Missile Pod
Magazine Size: 8
Dual-Wieldable: No
Not to be confused with Halo 3's Rocket Launcher, the UNSC Missile Pod is a two-handed death cannon that fires jumbo homing missiles. The Missile Pod will just keep shooting missiles until it runs out. This turret weapon rapidly fires miniature heat-seeking missiles, making it a perfect anti-vehicle weapon. Just lock on to a vehicle and blow them to kingdom come.
Pros: There is no reloading with the Missile Pod. This insanely powerful missiles that shoot out of this gun come out fast, giving your enemies not much time to dodge its explosive rounds. The Pod's 8 mini missiles are nothing to scoff at and the weapon definitely holds enough destructive power to take on a team of enemies if you use it at the right time.
Cons: The ammunition for this gun is scant and its massive size slows your movement speed to a crawl. When carrying the Missile Pod, you can't switch weapons, throw grenades, or attempt melee attacks, and your camera shifts to a third-person perspective, just like the Chaingun Turret.
Rocket Launcher
Magazine Size: 2
Dual-Wieldable: No
Dubbed by some as the "Spanker," the UNSC M41 Rocket Launcher is the answer to most of (virtual) life's problems to the first-person shooting fanatic, and in Halo 3, this iconic weapon is no different. While you can ravage enemies with even a quasi-awful shot with the Rocket Launcher, it should be noted that the weapon's vehicle-seeking capabilities. While armed with a Rocket Launcher, remember that you only have 2 flesh-searing projectiles ready to deploy before you have to reload.
Pros: Extremely lethal, the Rocket Launcher is a weapon that even the crappiest Halo player can rack up frags with. The accuracy of this weapon is also as good as it gets in Halo 3.
Cons: There's only 2 rockets in a magazine so you need to really concentrate when firing on enemy targets.
Shotgun
Magazine Size: 6
Dual-Wieldable: No
The United Nations Space Command's boomstick is one of the best weapons to obliterate your foes with at close range. Now deadlier in medium-range combat than Halo players have ever experienced. Still devastating in close quarters brawls and more serviceable at slightly longer distances, a point black shotgun blast to the kisser is nothing to take lightly and if your sniping skills aren't up to scratch, the Shotgun is a good way to pulverize enemies with a single shot.
Pros: In addition to being very powerful, the Shotgun is also good for taking out someone's shield, which can be supplemented with a well-aimed melee bashing.
Cons: Halo 3's shotgun has only six shells per magazine, down from Halo 2's 12.
SMG
Magazine Size: 60
Dual-Wieldable: Yes
A less common sight on Halo 3's battlefields, this Sub Machine Gun now features a zippier firing rate but is otherwise unchanged from the previous Halo. Make sure to squeeze two of these in your fists at a time because dual wielding with the SMG is the only way to go if you want to pose a threat to your enemies. While it can't zoom, the clip is relatively sizable, giving you enough bullets to put down more than just one other enemy in an assault.
Pros: Dual-wielding SMGs is a better alternative to just having your spawning weapon to mow down your enemies. It's also got a high rate of fire.
Cons: The damage per hit with the UNSC Sub Machine Gun is very low. You also don't have much range with this weapon either.
Sniper Rifle
Magazine Size: 4
Dual-Wieldable: No
An all-new vector-style nightscope included on this version of the human Sniper Rifle helps you spot hidden enemies. The Sniper Rifle is more akin to that of the first Halo game than Halo 2 in that it fires at a slower face. You can fire off 4 bullets until your chamber is empty and you need to reload your rifle. Keep in mind that, like the Beam Rifle, you can zoom in twice with this gun.
Pros: On top of being one hell of a deadly way to cream enemies from afar, with practice it's also possible to blind fire enemies (shooting without zooming or aiming) dead.
Cons: The magazine size is modest... too modest if you're fighting against many enemies. Another drawback is that you're out of luck if your aiming skills are not up to scratch. Using the Sniper Rifle also leaves you vulnerable when aiming at targets.
Spartan Laser
Magazine Size: 5
Dual-Wieldable: No
The Spartan Laser is effectively a vehicle sniper rifle, but is also good for use as an impromptu rail gun, ala Quake 4. It fires a brief crimson ray that will obliterate an enemy before they know what hit them, or shred a vehicle, with one brush, but it definitely takes some practice before you can confidently whip this bad boy out and deep fry an enemy.
Pros: Once mastered, the Spartan Laser is almost unstoppable. Remember that it'll always come in handy when you want to destroy vehicles.
Cons: Don't rely on the Spartan Laser in a tense fight unless you've learned how to properly operate it. Its four-second firing delay makes it a poor choice for fighting infantry, unless you've got serious rail gun skills. If you see a red gleam on the screen or hear the Laser's hum of doom, get the hell out of there because you're about to be lobotomized.