Zasqi-pattern fuel rod gun

This article is about the fuel rod gun introduced in Halo: Combat Evolved. For other variants of the fuel rod gun, see Fuel rod gun.

Zasqi-pattern Flak Launcher
Production overview
Manufacturer:	Merchants of Qikost
Type:	Fuel rod gun
Specifications
Length:	174 centimeters (68.7 in)
Ammunition type:	Class-2 Fuel rods
Capacity:	5 rounds
Feed system:	Battery-powered
Optics:	None
Service history
In service:	Human-Covenant War

The Zasqi-pattern Flak Launcher is a type of fuel rod gun that was in service within the Covenant's Fleet of Particular Justice in September 2552. It is a shoulder-mounted, battery-powered weapon which fires fuel rods, and was often carried by Spec-Ops Unggoy during the later stages of the Battle of Installation 04.

Overview

Design details

The Zasqi-pattern fuel rod gun is a powerful, shoulder-mounted infantry weapon which fires explosive fuel rod ammunition, similar to vehicle-mounted weapons such as the fuel rod cannon, but which have a very pronounced downward arc. Unlike other fuel rod gun models such as the Pez'tk-pattern and Gespu-pattern, the Zasqi-pattern design draws from a battery reserve, instead of a physical magazine. As such, it is subject to the same limitations as other Covenant battery-powered weaponry: notably, it will overheat if fired rapidly for too long, and it cannot easily be recharged on the battlefield. The core power output of the weapon is 250–300 kV : 4-5 dA, while the overcharge power output is 2.5 mV : 4-5 dA.

Some versions of this weapon were known to be equipped with a failsafe "dead man's switch", which caused the weapon’s breach-pin to detonate the remaining ammunition if its wielder was killed in combat, rendering the weapon inoperable and useless and potentially damaging any enemies—or allies—nearby. This was common for other types of fuel rod gun too, such as the Pez'tk-pattern. However, the concept was phased out by the Covenant in late 2552.

As of September 2552, the UNSC was unaware of how to replace the weapon's power cell.

Operational history

The weapon was commonly seen wielded by Spec-Ops Unggoy during the Battle of Installation 04, particularly during the later stages after the release of the Flood. Rtas 'Vadumee's strike team included Spec-Ops Grunts wielding the weapon during his mission to the Infinite Succor which took place concurrently.

In-game information

Halo: Combat Evolved

The campaign model for the fuel rod gun.

Main article: Fuel Rod Gun (gameplay) § Halo: Combat Evolved

In the Xbox version of Halo: Combat Evolved, the fuel rod gun (known in the game's tags as plasmacannon) exclusively appears in the game's campaign as a weapon fielded by SpecOps Grunts. This version of the weapon cannot be wielded by the player, and will explode once its operator has been killed, similarly to the Energy Sword. The campaign variant of the weapon is magazine-fed and requires a charge-up to fire, similarly to the Hunter's assault cannon.

In Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, the weapon's model is replaced with that of the Korva-pattern fuel rod gun from Halo: Reach.

The multiplayer model of the fuel rod gun.

In the PC port of Halo the fuel rod gun was made useable by players for the first time in the game's multiplayer, with the unique tag of fuel rod gun. However, this variant differs from the campaign iteration in many ways: it features a new model and texture that were redesigned by Gearbox Software to reflect the campaign design in higher-quality, albeit with a few minor differences. The most notable aesthetic change is the weapon's colour, going from the gold-black of the base game to a more distinct purple colouration. Gameplay-wise, the updated multiplayer fuel rod was changed from a magazine- to a battery-fed weapon, capable of firing a total of 28 rounds on a full charge. If fired at its maximum fire rate, it can shoot around five rounds before it overheats. Unlike the campaign version of the weapon, it does not explode when dropped by players and does not need to be charged to fire. This version of the weapon does not replace the original one found in the game's campaign.

In Halo: The Master Chief Collection, the fuel rod gun was included as a piece of content in the Combat Evolved multiplayer segment alongside the Flamethrower and Rocket Warthog. In Series 2: Spark, a number of weapon skins were added for the weapon, allowing its colour to be changed.

Trivia

• In Halo PC multiplayer, the weapon's barrel retracts into the weapon when fired. Whether this is the firing mechanism or a recoil compensator is unknown, but the weapon has very little recoil on the hands of the player character, supporting the latter.
• The fuel rod gun was originally meant to be a grenade launcher, but it was changed to a Covenant rocket launcher. It can be viewed on this video.

Gallery

Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

Halo: Combat Evolved campaign model

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  An early model for the fuel rod gun, from the 1999 MacWorld build of Halo: Combat Evolved.

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  A render of the fuel rod gun released by Bungie, with a gold shader more akin to the redesigns later featured in Halo 2-onwards.

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  A Special Operations Unggoy with a fuel rod gun in Halo: Combat Evolved.

Halo: Combat Evolved PC multiplayer model

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  A fuel rod gun schematic as seen in Halo: Combat Evolved.

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  A Spartan holding a Fuel Rod Gun in Halo: Combat Evolved.

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  A Spartan with a fuel rod gun in Halo: Combat Evolved for PC Multiplayer.

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  From a Spartan's point of view in the PC version of Halo: Combat Evolved.

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  The Fuel Rod Gun overheating in Halo: Combat Evolved PC.

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  A violet-colored Fuel Rod Gun from Halo: Combat Evolved.

List of appearances

• Halo: Combat Evolved (First appearance)
• Halo: First Strike
• Halo Graphic Novel
  • The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor
• Halo: Uprising
• Halo: Fall of Reach
  • Invasion