Kelos'vaarda-pattern storm rifle

Kelos'vaarda-pattern Rifle
Production overview
Manufacturer:	Lodam Armory
Type:	Directed-energy weapon
Variants:	Blissful Slumber Fury
Specifications
Length:	120 centimeters (47.1 in)
Width:	15 centimeters (6 in)
Height:	31 centimeters (12.2 in)
Weight:	7.9 kilograms (17.4 lb)
Ammunition type:	Superheated plasma
Capacity:	100 battery units/200 shots
Optics:	No magnification; integrated holographic reflex sights
Service history
In service:	Blooding Years Post-Covenant War conflicts

The Kelos'vaarda-pattern Rifle (UNSC Type classification: Type-55 Directed Energy Rifle/Advanced, T-55 DER/A) more commonly known as the Storm Rifle, is directed-energy weapon developed by Lodam Armory and and primarily used by the Sangheili. It was introduced in the Blooding Years as a successor to the plasma rifles of the Covenant, and has become adopted by remnant factions of all stripes.

Overview

Design details

The Storm Rifle was created by Lodam Armory, an arms manufacturer based on Sanghelios. It was designed as an upgrade to the Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifle which saw near-ubiquitous use in the armed forces of the Covenant empire. The weapon's overall construction is similar to other infantry plasma weapons like the plasma repeater and pulse carbine, boasting a traditional rifle-styled layout with a stock, grip, trigger, and foregrip. Like the plasma repeater, the Storm Rifle boasts a rotating cylinder at the core of the weapon - the cylinder houses a modular coil set which rotates when firing, allowing for higher rates-of-fire and better cooling (the latter achieved with the aid of a cooling shroud mounted above the barrel. The barrel is an extended accelerator channel similar in design to that of the pulse carbine and Vostu-pattern carbine which grants the weapon increased range over the plasma rifle and repeater.

These modifications are claimed by Lodam Armory to grant the Storm Rifle increased range and cooling than its predecessors. They are relatively simple to manufacture, which has led to them profilerating among numerous factions of the Post-Covenant War conflicts.

Variants

• Fury: Ancient Sangheili script carved on the plasma generator casing is a curse aimed at any wielder without bloodstained hands. Fury is an improved Storm Rifle with improved heat dissipation and better accuracy.
• Blissful Slumber: There is no rest for the weary merchants of death who labor to feed the fires of war on Sanghelios. Blissful Slumber is an advanced Storm Rifle with increased damage and knockback on hit. Each plasma bolt has an arcing trajectory and detonates on impact, causing a small secondary explosion with a damage radius of 2.75 meters.

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  Fury

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  Blissful Slumber

Development history

After decades of success with armor systems, Lodam Armory branched out into creating weaponry, with their first desire being to fashion a multi-role rifle meant to replace the Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifle within the Covenant ranks. The result would be the Storm Rifle, a directed energy rifle that carried with it the heritage of Lodam's Storm harness. While the baseline Storm Rifle wouldn’t be fully catalogued and designated until 2555 by the UNSC, its existence spans decades, and in that time, Lodam Armory produced several experimental and enhanced variants. Earlier iterations of the weapon were often more specialized and employed by Storm-class units within the Covenant. Eventually, the design was improved by Lodam Armory by 2553 and saw use during Sangheili civil conflicts following the Human-Covenant War's conclusion.

Jul 'Mdama's Covenant and the Swords of Sanghelios both use the Type-55 as their standard-issue weapon. The Spartan-IVs deployed aboard the UNSC Infinity also use the Storm Rifle as part of their on-mission loadouts, despite it being of non-UNSC origin.

Gameplay

	See our gameplay information related to Kelos'vaarda-pattern storm rifle on its gameplay page.
	Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

Changes from Halo 4 to Halo 5: Guardians

• Fire rate increased. Time to overheat raised accordingly.
• Increased damage, killing a fully-shielded Spartan in 6 bolts instead of 12.
• Smart-scope functionality, allowing for more accurate fire.
• Battery capacity has been cut by at least 50%.
• It is ranked a Common REQ in Warzone simulations, and is available at Level 1 energy while giving 50 REQ points if sold.

Trivia

• "Storm Rifle" is a literal translation of the German "sturmgewehr". The StG-44 was the first assault rifle to see widespread deployment during the latter stages of World War II.
• The Sangheili Ranger action figure included a code for unlocking the "Chill" skin for the storm rifle in Halo 4.
• Strangely, the Storm Rifle does not count toward automatic loadout weapon commendations in War Games, despite its predecessors all being considered automatic and its firing system being so.
• The weapon's reticule is similar in both appearance and bloom behavior to the Nakata'vho-pattern plasma repeater from Halo: Reach. The weapons' firing styles are also similar, though the Storm Rifle lacks the "fire through overheat" feature that the Plasma Repeater has.
• It is possible to use equipment while the Storm Rifle is venting, which has lead to a tactic combining it with the Thruster Pack, whereupon the user fires till it overheats, jets to the side or in reverse to avoid incoming fire, and then re-engages their target with the now-cooled weapon.

Gallery

Concept art and illustrations

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  Concept art of the storm rifle for Halo 4.

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  Concept art of the storm rifle for Halo 4.

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  Concept art of the storm rifle for Halo 4.

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  A Sangheili Storm with a Storm Rifle during the Battle of Ealen IV in Halo: Escalation.

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  Halo Wars 2 concept art depicting a modified Storm Rifle brandishing the Jiralhanae aesthetic of the Banished.

Halo 4

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  Reference model sheet for the Storm Rifle.

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  Another reference sheet.

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  Detail of the Storm Rifle's coil set.

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  Halo 4 Infobox.

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  The Type-55 Storm Rifle in Halo 4.

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  In-game right side view of a Type-55 Storm Rifle in Halo 4.

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  Alternate left side view of a Type-55 Storm Rifle.

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  John-117 using a Storm Rifle aboard the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn.

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  The Storm Rifle overheating in John-117's hands.

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  First-person view of the Storm Rifle on Haven in Halo 4's multiplayer.

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  A Sangheili Storm wielding a Storm Rifle.

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  A Sangheili Commander wielding a Storm Rifle.

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  A Sangheili Ranger firing a Storm Rifle.

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  A Kig-Yar Ranger with a Storm Rifle.

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  A Spartan-IV using a Storm Rifle against a Sangheili Zealot during the Requiem Campaign.

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  An Orbital-clad Spartan with the Storm Rifle.

Halo 5: Guardians

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  First-person view of the Storm Rifle by Frederic-104 in the Halo 5: Guardians campaign.

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  Smart scope with the Storm Rifle by Fred-104 in the Halo 5: Guardians campaign.

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  First-person view of John-117 doing a melee attack with the Storm Rifle.

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  Ditto, secondary melee animation.

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  First-person view of John-117 firing the Storm Rifle at a Kig-Yar Storm.

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  The Storm Rifle overheating in John-117's hands.

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  Fred-104 with a Storm Rifle on Genesis.

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  First-person view of the Storm Rifle on Riptide in the Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer.

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  Smart scope with the Storm Rifle in Halo 5: Guardians.

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  The holographic sight on the Storm Rifle.

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  A Centurion-clad Spartan-IV with an overheated Storm Rifle on Antifreeze.

Halo 4 skins

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  CHL(Chill) skin in Halo 4.

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  CMP(Compression) skin in Halo 4.

List of appearances

• Halo: The Thursday War (First appearance)
• Halo 4
  • Spartan Ops
• Halo: Escalation
• Halo 5: Guardians
• Halo: Rise of Atriox
• Halo: Legacy of Onyx
• Halo Infinite (Mentioned only)