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A man cannon on Valhalla.

A man cannon, more formally referred to as a conveyor lift,^[1] is a device that launches an individual or object through the air over a long distance.^[2] In the case of human-built man cannons, this is typically accomplished by means of some form of air vent or jet thruster, whereas Forerunner or Covenant man cannons commonly employ more sophisticated technology, such as anti-gravity emitters similar to that used in gravity lifts.

Design and function[edit]

Although they come in various designs and configurations, man cannons typically resemble air vents which emit a stream of exhaust that applies a strong force to anything that enters it. The distance an object is launched depends on the mass of the object and the strength of the cannon; human-sized objects will usually be catapulted many yards, while heavy vehicles and other large objects have considerably shorter trajectories.^[3]^[4]

Gameplay[edit]

The man cannons were introduced as gameplay objects in Halo 3, and returned in Halo: Reach, as well as in Halo 4. In many maps, they replaced teleporters as a means of quickly moving across long distances, similar to how gravity lifts propel the player over a vertical span.

The user is unprotected while in mid-air, but can still attack other players. The danger of using the man cannon is that the user's trajectory is set when they enter. Since the person being propelled through the cannon does not have a lot of air control, an enemy sniper will be given a good amount of time (the main man cannon on Valhalla takes around 2.5 seconds from 'take-off' to 'landing') to estimate where your head will meet his crosshairs. It also adds some advantage, as this player still can attack the other competitors. The player also has a quick overview of the positions of enemies and the current battle situation.

As of now, man cannons have only been featured by default in the Halo 3 multiplayer maps Valhalla, Guardian, Narrows, and Avalanche. They also appear as a placeable object via the Forge in almost any other multiplayer map.

Placeable Man Cannon[edit]

The man cannon has only appeared in Halo 3 as an environmental feature in 4 maps so far, but a placeable version of the man cannon can be placed manually in Forge on Rat's Nest, Foundry, Standoff, Avalanche, Cold Storage, Sandbox, Longshore and Citadel, although in other maps a grav lift could be used to similar effect, albeit not as powerful or directional.

This placeable version produces roughly the same amount of motive force, but can be placed anywhere on the map and in any position. This gives users great creative potential when using the man cannon in Forge that can be utilized to produce maps with better gameplay than would otherwise be possible. The man cannon is also an object which is immovable during normal gameplay after being placed in Forge. Unlike the small portable gravity lift, the man cannon cannot be destroyed. Until Halo 4, all placeable man cannons were Covenant ones, but Halo 4 features human-made man cannons.

Tactics[edit]

The main man cannon on Valhalla has a 'landing zone' roughly the size of an 'Elephant', but a good player will quickly see where his opponent is about to land. This makes it harder to pinpoint where the player will land, although on some maps such as Narrows, the LZ is considerably smaller to the point that you can place a Trip Mine to much effect.
Throwing a grenade (Plasma Grenades work best) or Power Drain into the Man Cannon can sometimes be effective against opponents within range.
You can improve the distance of your Man Cannon jump by pressing the jump button as you land. Some of the momentum left from your launch will transfer and allow you to leap farther. This is best accomplished by walking directly into the center of the Man Cannon you are using and mashing the jump button as you land. This will give you several smaller jumps until you return to normal speed. Jumping into the mancannon usually does not give you as much forward momentum, so it will not work. This trick is useful on Valhalla when getting the Spartan Laser. You can jump all the way across the river on the Lake Base side, or past the large rock on the Waterfall Base side.
Almost anything can be launched through Man Cannons. It's an effective way for supplying teammates across the map with guns, throwing equipment to use on friends or enemies.
Dropping Flares into the Man Cannons on Avalanche in Custom Games is an effective way of using optical cover to invade a base.
Throwing Bubble Shields into the Man Cannons is an effective way to protect your flag carrier in the air, and while waiting for a Hornet or other transport to arrive.
Explosive objects, such as Fusion Coils, will almost always explode upon impact of landing after being launched from a Man Cannon. Doing this can basically give your team a sort of improvised mortar (particularly in Valhalla in Custom games).
In Valhalla, it is useful to fly a Karo'etba-pattern Ghost into a Man Cannon while simultaneously activating the boost. This will send the Ghost completely across the map, albeit somewhat beat up or completely destroyed upon impact of landing.
Though it requires amazing timing and a degree of luck, it is possible to hijack an incoming enemy Banshee or Hornet, preferably from the side of the vehicle. This action can easily turn the tide of a game. But note that this is nearly impossible if you attempt to hijack head-on, as the speed which you are moving can easily get you splattered.
In CTF games on Valhalla, the man-cannon is an essential tool, that can get your player with the flag almost halfway across the map.
It is possible to launch a mongoose through the man cannon and get the "Mongoose Mowdown" achievement by doing this, particularly on Valhalla and Avalanche.
If Man Cannons are set face to face, you have to be careful since you cannot escape if an enemy player on the other side throws objects in, resulting in an undodgeable collision and instant kill. Using an object to kill may reward a splatter kill.

Trivia[edit]

The Man Cannons placed in Valhalla and Narrows can be shut down if you use the map Overload Glitch. This makes it a lot easier to place objects such as spawn points, grenades and teleporters close to or even on the Man Cannon. If the round or game is ended the map is no longer overloaded and thus, activates the Man Cannons again.
Using the Man Cannon to throw large objects can be fatal to opponents. Doing ten straight kills this way without dying, strangely, will award the player the Vehicular Manslaughter medal.

Gallery[edit]

A Mongoose launched by a man cannon in Halo 3.
Covenant man cannons of varying strengths on Forge World in Halo: Reach.
A man cannon on Tempest in Halo: Reach.
Detail closeup of human-made man cannon in Halo 4.
One view of a man cannon in Halo 4.
Another view of a man cannon in Halo 4.
Man cannons on Ragnarok in Halo 4.
A man cannon on Haven in Halo 4.
Concept art of one type of Forerunner man cannon for Halo 4.
A Forerunner man cannon in Halo 5: Guardians.
Concept art of a UNSC man cannon in Halo Infinite.
A Banished man cannon at Riven Gate in Halo Infinite.
Alternate view of a Banished man cannon in Halo Infinite.
A UNSC man cannon in Halo Infinite.
A Forerunner man cannon on Fragmentation's beacon towers in Halo Infinite.

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

^ Halo 4, campaign level Midnight (Cortana: "Conveyor lift, end of the ramp. If we time it right, our momentum should carry us through the low gravity.")
^ Halo 3
^ Halo: Reach
^ Halo 4

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-{{Era|RW}}
+{{Status|Canon}}
-{{Ratings}}
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+{{Fact cleanup}}
-[[Image:8312021-Medium.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The Man Cannon on [[Valhalla]].]]
+[[File:Halo3-Valhalla-ManCannon.jpg|thumb|300px|A man cannon on [[Valhalla]].]]
-[[Image:Halo-3-legendary-map-pack--20080408000112016.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Man Cannon on [[Avalanche (Level)|Avalanche]].]]
+A '''man cannon''', more formally referred to as a '''conveyor lift''',<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Midnight]]'' ([[Cortana]]: ''"Conveyor lift, end of the ramp. If we time it right, our momentum should carry us through the low gravity."'')</ref> is a device that launches an individual or object through the air over a long distance.<ref name="h3">'''Halo 3'''</ref> In the case of [[human]]-built man cannons, this is typically accomplished by means of some form of air vent or jet thruster, whereas [[Forerunner]] or [[Covenant]] man cannons commonly employ more sophisticated technology, such as [[anti-gravity technology|anti-gravity emitters]] similar to that used in [[gravity lift]]s.
-'''Man Cannons''' are Forerunner devices designed to launch an individual or object over a long distance. They are similar to the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant's]] small-scale gravity lifts; it is highly likely that the Covenant derived their lift technology from the [[Forerunner]]s.
+== Design and function ==
+Although they come in various designs and configurations, man cannons typically resemble air vents which emit a stream of exhaust that applies a strong force to anything that enters it. The distance an object is launched depends on the mass of the object and the strength of the cannon; human-sized objects will usually be catapulted many yards, while heavy vehicles and other large objects have considerably shorter trajectories.<ref>'''Halo: Reach'''</ref><ref>'''Halo 4'''</ref>
-== Function ==
+==Gameplay==
+The man cannons were introduced as gameplay objects in ''[[Halo 3]]'', and returned in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', as well as in ''[[Halo 4]]''. In many maps, they replaced [[teleporter]]s as a means of quickly moving across long distances, similar to how gravity lifts propel the player over a vertical span.
-A Man Cannon emits a stream of unknown material, possibly energy or gas, that will apply a strong force to anything that enters it. Depending on the size of the object and the strength of the cannon, objects can be catapulted tremendous distances. Unfortunately, its strength will be diminished when heavy objects such as the [[Warthog]] or Chopper drives through it, and the cannon will not launch them as far.<ref>[http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=755574 Carnage.Bungie.Org]</ref>
+The user is unprotected while in mid-air, but can still attack other players. The danger of using the man cannon is that the user's trajectory is set when they enter. Since the person being propelled through the cannon does not have a lot of air control, an enemy sniper will be given a good amount of time (the main man cannon on [[Valhalla]] takes around 2.5 seconds from 'take-off' to 'landing') to estimate where your head will meet his crosshairs. It also adds some advantage, as this player still can attack the other competitors. The player also has a quick overview of the positions of enemies and the current battle situation.
-The danger of using the man cannon is that your trajectory is set when you enter. Since you don't have a lot of air control, an enemy sniper will be given a good amount of time (the main man cannon on [[Valhalla]] takes around 2.5 seconds from 'take-off' to 'landing') to estimate where your head will meet his crosshairs.
+As of now, man cannons have only been featured by default in the ''Halo 3'' multiplayer maps [[Valhalla]], [[Guardian (Level)|Guardian]], [[Narrows]], and [[Avalanche]]. They also appear as a placeable object via the Forge in almost any other multiplayer map.
-It also adds some advantage, as this player still can attack the other competitors. The player also has a quick overview of the positions of enemies and the current battle situation.
-== Appearances ==
-As of now, this device has only been featured in the Halo 3 Multiplayer maps [[Valhalla]], [[Guardian (Level)|Guardian]], [[Narrows]], and [[Avalanche]], but similar devices (these are called [[gravity lift]]s) can be found on [[Guardian (Level)|Guardian]] and [[Epitaph]], as well as a placeable object via the Forge in almost any other multiplayer. The [[Halo 2]] Multiplayer Maps [[Desolation]], [[Lockout]], [[Ascension]], [[Gemini]], and [[Colossus]] also have [[gravity lift]]s. [[Ivory Tower]], [[Headlong]] and [[Foundation]] also have features that produce the same effect, but these are called 'air vents'. Most people do however still refer to them as grav lifts, probably because in the midst of battle you don't have the time to highlight the difference between the two of them. Another name used by few people is jumps.
-The man cannon was also used in the popular machinima series [[Red vs Blue]], both occurrences being quite humorous.
 == Placeable Man Cannon ==
+The man cannon has only appeared in ''Halo 3'' as an environmental feature in 4 maps so far, but a placeable version of the man cannon can be placed manually in [[Forge]] on [[Rat's Nest]], [[Foundry]], [[Standoff]], [[Avalanche]], [[Cold Storage]], [[Sandbox]], [[Longshore]] and [[Citadel]], although in other maps a grav lift could be used to similar effect, albeit not as powerful or directional.
-The man cannon has only appeared in Halo 3 as an environmental feature in 4 maps so far, but a placeable version of the man cannon can be placed manually in [[Forge]] on [[Rat's Nest]], [[Foundry]], [[Standoff]], [[Avalanche]], [[Cold Storage]], [[Sandbox]], [[Longshore]] and [[Citadel]], although in other maps a grav lift could be used to similar effect, albeit not as powerful or directional.
+This placeable version produces roughly the same amount of motive force, but can be placed anywhere on the map and in any position. This gives users great creative potential when using the man cannon in Forge that can be utilized to produce maps with better gameplay than would otherwise be possible. The man cannon is also an object which is immovable during normal gameplay after being placed in Forge. Unlike the small [[portable gravity lift]], the man cannon cannot be destroyed. Until ''Halo 4'', all placeable man cannons were Covenant ones, but ''Halo 4'' features human-made man cannons.
-This placeable version has roughly the same 'firepower' but can be placed anywhere on the map and in any position. This gives users great creative potential when using the man cannon in [[Forge]] that can be utilized to produce maps with better gameplay than would otherwise be possible. The man cannon is also an object which is immovable during normal gameplay after being placed in [[Forge]]. Unlike the small [[Portable_Gravity_Lift|Portable Grav Lift]], the man cannon can't be destroyed. Let it also be noted that all portable man cannons are [[Covenant]] ones, and there are no portable Forerunner ones to date.
 == Tactics ==
+*The main man cannon on [[Valhalla]] has a 'landing zone' roughly the size of an [[Elephant|'Elephant']], but a good player will quickly see where his opponent is about to land. This makes it harder to pinpoint where the player will land, although on some maps such as [[Narrows]], the LZ is considerably smaller to the point that you can place a [[Trip Mine]] to much effect.
-*The main man cannon on [[Valhalla]] has a 'landing zone' roughly the size of an [[Elephant|'Elephant' ]], but a good player will quickly see where his opponent is about to land. This makes it harder to pinpoint where the player will land, although on some maps such as [[Narrows]], the LZ is considerably smaller to the point that you can place a [[Trip Mine]] to much effect.
 *Throwing a grenade (Plasma Grenades work best) or [[Power Drain]] into the Man Cannon can sometimes be effective against opponents within range.
-*You can improve the distance of your Man Cannon jump by pressing the jump button as you land.&nbsp; Some of the momentum left from your launch will transfer and allow you to leap farther. This is best accomplished by walking directly into the center of the Man Cannon you are using and mashing the jump button as you land.&nbsp; This will give you several smaller jumps until you return to normal speed.&nbsp; Jumping into the mancannon usually does not give you as much forward momentum, so it will not work.&nbsp; This trick is useful on [[Valhalla]] when getting the [[Spartan Laser]].&nbsp; You can jump all the way across the river on the Lake Base side, or past the large rock on the Waterfall Base side.&nbsp;
+*You can improve the distance of your Man Cannon jump by pressing the jump button as you land. Some of the momentum left from your launch will transfer and allow you to leap farther. This is best accomplished by walking directly into the center of the Man Cannon you are using and mashing the jump button as you land. This will give you several smaller jumps until you return to normal speed. Jumping into the mancannon usually does not give you as much forward momentum, so it will not work. This trick is useful on [[Valhalla]] when getting the [[Spartan Laser]]. You can jump all the way across the river on the Lake Base side, or past the large rock on the Waterfall Base side.
 *Almost anything can be launched through Man Cannons. It's an effective way for supplying teammates across the map with guns, throwing equipment to use on friends or enemies.
 *Dropping [[Flare]]s into the Man Cannons on Avalanche in Custom Games is an effective way of using optical cover to invade a base.
 * Throwing [[Bubble Shield]]s into the Man Cannons is an effective way to protect your flag carrier in the air, and while waiting for a Hornet or other transport to arrive.
 * Explosive objects, such as [[Fusion Coils]], will almost always explode upon impact of landing after being launched from a Man Cannon. Doing this can basically give your team a sort of improvised mortar (particularly in Valhalla in Custom games).
-*In Valhalla, it is useful to fly a [[Ghost]] into a Man Cannon while simultaneously activating the boost. This will send the Ghost completely across the map, albeit somewhat beat up or completely destroyed upon impact of landing.
+*In Valhalla, it is useful to fly a {{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}} into a Man Cannon while simultaneously activating the boost. This will send the Ghost completely across the map, albeit somewhat beat up or completely destroyed upon impact of landing.
 *Though it requires amazing timing and a degree of luck, it is possible to [[hijack]] an incoming enemy [[Banshee]] or [[Hornet]], preferably from the side of the vehicle. This action can easily turn the tide of a game. But note that this is nearly impossible if you attempt to hijack head-on, as the speed which you are moving can easily get you splattered.
 *In CTF games on Valhalla, the man-cannon is an essential tool, that can get your player with the flag almost halfway across the map.
 *It is possible to launch a mongoose through the man cannon and get the "[[Mongoose Mowdown]]" achievement by doing this, particularly on Valhalla and Avalanche.
+*If Man Cannons are set face to face, you have to be careful since you cannot escape if an enemy player on the other side throws objects in, resulting in an undodgeable collision and instant kill. Using an object to kill may reward a splatter kill.
 ==Trivia==
-*The man cannon was first introduced in [[Halo 2]] on the maps [[Ascension (level)|Ascension]], [[Lockout]], [[Gemini]], [[Colossus]], and [[Desolation]]. The "human grav lift" or "air vents" were on [[Ivory Tower]], [[Headlong]], and [[Foundation]]
+*The Man Cannons placed in [[Valhalla]] and [[Narrows]] can be shut down if you use the map [[Overload glitch (Halo 3)|Overload Glitch]]. This makes it a lot easier to place objects such as [[spawn point]]s, [[grenade]]s and [[teleporter]]s close to or even on the Man Cannon. If the round or game is ended the map is no longer overloaded and thus, activates the Man Cannons again.
-*Almost anything can be sent through a Man Cannon. This includes the flag in a game of [[CTF]].
+*Using the Man Cannon to throw large objects can be fatal to opponents. Doing ten straight kills this way without dying, strangely, will award the player the [[Vehicular Manslaughter]] medal.
-*[[Scorpions]] also can be launched through the Man Cannon.
-* The Man Cannons placed in [[Valhalla]] and [[Narrows]] can be shut down if you use the map [[Overload_Glitch_(Halo_3)|Overload Glitch]]. This makes it a lot easier to place objects such as [[spawn point]]s, [[grenade]]s and [[teleporter]]s close to or even on the Man Cannon. If the round or game is ended the map is no longer overloaded and thus, activates the Man Cannons again.
+==Gallery==
-* The main difference between a [[gravity lift]] (for example the one on [[Colossus]]) and a Man Cannon is that it is more powerful and at a more horizontal angle. However, the main [[gravity lift]] on [[Epitaph]] can not be called a Man Cannon because it doesn't look like those present on [[Valhalla]] and [[Narrows]]. It also makes a different sound when used.
+{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of man cannon}}
-*On [[Valhalla]], it is common for players to drive a [[Mongoose]] into the Man Cannon to quickly get to the middle of the battlefield with a vehicle.
+<gallery>
-*The cannon was also used in the fifth episode of [[Red vs. Blue: Reconstruction]]. At Outpost 17 A-B, or [[Valhalla]], Church tried it out ahead of Caboose. The cannon sending him flying into the air and his body bounced of the ground repeatedly before a collision with a parked [[Warthog]]. This scene followed with Church responding to Washington when asked about being quiet by screaming "''What part? How about the part where I got thrown eighty feet in the fucking air by the goddamn throwing thing?!?!"''
+File:Flying mongoose.jpg|A [[Mongoose]] launched by a man cannon in ''Halo 3''.
-*Using the Man Cannon to throw large objects can be fatal to opponents. Doing ten straight kills this way without dying, strangely, will get you the [[Vehicular Manslaughter]] medal.
+File:HR_CovenantManCannons_Forge.png|Covenant man cannons of varying strengths on [[Forge World]] in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.
-*A [[Trip Mine]] placed in a Man Cannon could be a devastating tool, as players would not notice what they are stepping on in the heat of battle and you could just get one or more easy kills.
+File:HTMCC-HR Tempest ManCannon.png|A man cannon on [[Tempest]] in ''Halo: Reach''.
-*In the Red vs Blue ''Halo 3'' Beta video, the man cannon was jokingly called the "Homo Sapien Propulsifier."
+File:Halo4-ManCannon-CloseupDetail.jpg|Detail closeup of human-made man cannon in ''Halo 4''.
-*You can create a crude Man Cannon on almost any map on Forge by spawning a weapon holder and a place able Grav Lift as the lift will be held like a weapon in the holder at a sideways angle although it will give you no upwards lift like other Man Cannons and will have less power. The floating objects glitch may be used to tilt the lift at any angle to give you the upwards momentum.
+File:Halo4-ManCannon-01.jpg|One view of a man cannon in ''Halo 4''.
-*The placeable Man Cannon has been shown in the Red vs Blue DIY episode as part of Simmons's Grif Cannon. It consisted of multiple man cannons placed in a row inside a specially built fence box, and Grif was standing at the other end. Simmons then pushed a soccer ball into the chamber and it was hurled at high speed at Grif. Upon seeing this, Sarge commented "This is possibly the greatest invention in the history of mankind!" He then proceeded to push a street cone, a wire spool, and a dumpster in, the last of which crushed Grif.
+File:Halo4-ManCannon-02.jpg|Another view of a man cannon in ''Halo 4''.
+File:H4 Ragnarok-3.jpg|Man cannons on [[Ragnarok]] in ''Halo 4''.
+File:H4-Haven-ManCannon.jpg|A man cannon on [[Haven]] in ''Halo 4''.
+File:H4-Concept-Forerunner-Man-Cannon.jpg|Concept art of one type of Forerunner man cannon for ''Halo 4''.
+File:H5G-Forerunner man cannon.png|A Forerunner man cannon in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.
+File:HINF Concept UNSCManCannon.jpg|Concept art of a UNSC man cannon in ''[[Halo Infinite]]''.
+File:HINF Banished Man Cannon.png|A [[Banished]] man cannon at [[Riven Gate (location)|Riven Gate]] in ''Halo Infinite''.
+File:HINF-mancannon.png|Alternate view of a Banished man cannon in ''Halo Infinite''.
+File:HINF UNSC ManCannon.png|A UNSC man cannon in ''Halo Infinite''.
+File:HINF Forerunner ManCannon.png|A Forerunner man cannon on Fragmentation's beacon towers in ''Halo Infinite''.
+</gallery>
+==List of appearances==
+*''[[Halo 3]]'' {{1st}}
+*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
+*''[[Halo 4]]''
+*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
+*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
+*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
 == Sources ==
-<references/>
+{{Ref/Sources}}
-[[Category:Multiplayer]]
+==See also==
+*[[Gravity conveyor]]
+*[[Gravity lift]]
+[[Category:Gravity technology]]
+[[Category:Transportation]]