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{{ | {{Ratings}} | ||
{{ | {{Era|H1|TF|H2|GOO|H3|HW|}} | ||
{{Weapon | |||
|image = [[ | {{Weapon | ||
|manufacturer= | | image=[[Image:8311761-Full.jpg|300px]] | ||
| | | name=Sentinel Beam | ||
|type= | | manufacturer=Forerunners | ||
|cost= | | model= | ||
| | | type=Directed Energy Weapon | ||
| | | cost= | ||
| size=Handheld, Two-handed | |||
| damage per hit=Chronological | |||
| | | magazine=100 battery units | ||
| | | maxammo=100 battery units | ||
| | | fire=Continuous Fire | ||
| velocity=C, 299,792,458 metres/second. | |||
| ammotype=*Minor: Yellow-Orange Laser Beam | |||
*Major: Blue Energy Beam | |||
|ammotype = | | operation= | ||
| | | rate of fire=Continuous | ||
| | | accuracy=Very High | ||
| | | range=Medium to Long Range | ||
| | | era=[[Halo CE]] (usable only through modding and seen by ally/opposing Sentinels), but usable on [[Halo 2]] and [[Halo 3]] | ||
| | | counterpart=[[Assault Rifle]], [[Plasma Rifle]], [[Spiker]] | ||
| | | counterwep=[[Plasma]] weapons and explosives | ||
| | | affiliation=[[Forerunner]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{ | {{Cleanup}} | ||
The ''' | |||
The '''Sentinel Beam''' is a [[Forerunner]] [[Wikipedia:Laser|Laser]]-based directed energy [[weapon]]. Sentinel Beams are often integrated into [[Sentinel]]s, from whom the weapon takes its name. The weapon is particularly effective against small [[Flood]] outbreaks and [[energy shields]]. | |||
== Description == | |||
The Sentinel Beam was designed to control small outbreaks of the Flood, and was integrated into Sentinels for that very purpose. The weapon projects a yellow-orange or blue beam of energy, which is capable of efficiently cutting through hordes of Flood -- [[Infection Form]]s in particular. Continuous contact from a Sentinel Beam can be devastating against any opponent, especially in ''[[Halo 3]]''. | |||
Like the [[Energy Sword]] and the [[Fuel Rod Gun]], the Sentinel Beam cannot be used by players in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' without [[modding]]; it later became usable in ''[[Halo 2]]'' and ''Halo 3''. The more powerful blue version of the beam is only available in ''Halo 2'''s [[campaign]]. A ''Halo 2'' [[Easter Egg]] shows a [[dual wielding|dual-wieldable]] version of the weapon. | |||
The Sentinel Beam runs on a non-rechargeable battery that runs out very quickly. Like the [[Covenant]]'s [[plasma]]-based arsenal, it can temporarily overheat if 20% of the battery is used up in one continuous shot; the weapon vents excess heat extremely quickly in an attempt to counter this. In addition to being effective against the Flood, the Sentinel Beam's ability to rapidly drain energy shields also makes it an effective weapon against the Sentinels themselves. | |||
A Sentinel Beam's battery drains very rapidly and yet even Sentinels created many thousands of years ago are capable of firing one. It may be possible that a Sentinel Beam attached to a Sentinel is powered by the Sentinel itself. It should be noted, though, that Sentinel Beams taken off of destroyed Sentinels often have some of the battery depleted. | |||
Sentinel Beams have unlimited range, but they lack a scope because scopes are already present on Sentinels' eyes. | |||
=== | === Monitors === | ||
Also worth noting is the version of the beam that the [[Monitor]] [[343 Guilty Spark]] makes use of. In ''Halo 3'', the construct uses the integrated weapon to destroy a Flood [[Combat Form]], mortally wound [[Sergeant Avery Johnson]], and fight off the [[Master Chief]] and the [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter]]. The beam he fires is more powerful than and twice as thick as the usual Sentinel Beam, and is bright red in color rather than orange. It is possible, however, that this beam is not a Sentinel Beam at all. | |||
== In the ''Halo'' games == | |||
In the ''Halo 2'' [[campaign]], the Sentinel Beam is a deadly weapon, easily capable of stripping the shields of an [[Elite]]. It possesses a decent rate of fire, amazing accuracy and range, and sustained attacks with the weapon inflict large amounts of damage. The beam's targeting reticule is also reasonably centered, making it easier to aim. The weapon's [[melee]] attack is about as strong as that of a [[Rocket Launcher]], and is likewise considerably slow. | |||
Two variants of the Sentinel Beam are seen in the campaign: the standard yellow-orange one in the silver housing, and the more powerful blue beam, which is encased in a gold housing. While the blue version is more powerful, it is also quite rare and will overheat faster than the standard version of the weapon. | |||
The beam makes another appearance in ''Halo 3'', with a few visual upgrades and several technical fixes. Unlike its ''Halo 2'' counterpart, the weapon now has virtually infinite range and fires a much stronger beam that, if held consistently on an enemy, can destroy them within seconds. It is, obviously enough, extremely effective when used against Flood, and will cut down any form -- including the vaunted [[Pure Forms]] -- if aimed properly. | |||
In ''Halo 3'', the weapon does not spawn on any unaltered maps, and [[gametype]]s cannot be used to force it to spawn; it is only available in [[Forge]]d map variants. This is likely due to the weapon's increased power and range, which make it devastating in Multiplayer matches. | |||
= | === Beam Variants === | ||
The blue Sentinel Beam used by [[Sentinel Major]]s is a stronger and more efficient version of the common yellow-orange Sentinel Beam, though it also overheats more quickly and its charge depletes faster. The blue Sentinel Beam is used by [[Sentinel Major]]s. | |||
The beams used by the [[Onyx Sentinel|Sentinels]] at [[Onyx]] were a golden color. Although this variation of the weapon took significantly longer to charge, it is thought to have been capable of destroying a fully shielded [[Spartan II|Spartan]]. Furthermore, Onyx Sentinels were capable of cooperating to generate golden beams capable of destroying entire [[Covenant Cruiser]]s. The power of the beams is one of many differences documented in [[Onyx Sentinel|the Sentinel variant's article]]; such differences are likely because Oynx Sentinels were guarding something even more important than the [[Halo Array]]: the [[Shield World]]s. | |||
== | ==Appearances== | ||
This weapon first appears in [[Halo: Combat Evolved]], though like the [[Energy Sword]] and the [[Fuel Rod Gun]], the player cannot wield it. | |||
In [[Halo 2]], it first appears on [[The Arbiter (Level)|The Arbiter]], where [[Heretic Elites]] used it as a weapon to attempt to stop the [[Arbiter (Character)|Arbiter]] and his allies from eradicating the [[Heretic]] force, in the [[Gas Mine]]. Flood Elite [[Flood Combat Form|Combat Forms]] then used it on [[The Oracle (Level)|The Oracle]], since almost all of the Elite forms were once Heretic Elites. Many of these weapons appear on [[Sacred Icon (Level)|Sacred Icon]] and [[Quarantine Zone (Level)|Quarantine Zone]], where the stronger blue beam versions were available from the many destroyed [[Sentinel Majors]]. It lasted longer than the one in Halo 3. | |||
In [[Halo 3]], It first appears on [[The Ark (Level)|The Ark]], where it can be gained by picking one of the Sentinels being destroyed (by you, although they may attack you if you destroy too many, or the Covenant Loyalists) patrolling the area. Then it was seen on [[The Covenant (Level)|The Covenant]], where some Sentinels were tasked to aid the Arbiter and [[Master Chief]] in their escape from the Flood in the [[Ark]]'s [[Citadel]]. When Master Chief, the Arbiter and Johnson arrive on the new [[Installation 04 (II)]], they had to clear the Flood blocking their way to the Control Room with the assistance of Sentinels. When one of the Sentinels is destroyed, the Sentinel Beam will remain intact. When the monitor 343 Guilty Spark was destroyed, and the Halo ring activated, Sentinels turned on the escaping Spartan and the Arbiter, which caused several casualties and left their Beam weapons collectible to them. The energy of this weapon was drained when using rather than the one in Halo 2. | |||
== | ==Character Compatibility== | ||
* | *[[Elite]]s ([[Halo 2]] and [[Halo 3]]) | ||
*[[Spartan II]]s ([[Halo 2]] and [[Halo 3]]) | |||
* | *[[Sentinels]] | ||
*[[Monitor]]s | |||
* | |||
== | ==[[Multiplayer]]== | ||
[[Image:Sentinel Warthog.jpg|thumb|Right|A player firing the weapon from the passenger seat of a Warthog. Note the single-handed wielding.]]The Sentinel Beam is quite rare in multiplayer games, and if available, it can be a powerful weapon in the hands of experts. In ''[[Halo 2]]'', the Sentinel Beam is useful, but in ''[[Halo 3]]'' it is one of the best weapons in the game. On many [[Infection]] game types, when [[Zombies]] have instant death, the Sentinel Beam is very powerful, allowing a player to sweep an area at any range, killing all foes in the immediate area. | |||
== | ===Other tips=== | ||
====Halo Custom Edition==== | |||
The Sentinel Beam is only available for use in [[Halo Custom Edition]] if you bump-possess a [[Sentinel]], carry out a certain order of steps, or simply modify the desired level so that you start with a Sentinel Beam or as a Sentinel. The beam never runs out, but it is relatively ineffective against other players. Excluding the results of [[modding]], the weapon is only used by Sentinels. | |||
===''Halo | ====''Halo 2''==== | ||
*In ''Halo 2'', the Sentinel Beam appears as a default weapon in the [[base]]s on [[Backwash]] and [[Desolation]]. | |||
*The weapon can actually make it harder for enemy players to see if it is aimed at their head, but such a tactic should only be attempted at short to medium range. | |||
*This is best used in a small map like [[Warlock]]. Also good for [[Headlong]] as long as you have other more powerful weapons with you. | |||
*If the Sentinel Beam is the only weapon you have, conserve ammo and rely on meleeing as much as possible. It has a quick and effective melee. Only fire the weapon when your target is far away, because ammo goes fast. Melee in close quarters, and avoid deadly crossfire. Replace it as often as possible. | |||
*If you have other weapons on the map, use those. The Sentinel Beam is effective, but hard to aim. Only use it if you have advantages over other players, such as better aim. | |||
*A Sentinel Beam is useful against unshielded foes, so a [[grenade]] to take down the opponent's shields followed by a burst from the Sentinel Beam can quickly kill an opponent. | |||
*A widely refuted myth about this weapon is that it can score head shots. This is partially true. Like the [[Magnum]], [[Battle Rifle]], [[Covenant Carbine]], [[Sniper Rifle]], and [[Beam Rifle]], it can get head shots, but only if you are already aiming at the head when you start shooting, i.e., it will not work if you sweep the beam to the target's head. | |||
*The Sentinel Beam is accurate at any distance. | |||
*Ironically, it is a very good weapon against Sentinels. | |||
*On the ''Halo 2'' Campaign level [[Quarantine Zone]], you can, at start, give two of your [[Elite]] allies a Sentinel Beam, and have them board the riding seats of your [[Spectre]]. Since NPCs can't run out of ammo, they make excellent weaponry. Sadly, further in the mission, if you manage to keep both Elites and Spectre intact to that point, you have to leave the Spectre. | |||
== | ====''Halo 3''==== | ||
*During a game of [[Infection]], the Sentinel Beam is an effective way to rid yourself of chasing Zombie forces, but take care as to where you aim, since the beam is easy to spot and is likely to give your position away if the shot goes astray. | |||
* | *When loading up vehicles, a Sentinel Beam in the passenger seat is an incredibly deadly tool. The most flexible location is in the back seat of a [[Mongoose]], although the passenger seat of a [[Warthog]] or [[Prowler]] is also useful and advantageous to the match. The advantage of vehicle-bound Sentinel Beams is that it can 'clothesline' foes. | ||
* | *Even though it is a headshot weapon, try aiming it at the stomach area for better accuracy, as the weapon is powerful enough to not need a headshot. | ||
*Steady shots can make the Sentinel Beam a great anti-sniper weapon. Fire at the sniper and then sweep the area. You will eventually meet your target, and they will have a difficult time evading the beam. | |||
*The Sentinel Beam has an extremely large power consumption rate, about 5% per second, so always carry a backup weapon and try to save the Beam for emergencies. | |||
* | *The Sentinel Beam is very useful for taking down a [[Brute]]'s [[Power Armor]] quickly and effectively. It is also great for taking down [[Jackals]] and their shields as well as [[Grunts]]' armor, but it may overheat. | ||
*The Sentinel Beam is great against the Flood, as Infection Forms will burst if they are even slightly touched by the beam. Human Flood forms will die instantly, though Elite and Brute forms may take longer to kill. Aim for the Infection Form embedded in their chest and you'll kill it. [[Pure Forms]] are tougher, but [[Stalker Form|Stalkers]] and [[Ranged Form]]s will die by the time it overheats. [[Tank Form]]s however, will take two long blasts to take down from the stomach or for a possibly instant kill, aim for the mouth. | |||
*Currently, the Sentinel Beam is not available in any [[Matchmaking]] playlists. This is likely due to the weapon's power. | |||
*If you encounter a [[Wraith]], aim at the gunner with the Sentinel Beam. Sustain your fire, and you'll kill the Brute gunner. It'll overheat, but Wraith mortars are more easily dodged than [[Plasma Cannon]] shots. | |||
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== | ==Trivia== | ||
{{ | *This is the only usable Forerunner weapon in the trilogy, other than the Major Sentinel's beam. | ||
*Even though the beam looks as it goes on forever, it doesn’t. If you stand on top of the building near the back alley with the Warthogs in [[Headlong]], you can shoot towards the bridge across the map and a second player can see that the beam ends. | |||
*It is currently not available by default in '''any''' known Halo 3 multiplayer map. It is only available in Forge, and Custom Games (apart from a handful of special community maps chosen by Bungie for the [[7 on the 7th]] and [[Bungie vs World]] playlists. | |||
*The [[Automated Turret]] uses a similar beam to that of the [[Sentinel Major]] from [[Halo 2]]. | |||
*In Halo 2, there is a lone Sentinel that fires [[Needler]] rounds and drops a Needler when killed. This was meant to be a test when Bungie was experimenting with different weapons for the Sentinels. None of these new weapons made it into the final version of the game, but the lone [[Needler Sentinel]] was not deleted from the final product. | |||
*In [[Halo 2]], when a Sentinel Major's Sentinel Beam is dropped, it has the steel color of a Minor's beam, but when picked up is colored gold like a [[Sentinel Major]]'s beam, denoting an error on Bungie's behalf. | |||
*The Sentinels on [[Onyx]] have beams with temperatures as high as 15,000 Kelvin<ref> [[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]</ref> | |||
*Some have speculated that the [[Spartan Laser]] was based on the Sentinel Beam. This is, if unlikely, certainly possible as Humans were alleged to have discovered [[Forerunner]] structures before meeting the [[Covenant]]. | |||
*Despite the fact that it has no scope, the Sentinel Beam can also be treated as a sniper weapon, due to the extremely long range and accuracy. | |||
*A Sentinel Beam can easily drain a player's shields on multiplayer, even with overshields on. A player can be killed in just a few seconds of direct fire. | |||
*The only enemies that use Sentinel Beams besides the Sentinels are [[Heretic Elites]] and their infected [[Combat Form|counterpart]] in Halo 2. | |||
*Spartans and Elites hold the Sentinel Beam like a Support Weapon such as a turret or a [[Flamethrower]]. | |||
*The Sentinel Beam is used as "cutting laser" and a holy beam to end the Preceptor's power in the popular Halo Machinima [[The Codex]]. | |||
*The Sentinel Beam's beam appears in orange and light blue colors. 343 Guilty Spark uses a much stronger and more powerful red colored Sentinel Beam. | |||
*When a passenger is in a ground UNSC vehicle, the weapon is held with one hand, giving the appearance of the beam being shot from the Passengers hand, not the Sentinel Beam. | |||
*In [[Halo: Combat Evolved]], this weapon was not able to be wielded. When a [[Sentinel]] was destroyed, the weapon was either destroyed with the body, or simply too attached to be removed. | |||
*When the popular Machinima [[Red vs. Blue]] first began utilizing [[Halo 2]], the players used as camera men used the Sentinel Beam to film as the makers of the show felt that it took up the least amount of room on the screen.{{fact}} | |||
*The Sentinel Beam is extremely powerful against [[Flood]]; if the player concentrates a shot for a few seconds it will kill most Flood Forms. | |||
*[[Forerunners]] referred to the [[Sentinels]] and their beams as "our very basic countermeasures". | |||
*The Monitor's Sentinel Beam seems to be a crossing between a [[Spartan Laser]] and a Sentinel Beam. | |||
*In Halo 2, you can hold a Sentinel Beam as primary weapon and a Major Sentinel Beam as a secondary weapon. | |||
*[[Quarantine Zone]] and [[Sacred Icon]] are the only levels in which you can get the Major Sentinel Beam. | |||
*There are only [[7]] levels in the Halo Trilogy where you can get the Sentinel Beam. | |||
*The Sentinel beam is strong enough to knock around the bodies of [[Grunt|Grunts]], [[Jackals]] and [[Drones]] if hit in Halo 2. | |||
*If you disarm an [[Enforcer]] by shooting its weapons off, its last resort weapon is an invisible sentinel beam. | |||
*[[Halo 2]] is the only [[Halo]] game with a [[Sentinel Major]] beam. | |||
*On the Halo 2 level [[The Arbiter (Level)|The Arbiter]], if you look along the tunnel, you will see a [[Heretic Grunt]] sleeping with a Sentinel Beam. | |||
*It is possible to "rapid melee" with a Sentinel Beam like previously allowed with weapons in [[Halo 2]] by tapping the crouch button and the melee button. It is unknown why this is possible. The Sentinel Beam and the Gravity Hammer are the only weapons currently known to have the ability to rapid melee in [[Halo 3]] but, this is probably an overlooked mistake by Bungie since "rapid meleeing" was exclusive to Halo 2. | |||
*In ''Halo 2'', if you give an Elite a Sentinel Beam, he will hold it with his left hand over the weapon and will have his hand bent awkwardly. | |||
*In [[Halo: Combat Evolved|Halo: CE]] if you bump-possess a Sentinel in Developer Mode, you can pick up Assault Rifles and use them, as a Sentinel. This is the only other weapon a Sentinel can use, the other being its beam. | |||
*If you bump-possess a Sentinel in [[Halo:Combat Evolved|Halo: CE]], using its beam on another Sentinel will not hurt it, but it will lower its shield, that's if it has one. | |||
*There are only two weapons that a sentinel can use (besides the sentinel beam/major sentinel beam) in Halo: Combat Evolved; the assault rifle and the deleted gravity rifle, which still exists in the game's code. | |||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
<references/> | |||
==Related Pages== | |||
*[[Sentinels]] | |||
*[[Sentinel Major]] | |||
{{ | {{Forerunner2}} | ||
[[Category:Forerunner | [[Category:The Forerunner]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Held Weapons]] | ||
[[Category:Weapons]] |