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Gravity hammer: Difference between revisions

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=== ''Halo Wars'' ===
=== ''Halo Wars'' ===
In  multiplayer and skirmish mode in ''Halo Wars'', the [[Thrallslayer|Brute chieftain]] is armed with a gravity hammer. It features very powerful vortex ability that can rip objects apart and suck them in. When the vortex grabs units such as [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]], they will be battered by the shrapnel in the vortex and by their fellow squad members, in addition to being hurled violently. When the vortex leader power is put to a halt, either by the player's choosing or by enemy forces, an explosion will send everything in the vortex outward. Upgrades to the hammer include adding a stun, pulling enemies toward him, and increasing range and damage.
In  multiplayer and skirmish mode in ''Halo Wars'', the [[Avitus|Brute chieftain]] is armed with a gravity hammer. It features very powerful vortex ability that can rip objects apart and suck them in. When the vortex grabs units such as [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]], they will be battered by the shrapnel in the vortex and by their fellow squad members, in addition to being hurled violently. When the vortex leader power is put to a halt, either by the player's choosing or by enemy forces, an explosion will send everything in the vortex outward. Upgrades to the hammer include adding a stun, pulling enemies toward him, and increasing range and damage.


=== ''Halo: Spartan Assault'' and ''Halo: Spartan Strike'' ===
=== ''Halo: Spartan Assault'' and ''Halo: Spartan Strike'' ===
Line 133: Line 133:
File:H3 Raging Brute chieftain.jpg|A [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|chieftain]] wielding a gravity hammer.
File:H3 Raging Brute chieftain.jpg|A [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|chieftain]] wielding a gravity hammer.
File:SpartanCTF.JPG|A Spartan with a gravity hammer holstered on his back in ''Grifball''.
File:SpartanCTF.JPG|A Spartan with a gravity hammer holstered on his back in ''Grifball''.
File:HW_Thrallslayer_2.jpg|A [[Jiralhanae Army Commander]] wielding his gravity hammer in ''[[Halo Wars]]''.
File:HW_Thrallslayer_2.jpg|A [[Avitus]] wielding his gravity hammer in ''[[Halo Wars]]''.
File:H3ODST War Chieftain with Gravity Hammer.jpg|A [[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|War Chieftain]] wielding a gravity hammer in ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''.
File:H3ODST War Chieftain with Gravity Hammer.jpg|A [[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|War Chieftain]] wielding a gravity hammer in ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''.
File:Schism 2.png|A [[Jiralhanae Captain Major]] with a gravity hammer in ''[[The Return]]''.
File:Schism 2.png|A [[Jiralhanae Captain Major]] with a gravity hammer in ''[[The Return]]''.

Revision as of 08:47, April 13, 2022

Gravity hammer
H5 Gravity Hammer.png
Production overview

Manufacturer:

Sacred Promissory[1]

Type:

Hand held, two-handed melee weapon

Variants:

Fist of Rukt

Specifications

Length:

203.7 centimetres (80.2 in)[1][2]

Width:

33 centimetres (13 in)[2]

Height:

61.7 centimetres (24.3 in)[2]

Weight:

38.7 kilograms (85 lb)[2]

Ammunition type:

Electromagnetic energy[3]

Feed system:

100 battery units

Effective range:

Close

Service history

In service:

 

"One hit from that hammer and you ended up a puddle of bones and blood."
— Private Aaron Landvik[4]

The Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer (T-2 EW/H), more commonly known as the gravity hammer, is a powerful, close-quarters, two-handed melee weapon used by the Jiralhanae.[5][6]

Overview

Background

The gravity hammers evolved from traditional war hammers wielded by Jiralhanae war chieftains,[2] which were a major focus of the Jiralhanae's barbaric culture, as it serves as the ultimate symbol of clan leadership in addition to being a powerful weapon. The ceremonial hammer of a pack or a clan is only passed to another Jiralhanae if he can best his chieftain in ceremonial combat; the mantle of leadership passes along with the weapon.[6] The wielder of the weapon was expected to treat their gravity hammer with great care.[7]

When the Jiralhanae were incorporated into the Covenant, advanced Covenant technologies were adapted by the Jiralhanae and applied to their war hammers. After Tartarus' rise to power, many war hammers of chieftains were commissioned into the contemporary gravity hammer, with components of the ancestral hammers incorporated when possible.[2]

Design

Though gravity hammers used by Jiralhanae serving in the Covenant military tend to follow a standard design, not all are functionally or aesthetically identical; gravity hammers are often tailored to suit the desires of specific clans, families, or packs.[6] The first gravity hammer and the template for the standardized weapons of this type was the Fist of Rukt, an ancestral war hammer of Maccabeus' clan which was upgraded with Covenant gravity technology after Tartarus was appointed the Chieftain of the Jiralhanae in the Covenant.[8]

Though individual gravity hammers are crafted differently, the design of the standard Type-2 EW/H is rather simple, being composed of a long haft and a heavy head with a tungsten-alloy blade on the reverse end. Within the head is a short-range shock-field-generating gravity drive[3] that uses gravity impellers[9] that are often re-purposed from other technology[10] to emit a kinetic pulse around 4.5 meters outward; this device was added to the weapon shortly after the Jiralhanae's incorporation into the Covenant in 2492.[5][6] The Gravity Hammer was manufactured by the Sacred Promissory prior to the fall of High Charity being taken over by Jiralhanae war forges and was developed by the Paegaas workshop in the Fall of Reach, the Akelus workshop in the final days of the Human-Covenant War, and a variety of workshops under the influence of the Banished.[11]This device can displace gravity in targeted locations and manipulate localized energy fields,[3] though the Jiralhanae's brutal nature means that they often prefer to use the weapon in melee combat.[6] This allows the ability to pull a target towards that wielded or push it away as well as even create a vortex which pulls things in and then detonates the vortex to push things out.[12][13][14][15] The exact mechanism by which it functions is currently under investigation by the UNSC.[5]

Variants

  • Corpsemaker: Made of the finest materials its creator could coerce or steal from raider lairs on Warial and Teash. Improved Gravity Hammer with faster swing time and additional energy capacity.[16]
  • Grinder: The sound of overloading shields, cracking bones, and shattering armor is music to Jiralhanae ears. Improved Gravity Hammer with uncalibrated impellors that generate an unstable gravimetric vortex EMP at the point of impact.[16]
  • Tartarus' Gavel: During his ascent to power within the Covenant, Tartarus used his relationship with the Prophets to reward loyal lieutenants with advanced weaponry secretly forged within the Sacred Promissory; one such hammer was the Tartarus' Gavel.[17] Mythic Gravity Hammer that unleashes a linear series of kinetic explosions with each swing that also EMPs vehicles. Equipping Tartarus' Gavel also boosts movement speed, shield strength, and jump height.
  • Jiralhanae Warlord's gravity hammers: These uniquely-fashioned[18] Gravity Hammers are equipped with a gravity beam to drag targets closer.[19]
  • Voridus' gravity hammer: This Gravity Hammer is only wielded by Voridus who added Infusion gel to leave puddles or pools of Infusion on impact.[20]
  • Rushdown Hammer: A special Gravity Hammer that has been painted white and gives the user increased speed like the Duelist Energy Sword.
  • Corpsemaker.

    Corpsemaker.

  • Grinder.

    Grinder.

  • Tartarus' Gavel.

    Tartarus' Gavel.

  • A unique Gravity Hammer wielded by a Jiralhanae Warlord.

    A unique Gravity Hammer wielded by a Jiralhanae Warlord.

  • Voridus' unique gravity hammer.

    Voridus' unique gravity hammer.

Gameplay

Advantages

The gravity hammer in Halo 3.

The gravity hammer is a very powerful weapon, useful in close quarters combat. With a bit of skill, they can even be effectively used against vehicles, usually offering an instant kill. The hammer has a splash damage effect, and a well-placed hit could kill multiple foes in one swing. In some aspects, it is more powerful than the energy sword - a kill against a Covenant enemy or an opponent in multiplayer uses 10% of the energy sword's battery, whereas the gravity hammer only uses 8.33%. When timed perfectly, the gravity hammer can even be used to deflect certain objects, such as rockets and even grenades. In campaign or firefight, 5% of the hammer's battery is used per swing.

Disadvantages

  • The gravity hammer is huge and visible, so when wielding it as a primary or secondary weapon, you risk making yourself a prime target for snipers.
  • If you swing the hammer too slowly or out of range, it will push your opponent back, making it harder for you to finish him off and easier for him to counter your attack.
  • The glowing blue vents at the top of the weapon are still visible when a player has active camouflage.
  • The large area of effect of the weapon means that using it in tight quarters with friendly players is highly inadvisable.
  • An enemy wielding a shotgun can easily take down a player with the gravity hammer before he has time to swing.
  • While the gravity hammer takes only 5% energy for a swing—compared with the sword's 10% depletion, the sword only expends energy when it hits, the hammer wastes with every swing, regardless of if it hits or not.
  • If the gravity hammer is being used as a player's secondary weapon, you cannot swing momentarily as it is wielded. The character must have rested his right hand on the handle before a swing can be attempted. This is similar to the energy sword having to ignite before a lunge is possible and might have been added due to balancing issues.

Halo Wars

In multiplayer and skirmish mode in Halo Wars, the Brute chieftain is armed with a gravity hammer. It features very powerful vortex ability that can rip objects apart and suck them in. When the vortex grabs units such as Marines, they will be battered by the shrapnel in the vortex and by their fellow squad members, in addition to being hurled violently. When the vortex leader power is put to a halt, either by the player's choosing or by enemy forces, an explosion will send everything in the vortex outward. Upgrades to the hammer include adding a stun, pulling enemies toward him, and increasing range and damage.

Halo: Spartan Assault and Halo: Spartan Strike

Each smash from a Brute chieftain's gravity hammers can send a medium-range shockwave forward. The shockwaves are powerful enough to disable shields, making the player vulnerable to damage. Unlike the FPS games, the gravity hammer does not give a knockback effect when it hits an opponent.

Halo Wars 2

In Campaign and Skirmish, Jump pack Brutes are armed with Gravity Hammers. Jiralhanae Warlords are armed with Gravity Hammers as their primary weapon. The weapon is quite effective at dealing with Pod Infectors; however, its best use is against structures.

Gameplay changes

Changes from Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST to Halo: Reach

  • The lights on the head of the hammer are orange instead of blue.
  • The head of the hammer is larger.
  • The overall length of the hammer is somewhat shorter.
  • The weapon now has a red decorative symbol on the head.
  • The shaft's hand guard has been removed.
  • The blast range isn't as wide. This is most noticeable in Grifball.

Changes from Halo: Reach to Halo 4

  • Knock-back from the weapon is dramatically increased. A hit from this can send you flying; however, this can be used to the would-be victim's advantage to escape from the wielder.
  • The sound of the hammer has changed.
  • The blast radius has been increased.
  • Aiming reticle is now vertical instead of diagonal.

Changes from Halo 4 to Halo 5: Guardians

  • Like all other weapons in Halo 5: Guardians, the gravity hammer can now be smart-scoped, increasing lunge range noticeably. This expands the head of the hammer slightly.
  • Base lunge range decreased slightly.
  • Uses a new diagonal reticle based on the one seen in Halo 3 and Halo: Reach.
  • Decreased ragdoll effects applied to objects hit by the hammer.
  • Custom animations for ground pounds, Spartan charges, and assassinations.

Changes from Halo Wars to Halo Wars 2

  • New varieties of Gravity Hammer are introduced.
  • Jump pack Brutes now can wield Gravity Hammer.
  • The Gravity Hammer is very effective against buildings, performs okay against infantry and vehicles, and cannot attack air units.
  • A special animation is featured when a Gravity Hammer wielder defeats a UNSC Marine or Spartan in a melee fight.

Changes from Halo 5: Guardians to Halo Infinite

  • The Gravity Hammer no longer has the ability to Smart Scope.
  • Swings from the Gravity Hammer depletes 10% of its battery as opposed to 5%.
  • Swings from the Gravity Hammer are slower, but it produces a powerful blast in close proximity.
  • Power ammunition crates and Gravity Hammers in the battlefield refill its battery without the need to pick up a fresh one.

Trivia

Main-Legendary.png See our gameplay information related to Gravity hammer on its gameplay page.
Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

Miscellaneous

  • The gravity hammer is used in the popular playlist Grifball, in which the players have no shields and must somehow take their bomb and get it to the other team's base. The hammer is often used to create enough force to propel the bomb-carrying player over the heads of their opponents and into the goal.
  • On the map Sandbox in Halo 3 as well as in all maps in Halo: Reach, there is a remodeled version of the gravity hammer called "7 wood". The 7 wood performs exactly the same gameplay wise, except it is modeled to look like a giant golf club and features a different reticule.
  • The gravity hammer and Mauler are not featured in the Halo 3 instruction manual.
  • Despite the lack of Brutes in the game, the gravity hammer appears in Halo 4, likely due to its unique gameplay niche, its fan-favoritism, and its important role in Grifball. It is consequently the only Brute weapon to appear in Halo 4. In the entirety of Halo 4's campaign, only one gravity hammer can be found, located in an armory during the last level.[21]
  • In Halo 4 and Halo 5: Guardians, if the player is hit with a gravity hammer but does not die, the player will hear an ear ringing sound effect usually heard when they is hit with explosives in the campaign.
  • The hammer's reticle was drastically different during Halo 3's alpha - sporting a larger hexagonal shape.

Glitches

  • In Halo 3, the gravity hammer sometimes has no alternate third person animation for melee; in third-person, a player appears to swing the hammer with no explosive effect or splash effect. This only occurs with Spartan models. Sangheili models have the same animation they have if they melee someone with a flag. This has been fixed in Halo 3: ODST - the hammer now has a third person animation for melee.
  • If the player pulls the right trigger while also pulling the left trigger, the shock wave will have no sound effect, the attack will be negated, and it will count as a normal melee attack. Pressing the right trigger and then immediately crouching produces the same effect.
  • In the Halo 3 campaign, Sangheili, including the Arbiter, will not use gravity hammers if they are armed with them, instead simply running next to enemies and remaining stationary.

Gallery

  • Close-up of the gravity hammer used in Halo: Landfall created by Weta Workshop.

    Close-up of the gravity hammer used in Halo: Landfall created by Weta Workshop.

  • John-117 with a gravity hammer on the cover of Halo: Uprising#3.

    John-117 with a gravity hammer on the cover of Halo: Uprising#3.

  • First-person view of the gravity hammer in Halo 3.

    First-person view of the gravity hammer in Halo 3.

  • A chieftain wielding a gravity hammer.

    A chieftain wielding a gravity hammer.

  • A Spartan with a gravity hammer holstered on his back in Grifball.

    A Spartan with a gravity hammer holstered on his back in Grifball.

  • A Avitus wielding his gravity hammer in Halo Wars.

    A Avitus wielding his gravity hammer in Halo Wars.

  • A War Chieftain wielding a gravity hammer in Halo 3: ODST.

    A War Chieftain wielding a gravity hammer in Halo 3: ODST.

  • A Jiralhanae Captain Major with a gravity hammer in The Return.

    A Jiralhanae Captain Major with a gravity hammer in The Return.

  • The gravity hammer in Halo Reach.

    The gravity hammer in Halo Reach.

  • A blueprint of the gravity hammer in Halo: Reach.

    A blueprint of the gravity hammer in Halo: Reach.

  • Reference chart of the gravity hammer in Halo: Reach.

    Reference chart of the gravity hammer in Halo: Reach.

  • Jiralhanae Captain wielding a gravity hammer.

    Jiralhanae Captain wielding a gravity hammer.

  • A Gravity Hammer's impact sends dust and rubble flying in Halo 4's prologue.

    A Gravity Hammer's impact sends dust and rubble flying in Halo 4's prologue.

  • The Gravity Hammer in Halo 4.

    The Gravity Hammer in Halo 4.

  • Campaign first-person view of the gravity hammer in Halo 4.

    Campaign first-person view of the gravity hammer in Halo 4.

  • First-person view of the gravity hammer in Halo 4.

    First-person view of the gravity hammer in Halo 4.

  • A Spartan-IV wielding the gravity hammer in Halo 4.

    A Spartan-IV wielding the gravity hammer in Halo 4.

  • HUD Icon of the gravity hammer in Halo 4.

    HUD Icon of the gravity hammer in Halo 4.

  • The unknown symbol on the head of the Type-2 EW/H.

    The unknown symbol on the head of the Type-2 EW/H.

  • A Jiralhanae Chieftain swinging a gravity hammer at Spartan Davis in Halo: Spartan Assault.

    A Jiralhanae Chieftain swinging a gravity hammer at Spartan Davis in Halo: Spartan Assault.

  • A Jiralhanae Chieftain attacking Sarah Palmer with a gravity hammer on the cover of Halo: Initiation Issue 1.

    A Jiralhanae Chieftain attacking Sarah Palmer with a gravity hammer on the cover of Halo: Initiation Issue 1.

  • A Jiralhanae Captain Major with a gravity hammer in Halo: Escalation.

    A Jiralhanae Captain Major with a gravity hammer in Halo: Escalation.

  • A Jiralhanae Chieftain with a gravity hammer in Halo: Spartan Strike.

    A Jiralhanae Chieftain with a gravity hammer in Halo: Spartan Strike.

  • H5G-GravityHammer.jpg

    A gravity hammer in Halo 5: Guardians.

  • First-person view of the gravity hammer in Halo 5: Guardians.

    First-person view of the gravity hammer in Halo 5: Guardians.

  • Smart scope with the gravity hammer in Halo 5: Guardians.

    Smart scope with the gravity hammer in Halo 5: Guardians.

  • H5G-Stance-HammerTime.png

    The Hammer Time stance features a gravity hammer.

  • The gravity hammer in Halo Online.

    The gravity hammer in Halo Online.

  • A Jiralhanae Warlord with a gravity hammer in the Halo Wars 2 Open Beta.

    A Jiralhanae Warlord with a gravity hammer in the Halo Wars 2 Open Beta.

  • Atriox drops his gravity hammer in front of the Executioner in Halo Wars 2.

    Atriox drops his gravity hammer in front of the Executioner in Halo Wars 2.

  • Blitz card of a Jiralhanae Warlord with a gravity hammer.

    Blitz card of a Jiralhanae Warlord with a gravity hammer.

  • Jiralhanae Jumpers using gravity hammers to attack a Firebase.

    Jiralhanae Jumpers using gravity hammers to attack a Firebase.

  • A Jiralhanae using a gravity hammer against the Flood.

    A Jiralhanae using a gravity hammer against the Flood.

  • Atriox using his gravity hammer in a final showdown with Sergeant Kress in Halo: Rise of Atriox.

    Atriox using his gravity hammer in a final showdown with Sergeant Kress in Halo: Rise of Atriox.

  • Banished Gravity Hammers wielded by higher ranked Warlords.

    Banished Gravity Hammers wielded by higher ranked Warlords.

  • Voridus' Infused Hammer.

    Voridus' Infused Hammer.

  • Warlord's Siphon Hammer.

    Warlord's Siphon Hammer.

  • John-117 with a Banished gravity hammer in Fortnite.

    John-117 with a Banished gravity hammer in Fortnite.

  • John-117 with a Banished gravity hammer in Halo Infinite.

    John-117 with a Banished gravity hammer in Halo Infinite.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ a b Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 82
  2. ^ a b c d e f Halo Waypoint: Gravity Hammer
  3. ^ a b c Halo Waypoint: Halo 4 Guide
  4. ^ Halo: Spartan Assault, Pre-mission quotes
  5. ^ a b c Bungie.net: Halo: Reach Ordnance Page
  6. ^ a b c d e Halo Waypoint: Gravity Hammer (defunct, backup on Archive.org)
  7. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 258
  8. ^ Halo Waypoint: Fist of Rukt
  9. ^ Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - Storm Surge
  10. ^ Halo Waypoint: Hammer Storm: Gravity hammer
  11. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)
  12. ^ Halo Wars
  13. ^ Halo 2, campaign level The Oracle
  14. ^ Halo 2, campaign level Quarantine Zone
  15. ^ Halo 2, campaign level The Great Journey
  16. ^ a b Halo Waypoint - Canon Fodder: No Joke
  17. ^ Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - Close Quarters
  18. ^ Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - The Art of War(s)
  19. ^ Halo Wars 2: Phoenix Logs - Warlord
  20. ^ Halo Wars 2, Voridus in-game unit
  21. ^ Halo 4
  22. ^ YouTube - Halo 4 - Secret Gravity Hammers Easter Egg
  23. ^ YouTube - Halo 4 - Secret Gravity Hammer Easter Egg on Midnight

v • d • e
 
Sidearms and melee weapons of the Covenant and its remnants
Sidearms
Energy-based melee weapons

v • d • e
 
List of UNSC, Covenant and Forerunner melee weapons
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