Overshield
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
An overshield is a Covenant-developed technology that strengthens the user's energy shielding system.[1] After the Human-Covenant War, research conducted by United Nations Space Command, such as work at the ONI Ilex Facility,[2] culminated in an eponymous UNSC recreation.[3]
Overview[edit]
Design details[edit]
Overshield can be applied to personal energy shielding through two methods, through either external power sources or Huragok support webs. The overshield leverages personal energy shielding's major components—the shield generator and waveguide—to be overcharged.[4] The Covenant overshield module is a cuboid container holding a red sphere within.[5] The UNSC overshield module in 2553 is considerably bulkier, being a large vertical container with a glowing green vertical panel,[6] though by 2559, the UNSC module has drastically reduced in size into a palm-sized circular device,[7][8] or even installed within modular cores.[9][10]
Usage[edit]
- "That's a Covenant overshield. I've created an interface patch that will let you use the device to augment your shields."
- — Cortana enables John-117's armor to use a Covenant overshield module.[11]
Overshields are most commonly bestowed upon Covenant troops through Huragok's support web, rendering an extra layer of shielding to even those that do not have personal energy shielding.[12][13] During the Battle of Mombasa in 2552, Quick to Adjust notably extended overshield from its body to the outer plating of a vehicle, an Oliphant.[14] The cuboid module is an uncommon sight; though in one instance, when the Covenant was boarding the UNSC Pillar of Autumn during the Battle over Installation 04, the Brhi Xur-pattern Leechs and R'sisho-pattern Ticks each carried two overshield modules onboard.[15][11]
Among the tactical roles under Spartan Operations, Spartans assigned to the "Offensive" skill grouping are usually equipped with prototype overshield capacitators.[16] With how the MJOLNIR [GEN3] platform can readily integrate a wide range of offensive and defensive peripheral systems and components through modular cores, an overshield module can be installed to the armor spontaneously. For example, during the Battle for Zeta Halo, Spartan Bonita Stone acquired an overshield module and installed the module in her armor without the support of a technician,[17] as was the case for John-117 when he recovered the module from Stone's body.[9] John-117 later gave Spartan Tomas Horvath a spare overshield module for his failing armor.[18]
In-game information[edit]
The overshield is not a permanent upgrade to the player's shield, and it will not recharge past the normal capacity even after the overshield is fully depleted, thus another one must be acquired to regain the benefit. Like the standard energy shield, the overshield can be fully depleted by an overcharged Plasma Pistol.
Across its appearances in the campaigns of Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, and Halo Infinite, the overshield is reduced only when the player takes damage. In multiplayer modes and the campaign mode of Halo 5: Guardians, the overshield gradually depletes over prolonged duration. Due to its reductive nature, the overshield is only useful for a short period in multiplayer.
From Halo: Combat Evolved to Halo 4, it takes approximately three seconds to overcharge the energy shields once picked up. During this short period, the player is invulnerable to all forms of attacks, save for a melee attack from behind. The player's normal shield does not take damage until the overshield is completely depleted (although any damage overlapping from something destroying the overshield such as an explosion from a grenade will also do damage to the player's normal shield). In Halo 5: Guardians and Halo Infinite, the overshield's effects are instantly applied briefly after the player activates the power-up, although the player is still vulnerable while waiting for the shields to be overchaged.
In Halo 2, Halo 3, and Halo 4, the wearer is awarded a visual effect which gives off a full-body glowing effect. This visual effect negates the effects of an active camouflage and makes the wearer more visible to other players, often drawing unwanted attention. This glowing effect is also present in Halo 5: Guardians, although it should be noted that unlike in previous titles, it is actually hidden by the effects of active camouflage despite what the player's HUD may lead one to believe.
Halo: Combat Evolved[edit]
In Halo: Combat Evolved, the overshield appears as a glowing red orb of energy encased in a clear glass cube and boosts the player's shields to 300% of its base strength. The player picks up the overshield by making contact with the object; after picking up an overshield, the player's HUD shield display receives two additional layers of shield: first red, then green, atop the player's usual blue shield bar.
Halo 2[edit]
The overshield in Halo 2 functions like it did Halo: Combat Evolved; however, the orb and cube are gold in color.
Although the overshield pick-up is not available in campaign, the Black Eye skull—which allows the player to restore shields through attacking enemies with melee—grants overshield to the player when they melee enemies while they possess full shields.
Halo 3[edit]
The design of the overshield in Halo 3 differs and shares some resemblances from previous titles: the orb appears as a glowing red orb of energy, larger than in previous appearances and without a glass cube encasing it. The standard overshield pickup only boosts the player's shields to 200% of its base strength; this is reflected in only a single green layer added to the shield bar.
Although the overshield does not appear in campaign, the similar Invincibility can be acquired from a defeated Jiralhanae Chieftain, provided he did not activate it before his death.
Halo 3: ODST[edit]
The overshield makes an appearance in the Halo 3: ODST as a white-blue shielding effect granted to those within the vicinity of a Huragok; friendly Covenant and UNSC units are provided an additional layer of protection because of the overshield ability.
Halo: Reach[edit]
In Halo: Reach campaign, Huragok provide purple overshield to nearby allies. It is somewhat weaker than in Halo 3: ODST, as the shield fades on and off the wearer at various intervals. It also does not reduce recoil, meaning that enemies without shields underneath, such as Unggoy, will still react as if they have no shields when shot, albeit with more health.
Though left out of the base game's multiplayer, the overshield appears in Halo: Reach's Anniversary Map Pack in "Anniversary" gametypes; its physical appearance is similar to that in Halo 3. It once again boosts the player's shields to 300% of its base strength, with two full layers added to shield bar: first green, then purple. The player will also leave a trail of fla