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| {{Status|Canon}} | | {{Era|Covenant|UNSC|HCW}} |
| [[File:HINF AssaultCannon.png|300px|thumb|An assault cannon attached to the right arm of a Hunter.]]
| | {{Ratings}} |
| {{Article quote|The Mgalekgolo opened fire with their assault cannons, the weapons making a sound that was like the bellowing of some gigantic primordial beast.{{Ref/Novel|HBC|Chapter=18}}}}
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| '''Assault cannons''' are a family of heavy weapons utilised by the [[Covenant]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=CH16|HCH|Chapter=16}} They are most famously employed by the [[Mgalekgolo]], or "Hunters" - heavy infantry forces that typically wield an assault cannon mounted to their right arm in place of a hand. However, they may also be used as a vehicle armament or emplacement, and have been used in conjunction with a wide variety of the Covenant's ground and aerial vehicles.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=298}}
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| ==Overview==
| | <center>''Looking for the closely related Covenant vehicle weapon, the [[Class-2 Projectile cannon|Fuel Rod Cannon]], or for the [[Type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon|Fuel Rod Gun]]?''</center> |
| ===Design details=== | | {{Weapon |
| [[File:HCE Hunter AssaultCannon.jpg|300px|thumb|A Hunter firing its assault cannon.]] | | | image=[[File:TLJ Assault Cannon.PNG]] |
| Assault cannons take the form of large, heavy [[Fuel rod cannon|fuel rod weapons]] used by vehicles and heavy infantry forces. They utilise the same machine architecture and power systems as conventional fuel rod weapons alongside similar ammunition, though are still categorically distinct.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} The most commonly-encountered kind of assault cannon are those equipped by Hunters in lieu of right hands,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} measuring around {{Convert|2|m|ftin|sp=us}} in length.{{Ref/Novel|HGoO|Chapter=8|Quote=A pair of hulking Covenant Hunters blocked the Spartans' retreat. They raised their two-meter-long fuel rod arm cannons.}} These weapons are grafted onto the creature directly,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} and are aimed and fired by that one hand while the other usually uses a [[nanolaminate]] shield to ward off enemy fire. The emitter at the front of the weapon is usually surrounded by three claws, which can be used by the Hunter for manipulating objects.
| | | name= Assault Cannon |
| | | manufacturer= |
| | | model= |
| | | type=Anti-Matériel/Personnel weapon |
| | | cost= |
| | | size=It takes up half the right arm of the [[Mgalekgolo]]. |
| | | damage per hit= Very high (depending on difficulty and proximity of target) |
| | | magazine= |
| | | maxammo= |
| | | fire= Individual bolts or continuous stream |
| | | ammotype=[[Incendiary gel]] |
| | | operation= |
| | | rate of fire=Continuous fire or single bolts |
| | | accuracy=High |
| | | range=Long |
| | | era=[[ages of Doubt|23rd Age of Doubt]] - [[ages of Reclamation|9th Age of Reclamation]] |
| | | counterpart=[[Rocket Launcher]], [[Type-25 Grenade Launcher|Brute Shot]], [[Gravity Cannon]] |
| | | counterwep=*Explosives |
| | *Single Shot Bullet based Weapons |
| | | affiliation=[[Covenant Empire]], [[Covenant Empire|Covenant Loyalists]] |
| | }} |
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| Mechanically, the weapons can be broadly divided into two distinct categories; fuel rod guns and assault beams.{{Ref/Game|Id=Beam|HW|Assault Beam upgrade}} The former work almost identically to standard infantry fuel rod guns such as the {{Pattern|Zasqi|fuel rod gun|}}, storing [[fuel rod]]s in a cylindrical magazine that are fed into the weapon and fired as projectiles.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}{{Ref/Game|Id=HCE|HCE|Hunter in-game enemy}}{{Ref/Game|Id=H2|H2|Hunter in-game enemy}}{{Ref/Game|Id=HW|HW|Hunter in-game unit}} Assault beams, on the other hand, operate in a more unique fashion similar to more conventional [[Plasma weaponry|plasma weapons]]. Rather than firing a physical projectile, assault beams use magnetic fields to shape and guide streams of [[incendiary gel]]{{Ref/Reuse|CH16}} to their targets. Rather than fed from a magazine, these weapons appear to have transparent containers of incendiary gel fitted to the external carapace; the incendiary gel inside the container glows a vibrant green. To fire, the weapon must charge up for a short time before releasing its plasma.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} Assault beams, or a similar variation thereupon, appear to be affixed to the [[Anti-gravity chair|gravity thrones]] of the [[Hierarchs]] for use in self-defense, if necessary.{{Ref/Level|H2|Regret (level)|Regret}}
| | The '''Assault Cannon'''<ref name="multiple">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 267''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]''' ''In-game Upgrade''</ref> is a variant of the standard [[Type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon|Fuel Rod Gun]] utilized only by the [[Mgalekgolo]]. It has two variants, one of which is all but identical to the normal weapon, the other of which is closer to the vehicle [[class-2 Projectile cannon|variant]] and fires a continuous beam. |
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| These gel-based assault cannons can fire in a number of firing modes dependant on use case, though some of the most common are single-fire explosive shots{{Ref/Game|Id=Flak|H3ODST|Flak Hunter in-game enemy}}, continuous beams similar in nature to the [[focus cannon]]s of the larger [[Scarab]]s,{{Ref/Game|Id=H3|H3|Hunter in-game enemy}}{{Ref/Game|Id=H3ODST|H3ODST|Hunter in-game enemy}} and a rapid-fire of dozens of shots similar to a [[machine gun]].{{Ref/Game|Id=H5G|H5G|Hunter in-game enemy}}{{Ref/Game|Id=HINF|HINF|Hunter in-game enemy}}
| | ==Design Details== |
| | The weapon is incredibly heavy, making it suitable only for the Hunters, as no other races could carry such a massive load. The only known instances of it are fused directly to the Hunter's armor, located on the right "arm" of the colony, built into the [[Lekgolo]] that make up the limb. This makes the weapon impossible to be used by the player in any game. It is unknown how the weapon is fired. |
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| ===Variants=== | | ===Ammunition=== |
| All specifically-observed variations of assault cannon derive from the assault beam described above, relying on tubes of incendiary gel to feed a plasma projector. These include:
| | The weapon uses tubes of radioactive [[incendiary gel]], very similar to those fired by the standard fuel rod gun, as ammunition.<ref name="multiple" /> The gel can be fired in globs, as seen in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', ''Halo Wars'', ''Halo: Reach'', and ''Halo 3: ODST'', which detonate on impact and have an arcing trajectory. The weapon can also fire the gel in a "beam", as seen in ''Halo 2'', ''Halo 3'', ''Halo Wars'', and ''Halo 3: ODST''. It is possible that these two modes are fired from different variants of the weapon. However, before firing, the weapon must be charged up. This "charge" makes it very obvious that the Hunter is attempting to shoot an enemy, and it also makes it fairly easy for players to dodge the cannon's blast. |
| *'''[[Berserker's Claw]]''': an assault cannon that fires single shots, capable of tracking enemy aircraft.{{Ref/Game|H5G|List of REQ cards|REQ card|Detail=Berserker's Claw description|Quote=Spartans are well-versed at sourcing weapons from the remains of their enemies. The Berserker's Claw fires a devastating fuel rod shot after a short charging cycle. This fuel rod will track aerial targets.}}
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| *'''[[Wicked Grasp]]''': an assault cannon that fires in short bursts.{{Ref/Game|H5G|List of REQ cards|REQ card|Detail=Wicked Grasp description|Quote=The Lekgolo that remain in this stolen limb retain a feral vestige of their once-expansive composite mind. The Wicked Grasp fires bursts of tracking plasma shots.}}
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| *'''Siphon beam''': [[Mgalekgolo Captain]]s have a bigger and more powerful assault cannon with red fuel rods. Upgrades to this cannon can allow it to overcharge, increasing the damage, range and area of effect, while also stealing life from the targets hit by the beam.{{Ref/Game|Id=PL|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Hunter Captain}}
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| <gallery>
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| File:H5G Berserker'sClaw Crop 3.png|Berserker's Claw.
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| File:H5G WickedGrasp Crop 3.png|Wicked Grasp.
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| </gallery>
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| ==Gameplay==
| | ===Variations Between the Games=== |
| ===Variations between the games=== | |
| In terms of gameplay, the assault cannon has changed with each installment, in terms of operation and aesthetics, mostly to balance gameplay. | | In terms of gameplay, the assault cannon has changed with each installment, in terms of operation and aesthetics, mostly to balance gameplay. |
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| *In ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', the assault cannon fires single shots, similar to fuel rod gun shots, and appears to contain its gel supply in a "drum" mounted underneath the arm. Also, the cannon fires in a more parabolic arch than any other variant, resulting in a range, but low accuracy. Hunters will not continue to track once the cannon has started to charge, making them inaccurate with moving targets. Strangely, Hunters will never hit a stationary target, meaning that the original assault cannon's recoil severely lowers its accuracy. The player can use this to their advantage to avoid being injured by standing completely still and firing from that position.
| | In ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', it was only able to fire single shots that were similar to fuel rod gun shots, and appeared to contain its gel supply in a "drum" mounted underneath the arm. |
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| *In ''[[Halo 2]]'', there are minor changes to the assault cannon's appearance, but the weapon fires a continuous stream rather than individual blasts while the "drum" reloaded and fired. Because it is a continuous beam, this makes it possible to survive a hit from it on [[Legendary]] difficulty if the player can very quickly move out of the stream. ''Halo 2'' also marks the only appearance of the variant used by the Hierarchs' gravity thrones, which is the [[Prophet of Regret]]'s primary offensive ability in the level [[Regret (Halo 2 level)|Regret]].
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| *In ''[[Halo 3]]'', the assault cannon is aesthetically very different, but operates much the same as it does in ''Halo 2''. The cannon's beam in can be cut off instantaneously if the target has gone to cover, which allows the Hunter to reposition. Also, the "claws" seem to have hinges, although they are never seen moving in gameplay. Plus, the beam is a bit faster, a lot more damaging, and can blow away movable cover, such as supply crates.
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| *In ''[[Halo Wars]]'', Hunters start with the mortar version of the assault cannon. Their last upgrade turns it into the beam version, which severely increases the damage.
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| *In ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', the Hunters appeared in two different forms in two different colors. This first is the traditional blue-armored Hunter, armed with an assault cannon that fires a continuous stream of radioactive incendiary gel. The other wears gold-colored armor and is armed with an assault cannon that fires a single bolt of radioactive incendiary gel which is similar to the weapon model featured in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
| | In ''[[Halo 2]]'', there were minor changes to its appearance but the weapon fired a continuous stream rather than individual blasts while the "drum" reloaded and fired. Because it is a continuous beam this makes it possible to survive a hit from it on [[Legendary]] difficulty by only being hit by the beam for a small amount of time. |
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| *''[[Halo: Reach]]'' features a full return to the Halo: CE -era assault cannon, which fires single explosive blobs of bright green gel. The blast radius is greatly increased and the splash damage can even hurt enemies that are behind thin cover. However, shooting the cannon as it charges can stop it from firing.
| | In ''[[Halo 3]]'', the assault cannon is aesthetically very different, but operates much the same as it does in ''Halo 2''. The cannon in ''Halo 3'' can be cut off instantaneously if the target has gone to cover, which stops it from wasting ammunition. Also, the "claws" seem to have hinges, although they are never seen moving in gameplay. Plus, the beam is a bit faster, a lot more damaging, and can blow away movable cover, such as supply crates. They are also still extremely easy to avoid. |
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| *In ''[[Halo 4]]'', the Hunters' assault cannon is very similar to the one in ''Halo: Reach''.
| | In ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', the Hunters appeared in two different forms in two different colors. This first is the traditional blue-armored Hunter, armed with an assault cannon that fires a continuous stream of radioactive incendiary gel. The other wears gold-colored armor and is armed with an assault cannon that fires a single bolt of radioactive incendiary gel which is similar to the weapon model featured in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. |
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| *In ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', the assault cannon can fire in two different modes. The first mode consists in two quick shots that do large amounts of damage. The other mode unleashes several small projectiles that track players but do noticeably less damage. The small projectiles are fast and meant to target players at ranges where the main attack would not be effective. ''Halo 5'' also introduces the assault cannon as a usable weapon in multiplayer, though each version appears to have only one firing mode as opposed to the hunter's dual-firing version.
| | In ''[[Halo Wars]]'', the Hunters start with the mortar version of the assault cannon. Later in the game, the Hunters can be equipped with the beam version for extra damage.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]''' ''Instruction Manual''</ref> |
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| *In ''[[Halo Infinite]]'', the assault cannon is much like its ''Guardians'' counterpart, with two firing modes. The primary mode is a single, powerful arching shot. The secondary mode is a rapid fire stream of weaker tracking projectiles.
| | ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' features a full return to the Halo: CE -era assault cannon, which fires single blobs of bright green gel much like a [[type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon|fuel rod gun]]. The blast radius is greatly increased and the splash damage can even hurt enemies that are behind thin cover. |
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| ==Trivia== | | ==Trivia== |
| {{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of assault cannons}}
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| *When using the Bump Possession cheat in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' to control a Hunter, holding left click down and repeatedly right clicking allows the controlled Hunter to rapidly fire its Assault Cannon without overheating. Whether this accelerated manner of attack is actually utilized at all in AI controlled opponents' behavioral patterns is unknown. | | *When using the Bump Possession cheat in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' to control a Hunter, holding left click down and repeatedly right clicking allows the controlled Hunter to rapidly fire its Assault Cannon without overheating. Whether this accelerated manner of attack is actually utilized at all in AI controlled opponents' behavioral patterns is unknown. |
| | *In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', Hunters will not continue to track you once the cannon has started to charge, making the Hunters inaccurate with moving targets. Strangely, Hunters will never hit a stationary target, meaning that the original assault cannon's recoil severely lowers the accuracy of said cannon. The player can use this to his/her advantage to avoid being injured by standing completely still and firing from that position. |
| | *In ''Halo 3'', green electricity protrudes from the three parts jutting out of the weapon and they form together to make the beam of energy when the weapon is charging. It is also possible this would create a type of small plasma mortar, and that something in the back of the weapon produces a type of gas to project it, similar to how a flamethrower works where a small flame is projected by gas. |
| | *The ''Halo 3'' variant doesn't contain the "drum" like the previous assault cannons. Instead it has six tubes on the side of the gun which appear to house the incendiary liquid projectile. |
| | *Some of the novels refer to the assault cannon as a fuel rod gun/cannon, while it is officially named in ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''. |
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| ==Gallery== | | ==Gallery== |
| <gallery> | | <gallery widths="120" orientation="none" captionalign="left"> |
| File:HCE - Assault Cannon.png|The assault cannon in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. | | File:HCE - Assault Cannon.png|The ''Combat Evolved''-era assault cannon. |
| File:H2 hunter assaultcannon.png|The assault cannon in ''Halo 2''. | | File:H2 hunter assaultcannon.png|A ''Halo 2''-era assault cannon. |
| File:MC attacks Regret.jpg|A gravity throne's integrated assault cannons emit an intense glow when active.
| | File:Halo 3 Hunter Assault Cannon.jpg|A ''Halo 3''-era assault cannon. |
| File:H3-HunterAssaultCannon.png|The assault cannon ''Halo 3''.
| | File:Halo Reach Hunter Assault Cannon.png|A ''Halo Reach'' assault cannon. |
| File:TLJ Assault Cannon.PNG|Another view of the assault cannon.
| | File:Mortar.jpg|[[Mgalekgolo]] firing the Assault Cannon in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. |
| File:Halo 3 Hunter Assault Cannon.jpg|An assault cannon preparing to fire in ''Halo 3''. | | File:Fuel Rod Beam Cannon in Action.jpg|An Mgalekgolo using its assault cannon in ''Halo 3''. |
| File:H3 Hunter AssaultBeam.jpg|A Mgalekgolo using its assault cannon in ''Halo 3''.
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| File:H3ODST-HunterAssaultCannon.png|The assault cannon in ''Halo 3: ODST''.
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| File:HTMCC-H3ODST GoldHunters 2.png|A [[Mgalekgolo Flak|"flak" Hunter]] firing its assault cannon in ''Halo 3: ODST''.
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| File:Halo Reach Hunter Assault Cannon.png|An assault cannon in ''Halo: Reach''. | |
| File:HR Nightfall HunterLock.jpg|The blast of an assault cannon in ''Halo: Reach''.
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| File:HCEA-MgalekgoloHunter.png|A Mgalekgolo with an assault cannon in ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''. | |
| File:H4FUD-AssaultCannon-Charge4.jpg|An assault cannon primes to fire at [[Thomas Lasky]] in ''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn''.
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| File:H4 profile - Mgalekgolo.png|A Mgalekgolo with an assault cannon in ''Halo 4''.
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| File:H2A Mgalekgolo.png|A Mgalekgolo with an assault cannon in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
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| File:Nakagagalit.png|A Mythic Mgalekgolo prepares to fire its assault cannon on [[March on Stormbreak]] in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
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| File:HW2B-1v1.jpg|Banished Mgalekgolo firing their assault cannons in ''Halo Wars 2''.
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| File:HINF AssaultCannon.png|A view of the assault cannon in ''Halo Infinite''.
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| File:HINF AssaultCannon Bolt.png|A Banished Mgalekgolo fires its assault cannon in ''Halo Infinite''.
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| File:HINF BerserkHunter.png|A berserk Mgalekgolo's overcharged assault cannon in ''Halo Infinite''. | |
| File:HINF BerserkHunterFiring.png|A berserk Mgalekgolo firing its assault cannon in ''Halo Infinite''.
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| File:HINF Ardent Hunter cannon fire.png|An [[Ardent Mgalekgolo]] fires its assault cannon at the Master Chief in ''Halo Infinite''.
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| </gallery> | | </gallery> |
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| ==List of appearances== | | ==List of appearances== |
| {{Col-begin}}
| | *''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' |
| {{Col-2}}
| | *''[[Halo 2]]'' |
| | *''[[Halo 3]]'' |
| | *''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' |
| | *''[[Halo: Reach]]'' |
| | *''[[Halo Wars]]'' |
| *''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}} | | *''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}} |
| *''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''
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| *''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' | | *''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' |
| *''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' | | *''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' |
| *''[[Halo 2]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' | | *''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' |
| | *''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'' |
| *''[[Halo: Uprising]]'' | | *''[[Halo: Uprising]]'' |
| *''[[Halo 3]]'' | | *''[[Halo: Blood Line]]'' |
| *''[[Halo Wars]]''
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| *''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
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| *''[[Halo Legends]]'' | | *''[[Halo Legends]]'' |
| **''[[Prototype]]''
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| **''[[The Duel]]'' | | **''[[The Duel]]'' |
| *''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Reach]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]
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| **''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]''
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| **''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
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| {{Col-2}}
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| *''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
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| *''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
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| *''[[Halo 4]]''
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| **''[[Spartan Ops]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''
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| *''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
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| *''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]''
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| *''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Recruit]]'' {{C|Non-canonical appearance}}
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| *''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''
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| *''[[Halo Infinite]]''
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| {{Col-end}}
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| ==Sources== | | ==Sources== |
| {{Ref/Sources}}
| | <references/> |
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| | ==Related Pages== |
| | *[[Mgalekgolo]] |
| | *[[Type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon|Fuel Rod Gun]] |
| | *[[Class-2 Projectile cannon|Fuel Rod Cannon]] |
| | *[[Gravity Cannon]] |
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| {{Covenant ordnance}} | | {{Covenant Weapons}} |
| [[Category:Incendiary weapons]] | | [[Category:Incendiary weapons]] |
| [[Category:Covenant weapons]]
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