Z-110 Boltshot

Template:Weapon Infobox The Z-110 Directed Energy Pistol/Exotic,^[1] commonly known as the Boltshot, is a Forerunner energy channel weapon. It is the sole weapon of Promethean Watchers, and also commonly carried by Crawlers.

Overview

The Boltshot came into use after the end of the first century of the Forerunner-Flood war and remained a staple weapon for the rest of the war. Functioning as a close-range precision weapon, it can disintegrate organic matter.^[1] The weapon is a particle dilator and also has a burst function at close range. It gained prominence approximately 200 years before the activation of the Halo Array.^[2] Following the Requiem Campaign the Prometheans modified their Boltshots to fire in bursts that are able to track enemies.^[3]

Design details

The weapon possesses an angular design and a metallic casing. It appears to be held together almost entirely by energy fields as indicated by its self-assembly process and reloading mechanics. Orange highlights can be seen while the weapon is self-assembling and throughout the casing once assembly is complete; these highlights grow brighter when the weapon is fired. When the weapon's trigger is held, four flaps extend from the side of the weapon, activating its burst function. The flaps glow brighter as the weapon generates energy for its burst function and retract after the bolt has been released.^[4]

Variants

Closed Fist

The left hand of Endurance-of-Will, the Closed Fist has a faster fire rate and larger magazine than standard Boltshots.

Open Hand

The right hand of Endurance-of-Will, the Open Hand fires a swarm of tracking bolts with each press of the trigger.

Gameplay

Advantages

The Boltshot has a rather high rate of fire, decent accuracy, and is capable of headshots. Holding the trigger will charge the Boltshot's close-range secondary function which is often referred to as Burst-Mode. It unleashes a single burst that releases five shots simultaneously which can be fatal when used against shielded enemies at close range. If the player wishes to cancel the charging secondary fire, the trigger can be released after one or two seconds, returning the weapon to its primary function which also prevents the waste of any ammunition. However, if the user releases the trigger after only three seconds, the secondary function will still fire, often catching enemies off guard. Burst-Mode can still be used if the weapon has just one of the five required bolts, inflicting the same amount of damage as a burst with all five bolts.

Disadvantages

The Boltshot does not have enough rounds in one magazine to kill in the hands of an inexperienced user. One would have to empty an entire magazine into a target to drop its shields, reload, and then kill it with a headshot. Despite its powerful secondary mode, it takes exactly four seconds to charge, rendering the user defenseless. In addition, it consumes half the ammo of the weapon, meaning that only two shots of it are possible before a reload. If the shot fails to kill the target, the user will be left helpless until it cools down again.

Changes from Halo 4 to Halo 5: Guardians

Can now be zoomed in with Smart scope to decrease reticule bloom.
Magazine size changed from 10 to 24 rounds.
Charge-up feature removed.
Now fires in three-round bursts that track enemies.
Now kills a fully-shielded Spartan in 4 bursts.
Although the weapon retains the ability to headshot, the damage bonus is negligible as it does not reduce the amount of bursts required to kill a target.

Trivia

The development name for the Boltshot was the Stasis Pistol. It is so named in Halo 4's game files.

Gallery

Concept art of the Boltshot for Halo 4.
Profile image of the Boltshot.
John-117 wielding a Boltshot.
First-person view of the Boltshot in Making Halo 4: Return of the Forerunners.
The Boltshot aimed at a Knight, without the flaps extended.
A first-person view of the Boltshot being used against a Promethean Knight, with flaps extended.
Detailed closeup of a Boltshot's burst-function being fired.
First-person view of the Boltshot being reloaded.
Third-person view of the Boltshot being reloaded.
Fred-104 using a Boltshot against the Ur-Didact during the Skirmish on Installation 03 in Halo: Escalation.
H5G-BoltshotHUD.png

First-person view of the Boltshot in Halo 5: Guardians.
H5G-Boltshotzoom.png

Smart scope with the Boltshot.
H5-OpenHand-FP.png

First-person view of the Open Hand in Halo 5: Guardians.