Editing Energy sword (fiction)

{{Quote|A noble and ancient weapon, wielded by the strongest of [[Sangheili]], requires great skill and bravery to use, and inspires fear in those who face its elegant plasma blade.|[[Supreme Commander]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee{{Ref/Game|H2|[[Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition Manual]]}}}}

==Overview==

===Design details===

Some variants, notably the {{Pattern|Pelosus|energy sword}}, contain a fail-safe mechanism that can permanently disable the weapon if the Sangheili wielder drops it.{{Ref/Novel|FS|8|Quote=The alien metal rang like a gong, and the Elite dropped its energy sword. The blade guttered and went dark as its fail-safes permanently disabled the weapon.}} When dropped, the failsafe engages by deactivating the magnetic field before dispersing the plasma. The plasma then consumes the handle and thus destroys the weapon. The fail-safe is included to prevent enemy from acquiring the weapon and using it.{{Ref/Game|Id=hce|HCE|Gameplay}}

===History===

Closely aligned with the Sangheili's rigid sense of honor,{{Ref/Reuse|evg}} the energy sword is the signature weapon of the Sangheili, and its usage has historically been regarded as both an expression of a Sangheili warrior's clerical honor and his personal combat skills.{{Ref/Reuse|h4guide}}{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint15}} The Sangheili pride themselves on their skills with the weapon,{{Ref/Comic|HGN|Story=The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor}} which they regard as holy, and believe that it is better for a Sangheili to fall on his sword to redeem his honor than to die dishonorably.{{Ref/Book|Id=enc09|Enc09|Page=127}}{{Ref/Book|Enc11|Page=132}}{{Ref/Novel|TCP|9|Quote=Koida's eyes widened fully. 'I will fall on my sword, kaidon, but please do not revoke the blood of my line.'}}{{Ref/Novel|TCP|34|Quote='I have lost nobility. I will do what is right.' Saal's energy sword flared into being.}} When a Sangheili openly displays the absence of an energy sword on their body, it likely either indicates supplication or a condescension suggesting superior prowess.{{Ref/Novel|Out|2|Quote=He wore only a cloth jumpsuit belted at the waist, and he carried no energy sword. Whether the absence of the traditional weapon was a concession indicating supplication or a condescension suggesting superior prowess was anyone’s guess.}} ''[[Pzish'zawk]]'' is the [[Martial arts|martial art form]] which consists of the use of [[Dual wielding|dual wielded]] energy swords. Mastery of the practice earns one a high level of renown in Sangheili society, and is a skillset sometimes associated with those assigned the title of [[blademaster]].{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-high-value-histories|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - High Value Histories|D=08|M=09|Y=2022}}

===Operation===

{{Quote|no=two|q1=Decapitated? How?|q2=The wounds have been sealed by heat. So, my guess is with energy swords.|1=Olabisi Varo'dai|2=Varo ranger|3=One of [[Olabisi Varo'dai]]'s [[Sangheili Ranger|rangers]] correctly deduces that an energy sword decapitated a Sangheili all the while cauterizing the wound.{{Ref/Novel|Id=out7|Out|Chapter=7|Quote='Decapitated?' Varo'dai asked. 'How?' 'The wounds have been sealed by heat. So, my guess is with energy swords.'}}}}

Since the weapon utilizes shaped plasma rather than traditional solid matter, the energy sword lacks any solid material in which to hold or impale anything; the sword does not cut or carve in the traditional sense, but rather boils anything it comes into contact with.{{Ref/Reuse|enc11}} The blade's edge is therefore extremely volatile, being able to slice through even the toughest metals like a hot knife through butter, including [[ODST armor]] and the Titanium-A class plating of [[UNSC destroyer]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|fs8}}{{Ref/Novel|TCP|18}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=out19|Out|19|Quote=An energy sword activated in midair above Sahir's shoulder blades and descended on his spine, driving through his armor and killing him before he could scream... probably before he even knew he had been attacked.}} Injuries caused by the weapon are often gruesome. Stab wounds by the energy sword are, in most cases, fatal, as the blade passes through the body, leaving the organs and tissues cauterized by the extreme temperatures produced by the blades;{{Ref/Anthology|HE|Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian|Page=91}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp17|TRP|17|Quote=The energy sword had cauterized the initial wound, but it had also created a domino effect inside his body as his organs and tissue suffered residual heat damage and vessels and arteries were effectively blocked.}} wounds inflicted by the energy sword are sealed by the immense heat.{{Ref/Reuse|out7}} Body fluids in the area of the stab wound are flash-vaporized upon contact; organs and tissue within the area of the stab wounds can suffer life-threatening damage as they suffered residual heat damage, while vessels and arteries are effectively blocked.{{Ref/Reuse|rp17}} The effects of fluids trapped in organs or arteries and the expansion of heat could lead to ruptures or small explosions, causing additional damage to the victim.{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp28|TRP|28|Quote=Instantaneously her wound was cauterized by the sword's heat, preventing body fluids and blood from moving through vessels, veins, and arteries, the force and energy causing mini-ruptures throughout her body.}}

The weapon's most glaring downside is that it is purely a close-quarters weapon; any combat engagement outside of the effective range puts the wielder at risk. It is for this reason that the Sangheili approach sword combat on the battlefield in two different ways, by funneling the enemy into close-quarters to allow them to strike, and/or to apply a form of stealth using both technology and technique. Without these, the user is vulnerable to attack by all forms of ranged attack, especially from sniper-based counterattacks.{{Ref/Reuse|enc11}} Furthermore, the energy sword can sometimes expose the position of a Sangheili warrior employing [[active camouflage]] due to the weapon's energy output.

===Usage===

[[File:Kusovaitraining.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Rtas 'Vadum]] and [[Kusovai]] dual wielding energy swords while sparring.]]

The energy sword is uniquely and exclusively a Sangheili weapon; as such, deaths from energy swords are typically linked to the Sangheili.{{Ref/Level|HR|ONI: Sword Base|Quote='If he was a civilian male in his mid-sixties, he died with a Covenant energy sword through his abdomen.' 'Elites, then.'}} The Sangheili are very strict on who can be trained in the [[Martial arts|art of swordsmanship]]; in civilian life, only [[aristocrat]]s are permitted to wield energy swords.<!-- Note that The Essential Visual Guide confirms that non-aristocratic use of the energy sword is forbidden only within civilian society. This policy is not upheld within the military.-->{{Ref/Book|Id=evg|EVG|Page=63}} Sword wielders are not eligible for marriage, though they may breed with any female they choose, married or otherwise, to ensure that the genetic material which result in sword-wielding traits are properly transmitted to each subsequent generation.{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint11}}{{Ref/Game|H3|[[Bestiarum]] - Sangheili}}

*'''{{Pattern|Pelosus|energy sword}}''' - A variant with circular contours on the blade around the hilt.{{Ref/Reuse|hce}}{{Ref/Reuse|h2}}

*'''{{Pattern|Zokotus|energy sword}}''' - A variant with asymmetrical blade design.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=307}}

*'''[[Mdama keep]] variant''' - A variant manufactured by 'Mdama keep in 2558. The plasma burned less intensely, thus making it harder to cut armor, but causing more grievous injuries and not cauterizing wounds. These swords took advantage of the Sangheili code of honor to make every wound a death blow, as Sangheili who wanted to retain their honor would often commit suicide.{{Ref/Level|Id=alliance|H5G|Alliance}}

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