Anskum-pattern plasma grenade
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
- "Get it off! Get...it...off!"
- — A Grunt after being stuck with a Plasma Grenade
- "Demon Flare!"
- — Elite referring to the plasma grenade
The Covenant Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade[1], also known as the Plasma Grenade, Sticky Grenade, Holy flare, Holy light, or the Demon flare by the Covenant is similar to the UNSC Fragmentation Grenade in that it is a hand-thrown Anti-Infantry and Anti-Vehicle weapon.
Overview
The Plasma Grenade (or sticky/"Plasma'nade", or "the blue ball of death" as it's sometimes referred to) is a specially designed grenade that adheres to its targets. Once it hits a target, the plasma grenade will immediately bond to it, and beep telling you have been stuck, making any removal impossible. The bonding mechanism holds its attraction, except to seemingly static objects, such as walls, until detonation, making it impossible to avoid its deadly explosion. Therefore, if you have been "stuck", it is a good idea to take out as many opponents around you to reclaim points. Although it will bond to any target it hits, if it attaches to a piece of armour or a weapon, removing said articles will allow one to distance themselves from the explosion. Once the plasma grenade has adhered to the target, it kills instantly. All one can do is to try and get as close to an enemy as possible, with the hope of killing them or at least damage them, thus leaving them vulnerable to any attack from another hostile. Although the plasma grenades can stick to the enemies or friendlies, in Halo: Combat Evolved, it can be seen clearly that the Frag Grenade is much more powerful, but due to the enemy or friendly being stuck the explosion is close range thus the enemy being stuck has a higher chance of dying.
The "sticking" mechanism is complex enough to allow the plasma grenade the ability to distinguish between targets and inanimate objects. For example, it will stick to a soldier or a vehicle, but not a tree or a wall etc. This does not, however, allow the grenade to act selectively. The plasma grenade will not distinguish between friend or foe so accuracy and caution is strongly advised when throwing it, so as not to betray your allies.
The plasma grenade possesses a timer. It has a three-second fuse that counts down at the point of activation. A manual activation via a small button or a stimulated activation, such as another explosion or gunfire, will set the detonator and start the countdown. Delayed activation can also set the detonator after it either sticks to a target or otherwise comes to a rest. It is possible to tell if the grenade has been activated. A densely small and bright cloud of plasma emission will leak around the grenade as the explosive reaction takes place inside. This cloud will gradually grow to a larger diameter after each second of the countdown. A low sound is emitted by the grenade when activated, followed by two rapid beeps and a high-pitched whine just seconds before the explosion. This is the plasma grenade's standard process of detonation.
The Plasma Grenade appears to have two settings: the standard three-second fuse and a delayed manual detonation. The latter is seen in Halo 3 by suicidal Grunts hoping to ensure their enemy's death by exploding right next to them. In addition, the Plasma Grenade can be destroyed by being shot (Easily seen with the Sentinel Beam).
Also, some characters in campaign cannot be stuck. Brute Chieftains have immunity from this until their armor is knocked off. However, their weapon can still be stuck, and if the Brute's shield is broken (i.e in Halo 2, Tartarus can be stuck if his shield is broken), you can still stick them.
Advantages
Sticking an enemy with the plasma grenade will always result in instant death (except for Hunters which usually takes two to kill). Also, except when (in Oddball, or Juggernaut) the player is stuck and the option "Ball Carrier has extra life" is chosen (in Halo: CE), even a fully shielded Spartan or Elite (except on higher difficulty levels) cannot withstand a stuck plasma grenade, but in this situation the ball carrier will only have 1 bar of health. In Halo 3, high ranking Brutes on the harder difficulties can withstand a player's grenade with Mythic (death skull). Also, higher ranking Grunts on Easy, can withstand grenades thrown by their Grunt brethren if it sticks to them with Mythic. In Halo: CE, Grunts will sometimes run for surrounding Elites when stuck, pleading him to remove it. This results in both the Grunt, the Elite and the Elite's team, if any, being killed. On campaign in Halo 3, you can take the advantage that the arbiter has 2x the endurance and can survive 2x the damage compared to you. You can stick him with a plasma grenade(recommended) and then he will charge at the enemy, burning everything within a 4meter radius(without cowbell Skull).
Disadvantages
The plasma grenade's bright blue glow and longer delay fuse allows enemies to easily detect and avoid it. It cannot be used around corners, as its bounce is negligible, and it does not roll. A player wearing a fully charged Overshield may be capable of surviving the blast even when stuck. Also, if a smart enemy is stuck when they are too close they can simply run toward you to catch you in the blast zone. In Halo 2 and Halo 3, a primed plasma grenade in flight can be detonated mid-air by another explosion. Weapons capable of this include the Rocket Launcher, Brute Shot, Missile Pod, Frag Grenades, other Plasma Grenades. The Plasma Grenade will not stick to certain types of armour such as that of a Scarab or a Brute Chieftain's. When thrown at them, the grenade will bounce and fall at their feet, and they will probably notice it and move out of the blast radius. Ballistic or explosive weapons such as a Shotgun or Brute Shot will remove the plating allowing the grenade to stick. If someone throws a plasma grenade and it hits the wall, it can bounce off the wall back down and adhere to the thrower. Also, if the opponent notices you, he/she will probably take immediate evasive action. As you will probably miss if they dodge, they will be relatively unaffected due to the tiny blast radius. in multiplayer sometimes if an enemy is hiding in a bubble shield you may run into the bubble slightly enough to throw a Plasma Grenade in and trap the helpless player. this tactic is risky because of the fact that if you run back out to quickly you may end up releasing the grenade on the outside of the Bubble Shield, thus, bouncing it off the Bubble Shield, and land back on your face resulting in an extremely embarrassing suicide. Also, in Halo CE, if you throw ANY grenade, it will detonate other grenades in the blast radius that can result in your death, or a lot of casualties.
Another thing is if in Halo 2 you stick a higher ranking Elite such as an Ultra it will not kill him and really takes two grenades for an ultra and higher ranks, this is a disadvantage because this makes it harder for a player to kill an Elite of higher rank.
You should always be wary of enemies like Elites, Combat Forms, and Infection Forms when using the Plasma Grenade. Once you stick it on to them, they'll run to you, thus letting you get caught in the explosion.
Plasma Grenades have a smaller blast radius than Frag grenades, thus making it less useful against crowded groups.
Plasma grenades can be deflected by Gravity Hammers
Effects on Health
It has been shown that prolonged exposure to the radiation emitted by plasma grenades, without proper protection, can cause a deviation in the neural electric pathways of the user, a disorder called Boren's Syndrome. This disease can be fatal if the person does not get treatment. Sergeant Avery Johnson is the only known living person to have Boren's Syndrome. This explains why he was immune to infection by the Flood during the attack his team on Installation 04. The reason for this is because the flood cannot copy the organisms nerve endings because they are "messed up" (as said by Master Chief in Halo First Strike), so the host never gets infected, although it can still be killed by one because of attack.
Theory about "Stickiness"
Note: The following is speculation and theory: The plasma grenade may stick by producing a thin layer of plasma which, when in contact with a target, fuses to the target. The reason the plasma grenade sticks to vehicles and characters may be due to an ability to sense body heat and the heat from vehicles' engines. Since a "dead" wall doesn't emit heat, it will, however, stick to the "living" walls of a Flood Hive. One problem with this theory is that it will stick even to exposed skin (on Grunts, Jackals, or Marines as an example) even though there is no metal to fuse to - it would be nearly impossible to fuse the grenade to flesh using heat alone.
Another theory is that when the grenade is thrown it will be covered by a thick layer of extremely hot plasma that when stuck to anything, it will burn in to the object and then explodes.
It is also theorized that there is a complex internal mechanism built into the grenade that gives it this characteristic. A gravity generator may be built into the core of the device, giving it its own force of attraction. This artificial force of attraction is highly concentrated, which is exactly why the grenade is impossible to remove.
An interesting thing to note is the fact that when a plasma grenade is primed, it does not stick to the thrower. A theory for this could be that the grenade must be primed touching something emitting heat, and then leaving the heat-emitting object, thus activating its "stickiness," and finally landing and sticking to another heat-emitting object i.e. the target. This is even better proved by the fact that it will stick the person who threw it if it bounces back at them i.e a wall.
It's possible that the grenade has an adhesive activated by a timer. Once the grenade is activated, this timer is initiated, giving a few seconds for the thrower to release the grenade. Once the timer has run out, the adhesive activates and the surface of the grenade is as made sticky as glue by the activation of the adhesive. Although, this theory doesn't explain the environment/character principles of the grenade.
Another theory is that the Plasma Grenade has a energy shield hybrid shell to bounce off of walls and an internal magnet to pull it to vehicles and armour.
Yet another theory states that the Plasma Grenade detects low-level and medium level electrical pulses that are in living things and that are in shield and vehicle technology. Jackal Gauntlet Defense systems emit a high rate of energy, enough to repel Human Projectiles, while the MJOLNIR Armour, Elite Combat Harness, and Brute Combat Harness all are damaged by projectiles. This could mean that the Plasma grenade cannot stick to a high level electrical pulses, such as the ones that are in Jackal Gauntlets, but have sufficient energy to stick to low to medium power energy shields as well as vehicles. This would also explain why Brute Chieftains cannot be stuck, as their armour have extremely powerful energy shielding, albeit the fact that it can still be damaged by human projectiles.
Trivia
- If a Grunt is stuck they will usually run into their comrades trying to get it off but if you stick an Elite or a Brute they will either charge you or take cover.
- A popular emblem in Halo 3 is that of a Spartan helmet being stuck.
- To the frustration of many players, sticking a vehicle will not always destroy it and the passengers inside. Many "sticks" have been documented in which the vehicle was stuck but the passengers were not killed, merely damaged.
- It has actually been known for people to somehow "remove the sticky" and throw it back but on closer inspection you will notice that it only works if you stick their hand, then they throw a grenade.
- During campaign playing, if a plasma grenade detonate close to a Jackal or Grunt without killing them, they will hold their hands over their heads and run away.
- Plasma Grenades are often referred to as "blue stickies" by players.
- There is sometimes a glitch that occurs where the three second delay is accelerated and the player explodes almost immediately after being stuck.
- The Forerunner symbol engraved on the Plasma Grenade was changed in every game of the Halo trilogy.
- If a player's weapon is stuck with a plasma grenade it is possible to pickup another weapon, and thereby dropping the "stuck" weapon, and live. The Plasma Grenade will stay on the dropped weapon and still explode, though not be considered a stick. Switching for your secondary weapon won't help.
- In Halo 3 Multiplayer if you stick 5 people in a free-for-all (i.e. Lone Wolves) match you receive the Lee R. Wilson Memorial Achievement.
- In Halo 3 Multiplayer, if you stick an enemy with the plasma grenade you are awarded with the Grenade Stick Medal.
- In Multiplayer there is sometimes glitch where the stuck grenade will only kill the opponent and not explode. There are also occasions where a Plasma Grenade will pass through the opponent or if it does stick, it may not kill them, this is normally due to lag issues.
- Occasionally, in Halo 3, Plasma Grenades will actually bounce off players for an unexplained reason, presumably lag. Shortly after the bounce, the Plasma Grenade may teleport back onto the target. There are also times when random timing and luck factors in, as such when a player drops the Oddball causing the plasma grenade to bounce harmlessly off the dropped item.
- Another error, (usually found in the campaign) is where the grenade may entirely disappear.
- In Halo: Combat Evolved, the Plasma Grenade's explosion was more of a blue cloud and was also very powerful, similar to that of a Needler in the same game. The size of the blast animation and radius also got smaller going into Halo 2, and smaller still in Halo 3.
- In Halo: CE, plasma grenade damage, like a Needler detonation and plasma pistol overcharge, is classified as an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) and instantly drops all shields, even a full Overshield. The same held for grenades that were dropped. This was removed in Halo 2 and 3 (except for the plasma pistol overcharge), making it less effective against infantry.
- In Halo: CE multiplayer, the Frag Grenade is considered more effective against large groups of infantry, while the Plasma Grenade is used for single opponents or fast-moving vehicles.
- In Halo: CE, a Plasma Grenade inflicts 4 times the damage to a shielded Elite. So if a plasma grenade damages an Elite at all when its shields are up, it will die, with few exceptions. However, the damage multiplier is normal when damaging flesh, so on higher difficulties an Elite has a better chance of surviving a plasma grenade explosion when its shield is down.
- In Halo 2, when the Covenant use plasma grenades in battle, they will shout phrases as they throw them, such as "cleansing flame", "holy flare" and "holy light". rarly They will still shout demon flare even if it is thrown by an ally.
- Occasionally, if two plasma grenades are thrown in succession at the same spot; one will detonate, launching the other far into the air. The airborne grenade will explode in mid-air. This is easiest to perform in Halo: Combat Evolved.
- If you stick a charging Hunter with a plasma grenade the Hunter will instantly turn around, exposing its back, when the grenade explodes. This also allows you to shoot the exposed flesh of the hunter for a quick kill. It is unknown why this occurs.
- In Halo:CE, if you throw a Frag Grenade where a group of Plasma Grenades are, the detonation of the frag will make the plasma grenades explode. The same occurs in Halo 3, but only during the Campaign.
- In Halo:CE, Plasma Grenades take 4 seconds to detonate. In Halo 2, they take 3 seconds. In Halo 3, they take about 2 and 1/2 seconds.
- It is also noted that the Plasma Grenades from Halo:CE seem to be meant for taking out masses of targets based on the Plasma Grenade's rather large area of effect. While its successors seem to be meant for taking out closer masses of targets or individual, larger targets based on their smaller but deadlier AoE.
- In Halo 3, when you throw a plasma grenade, it makes a long beep before exploding.
- It is possible to stick the grenade while it is in the opponent's hand, meaning they get to throw two grenades at you.
- It is very possible to stick yourself, resulting from a bad throw, and ending in a suicide.
- If the player crouches and aims as far down as the HUD allows then throws the Plasma Grenade it will attache itself to their foot.
- Like all grenades, it can be shot and detonated by a weapon. A Battle Rifle works best.
- It can be used for the Warthog Jump.
- Chieftains can only be stuck on their weapon, feet, and head (once the headdress is knocked off), although it is extremely difficult to do so.
- On one side of the Plasma Grenade, Forerunner Symbols like that of a Halo:CE Elite is visible.
- In Halo 2 if you throw a grenade (when you don't have any) while looking down your torso will raise from your hips and you legs will extend. This is due to the model stance change. Others will see your weapon lowered.
- There is a glitch involving getting the sticky off you when you get stuck. To achieve this, get stuck first (should be easy enough, just stand still when they throw a sticky at you). Then, rush towards the nearest teleporter and get through it. Your sticky should have "magically" disappeared. This only works for Halo PC.
- Through the previous glitch, you can also effectively "fall through" Blood Gulch. Time the explosion so that when the sticky blows, you are in the teleporter. You should fall, waving your arms, toward a bottomless end. This glitch is, of course, much easier with the Banshee Fall Glitch. However, this method does not involve vehicles.
- In Halo 3 the Plasma Grenade can be shot out of the air.
- In Halo 3, sticking a Plasma Grenade to the Ghost's front "shield" is not fatal. This is most likely because the shield protects the driver. However, a stick anywhere else on the ghost will kill the driver.
- In Forge on Halo 3, there is a trick people can use with stickies to act as a kamikaze. Move right up against a wall and throw a sticky at the wall so that it bounces off and sticks you. When that happens, go into editor mode and fly around. Whenever you feel like it, change back into player mode and the sticky will explode.
- They are also referred to as "blueberries" or "stickies".
- It is possible to get a sticky stuck in a Grav Lift. It will float in the Grav Lift's gravity stream until an outside force pushes it out. This is inadvisable to do with 2 grenades to 1 grav-lift, as they will eventually stick to each other. This trick can be used in machinimas as an ambiance tool.
- In Halo:CE, if you stay on the Pelican on 343 Guilty Spark, when the pelican crashes, throw a grenade at the end of the map (the gray part), and the grenade will brighten, but it won't explode.
- There is much debate about which grenade is easier to score a stick with between the Spike Grenade (Type-2 Antipersonnel Grenade) and the Plasma Grenade (Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade).
- According to the Halo 3 game manual, the Plasma Grenade has the second highest kill and casualty radius (4m and 12m respectively) of all the grenades in the game.
- In Halo 3 meta-game, if you take out a shielded enemy's shields with a plasma grenade explosion (without sticking them), and then headshot that enemy, you will receive the EMP Medal. This must be done against a shielded enemy (i.e., a Brute).
- In Halo 3 Plasma Grenades will NOT stick to any other grenade and will simply bounce off if they make contact mid air.
- On Halo 3 in Co-op Campaign, if one player threw a Plasma Grenade at another it bounces off harmlessly. This is to keep players from team killing.
- In Halo: Combat Evolved Plasma Grenades bounced when they fell on ice.
- In Halo 3, if you melee a Plasma Grenade while it is on the ground it will explode. This is not present in any of the other Halo games.
- If you stick a Flood Pure Form mid-change it disappears.
- If you stick a high ranked enemy, such as a Zealot, they will drop their weapon and roar at you, before blowing up.
- In Halo 2, plasma grenades would fly through a player lunging with the Energy Sword on multiplayer before an update corrected this.
- When a player is stuck in the head, the grenade completely blinds him or her. The result has been dubbed the "blue screen of death."
- As seen at the image at top,a plasma gernade has a forerunner glyph.
