Z-390 incineration cannon

Template:Weapon Infobox The Weapon/Anti-Materiel Z-390 High-Explosive Munitions Rifle, also known as the Incineration cannon, is a Forerunner anti-matériel weapon originally used to combat the Flood.^[1]^[2]

Overview

The Incineration Cannon was often used to strategically purge infected sites. Prometheans used the Incineration Cannon when assaulting a location believed to contain a Gravemind, or early-forming spore mountains, that were deemed too small for ship weapons but too large for infantry weapons.^[2] The Incineration Cannon fires five antimatter-infused streams of concentrated explosive particles,^[2] which gather into globular projectiles that oscillate along a straight trajectory. The projectiles detonate and spread upon impact with a target, ricocheting and bouncing in tall but short arc trajectories. It initially holds five whole charges at a time with one shot per charge. Each charge is automatically "loaded" after firing and cool-down. It has been described as "mixing traits of a rocket launcher, shotgun, and flamethrower."

Design details

The weapon possesses an angular design and a metallic casing. It appears to be held together, at least partly, by energy fields as indicated by its self-assembly process and reloading mechanics. Red highlights can be seen while the weapon is self-assembling and throughout the casing once assembly is complete; these highlights grow brighter when the weapon is fired.^[3] The weapon features an integrated optical scope for targeting accuracy.

Tactics

Similar to its UNSC and Covenant counterparts, the Incineration Cannon is best used when shooting the ground in the close proximity of an enemy. The wide spread of the weapon's projectiles increase the effectiveness of this technique even more so than with the weapon's counterparts.
In encounters with M808 Scorpion and Type-26 Wraith tanks, players can inflict maximum damage by shooting at the lower part of the tank. If that shot strikes the tank, it will completely destroy it in one hit, because when the main particle explodes, the four remaining ones will go up and explode under the tank, damaging all the parts.
Of all the heavy weapons, the Incineration Cannon is the most effective against the Mark IX Mantis ADS. A single direct hit on the Mantis's cockpit will destroy it; all other heavy weapons require at least two hits, one to remove the shields and one to finish the vehicle off. However, since the Incineration Cannon uses a multiple-projectile round, the Mantis will lose its shields to the first set of projectiles while the secondary ones finish it off.
The Incineration Cannon makes an effective long-range power weapon; because, unlike its counterparts, the projectiles of the weapons suffer no gravitational drop over long distances, its quite possible to kill an enemy from across the map with the weapon. This is particularly useful on maps with long sight lines, or while playing Husky Raid in Action Sack.

Gallery

Concept art of the Incineration Cannon.
H4-Concept-IncinerationCannon-Final.jpg

Concept art of the final build of the Incineration Cannon.
Alternate render of the Incineration Cannon.
First-person view of the Incineration Cannon.
Third-person view of the Incineration Cannon being fired.
The Incineration Cannon's explosive rounds when fired.
Reloading the Incineration Cannon.
Render of the Incineration cannon's scope.