Anskum-pattern plasma grenade

"Demon Flare!"

— Anonymous Sangheili

The Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade, more commonly known as the Plasma Grenade is a Covenant anti-personnel weapon that explodes a short time after coming to rest.

Design Details

A blueprint of the Plasma Grenade in Halo: Reach.

The Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade is a dangerous hand thrown weapon utilized by Covenant forces, typically Unggoy and Sangheili soldiers. The Type-1 Plasma Grenade is a spherical explosive and is made of an unknown material, the grenade in terms of design is straight forward, the activation "switch" is located on the orange colored area of the grenade. Above the activation pad is a Forerunner glyph, the glyphs seen on the Plasma Grenade are known to change with each new model and is believed to be based upon the time of manufacturing and Covenant religious rituals. Using technology that is barely understood, even by the Covenant, the Type-1 Plasma Grenade is employed as both a thrown anti-infantry and anti-vehicle weapon.

When primed, the Type-1 plasma grenade emits a blue plasma gas, this emission is light so that the grenade does not stick to the person priming the grenade. When thrown, the plasma gas begins to intensify enough that if it comes into contact with a vehicle or infantry, the plasma will start to burn into the surface and adhere to it until detonation. The grenade contains some type of internal mechanism that allows it to distinguish between targets and background, it will stick to a soldier or vehicle, but not to a tree or wall. Once something has been stuck with a grenade, there is absolutely no way to remove it. After sticking to a target, or otherwise coming to a rest a three-second fuse is activated.^[1] Detonation is first visible as a flash of white-blue light and the kill zone area is instantly subjected to extreme temperatures, and whatever is in the ground zero area, be it or natural and unnatural formations or otherwise, are instantly vaporized. Because there is no magnetic field to contain the plasma, it begins to cool very quickly - thermal expansion begins to take over and the resulting heat fans outward and upward continuing to burn an area up to forty feet away until the resulting flames have cooled to the point where it cannot continue to expand. After the initial explosion, the kill radius area becomes charged with negative and positive particles which will form electrical currents visible for a short period after the explosion.

The sheer destructive power the plasma grenade deals to any living creature within its vicinity is extreme; when a plasma grenade detonates on, or near a target it is subjected to extreme temperatures, killing anything within a 13 feet radius instantly^[2]; damage to the body is extreme, as the heat flash vaporizes the bodies internal fluids and burns flesh and bone to an unrecognizable charred state. The concussion wave released by the grenade will also cause additional damage to anything within the kill radius. Any living being outside of the kill zone may sustain heat damage as well, as none heat resistant clothing or flammable material may be ignited by the heat released from a detonating plasma grenade. The conclusive force released by the grenade can also harm or disorient anything just outside the kill radius and can also be affected by the flames released from the grenade - a person can also receive injuries from objects being ejected out of the kill zone at high speeds as a result of a plasma grenade detonating.

Advantages

The ability of the Plasma Grenade to stick to its target is extremely useful when encountering moving targets that could easily evade other explosive devices. This adhesive property allows the Plasma Grenade to function as both an anti-infantry and anti-vehicle weapon, where a stuck grenade can take down light vehicles and cause moderate damage to heavier ones. The explosive damage the Plasma Grenade releases is also effective at destroying objects not sensitive to the heat released by one, and can also serve as an effective support weapon as well. Plasma Grenades are also effective at disrupting electronics and shielding when they detonate.^[3] The plasma grenade is known to be used by the lesser races of the Covenant as an effective suicidal weapon, a tactic most commonly used by mortally wounded or psychologically unstable Unggoy who will attach primed grenades to their bodies before hurling themselves at their enemies. Against UNSC forces the Plasma Grenade is an effective psychological weapon due to the various consequences the grenade brings to anyone in its path. Its destructive properties can also leave terrible psychological effects on a person who has witnessed one detonate on a fellow soldier and seeing the destructive damage it has done.^[4]

Disadvantages

The Plasma Grenade has a three-second fuse that the Human equivalent lacks. Therefore, if the Plasma Grenade does not stick it to the target, the target will have ample time to evade the explosion. Sticking a Plasma Grenade to enemy infantry can be a gamble. As the target stuck with the grenade will have three seconds to chase down the opposite opponent and kill them as well. Certain infantry, mainly Jiralhanae Chieftains, utilize some type of unknown technology that causes a plasma grenade to simply bounce off their armor and not stick to it, this technology makes them invincible to being stuck with a plasma grenade unless their armor is removed by either, destructive or other methods. Human Scientists theorize that prolonged exposure to the radiation emitted by Plasma Grenades can cause a deviation in the neural pathways of the user, a rare disorder called Boren's Syndrome. This disease can be fatal if the person does not get treatment. Currently, Sergeant Avery Johnson of the UNSC is the only known Human to have suffered from this disease and survived.

Changes

The Plasma Grenade first appears in Halo: Combat Evolved and is the Covenant equivalent of the Fragmentation Grenade. The grenade's appearance is a light blue colored sphere with a Forerunner glyph in the center. The grenade is very powerful with the ability to stick to both vehicles and infantry and is usable in both Campaign and Multiplayer. Since Halo: Combat Evolved, the plasma grenade has appeared in all subsequent Halo games, including Halo 2, Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST.

Changes between Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2

The color of the grenade itself changed from a light blue to a dark blue.
The explosive effects of the grenade is more detailed.
The explosion sound effect for the grenade is different and now has more of a subtle hint of a natural explosion.
The Grenade does not stick to a target very well and can sometimes bounce off infantry.
The Forerunner glyph on the grenade is different than the one in the previous installment.

Changes between Halo 2 and Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST

The color of the gas and explosion are now dark blue and the grenade's explosive effect is much brighter, more detailed.
The model for the plasma grenade is now much more detailed the Foreruner glyph is also different.
The grenade now emits a high pitched noise when something has been stuck and before detonating.
Will now in certain cases stick to a wall.

Tactics

Campaign

Whenever a Zealot wielding an energy sword approaches, he will pause, scream and shake around before he attacks. That's the best time to stick him with a plasma grenade
When you throw two or more plasma grenades into one tight-knit area, the first grenade's explosion can cause the other grenade to launch in any direction then detonate. Use this skillfully to take down an enemy's shield or score a lucky kill.
Elites will dive away from grenades. Even when on bridges or high ledges. Grunts will seek the comfort of their companions when a plasma grenade is stuck to them. This is effective at maximizing casualties against the Grunts' commander.
Whereas the frag grenade will explode roughly one second after coming to rest, the plasma grenade takes about three seconds. The grenade's bounce is considerably less than the frag grenade's, as well. Keep this in mind when timing your throws so your target can't rush past the grenade.
Some high ranking Covenant commanders cannot be stuck, such as Brute Chieftains, as their armor cannot be stuck by Plasma and Spike Grenades. However, their weapon can still be stuck, which usually results in an immediate kill. Once their helmet is knocked off, you can stick a plasma grenade to the exposed area of the Brute.
Like all grenades, it can be cooked by a weapon. This can be an effective trap if you are able to successfully bait your enemy.
If you stick an Elite or a Brute they will either charge you in an attempt to take you out, or take cover to protect their allies. Sometimes, if an Elite is stuck on the chest in Halo: CE, he may flail his arms in an attempt to take off the grenade then begin to run away and scream.

Multiplayer

The Plasma Grenade is one of the most helpful grenades in the game. You should not waste it under any circumstances. It is recommended to use it against vehicles. Its blast can flip a Mongoose.
In Halo 3, the Plasma Grenade can be slammed away by the effects of a Gravity Hammer, but the force of the hammer may cause grenades to detonate immediately. This makes this tactic risky.
Players have been known to somehow "remove the sticky" and throw it back, but on closer inspection you will notice that it only works if you stick your hand, then throw a grenade or a piece of Equipment.
In some cases a player can throw a Plasma Grenade onto a Power Drain and let it roll inside a Bubble Shield. The Plasma Grenade will pass inside the shield and detonate killing anyone unaware of what has happened.
In a Forge game, after getting stuck as a Sangheili/Spartan, turning into monitor mode will cause the grenade to not detonate. But if you turn back into Sangheili/Spartan, the grenade will explode and can serve as an effective suicide bomb.
If you see a team of two near each other, throwing a Plasma Grenade on one Spartan can wipe out the other man, since the Plasma Grenade has a wide blast radius.
If a player's weapon is stuck with a Plasma Grenade, it is possible to pick up another weapon, 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, since you still carry the "stuck" weapon.

Trivia

It is difficult but possible to stick another grenade while it is in the air, effectively stopping and detonating both.
If you stick somebody with a Plasma Grenade with an overshield and it kills them, you won't receive a stick medal, however, using a Spike Grenade will cause you to get a stick medal.
In the Halo 2 video "Another Day at the Beach", Pete Stacker is stuck with a plasma grenade to his helmet but saves himself by throwing the helmet off his head.
It is possible to create a makeshift grenade launcher in Halo: CE using two Plasma Grenades. To do this, you throw a Plasma Grenade at the ground a safe distance away from you. When it hits the ground, wait a few seconds and then throw the other Plasma Grenade in front of it. If timed right, the blast from the first grenade will launch the other grenade across the map.

Gallery

A study of the Plasma Grenade.
a study of the Plasma Grenade when primed.
Various stages of a Plasma Grenade exploding.
1220831252 Plasma nade.png

The Plasma Grenade as seen in Halo: Combat Evolved.
Suicide Grunt.jpg

A Kamikaze Grunt charging at his foes.
An Elite throws a Plasma Grenade at oncoming Flood
The Plasma Grenade as seen in Halo 3.