Plasma mortar

The plasma mortar, also known as energy mortar, is a classification of plasma-based artillery weapon.

The plasma mortar launches shaped blast of superheated plasma, which arc in a parabolic trajectory and explode violently upon impact. As with any mortar weapon, the plasma mortar serves as an excellent long range bombardment style projectile. The arching projectiles allow the operator to stay at a particular position, without the worry of having to aim projectiles around or over terrain.

Since they can be mounted on a variety of emplacements or vehicles, plasma mortars are employed similarly in a variety of roles, including anti-personnel, anti-vehicle, and shelling fortifications.

Burst cannon
While originally designed as a naval weapon aboard aging warships of the Sangheili, the was taken by Jul 'Mdama's Covenant and repurposed as an emplaced plasma mortar.

Class-2 medium plasma mortar
The Class-2 medium plasma mortar is mounted on the rear of the. While charging, the plasma blast possesses a bluish tinge, though it is red when it is fired. The weapon has a less pronounced parabolic arc than its larger counterparts.

Incendiary plasma mortar
Each craft is armed with two incendiary plasma mortars, allowing the fighter-bomber to deploy incendiary carpet bombs.

Infantry-deployed energy mortar
There is a Covenant infantry-deployed energy mortar. These mortars require at least a trio of Unggoy to assemble on-site, but once assembled, they can generate energy shielding for protection.

Heavy plasma mortar
The heavy plasma mortar is the primary armament of the Wraith. It launches a plasma blast that is typically a blue-white orb which travels slowly in the air. However, upon impact, the plasma blast obliterates everything at the point of impact, all the while leaving a large crater on ground in its wake. The plasma mortar's main use lies in shelling and vehicular warfare, but it is also fairly effective in closer engagements. The heavy plasma mortar has seen numerous variations, including, but not limited to, the scorch plasma mortar on Ironclad Wraiths and an infusion-modified variant on Terror Wraiths.

Plasma mortar
The seemingly standard variant of the plasma mortar fires medium-sized blasts of superheated plasma. While it was an optional armament on the during the Human-Covenant War, it is primarily mounted on the Banished’s Eklon'Dal Workshop Marauder.

Siege plasma mortar
The siege plasma mortar is mounted on the Covenant's stationary and its Banished successor, the Eklon'Dal Workshop Antlion. The siege plasma mortar fires a devastating volley of plasma at an astonishing range, easily turning enemy fortifications into glassy craters. The Banished variant is heavily augmented and overclocked to increase its effectiveness and range.

Ultra-heavy plasma mortar
The ultra-heavy plasma mortar is mounted on the Covenant's stationary, which provides fire support over large segments of enemy-contested area.

XM4600 Zeus plasma munition howitzer
The XM4600 Zeus plasma munition howitzer is the closest equivalent to a plasma mortar employed by the United Nations Space Command. Reverse-engineered from Covenant technology, the weapon fires a 320mm artillery shell with fuel rod filler that unleashes a powerful barrage of plasma at its targets. It is mounted on M145D Rhino prototypes, which were used in at least 2531, when five of these were used by Professor Ellen Anders to collapse a Covenant energy shield during the Battle of Arcadia.

Production notes

 * Plasma mortars may have been inspired by the Plasma Bugs in the film adaptation of Starship Troopers.
 * The Covenant Air Artillery, a unit cut from Halo Wars, would have used three plasma mortars.
 * Early Halo: Reach concept art by Glenn Israel featured a Covenant mortar held in a manner akin to the Brute Shot or, or able to be deployed as a static emplacement. Some of the sketches of the weapon drew influences from the plasma mortars on Revenants and Wraiths.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Combat Evolved
 * Halo: The Flood
 * Halo: First Strike
 * Halo 2
 * Halo Graphic Novel
 * Armor Testing
 * Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
 * Starry Night
 * Halo 3
 * Halo: Uprising
 * Halo Wars
 * Halo 3: ODST
 * Sadie's Story
 * Halo Legends
 * The Duel
 * Prototype
 * Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
 * Palace Hotel
 * Halo: Blood Line
 * Halo: Reach
 * Halo: Fall of Reach
 * Invasion


 * Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
 * Halo: The Thursday War
 * Halo 4
 * Spartan Ops
 * Halo: Spartan Assault
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo 2: Anniversary
 * Halo: Spartan Strike
 * Halo 5: Guardians
 * Know Your Enemy
 * Halo Mythos
 * Halo Wars 2
 * Halo: Rise of Atriox
 * Halo: Fireteam Raven
 * Halo: Oblivion
 * Halo: Shadows of Reach
 * Halo: Divine Wind
 * Halo Infinite
 * ''Halo: The Rubicon Protocol
 * Winter Contention