Editing Energy shielding

{{Era|Forerunner|HCW|Post}}
[[File:Halo3 Snowbound-3rdperson-01.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The shields on a pair of [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|Mark VI MJOLNIR armor suits]] flare after taking damage.]]
Several [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]], [[Covenant]] and [[Forerunner]] vehicles, devices, and armor systems make use of '''energy shielding''' to protect users from harm. Energy shields consist of a field of energized particles that wraps around a surface, which deflects objects that attempt to impact the surface.

==Human energy shielding==
[[File:screen007.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Testing the shields on [[John-117]]'s [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|Mark V MJOLNIR armor]].]]
[[Human]]s have used energy shield technology for a relatively brief amount of time. The earliest known example is the "[[Bubble Shield|bubble shield]]", a protective device developed and deployed by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]'s [[Beta-5 Division]],<ref name="Manual">'''Halo: Reach''' manual</ref> which has been in service since at least [[2544]].<ref name="Package">'''Halo: Legends:''' ''The Package''</ref> The Beta-5 Division also utilizes the "[[drop shield]]", a similar device which, despite being less resilient than the bubble shield, is capable of regenerating organic tissue through unknown means.<ref name="Manual"/>

Near the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]], ONI scientists successfully reverse-engineered the technology used in [[Kig-yar point defense gauntlet]]s, leading to the technology's incorporation into the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]] and all later iterations of the series. Energy shielding technology had previously been tested with the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV(G)|Grenadier variant]] of the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV]],<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', ''The Armory''</ref> though these tests were not successful.<ref> [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]</ref> The UNSC also reverse-engineered an [[armor lock|"armor lock" plug-in module]] from functionally identical Covenant technology. In conjunction with the MJOLNIR armor's lock-down system, this device emits an impervious shield barrier that can deflect all small arms fire and can shed attached plasma grenades. The [[SPARTAN-III Program|SPARTAN-III]] [[Headhunters]] wear an advanced version of the standard-issue [[Semi-Powered Infiltration Armor]] which features energy shields that are similar to those of MJOLNIR, though the shields share power with the suit's [[active camouflage]] module.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''Headhunters''</ref>

The UNSC also uses "shield doors", which were installed on the refit platform ''[[Anchor 9]]'' and in atrium of the Office of Naval Intelligence's [[ONI Alpha Site|Alpha Site]]. One of the UNSC's most recent breakthroughs in energy shield development came with the creation of the [[YSS-1000 Sabre]] orbital fighter, which is the first human spacecraft known to use energy shields. The post-war [[Mantis]] is another UNSC vehicle that utilizes energy shields. The post-war successor to the Longsword and Sabres, the [[F-41 Broadsword]], is equipped with energy shields, though not powerful enough to travel through Slipspace.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-US/Universe/detail/halo-4-mantis-trailer/5c5bc6fb-7cb0-4552-be8e-d6f54ed5c417 '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Mantis Trailer'']</ref> Some warships also received shields post-war, with at least the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} and its embarked [[Strident-class heavy frigate|frigates]] possessing energy shielding.<ref>[[:File:Infinity Shields.png|Image showing the Infinity shields flickering]]</ref><ref>[[:File:H4FrigateShields.jpeg|Image showing frigate shields above hull]]</ref>

==Covenant energy shielding==
[[File:Shielding.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A Sangheili's energy shield flaring.]]
The Covenant make extensive use of energy shielding technology. Nearly all Covenant starships larger than a [[Covenant corvette|corvette]] use energy shields and several ground-based structures use shields as well. Many Covenant warriors are equipped with energy shields.

===Personal shielding===
Most [[Sangheili]], many [[Jiralhanae]], and some high-ranking [[Yanme'e]] are equipped with energy shields that are integrated into the wearer's armor, or, in the latter case, carapace. [[Kig-yar]] warriors use [[Kig-yar point defense gauntlet|energy shield gauntlets]] that protect them from most oncoming fire but leaves them vulnerable to flanking attacks and grenades. The Covenant often use [[Huragok]] to provide energy shielding to troops on the battlefield. The Covenant also utilize [[overshield]]s, which provide additional layers of energy shielding to the wearer, and [[Regenerator|energy shield regenerators]]. Sangheili and Jiralhanae warriors sometimes use armor lock systems, from which the UNSC technology was reverse-engineered; Jiralhanae are able to use this technology even without [[Jiralhanae power armor|power armor]].

Though the [[Hierarchs]] are not meant to encounter combat, their [[gravity throne]]s emit powerful energy shields. They are able to deflect all forms of projectile, plasma, and explosive weaponry and seemingly never become depleted. However, one can simply walk through the shield. The shield used by [[Tartarus]], the [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]], was much different and seems to have to be actively turned on. His shield could deflect nearly all attacks save for those of a captured [[Type-50 Sniper Rifle System|beam rifle]]. A similar, though much less potent technology is often used by [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Jiralhanae chieftains]]; this "[[invincibility]]" device lasts only a matter of seconds, though it renders the user impervious to small arms fire. The device can also be used by personnel who do not otherwise possess energy shielding, such as UNSC [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s.<ref>'''Halo 3: ODST'''</ref>

===Starship and single ship shielding===
Nearly all Covenant vessels are protected by highly resistant energy shields. These shields can withstand an impressive amount of firepower and can recharge very quickly. Covenant vessels' shields can absorb almost all missile fire, including hundreds of [[Archer missile]]s and even a low-yield {{Class|Shiva|nuclear missile}}, although Shiva nukes will usually deplete their shields, making them vulnerable to smaller weapons. The only UNSC weapons capable of penetrating a Covenant starship's shield are the [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]]s. Even then, ship-based MACs take multiple rounds to drop the shields; only a "Super MAC" round from an [[orbital defense platform]] can penetrate a Covenant ship's shields in one hit.

Covenant starship shielding does have a notable flaw, however: Whenever a starship launches a [[plasma turret|plasma torpedo]] or [[pulse laser turret|pulse laser]], a small section of the energy shield must drop to allow the weapon to fire. Otherwise, the energy released would detonate on the inside of the shields, damaging the ship.

While projectile weaponry is generally ineffective against Covenant starship shielding, [[directed energy weapon]]ry can disable shields with relative ease, in much the same manner as Sangheili energy shields. Another way to disable the shipboard energy shields is through the use of a large-scale electromagnetic pulse.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', page 153</ref>

The Covenant's [[Type-31 Exoatmospheric Multi-role Fighter|Type-31 "Seraph" fighters]] are typically equipped with energy shields, though this does not seem to always be the case.<ref name="Package"/> [[Phantom gunboat]]s are equipped with powerful shields that can deflect cannon fire but are vulnerable to missiles due to their lower velocity.<ref name="LNoS">'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]''</ref>

The Covenant also use energy shields as [[hangar bay]] doors. These devices prevent the evacuation of atmosphere from the hangar bay and deny unwanted entry and exit. They can be phased in such a manner that atmosphere remains in the hangar bay while single ships can enter the vessel.<ref name="LNoS"/>

The {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} was the first known UNSC warship to employ energy shields.<ref>[[:File:Infinity Shields.png|Image showing the Infinity shields flickering]]</ref>

===Vehicle shielding===
Few Covenant ground vehicles are equipped with energy shields. The most notable exception is the [[Locust]], a repurposed mining platform that is used as a "building killer". The Locust emits a spherical shield that can resist most high-impact projectiles. However, this shield is rather weak and will dissipate under concentrated fire, exposing the Locust's vulnerable hull. [[Type-32 Rapid Assault Vehicle|Type-32 "Ghost" assault vehicles]] and [[Type-26 Assault Gun Carriage|Type-26 "Wraith" tanks]], while almost universally unshielded, can be retrofitted with energy shields that deflect most projectiles.

===Stationary shielding===
The Covenant make extensive use of stationary energy shield devices. One of the most common is the energy barrier, which is used to cordon off restricted areas and to deny enemy movement within invaded cities.<ref>'''Halo 3: ODST''', campaign levels ''[[Mombasa Streets]]'', ''[[Tayari Plaza (level)|Tayari Plaza]]'', and''[[Kizingo Boulevard (level)|Kizingo Boulevard]]''</ref>. This technology can also be used to form [[anti-vehicle barrier]]s; though vehicles and projectiles are repelled by these barriers, human and Covenant soldiers can pass through them on foot.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Tsavo Highway (level)|Tsavo Highway]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level ''[[Relic Approach]]''</ref> [[Stationary shield generator|Smaller-scale barriers]], including [[Deployable Cover|man-portable ones]], are often used to provide cover during firefights.

[[Covenant citadel|Pre-fabricated Covenant bases]] are often outfitted with [[Covenant shield generator|shield generators]]; multiple shield generators can be installed at a base to provide incrementally greater protection.<ref>'''Halo Wars'''</ref> The Covenant sometimes use enormous energy shield domes to cover large areas, such as bases. These domes sometimes have no apparent power source,<ref name="Dome"> '''Halo Wars''', campaign level ''[[Dome of Light]]''</ref> though they are also used on [[Covenant spire|teleportation spires]], which are commonly used during invasions.<ref name="ToTS">'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Tip of the Spear]]''</ref> These shield domes are susceptible to high-intensity plasma.<ref name="Dome"/> While Covenant aircraft can pass through these shields unharmed,<ref name="Dome"/> UNSC aircraft that pass through the field receive a powerful [[electromagnetic pulse]] and suffer catastrophic systems failures.<ref name="ToTS"/>

Some [[Shade]] turrets are equipped with energy shielding. Some lighter versions have only frontal shielding, while [[Shade#Anti-air Shade|anti-aircraft models]] have multi-directional shielding.

==Forerunner energy shielding==
[[File:Sentinel Shielding.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A Sentinel's energy shield.]]
Many Forerunner constructs make use of energy shielding. Standard Forerunner [[Sentinel]]s are encased within an ovoid energy shield that can withstand moderate damage, while the [[Onyx Sentinel|much more powerful Sentinels]] from the [[Onyx]] [[Shield World]] possess spherical golden shields that activate whenever a fast-moving projectile approaches. The larger [[Enforcer]]s possess three-part energy shields that protect their photoreceptors and chassis from frontal assault, but do not protect against attack from any other angle.

The majority of Forerunner energy shields seem to consist of a translucent bubble composed of hexagonal patterns, as opposed to the wraparound shields typically used by the Covenant and UNSC.

The Forerunners made ubiquitous use of "[[hard light]]" technology, which could be shaped into any desired form, such as [[light bridge]]s. It is possible that Forerunner energy shielding is derived from hard light technology.

The [[Ur-Didact|Didact's]] ship, ''[[Mantle's Approach]]'' possessed powerful energy shields: they were able to withstand Earth's Super MAC platforms with no damage. ''Infinity'''s fore guns (seemingly some form of [[directed energy weapon]]) were able to penetrate them, but only caused minimal hull damage. The Didact also used shields to protect his [[Cryptum]] on [[Requiem]] and the [[Composer]]'s control area on ''Mantle's Approach.'' [[Cortana]] was able to fool the former shield with an override code and overload the latter with her rampant personalities. Requiem also possessed a shield around the Didact's Cryptum, presumably to prevent the Didact from being released. These shields could be dropped by deactivating the two emitters at their pylons.

At the end of the [[Battle of Earth (2557)|Didact's attack on Earth]], Cortana was able to use what was left of the ''Mantle's Approach's'' systems to form a hard light shield around [[John-117]] to protect him from the detonation of a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]].{{Citation needed}}
{{clear}}
==Gameplay==
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', the status of the energy shield is shown at the top-right corner of the screen above the health bar. In ''Halo 2'', it is in the bottom-left above the motion tracker. In ''Halo 3'', it is in the top-center of the screen. In ''Halo: Reach'', it is shown in the top-center of the screen above the health bar.
*In [[multiplayer]], players can have 50%, 100%, 200%, 300%, 400%, 500%, 1000%, or 2000% shield strength, or none at all. Both Elites and Spartans have the same amount of shielding. A player's shields can be further augmented if they pick up an overshield.
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' under standard game settings, energy shields begin regenerating five seconds after last being hit and take four seconds to fully recharge from a total drain.
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', during the level [[Two Betrayals]], energy shielding was used to overload [[Installation 04]]'s pulse generators.
*In ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'' under standard game settings, energy shields begin regenerating 4.25 seconds after last being hit, and take 1.75 seconds to fully recharge from a total drain.
*In ''Halo 4'', during the level [[Forerunner (level)|Forerunner]], energy shielding was used to enhance a [[Ghost]]'s boosting.
*Halo 4 has notably increased shield strength for Elites. Previously in Halo 2 and Halo 3, Elite Minors and Spartans had the same shield strength. Now Elites have a stark advantage over Spartans, taking 7 DMR rounds to kill a Storm Elite while only 5 for a Spartan. Whether this is an improvement to the Elite forces, or a drawback of the Gen2 MJOLNIR armor is unknown.

==Trivia==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of Energy Shields}}
* The health and shield points in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' are higher than those in the subsequent games. In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', both health and shield are given 75 points. On the other hand, there are only 45 health points and 70 shield points in ''Halo 3''.{{fact}}
* Until ''Halo: Reach'', shields regenerating were depicted by a wave of energy traveling up the wearer's body. To better fit with the treatment of shields as an energy field, the animation was changed to bands of energy slowly wrapping around the wearer then fading away.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Elite Shield.jpg|A [[Sangheili Major|Major]] [[Sangheili]]'s shield protecting him from enemy fire in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:HCEA-SangheiliShieldsFlicker.jpg|A [[Sangheili Minor]]'s shield flickering from gunfire in ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''.
File:Shield wave 1.jpg|A [[SPARTAN Program|Spartan's]] and Elite's shield recharging in ''Halo 3''.
File:H3 - Elite Energy Shield.jpg|An Elite's shields flickering from melee damage in ''Halo 3''.
File:Brute Power Shields.jpg|A Jiralhanae's shields flicker from taking fire in ''Halo 3: ODST''.
File:Huragok Overshield.jpg|A Huragok's passive ability which grants all allies within a certain radius overshields seen on this group of Covenant infantry in ''Halo 3: ODST's'' [[Firefight]] level [[Chasm Ten]].
File:EliteShield.gif|Animation of a Sangheili's shield.
File:A Sangheili's Shields.jpg|A Sangheili's personal energy shield overloading from sustained fire in ''[[Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta]]''.
File:Halo Reach Elite Energy Shield.jpg|An Elite's personal energy shield flickers from taking damage in the beta.
File:Halo Reach UNSC Shields.jpg|A [[SPARTAN-III Program|SPARTAN-III]]'s energy shields flicker while taking damage from a [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]] projectile.
File:HR Elite Shield.jpg|A Sangheili's personal energy shield flickering onboard a [[SDV-class heavy corvette|Covenant corvette]].
File:HReach-LNoS-Shielded-Unggoy.jpg|Huragok-supplied shielding on [[Unggoy Ultra]]s in the ''Halo: Reach'' level ''Long Night of Solace''.
File:H4-Raider-Grifball-02.jpg|Traditional golden shield flicker of the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|MJOLNIR GEN2]] in ''[[Halo 4]]''.
File:2821683-gallery.jpg|Upclose shield flickering of the GEN2, note the teal color signifying [[overshields]].
File:Spops Zealot.jpg|The shields of a [[SPARTAN-IV|Spartan-IV]] and a Sangheili Zealot flare under fire.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''
**''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
***''[[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
**''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor|Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''
**''[[Armor Testing]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[Odd One Out]]''
**''[[Prototype]]''
**''[[The Package]]''
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss]]''
**''[[Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]''
**''[[Dirt]]''
**''[[Headhunters (short story)|Headhunters]]''
**''[[Blunt Instruments]]''
**''[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]''
**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''
**''[[The Return]]''
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Remember Reach]]''
**''[[Deliver Hope]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Terminal/Halo 4|Terminals]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]''
{{Col-end}}

==Sources==
<references/>
[[Category:Shield technology| ]]