Gravity hammer (fiction): Difference between revisions

{{Era|Covenant|HCW|Post}}

{{Weapon

|image=[[File:H5 Gravity Hammer.png|300px]]

|manufacturer=[[Sacred Promissory]]<ref name="visual82">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 82''</ref>

|model=Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer

|type=Hand held, two-handed melee weapon

|cost=

|variant= [[Fist of Rukt]]

|length={{Convert|203.7|cm|in}}<ref name="visual82"/><ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/weapons/gravity-hammer '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Gravity Hammer'']</ref>

|width={{Convert|33|cm|in}}<ref name="universe"/>

|height={{Convert|61.7|cm|in}}<ref name="universe"/>

|weight={{Convert|38.7|kg|lb}}<ref name="universe"/>

|feed=100 battery units

|ammotype=Electromagnetic energy<ref name="Halo 4 Guide">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/intel/inteldetail/31aab608-bda5-4910-b8ef-358b75430c49/gravity-hammer?category=weapons '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo 4 Guide'']</ref>

|operation=

|rate=

|accuracy=

|range=Close

|service=*[[Human-Covenant War]]

*[[Great Schism]]

*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]

|affiliation=[[Jiralhanae]]

}}

{{Quote|One hit from that hammer and you ended up a puddle of bones and blood.|Private Aaron Landvik<ref>'''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''', ''[[Halo: Spartan Assault/Quotes|Pre-mission quotes]]''</ref>}}

The '''Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer''' ('''T2 EW/H'''), more commonly known as the '''gravity hammer''', is a powerful, close-quarters, two-handed melee weapon used by the [[Jiralhanae]].<ref name="b.net">[http://www.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=ordnance&cid=25447 '''Bungie.net''': ''Halo: Reach Ordnance Page'']</ref><ref name="Waypoint">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/theuniverse/tech/gallery/gravity-hammer/b07cc7d2-5a48-4d74-bfca-cacc34677754 '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Gravity Hammer''] (defunct, backup on [https://web.archive.org/web/20110314221744/http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/theuniverse/tech/gallery/gravity-hammer/b07cc7d2-5a48-4d74-bfca-cacc34677754 Archive.org])</ref>

The gravity hammers evolved from traditional war hammers wielded by [[Jiralhanae]] [[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|war chieftains]],<ref name="universe"/> which were a major focus of the Jiralhanae's barbaric culture, as it serves as the ultimate symbol of [[clan]] leadership in addition to being a powerful weapon. The ceremonial hammer of a pack or a clan is only passed to another Jiralhanae if he can best his chieftain in ceremonial combat; the mantle of leadership passes along with the weapon.<ref name="Waypoint"/> The wielder of the weapon was expected to treat their gravity hammer with great care.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 258''</ref>

When the Jiralhanae were incorporated into the [[Covenant]], advanced Covenant technologies were adapted by the Jiralhanae and applied to their war hammers. After [[Tartarus]]' rise to power, many war hammers of chieftains were commissioned into the contemporary gravity hammer, with components of the ancestral hammers incorporated when possible.<ref name="universe"/>

===Design===

Though gravity hammers used by Jiralhanae serving in the [[Covenant military]] tend to follow a standard design, not all are functionally or aesthetically identical; gravity hammers are often tailored to suit the desires of specific clans, families, or packs.<ref name="Waypoint"/> The first gravity hammer and the template for the standardized weapons of this type was the [[Fist of Rukt]], an ancestral war hammer of [[Maccabeus' clan]] which was upgraded with Covenant gravity technology after Tartarus was appointed the [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]] in the Covenant.<ref name="waypointarticle">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/weapons/fist-of-rukt '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Fist of Rukt'']</ref>

Though individual gravity hammers are crafted differently, the design of the standard Type-2 EW/H is rather simple, being composed of a long haft and a heavy head with a tungsten-alloy blade on the reverse end. Within the head is a short-range shock-field-generating gravity drive<ref name="Halo 4 Guide"/> that uses gravity impellers<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-storm-surge '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Storm Surge'']</ref> that are often re-purposed from other technology<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/games/halo-5-guardians/updates/Hammer-Storm '''Halo Waypoint: Hammer Storm''': ''Gravity hammer'']</ref> to emit a kinetic pulse around 4.5 meters outward; this device was added to the weapon shortly after the Jiralhanae's incorporation into the Covenant in [[2492]].<ref name="b.net"/><ref name="Waypoint"/> This device can displace gravity in targeted locations and manipulate localized energy fields,<ref name="Halo 4 Guide"/> though the Jiralhanae's brutal nature means that they often prefer to use the weapon in melee combat.<ref name="Waypoint"/> This allows the ability to pull a target towards that wielded or push it away as well as even create a vortex which pulls things in and then detonates the vortex to push things out.<ref>'''Halo Wars'''</ref><ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Oracle]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Quarantine Zone (level)|Quarantine Zone]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Great Journey]]''</ref> The exact mechanism by which it functions is currently under investigation by the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]].<ref name="b.net"/>

==Gameplay==

===Advantages===

[[File:H3-GravityHammer.png|130px|thumb|The gravity hammer in ''Halo 3''.]]

The gravity hammer is a very powerful weapon, useful in close quarters combat. With a bit of skill, they can even be effectively used against vehicles, usually offering an instant kill. The hammer has a splash damage effect, and a well-placed hit could kill multiple foes in one swing. In some aspects, it is more powerful than the energy sword - a kill against a Covenant enemy or an opponent in multiplayer uses 10% of the energy sword's battery, whereas the gravity hammer only uses 8.33%. When timed perfectly, the gravity hammer can even be used to deflect certain objects, such as rockets and even grenades. In campaign or firefight, 5% of the hammer's battery is used per swing.

===Disadvantages===

*The glowing blue vents at the top of the weapon are still visible when a player has [[active camouflage]].

*The large area of effect of the weapon means that using it in tight quarters with friendly players is highly inadvisable.

*An enemy wielding a shotgun can easily take down a player with the gravity hammer before he has time to swing.

*While the gravity hammer takes only 5% energy for a swing-- compared with the sword's 10% depletion, the sword only expends energy when it hits, the hammer wastes with every swing, regardless of if it hits or not.

*If the gravity hammer is being used as a player's secondary weapon, you cannot swing momentarily as it is wielded. The character must have rested his right hand on the handle before a swing can be attempted. This is similar to the energy sword having to ignite before a lunge is possible and might have been added due to balancing issues.

===''Halo Wars'' gameplay===

In multiplayer and skirmish mode in ''Halo Wars'', the [[Jiralhanae Army Commander|Brute chieftain]] is armed with a gravity hammer. It features very powerful vortex ability that can rip objects apart and suck them in. When the vortex grabs units such as [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]], they will be battered by the shrapnel in the vortex and by their fellow squad members, in addition to being hurled violently. When the vortex leader power is put to a halt, either by the player's choosing or by enemy forces, an explosion will send everything in the vortex outward. Upgrades to the hammer include adding a stun, pulling enemies toward him, and increasing range and damage.

==Gameplay changes==

===Changes from ''Halo 3'' and ''Halo 3: ODST'' to ''Halo: Reach''===

*The lights on the head of the hammer are orange instead of blue.

*The head of the hammer is larger.

*The overall length of the hammer is somewhat shorter.

*The weapon now has a red decorative symbol on the head.

*The shaft's hand guard has been removed.

*The blast range isn't as wide. This is most noticeable in Grifball.

===Changes from ''Halo: Reach'' to ''Halo 4''===

*Knock-back from the weapon is dramatically increased. A hit from this can send you flying, however, this can be used to the would-be victim's advantage to escape from the wielder.

*The sound of the hammer has changed.

*The blast radius has been increased.

==Trivia==

*The gravity hammer is used in the popular playlist ''[[Grifball]]'', in which the players have no shields and must somehow take their bomb and get it to the other team's base. The hammer is often used to create enough force to propel the bomb-carrying player over the heads of their opponents and into the goal.

*On the map ''[[Sandbox]]'' in ''Halo 3'' as well as in all maps in ''Halo: Reach'', there is a remodeled version of the gravity hammer called "[[7 wood]]". The 7 wood performs exactly the same gameplay wise, except it is modeled to look like a giant golf club and features a different reticule.

*The gravity hammer and [[Type-52 Mauler|Mauler]] are not in the ''[[Halo 3]]'' instruction manual.

*Despite the lack of Brutes in the game, the gravity hammer appears in ''Halo 4'', likely due to its unique gameplay niche, its fan-favoritism, and its important role in ''Grifball''. It is consequently the only Brute weapon to appear in ''Halo 4''. In the entirety of ''Halo 4'''s campaign, only one gravity hammer can be found, located in an armory during [[Midnight|the last level]].<ref>'''Halo 4'''</ref>

===Glitches===

*In ''Halo 3'', the gravity hammer sometimes has no alternate third person animation for melee; in third-person, a player appears to swing the hammer with no explosive effect or splash effect. This only occurs with [[SPARTAN-II Program|Spartan]] models. [[Sangheili]] models have the same animation they have if they melee someone with a flag. This has been fixed in ''Halo 3: ODST'' - the hammer now has a third person animation for melee.

*If the player pulls the right trigger while also pulling the left trigger, the shock wave will have no sound effect, the attack will be negated, and it will count as a normal melee attack. Pressing the right trigger and then immediately crouching produces the same effect.

*In the ''Halo 3'' campaign, Sangheili, including [[Thel 'Vadam|the Arbiter]], will not use gravity hammers if they are armed with them. They will simply run next to enemies and remain stationary.

==Gallery==

File:H3-GravityHammer-Head-Replica.jpg|Close-up of the gravity hammer used in ''[[Halo: Landfall]]'' created by [[Weta Workshop]].

File:H3-GravityHammerHUD.png|First-person view of the gravity hammer in ''[[Halo 3]]''.

File:1216073359 Chieftain.jpg|A [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|chieftain]] wielding a gravity hammer.

File:SpartanCTF.JPG|A Spartan with a gravity hammer holstered on his back in ''Grifball''.

File:Brute Army Commander.jpg|A [[Jiralhanae Army Commander]] wielding his gravity hammer in ''[[Halo Wars]]''.

File:96764571-Full.jpg|A [[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|War Chieftain]] wielding a gravity hammer in ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''.

File:Type-2 Energy Weapon Hammer Halo Reach.png|The gravity hammer in ''[[Halo Reach]]''.

File:ReachSchematic - Hammer.png|A blueprint of the gravity hammer in ''Halo: Reach''.

File:HR-T2EWH-GravityHammer-RefChart.jpg|Reference chart of the gravity hammer in ''Halo: Reach''.

File:HReach - Major Jiralhanae.png|[[Jiralhanae Captain]] wielding a gravity hammer.

File:H4-GravityHammer.png|The Gravity Hammer in ''[[Halo 4]]''.

File:H4-GravityHammerHUD.png|First-person view of the gravity hammer in ''Halo 4''.

File:H4 Gravity Hammer.jpg|A [[Spartan-IV]] wielding the gravity hammer in ''Halo 4''.

File:GravityHammer-HUD.png|HUD Icon of the gravity hammer in ''Halo 4''.

File:Type-2_EWH_symbol.jpg|The unknown symbol on the head of the Type-2 EW/H.

File:JiralhanaeChieftain SpartanAssault.png|A Jiralhanae Chieftain swinging a gravity hammer at [[Edward Davis|Spartan Davis]] in ''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''.

File:Spartan Strike chieftain.png|A Jiralhanae Chieftain with a gravity hammer in ''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''.

File:H5G-GravityHammer.jpg|A gravity hammer in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.

File:H5G-GravHammerHUD.png|First-person view of the gravity hammer in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.

File:H5G-GravHammerzoom.png|[[Smart scope]] with the gravity hammer in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.

File:Gravity Hammer - Basic.jpg|The gravity hammer in ''[[Halo Online]]''.

File:H5G-GravityHammer.png|REQ Card of the Gravity Hammer in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.

==List of appearances==

*''[[Halo Online]]''

==Sources==

<references/>

{{Covenant Weapons}}