Editing Type-1 energy sword/Gameplay

{{Status|Gameplay}}
There are two ways a player in ''Halo 2'', ''Halo 3'', ''Halo: Reach'', ''Halo 4'', and ''Halo 5: Guardians'' can attack with the energy sword: the first is to lunge with the energy sword. With this, the player lunges forward at the other player. However, this only works when the aiming reticule is lit red, indicating that the opposing player is within range. The second attack is the simple [[melee]], this performs a quick horizontal or overhanded swipe.

== Campaign ==
* In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo 2'', use the advantage that the Elites need to be close to one to damage the player's energy shield. On higher difficulties, use the [[Noob Combo]] to eliminate the energy sword-wielding Elites. With this tactic, one can kill an [[Sangheili Honor Guardsman|Elite Honor Guard]] with a single [[Type-25 plasma pistol|Plasma Pistol]] easily in ''Halo 2'', even on [[Heroic]] or [[Legendary]]. 
* It is extremely ill-advised to use the sword against [[Unggoy|Grunts]], [[Kig-Yar|Jackals]], [[Yanme'e|Drones]], [[Huragok|Engineers]], [[Promethean Crawler]]s, or [[Promethean Watcher]]]s. Due to the low-threat nature of these enemies they can easily be killed with any other weapon, or even a simple melee.
* The sword is extremely valuable against [[Sangheili|Elites]], [[Jiralhanae|Brutes]], [[Promethean Knight]]s (except in ''Halo 5: Guardians''), and perhaps [[Hunter]]s and the [[Warden Eternal]].
* When facing sword-wielding Elites, a sound tactic is to jump and lunge attack them. This will kill them quickly and save one's shields or even life on higher difficulties.
* In both ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'', the energy sword is one of the best anti-[[Flood]] weapons, as it will destroy Flood Combat and Pure Forms in one strike (although if an [[Flood combat form|infected Elite]] still has its shield, it may take two swipes, depending on the difficulty setting).
* When fighting against the Flood, an attack with the energy sword will deplete the battery by a very small amount (about 3%) due to their soft tissue, making it useful for extended fights.  Against Infection Forms, no power is drained.
* The energy sword in ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'' can be used to destroy the corpses of [[Flood]] [[Combat Form]]s so that they cannot be re-infected by [[Infection Form]]s. However, the cutting process ''does'' drain battery power. However, any weapon's melee attack can be used to destroy combat form corpses if used enough times, even a depleted energy sword hilt.
* In ''Halo 3'' the energy sword is very hard to come by in the campaign outside of [[Floodgate]], [[Cortana (level)|Cortana]], and [[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]. The player can obtain an energy sword by betraying an Elite ally on [[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]] by sticking him with a grenade (if Mythic is turned on, the Elite can survive a Plasma Grenade and his energy sword can be taken) or by draining the Arbiter's shield during combat (this happens more frequently on higher difficulties). If the player does so, it is a very good weapon against Brutes, although the battery will deplete very quickly.
* In ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' the sword will knock out the shields of any Elite in one hit on Legendary, and following up with a headshot means that the sword's battery won't deplete. This is an effective strategy on [[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]], [[The Package]], and [[Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|Pillar of Autumn]]. The sword is also incredibly effective against Hunters on all difficulties, as a hit anywhere stuns them and a single swipe to the back kills them. Opportunities for this in campaign are limited to The Package, but it is a useful tactic in [[Firefight]].
* In ''Halo 4'', the sword will destroy the shields of any Knight in one hit on Legendary, and following up with a headshot means battery conservation. This only works in missions that feature both Covenant and Promethean enemies. However, unlike Elites, Knights have no qualms about swiping back with their [[lightblade]]s, which can instantly kill the player on Legendary, making the sword less viable against these enemies, but still otherwise effective against Elites and Hunters.
* In ''Halo 5: Guardians'', the energy sword is first obtained normally in [[Blue Team (level)|Blue Team]] (its first appearance is from the first [[Sangheili Warrior|Elite Warrior]] found in the level), although an empty one can be obtained and temporarily used earlier in [[Osiris (level)|Osiris]]. It later appears in [[Reunion]], [[Swords of Sanghelios (level)|Swords of Sanghelios]], [[Battle of Sunaion (level)|Battle of Sunaion]], and [[Guardians]], which also features the ''[[Vorpal Talon]]'' variant.

== Multiplayer ==
=== ''Halo 2'' ===
* The sword is easily one of the best close range weapons to use in ''Halo 2''. The best tactic is to lay into an enemy player with your secondary weapon getting closer, then when within range perform a quick swipe with the sword for the finishing move. However since there is no way of telling which player has the sword, or no sound way to stop it, it has often been labeled as a cheap tactic.
* Using [[Active Camouflage]] with the sword in ''Halo 2'' is not a wise thing to do as the sword in ''Halo 2'' is still visible with it active.

=== ''Halo 3'' ===
* In ''Halo 3'' however, using the sword with active camouflage is a sound tactic as it will now cover the sword when picked up.
* In ''Halo 3'' the sword lunge is shorter, and the player cannot perform a quick strike. In addition, the sword's handle is now visible on the character's leg. In order for the sword to be most effective the player must lure a player into a trap where the sword will become effective; camping with the sword in a corner and waiting is the best way to use it to its fullest extent. As a special note, there is a range difference between the B button melee, and the right trigger lunge. The lunge has the maximum range, whilst the B button seems to only work at 1/2 to 3/4 the range. This is, most likely, for balancing, as the B button swings the sword at a much, much faster rate.
* If the enemy controls the sword room in the ''Halo 3'' multiplayer map [[The Pit (level)|The Pit]], stick to the outer wall. The range is just short of the wall and if you're lucky your opponent will lunge and miss, giving you the perfect opportunity to kill him or her.
* It is possible to dodge a lunge from the energy sword. To do this, one must move quickly to the right when facing the lunging opponent, towards the hand which does ''not'' hold the sword. Conversely, to prevent your target from dodging your lunge, simply jump; jumping reduces all chances of missing or being dodged by an opponent.
* In ''Halo 3'', players can parry their opponent's sword by meleeing or lunging at the same time. If  the player pulls the right trigger right before the other person makes contact, a parrying electric clash is produced, but some damage will be done to shields. However, with no shields, a sword clash will not affect [[health]], though the HUD screen will flash bright red. This is sometimes known as "fencing". If timed well enough the sword fight can last indefinitely. Because it is faster, using the melee attack instead of the lunge is required in this scenario, even for the first hit.
* Jumping can make the energy sword much more fearsome, brutally effective and accurate. Jump and point your reticule down, waiting until it turns red to lunge at the opponent.

=== ''Halo Reach'' ===
* In ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', the armor abilities [[Armor Ability#Evade|Evade]], [[Armor Ability#Sprint|Sprint]], and [[Armor Ability#Active Camouflage|Active Camo]] are the most effective to use with the Energy Sword, depending on individual playing style and situation.
* In ''Halo: Reach'', there is a technique in which a player may block a sword lunge with '''any''' weapon they are carrying at the time. This is done by simply meleeing the incoming attack and stopping the attack with a well timed strike. Both players will receive possibly fatal damage from the clash, with the non-sword user taking more damage. This can be used to counter a sword user in close range if you damage them with your gun first.
* Also In ''Halo: Reach'' a useful tactic is to use the [[Type-27 hologram|Hologram]] armor ability and jump back just before the sword wielder lunges, your opponent will hit the hologram instead of you. This gives you time to escape or retaliate.
* In ''Halo 2'' avoiding a sword lunge is extremely difficult, if timed correctly and with a bit of luck, side stepping in the direction of the enemy players free hand may save the player's life. This is often difficult, however. In ''Halo 3'', avoiding the sword lunge can be done by using either a [[Type-25 Brute Shot|Brute Shot]] or a [[M90 shotgun|Shotgun]], there is still some difficulty in pulling it off, but the odds of killing an enemy player using the Sword is much greater than on ''Halo 2''.
* An extremely useful tactic against other players wielding swords, is to, rather than hitting B twice for two quick melees, strike first with a melee, and then finish them on with the lunge. This tactic is much faster than two melees.

=== ''Halo 5: Guardians'' ===
* As with all weapons in ''Halo 5: Guardians'', the Sword features a smart scope; in the case of this particular weapon, scoping in allows for an enhanced lunge radius. Using it is imperitive to achieve kills, as the red reticule range of the Sword has been heavily reduced when not scoped in, making spring-lunge kills far less effective. However, thrusting forward to close the gap for a lunge is an extremely useful tactic. One Warzone variant of the Sword, the ''Vorpal Talon'', even grants an additional thruster charge to the user.
* As befitting such an iconic weapon of the series, the Sword has four total variants in Warzone and Arena: the standard Sword, the faster-swinging ''Ravening Sliver'', the thruster pack-boosting ''Vorpal Talon'', and the Mythic ''[[Prophets' Bane]]'', which includes a far increased lunge distance and an intrinsic Active Camo field.
** In the final campaign mission ''[[Guardians]]'', the ''Vorpal Talon'' can be found. It is useful for obtaining the ''[[Halo 5: Guardians skulls#Tough Luck|Tough Luck]]'' skull or speeding through the final sequence of the mission where the [[Guardian Custode|Guardian]] throws pulses.
* Similarly to the sword in Halo 3, one can swipe quickly by tapping the right bumper (RB), or lunge for a longer range kill by pulling the right trigger (RT). If you are trying to break a destructible barrier or something of the sort, the quick slash can be useful. Otherwise, its quite limited range makes it worthless. (Unless you sneak up behind someone and hold LB to assassinate them with the blade).

[[Category:Gameplay guides]]