Editing Shade

{{Era|HCW}}
{{Ratings}}
{{Ship
|image=[[File:HCE Shade.jpg|300px]]
|name=Shade
|manufacturer=[[Covenant]]
|line=
|model=
|class=
|length=
|width=
|height=
|mass=
|max accel=
|max speed space=
|max speed air=
|engine=
|slipspace drive=
|slipspace speed=
|poweroutput=
|power=
|shield gen=
|hull=
|sensor=
|target=
|navigation=
|avionics=
|countermeasures=
|armament=Varies
*[[Class-2 Energy Gun]]
*[[Class-2 Projectile cannon]]
*[[Heavy plasma cannon]]
|complement=
|crew=*One gunner
|skeleton=
|passengers=
|capacity=
|consumables=
|othersystems=
|firstuse=
|role=Varies
*Anti-infantry
*Anti-vehicle
*Anti-air
|era=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|affiliation=Covenant
}}

'''Shade''' is a common name given to the [[Covenant]]'s stationary gun turrets.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''Bungie.net game stats''</ref> While these weapons platforms vary in shape and role, only one model, the [[Type-26 Anti-Infantry Stationary Gun]], has been identified.

==Design details and operation==
The Shade is a Covenant stationary gun, commonly operated by [[Unggoy]]. The Shade offers a wide field of fire and a 360-degree traversal mount. The Covenant use the Shade's field of fire to their advantage and place them at strategic points where they can do the most damage. Though most of the Shade models fill an anti-infantry role, anti-vehicle and anti-air variants of the Shade also exist.

===Anti-infantry Shade===
The anti-infantry version of the Shade gun fires two or three bolts of slow moving, high powered plasma encased in magnetic fields. The accuracy of a Shade's weapon is fairly low, as the bolts of plasma fired can hit anywhere within the aiming reticle. The anti-infantry Shade is effective against most infantry. However, due to their high intelligence, [[Sangheili]] will often find cover and escape the Shade's range of fire. On this same note, the bolts fired lack the required punch to damage [[Mgalekgolo]], whose armor and combat shield can withstand most Covenant and UNSC small firearms, causing the plasma bolts to have little to no effect on them. It has shown good defense against light vehicles such as the [[Type-32 Rapid Assault Vehicle|Ghost]], and in desperate situations, can serve as anti-aircraft defense, requiring only a few direct hits to destroy a [[Banshee]].

As with its recognizable [[M41 LAAG|human counterpart]], the anti-infantry Shade is very effective against both enemy ground forces and light vehicles. Some of its advantages over its human counterpart are that the plasma bolts are accurate and effective at longer distances and it is easier to see where shots are actually going than it is with the M41's rounds, although this might also effect the ability of the target to dodge them.

As a disadvantage, the player will be exposed to enemy fire. While it is useful against enemies in light vehicles, this is not a weapon of choice when facing an enemy armored vehicle. Also, as is the case with the M41, players are unprotected from the rear. Additionally, the ''[[Halo 3]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s version of the Shade has an extremely slow turning rate, making it a detriment to the user. The Shade's rate-of-fire is also slower than that of the M41.

===Fuel Rod Shade===
A more rarely seen variant, the anti-vehicle Shade is armed with a single [[Class-2 Projectile cannon|fuel rod cannon]]. The variant can also be used in an anti-air or anti-infantry role. Its basic shape is similar to the Type-26 ASG, but it is colored iridescent green instead. This variant only appears in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', on the level [[Tip of the Spear]].

===Heavy Shade===
Armed with twin [[heavy plasma cannon]]s with explosive bolts, the anti-air Shade is used to repel enemy aircraft. As with the fuel rod Shade, its chassis appears to be based on the T-26 ASG. However, the anti-air shade possesses an energy shield to protect the operator. The anti-air Shade appears in ''Halo: Reach'', on the levels Tip of the Spear and [[New Alexandria (level)|New Alexandria]].

==Models==
===Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo Wars===
The Shade was first seen in the E3 demo atop a [[Spectre]] and made its first gameplay appearance in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''<nowiki />'s level, [[The Truth and Reconciliation]]. The Shade also makes an appearance in ''[[Halo Wars]]'' and is identical to the ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' Shade.

The Shade in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo Wars'' consists of a sturdy base of three legs and a floating, mobile, turret-like seat with control systems for its "nozzle".

===Halo 2===
The Shade returned in ''Halo 2'', and is referred to as the Shielded Plasma Cannon.{{Citation needed}} Similar to the [[Phantom]] of ''Halo 2'', this turret fires slow moving red plasma bolts. To protect the gunner, this turret is equipped with an energy shield, similar to the [[Kig-yar Point Defense Gauntlet]]. These turrets are featured in the highway tunnel in Outskirts.

The turret on the [[Shadow]] is very similar in appearance to the Shade in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. In addition, these turrets seem to be more powerful than the standard Shade in ''Halo 2'', and offer more protection as they are fixed to the armored personnel carrier and, as such, are mobile. The rate of fire is also considerably faster by as much as three times.

===Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo: Reach===
{{Main|Type-26 Anti-Infantry Stationary Gun}}
The Shade returned in ''Halo 3'' and had major visual and technical updates from its predecessors; the Shade now is in the shape of a ball-turret, has a higher rate of fire, and provides excellent front and side protection for the gunner. Like all Shades that have appeared in previous games, it is elevated on a small gravity lift that hovers the turret in the air, and so has a full 360 degree field of view.

Interestingly, the Shade's aiming reticule was similar to a [[Needler]]'s, except with a circle of lines at the center. The Shade was in multiplayer only in ''[[Halo 3 Epsilon]]'', as it was removed from the final version, even in [[Forge]]. Modders are still able to [[mod]] the game to get the Shade on certain maps.

In ''Halo 3: ODST'', the Shade seems to rotate quicker than it did in ''Halo 3''. It is also worth noting that in ''Halo 3: ODST'', the Shade lacks a plate of armor in the top middle, in between its guns, exposing the operator to enemy snipers.

In ''Halo: Reach'', the Shade's rate of fire is the same of its ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' incarnation, although it fires the plasma bolts of the ''Halo 3'' Shade. The flaps at the side no longer cover the user, instead giving the user more angular cover. Anti-air and anti-vehicle variants of the Shade are also introduced in ''Halo: Reach''.

==Tactics==
===Campaign===
*Heavy weapons, vehicles or grenades are perfect to destroy Shades.
*In ''Halo 3: ODST'', Automags and snipers can be used to kill the gunner if no heavy weapons can be found.
*Ramming it with any vehicle at speed is an instant kill except in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo Wars''.
*In ''Halo 3'' if you shoot a Shade from a distance and in the middle between the two pieces that jut out, the operator might jump out.
*In ''Halo 3'', if you stand right in front of the turret, in between the guns, the operator will not turn the turret to make you slide in front of it, making you a harder target.

== Trivia ==
*Neither the [[Power Drain]] nor an overcharged [[Plasma Pistol]] shot can disable the Shade's firing mechanisms, though either of these will temporarily disable its ability to rotate, this applies to all EMP weapons.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="160">
File:Halo3shadeshot.jpg|A close up of a Shade's Plasma bolt in mid-flight in ''Halo 3.''
File:Shade-shot.jpg|Shade Plasma bolts in mid-flight in ''Halo: Combat Evolved.''
File:John plasma turret.png|Shade in ''Halo 2.''
File:ShadowH2.png|A Shade on top of a [[Shadow]].
File:T26 ASG.png|The T-26 anti-infantry Shade in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:AA_Shade.png|An anti-air Shade in ''Halo: Reach.''
File:Fuel_rod_Shade.png|The fuel rod Shade turret in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:Untitled.png|While using the Fuel Rod Shade.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
{{Appearances|Halo: Combat Evolved|Halo 2|Halo 3|Halo 3: ODST|Halo Wars|Halo: Reach|Halo: The Fall of Reach|Halo: The Flood|Halo: First Strike|Halo: Ghosts of Onyx|Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe}}

==Sources==
<references/>
{{Covenant Weapons}}
[[Category:Covenant Weapons]]