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Type-33 needler: Difference between revisions

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{{Era|HCW|Post}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Center|''For the rifle variant of the Needler, see [[Type-31 needle rifle|Needle Rifle]]. For the larger vehicle-mounted or stationary variant, see [[Heavy needle cannon]].''}}
{{Disambig header|the models in Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, and Halo 3|other variants of the Needler|Needler}}
{{Weapon Infobox
'''Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher (T-33 GML)''', also known as the '''Type-33 Needler''', is the [[United Nations Space Command]]'s [[Type classification system|type classification]] for four distinct patterns of the [[Needler]], a [[Covenant]] [[Needle-based weaponry|needle-based]] infantry automatic weapon that launch [[Subanese crystal]]line shards capable of homing-in on targets.{{Ref/Book|Id=evg128|EVG|Page=128}} Although the four distinct patterns of the Needlers possessed aesthetic and functional differences, their shared UNSC type designation suggests that they were all catalogued and classified in [[2533]].
|image=[[File:H4-Needler.png|300px]]
 
|manufacturer= *[[Sacred Promissory]] (pre-Great Schism)
==''Nahle'hax-pattern'' needle launcher==
*[[Lodam Armory]] (post-Great Schism)<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/halo4#!an-epic-universe/ordnance-armor/cbbca9b3-5108-41aa-aa21-9b523de68266 '''Halo 4 Official Site''': ''Ordnance + Armor'']</ref>
{{Main|Nahle'hax-pattern needler}}
|series=
The ''Nahle'hax''-pattern needle launcher is designated as '''T-33 GML'''.{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22|Enc22|Page=294}}{{Ref/Reuse|evg128}} This variant was commonly employed by the Covenant and its remnants.{{Ref/Game|HR|gameplay}}{{Ref/Book|Id=h4evg|H4EVG|Page=85}}{{Ref/Game|H4|gameplay}}
|type= Guided munitions launcher
<gallery class=center>
File:HReach-NeedlerSide.png|The first chassis with blue lights on side of the upper cowling.
File:Enc22-Nahle'haxNeedler.png|The second chassis with metallic braces on the channel braces.
File:H4-Needler.png|The third chassis with no lights on the side of the upper cowling.
</gallery>
 
==Fleet of Particular Justice variant==
{{Weapon infobox
|image=[[File:Needler-HaloCE.png|300px]]
|name=Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher
|manufacturer=[[Sacred Promissory]]{{Ref/Reuse|evg128}}
|type=[[Needler]]{{Ref/Reuse|evg128}}{{Ref/Game|HCE|[[Halo: Combat Evolved manual#Covenant Weapons|game manual]]}}
|cost=
|cost=
|variant=
|service= [[Human-Covenant War]] <br> [[Great Schism]] <br> [[Reclamation conflict]]
|affiliation= [[Covenant]]
<br>[[Thel 'Vadam's Covenant faction]]
<br>[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction]]
<br>[[Merg Vol's Covenant faction]]
<br>[[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group]]
|weight= *Empty: {{Convert|3.74|kg|lb}}<ref name="bnet">[http://www.bungie.net/projects/halo3/content.aspx?link=h3needler '''Bungie.net''': ''Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher'']</ref>
*Loaded: {{Convert|4.3|kg|lb}}<ref name="bnet"/>
|length=
|length=
*o/a: 57.8<ref name="bnet"/> - 74.3 centimeters<ref name="evg">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 128''</ref> (22.8 - 29.3 in)
|weight=
*Barrel: {{Convert|16.26|cm|in}}<ref name="bnet"/>
|width=
|width={{Convert|21.6|cm|in}}<ref name="H4VG">'''Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 85''</ref>
|height=
|height={{Convert|53|cm|in}}<ref name="H4VG"/>
|capacity=
|ammotype= 4.8 - 6.3mm [[Blamite|crystalline explosive projectiles]]<ref name="h4evg">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'''</ref>
|feed=20 shards/magazine{{Ref/Game|Id=hcegameplay|HCE|gameplay}}
|feed= Varies
|ammotype=Subanese crystalline shards{{Ref/Reuse|evg128}}
*20 needles/magazine<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved'''</ref>
*30 needles/magazine<ref>'''Halo 2'''</ref>
*19 needles/magazine<ref>'''Halo 3'''</ref>
*24 needles/magazine<ref>'''Halo: Reach'''</ref>
*22 needles/magazine<ref>'''Halo 4'''</ref>
|operation=
|operation=
|rate= 510 rounds/min<ref name="bnet"/> (Automatic)
|rate =Automatic{{Ref/Reuse|hcegameplay}}
|velocity= 54 m/s (177 ft/s)<ref name="bnet"/>
|velocity=
|range= {{Convert|64|m|ft}}<ref name="bnet"/>
|optics=
|range=
|service=
;Human-Covenant War
*[[Battle of Installation 04]]{{Ref/Reuse|hcegameplay}}
}}
}}
{{Quote|Anything stuck with enough needles will blow sky high—and if a Foxtrot is unlucky enough to be carrying grenades, those are gonna cook off too.|Anonymous serviceman}}


The '''Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher'''<ref name="bnet"/><ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 323''</ref>, more commonly known as the '''Needler''', is a Covenant infantry weapon.
This pattern designated as '''Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher''' was manufactured by the [[Sacred Promissory]].{{Ref/Reuse|evg128}}


==Specifications==
===Design details===
===Design details===
[[File:Needler.png|thumb|left|150px|A blueprint of the Needler in the ''Halo Trilogy''.]]
This Needler pattern is characterized by an additional handguard around the grip between the cowlings. It also possesses a longer handguard extending from the lower cowling,{{Ref/Reuse|evg128}} though, unlike other Needlers with this attribute, the handguard is angled downwards rather than curving upwards.{{Ref/Game|HCE|In-game model}}
[[File:ReachSchematic - Needler.png|150px|thumb|left|A blueprint of the Needler in ''Halo: Reach''.]] The Needler is a Covenant projectile weapon that fires long, sharp crystalline shards that are guided until they impale a target — hence the “needler” moniker. Several seconds after coming to rest in their target, the needles detonate, creating severe and in most cases fatal wounds. The Needler's top plate has 14 holes, with the needles protruding out of the holes. When the trigger is pulled, the needle is fed from the top into the "barrel" of the weapon, and fired at high speed. The Type-33 GML is used by Covenant foot soldiers of nearly all types. [[Yanme'e]] are also fond of this weapon, and their efficiency with it is high as their flying capabilities and large numbers make the needles harder to dodge. When the trigger is held down, the rate at which the 'needles' are fired increases.
<gallery class=center>
File:Needler.png|The HUD icon for this T-33 GML pattern.
File:Needlers and Ammo.jpg|Scattered Needlers and their ammunition boxes.
</gallery>


The Needler is one of the most unusual weapons in the Covenant arsenal and the least understood; how the weapon functions remains a mystery to human military experts and scientists. Like most Covenant weapons, the T-33 GML lacks any kind of electronic, physical or radiative connections between its "trigger" and firing mechanism.<ref>'''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'''</ref> However, post-war analysis and study have shown that the shards track their targets by homing in on the specific heat signatures of sighted targets.<ref name="Waypoint">[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-US/Halo4Guide '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Halo 4 Interactive Guide'']</ref> The physics behind the weapon were apparently not well known as joint human and Sangheili teams were known to be studying the weapon some time after the war.<ref>[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969311_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969311 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction'' (post 2969311)]</ref>
===Usage===
This pattern of the Needler was commonly employed during the [[Battle of Installation 04|Battle]] of [[Installation 04]] by the forces deployed from the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]].{{Ref/Reuse|hcegameplay}} It was particularly popular among [[Special Operations Unggoy]] combating the [[Flood]].{{Ref/Level|HCE|Keyes (level)|Keyes}}{{Ref/Level|HCE|The Maw}}
<gallery class=center>  
File:Curlback.png|An [[Unggoy Major]] wielding the Needler.
File:HCE Zuka Screenshot 6.jpg|Two SpecOps Unggoy firing their Needlers in the wreckage of {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}.
File:Keyes.jpg|[[Captain (NAVCOM)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] notably used a Needler after [[Raid on the Truth and Reconciliation|his rescue]].
</gallery>
{{clear}}


===Ammunition===
==Fleet of Sacred Consecration variant==
{{Main|Blamite}}
{{Weapon infobox
Razor-sharp crystalline projectiles made of blamite are fired from this elaborately designed Covenant weapon; it is widely believed that these needles use heat or organic signatures to home in on targets, and may have some relation to the [[Plasma Grenade]] and the [[Plasma Pistol]]'s charged shots, which also react to living tissue and [[Sentinel]] mechanics. The needles appear to have some sort of "identify-friend/foe" function, as they will home in on hostile targets but not allies of the wielder. Once fired, a needle will seek its target until impact, entering the victim's body violently. After several seconds, the contents of the crystalline shard will detonate; injuries inflicted from the exploding shard are gruesome, as microscopic pieces of shrapnel can become embedded in tissue.
|image=[[File:Needler-H2.png|300px]]
|name=Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher
|manufacturer=[[Sacred Promissory]]{{Ref/Reuse|evg128}}
|type=[[Needler]]{{Ref/Reuse|evg128}}{{Ref/Game|Id=h2manual|H2|[[Halo 2 manual#Covenant Weapons|game manual]]}}
|cost=
|length=
|weight=
|width=
|height=
|capacity=
|feed=30 shards/magazine{{Ref/Reuse|h2manual}}{{Ref/Game|Id=h2gameplay|H2|gameplay}}
|ammotype=Subanese crystal shards{{Ref/Reuse|evg128}}
|operation=
|rate =Automatic{{Ref/Reuse|h2gameplay}}
|velocity=
|optics=
|range=
|service=
;Human-Covenant War
*[[Harvest campaign]]{{Ref/Level|HW|Relic Interior}}
*[[Battle of Mombasa]]{{Ref/Reuse|h2gameplay}}
*[[Raid on the Threshold gas mine]]{{Ref/Level|H2|The Arbiter}}{{Ref/Level|H2|The Oracle}}
*[[Battle of Installation 05]]{{Ref/Reuse|h2gameplay}}
*[[Fall of High Charity|Fall of ''High Charity'']]{{Ref/Reuse|h2gameplay}}
}}


The crystalline projectile appears to contain some type of gas or energy, which is released upon impact with a target; after [[seven]] or more needles have struck a target in the same general area, the needles will react to each other, triggering an explosion that kills the victim instantly. The explosion of multiple needles is a result of proximal resonance instability.<ref name="h4evg"/> When either a single or multiple needles detonate, they release crystal shrapnel, which can embed itself in nearby organisms; thus, friendly fire is often a necessary consideration in close quarters combat.
This pattern designated as '''Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher''' was manufactured by the [[Sacred Promissory]].{{Ref/Reuse|evg128}}


===Advantages===
===Design details===
The Type-33, unlike other Covenant weapons, allows the user to aim at the closest target, fire and move on, as its homing ability allows its user to avoid being exposed to enemy fire while inflicting his own. The more needle shards that impact the target, the higher degree of damage it will do to the target, seven or more needle shards detonating at the same place will cause a massive explosion that will cause splash damage and cause shrapnel damage, which can also cause nearby explosives to detonate, giving the enemy another reason to run. The projectiles ricochet when they hit rigid surfaces at oblique angles and retain sufficient velocity, making dodging them a challenging feat. The weapon is most useful on wide open maps, as even though it has a limited effective range, the projectiles can follow a target for a long time and will almost certainly hit anything slower than a banshee in Halo 4. In the very least, it is a good weapon at forcing an enemy into cover.
This Needler pattern is characterized by upper and lower cowlings of congruent lengths.{{Ref/Game|H2|In-game model}}


===Disadvantages===
===Usage===
While the Type-33 GML is incredibly effective against most infantry, it is much less effective against vehicles. The crystalline projectiles are slow and ineffective to even light armor and will simply bounce off of them. The Needler is also limited to medium range combat situations and even at that range is not as effective, as the projectile travels it loses velocity and thus loses altitude, reducing the chances of impacting a target. In order for the tracking ability to be most effective the targeting reticule on the users heads up display must acquire the target, or if no targeting reticule is available the user must judge how close he must be to a target in order to effectively use the weapon. While the homing ability is incredibly useful the crystalline shard cannot track a target relentlessly, turning at a certain angle will cause the projectile to simply keep flying and miss the target completely, fast turns at certain angles will also cause the projectile to lose the target and travel onward. The needler is also ineffective against linear energy fields, like the Point Defense Gauntlets carried by the [[Kig-yar]], or stationary energy shields; as the projectiles are repelled without detonating. Another, more minor disadvantage, is that the Needler is unsuited to setting off explosive devices like [[Fusion Coil]]s, often requiring several clips of ammunition to destroy one. Another disadvantage would be the Type-33 GML's lack of instant results, in other words one could shoot a target with the 7 needles required to super-combine, but be killed by that target before the needles detonate. Finally, the Needler is suited to a very limited medium range. This is because the projectiles have too great a travel time for long range, and at close range, the target can simply move towards the shooter and attempt to kill them with the resulting explosion, thus rendering the attack useless.
This pattern of the Needler was commonly employed by the forces deployed from the [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration]] during the [[Battle of Mombasa]] and [[Battle of Installation 05]]. Members of [[Sesa 'Refumee]]'s [[Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction|heretic faction]], especially the [[Heretic Unggoy|Unggoy]], favored this Needler pattern as well.{{Ref/Reuse|h2gameplay}}
<gallery class=center>
File:HW-NeedlerElite.png|A Stealth Sangheili wielding the Needler during the [[Harvest campaign]].
File:Heretic grunts.jpg|Two Unggoy fielding the Needler in the [[Threshold gas mine]].
</gallery>
{{clear}}


==Changes==
==Truth's fleet pattern==
The Needler makes its first appearance in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', and while its effectiveness was limited to close range, the Needler was still dangerous if the player managed to get seven needles to hit an enemy target. The Needler in the first game is larger than its ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'' counterparts, and its maximum ammo is only 80 needles. The needles' super-combine explosion could also cause nearby grenades to go off, and either do damage or kill nearby friendlies or enemy infantry. When viewed in first person, the needle shards that protrude from the weapon have a blue tinge to them until fired, then take on the pink coloring.
{{Weapon infobox
|image=[[File:H3-NeedlerProfile.png|300px]]
|name=Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher
|manufacturer=[[Sacred Promissory]]{{Ref/Reuse|evg128}}
|type=[[Needler]]{{Ref/Reuse|evg128}}{{Ref/Site|Id=h3bnet|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/projects/halo3/content.aspx?link=h3Needler|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher - 9/6/2007|D=16|M=01|Y=2021|LocalArchive=Machines, Materiel and Munitions from the Human-Covenant Conflict, 2525 - Present/Needler}}{{Ref/Game|Id=h3manual|H3|[[Halo 3 manual#Weapons|game manual]]}}
|cost=
|length=
*'''Overall''': {{Convert|57.8|cm|in}}{{Ref/Reuse|h3bnet}}{{Ref/Book|Id=enc09|Enc09|Page=323}}
*'''Barrel''': {{Convert|16.25|cm|in}}{{Ref/Reuse|h3bnet}}
|weight=
*'''Empty''': {{Convert|3.74|kg|lb}}{{Ref/Reuse|h3bnet}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc09}}
*'''Loaded''': {{Convert|4.3|kg|lb}}{{Ref/Reuse|h3bnet}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc09}}
|width=
|height=
|capacity=
|feed=19 shards{{Ref/Reuse|enc09}}{{Ref/Game|Id=h3gameplay|H3|gameplay}}
|ammotype=Subanese crystalline shards{{Ref/Reuse|evg128}}
|operation=
|rate =Automatic{{Ref/Reuse|h3gameplay}} (510 rounds/minute){{Ref/Reuse|h3bnet}}
|velocity=54 meter/second (177 feet/second){{Ref/Reuse|h3bnet}}
|optics=
|range={{Convert|64|m|ft}}{{Ref/Reuse|h3bnet}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc09}}
|service=
;Human-Covenant War
*[[Operation: FIRESIDE]]{{Ref/Comic|HHj|Issue=4}}
*[[Battle of Line Installation 1-4]]{{Ref/Comic|HBL|Issue=4}}
*[[Battle of Mombasa]]{{Ref/Game|H3ODST|gameplay}}
*[[Battle of Voi]]{{Ref/Reuse|h3gameplay}}
*[[Battle of Installation 00]]{{Ref/Reuse|h3gameplay}}
}}


===Changes from ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' to ''Halo 2''===
This pattern designated as '''Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher''' was manufactured by the [[Sacred Promissory]].{{Ref/Reuse|evg128}}
*The Needler is now smaller, and is one of the dual-wieldable weapons.
*The Needler's projectiles when viewed in first person now have a pink tinge to them instead of blue.
*The magazine size has increased to thirty needles. Maximum ammunition increased from 80 needles to 90 and its maximum amount of magazines decreases by one.
*Explosion has significantly less splash damage.
*Only one explosion will go off within an enemy, while in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' multiple explosions could go off in one body, even after death.
*Slower rate of fire.
*Melee animation is different, and attacks are faster than in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. However, they do less damage, due to the firing muzzle hitting the target, instead of the needles impaling the enemy.
*The explosion of the Needler is stronger, about as strong as a plasma grenade.
*No more ammunition in magazine form on the ground.
*Drastic decrease in the projectiles traveling speed
*Decrease in range
*The needler projectiles will now aggressively follow a target, and will only appear to be locked on if the target is visible e.g. if a target goes into cover after being targeted the needles will fly about without homing in however if the target re-emerges the needles will lock on again once more.


===Changes from ''Halo 2'' to ''Halo 3''===
===Design details===
*The Needler can no longer be dual-wielded since the weapon now does more damage alone than it did when dual-wielded.
This Needler pattern is characterized by upper and lower cowlings of congruent lengths. In addition, there are purple light fixtures around the barrel and its adjoining channel braces.{{Ref/Game|H3|In-game model}}
*Magazine size has been decreased to 19 rounds.
*[[Elite]]s will never wield Needlers in-game unless actually given one by the player.
*Rate of fire has been dramatically increased. The projectiles themselves also travel a lot faster, however their altitude decreases over time.
*The reload time has been decreased.
*Unexploded needles remain impaled to the victim after impact. The needles explode after a short period.
*The Needler is more accurate.
*The Needler is now smaller.
*The needles are significantly smaller, approximately half the size of those in Halo 2.


===Changes from ''Halo 3'' to ''Halo 3: ODST''===
===Usage===
*12 needles are required to cause a target to explode.
This pattern of the Needler was commonly employed by the forces deployed from the [[Prophet of Truth]]'s [[Truth's fleet|fleet]] during the [[Battle of Voi]] and the [[Battle of Installation 00]]{{Ref/Reuse|h3gameplay}}
*[[Kig-yar|Jackal]]s and [[Jiralhanae|Brute]]s can now use Needlers by default.
<gallery class=center>
File:BL Thon attacks Three.png|[[Otto-031]] firing a Needler at [[Thon 'Talamee]] during the [[Battle of Line Installation 1-4]].
File:HTMCC-H3ODST DroneNeedler.jpg|A [[Yanme'e Ultra]] firing a Needler during the [[Battle of Mombasa]].
File:HTMCC-H3ODST BruteNeedler.jpg|A [[Jiralhanae Minor]] with a Needler during the Battle of Mombasa.
</gallery>
{{clear}}


===Changes from ''Halo 3'' and ''Halo 3: ODST'' to ''Halo: Reach''===
==Trivia==
*The stock of the Needler has been significantly extended in context to the past three ''Halo'' games.
*On the ''Halo 2'' level ''[[Quarantine Zone]]'', there is [[Needler Sentinel|a lone Sentinel]] that fires Needler rounds and drops a Needler when it is destroyed.
*Like the Needle Rifle’s projectiles, you won’t be rewarded with a super-combine until after your opponent’s shields have dropped.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_040910 '''Bungie Weekly Update''': 4/09/10]</ref>
*In ''Halo 3'', regardless of how many needles are loaded in the weapon, none will appear in the Needler's shadow.
*The Needler originally featured a new reticule system that showed an indicator when it locked on and tracked a target, similar to the Rocket Launcher from ''Halo 2'' and the Missile Pod from ''Halo 3''. This feature was deemed overpowered and later removed with a [[Halo: Reach Title Updates|title update]] from all game variants except for [[Invasion]].
*''[[Bungie.net]]''{{'}}s ''Halo 3'' statistics page claims that the Needler has thirty needles per magazine instead of the actual nineteen.
*The Needler's magazine size has been increased to 24 rounds.
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' level ''[[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]'' and the ''Halo 2 Vista'' map ''[[Uplift]]'' are the only levels to feature Needler ammunition outside the Needler.
*The weapon now takes 6 needles to take down a Spartan-III's shields, [[List of "seven" references in Halo|7]] for an Elite's shields and 6 more needles to super-combine.
*When using Anniversary mode in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'', dropped Needlers are always depicted as either being fully loaded or completely depleted. However, when playing Classic mode, the number of needles can be seen indicating how many remained in the magazine prior to the weapon being picked up.
*The Needler in ''Halo: Reach'' now looks more like the Needler from ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', including the shape and color scheme.
*The projectiles seem sharper, more solid, and more jagged.
*The melee attack will now swipe with the needles, as in ''Combat Evolved''.


===Changes from ''Halo Reach'' to ''Halo 4''===
==Gallery==
*The Needler in ''Halo 4'' is a different model of the weapon than that produced by the original Covenant; it is now produced by [[Lodam Armory]] on Sanghelios.
===''Halo: Combat Evolved''===
*The Needler's housing has changed in color from brown to dark blue.
<gallery>
*The Needler's magazine size has been reduced slightly, now with 22 rounds instead of 24, and with a maximum of 44 rounds.
File:HCE_Needler_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the Needler.
*The Needler can once again trigger super-combine detonations on targets with intact shields.
File:HCE_Needler_Concept_2.jpg|Concept art of the Needler.
*Enemies in [[Campaign]] and [[Spartan Ops]] can now score detonations on the player.
File:HCE EliteEarlyNeedler Screenshot.jpg|A [[Sangheili Minor]] wielding a Needler in an early build.
*The Needler now appears to have bloom, which could be seen as redundant due to the fact the weapon's projectiles already follow its target.
File:HCE-Needler-FirstPerson.jpg|First-person view of the Needler.
File:HCE - CovSpecOps.jpg|A [[Special Operations Officer|SpecOps Sangheili]] wielding the Needler.
</gallery>


===''Halo Wars''===
===''Halo 2''===
*The Needler's projectiles tracking is less noticeable.
<gallery>
*Needlers are used as the Covenant's main anti-air weapon, appearing both on base defenses and on the Vampire anti-air ships as the [[Heavy Needler]].
File:Needler-H2.png|A profile view of the Needler.
File:H2 Elite SpecOps.png|A SpecOps Sangheili wielding the Needler.
File:Heretic grunt.jpg|An [[Heretic Unggoy]] with the Needler.
File:H2-DualNeedlers-Gameplay.png|First-person view of dual-wielding Needlers.
File:H2-SingleNeedler-Gameplay.png|First-person view of single-wielding a Needler.
File:H2 e304 dualneedlers.jpg|First-person view of dual-wielding Needlers in multiplayer.
</gallery>


==Tactics==
===''Halo 3''===
The Needler is best used at close to medium range against groups of enemies in the open. The wielder should be familiar with the amount of lead necessary to make the shots connect, and have a fundamental understanding of the weapons strengths and weaknesses.
<gallery>
File:Bnetneedler.jpg|Promotional image of the Needler.
File:Needler Halo 3.png|An angled view of the Needler.
File:H3-NeedlerProfile.png|A profile view of the Needler.
File:Halo-3-20070923023617567.jpg|A first-person view of the Needler.
File:Needler123.jpg|A Spartan firing the Needler in multiplayer.
File:Halo-3-legendary-map-pack--20080408000202983.jpg|A barrage of blamite shards in multiplayer.
</gallery>


===Campaign===
===''Halo Wars''===
*An ammo-conserving tactic used against lower-ranking [[Sangheili]] is to simply weaken or knock-out the Elite's shields, then shoot with the Needler.
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', the Needler proves effective against large quantities of Flood [[Infection Form]]s when there's no MA5B available, as each form requires only one projectile to be killed. Since infection forms take no evasive action, its a simple matter to fire off single shots and let the needle's homing do the rest while backpedaling.
*It is not advisable to engage enemies whom are equipped with [[Active Camouflage]] with a Needler, as the needle shards will not track them. A good tactic is to switch to an automatic weapon and fire it at them, as soon as they become visible switch back to the Needler and lay into them.
*In ''Halo 2'', Needlers should be dual-wielded if possible, or it will be nearly impossible to lodge seven needles in an enemy before some of them detonate.
*Target the enemy group leader unless the leader is a high-ranked [[Sangheili]], [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]], or Jiralhanae [[War Chieftain]], in which case you should fall back and switch tactics and weapons for the situation. The three aforementioned special units' shielding will disable the needles' impact.
*When you are in a tight spot with a lot of enemies near by on higher difficulties, it's best to hide behind something and pick them off with tracking weapons like the Needler. Just stick your head out and target an Elite, or Brute, fire off a clip of needles, and repeat.
 
===Multiplayer===
*If you are facing an opponent who's wielding a Needler, stay at a distance. If this is not possible, run sideways at 90 degree angles from the direction your opponent is. This way the needles have more time to travel and it's easier for you to run away and avoid them. If you're far enough away, the projectiles may not even reach you. it's easy to take out a Needler-wielding enemy with a headshot capable weapon.
*Enemies with a Needler can't harm you when you're in a vehicle, except if they are shooting your visible part.
*The best place to use Needlers are where they can't escape or are not paying attention to you.
*Never train the Needler on a single target for too long. Rather, with the technique of fire, acquire, repeat you can end up demolishing enemy ranks as the needles do their own job of finding targets.
*It is not widely used due to the bright and easily recognizable rounds.
*Do not head into an open area with no cover and blast away at your enemies. The projectiles may only strike one enemy if you don't switch targets, and since the needles take a few seconds to explode, you could be killed before any helpful explosion occurs.
 
==UNSC remarks==
*"I don’t know how it works, but it seems the needles can only follow you if they can "see" you."
*"Anything stuck with enough needles will blow sky high—and if a Foxtrot is unlucky enough to be carrying grenades, those are gonna cook off too."
*“I caught three in the leg as I was diving behind a broken wall—they lodged right in there where the greave meets the boot. When they went off it damn near broke my ankle and flung like little splinters of glass or crystal or whatever all up my left side—the corpsman was pulling the shards outta me for the better part of two hours.”
*“Luckily—listen to me 'luckily'—the needles only detonate when they’re embedded in living tissue. Now that’s lucky because it’s not gonna blow a hole in the wall you’re hiding behind or tear the tires off of the vehicle you’re trying to escape in.”
*“It’s about as close to a fire-and-forget small arm that we're likely to ever see—and it ain’t ours. This is why we’re losing.”
*“First order of business when dealing with a hostile armed with a Needler is finding cover; second order of business is killing the Mike Foxtrot with the Needler.”
 
==Trivia==
*Instead of each needle on top of the Needler being pushed separately into the gun with each shot, every needle sinks into the weapon slightly for each shot fired. In ''Halo: Reach'', a needle sinks into the weapon every time one is fired.
*It's never been shown how the Needler is reloaded, as ammunition is never seen being plugged into the weapon. Pressing the "reload" command merely causes the needles to extend from the holes, with no action at all from the wielder's model. Grunts may occasionally tap and shake the Needler as if to reload it but otherwise its reloading procedure has never been seen.
*On the level ''[[Quarantine Zone (level)|Quarantine Zone]]'' in ''Halo 2'', there is a lone [[Needler Sentinel|Sentinel]] that fires Needler rounds and drops a Needler when it is destroyed.
*In ''Halo 3'', regardless of how many needles are loaded in the weapon, none will appear in the Needler's shadow.
*''[[Bungie.net]]'''s ''Halo 3'' statistics page claims that the Needler has thirty needles per magazine instead of the actual nineteen.
*In ''Halo 3'', killing five enemies with a Needler, in a ranked free-for-all match or campaign will reward the player with the [[Fear the Pink Mist]] achievement. In ''Halo 3: ODST'', killing ten Covenant soldiers with an explosion from the Needler in a single player level or in Firefight will reward the player with the [[Pink and Deadly]] achievement. In ''Halo: Reach'' the player earns the [[A Spoonful of Blamite]] achievement for killing ten enemies with Needler explosions. Killing an opponent with a super-combine of the Needler's needles will grant the player a Super Detonation Medal in ''Halo 3'', Needler Kill Medal in ''Halo 3: ODST'' and a [[Needle Combine Kill Medal]] in ''Halo: Reach''.
*In ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', the Needler is referred to as a pistol. This may be because in the large hands of a Sangheili, it seems proportionally smaller.
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' level ''343 Guilty Spark'' and the ''Halo 2 Vista'' map ''[[Uplift]]'' are the only levels to feature Needler ammunition outside the Needler.
*The ammunition for the Needler is referred as "Blamite" by Bungie.<ref>[http://downloads.bungie.net/podcasts/Bungie_Podcast_12710.mp3 '''Bungie.net''': ''The Bungie Podcast: 1/27/2010'']</ref> The name blamite comes from Bungie's method of censoring swearing on their forums, in which objectionable words are replaced by ''-blam!-''.
*[[Catherine Halsey|Doctor Halsey]] mentions in her journal that the Needler has completely baffled [[UNSC]] scientists, having no internal moving parts in its firing mechanism, and therefore rendering the weapon completely impossible to reverse-engineer by [[human]]s.
*When using Anniversary mode in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'', dropped Needlers are always depicted as either being fully loaded or empty with no middle ground. However, when playing Classic mode, the number of needles can be seen indicating how many remained in the clip prior to the weapon being picked up.
 
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Needler-HUD.png|HUD Icon of the Needler in ''Halo 4''.
File:HW Jackal Concept 2.jpg|Concept art featuring Kig-Yar armed with Needlers and [[Particle beam rifle|beam rifles]].
File:H4-Reference-Needler.jpg|Reference model sheet of the Needler in ''Halo 4''.
File:HW deacon.jpg|An Unggoy [[Deacon]] with the Needler.
File:H4-Render-Needler.jpg|Orthographic views of the Needler in ''Halo 4''.
File:Journal_Needler.png|An exploded view of a Needler, drawn by [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Halsey]].
File:Needlers and Ammo.jpg|Needlers and their ammunition in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:Bnetneedler.jpg|Another shot of the ''Halo 3''-era Needler.
File:H4-MP-NeedlerShard-Flight-01.jpg|A Needler shard in mid-flight in ''Halo 4''.
File:H4-MP-NeedlerShard-Flight-02.jpg|Closeup detail of the Needler shard in flight in ''Halo 4''.
File:Needle.jpg|A Needler shard in mid-flight in ''Halo 3''.
File:H3-NeedlerShard.png|Close-up preview of a Needler shard in ''Halo 3''.
File:HCE-NeedlerAmmo.png|Close-up preview of Needler ammunition in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:Needler Halo 3.png|The Needler in ''Halo 3''.
File:Halo Reach Needler.png|The Needler in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:Needler-HaloCE.png|A profile view of the Needler from ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:H3-NeedlerProfile.png|An in-game profile view of the Needler from ''Halo 3''.
File:Needler-H2.png|A profile view of the Needler from ''Halo 2''.
File:Reach_MPBeta_Needler.png|A profile view of the Needler in the [[Halo: Reach Beta|''Halo: Reach'' Multiplayer Beta]].
File:HReach-NeedlerSide.png|The final in-game side preview of the Needler from ''Halo: Reach''.
File:Haloreachneedlerfp.png|A first-person view of the Needler during the [[Halo: Reach Beta|''Halo: Reach'' Beta]].
File:Halo-reach-20100428014705175.jpg|First-person view of the Needler in the final build of ''Halo: Reach''.
File:HReach-Needler-Gameplay.jpg|First-person view of the Needler in the final build of the campaign in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:HCE-Needler-FirstPerson.jpg|First-person view of the Needler in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:HCEA-TNR-Needler-FirstPerson.png|First-person view of the Needler in ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''.
File:H2 e304 dualneedlers.jpg|First-person view of dual-wielding Needlers in ''Halo 2'' multiplayer ''Capture the Flag''.
File:H2-DualNeedlers-Gameplay.png|First-person view of dual-wielding Needlers in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2-SingleNeedler-Gameplay.png|First-person view of single-wielding a Needler in ''Halo 2''.
File:Halo-3-20070923023617567.jpg|First-person view of the Needler in ''Halo 3''.
File:H4-T33NeedlerGML-FirstPerson.jpg|First-person view of the Needler in ''Halo 4''.
File:H4-MP-Forge-T33NeedlerGML-HUD.jpg|The Needler viewed in the HUD in ''Halo 4'''s Forge.
File:Chyler needle.jpg|A needle embedded in [[Chyler Silva]]'s stomach in ''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''.
</gallery>
</gallery>
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of Needlers}}
{{Clear}}


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''
Line 194: Line 193:
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Believe]]'' 
**''[[Enemy Weapon]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
Line 203: Line 204:
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
*''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
Line 210: Line 212:
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]''
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo 2 Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Hunt the Truth]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: Last Light]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]''
*''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''
*''[[Halo: Battle Born]]''
*''[[Halo: Renegades]]''
*''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''
**''[[Homecoming (TV Series)|Homecoming]]''
**''[[Reckoning]]''
**''[[Transcendence]]''
{{Col-end}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}
 
== See also ==
*[[Heavy Needler]]
*[[Fear the Pink Mist]]
*[[Pink and Deadly]]
*[[A Spoonful of Blamite]]
*[[Energy Cutlass]]


{{Covenant Weapons}}
{{Covenant rifles}}
[[Category:Covenant infantry weapons]]
[[Category:Covenant infantry weapons]]
[[Category:Small arms]]
[[Category:Small arms]]
[[Category:Needle weaponry]]

Latest revision as of 18:19, August 16, 2023

This article is about the models in Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, and Halo 3. For other variants of the Needler, see Needler.

Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher (T-33 GML), also known as the Type-33 Needler, is the United Nations Space Command's type classification for four distinct patterns of the Needler, a Covenant needle-based infantry automatic weapon that launch Subanese crystalline shards capable of homing-in on targets.[1] Although the four distinct patterns of the Needlers possessed aesthetic and functional differences, their shared UNSC type designation suggests that they were all catalogued and classified in 2533.

Nahle'hax-pattern needle launcher[edit]

Main article: Nahle'hax-pattern needler

The Nahle'hax-pattern needle launcher is designated as T-33 GML.[2][1] This variant was commonly employed by the Covenant and its remnants.[3][4][5]

  • The first chassis with blue lights on side of the upper cowling.

    The first chassis with blue lights on side of the upper cowling.

  • The second chassis with metallic braces on the channel braces.

    The second chassis with metallic braces on the channel braces.

  • The third chassis with no lights on the side of the upper cowling.

    The third chassis with no lights on the side of the upper cowling.

Fleet of Particular Justice variant[edit]

Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher
Needler-HaloCE.png
Production overview

Manufacturer:

Sacred Promissory[1]

Type:

Needler[1][6]

Specifications

Ammunition type:

Subanese crystalline shards[1]

Feed system:

20 shards/magazine[7]

Rate of fire:

Automatic[7]

Service history

In service:

Human-Covenant War
 

This pattern designated as Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher was manufactured by the Sacred Promissory.[1]

Design details[edit]

This Needler pattern is characterized by an additional handguard around the grip between the cowlings. It also possesses a longer handguard extending from the lower cowling,[1] though, unlike other Needlers with this attribute, the handguard is angled downwards rather than curving upwards.[8]

  • The HUD icon for this T-33 GML pattern.

    The HUD icon for this T-33 GML pattern.

  • Scattered Needlers and their ammunition boxes.

    Scattered Needlers and their ammunition boxes.

Usage[edit]

This pattern of the Needler was commonly employed during the Battle of Installation 04 by the forces deployed from the Fleet of Particular Justice.[7] It was particularly popular among Special Operations Unggoy combating the Flood.[9][10]

Fleet of Sacred Consecration variant[edit]

Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher
Needler-H2.png
Production overview

Manufacturer:

Sacred Promissory[1]

Type:

Needler[1][11]

Specifications

Ammunition type:

Subanese crystal shards[1]

Feed system:

30 shards/magazine[11][12]

Rate of fire:

Automatic[12]

Service history

In service:

Human-Covenant War
 

This pattern designated as Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher was manufactured by the Sacred Promissory.[1]

Design details[edit]

This Needler pattern is characterized by upper and lower cowlings of congruent lengths.[16]

Usage[edit]

This pattern of the Needler was commonly employed by the forces deployed from the Fleet of Sacred Consecration during the Battle of Mombasa and Battle of Installation 05. Members of Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction, especially the Unggoy, favored this Needler pattern as well.[12]

Truth's fleet pattern[edit]

Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher
H3-NeedlerProfile.png
Production overview

Manufacturer:

Sacred Promissory[1]

Type:

Needler[1][17][18]

Specifications

Length:

  • Overall: 57.8 centimetres (22.8 in)[17][19]
  • Barrel: 16.25 centimetres (6.40 in)[17]

Weight:

  • Empty: 3.74 kilograms (8.2 lb)[17][19]
  • Loaded: 4.3 kilograms (9.5 lb)[17][19]

Ammunition type:

Subanese crystalline shards[1]

Feed system:

19 shards[19][20]

Rate of fire:

Automatic[20] (510 rounds/minute)[17]

Muzzle velocity:

54 meter/second (177 feet/second)[17]

Effective range:

64 metres (210 ft)[17][19]

Service history

In service:

Human-Covenant War
 

This pattern designated as Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher was manufactured by the Sacred Promissory.[1]

Design details[edit]

This Needler pattern is characterized by upper and lower cowlings of congruent lengths. In addition, there are purple light fixtures around the barrel and its adjoining channel braces.[24]

Usage[edit]

This pattern of the Needler was commonly employed by the forces deployed from the Prophet of Truth's fleet during the Battle of Voi and the Battle of Installation 00[20]

Trivia[edit]

  • On the Halo 2 level Quarantine Zone, there is a lone Sentinel that fires Needler rounds and drops a Needler when it is destroyed.
  • In Halo 3, regardless of how many needles are loaded in the weapon, none will appear in the Needler's shadow.
  • Bungie.net's Halo 3 statistics page claims that the Needler has thirty needles per magazine instead of the actual nineteen.
  • In Halo: Combat Evolved level 343 Guilty Spark and the Halo 2 Vista map Uplift are the only levels to feature Needler ammunition outside the Needler.
  • When using Anniversary mode in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, dropped Needlers are always depicted as either being fully loaded or completely depleted. However, when playing Classic mode, the number of needles can be seen indicating how many remained in the magazine prior to the weapon being picked up.

Gallery[edit]

Halo: Combat Evolved[edit]

  • Concept art of the Needler.

    Concept art of the Needler.

  • Concept art of the Needler.

    Concept art of the Needler.

  • A Sangheili Minor wielding a Needler in an early build.

    A Sangheili Minor wielding a Needler in an early build.

  • First-person view of the Needler.

    First-person view of the Needler.

  • A SpecOps Sangheili wielding the Needler.

    A SpecOps Sangheili wielding the Needler.

Halo 2[edit]

  • A profile view of the Needler.

    A profile view of the Needler.

  • A SpecOps Sangheili wielding the Needler.

    A SpecOps Sangheili wielding the Needler.

  • An Heretic Unggoy with the Needler.

    An Heretic Unggoy with the Needler.

  • First-person view of dual-wielding Needlers.

    First-person view of dual-wielding Needlers.

  • First-person view of single-wielding a Needler.

    First-person view of single-wielding a Needler.

  • First-person view of dual-wielding Needlers in multiplayer.

    First-person view of dual-wielding Needlers in multiplayer.

Halo 3[edit]

  • Promotional image of the Needler.

    Promotional image of the Needler.

  • An angled view of the Needler.

    An angled view of the Needler.

  • A profile view of the Needler.

    A profile view of the Needler.

  • A first-person view of the Needler.

    A first-person view of the Needler.

  • A Spartan firing the Needler in multiplayer.

    A Spartan firing the Needler in multiplayer.

  • A barrage of blamite shards in multiplayer.

    A barrage of blamite shards in multiplayer.

Halo Wars[edit]

  • Concept art featuring Kig-Yar armed with Needlers and beam rifles.

    Concept art featuring Kig-Yar armed with Needlers and beam rifles.

  • An Unggoy Deacon with the Needler.

    An Unggoy Deacon with the Needler.

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 128
  2. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 294
  3. ^ Halo: Reach, gameplay
  4. ^ Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 85
  5. ^ Halo 4, gameplay
  6. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, game manual
  7. ^ a b c d Halo: Combat Evolved, gameplay
  8. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, In-game model
  9. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level Keyes
  10. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level The Maw
  11. ^ a b Halo 2, game manual
  12. ^ a b c d e f Halo 2, gameplay
  13. ^ Halo Wars, campaign level Relic Interior
  14. ^ Halo 2, campaign level The Arbiter
  15. ^ Halo 2, campaign level The Oracle
  16. ^ Halo 2, In-game model
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h Bungie.net, Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher - 9/6/2007 (Retrieved on Jan 16, 2021) [local archive] [external archive]
  18. ^ Halo 3, game manual
  19. ^ a b c d e Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), page 323
  20. ^ a b c d e Halo 3, gameplay
  21. ^ Halo: Helljumper, issue 4
  22. ^ Halo: Blood Line, issue 4
  23. ^ Halo 3: ODST, gameplay
  24. ^ Halo 3, In-game model

v • d • e
 
Service weapons of the Covenant and its remnants
Projectile weapons
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