AR2

Overview
The Overwatch Standard Issue Pulse Rifle, or AR2, is, as the name implies, the standard issue assault rifle given to most basic Combine ground units.

The AR2 is a moderately balanced weapon, having decently high accuracy, moderate damage, an underslung energy ball launcher, a fairly quick fire rate and reload, and a basic magazine size of 30 rounds.

The AR2's main drawbacks are it's heavy recoil and low accuracy if fired automatically for too long, along with it's low maximum ammo capacity of 120 rounds total (30 rounds in the clip, 90 in reserve), less than that of the AK-47 and OICW, which total at 150.

Acquisition
The AR2 is first found at the end of "We Don't Go to Ravenholm...", being wielded by several Combine Soldiers, along with two being left on a box inside of a train car. Afterwards, it appears commonly in the hands of most Soldier types.

It can be taken and used by Rebels and Citizens.

Advantages
-Moderate damage per shot.

-Built-in energy ball launcher.

-Launched energy balls are capable of instantly killing most enemies in-game.

-Becomes quite common later in the game.

-Uses the moderately common pulse ammo.

-Rather accurate if fired carefully.

-Launched energy balls move quickly.

-Reloads very quickly for an assault rifle.

Neutral
-Energy balls will bounce and ricochet off surfaces that they hit. While this can be helpful for dealing with targets behind cover, this causes them to become unpredictable, potentially causing them to miss entirely, or possibly causing them to smack into an ally.

Disadvantages
-Recoil becomes very heavy if fired for too long.

-Energy balls are generally fairly rare, and the player can only hold three at once.

-Launched energy balls are able to instantly kill allies and essential NPCs if they happen to hit them.

-Obstructive and crooked iron sights.

Tactics
-Fire in bursts or single shots to retain accuracy. Only spray if necessary.

-Be very careful when using energy balls near allies, as they will never be able to survive if they get hit. Not even essential NPCs are able to survive.

-Use energy balls sparingly. You can only carry three at a time, and they're difficult to find.

-Feel free to use the AR2 extensively in later levels of the game such as Nova Prospekt, as ammo for the AR2 is generally quite plentiful in such areas.

-Remember that killed Elites will drop energy ball cores that you can use. However, Elites themselves are also able to use the energy balls, so be careful around them.

-Energy balls ricochet and bounce off walls. You can use this to your advantage by bouncing them to hit enemies behind cover, but make sure the ball won't hit any of your allies.

-You cannot damage yourself with energy balls, so don't be afraid to use them in tighter areas.

Trivia
Despite the AR2 having an automatic reload system, NPCs appear to reload the AR2 manually with an animation that appears to suit the OICW.