Zurdo-pattern Wraith

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The Type-25 Assault Gun Carriage^{[verification needed]}, commonly called the Wraith, is the Covenant's main heavy assault vehicle for ground engagements. The Wraith can be rapidly deployed in a combat-ready state by DX-class or Type-52 dropships, and thus is the bane of UNSC Marines and UNSC Colonial Militia.

It's the Covenant equivalent of the M808B Scorpion MBT, however, unlike the UNSC counterpart the Type-25 Assault Gun Carriage uses a mortar cannon. The Type-52 Anti-Aircraft Artillery is a variant of the Wraith. The Wraith also hovers above the ground, instead of using tracks like the M808B Scorpion.

Weapons and Armour

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A Wraith firing a plasma mortar.

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A Wraith's mortar shot in mid-flight.

The Wraith's primary weapon, a short-barreled Plasma Mortar (which is the heaviest Covenant ground weapon), is fixed horizontally but can be skewed vertically. To aim the mortar, the entire vehicle must turn to face its target. The mortar can be retracted into the hull while not in use, a design advantage considering the vehicle's awkward firing requirements. The mortar fires large bolts of superheated, magnetically guided plasma into an "arc" shape in the air, raining down on enemy troops with tremendous force. A direct hit can penetrate nearly any armor, and even an indirect hit is often deadly. This makes shots less speedy and precise, but more capable of catching enemies off guard. The target must be at least eight meters away for the Wraith to use the weapon outside of the "dead zone", an area in which it would cause damage to itself as well as the intended target.

The secondary weapon of the Wraith is an automatic Plasma Cannon (There are two different versions: one in Halo 3 and one in Halo 2) which possesses an extremely high rate of fire and is powerful enough to penetrate the armour of light vehicles. However, although devastating to (and designed to deter) infantry and would-be boarders and barriers, the plasma cannon is ineffective against heavy armour. The plasma cannons in halo 2 are controlled by the AI when the vehicle is controlled by the AI, they do not work for players.

Wraiths possess heavy armour and are difficult to destroy. The heavily armoured hull and chassis make the Wraith almost immune to small-arms fire, and heavy weapons, artillery or internal explosions can only incapacitate the vehicle. The pilot is well protected within the hull, and even the weaponry are armoured. Typical of assault vehicles, the front armour is capable of taking much heavier punishment than the flanks or rear. This is due to the fact that a Wraith possesses sloped armour on the front, which causes the armour to be much thicker than on the sides. However, even the underbelly of the vehicle is heavily armoured to protect the anti-gravity plates underneath the chassis. Before the addition of the plasma cannons Wraiths were particularly vulnerable to infantry, and fast moving vehicles making flanking attempts, also due to the Wraith's slow speed and lack of a suitable anti-air weapon they are useless at deterring aerial assaults.

Gameplay

In battle, the Wraith is the Covenant equivalent of a UNSC Scorpion Tank. With the ability to boost, they are faster than Scorpions. Its attack is less accurate, but Wraiths can indirectly bombard enemy forces. In Halo: Combat Evolved only Elites can pilot Wraiths. In Halo 2 Spartans, Marines, Elites, Brutes, and Flood Combat Forms may operate this vehicle. In Halo 3, Spartans, Marines, Elites, and Brutes still pilot Wraiths. The vehicle is slow and easily boarded, and without Ghosts as defending escorts, a boarding party has a good chance of success. However, having a passenger manning the plasma turret exponentially decreases the chances of a successful boarding, as the turret's wide field of view and high rate of fire make it ideal for destroying infantry. The safest way to board it is to come up from behind it while a team-mate gets its attention and draw it fire away from you as you board it and either knock the pilot out or shove a grenade into its frame.

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A Wraith's mortar explodes on impact with any object.

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Halo Combat Evolved Wraith

Halo: Combat Evolved

In Halo: Combat Evolved, the Wraith tank is a tough adversary and cannot be driven by the player (unless with a mod active). The Wraith first appears in the Grav-Bay of the Truth and Reconciliation, though they can be destroyed by chewing a lot of point-blank assult rifle rounds. Some are also seen in the storage and shuttle bays of the ship. The vehicles appear in combat in Assault on the Control Room and Two Betrayals. This version of the Wraith has no anti-personnel weapons, and the graphics are less detailed than in future games, with the mortar looking like a tube. The Wraith can survive up to two to three direct rocket hits before being destroyed. While formidable, it is not without weaknesses. Wraiths can be flipped, knocking the Elite driver out of the vehicle and rendering it useless. Just like the Halo: Combat Evolved Ghost, the Wraith floats noticeably higher than its Halo 2 and Halo 3 iterations. It is possible to drive a Scorpion or Warthog underneath the Wraith. Marines will occasionally shoot at the plasma mortars or even throw grenades at the plasma bombardments. This is most likely a bug in Halo CE's design. Because of no anti-personal rounds, the wraith will still attempt to shoot at you no matter how close you are, even if you are right on it.

Players using mods report that it is rather difficult to fire the wraith's cannon than in Halo 2 and 3, due because there is not a fire reculm that the player can use to help fire the weapon, and that it arcs and flys a lot differently than in later games, and that the wraith's manuvuability in the air is also difficult to control.

Halo 2

In Halo 2, the Wraith has two weapons: the standard plasma mortar and two Automated Plasma Cannons. Although they are not very accurate, they can easily take down energy shielding. The turrets auto-target any enemy within range, making boarding a Wraith more difficult. However, the player cannot utilize these turrets themselves, meaning that the Wraith is somewhat ineffective in the player's hands. The Halo 2 Wraith also includes a booster engine, capable of tripling the tank's speed for about one second and requires five seconds to recharge. Though this can be used to travel more quickly, it is commonly used to run over enemies who are getting too close and is extremely effective due to the Wraiths reverse speed being identical to a Spartan/Elite running speed. This booster can crush small vehicles, such as Ghosts or Warthogs and damage other heavy vehicles such as other Wraiths and Scorpions. It is even possible to boost and destroy or damage Banshees. It is also possible to get, while co-op with one player in a scorpion and the other in a wraith, UNDERNEATH a scorpion, so it can be carried around. This version of Wraith is more difficult to defeat by melee unlike the version in Halo 3. The Halo 2 Wraith also has an air brake, similar to the Spectre, that can be used to bring the nose up if the vehicle has launched itself into the air. The vulnerable exhaust panel on the rear of the Wraith must be removed before a grenade can be thrown into the vehicle, melees are common but it is possible to shoot the panel off with any weapon, even a sniper rifle. It is not possible to shoot off the front panel protecting the driver with a sniper rifle. In the level Quarantine Zone, the Flood will also drive Wraiths.

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A Wraith being hit by a Spartan Laser.

Halo 3

The new Wraith in Halo 3, with the turret operation seat.

Different versions of Wraiths appears in Halo 3. New features include visible headlights, increased speed and a more direct line of fire. However, the propulsion jet represents an extremely vulnerable spot in the armour, making it possible for the first time to destroy a Wraith with melee attacks from behind the tank with no direct melee attacks to the driver. A strong hit to the jet after removing its cover causes a violent chain reaction of explosions. The new turret fires energy blasts resembling the shots of the Plasma Rifle instead of a beam like the Spectre. The tank has a subtle greenish shine to it and an embedded latticework that glimmers in the light. The most dramatic design change added an exposed topside gunnery position with a 270° view, allowing for better defence against enemy soldiers and boarders. Boarding is made more difficult in that now boarders have both a pilot and gunner to kill before gaining control of the vehicle, not to mention that the gunner and fire on the boarder before he even has the chance to push the grenade botton. The Wraith now has the ability to attack two targets independent of one another, (such as focusing the mortar on destroying a nearby Warthog, while the gunner takes out a player on foot attempting to hijack the vehicle from the sides.) The turret is powerful enough to destroy a Ghost before one can successfully destroy the Wraith, (unless it gets right behind it and shoots at the jet.) The boost feature is no longer as potent a defence as the Halo 2 Wraith taking longer for the vehicle to achieve its optimum boost speed, this translates to the Wraith not being able to use the boost as an offensive system at extreme close range. The Wraith, although having the same top speed as its Halo 2 counterpart, has difficulty traversing high angles and its reversing capability is often inadequate. If boarded from behind or on the front of the cockpit the driver cannot exit the vehicle, another difference from the Halo 2 version. If you get close too it you can board the Wraith and throw a grenade in the cockpit or engine structure. which completely destroys the tank, or you can beat the driver out without destroying the tank, which renders it still operational.

The Wraith also has an achillies heel in the back of the tank. it is covered up by some armor, but can be taken down with a few battle rifle shots, which reveales a blue circle device that powers the wraith. another shot from a battle rifle will instantly destroy the wraith.

Halo Wars

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The Wraith as depicted in Halo Wars.

As ever, it is the main battle tank of the Covenant. It appears to be highly resistant to damage, capable of dealing great damage and pretty fast. Armed with the classic plasma mortar and with the anti-personnel plasma cannon, which looks very similar to the one in Halo 3, although unmanned and directly under the driver's control. Its several upgrades include a heavier shield which make it more resistant to fire, the Scorch ability that causes extra damage, and finally an upgradement for its main gun power^[1].

Tactics

When combating a Wraith, the method varies depending on your intents and your current position. If you are in a light vehicle (ex. Warthog, Ghost) and you want to destroy the Wraith, simply evade the massive shots. On your priority list, however, watch out for the plasma turrets-these will chip away your health and in Legendary, are more dangerous than the main mortar, as it can actually hit you. When dealing with a pair or more of enemy Wraiths, such as the entrance to the tunnel in Metropolis, you may wish to use the Ghost instead of the Warthog, because it lacks the equal amount of evasiveness and also does not have the boost feature. For the Ghost, concentrate on one vehicle at a time. If you are in a heavy vehicle and also wish to take them out, simply fire with the main cannon (ex. Mortar for the Wraith and Scorpion missile for the human variant) from a distance, where you can easily move if you see them fire.

In contrast, should you want to board, never do so if there is a pair, as the other Wraith will destroy you with the mortar once you have successfully boarded. As the enemy AI only uses the boost feature when you're in front of it, this should be done relatively easily. The only problem lies in the secondary plasma turret. In higher difficulties, these can take you out in seconds. To counter this, drive straight up to the Wraith in your light vehicle and get out in the last second. Not only does this save time to walk/run over, it protects you from the plasma. From there, to avoid getting boarded again, simply boost and splatter the enemy. The Spartan Laser is a very effective weapon to use against the Wraith destroying it in two shots, one if aimed at its motor on the back.

However, perhaps one of the best methods to defeat a wraith is to simply run up to it, and attack from behind. This is a high-risk tactic if there is more than one wraith present in the near area. For instance, in Tsavo Highway, at one point, you will fight about three Wraiths at once. There will also be some ground troops and Light Vehicles near by. These are the major risks. It's mainly foot soldiers you need to worry about with this tactic. All you have to do is get behind the wraith, and hit the round part. The first hit will damage it, the second hit will knock it off, and the third hit will destroy the fan inside. The fan is probably a method of releasing heat, seeing as how the contents of the Wraith are so heated. Once this is destroyed, the wraith will explode, most likley from over-heating.

Character Compatibility

Elites
Flood Combat forms (Halo 2 only)
Brutes (Halo 2 and Halo 3 only)
Spartans (Halo 2 and Halo 3 only)
Marines (Halo 2 and Halo 3 only)

Trivia

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A SPARTAN takes on a Wraith on board a Hornet.

In Halo:CE, if you knock a Wraith off a small cliff and it flips over(this can be done on Assault on the Control Room) you can flip the Wraith but you can't get in it.
Halo: CE is the only Halo game where you cannot pilot or hijack a Wraith (unless you have a mod on).
When in Halo 3 Forge, if you enter a Wraith normally, wait a few seconds, then exit by entering Monitor Mode, the Main Turret will not retract into the vehicle. This can sometimes give your enemies the false sense there's someone in the Wraith. If you flip the tank, you can give the same effect.
Make sure when playing multiplayer you have a turret man to support you. Even though you are doing most of the damage as the driver the secondary gunner (turret) will make it much harder for enemies to board and quickly dispose of your vehicle.
Marines call it a "Wraith" because "You would get one look at it before you turned into one."^[2]
In Halo:CE, the plasma mortar looks similar to an Elite head.
The mortars of the Wraith in Halo 3 go significantly further then its previous counterparts.
In Halo: Combat Evolved, one way to destroy a Wraith is to jump on it and throw grenades into the mortar cannon.
It is wrongly stated in the Halo 3 manual that the Wraith has dual-auto firing cannons. It has them in Halo 2.
If you board the Halo 3 Wraith from behind you can melee or plant a grenade on the rear propulsion jet. This works especially well in co-op because the other player can distract it while you board and the turret can't reach you back there.
If a Halo 3 Wraith driver holds down the 'A' button while driving, the Wraith's front 'Wings' will enclose and pull the front of the Wraith upwards to form a wheelie. This makes a great way to splatter another vehicle or player.
The Plasma Mortar has changed from the Halo: Combat Evolved depiction. The Plasma Mortar was a lot taller than the one in Halo 2, also its shots were slightly smaller.
In multiplayer it is suggested to have the Wraith against a wall when possible, to prevent the weak spot from being hit.
In Halo: Combat Evolved, it is possible to snipe the driver out of it during the level Two Betrayals, but you still cannot drive it. Also, the same applies for the Wraith after the player leaves the tunnel in Assault on the Control Room, if the player steals a Ghost and heads out to the lake area where the Wraith normally is (all of course while ignoring the enemies), he can see an Elite making a mad dash for the Wraith.
According to Bungie, the type of Wraith seen during the Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 eras were pre-2549 models. The type in the Halo 3 era where there was an additional turret seat for another person were post-2549 models.Template:Fact
The Wraith looks strikingly similar to the AAT tank from the Star Wars Franchise.
A Wraith in Halo: Combat Evolved can be flipped over, dumping the Elite driver out and making the battle easier, although the Wraith is a hard vehicle to flip over. The easiest vehicle to flip over a Wraith would be the Banshee at top speed, although it is possible for a Warthog to flip it at certain conditions (like waiting for the first Wraith is going down a ledge in AotCR and ramming it as it goes down) and a Scorpion (only from behind as the Wraith can smoothly surf over the Scorpion in front, although it is best to do it while it is vacant).
In Halo 3, an excellent way to counter boarders from the front is to stay next to a wall. When boarded, turn to the wall and shoot at it, the splash damage from the shot will instantly kill the boarder.
If you boost the Wraith by tapping the L-trigger and then using the main gun by tapping the R-trigger the plasma mortar will go a farther distance than it would if you just used its main attack, it's also known as the "Boost Shot."
The Halo 2 Wraith's rate of fire is much faster than the Halo 3.
On Legendary, the Wraith's rate of fire increase a huge amount. This is the same for all the Halo trilogy.
If you shoot the wings off a Wraith in Halo 2 and then use the boost function, the plasma that comes out of the wings still appears.
In Halo 3, you can stretch the Wraith with a glitch, in the Forge.
The Wraith is nearly the same shape and attacks as the Phase Tank of Universe at War.
The wraith's critical hit spot is directly behind it. The armor is thinner there than other places.
In the Special Edition of Halo Wars there will be an Honor Guard Wraith.
Wraiths may have spotlights in Halo Wars.
Both side wings of the Wraith can be removed, allowing to fit into sides into building that it otherwise couldn't.
Another way to destroy the wraith is to melee the rear propulsion jet with an Energy Sword.This is good when your playing a gametype in which you can't board vehicles.
When meleeing the driver, he is more likely to die first than the operator in the turret. This is annoying on campaign as the brute in the turret can easily kill you.
If you melee the wraith until it is destroyed, you will stay on it, even after it is blown up.
The back of the spinning fan is the easiest place to blow a Wraith up.

Sources

^ http://www.halowars.com/GameInfo/Factory.aspx#Wraith
^ Halo: First Strike, page 112: Marines called these tanks "Wraiths" because you usually got one look at them before they made you one.