Power drain

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Template:Weapon The power drain is a combat support device used by Covenant Jiralhanae forces.

Function

The power drain creates a short-range electromagnetic pulse (EMP) effect, which interferes with all electronic equipment within the radius of the pulse. It is designed primarily to interfere with common varieties of energy shielding, as well as the electrical components of vehicles. After a short time, the device overheats and explodes, and can wound or kill combatants in its resulting explosion. ^[1]The electricity it produces can also harm biological systems and cause damage to unshielded targets.

In combat, the power drain weakens shields that come within range of its EMP, and immobilizes any nearby vehicles.

Because it shares a similar design aesthetic to other examples of Jiralhanae technology, it is likely that this piece of equipment is manufacture by the Jiralhanae.

Tactics

This equipment will stall a vehicle's engine, but the weapon(s) on the vehicle still work. The most effective way to take out an armored vehicle such as a Warthog is to throw a Power Drain followed by a grenade, killing most of the players on board. Several follow-up shots will take out any survivors.
The Power Drain is highly effective when used in conjunction with headshot-capable weapons such as the Battle Rifle, Carbine and Magnum.
This piece of equipment is useful when facing multiple enemies; once their shields are depleted, the group becomes significantly more vulnerable.
As the Power Drain can pass through the Bubble Shield, it's a good idea to throw one inside of a Bubble Shield while your enemies are inside of it.
If a Power Drain unit hits the Bubble Shield unit, the Bubble Shield may move, depending on how fast the power drain is going at the point of impact. This can sometimes rob your enemies of the shield's protection, making them easy targets.
Deploying this equipment near a popular sniper postion or an area where people land after using a Man Cannon can make your enemies susceptible to surprise attacks.
It is best to keep at a distance from an enemy with a Power Drain, because it is only effective at close range.
The power drain is a useful for of hijacking an enemy vehicle. For example, if you can throw one at a Warthog or Wraith, it will immobilize them and deplete their shields, meaning that hijacking will kill them and gain you a vehicle. Also, if a Banshee is close to the ground, a power drain can force it down and allow you to skyjack it.
The Power Drain negates the effects of a regenerator, rendering it useless.

Trivia

Once thrown, the Power Drain takes 0.5 seconds to activate, and subsequently lasts 6.5 seconds, equaling a total of 7 seconds.
The Power Drain, Radar Jammer, and Flare are all visually identical save for the color of the glow each item emits.
The effects of the Power Drain pass through walls and floors, so simply fleeing to the bottom floor of a structure after an enemy activates one will still strip your shields if you pass through the field. This is most noticeable on levels such as Guardian.
The power drain can be used in a glitch called Equipment Jumping by moving against a wall, jumping, and then at highest point of the jump deploy the power drain. This allows you to jump off of it in mid air. This is a great tactic for reaching high areas of a map such as the second level of the tower on The Pit. This can also be done with the Radar Jammer and Flare, however, the Power Drain variation of the glitch can only be performed as an Elite.
Strangely, in Halo 3: ODST, when you are in the radius of a power drain, your stamina will drain, even though it's not powered by anything at all. This is simply for gameplay purposes, although research indicates that electromagnetic frequencies can affect one's sense of well-being, sometimes making one feel unusually tired. It is also possible that it is meant to represent the electricity causing damage to the ODST.

Gallery

The Power Drain icon in Halo 3.
An inactive Power Drain in Halo 3.
An inactive Power Drain in Halo 3 beta.
A deployed Power Drain, about to activate itself.
The power drain emits a field of blue energy that strips away all energy shielding within its range.