Hints and Tips

In close quarters combat, always attempt to melee; it is instant and usually fatal. Trying to shoot up close is usually inaccurate and much less effective.

Always take cover when your screen begins to turn red and let your stamina regenerate. This is especially important on Heroic and Legendary difficulties.

ODSTs do not have motion trackers like the Master Chief but they do have the VISR map (a type of radar (your minimap with nearby blips and threats marked)). Here you can track enemy locations within a reasonable distance and see approximately where they are, making it much easier to plan an attack.

Subtlety is sometimes the key to getting through certain areas; if you can sneak past a fight, you should do so, as it will greatly reduce the amount of frustration you will encounter on higher difficulty settings.

Practice with different combinations of weapons, as each has its own strengths and weaknesses for you to experiment with.

Explore each area to the fullest; you never know when you will stumble upon power weapons (Rocket Launchers, Spartan Lasers, Flamethrowers etc.) hidden in the most unlikely places.

Use the plasma pistol! Its primary fire is next to useless, but hitting an enemy with the secondary overcharge function is a sure-fire way to take down a brute's armor or destroy a Jackal's shield, leaving them open for a nice, clean headshot (a critical hit to the head).

Use the plasma pistol overcharge feature on an occupied vehicle and watch it short circuit for a few seconds. While the vehicle is unable to move, take out an alternate weapon and pop the driver before functionality is restored.

Hijack vehicles when you can; sometimes keeping a little bit of technology between your enemies and yourself can make all the difference on the difficulty of a particular fight.

If you can get up close and personal with a shotgun, fire away, then immediately follow up with a quick melee attack and then fire once again. This is an instant kill on most enemies, even on Legendary difficulty.