Editing Vorpal Talon

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Weapon infobox
|name = Vorpal Talon
|image = [[File:H5G Render EnergySword-VorpalTalon.png|300px]]
|manufacturer = [[Merchants of Qikost]]<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/weapons/type-1-energy-sword '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Energy Sword'']</ref><ref name="essential">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 63''</ref>
|series = [[Type-1 energy sword|Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword]]
|type = Handheld, single-handed sword
|cost = 
|variant = 
|service = [[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
|length = {{Convert|126.8|cm|in}}{{Ref/Reuse|essential}} 
|width = {{Convert|3.8|cm|in}}{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}<ref name="H4EVG">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 92''</ref>
|height = {{Convert|50.1|cm|in}}{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}}
|weight = {{Convert|2.36|kg|lb}}<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 334''</ref>
|ammotype = Shaped [[plasma]]{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}
|feed-title = Energy capacity
|capacity =
|feed = 100 battery units
|operation = 
|rate = 
|velocity = 
|optics =
|range = Melee
}}
{{Quote|Light as a feather when wielded with unrestrained malice. Advanced Energy Sword that provides additional thruster hangtime and two thruster evades per cooldown.|In-game description<ref name="REQ">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' , [[Requisition system]]</ref>}}
The '''Vorpal Talon''' is a special variant of the [[Type-1 energy sword|Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword]].<ref name="H5G">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', [[Multiplayer]]</ref>

== Overview ==
=== Design details ===
The ''Vorpal Talon'' is a named variant of the ''Domotos''-pattern energy sword, imbued with various upgrades from [[Spartan abilities|two thruster evades]] between cooldowns to increased jump height, longer stabilizer duration, increased lunge distance, and a built-in [[motion tracker]] that retains its visibility on the user's [[heads-up display|HUD]] even when using [[smart-linking|Smart-Link]], mirroring the built-in motion tracker of the ''[[Nornfang]]'' [[SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle]]. Described to be virtually weightless when its wielder uses it with unrestrained malice, the ''Vorpal Talon'' has a maroon handle and an orange-to-cyan gradient for the main blade coloring.{{Ref/Reuse|REQ}}

=== Service history ===
In [[2558#October|October 2558]], [[Fireteam Osiris]], accompanied by [[031 Exuberant Witness]], discovered a copy of the ''Vorpal Talon'' in an area on [[Genesis]] that they passed through on their mission to rescue [[Blue Team]] from [[Cortana]]'s [[Cryptum]].<ref name="Guardians">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', campaign level ''[[Guardians]]''</ref> The weapon was later integrated into [[War Games]] simulations for use by [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartan-IVs]] aboard the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.{{Ref/Reuse|H5G}}

== Gameplay ==
=== ''Halo 5: Guardians'' ===
The ''Vorpal Talon'' is a [[Special weapons (Halo 5: Guardians)|special weapon]] that can be found in the campaign mission ''[[Guardians]]''. It is found on top of a ledge immediately in front of the first gravitational core.

An Ultra Rare Level 4 [[Requisition system|REQ]] worth 150 REQ Points when sold, the ''Vorpal Talon''{{'}}s operation is identical to that of a normal Energy Sword, although it has some noticeable differences. It has a longer lunge range of 8.89&nbsp;m (29.17&nbsp;ft), which increases to 15.50&nbsp;m (50.85&nbsp;ft) with Smart-Link activated; these increases in range allow ''Vorpal Talon'' users to stab enemies from greater distances than before. In addition, it makes way for increased mobility by way of granting its user an additional thruster evade before recharging, which allows for easier escapes from danger; longer stabilizer duration of 4.95 seconds, useful for reaching hard-to-reach places and planning Ground Pounds more easily; and an increased jump height, facilitating even higher jumps that can be further raised with the [[Crouch jumping]] technique. In the same manner as [[Linda-058]]'s ''Nornfang'', the ''Vorpal Talon'' comes with a built-in motion tracker that remains visible even when its user activates Smart-Link, giving them information about nearby allies and enemies. These improvements make the ''Vorpal Talon'' useful for exploring hard-to-reach places, attacking enemies from greater distances, and/or simply evading danger more easily, the latter being especially useful on [[Heroic]] or [[Legendary]] difficulties.<ref name="Analysis">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6HvMl3RFP8 '''YouTube''' - ''Halo 5 | Energy Swords Analysis'']</ref>

The two thruster evades granted by the ''Vorpal Talon'' can be taken advantage of to speedrun the ending sequence of the final campaign mission ''Guardians'' to the point of skipping the final [[Guardian Custode|Guardian]] pulse entirely, especially in [[Cooperative play|Co-op]] while playing as [[Olympia Vale]], as she has a higher base movement speed and jump height than her allies.

In [[Warzone]], Legendary [[Sangheili|Elite]] bosses may carry the ''Vorpal Talon'', including [[Sangheili Prime|Elite Primes]] and [[Sangheili Ranger Commander|Ranger Commanders]], which makes them even deadlier in close quarters due to the sword's increased range.

==== Changes from the Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword ====
* Increased lunge range.
* Grants two thruster evades between cooldowns instead of one.
* Increased stabilizer duration of 4.95 seconds.
* Increased jump height.
* User retains their motion tracker on their HUD even when using Smart-Link, as long as the weapon does not run out of battery.

== Trivia ==
* The ''Vorpal Talon''{{'}}s ability to maintain the player's motion tracker while scoped is mechanically identical to the Awareness [[support upgrade]] from ''[[Halo 4]]''.
* Due to being a melee weapon, the ''Vorpal Talon'' is the only special weapon (excluding the ''Nornfang'' and ''[[Oathsworn]]'') that cannot be picked up by AI-controlled Spartans.
* The ''Vorpal Talon'' lacks third-person sword lunging animations when used with Smart-Link, instead reusing the lunging animations without Smart-Link. This is most likely an oversight.
* The name ''Vorpal Talon'' is a reference to the ''Vorpal Blade'' of the Lewis Carroll poem - ''Jabberwocky'' - where such a weapon is the only way to kill the eponymous Jabberwock.

== Gallery ==
=== Screenshots ===
<gallery>
File:H5G VT sword.png|A side view of Vorpal Talon.
File:H5G-VorpalTalonHUD-Campaign.png|First-person view of the Vorpal Talon by [[Edward Buck]] in the ''Halo 5: Guardians'' campaign.
File:H5G-VorpalTalonHUD.png|First-person view of the Vorpal Talon in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:H5G-VorpalTalonSS.png|Smart scope with the ''Vorpal Talon''. Notice that the motion tracker is still present.
File:H5G-VorpalTalon.png|A [[CENTURION-class Mjolnir|Centurion]]-clad Spartan with the ''Vorpal Talon''.
</gallery>

=== ''Halo 5: Guardians'' REQ cards ===
<gallery>
File:REQ Card - Vorpal Talon.jpg|''Vorpal Talon''.
</gallery>

== List of appearances ==
* ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' {{1st}}

== Sources ==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Covenant sidearms}}

[[Category:Melee weapons]]
[[Category:Covenant infantry weapons]]
[[Category:Infantry plasma weapons]]