Needle-based weaponry

John-117 dual wielding Type-33 needlers, the most common needle-based weapon in the Covenant.

Needle-based weaponry refers to weapons that incorporate explosive Subanese crystal in their properties. Although there are melee weapons that were derived from the crystal, the most common needle-based weaponry are projectile weapons that launch the Subanese crystalline shards. While the Forerunners have developed at least one class of needle-based weapon, the Covenant most likely reverse-engineered the technology, leading to its widespread use in the Covenant and its remnants, particularly among their specialized infantry and vehicles.

Operation

Needle-based weaponry are characterized by Subanese crystals, a pink crystalline substance mined from Suban, one of the Sangheilios' two moons. Upon impaling a target, the crystalline shards become chemically reactive, and detonate after a few seconds. Subsequently, a blade that contains Subanese crystalline properties can be made to explode when it is embedded in soft flesh. If multiple shards from a projectile weapon make contact, then a chain reaction occurs—their chemical properties supercombine and the shards detonate simultaneously, causing an immediate and violent explosion. While the shards are devastating against living tissue, they are relatively ineffective against energy shielding.

Covenant needle-based weapons break the crystals into needle-like shards, then launch the shards from the weapon. The needler, the most popular class of needle-based weaponry, features an additional magnetic auger within the weapon that catalyzes the shards, which then become capable of tracking heat signatures. In contrast, the Gadulo-pattern needle rifle was not designed to charge its crystalline shards with the ability to home in on a living target, so it likely lacks a magnetic auger. Instead, when fired, the crystalline shards snap off into individual charged projectiles which are launched linearly at the intended target.

List of needle-based weapons

Handheld projectile weapons

• Blood of Suban variant of the Mosa-pattern carbine
• Needler
  • Posu'gelka-pattern needler
  • Nahle'hax-pattern needler
  • Type-33 needler
  • Type-56D needler
• Gadulo-pattern needle rifle

Melee weapons

• Lance of Suban variant of the energy sword
• Energy cutlass

Mounted weapons

• Modified M49 Vulcan
• Needle cannon
  • Heavy needle cannon
• Shard cannon
• Shardstorm launcher