Canon

Purging Shock Rifle

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

Purging Shock Rifle
A transparent crop of the Purging Shock Rifle in-game model. Courtesy of User:BaconShelf.
Production overview

Manufacturer:

Type:

Directed-energy sniper rifle[2]

Specifications

Length:

148 centimeters (58.2 in)[2]

Ammunition type:

Electromagnetically guided plasma[2]

Feed system:

15 bolts/magazine[3]

Rate of fire:

Burst[3]

Optics:

smart-link[3]

Service history

In service:

Post-Covenant War conflicts

 
High-damage Shock Rifle with improved voltaic chaining but with detonation capability.[4][5]

The Purging Shock Rifle is a variant of the Sicatt Workshop shock rifle used by the Banished.[3][5]

Overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

Main article: Sicatt Workshop shock rifle

The Purging variant of the shock rifle has a white chassis instead of the standard red coloration and features a slightly longer barrel. It carries an expanded magazine of 15 bolts, though the burst-fire function fires five instead of three bolts in quick succession. The bolts also have an improved voltaic chaining capabilities.[3][4]

Development history[edit]

"The manufacturers deliver me a weapon that fires three bursts—I say, why not five?"
— Vulcus reflects on the development of the shock rifle.[6]

Like the standard shock rifle, the Purging shock rifle was developed by Sicatt Workshop technicians aboard the Banished dreadnought Ghost of Barolon. When Vulcus of the Alchemy Corps was presented with the standard weapon, he questioned why the design could not be developed further to fire bursts of five bolts rather than three. He wished to push the technology to its limits as Escharum was planning the Banished's mission to Reach in 2559. Vulcus's efforts ultimately resulted in the creation of the Purging shock rifle.[6]

Usage[edit]

One such weapon was used by the Skimmer Alpha, a Gasgira allied with The Harbinger and the Banished during the campaign on Installation 07 in 2559-2560.[7] During the campaign, it used the weapon in a combat encounter with John-117, though was defeated by the Spartan.[8]

In-game information[edit]

Halo Infinite[edit]

In campaign, the Purging Shock Rifle is a legendary weapon awarded to the player after defeating the High Value Target, the Skimmer Alpha. The weapon can be acquired at any Forward Operating Base. It fires five instead of three bolts in quick succession.[4][5] The bolts have an increased range of chaining damage across targets. The Purging Shock Rifle retains the standard variant's magnification optics at 3×.[3]

Gallery[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Preview Purview (Retrieved on Sep 29, 2021) [archive]
  2. ^ a b c d Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 477
  3. ^ a b c d e f Halo Infinite, Purging Shock Rifle in-game weapon
  4. ^ a b c Halo Infinite, Forge - Purging Shock Rifle description: "High-damage Shock Rifle with improved voltaic chaining but with detonation capability."
  5. ^ a b c Halo Support, Halo Infinite Weapon, Equipment, and Vehicle Inventory (Retrieved on May 5, 2023) [archive]
  6. ^ a b Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Fly Me to the Blood-Moon (Retrieved on Jan 12, 2024) [local archive] [external archive]
  7. ^ Halo Infinite, High Value Target dossier, Skimmer Alpha
  8. ^ Halo Infinite, campaign mission Reformation: Skimmer Alpha