The Type-25 Grenade Launcher (more commonly known as the Brute Shot) is a Covenant weapon favored almost exclusively by Covenant Brutes. It seems to fire a type of grenade similar to the Frag Grenade at very high velocities that bounce off of and around most surfaces. It was first encountered during Operation: FIRST STRIKE, where it was used to deadly effect against Spartans. The grenades seem to be Belt fed through the top of the weapon. The splash damage from this weapon is extremely high. It also has a very sharp curved blade on the underside of it, used as a powerful melee weapon. This blade delivers a higher than normal amount of melee damage.
Tactics
The grenades from the Brute Shot can bounce around corners and inflict heavy damage when the enemy is bunched up. The melee attack on the Brute Shot is very deadly, dropping shields with one hit (two in Halo 3). With the recent updates on Xbox Live, a jumping melee is enough to kill a target.
The best way to treat this weapon is as a room clearing device. The Brute Shot can also make quick work of an unsuspecting enemy if you line your shots up before firing. But the most effective way of killing strong enemies i.e, Brute/Elite, is to fire rapid shots in succession into their torso, considering the fact that more tactical ways to utilize the brute shot are too hard to master, this is very effective in taking down a strong foe and much easier to use. Despite the wide range of the splash damage, the Brute Shot is amazingly apt as a semi-close range weapon in the hands of experienced players, and while the blade is less accurate, slower, and lacks the "lunge effect" of the Energy Sword, it does nearly the same amount of damage and does not have the side effect of it glowing while you have Active Camouflage on, as well as having unlimited use. Also, it takes around four grenades to destroy a Banshee or a Warthog.
This weapon is meant to be fired at the body, instead of the head, as with the recent updates on Xbox Live, two direct hits (4 in Halo 3) with the Brute shot is enough to kill the target. If a target is moving, it is easier to aim it at the floor and have it bounce and hit the target instead of just directly hitting it. It is also important to note that this weapon fires in an arc, so one must compensate for accuracy by aiming higher when his target is farther away.
Another advantage is the fact that the Brute Shot bayonet is effective against brutes. A single swipe from behind is sufficient to bring a Brute down. From another angle, it may require a further two or three hits. When a Brute charges with their Bayonet, an enemy must quickly dodge the oncoming attack and assault the Brute from behind with their own Brute shot bayonet. (this has to be done fast as a Brute can move extremely fast if he has you in his sights)
Due to the blade mounted to it, it is an effective anti-Flood weapon. A single swipe from the Brute Shot's blade will act like a sword swing and thus destroy a normal unshielded Combat Form easily. Unlike the Energy Sword however, it has unlimited swings for attacking, but is somewhat slower. The Flood Infected Elites who still have Energy Shields, require two hits with the blade. Also, because Flood are weak to explosions, the Brute Shot can also destroy them from a good distance. In all, the Brute Shot is ideal against Flood enemies, Jackals (since 1 hit with the blade sends them packing), Elites and Brutes. It is also effective against Grunts, but is limited uses against Hunters. To kill a Hunter easily with a Brute Shot, you will have to shoot it at the orange areas, where it is vulnerable to about anything. Melee-ing them will do nothing. However, the Brute Shot is usually for more tactical approaches, such as killing the strongest enemy in a pack, and isn't an ideal primary weapon since it has very little ammo before reloading. Also, in multiplayer, while an enemy is running across your screen, strafe while firing and you can make a sure kill. This weapon is mainly used by Brutes. Use by other covenant species is unknown.
Halo 3 Changes
- Has a six grenade magazine, two more grenades than in Halo 2.
- It has the normal explosion, plus an electrical burst.
- Its grenades now do not bounce; they explode on contact.
- The blade looks smaller now and its melee attacks are only a little stronger than the other weapons in Halo 3.
- The arc of the shots was greatly decreased, with the rounds barely arcing at all.
- It also seems generally faster. The grenades come out of the barrel faster and they soar through the air faster. The melee attack for Spartans also seems faster.
- Its projectiles have a timed fuse that causes rounds that do not make impact with anything to explode in the air if not explodes in about 30 seconds. The Halo 2 counterpart does not have a timed fuse and only explodes on impact.
Trivia
- In Halo 2, you can use a Brute Shot as a mortar and shoot targets that are too far away to shoot (Like many Brutes will do). This is best used on slow moving vehicles (like a Ghost or Spectre, possibly a Warthog) this is impossible to do in Halo 3 because the grenades explode before they hit the ground if you aim too high.
Tactics Demonstration
<kaltura-widget kalturaid='284621' size='M' align='_'/>