Gadulo-pattern needle rifle

The Type-31 Rifle, also known as the Needle Rifle, is a Covenant infantry weapon. It is known to be used by Sangheili and Kig-yar, including Skirmishers.

Design Details
The Type-31 Rifle fires unconventional, long and sharp projectiles similar to the Needler. The projectiles detonate several seconds after coming to rest in soft tissue.

Although most players use it as a semi-automatic weapon for long range, the Needle Rifle is a fully automatic, medium-to-long range, head shot-capable rifle. Unlike the Needler, however, the needles do not "home", or track on the enemy. They fire in a straight line at high velocities, similar to the M392 Designated Marksman Rifle. Rounds travel much faster than that of the Needler, leaving the Needle Rifle's only destructive similarity to the Needler being the individual/collected needle explosion. The Needle Rifle also seems similar in appearance and functionality to the Covenant Carbine, and also bears a barrel similar to that of the Beam Rifle. The Needle Rifle will take out a Spartan's shield in Multiplayer with 6 rounds, 2 more than the 4 rounds required by the DMR. Three needles in an unshielded target will cause a 'needle superdetonation', similar to the Needler, killing the victim. Thus, in most SWAT game types, this weapon is not present due to the fact that it can kill an enemy quickly without the requirement of a head shot.

The reload process for the Needle Rifle is very similar to that of the Covenant Carbine. The scope for the weapon acts as a hatch, which flips open to expose a small canister that ejects upon opening, and a new canister is inserted by the user. The only difference between the reloads for the Carbine and the Needle Rifle is that the canister for the Carbine is not covered by any sort of hatch, which in the case of the Needle Rifle is its scope. This reload process implements another difference from the Needler, which actually summons new needles from the inside of the weapon through the operation of what is suspected to be an internal mechanism.

Compared to its counterpart, the M392 Designated Marksman Rifle, the Needle Rifle trades in damage per projectile and projectile flight time for a faster firing rate, lower recoil/reticle bloom, and larger magazine size, and also has the ability to kill an unshielded enemy with three needles, which will detonate no matter where they hit. The Needle Rifle still retains the ability to kill an unshielded enemy with a headshot.

Trivia

 * The magazine size is another reference to Bungie's love for the number 7|seven (7 x 3 = 21).
 * The scope of the Needle Rifle has a hash-mark compass. To the right of the scope, it also features a symbol which turns red when the crosshairs are aimed at an enemy.
 * The Needle Rifle is in fact a fully-automatic weapon, and will fire continuously when the trigger is held, but its rate of fire is rather low and it suffers reticle bloom. Few players actually make use of its fully-automatic function.
 * Catherine-B320 was killed by a Needle Rifle.
 * The Needle Rifle is incredibly effective against Jiralhanae. As most do not possess shields in Halo: Reach, they can be killed in three shots with a supercombined detonation.
 * Enemies in Campaign and Firefight are extremely cautious when the Needle Rifle is used against them, regarding its projectiles as if they were explosives (and with good reason). Grunts dodge them the same way they dodge Plasma Grenades, Brutes will frequently dodge or use Armor Lock when shot at, and Elites will evade constantly even if their shields are at full strength.
 * The Needle Rifle can be considered the replacement for the Covenant Carbine, having a similar function. The Needle Rifle, however, is somewhat stronger than the Carbine because of its supercombine ability.
 * Killing an opponent with a supercombine of the Needle Rifle's needles will grant the player a Needle Kill Medal.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Reach