Rizsheda-pattern Shade

For the other versions of the Shade turret, see Shade.

The Type-26 Anti-Infantry Stationary Gun, abbreviated as Type-26 ASG, is an anti-infantry variant of the Covenant's Shade gun turret.

Design details and operation

Mounted on a 360-degree traversal mount, the T-26 ASG fires two bolts of slow moving, high powered plasma encased in magnetic fields. The accuracy of the weapon is fairly low, as the bolts of plasma fired can hit anywhere within the aiming reticle. The T-26 ASG is in the shape of a ball-turret, has a higher rate of fire than the other iterations of the Shade, and provides excellent front and side protection for the gunner. Like other versions of the Shade, it is elevated on a small gravity lift that hovers the turret in the air, and so has a full 360 degree field of view. Interestingly, the turret's aiming reticule is similar to a Needler's, except with a circle of lines at the center.

The Shade is effective against most infantry. However, due to their high intelligence, Sangheili will often find cover and escape its range of fire. On this same note, the bolts fired lack the required punch to damage Mgalekgolo, whose armor and combat shield can withstand most Covenant and UNSC small firearms, causing the plasma bolts to have little to no effect on them. The T-26 ASG has shown good defense against light vehicles such as the Ghost, and in desperate situations, can serve as anti-aircraft defense, requiring only a few direct hits to destroy a Banshee.

Advantages

The T-26 ASG is very effective against both enemy ground forces and light vehicles. Some of its advantages over its human counterpart are that the plasma bolts are accurate and effective at longer distances and it is easier to see where shots are actually going than it is with the M41's rounds, although this might also effect the ability of the target to dodge them.

Disadvantages

As with the human counterpart, the player will be exposed to enemy fire. While it is useful against enemies in light vehicles, this is not a weapon of choice when facing an enemy armored vehicle. Also, as is the case with the M41, players are unprotected from the rear. Additionally, the Halo 3's version of the Shade has an extremely slow turning rate, making it a detriment to the user. And the Shades rate-of-fire is slower than that of the M41.

In-Game

Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST

The T-26 ASG was introduced in Halo 3. The Shade was in multiplayer only in Halo 3 Epsilon, as it was removed from the final version, even in Forge. Modders are still able to mod the game to get the Shade on certain maps.

In Halo 3: ODST, the Shade seems to rotate quicker than it did in Halo 3. It is also worth noting that in Halo 3: ODST, the Shade lacks a plate of armor in the top middle, in between its guns, exposing the operator to enemy snipers.

Halo: Reach

In Halo: Reach, the T-26 ASG appears to have a similar design as the ones in Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST. The Shade is now usable in multiplayer and can be added into custom maps via Forge. It also has regained the Halo: Combat Evolved fire rate, albeit with the plasma bolts of the Halo 3 Shade. The flaps at the side will no longer cover the user instead giving the user more angular cover.

Tactics

Campaign

• Heavy weapons, vehicles or grenades are perfect to destroy Shades.
• In Halo 3: ODST, Automags and snipers can be used to kill the gunner if no heavy weapons can be found.
• Ramming it with any vehicle at speed is an instant kill.
• In Halo 3 if you shoot a Shade from a distance and in the middle between the two pieces that jut out, the operator might jump out.
• In Halo 3, if you stand right in front of the turret, in between the guns, the operator will not turn the turret to make you slide in front of it, making you a harder target.

Trivia

A close up of a Shade's Plasma bolt in mid-flight in Halo 3.

• Neither the Power Drain nor an overcharged Plasma Pistol shot can disable the Shade's firing mechanisms, though either of these will temporarily disable its ability to rotate.
• The Shade does not appear in any Halo 3 multiplayer map. That is to say, it cannot be used in multiplayer without modding. Tags for the Shade do exist in several maps, however, including Snowbound and Guardian. As with most normally-inaccessible Forge Objects, the Shade has no name, cost, or maximum limit, and it does not respawn. If a player's tool of destruction is a Shade, it will be shown as a Ghost in the postgame stats.

List of appearances

• Halo 3
• Halo 3: ODST
• Halo: Reach