M6D Pistol
Infamous for its three-shot kills and overpowered balance.
The M6D Pistol—also called the Halo CE pistol, M6D Magnum Sidearm, or M6D Personal Defense Weapon System—is a fictional sidearm from the Halo video game series. It serves as one of the starting weapons for the protagonist, Master Chief, and is built by Misriah Armory, a supplier for the United Nations Space Command. Widely regarded as one of the most infamous weapons in video game history, it is notorious among critics and players for its exceptional power and accuracy, particularly given how early in the game it becomes available.
The weapon is made of steel with a hard chrome finish. It features a built-in 1.2x scope, operates via recoil, and feeds from a magazine using 12.7×40mm rounds—similar to the .500 S&W Magnum cartridge. The M6D is an upsized variant designed specifically for SPARTANs, and it can link to a reticle projected into the HUD of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V. It also serves as an officer’s model.
In *Halo: Combat Evolved*, Master Chief first acquires the M6D Pistol from Captain Keyes just before the *Pillar of Autumn* crashes into the megastructure Installation 04.
The pistol’s unusually high damage reportedly came from a last-minute code change by Bungie co-founder Jason Jones, who secretly increased its damage range. In an IGN interview, Jones confirmed that the weapon’s balance “wasn’t where we wanted it to be” shortly before release. Unable to alter the game’s data, he added code to “change a single number on the pistol” each time a map loaded. He said he would “take the credit and blame for the pistol in Halo,” attributing the tweak to his focus on small details.
In *Halo 2*, the M6D was replaced by the M6C, which had reduced power and no scope. Chris King, lead sandbox designer for *Halo 5: Guardians*, described this change as necessary because dual-wielding two original pistols would have been “total madness.” In *Halo 3*, the pistol became slow-firing but more powerful to compensate. *Halo 5* brought the pistol closer to the original *Combat Evolved* version, and a February 2016 update added a direct recreation of the “Halo: CE Pistol.”
Seth Macy of IGN called the M6D the greatest weapon in Halo history, famous for its “three-shot kills”—three headshots could eliminate an enemy even when shielded.
Quick Facts
- Company
- Xbox Game Studios
- Genre
- First-person shooter
- Owner
- Master Chief
- First
- Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)
- Affiliation
- United Nations Space Command
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The M6D Pistol is constructed out of steel and has a hard chrome finish. It is equipped with an integral 1.2x scope, is recoil-operated and magazine-fed, and utilizes 12.7×40mm rounds (close to the .500 S&W Magnum round). The M6D in particular is an 'up-sized' version created for use by SPARTANs, and can be integrated with a reticule projected into the HUD of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V, as well as being used as an officer's model.
In Halo: Combat Evolved, Master Chief first obtains the M6D Pistol from Captain Keyes right before he crashes the Pillar of Autumn starship into the megastructure known as Installation 04. The pistol's unusually high power was rumored to have been caused by a last-minute change in the game's code by Bungie co-founder Jason Jones that secretly increased the weapon's damage range. This was later confirmed in an interview, with Jones stating that the pistol's balance 'wasn't where we wanted it to be' shortly before release, and while changing the game's data was not feasible, he added code to 'change a single number on the pistol' when each game map was loaded.
Reader's Guide
The M6D Pistol is widely regarded as one of the most infamous video game weapons of all time, primarily due to its unexpectedly high power and accuracy in Halo: Combat Evolved. Its ability to kill a fully shielded enemy with three shots to the head made it a defining element of multiplayer matches and LAN parties. Critics and players have noted that the pistol's utility was so overwhelming that it often rendered other weapons unnecessary, especially on PC. The weapon's balance was the result of a last-minute code change by Bungie co-founder Jason Jones, who adjusted a single number when each map loaded. This tweak created a weapon that was both celebrated for its satisfying feel and criticized for throwing weapon balance out the window. Subsequent games in the series altered the pistol's characteristics: Halo 2 replaced it with the M6C, which had decreased power and no scope due to dual-wielding concerns; Halo 3 made it slower-firing but more powerful; and Halo 5 returned it closer to the original incarnation, with a February 2016 update adding a recreation of the original Halo: CE Pistol. The M6D placed ninety-second on IGN's Top 100 Video Game Weapons list and has been described as 'practically legendary' for its deadly-accurate headshots. Its legacy is such that even toy manufacturers have been criticized for not producing a Nerf version of the iconic pistol.
Did You Know?
- The M6D uses 12.7×40mm rounds, which are close to the .500 S&W Magnum round.
- In Halo 2, the pistol was replaced by the M6C, which had decreased power and lacked scope functionality due to the ability to dual wield pistols.
- A February 2016 update to Halo 5 added a recreation of the original 'Halo: CE Pistol'.
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