Gravity hammer (fiction)

The Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer (or T2 EW/H), more commonly known as the Gravity Hammer, is a powerful, close-quarters, two-handed melee weapon used by the Jiralhanae in the Covenant Empire.

Origin
The Fist of Rukt, the oldest and most powerful Gravity Hammer, first appeared in Halo 2, and was used by the Jiralhanae Chieftain Tartarus. He used it against the player and could kill an opponent with a single swing. It is unknown what happened to the Rukt after the Battle of Installation 05. Halo 3 introduced the newer, mass-produced Type-2 Hammer that serves as a companion to the Energy Sword to Covenant melee weapons in the game.

Design Details
The Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer is a large hammer that serves as an excellent and powerful melee weapon in the game. It is a highly symbolic Jiralhanae weapon that is analogous to the Sangheili Energy Sword. In the Jiralhanae culture, it served dual purposes as a weapon, as well as a defining ceremonial vestige of clan leadership, typically wielded by a chieftain or other high-ranking member. The hammer would be relinquished only when the leader was overthrown in combat, whereupon the winner would take the new leadership mantle along with the hammer.

Inside the head itself lies another component: a short-range gravity drive, which was integrated not long after the Jiralhanae’s conversion into the Covenant in 2492. It can also be used to manipulate gravity, allowing it to push opponents away or pull them towards the wielder, as well as deflecting incoming projectiles. This weapon consists of a haft, head, and blade. A field generator, which is located in the head, emits a kinetic pulse (~4.5 meters). The exact mechanism by which it functions is currently under investigation by the UNSC.

Fist of Rukt
The Fist of Rukt was Tartarus' personal gravity hammer, one with a rich legacy befitting his tribe. It was passed down from Chieftain to Chieftain in the Brute pack, and belonged to his uncle, Maccabeus, before Tartarus killed him in combat and claimed the legendary hammer for himself. .

Halo Wars
In Halo Wars multiplayer, and skirmish mode, the player has access to the Brute Chieftain. The Brute Chieftain's gravity hammer looks very similar to the hammer in Halo 3, except for the fact that it has a very powerful vortex ability. The vortex has the ability to rip things apart, and suck them in. When the vortex grabs units such as marines, the marines will actually be battered about by the shrapnel in the vortex, and by their fellow squad members. When the vortex leader power is put to a halt, either by the player's choosing, or by the opposing armies, an explosion will send everything in the vortex outward. This hammer also has the ability, if the player have upgraded the chieftain, to pull enemies towards it just before the chieftain strikes.

Changes from Halo 3 to Halo: Reach

 * The lights on the head of the hammer are orange instead of blue.
 * The head of the hammer is larger.
 * The overall length of the hammer is somewhat shorter than in Halo 3.
 * The weapon now has a red decorative symbol on the hammer's head.
 * The shaft's hand guard has been removed.

Advantages
The Gravity Hammer is a very powerful weapon, useful in close quarters combat. With a bit of skill, they can even be effectively used against vehicles, usually offering an instant kill. The hammer has a splash damage effect added to it, and a well-placed hit could kill multiple foes in one swing. In some aspects, it is more powerful than the Energy Sword - a kill against a Covenant enemy or an opponent in multiplayer uses 10% of the Energy Sword battery, whereas the Gravity Hammer only uses 8.33%. When timed perfectly, the Gravity Hammer can even be used to deflect certain objects, such as rockets and even grenades. In campaign or firefight, 5% of the Hammer's battery is used per swing, whilst in multiplayer, each swing depletes 8.33% battery.

Disadvantages

 * The Gravity Hammer is huge and visible, so when wielding it as a primary or secondary weapon, you risk making yourself a prime target for snipers.
 * If you swing the hammer too slowly or out of range, it will push your opponent back, making it harder for you to finish him off and easier for him to counter your attack.
 * The glowing blue vents at the top of the weapon are still visible when a player has Active Camouflage.
 * The large area of effect of the weapon means that using it in tight quarters with friendly players is highly inadvisable.
 * An enemy wielding a Shotgun can easily take down a player with the Gravity Hammer before he has time to swing.
 * While the Gravity Hammer takes only 5% energy for a swing-- compared to the Sword's 10% depletion, the Sword only wastes energy when it hits, the Hammer, wastes with every swing, regardless of if it hits or not.
 * If the Gravity Hammer is being used as a player's secondary weapon, you cannot swing momentarily as it is wielded. The character must have rested his right hand on the handle before a swing can be attempted. This is similar to the Energy Sword having to ignite before a lunge is possible and might have been added due to balancing issues.

Campaign

 * Very useful weapon against Brutes, which is quite ironic (one hit will kill most opponents even on higher difficulties).
 * The Gravity Hammer is an excellent anti-Flood weapon. It is capable of killing multiple Flood forms in one swing due to its massive shock wave.
 * Try to use it against large groups of fleeing Grunts. The shockwave will kill any surrounding Grunts that are close to the one you hit. Also, if the Brute leader in the area has been killed, taking out the Gravity Hammer will cause the Grunts to panic.
 * Reserve usage of the Gravity Hammer for priority targets, such as high-ranking Brutes or Tank Forms. It will normally kill them in one hit.
 * This weapon's usefulness increases when you use the Cowbell Skull, as things will fly farther when you hit them. This would also increase the risk of being killed while dealing with Gravity Hammer-wielding Brutes, however.

Multiplayer

 * The Gravity Hammer is best used as a secondary weapon to pull out if faced with nearby foes on a ledge, an incoming vehicle, or a grenade coming towards the player. The Hammer is apt at dealing with all three of these threats.
 * The Gravity Hammer's blast can go through walls and floors, and this can be used to hit players in an adjacent room.
 * The Gravity Hammer can be used to propel the player higher than normal, if the player times the attack as they jump, it will elevate them farther and higher. You can gain just as much height as a grenade jump with very little or no risk.
 * The Gravity Hammer is also one of the only two weapons available in the Grifball gametype along with the Energy Sword. It is the cause of many betrayals, however you can also "ride the wave" and use your enemy's gravity hammer to launch yourself to their goal.
 * Try hammering enemy warthogs and mongooses on Rat's Nest near the Rocket Spawn. It can result in the vehicle sailing to the death barrier.
 * If you time the shock wave from the hammer at the right time you can send a Rocket Launcher missile and Missile Pod missile in another direction.
 * The Hammer may be known as a great CQB weapon, but it is slower to compete against the Shotgun. Also, even though the energy sword lunges slightly slower, it has a farther lunge and can parry your attacks, but you cannot parry the sword carrier's attacks. If you find yourself up against one of these weapons, create space between you and your opponent (you can knock him back with the shockwave if he's too close) and change to a long-range weapon to take down the enemy. It is important to remember that Mauler wielders are considered easy targets for the Gravity Hammer.
 * Try combining a Gravity Hammer jump and grenade jump to get to spots that aren't normally reachable for an advantage.
 * It is possible to stick a Plasma or Spike Grenade on the end of the Hammer.

Miscellaneous

 * The Gravity Hammer is used in the popular Double XP weekend playlist Grifball, in which the players have no shields and must somehow take their bomb and get it to the other team's base. The Hammer is often used to create enough force to propel the bomb-carrying player over the heads of their opponents and into the goal.
 * The Gravity Hammer included with the Brute Chieftain Action Figure has four lines that make an 'X' shape. The same shape is on the Beam Rifle that comes with other Halo 3 figures.
 * In the map Sandbox as well as in all maps in Halo: Reach, there is a remodeled version of the Gravity Hammer called "7 wood". The Hammer performs exactly the same gameplay wise, except it is modeled to look like a giant golf club. The "7 wood" also features a new reticule.
 * ODSTs can use the Gravity Hammer effectively in Halo 3: ODST, despite them being normal humans, and not having the strength of a SPARTAN-II, Elite, or Brute. This was likely overlooked for gameplay reasons.
 * Despite being a weapon only wielded by Brute Chieftains, in the adapted motion comic The Return, various lower ranking Brutes are seen using it. Brute Captains can also wield the Gravity Hammer in Halo: Reach.
 * The Gravity Hammer somewhat resembles a ball-peen hammer. Whether or not the inspiration for the Gravity Hammer is a ball-peen hammer is unknown, but the radio conversation on the Halo Reach multiplayer level, Holdout, references a ball-peen hammer being used to kill zombies very much in the same way players use the Gravity Hammer to kill Flood enemies.

Glitches

 * In Halo 3, the Gravity Hammer has been seen to have no alternate third person animation for melee; in third person, you would simply look like you're swinging the hammer with no explosive effect or splash effect. This only occurs with the SPARTAN models, however. Sangheili models have the same animation they have if they melee someone with a flag. This has been fixed in Halo 3: ODST - the Hammer now has a third person animation for melee.
 * When you combine RT with clicking LT, the shock wave will have no sound effect, the attack will be negated, and it will count as a normal melee attack. Also, if you press the RT button and then crouch, you will achieve the same effect.
 * On the level Floodgate and the level The Covenant, if you give the Gravity Hammer to an Elite, he won't use it. He will just hold it and run up to an enemy and do nothing. In the Halo 3 campaign, if you give the Gravity Hammer to the Arbiter, he will not use it either.

Internal

 * Fist of Rukt
 * Jiralhanae
 * Hammer Time
 * Hammer Spree
 * 7 wood

External

 * GrifBall Official Website - (Gravity Hammer as a primary weapon for the most recently popular gametype/sport)
 * Omegathon