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{{Ratings}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Era|HW|H2|RVB||H3|UP|TCP|}}
{{Disambig header|the weapon featured in ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3''|other beam rifle models|particle beam rifle}}
{{LinkHaloWiki|Beam_Rifle}}
{{Weapon infobox
|image=[[File:H5G Beam rifle render.png|300px]]<br>
[[File:H3-T50SRSParticleBeamRifleSide.png|300px]]
|manufacturer=*[[Assembly Forges]]{{Ref/Book|EVG|Page=71|Detail=This page lists the manufacturer of the beam rifle to be the same as that of the {{Pattern|M'tara|focus rifle}}.}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=293}}
*[[Iruiru Armory]]{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG|EVG|Page=134}}
|series=
|type=[[Particle beam rifle]]
|cost=
|variant=
|service=[[Human-Covenant War]] <br> [[Great Schism]] <br> [[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
|affiliation=[[Covenant]] <br> [[Thel 'Vadam's Covenant faction]] <br> [[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group]]
|weight={{Convert|39.6|lb|kg|disp=flip|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|bnet}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}
|length=
*''Halo 3'' variant:
**Overall: {{Convert|63.1|in|cm|disp=flip|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc11|Enc11|Page=335}}{{Ref/Note|Id=Length|The original Bungie.net and ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'' page 321 lengths given for the beam rifle list it as having an overall length of {{Convert|63.2|in|cm|disp=flip|sp=us}} and a barrel length of {{Convert|32.5|in|cm|disp=flip|sp=us}}. This was changed in the encyclopedia's [[Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition)|2011 reprint]] and the later ''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' release to the statistic listed on this page's infobox. Given the deliberate repetition of this stat, this page treats the updated 2011 length statistic as the canon one for the ''Halo 3'' beam rifle variant.}}
*''Halo 5'' variant:
**{{Convert|62.8|in|cm|disp=flip|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|ammotype=Ionized accelerated [[hydrogen]] particles{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}
|capacity=
|feed=100 battery units (10 shots){{Ref/Reuse|bnet}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}
|operation=[[Particle beam weapon|Particle beam]]
|rate=
|velocity=3,657 m/s (12,000 ft/s){{Ref/Reuse|bnet}}{{Ref/Note|Despite Bungie's official article on the weapon describing its particle beam as traveling at just over hypervelocity speeds, nearly every subsequent source describes it as traveling at near-lightspeed instead. While it is possible that it has two different speed settings, it is more likely that this number has been ignored or retconned in later works.}}
|optics=
|range=1,829 meters (6000 ft){{Ref/Book|Halo: Oblivion}}
}}
{{Quote|As soon as the first guy goes down with blood and steam whistling out through the neat new hole in their head, you know you’re in for a long, miserable game of ‘where the foxtrot did that come from.'| Unknown UNSC serviceman}}
The '''''Sulok''-pattern Long Rifle'''{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} {{Type|50|Sniper Rifle System or Special Application Sniper Rifle|SRS or SASR}}{{Ref/Site|Id=bnet|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/projects/halo3/content.aspx?link=h3beamrifle|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Type-50 Sniper Rifle System|D=16|M=01|Y=2021|LocalArchive=Machines, Materiel and Munitions from the Human-Covenant Conflict, 2525 - Present#Type-50 Sniper Rifle System}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} is a [[particle beam rifle]] weapon system employed by the military forces of the [[Covenant]] empire and its [[Covenant remnants|remnants]].


{{Weapon
The ''Sulok''-pattern rifle is the Covenant counterpart of the [[UNSC]] [[sniper rifle|SRS99 series sniper rifles]]. It is also the successor to the earlier {{Pattern|Zubo|beam rifle}}. The weapon has a variety of nicknames including '''PBR''',{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc09|Enc09|Page=321}} '''PB''' and '''Covenant Sniper'''.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}
| image=[[Image:Bnetbeamrifle.jpg|300px]]
 
| name=Particle Beam Rifle
==Overview==
| manufacturer=[[Covenant]]
===Design details===
| model=Type-50 Sniper Rifle System
[[File:1219855430 Covenant Beam Rifle.jpg|thumb|left|170px|A Particle Beam Rifle.]]
| type=Sniper Rifle
The ''Sulok''-pattern rifle is a battery-powered [[directed energy weapon]] that fires ionized particle beams.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} The battery for the weapon has enough charge to fire ten shots. The muzzle velocity of the weapon is 3657&nbsp;m/s (12,000 f/s){{Ref/Reuse|bnet}}, with a maximum effective range of roughly 1,500&nbsp;m (4900&nbsp;ft){{Ref/Reuse|bnet}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}} When firing, the weapon has a near-silent and negligible muzzle signature, and inflicts wounds comparable to the [[14.5×114mm]] round fired by the UNSC's [[SRS99 series]] of sniper rifles,{{Ref/Reuse|bnet}} capable of instantly killing a target.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}} The beam rifle has a barrel length of 82.55&nbsp;cm (32.5 in.) and an overall length of 160.4&nbsp;cm (63.2 in.), weighing in at 18&nbsp;kg (39.6&nbsp;lbs).{{Ref/Reuse|bnet}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc09}}{{Ref/Note|This figure described the ''Halo 3'' beam rifle model, and is not consistently depicted. See disrepancies section for more full explanation.}}
| size=Handheld, Two-Handed
 
*Length (o/a):160.5 cm (63.3 in.)
The ''Sulok''-pattern has little recoil when firing. The mechanism by which the beam rifle functions is unknown to the UNSC, but accounts for the weapon's drastically different properties. The scope of the beam rifle is capable of a 5x or 10x zoom, but has the potential to induce slight nausea in humans who try to use it.{{Ref/Reuse|bnet}} The round section in front of the hand guard and trigger area of the weapon appears to contain the ''Sulok''-pattern's "ammunition." After the weapon has completed its firing sequence, the section rotates presumably to "chamber" another "round."
*Length (barrel):82.55 cm (32.5 in.)
 
*Weight:18 kg (39.6 lbs)
One variant of the weapon, employed during the [[Battle of Installation 05]], is capable of a battery capacity of 18 shots.<ref>''[[Halo 2 Manual]]''</ref>
| damage per hit=Very High
| magazine=100 Battery units (18-20 shots)
| maxammo=100 Battery Units (18-20 shots)
| fire=Semi-automatic
| ammotype=Accelerated Particle Beams
| operation=
| rate of fire=Average
| velocity=3657 m/s (12,000 f/s)
| accuracy=Very High
| range=Long range
*1500 meters (4900 ft)
| era=
| counterpart=*''Halo 2'': [[SRS99C-S2 AM Sniper Rifle]]
*''Halo 3'': [[SRS99D-S2 AM Sniper Rifle]]
| counterwep=*At Close Range: [[M90 Shotgun]], [[Energy Sword]], [[Gravity Hammer]]
*At Mid Range: [[BR55HB SR Battle Rifle]], [[Covenant Carbine]]
*At Long Range: [[Sniper Rifle]]s
| affiliation=[[Covenant]]
}}


<center>{{Quote|As soon as the first guy goes down with blood and steam whistling out through the neat new hole in their head, you know you’re in for a long, miserable game of ‘where the foxtrot did that come from’.| Unknown UNSC serviceman}}</center>
==Variants==
As with the other military equipment types used by the [[Covenant]], the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] is considerably more invested in [[Type classification system|cataloguing]] beam rifle variants than the Covenant itself. As such, several individual beam rifle types fall under the wider ''Sulok''-pattern umbrella with changes and differences mostly considered beneath the Covenant's care.{{Ref/Site|Id=universe|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/weapons/beam-rifle|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Beam Rifle|D=13|M=04|Y=2016}}
===Iruiru Armory variant===
This beam rifle is a variant manufactured by [[Iruiru Armory]]{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} and employed by the [[Jiralhanae]] forces of [[Truth's fleet]] in the final weeks of the [[Human-Covenant War]].{{Ref/Game|H3|Beam Rifle in-game weapon}}{{Ref/Game|H3ODST|Beam Rifle in-game weapon}} It saw a notable increase in usage among Covenant forces toward the war's closing weeks, though it remained unknown to the UNSC as to whether this was due to a change in doctrine or a reorganisation of battlefield units.{{Ref/Reuse|bnet}} This beam rifle has an overall length of {{Convert|63.1|in|cm|disp=flip|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}{{Ref/NoteReuse|Length}}
<gallery class=center>
File:H3-T50SRSParticleBeamRifleSide.png|The Iruiru Armory beam rifle.
</gallery>
===Assembly Forges variant===
This beam rifle variant was manufactured by the [[Assembly Forges]] prior to the Covenant's collapse,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} and used by the troops operating in the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]] and [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration]], under [[Supreme Commander]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee and the [[Prophet of Regret]], respectively.{{Ref/Game|H2A|Beam Rifle in-game weapon}}{{Ref/Game|H5G|Halo 2 Beam Rifle in-game weapon}} This model was created according to the traditions of the Sangheili sea-hunter guilds on [[Feldokra]], and has an overall length of {{Convert|62.8|in|cm|disp=flip|sp=us}}. It was unequalled during the war with humanity, and so popular that it retains a high usage among the Covenant's splinter factions in the post-war era.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}


==Description==
Specialised modifications of this weapon include:{{Ref/Site|Id=CFBuzz|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-buzz-generating|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Buzz Generating|D=14|M=09|Y=2016}}
The '''Type-50 Sniper Rifle System'''<ref>http://www.bungie.net/projects/halo3/content.aspx?link=h3beamrifle</ref>, otherwise known as the '''Particle Beam Rifle''' or '''Beam Rifle''', is the [[Covenant]]'s version of a [[Sniper Rifle]].
*'''[[Type-50 Alpha beam rifle|T-50α beam rifle]]'''{{Ref/Reuse|CFBuzz}} - a variant used by [[Kig-Yar Sniper]]s deployed by the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]] during the [[Battle of Installation 04]].{{Ref/Game|Id=H5AlphaH5G|List of REQ Cards|REQ Card|Detail=Halo 2 Beam Rifle Alpha description|Quote=Kig-Yar snipers assigned the Fleet of Particular Justice displayed uncharacteristic bravery in their valiant defense against the Flood onslaught on Installation 04. Improved Halo 2 Beam Rifle with faster rate of fire and increased hipfire accuracy.}}
*'''[[Type-50 Delta beam rifle|T-50δ beam rifle]]'''{{Ref/Reuse|CFBuzz}} - a variant used by the personal assassins of the [[Prophet of Truth]] during the [[Great Schism]].{{Ref/Game|Id=H5Delta|H5G|List of REQ Cards|REQ Card|Detail=The Prophet of Truth employed an elite team armed with powerful master-crafted weapons to hunt down his political enemies during the Great Schism. Advanced Halo 2 Beam Rifle that creates an unstable gravimetric vortex at point of impact.}}
<gallery class=center>
File:H2A T50SRS.png|The Assembly Forge beam rifle in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''.
File:H5G Beam rifle render.png|The Assembly Forge beam rifle in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.
File:Halo 5 Beamα.png|The T-50α variant in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:H5G H2 Beam 2.png|The T-50δ variant in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
</gallery>


==Summary==
==Operational history==
The Beam Rifle is an  extraordinarily powerful weapon, capable of sniping enemies from long ranges. Like the human Sniper Rifle, the Beam Rifle has two levels of zoom for greater accuracy. As a [[Directed Energy Weapon]], it fires ionized particles at its targets, instead of accelerating small projectiles. This makes it a lot more effective on shielded infantries, particularly Jackals, as their shields can protect them from projectile rounds but not direct energy. It's also quieter, giving it an advantage over the [[UNSC]] [[Sniper Rifle]] in terms of stealth and speed. In terms of longevity, however, the beam rifle is unable to reload and therefore has a limited number of shots before it must be discarded by the user for another weapon. The Beam Rifle can also be used to shoot two fast shots, at the cost of temporarily overheating. This can be used to quickly dispose of an oncoming enemy. It is also possible to kill two enemies with a single shot as the shot  can completely penetrate the enemy on a headshot. Despite the overheating issues, the Beam Rifle is a better defense weapon than the Sniper Rifle because two shots can be fired in very quick succession, making it easier for the sniper to defend themselves, useful in higher difficulties, (as long as the shots hit). The Beam Rifle is mostly carried by [[Jackal Sniper]]s who prefer the weapon over the [[Covenant Carbine]] and use it with deadly skill, but will sometimes be carried by [[Elite]]s and [[Brutes]].
The ''Sulok''-pattern beam rifle was crafted according to the traditions of [[Feldokra]]'s sea-hunter guilds.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}. It was employed throughout the [[Human-Covenant War]] alongside its ''Zubo''-pattern brother, though the Covenant made little distinction between variants.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} They were typically primarily employed by [[Sangheili]] and [[Kig-Yar Sniper|Kig-Yar]] [[sniper]]s, raiders and scout-executors.{{Ref/Reuse|CFBuzz}}<ref>''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', Halo 2 Beam Rifle [[List of REQ cards/Power Weapons|REQ card]]</ref> It was employed during the [[Harvest campaign]], [[Battle for Arcadia]] and [[Battle of Trove]] in [[2531]].<ref>''[[Halo Wars]]''</ref> However, the weapon would remain a rarer sight throughout the war and Covenant tactical doctrine did not typically make the full use of the capabilities of Beam Rifles. However, as the war with humanity continued, human snipers showed the Covenant how pinpoint, accurate firepower could lead armies into disarray. This prompted a change in the final few months of [[2552]]{{Ref/Reuse|bnet}}, with the Beam Rifle becoming selected as the most tactically optimal and ecclesiarchy-blessed of the various Covenant analogues of the human SRS99 and put in an elevated production priority.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}


==Advantages==
The UNSC were unaware of the Beam Rifle's new precedence within the Covenant doctrine, unknown as to whether the change was spurred by a new direction in doctrine or local unit organisation.{{Ref/Reuse|bnet}} The [[Fleet of Particular Justice]]'s Kig-Yar snipers employed the [[T-50α particle beam rifle|Type-50 Alpha]] beam rifle during the [[Battle of Installation 04]] in September 2552,<ref>''Halo 5: Guardians'', Halo 2 Beam Rifle Alpha [[List of REQ cards/Power Weapons|REQ card]]</ref> while shortly later the [[Prophet of Truth]] deployed an elite team armed with the [[T-50δ particle beam rifle|Type-50 Delta]] beam rifle to hunt down his enemies during the [[Great Schism]] in October 2552.{{Ref/Reuse|CFBuzz}}<ref>''Halo 5: Guardians'', Halo 2 Beam Rifle Delta [[List of REQ cards/Power Weapons|REQ card]]</ref>
Although it is quite rare, the Beam Rifle is a deadly, and a very effective long-range weapon. Similar to the Sniper Rifle, the Beam Rifle is excellent at picking off enemies at great distances. Its charges are very useful at taking down a player's [[shield]]s if a headshot isn't acquired. Additionally, this type of charge makes it an ideal "no-scope" weapon, as many players find it easier to score headshots without the scope with a Beam Rifle compared to the Sniper Rifle. Finally, the weapon's firing rate allows for quick, precise kills, and with some skill, the player can prevent having to wait for the weapon to cool down after excessive heating. Also the ability to fire two shots in quick succession allows the wielder to fire a two round spread for extremely long range shots or for snap shots at closer ranges when you don't have time to zoom, two things the human sniper rifle cannot do.


==Disadvantages==
During the [[Battle for Earth]], the ''Sulok''-pattern would be employed by Kig-Yar snipers operating in [[New Mombasa]],<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', campaign level [[Outskirts]]</ref><ref>''[[Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack]]'', [[Another Day at the Beach]]</ref> particularly during the night-time.<ref>''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', campaign level [[Mombasa Streets]]</ref> During the [[Second Battle of New Mombasa]], Snipers would operate the T50 to great effect. During this battle, [[J-011-422]] did not discard his point-defence gauntlet like most snipers did.<ref>''[[Halo 3]]'', [[Believe]] - [[Diorama]]</ref> By the time of the [[Battle of Voi]] and later [[Battle of Installation 00]], [[Jiralhanae]] troops had replaced the Sangheili in operating the beam rifle.<ref>''[[Halo 3]]''</ref> Following the end of the war and the loss of [[High Charity]], beam rifle production slowed but did not stop. Though costly to create, manufactories on [[Sanghelios]], [[Hesduros]], [[Eayn]], and other developed colonies continue to produce the weapon.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} The weapon is employed by several [[Covenant remnants]], including [[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group]].<ref>''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 3]]''</ref>
The beam of bright purple light is much more obvious to see, but somewhat quicker at dissipating than the Sniper Rifle's vapor trail. Another disadvantage is that it is slightly less powerful and accurate than the [[UNSC]] counterpart, and like some other Covenant weapons, it suffers from overheating problems, after just two shots in succession. Also, once the rifle's battery is depleted, which occurs in 18 to 20 shots, the rifle must be replaced. The oval aim makes it harder to aim at enemies at a very long distance. Like it's human counterpart, it is ineffective at close range, unless you can perform no scope kills. Other issues include the bleeding off of excess battery when overheated for 5 seconds, usually about 5 units and the fact that the large weapon covers up nearly half of the screen of the wielder. It doesn't work very well in medium range with no scope. Unlike its human counterpart, it doesn't effect [[Flood]] [[Combat Form]]s when shot and wastes much energy to kill [[Pure Form]]s.
[[Image:Elite H3.jpg|thumb|left|220px|An elite wielding the Beam Rifle.]]


==Deployment and Appearances==
At some point, the weapon was one of many subjects of the UNSC report [[Machines, Materiel and Munitions from the Human-Covenant Conflict, 2525 - Present]]. By this time, the UNSC did not yet know of the weapon's maximum effective range (awaiting procurement of working examples for investigative purposes) and cartridge type (pending negotiations with the Swords of Sanghelios).{{Ref/Reuse|bnet}}
The Beam Rifle was first introduced in ''[[Halo 2]]'', having no appearance or mention in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''. Obviously this is because Bungie was expanding the ''Halo'' universe and added it into the release of the second game. The Beam Rifle made its first canonical appearance during the period covered in [[Halo Wars]].
The Beam rifle also appears in ''[[Halo 3]]''


In ''[[The Cole Protocol]]'', sniper [[Jackals]] were mentioned, but their weapon type wasn't. It could be important to note that these were what amounted to civilian [[Jackals]] not being part of the main Covenant fighting force.
==Gameplay==
=== Advantages ===
Similarly to the SRS99 AM sniper rifle series, the ''Sulok''-pattern Rifle is excellent at picking off enemies at great distances. Its pulses are very useful at passing through any type of material, armored or non-armored; this makes the particle beam rifle's overpenetration ability much more effective at killing a wide range of enemy infantry. As the beam passes through the body at nearly the speed of light, the particles transfer their kinetic energy to the atoms in the molecules of the target area. Upon impact, the area is rapidly superheated, cauterizing the wound at the same time - a direct hit on skull area of a target will be killed instantly, and body shots depending on the area will be fatal in most cases. A rare non-fatal strike to a target can also cause radiation damage and will require additional treatment, and near misses can produce second or third degree burns to light armored targets. The beam rifle's relative silence, as opposed to the sniper rifle's loud bang, gives it a bit of a stealth advantage; however, this is compensated by the greater visibility of the Type-50's beam. In the context of the ''Halo'' games, the particle beam rifle's strength and lethality are weakened for the sake of gameplay.


==Campaign Recommendations==
=== Disadvantages ===
[[Image:Particle Beam Rifles Halo 3.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Halo 3'' Beam Rifles.]]
While the ''Sulok''-pattern beam rifle excels at material penetration, in the games, the particle beam rifle does not have much difference than its UNSC counterpart, although in canon it is much stronger.{{Citation needed}} The Type-50 is also unable to perform rapid shots in quick succession - after two shots are fired within a second of each other, the weapon will overheat and will shut down to prevent damage to its internal components, temporarily rendering the weapon useless. The particle beam rifle can only fire 18 shots before the battery is used up and the weapon must be replaced. Like its human counterpart, the particle beam rifle is ineffective at close range combat unless its user is skilled at close range combat with the sniper rifle. The beam of purple light produced from the beam rifle is very easy to see, but somewhat quicker at dissipating compared with the [[Sniper Rifle System 99D-S2 Anti-Matériel|Sniper Rifle]], as a sniper's position is more likely to be compromised because of this, requiring the sniper to relocate quickly before being detected.


Particle Beam Rifles are most often found on Jackal Snipers, or in [[Covenant Weapons Holder]]s. In ''[[Halo 3]]'' they are rare on the lower difficulties.
== Changes ==
When using the Particle Beam Rifle, it should be remembered that it is a sniper weapon, and should be used at long ranges, to take out high priority targets, preferably with headshots, or in the case of [[Hunters]], a shot to the exposed orange flesh. Due to its weakness at close and medium quarters, it is advisable to  keep a good secondary weapon, such as the Covenant Carbine, the [[Battle Rifle]] and if needed a [[Shotgun]], in case an enemy moves too close to use the Beam Rifle effectively. Some prefer a Beam Rifle/Sniper Rifle combination for the extra ranged shots. Caution should be exercised, however, in the event of close quarters combat. Later on in the campaign of ''[[Halo 2]]'', it is wise to keep a good close quarters weapon because it is not very effective against the [[Flood]]. With enough practice however, it can take on the role of a mini-cannon at close range on other targets. Due to its quickness, use it to take out the Snipers themselves.
=== Changes from ''Halo 2'' to ''Halo 3'' ===
* The weapon's energy barrel can now be clearly seen.
* Coloring has been changed to a brighter shade of purple.
* The battery drains 5% each shots making it a total of 20 shots until it runs out of battery. (The multiplayer only drains 10% each shots which makes it a total of 10 shots.)


When attacking an enemy stronghold, it is always advisable to snipe the Jackal sniper. Be extremely cautious to hit it in the head, as it can kill you with one shot. By now, you ''probably'' have been noticed, if not spotted. Switch to another sniper location and kill the Jackals.
In the ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'' campaign mode on [[Legendary]] difficulty, the Beam Rifle can kill you in one hit, no matter where it hits. This can be very frustrating, especially in the levels [[Outskirts]], [[Metropolis]], [[Delta Halo]], [[Uprising]], and [[The Great Journey (Level)|The Great Journey]], which actually makes [[Sniper Jackals]] the most dangerous enemy in the game. Regardless of where you are hit, whether it is in the foot or the head it is fatal in one shot, even though your allies (marines or elites) can survive 2 or 3 hits.


This is ineffective against the Flood as the shots carry right through them doing little to no damage. To give the sniper rifle some use, you could hit the carriers from a safe distance, thus destroying the otherwise constant threat of the waddling creatures.
=== Changes from ''Halo 3'' to ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' ===
* The T-50 SRS is available only in the campaign, while its older ''Zubo''-pattern counterpart is a multiplayer-only weapon instead.
* The weapon now has a more angular design and appears much thicker on the front.
** The front now also has several pairs of blue lights.
* The round section carrying the weapon's "ammunition" now has multiple lights, colored pink and turquoise.
* The coloring is now an even stronger shade of purple.


==Multiplayer Recommendations==
=== Changes from ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' to ''Halo 5: Guardians'' ===
[[Image:Beam Rifle Render.gif|thumb|200px|A render of the Beam Rifle.]]
* Mirroring the T-27 SASR in ''Halo 2: Anniversary'', the T-50 SRS is now available only in multiplayer, while the T-27 SASR is available both in campaign and multiplayer.
The Particle Beam is featured in quite a few of the large multiplayer maps such as [[Colossus]] and [[Relic]]. In Multi-player, getting the Beam Rifle should be a priority. Its long range and lethal headshot capabilities offer a huge advantage whether you are on the offense or defense. Picking up [[Active Camouflage]] will allow you to snipe enemies while remaining stealthy. Remember to keep a good close range weapon such as the [[M90 Shotgun]] so that you will be able to fight enemies too close to kill with the Beam Rifle. A medium range weapon,like the Covenant Carbine, could also come in handy in case of a close range fight. In ''Halo 3'' [[multiplayer]], the Beam Rifle has a limited 10 shots as it drains slightly more battery units due to balance issues, so use it wisely. The Beam  Rifle can also be used to fire two shots in quick succession, although it will overheat immediately afterward. This tactic can be used to quickly dispatch enemies at close range.A popular tactic is to camp and kill any enemy who attempts to obtain a power weapon by watching it with the sniper rifle. This keeps control of the more powerful weapons in the game in the hands of the player watching the weapon.
* Shots now deplete 10% of the weapon's battery instead of 5.56%.
* The weapon is now more similarly colored to the ''Halo 5: Guardians'' version of the T-27 beam rifle.
* Overheating animations have been altered.
*It is classified as a Rare [[REQ]] and can be summoned in [[Warzone]] at Level 6 energy while giving 100 REQ points if sold.<ref name="H5G">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''</ref>


== UNSC remarks ==
* ''“Makes less noise than a Battle Rifle; has less felt recoil than an M6; is at least as accurate as 99 AM—it’s big and heavy and the balance is weird but I can’t wait ‘til I get my hands on another one.”''{{Ref/Reuse|bnet}}
* ''“It’s deadly accurate. The scope is a little hard to take though—made me nauseous when I first figured out how to engage it—it’s useful enough and easy to understand. Still hurts my eyes though.”''{{Ref/Reuse|bnet}}
* ''“Maybe with the Elites on our side we’ll finally find out how to reload or recharge these weapons or whatever… I have a feeling we shouldn’t start holding our breath anytime soon though.”''{{Ref/Reuse|bnet}}
* ''“Not as much recoil as the ninety-nine but then again the mechanism is entirely different—don’t worry about the machine; a steady hand, breath control, and patience are the key to success with either one.”''{{Ref/Reuse|bnet}}
* ''“The Type-50 SRS is not completely silent nor is it invisible. Jackals may be superb marksmen and they’re very sneaky, but that doesn’t make them excellent snipers—they’re a little too bloodthirsty for that”.''{{Ref/Reuse|bnet}}


===Sniper Medals===
==Production notes==
In ''Halo 3'' [[Multiplayer]], A player (Coinciding with the Sniper Rifle) can earn the following medals while using the Beam Rifle:
The ''Sulok'' represents the design of beam rifle first introduced in ''[[Halo 2]]'', and remastered in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' and featured as the "Halo 2 Beam Rifle" in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''. The classic ''Halo 2'' model for the rifle is extremely short by the standards of the beam rifles of later games, calculated by ''Halo'' consultant [[Stephen Loftus]] to have a length of 132.2cm (52.1 in) using models extracted from the original game.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://nikon.bungie.org/misc/sloftus_scalecomparison/1280h.html?display=cov_m_a|Site=halo.bungie.org|Page=Determining the Real Sizes of Objects in Halo: 720p Edition (updated)|D=02|M=07|Y=2024}} For ''Halo 2: Anniversary''{{'}}s campaign, the model was visually redesigned by concept artist [[:Category:Images by Pavel Belov|Pavel Belov]], with early concept pieces showing an intent to leave the weapon's scale unaltered, while later concept pieces show instead a deliberate lengthening of the design to more closely match the proportions found in ''[[Halo 3]]''{{'}}s iteration of the weapon. While the length was altered in this manner, the design is still overtly a visual update of the original ''Halo 2'' asset, and features a number of distinct design details not present on the ''Halo 3'' model. In ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' multiplayer, the beam rifle instead used the {{Pattern|Zubo|beam rifle}} model, first introduced in ''[[Halo 4]]''.  
* [[Sniper Kill Medal]] - Kill a single opponent with a headshot from the sniper-type.
* [[Sniper Spree Medal]] - Kill 5 opponents with a [[sniper]]-type weapon in a row without dying.
* [[Sharpshooter Medal]] - Kill 10 opponents with a sniper-type weapon in a row without dying.


==Battle Tips==
The ''Sulok'' was introduced in ''Halo 5: Guardians'' as a post-launch inclusion in the [[Warzone Firefight]] update, complete with two additional [[List of REQ cards|REQ variants]]. In-game, these are only referred to as the "Halo 2 Beam Rifle", while an associated [[Canon Fodder]] blog provided the [[Type classification system|type designation]] Type-50.{{Ref/Reuse|CFBuzz}}
On the level, [[Great Journey (Level) |The Great Journey]], [[Sergeant Johnson]] uses the Beam Rifle to lower [[Tartarus]]' shield. The player can also obtain a Beam Rifle before the battle and use that to lower the Chieftain's shield instead of waiting for Johnson do it, but Tartarus' shield recharges almost immediately if the player uses the latter method. A better method would be to give it to one of the Elites that helps you kill him, that way, you have two times the shots, but his shields won't recharge immediately. Why the beam rifle is the only weapon capable of dropping his shields is bizarre and never described.


==[[UNSC]] Remarks==
==Gallery==
*“Makes less noise than a Battle Rifle; has less felt recoil than an  M6; is at least as accurate as 99% of them—it’s big and heavy and the balance is weird but I can’t wait ‘til I get my hands on another one.”
{{Linkbox|gameplay=yes|gallery=yes}}
*“It’s deadly accurate. The scope is a little hard to take though—made me nauseous when I first figured out how to engage it—it’s useful enough and easy to understand. Still hurts my eyes though.”
===Illustrations===
*“Maybe with the Elites on our side we’ll finally find out how to reload or recharge these weapons or whatever… I have a feeling we shouldn’t start holding our breath any time soon though.”
<gallery>
*“Not as much recoil as the ninety-nine but then again the mechanism is entirely different—don’t worry about the machine; a steady hand, breath control, and patience are the key to success with either one.”
File:Control room battle.png|A member of [[Black Team]] firing a ''Sulok''-pattern beam rifle in ''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''.
*“The Type-50 SRS is not completely silent nor is it invisible. Jackals may be superb marksmen and they’re very sneaky, but that doesn’t make them excellent snipers—they’re a little too bloodthirsty for that.”
File:Headhunters - Roland.png|Roland wielding a ''Sulok''-pattern beam rifle the ''[[Headhunters (story)|Headhunters]]'' motion comic.
*"As soon as the first guy goes down with blood and steam whistling out through the neat new hole in their head, you know you’re in for a long, miserable game of ‘where the foxtrot did that come from’."
</gallery>
===''Halo 2''===
<gallery>
File:H2_Waterworks Action.png|The Type-50 particle beam rifle before ''[[Halo 2]]''<nowiki/>'s release, considerably larger than the finalized version.
File:ParticleBeamRifle-Halo2.png|A profile view of the particle beam rifle in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2 SpecOps Elite Beam Rifle.jpg|A [[Special Operations Sangheili]] using a particle beam rifle in the [[Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction|heretics']] [[Threshold gas mine|base]].
File:Jackal Sniper.JPG|A [[Kig-Yar]] [[Kig-Yar Sniper|Sniper]] holding a particle beam rifle during the [[Battle of Mombasa]].
File:H2-JackalSniper.png|A Kig-Yar Sniper holding a particle beam rifle on [[Installation 05]].
File:BeamEliteShoot.jpg|A [[Sangheili]] firing a particle beam rifle on [[Zanzibar]].
File:H2-T50SRS-PBR-Scope.jpg|The particle beam rifle's scope in ''Halo 2''.
</gallery>
===''Halo 3''===
<gallery>
File:Bnetbeamrifle.jpg|A render of the particle beam rifle in ''[[Halo 3]]''.
File:Particle Beam Rifles Halo 3.jpg|The particle beam rifle in ''Halo 3''.
File:H3 Jackal Sniper.jpg|A Kig-Yar Sniper wielding a particle beam rifle in ''[[Halo 3]]''.
File:H3-CovJackalSniper-PBR.jpg|Closeup of a Kig-Yar Sniper aiming a particle beam rifle.
File:H3-ParticleBeamRifle-HUD.jpg|First-person view of the particle beam rifle.
File:H3-ParticleBeamRifle-Scope-01.jpg|The particle beam rifle's scope, 2× zoom.
File:H3-ParticleBeamRifle-Scope-02.jpg|The particle beam rifle's scope, 8× zoom.
File:H3-T50SRSParticleBeamRifleSide.png|The particle beam rifle in ''Halo 3''.
</gallery>
===''Halo Wars''===
<gallery>
File:HW Jackal Concept 2.jpg|''Halo Wars'' concept art featuring a Kig-Yar sniper with a beam rifle,
File:HW_BeamRifle_Render.jpg|The beam rifle model used in ''Halo Wars''.
</gallery>
===''Halo 2: Anniversary''===
<gallery>
File:H2A_BeamRifle_Concept_1.jpg|Concept art of the beam rifle in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:H2A_BeamRifle_Concept_2.jpg|Concept art of the beam rifle in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:H2A T50SRS.png|Type-50 particle beam rifle render in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''.
File:H2A - T50 Beam rifle.jpg|[[John-117]] holding the beam rifle in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:H2A-T50HUD.png|First-person view of the Type-50 particle beam rifle in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:H2A-T50zoom5x.png|The T-50's 5× zoom.
File:H2A-T50zoom10x.png|The T-50's 10× zoom.
</gallery>
===''Halo 5: Guardians''===
<gallery>
File:H5-H2BeamRifle-REQ.jpg|T-50 Beam Rifle.
File:H5-H2BeamRifle.jpg|The Type-50 Beam Rifle in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.
File:H5G-T50HUD.png|First-person view of the T-50 beam rifle in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:H5G-T50zoom5x.png|The T-50's 5× zoom.
File:H5G-T50zoom10x.png|The T-50's 10× zoom.
File:H5G-T50Overheat.png|The T-50 overheating.
File:H5G-T50Overheat-ThirdPerson.png|A [[CENTURION-class Mjolnir|Centurion]]-clad Spartan-IV with an overheated T-50 on [[Fathom]].
File:H5G-T27vsT50blank.png|A T-27 beam rifle in comparison to a T-50 beam rifle in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:H5G-T27vsT50.png|A [[VENATOR-class Mjolnir|Venator]]-clad Spartan-IV and a [[DECIMATOR-class Mjolnir|Decimator]]-clad Spartan-IV using a T-27 and T-50 beam rifle on [[Molten]].
</gallery>


==Character Compatibility==
== List of appearances ==
[[Image:Particle beam rifle.jpg|thumb|A close shot of a Beam Rifle firing.]]
* ''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
*[[Elites]]
* ''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*[[Spartans]]
* ''[[Halo 3]]''
*[[Marines]]
* ''[[Halo Wars]]''
*[[Jackals]]
* ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*[[Brutes]] (''[[Halo 3]]'' only.)
* ''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
*[[Sergeant Johnson]] (''[[Halo 2]]'' and Halo 3 with [[glitch]]es.)
** ''[[Headhunters (short story)|Headhunters]]'' {{C|Motion comic only}}
* ''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
* ''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
* ''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]'' {{Mo}}
* ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
* ''[[Halo: Last Light]]''
* ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
* ''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox]]''


==Trivia==
==Notes==
*The Beam Rifle was originally to be used by [[Elites]] in ''[[Halo: CE]]'' with the name of "[[Gravity Rifle]]" and instead of it being a purplish blue it was green and black. It was cut from the final game for some unknown reason.
{{Ref/Notes}}
[[Image:BeamEliteShoot.jpg|thumb|right||An [[Ultra Elite]] fires the Beam Rifle.]]
[[Image:Waterworks_action.png|thumb|right||The larger Beam Rifle before ''[[Halo 2]]'''s release.]]
*Many pros consider this to be the better weapon to achieve no scopes with, due to its wider reticule and quickness of firing.
*This weapon has at least two possible firing methods - Stanford-esque particle acceleration, or in a manner similar to Tesla's "death ray". The former is more likely, as a Tesla-type weapon would have to use ammunition (in the form of mercury or tungsten) as well as be capable of destroying any vehicle in a single shot.
*On the map [[Ivory Tower]], it was originally going to spawn instead of the Sniper Rifle. Why this was changed is unknown.
*In the campaign mode on [[Legendary]] difficulty, the Beam Rifle can kill you in one hit, no matter where it hits. This can be unbelievably frustrating, especially in the level [[Outskirts]] and [[Delta Halo (Level)|Delta Halo]], and actually makes [[Sniper Jackals]] the most dangerous enemy in the game.
*Leading up to ''[[Halo 2]]'''s release, the Beam Rifle was not yet confirmed. Instead, it was only mentioned that there would be a [[Covenant]] Sniper Rifle. Many believed that the [[Covenant Carbine]] and the new, unnamed sniper weapon were one and the same.
*Before ''[[Halo 2]]'''s release, the Beam Rifle was much longer, which can still be seen in pre-release screenshots. Its length was about that of the [[UNSC]] [[Sniper Rifle]] but was shortened about 10-20% for reasons left to [[Bungie]]. A possible reason for shortening the Beam Rifle would be that it looked awkward in the hands of [[Jackals]].
*In ''[[Halo 3]]'', there are five campaign levels it can be found on. These are [[Sierra 117 (Level)|Sierra 117]] on [[Heroic]] and [[Legendary]], [[Crow's Nest (Level)|Crow's Nest]]  on Heroic and Legendary, [[Tsavo Highway (Level)|Tsavo Highway]], [[The Ark (Level)|The Ark]] and [[The Covenant (Level)|The Covenant]]. But many times it would be impractical for use.
*The Beam Rifle has more penetration power than the [[UNSC]] [[Sniper Rifles]]. This can be seen with instant kill enabled, and sitting Pallets upright next to each other. The [[Sniper Rifle]] is only capable of taking one down at a time, but the Beam Rifle is capable of taking out 6-10 pallets in one shot.
*In ''[[Halo 3]]'' [[Multiplayer]], it is impossible to spawn with the Beam Rifle, unless the spawning weapon option is set to "Random".
*In [[Halo 2]], [[Sgt. Johnson]] uses a Beam Rifle to bring down [[Tartarus]]'s [[Shield]]s. The player can also do the same if they bring a Beam Rifle to the battle.
*It's possible to bounce Beam Rifle's shots of the ground like the [[UNSC]]'s sniper rifle in ''[[Halo 3]]''.
*The Type-50 Sniper Rifle is one of the few weapons to not contain a [[7]] reference.
*There is a glitch in the level [[The_Great_Journey_(Level)|The Great Journey]], where [[Tartarus]] wields a Beam Rifle but strangely it fires [[Needler]] rounds.
*The Beam Rifle in [[Halo 3]] [[Matchmaking]] only spawns on the maps [[Snowbound (Level)|Snowbound]], [[Valhalla (Level)|Valhalla]] and on the playlist [[Head to Head]] version of [[Guardian (Level)|Guardian]].
*In ''[[Halo 3]]'', if you stand completely motionless for a while while wielding the Beam Rifle, your character will open a top flap above the handle of the rifle.
*In [[Halo 2]], it's possible to kill a [[Hunter]] with one shot by shooting it in the unprotected midsection with the Beam Rifle.
*When playing ''[[Halo 3 ]]'' on Heroic, the [[Jackals]] tend to use beam rifles instead of [[Covenant Carbines]].
*The Beam Rifle included with McFarlane's ''Halo 3'' figures (notably the [[Halo 3 Jackal Sniper Action Figure|Jackal Sniper]] and the [[Halo 3 Spartan Soldier EVA (White) Action Figure|White EVA Spartan]]) has a small X shape near the handle. The same shape is seen on the Gravity Hammer that comes with the [[Halo 3 Brute Chieftain Action Figure|Brute Chieftain figure]].
*On ''Halo 2'' if you double tap you can shoot two beams, but it looks like one long beam.
*In ''[[Halo Wars]]'' it is possible to upgrade Carbines into Beam Rifles, to give Jackals a better firepower against infantry.
*Some might consider the beam rifle and the sniper rifle to be equal in efficiency.  The beam rifle is a bit stronger, fires faster, and can penetrate more foes.  The sniper rifle holds more ammo, and if the beam rifle overheats due to fast shooting, it will waste an extra five energy.
*This weapon used with the sniper rifle is an extremely useful combo when fighting the Brutes on Tsavo Highway, on legendary.


==Sources==
== Sources ==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}


==Related Pages==
{{Covenant rifles}}
{{Covenant Weapons}}
[[Category:Covenant infantry weapons]]
[[Category:The Covenant]]
[[Category:Particle beam rifles]]
[[Category:Held Weapons]]
[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Covenant Weapons]]
[[Category:Halo 2]]
[[Category:Halo 3]]

Latest revision as of 04:14, August 8, 2024

This article is about the weapon featured in Halo 2 and Halo 3. For other beam rifle models, see particle beam rifle.
Sulok-pattern beam rifle
A cropped screenshot of the Sulok-pattern beam rifle.

H3-T50SRSParticleBeamRifleSide.png

Production overview

Manufacturer:

Type:

Particle beam rifle

Specifications

Length:

  • Halo 3 variant:
  • Halo 5 variant:
    • 160 centimeters (62.8 in)[2]

Weight:

18.0 kilograms (39.6 lb)[5][4]

Ammunition type:

Ionized accelerated hydrogen particles[3]

Feed system:

100 battery units (10 shots)[5][4][3]

Operation:

Particle beam

Muzzle velocity:

3,657 m/s (12,000 ft/s)[5][Note 2]

Effective range:

1,829 meters (6000 ft)[6]

Service history

In service:

Human-Covenant War
Great Schism
Post-Covenant War conflicts

 

"As soon as the first guy goes down with blood and steam whistling out through the neat new hole in their head, you know you’re in for a long, miserable game of ‘where the foxtrot did that come from.'"
— Unknown UNSC serviceman

The Sulok-pattern Long Rifle[2] (UNSC Type classification: Type-50 Sniper Rifle System or Special Application Sniper Rifle, T-50 SRS or SASR)[5][3][4][7] is a particle beam rifle weapon system employed by the military forces of the Covenant empire and its remnants.

The Sulok-pattern rifle is the Covenant counterpart of the UNSC SRS99 series sniper rifles. It is also the successor to the earlier Zubo-pattern beam rifle. The weapon has a variety of nicknames including PBR,[8] PB and Covenant Sniper.[4]

Overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

A Particle Beam Rifle.

The Sulok-pattern rifle is a battery-powered directed energy weapon that fires ionized particle beams.[4][7] The battery for the weapon has enough charge to fire ten shots. The muzzle velocity of the weapon is 3657 m/s (12,000 f/s)[5], with a maximum effective range of roughly 1,500 m (4900 ft)[5][4] When firing, the weapon has a near-silent and negligible muzzle signature, and inflicts wounds comparable to the 14.5×114mm round fired by the UNSC's SRS99 series of sniper rifles,[5] capable of instantly killing a target.[4] The beam rifle has a barrel length of 82.55 cm (32.5 in.) and an overall length of 160.4 cm (63.2 in.), weighing in at 18 kg (39.6 lbs).[5][8][Note 3]

The Sulok-pattern has little recoil when firing. The mechanism by which the beam rifle functions is unknown to the UNSC, but accounts for the weapon's drastically different properties. The scope of the beam rifle is capable of a 5x or 10x zoom, but has the potential to induce slight nausea in humans who try to use it.[5] The round section in front of the hand guard and trigger area of the weapon appears to contain the Sulok-pattern's "ammunition." After the weapon has completed its firing sequence, the section rotates presumably to "chamber" another "round."

One variant of the weapon, employed during the Battle of Installation 05, is capable of a battery capacity of 18 shots.[9]

Variants[edit]

As with the other military equipment types used by the Covenant, the Office of Naval Intelligence is considerably more invested in cataloguing beam rifle variants than the Covenant itself. As such, several individual beam rifle types fall under the wider Sulok-pattern umbrella with changes and differences mostly considered beneath the Covenant's care.[7]

Iruiru Armory variant[edit]

This beam rifle is a variant manufactured by Iruiru Armory[3] and employed by the Jiralhanae forces of Truth's fleet in the final weeks of the Human-Covenant War.[10][11] It saw a notable increase in usage among Covenant forces toward the war's closing weeks, though it remained unknown to the UNSC as to whether this was due to a change in doctrine or a reorganisation of battlefield units.[5] This beam rifle has an overall length of 160 centimeters (63.1 in)[3][4][Note 1]

  • The Iruiru Armory beam rifle.

    The Iruiru Armory beam rifle.

Assembly Forges variant[edit]

This beam rifle variant was manufactured by the Assembly Forges prior to the Covenant's collapse,[2] and used by the troops operating in the Fleet of Particular Justice and Fleet of Sacred Consecration, under Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee and the Prophet of Regret, respectively.[12][13] This model was created according to the traditions of the Sangheili sea-hunter guilds on Feldokra, and has an overall length of 160 centimeters (62.8 in). It was unequalled during the war with humanity, and so popular that it retains a high usage among the Covenant's splinter factions in the post-war era.[2]

Specialised modifications of this weapon include:[14]

  • The Assembly Forge beam rifle in Halo 2: Anniversary.

    The Assembly Forge beam rifle in Halo 2: Anniversary.

  • The Assembly Forge beam rifle in Halo 5: Guardians.

    The Assembly Forge beam rifle in Halo 5: Guardians.

  • The T-50α variant in Halo 5: Guardians.

    The T-50α variant in Halo 5: Guardians.

  • The T-50δ variant in Halo 5: Guardians.

    The T-50δ variant in Halo 5: Guardians.

Operational history[edit]

The Sulok-pattern beam rifle was crafted according to the traditions of Feldokra's sea-hunter guilds.[2]. It was employed throughout the Human-Covenant War alongside its Zubo-pattern brother, though the Covenant made little distinction between variants.[7] They were typically primarily employed by Sangheili and Kig-Yar snipers, raiders and scout-executors.[14][17] It was employed during the Harvest campaign, Battle for Arcadia and Battle of Trove in 2531.[18] However, the weapon would remain a rarer sight throughout the war and Covenant tactical doctrine did not typically make the full use of the capabilities of Beam Rifles. However, as the war with humanity continued, human snipers showed the Covenant how pinpoint, accurate firepower could lead armies into disarray. This prompted a change in the final few months of 2552[5], with the Beam Rifle becoming selected as the most tactically optimal and ecclesiarchy-blessed of the various Covenant analogues of the human SRS99 and put in an elevated production priority.[7]

The UNSC were unaware of the Beam Rifle's new precedence within the Covenant doctrine, unknown as to whether the change was spurred by a new direction in doctrine or local unit organisation.[5] The Fleet of Particular Justice's Kig-Yar snipers employed the Type-50 Alpha beam rifle during the Battle of Installation 04 in September 2552,[19] while shortly later the Prophet of Truth deployed an elite team armed with the Type-50 Delta beam rifle to hunt down his enemies during the Great Schism in October 2552.[14][20]

During the Battle for Earth, the Sulok-pattern would be employed by Kig-Yar snipers operating in New Mombasa,[21][22] particularly during the night-time.[23] During the Second Battle of New Mombasa, Snipers would operate the T50 to great effect. During this battle, J-011-422 did not discard his point-defence gauntlet like most snipers did.[24] By the time of the Battle of Voi and later Battle of Installation 00, Jiralhanae troops had replaced the Sangheili in operating the beam rifle.[25] Following the end of the war and the loss of High Charity, beam rifle production slowed but did not stop. Though costly to create, manufactories on Sanghelios, Hesduros, Eayn, and other developed colonies continue to produce the weapon.[7] The weapon is employed by several Covenant remnants, including Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group.[26]

At some point, the weapon was one of many subjects of the UNSC report Machines, Materiel and Munitions from the Human-Covenant Conflict, 2525 - Present. By this time, the UNSC did not yet know of the weapon's maximum effective range (awaiting procurement of working examples for investigative purposes) and cartridge type (pending negotiations with the Swords of Sanghelios).[5]

Gameplay[edit]

Advantages[edit]

Similarly to the SRS99 AM sniper rifle series, the Sulok-pattern Rifle is excellent at picking off enemies at great distances. Its pulses are very useful at passing through any type of material, armored or non-armored; this makes the particle beam rifle's overpenetration ability much more effective at killing a wide range of enemy infantry. As the beam passes through the body at nearly the speed of light, the particles transfer their kinetic energy to the atoms in the molecules of the target area. Upon impact, the area is rapidly superheated, cauterizing the wound at the same time - a direct hit on skull area of a target will be killed instantly, and body shots depending on the area will be fatal in most cases. A rare non-fatal strike to a target can also cause radiation damage and will require additional treatment, and near misses can produce second or third degree burns to light armored targets. The beam rifle's relative silence, as opposed to the sniper rifle's loud bang, gives it a bit of a stealth advantage; however, this is compensated by the greater visibility of the Type-50's beam. In the context of the Halo games, the particle beam rifle's strength and lethality are weakened for the sake of gameplay.

Disadvantages[edit]

While the Sulok-pattern beam rifle excels at material penetration, in the games, the particle beam rifle does not have much difference than its UNSC counterpart, although in canon it is much stronger.[citation needed] The Type-50 is also unable to perform rapid shots in quick succession - after two shots are fired within a second of each other, the weapon will overheat and will shut down to prevent damage to its internal components, temporarily rendering the weapon useless. The particle beam rifle can only fire 18 shots before the battery is used up and the weapon must be replaced. Like its human counterpart, the particle beam rifle is ineffective at close range combat unless its user is skilled at close range combat with the sniper rifle. The beam of purple light produced from the beam rifle is very easy to see, but somewhat quicker at dissipating compared with the Sniper Rifle, as a sniper's position is more likely to be compromised because of this, requiring the sniper to relocate quickly before being detected.

Changes[edit]

Changes from Halo 2 to Halo 3[edit]

  • The weapon's energy barrel can now be clearly seen.
  • Coloring has been changed to a brighter shade of purple.
  • The battery drains 5% each shots making it a total of 20 shots until it runs out of battery. (The multiplayer only drains 10% each shots which makes it a total of 10 shots.)

In the Halo 2 and Halo 3 campaign mode on Legendary difficulty, the Beam Rifle can kill you in one hit, no matter where it hits. This can be very frustrating, especially in the levels Outskirts, Metropolis, Delta Halo, Uprising, and The Great Journey, which actually makes Sniper Jackals the most dangerous enemy in the game. Regardless of where you are hit, whether it is in the foot or the head it is fatal in one shot, even though your allies (marines or elites) can survive 2 or 3 hits.

Changes from Halo 3 to Halo 2: Anniversary[edit]

  • The T-50 SRS is available only in the campaign, while its older Zubo-pattern counterpart is a multiplayer-only weapon instead.
  • The weapon now has a more angular design and appears much thicker on the front.
    • The front now also has several pairs of blue lights.
  • The round section carrying the weapon's "ammunition" now has multiple lights, colored pink and turquoise.
  • The coloring is now an even stronger shade of purple.

Changes from Halo 2: Anniversary to Halo 5: Guardians[edit]

  • Mirroring the T-27 SASR in Halo 2: Anniversary, the T-50 SRS is now available only in multiplayer, while the T-27 SASR is available both in campaign and multiplayer.
  • Shots now deplete 10% of the weapon's battery instead of 5.56%.
  • The weapon is now more similarly colored to the Halo 5: Guardians version of the T-27 beam rifle.
  • Overheating animations have been altered.
  • It is classified as a Rare REQ and can be summoned in Warzone at Level 6 energy while giving 100 REQ points if sold.[27]

UNSC remarks[edit]

  • “Makes less noise than a Battle Rifle; has less felt recoil than an M6; is at least as accurate as 99 AM—it’s big and heavy and the balance is weird but I can’t wait ‘til I get my hands on another one.”[5]
  • “It’s deadly accurate. The scope is a little hard to take though—made me nauseous when I first figured out how to engage it—it’s useful enough and easy to understand. Still hurts my eyes though.”[5]
  • “Maybe with the Elites on our side we’ll finally find out how to reload or recharge these weapons or whatever… I have a feeling we shouldn’t start holding our breath anytime soon though.”[5]
  • “Not as much recoil as the ninety-nine but then again the mechanism is entirely different—don’t worry about the machine; a steady hand, breath control, and patience are the key to success with either one.”[5]
  • “The Type-50 SRS is not completely silent nor is it invisible. Jackals may be superb marksmen and they’re very sneaky, but that doesn’t make them excellent snipers—they’re a little too bloodthirsty for that”.[5]

Production notes[edit]

The Sulok represents the design of beam rifle first introduced in Halo 2, and remastered in Halo 2: Anniversary and featured as the "Halo 2 Beam Rifle" in Halo 5: Guardians. The classic Halo 2 model for the rifle is extremely short by the standards of the beam rifles of later games, calculated by Halo consultant Stephen Loftus to have a length of 132.2cm (52.1 in) using models extracted from the original game.[28] For Halo 2: Anniversary's campaign, the model was visually redesigned by concept artist Pavel Belov, with early concept pieces showing an intent to leave the weapon's scale unaltered, while later concept pieces show instead a deliberate lengthening of the design to more closely match the proportions found in Halo 3's iteration of the weapon. While the length was altered in this manner, the design is still overtly a visual update of the original Halo 2 asset, and features a number of distinct design details not present on the Halo 3 model. In Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer, the beam rifle instead used the Zubo-pattern beam rifle model, first introduced in Halo 4.

The Sulok was introduced in Halo 5: Guardians as a post-launch inclusion in the Warzone Firefight update, complete with two additional REQ variants. In-game, these are only referred to as the "Halo 2 Beam Rifle", while an associated Canon Fodder blog provided the type designation Type-50.[14]

Gallery[edit]

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

Illustrations[edit]

Halo 2[edit]

Halo 3[edit]

  • A render of the particle beam rifle in Halo 3.

    A render of the particle beam rifle in Halo 3.

  • The particle beam rifle in Halo 3.

    The particle beam rifle in Halo 3.

  • A Kig-Yar Sniper wielding a particle beam rifle in Halo 3.

    A Kig-Yar Sniper wielding a particle beam rifle in Halo 3.

  • Closeup of a Kig-Yar Sniper aiming a particle beam rifle.

    Closeup of a Kig-Yar Sniper aiming a particle beam rifle.

  • First-person view of the particle beam rifle.

    First-person view of the particle beam rifle.

  • The particle beam rifle's scope, 2× zoom.

    The particle beam rifle's scope, 2× zoom.

  • The particle beam rifle's scope, 8× zoom.

    The particle beam rifle's scope, 8× zoom.

  • The particle beam rifle in Halo 3.

    The particle beam rifle in Halo 3.

Halo Wars[edit]

  • Halo Wars concept art featuring a Kig-Yar sniper with a beam rifle,

    Halo Wars concept art featuring a Kig-Yar sniper with a beam rifle,

  • The beam rifle model used in Halo Wars.

    The beam rifle model used in Halo Wars.

Halo 2: Anniversary[edit]

  • Concept art of the beam rifle in Halo 2: Anniversary.

    Concept art of the beam rifle in Halo 2: Anniversary.

  • Concept art of the beam rifle in Halo 2: Anniversary.

    Concept art of the beam rifle in Halo 2: Anniversary.

  • Type-50 particle beam rifle render in Halo 2: Anniversary.

    Type-50 particle beam rifle render in Halo 2: Anniversary.

  • John-117 holding the beam rifle in Halo 2: Anniversary.

    John-117 holding the beam rifle in Halo 2: Anniversary.

  • First-person view of the Type-50 particle beam rifle in Halo 2: Anniversary.

    First-person view of the Type-50 particle beam rifle in Halo 2: Anniversary.

  • The T-50's 5× zoom.

    The T-50's 5× zoom.

  • The T-50's 10× zoom.

    The T-50's 10× zoom.

Halo 5: Guardians[edit]

  • T-50 Beam Rifle.

    T-50 Beam Rifle.

  • The Type-50 Beam Rifle in Halo 5: Guardians.

    The Type-50 Beam Rifle in Halo 5: Guardians.

  • First-person view of the T-50 beam rifle in Halo 5: Guardians.

    First-person view of the T-50 beam rifle in Halo 5: Guardians.

  • The T-50's 5× zoom.

    The T-50's 5× zoom.

  • The T-50's 10× zoom.

    The T-50's 10× zoom.

  • The T-50 overheating.

    The T-50 overheating.

  • A Centurion-clad Spartan-IV with an overheated T-50 on Fathom.

    A Centurion-clad Spartan-IV with an overheated T-50 on Fathom.

  • A T-27 beam rifle in comparison to a T-50 beam rifle in Halo 5: Guardians.

    A T-27 beam rifle in comparison to a T-50 beam rifle in Halo 5: Guardians.

  • A Venator-clad Spartan-IV and a Decimator-clad Spartan-IV using a T-27 and T-50 beam rifle on Molten.

    A Venator-clad Spartan-IV and a Decimator-clad Spartan-IV using a T-27 and T-50 beam rifle on Molten.

List of appearances[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b The original Bungie.net and Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition) page 321 lengths given for the beam rifle list it as having an overall length of 161 centimeters (63.2 in) and a barrel length of 83 centimeters (32.5 in). This was changed in the encyclopedia's 2011 reprint and the later Halo: The Essential Visual Guide release to the statistic listed on this page's infobox. Given the deliberate repetition of this stat, this page treats the updated 2011 length statistic as the canon one for the Halo 3 beam rifle variant.
  2. ^ Despite Bungie's official article on the weapon describing its particle beam as traveling at just over hypervelocity speeds, nearly every subsequent source describes it as traveling at near-lightspeed instead. While it is possible that it has two different speed settings, it is more likely that this number has been ignored or retconned in later works.
  3. ^ This figure described the Halo 3 beam rifle model, and is not consistently depicted. See disrepancies section for more full explanation.

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 71: This page lists the manufacturer of the beam rifle to be the same as that of the M'tara-pattern focus rifle.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 293
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 134
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 335
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Bungie.net, Type-50 Sniper Rifle System (Retrieved on Jan 16, 2021) [local archive] [external archive]
  6. ^ Halo: Oblivion
  7. ^ a b c d e f Halo Waypoint, Beam Rifle (Retrieved on Apr 13, 2016) [archive]
  8. ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), page 321
  9. ^ Halo 2 Manual
  10. ^ Halo 3, Beam Rifle in-game weapon
  11. ^ Halo 3: ODST, Beam Rifle in-game weapon
  12. ^ Halo 2: Anniversary, Beam Rifle in-game weapon
  13. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, Halo 2 Beam Rifle in-game weapon
  14. ^ a b c d e f Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Buzz Generating (Retrieved on Sep 14, 2016) [archive]
  15. ^ List of REQ Cards, REQ Card: Halo 2 Beam Rifle Alpha description "Kig-Yar snipers assigned the Fleet of Particular Justice displayed uncharacteristic bravery in their valiant defense against the Flood onslaught on Installation 04. Improved Halo 2 Beam Rifle with faster rate of fire and increased hipfire accuracy."
  16. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, REQ Card: The Prophet of Truth employed an elite team armed with powerful master-crafted weapons to hunt down his political enemies during the Great Schism. Advanced Halo 2 Beam Rifle that creates an unstable gravimetric vortex at point of impact.
  17. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, Halo 2 Beam Rifle REQ card
  18. ^ Halo Wars
  19. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, Halo 2 Beam Rifle Alpha REQ card
  20. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, Halo 2 Beam Rifle Delta REQ card
  21. ^ Halo 2, campaign level Outskirts
  22. ^ Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack, Another Day at the Beach
  23. ^ Halo 3: ODST, campaign level Mombasa Streets
  24. ^ Halo 3, Believe - Diorama
  25. ^ Halo 3
  26. ^ Halo: Escalation Issue 3
  27. ^ Halo 5: Guardians
  28. ^ halo.bungie.org, Determining the Real Sizes of Objects in Halo: 720p Edition (updated) (Retrieved on Jul 2, 2024) [archive]

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Service weapons of the Covenant and its remnants
Projectile weapons
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