ARC-920 railgun
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
| ARC-920 railgun | |
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14.9 kilograms (33 lb)[6] |
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16×65 mm M645 FTP-HE[4][6][5] |
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The Asymmetric Recoilless Carbine-920 (ARC-920), also known simply as the railgun, is a compact-channel linear accelerator weapon used by the United Nations Space Command. It is designed and manufactured by Acheron Security.[2] The ARC-920 is one of the various limited-production electromagnetic launchers in service with the UNSC, and is widely considered the best among them.[7][4]
Overview
Design details
While several lines of handheld infantry-portable railgun weapon systems have been in full production for decades,[4] the ARC-920 railgun is a result of scientific breakthroughs following the Human-Covenant War that allowed for portable, hand-held, electromagnetic launcher systems to be used in combat. The ARC-920's disposable power cell and ferric-shelled M645 FTP-HE projectile has dramatically decreased the weapon's total mass. Despite the ARC-920's lighter weight over previous models, it is still too heavy and cumbersome for general use by non-augmented personnel.[7] Overall, it is widely considered to be the best entry into the handheld railgun market.[4]
The ARC-920 uses a pair of parallel conducting rails to accelerate its projectiles. A large electric current flows from one rail into the projectile and then to the other rail; the electromagnetic effects of this interaction accelerate the projectile to an immense speed. The rifle requires a brief charging period before firing high-explosive rounds accelerated to an incredible speed.[8] The explosive yield contained in the round adds to the kinetic force of the impact, making the weapon effective against both infantry and armor.[2][4] If the charge is held too long, the weapon will fire automatically[9] - an issue alleviated in later production models and variants in the ARC-920 line.[10]
The weapon lacks a scope or any form of optical magnification.[8][5]
Variants
- Whiplash: The Whiplash is an improved variant which features a faster charge cycle, two rounds per magazine, and projectiles fitted with a proximity airburst fuse.[11]
- Arclight: The Arclight is an advanced variant that fires armor-piercing high-explosive rounds capable of piercing through multiple targets at once. While it takes longer to charge the weapon, the charge can be held indefinitely.[10]
- Extractor: This Railgun has a unique interior green glow.[12]
Whiplash.
Arclight.
Extractor
Gameplay
Compared to the Spartan Laser, the ARC-920's charging time is half the duration and deals less damage to vehicles. In addition, the traveling time for a fired shot is almost instantaneous,[8] though still markedly slower than most ballistic, hard light, and laser weapons in the game, which are hitscan. In Campaign and Spartan Ops, the charging time is longer than in War Games.
Advantages
The railgun is extremely powerful and can kill Spartans and all but the highest-ranking Promethean Knights and Elites with one shot. It is also very accurate at short and medium distances.
Disadvantages
The railgun must be charged before firing, which is a disadvantage on the battlefield. It can only fire one slug before reloading and is weak against vehicles. Its lack of scope coupled with its narrow blast radius make it difficult to aim, limiting mostly to firing at stationary or slow-moving targets.
Changes from Halo 4 to Halo 5: Guardians
- Can now be zoomed in via Smart Scope, which activates the weapon's Projection sight.
- Like the Gauss turret, it now has hitscan properties.
- Maximum reserve ammunition increased from 5 to 13.
- Projectile weakness against vehicles has been removed, leaving it an all around effective anti-vehicle weapon.
- Charge time is now the same in the campaign as in multiplayer.
- If the Grunt Birthday Party skull is on, the railgun can now trigger the effects of said skull with headshots to Grunts.
Changes from Halo Wars 2
- August is the only one that wields an actual Railgun. Despite it being the standard Railgun, she shoots it twice in some occasions.
- The Railgun does less damage.
- Extractor Marines wield Railguns in Blitz, the weapon can "siphon" enemies' health and give it to the user & having a higher rate of fire.
Trivia
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See our gameplay information related to ARC-920 railgun on its gameplay page. |
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Browse more images in this article's gallery page. |
- Canonically, a magnetically accelerated projectile would move at many times the speed of sound. However, for the sake of balance, the railgun's projectiles move at a much slower subsonic speed in gameplay.
- Despite being a railgun, the rings that form around the barrel when charging, as well as the Railgun Kill medal depicting a projectile going through rings, seem more indicative of a coilgun.
- In addition, the weapon's REQ card in Halo 5: Guardians identifies it as a coilgun.[9]
- Even though the weapon's name implies a lack of recoil, a railgun or coilgun should still produce substantial recoil.
Gallery
Normal gallery
Concept art of the ARC-920 railgun for Halo 4.
Concept art of the ARC-920 and a BR85HB battle rifle.
Concept art of the ARC-920's reloading mechanism in Halo 4.
Concept art of Master Chief with the ARC-920.
A render of John-117 wielding the ARC-920.
The ARC-920 in Halo 4.
A right side view of the ARC-920 railgun.
A schematic of the railgun.
HUD icon of the ARC-920 in Halo 4.
A Warrior-clad Spartan-IV wielding the ARC-920.
First-person view of the ARC-920 by John-117 in the Halo 4 campaign.
First-person view of the ARC-920 railgun in Halo 4's multiplayer.
Closeup view of the ARC-920 being reloaded.
Reloading an ARC-920.
An M645 round in the barrel.
An ARC-920 immediately after discharge.
An M645 round being fired.
Sarah Palmer wielding an ARC-920 against Merg Vol in Halo: Spartan Assault.
Spartan Newman firing an ARC-920 during the Battle of Ealen IV in Halo: Escalation.
Frederic-104 charging up an ARC-920.
First-person view of the ARC-920 by Fred-104 in the Halo 5: Guardians campaign.
Smart scope with the ARC-920 by Fred-104 in the Halo 5: Guardians campaign.
First-person view of the ARC-920 in Halo 5: Guardians.
Smart scope with the ARC-920.
Alternate view of the ARC-920 in smart scope.
First-person view of the Whiplash.
A Centurion-clad Spartan-IV with the Whiplash.
First-person view of the Arclight.
A Spartan-IV with the Arclight.
A Spartan-IV charging up the Arclight. Note the uniquely colored glowing lights from the weapon.
The Arclight's explosive rounds piercing through multiple M820 Scorpions.
Concept art of August-099 using an ARC-920 for Halo Wars 2.
A ingame look of the Extractor.
The Extractor Railgun.
Halo 5: Guardians REQ cards
Whiplash.
Arclight.
List of appearances
- Halo 4 (First appearance)
- Halo: Spartan Assault
- Halo: Escalation
- Halo 5: Guardians
- Halo Wars 2
- Halo: Battle Born
- Halo Infinite (Poster only)
Sources
- ^ a b c d Halo Waypoint, Halo 4 Interactive Guide - Weapons: Railgun (Retrieved on May 1, 2013) [local archive] [external archive]
- ^ a b c Gameinformer, The Arsenal of Halo 4 (Retrieved on Dec 20, 2022) [archive]
- ^ a b Halo Waypoint, The Halo Bulletin: 8.8.12 (Retrieved on Aug 19, 2013) [archive]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 63
- ^ a b c d e Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 178
- ^ a b c d e f Infinity Briefing Packet
- ^ a b Halo Waypoint, Railgun (Retrieved on Sep 30, 2021) [archive]
- ^ a b c Halo Waypoint, The Halo Bulletin: 5.25.12 (Retrieved on Apr 30, 2013) [archive]
- ^ a b Halo 5: Guardians, REQ card: Railgun "Powerful single-shot coilgun that requires a short charge cycle before firing. Will automatically fire if the charge is held for too long."
- ^ a b Halo 5: Guardians, REQ card: Arclight "Those who can't acquire super-soldiers acquire super-weapons instead. Advanced Railgun firing armor-piercing high-explosive [APHE] projectiles. Shots take longer to charge, but can be held indefinitely."
- ^ Halo 5: Guardians, REQ card: Whiplash "Acheron Security has recently made great strides in developing compact fast-discharge energy cells and miniaturized sensors. Improved Railgun featuring a faster charge cycle, multiple shots per magazine, and projectiles fitted with proximity airburst fuse."
- ^ Halo Wars 2, Blitz in-game unit
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