Zurdo-pattern Wraith

Wraith The Wraith Type-25 self-propelled artillery unit, commonly called a Wraith, is the Covenant's main heavy assault vehicle for ground engagements. The Wraith can be rapidly deployed in a combat-ready state by Spirit or Phantom dropships, a common bane of UNSC soldiers. The Type-52 Anti Aircraft Artillery is a variant of the Wraith Type-25.

Weapons and Armor
The Wraith's main weapon, a short-barreled plasma mortar, is fixed horizontally but can be tilted vertically. To fire, the entire vehicle must turn to face its target. The mortar can be retracted into the hull while not in use, a design advantage considering the vehicle's awkward firing requirements. The mortar fires large bolts of superheated, magnetically contained plasma into the air, raining down on enemy troops with tremendous force. A direct hit can penetrate nearly any armor, and even an indirect hit is often deadly. Wraiths fire in an arc, rather than line-of-sight. This makes shots less speedy and precise, but more capable of catching enemies off guard. The secondary weapon of the Wraith is an automatic plasma cannon which possesses an extremely high rate of fire and is powerful enough to penetrate the armor of light vehicles. However, although devastating to (and designed to deter) infantry, the plasma cannon is ineffective against heavy armor.

Wraiths possess heavy armor and are difficult to destroy. The heavily armored hull and chassis make the Wraith immune to small-arms fire, and the vehicle can only be incapacitated by heavy weapons, artillery or internal explosions. The pilot is well protected within the hull, and even the weaponry are armored. The armor is unevenly arranged. Typical of assault vehicles, the front armor is capable of taking much heavier punishment than the flanks or rear. However, even the underbelly of the vehicle is heavily armored to protect the anti-gravity plates underneath the chassis.

Gameplay
In battle, the Wraith is analogous to UNSC Scorpion Tanks, which are slower, but posess more precise weapons capable of firing along line-of-sight. In Halo: Combat Evolved Wraiths can only be piloted by Elites. In Halo 2, Spartans, Marines, Brutes, and Flood Combat Forms may operate the vehicle. In Halo 3, Spartans, Marines and Brutes pilot Wraiths. The vehicle is slow and easily boarded, and without Ghosts as defending escorts, a boarding party has a good chance of success. However, having a passenger manning the plasma turret exponentially decreases the chances of a successful boarding, as the turret's wide field of view and high rate of fire make it ideal for destroying infantry.

Halo: Combat Evolved
In Halo: Combat Evolved, the Wraith tank is a tough adversary and cannot be piloted by the player. The Wraith first appears in the Grav-Bay of the Truth and Reconciliation. Some are also seen in the storage and shuttle bays of the ship. The vehicles appear in combat in Assault on the Control Room and Two Betrayals. This version of the Wraith has no anti-personnel weapons, and the graphics are less detailed than in future games, with the mortar looking like a tube. The Wraith can survive up to three direct rocket hits before being destroyed. While formidable, it is not without weaknesses. Wraiths can be flipped, knocking the Elite driver out of the vehicle.

Halo 2
In Halo 2, the Wraith has two weapons: the standard plasma mortar and two automated plasma cannons. Although they are not very accurate, they can easily take down energy shields. The turrets auto-target any enemy within range, making boarding a Wraith more difficult. However, the player cannot utilize these turrets themselves, meaning that the Wraith is somewhat ineffective in the player's hands.. The Halo 2 Wraith also includes a booster engine, capable of tripling the tank's speed for about one second and requires five seconds to recharge. Though this can be used to travel more quickly, it is commonly used to run over enemies who are getting too close. This booster can flip small vehicles, such as Ghosts or Warthogs.

Halo 3
A more powerful version of the Wraith appears in Halo 3. New features include headlights, faster and more direct line of fire, and an improved rear propulsion jet. However, the propulsion jet represents an extremely vulnerable spot in the armor, making it possible for the first time to destroy a Wraith with melee attacks. A strong hit to the jet after removing its cover causes a violent chain reaction of explosions. The new turret fires energy blasts resembling the shots of the plasma rifle instead of a beam like the Spectre. The tank has a subtle greenish shine to it and an embedded latticework that glimmers in the light. The most dramatic design change added a exposed topside gunnery position with a 270° view, allowing for better defense against enemy soldiers and boarders. Boarding is made more difficult in that now boarders have both a pilot and gunner to kill before gaining control of the vehicle.

Related Links

 * Scorpion Tank - UNSC equivalent of the Wraith
 * Type-52 Anti Aircraft Artillery - An anti-air variant of the Wraith
 * Unknown Wraith - A new form of wraith that has no known purpose yet