Editing Energy stave

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Weapon infobox
|image= [[File:H2-EnergyStave.png|300px]]
|manufacturer=Covenant 
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|type=Melee weapon
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|service=[[Human-Covenant War]] <br> [[Great Schism]]<br>[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
|affiliation=[[Covenant]]
*[[Honor Guard]] 
|weight=
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}}

The '''energy stave''',{{Ref/Novel|Id=ch|HCH|Chapter=Epilogue}}{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG|EVG|Page=95}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=307}} also known as the '''energy pike''',{{Ref/Novel|Id=tcp|TCP|Chapter=69}} is a [[Covenant]] [[melee]] weapon, consisting of a long metal staff and a bladed tip with a series of glowing panels. Different variants of the energy stave are used for both practical and ceremonial purposes.{{Ref/Level|H2|Sacred Icon}}{{Ref/Level|Id=wars|HW|Escape (Halo Wars level)|Escape}}

Despite their appearance generally lacking the distinct [[plasma]] blades of [[Energy sword (fiction)|energy swords]] and their cousins, energy staves (as their name implies) are fully-powered weapons and emit a great heat when activated,{{Ref/Novel|HOblv|Chapter=5}} alongside a crackling sound of sparks emitting.{{Ref/Reuse|ch}} At least one variant of the energy stave does employ an energy mechanism containing blue plasma.{{Ref/Reuse|tcp}}
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==Types==
===Ceremonial stave===
The ceremonial energy stave features an elaborate, forked tip with ornate panels similar in color to the armor worn by the [[Covenant Honor Guard]], serving as a symbol of office.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} They were originally used by the Honor Guard's [[Sangheili Honor Guardsman|Sangheili]] personnel, including the [[Lights of Sanghelios]].{{Ref/Reuse|ch}} Following the [[Changing of the Guard]] use of the stave fell to their [[Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman|Jiralhanae successors]].{{Ref/Level|Id=grave|H2|Gravemind (level)|Gravemind}} Following the end of the Human-Covenant War [[Sangheili Zealot]]s in [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] irregularly used the ceremonial stave for guarding prisoners.{{Ref/Comic|HEsc|Issue=22}}

The energy stave's function is largely ceremonial. The Honor Guard Sangheili mostly used {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}s, [[Energy sword (fiction)|energy sword]]s, and {{Pattern|Vostu|carbine}}s in combat. However, they were used by [[Jiralhanae]] to subdue any [[Unggoy]] and [[Kig-Yar]] who came too close to the [[High Council Chamber]] during one of the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]]'s sermons regarding the discovery of [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 05]]'s [[Activation Index|"Sacred Icon"]].{{Ref/Reuse|grave}}

===Non-ceremonial stave===
This version of the energy stave is more ascetic in design than the one used by the Honor Guard. Metallic gray in color, it incorporates a twin-bladed tip with blue paneling. Unlike the ceremonial staves used by the Honor Guard, these weapons can also be wielded by regular Sangheili, including [[Stealth Sangheili]]. During the [[Battle of Trove]], a group of Sangheili guards assigned to protect the [[Apex Site]] on the [[Trove|shield world]] were equipped with energy staves.{{Ref/Reuse|wars}} The Honor Guardsmen escorting the [[Prophet of Regret]]'s on the shield world wielded combat energy staves in addition to wearing non-ceremonial armor.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}

==Appearances==
====[[Halo 2]]====
They can be seen in the hands of the [[Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman|Brute Honor Guard]] during both the opening and closing cinematic of the ''Halo 2'' level, [[Gravemind (Level)|Gravemind]], but they are simply tossed aside, as the [[Jiralhanae|Brutes]] prefer other weaponry to protect the Hierarchs, and kill [[John-117|Master Chief]].

===Novels===
It is also featured in the novelization [[Halo: Contact Harvest|Contact Harvest]] when the two [[San 'Shyuum]] go to the [[Prophet of Mercy|minister]] to recruit him as a Hierarch.

It can be seen in last sections of [[Halo: The Cole Protocol|''Halo: The Cole Protocol'']] as well, when Zhar approached the Prophets with an Energy Sword at hand. Not much else was written, except that plasma was created at the tip of the spear.

===[[Halo Wars]]===
An early or different version of the weapon can be seen in a ''[[Halo Wars]]'' cinematic. It is not used in gameplay, only in cinematics. 

This stave may have been completely remodeled into the one we see in ''Halo 2'' as many aspects have changed, so this cannot be trusted to assess the ''Halo 2'' era weapon. The changes from ''Halo Wars'' to ''Halo 2'' include the added details and the orange-glowing symmetrical appearance as opposed to the blue asymmetrical appearance in ''Halo Wars''.

Given that the Sangheili wielding the staves were [[Sangheili Minor|Minors]], it is likely that this version is reserved for more common use than those used by Honor Guards.
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H2 HonorGuardPike.png|The pike in ''Halo 2''.
File:HonorGuard02.jpg|A Sangheili Honor Guardsman holding an energy stave in ''[[Halo 2]]''.
File:HW6.png|A group of Stealth Sangheili using energy staves in ''[[Halo Wars]]''.
File:HE22 Break-in.jpg|Two Hesduros Zealots with energy staves being killed by [[Ayit 'Sevi]] in ''[[Halo: Escalation]]''.
File:H2A-HighCouncilSession.jpg|Sangheili Honor Guardman with energy staves in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[The Babysitter]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' 
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''
**''[[Contact]]''
**''[[Reckoning]]''

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Melee Weapons}}
{{Covenant sidearms}}
[[Category:Covenant infantry weapons]]