Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet

A deactivated Point Defense Gauntlet being carried by a Jackal in Halo 3.

Point Defense Gauntlets^[1], also known as Jackal Shield Unit^[2], are arm-held energy shields mainly used by the Covenant Kig-Yar for protection from enemy fire or close to mid-range explosions.

Summary

File:Jackal Shield Taking Damage.jpg

Jackal shields emit decreasing wavelength light spectrum's (orange to red) as they take damage, eventually collapsing altogether (red is the lowest part of the visible spectrum, violet is the highest).

Worn on the forearm of the user, the gauntlet creates an energy barrier that deflects and absorbs small arms weaponry to an extent; UNSC ballistic weapons and the Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher would simply bounce off the energy barrier whereas the Covenant's plasma-based weaponry would be absorbed by the energy barrier, eventually collapsing it. Heavier weaponries such as the Covenant's Fuel Rod Gun and the UNSC's M19 and M41 Rocket Launcher and Gauss Cannon are considerably effective against the gauntlet's energy barrier. Alternatively, explosions and extreme force from grenades and melee attacks will collapse the energy barrier and possibly killing the wearer in the process.

The shield of the point defense gauntlet reflects its current charge by changing colour gradually from its original colour to red before it deactivates completely.

Changes

Changes from Halo: Combat Evolved to Halo 2

Shields now slowly turn a red colour as they take more and more damage.
Jackal Majors are indicated by orange shield and orange armor, rather than brownish skin.
Gaps for firing weapons is slightly smaller.

Changes from Halo 2 to Halo 3

In Halo 3, Kig-Yar Majors are indicated by a purple-blue colour in their shield, rather than orange.
Unlike the first two games, the gauntlet protects against melee attacks. A melee collapses the shield on lower difficulties with one hit, while it takes a couple on Legendary (Melee weaponry such as the Energy Sword will cut through it instantly, regardless of the difficulty).
Shields will recharge significantly faster than in the first two games.
Small gap for the firing weapon is slightly larger and can more easily be exploited by the player.

Trivia

The Kig-Yar Point Defense Gauntlets were often used by Spartans and Elites who wanted enhanced shielding. They are commonly used by SPARTAN-IIIs, as their SPI armor doesn't include a built-in energy shield projector, and often by the SPARTAN-IIs before they were given the MJOLNIR Mark V.^[2]
The early MJOLNIR armor's shield system was reverse engineered from a Point Defense Gauntlet but due to the shield being stretched, projectile weapons will collapse it.
Kig-Yar Snipers and Marksmen do carry these point defense gauntlets as other Kig-Yars do, but do not activate them as it will reveal their location to the enemy due to the flashy energy shields produced by the gauntlets.
In Halo PC, the colouring for the Kig-Yar's personal energy shield will not be of the correct colour. In the original Xbox version, the Kig-Yar Major has a yellow energy shield whereas the Minor has blue energy shield. The PC version however has a light green-blue energy shield colouring for all of the Kig-Yar, regardless of ranks.
Originally in Halo 2, some Carrier Forms would have an Energy Shield that looked similar to the Kig-Yar Point Defense Gauntlet.
The shield seems to be a dual-wieldable item, as Jackals are never seen holding a weapon in their shield hand, as this would interfere with their shield, aim, and posture, and the shield may get in the way of their weapon (one exception is in a Halo 2 glitch where the Arbiter could give shield bearing Jackals two-handed weapons). In Halo Wars, they can hold a Covenant Carbine or Beam Rifle, along with the gauntlet, with ease.
In Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, Sangheili warriors find it dishonorable to use Kig-yar shield gauntlets, perhaps explaining why the Sangheili shield variant is not curved and leaves much of the body exposed.
In Halo: Reach's ViDoc, Once More unto the Breach, the second flash of sticky notes shows a note that says "Jackal Shield WOW". Most of the notes with 'WOW' on them are about new features, so it has been theorized that the Jackal energy shield gauntlets will finally be available for player use. Also, another sticky note mentions "Jackal Phalanx", which could become a defensive formation for groups of Jackals.

Gallery

The Kig-Yar Point Defense Gauntlet in Halo: Combat Evolved.
A Kig-Yar with a deactivated point defense gauntlet.
Point Defense Gauntlets provide cover for the whole body of a well positioned Jackal.
Shield drop 1.jpg

A Kig-Yar Point Defense Gauntlet's shield disintegrating.
A Kig-Yar Point Defense Gauntlet collapsing when exposed to a Power Drain.