking about the benefits of a bonus in Halo in terms of frames you know you’ve gone down a dark rabbit hole, but Dexterity provides just that. Weapon swaps with Dexterity enabled are only a few frames quicker than usual. Clearly 343 saw that aspect of Halo’s combat hard to mess with too much. On the bright side, Dexterity does offer reload times that are twice as fast, making the weapon swapping a bit of a moot point.

Pairs Well With: Shielding, Firepower

Sensor

Provides: 50% Increase to motion sensor range.

With this Support Upgrade enabled you get a huge boost to the coverage area of your motion sensor. The benefits are clear, the only question is your own personal playstyle. Are you glancing down at your sensor regularly or are you more of a “shoot ‘em as I see ‘em” player? If you take advantage of the motion sensor often and you know what to look out for as far as enemies above or below, cloaked, crouched, and more, this is a very worthwhile upgrade.

Pairs Well With: Mobility

Awareness

Provides: The ability to see the motion sensor even when looking through your scope.

There’s a reason that one of the most common forms of assassinations in Halo come when you’re camped somewhere sniping downrange. The telltale red dot of a close range enemy isn’t something you can see through a sniper scope. Luckily, Awareness takes care of this handicap, making it a great upgrade for players who spend a lot of time scoped in with DMRs, Battle Rifles, Carbines, and the like.

Pairs Well With: A precision weapon and any Tactical Package

Explosives

Provides: Altered grenade performance, increased blast radius and decreased grenade damage received.

If you find Halo 4’s grenades lacking, you may want to give the Explosives Support Upgrade a shot. While there is a small damage penalty, the increase in radius should make the explosives perform a bit closer to their god-like Halo Reach counterparts. Don’t get me wrong, Halo 4’s grenades are weaker any way you shake them (a big reason why most people just go for Plasma sticks these days) so it’s really a minor modification. Still, pair this with one of the Tactical Packages that give you more grenades and it will offer an advantage.

Pairs Well With: Grenadier, Resupply

Ordnance Priority

Provides: A decreased score threshold for Ordnance Drops.

This Support Upgrade is very good, but very circumstantial. It only benefits you if you’re playing in modes with Ordnance Drops, but if you are it will make it easier to get them. It’s worth creating a special loadout just for modes that have Ordnance and making this you upgrade of choice. What’s better than a constant supply of Needlers? Pair it with the Requisition Package for the ultimate in Ordnance benefits.

Pairs Well With: Requisition


Please note that the following five Support Upgrades are unlocked through the Specializations unlocked at SR-50. You’ll have to do some serious leveling up before you gain access to them!

Stability

Provides: Steadier aiming while being struck by incoming fire.

There’s nothing more annoying than losing a shot-for-shot DMR battle because your opponent keeps knocking your aim away from their head. Stability helps prevent this, allowing you to maintain those headshots even if you’re taking damage. Get into enough battles with precision weapons and you’ll see what an advantage this provides. This Support Upgrade is unlocked by completing the Rogue Specialization.

Pairs Well With: Precision weaponry and Any Tactical Package

Stealth

Provides: Quieter footsteps, quicker assassinations, and blocks Promethean Vision.

There has been much criticism brought against Promethean Vision and its ability to kill the element of surprise in Halo 4. To the haters I say quit your whining and unlock the Stealth Support Upgrade available after completing the Wetwork Specialization. Not only is it the perfect counter to your Promethean Vision woes but you’ll be quieter to those with a sixth sense (or surround sound) and perform quicker assassinations!

Pairs Well With: Mobility

Gunner

Provides: Increased movement speed with detached turrets and less overheating.

Unlocked by completing the Pathfinder Specialization, Gunner lets you move substantially quicker with detached turrets and fire 50% longer with any turret. If you’re always on turrets, whether on a Warthog, Scorpion, Mantis, or mounted and detached, you’ll see a nice benefit. My only question is what the UNSC changed between Halo 3 and 4 to make all their turrets start overheating. Maybe it’s all that artificial sunlight on Requiem! 

Pairs Well With: Shielding

Nemesis

Provides - A nav point to the enemy who last killed you that lasts for a few seconds.

Unlocked by completing the Stalker Specialization, Nemesis is probably something you needed at SR1, not SR50 or more. Still, if you’re constantly dying to one annoying opponent, Nemesis allows you to track them down and get the drop on them. The indicator is only shown for a few seconds after you respawn, but that’s a lot more info than a clever opponent would normally give away after killing you.

Pairs Well With: Mobility, Resupply

Drop Recon

Provides: The time and place of ordnance deployments prior to the drops actually occurring.

Also known as the thieving jerk upgrade, this one is unlocked by completing the Engineer Specialization. If you’re a beast of a player in general and can snipe or grenade enemies away from their precious power weapons, this is a great mod to take into battle. Stripping the other team of the clear advantages offered by ordnance drops can easily swing a match in your favor. After all, they’re doing all the work and you’re reaping the rewards.

Pairs Well With: Mobility

Joe Donato is currently binging on Silent Hill games between rounds of Halo 4. Follow him @JoeDonuts on Twitter.

Tags: Halo 4, Tactical Package, Support Upgrades