Doc's Advice #5: Armor Lock

Aloha, Reachers. Today's topic is the much debated armor ability - armor lock.

Here's a scenario. You got a guy beat in Team Arena. You got the first DMR shot on him and are going to be able to rack up another kill. All the sudden, enemy uses armor lock. You wait and wait for what seems like forever. In this waiting time, an opposing teammate as noticed this battle and starts shooting you. Just like that, you are dead and the guy in armor lock runs away and gains back his shields.

There are definitely those who hate armor lock. It slows the game - kills take much longer to get if one has to wait for the guy to come out of armor lock to kill him. It is difficult to beat - you can't get to close the armor locker or the EMP blast it gives off will eliminate your shields. It forces attackers to retreat - people can't risk just waiting for the armor lock to wear off because of the dangers of enemy teammates lurking around. Thus, some people say armor lock is a bad addition to the game, even some claiming it is ruining Halo.

However, here's why I like it. It forces more strategy if you are facing an armor locker. It is beatable. No more will a "going in guns blazing" approach be successful. Instead, you have to stay back, throw a couple of well timed grenades. Distance is the key to defeating an armor locker. To be honest, if a guy you have almost killed goes into armor lock, just back away. It's not necessarily retreating, more like restarting strategy. Also, defeating armor lock requires teamwork. Don't be afraid to call for back up or help. If both you and your armor locking opponent have downed shields, get your teammate to come over, help you out, and get the kill to get another team kill. Furthermore, why using armor lock is a good thing, it lessens the power of power weapons. Finally, their is a way to stop an energy sword guy from getting you every time in close combat. Finally, you can turn the tables on a incoming Ghost or survive a rocket launcher. Halo is not all about who controls power weapons as much anymore.

So I say to y'all - armor lock is not the worst thing ever; it has not ruined Reach. Use these strategies to beat it and take advantage of it at other times.