Spartan Laser

The Spartan Laser, sometimes shortened to Splaser or Laser, is a human power weapon which excels at destroying enemy vehicles, and was first introduced in Halo 3. With no damage falloff at long ranges and no projectile travel time, the Spartan Laser can be used effectively at any range, but it requires a long charging sequence before firing, and has a targetting laser that will betray the user's location while charging.

Universe and lore
Originally created as part of as a weapon to supplement the SPARTAN-II Program, hence the nickname "Spartan Laser", the M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle is a man-portable directed-energy weapon, typically used in an anti-vehicle role by the UNSC armed forces. As well as the standard man-portable version, vehicle-mounted Spartan Lasers were also produced. The AV-22 Sparrowhawk could be equipped with a nose-mounted Spartan Laser, while the G79H-TC Pelican featured a nose-mounted M8C Spartan Laser.

Upon its initial introduction late in the Human-Covenant War, the M6 Spartan Laser was "ruinously expensive" to manufacture, and although later refinements brought costs down, it remained extraordinarily expensive nonetheless. Consequently, it was only readily available to Spartans and ODSTs until well into the post-war period. The M6/E variant in particular is an order of magnitude cheaper to mass produce, while retaining the same performance characteristics. A number of further variants exist, including: the M6/R, specialised for recon deployments, and used to preemptively eliminate critical enemy assets before their forces mustered to full strength; the M6/V, which was designed with a larger focus on operator safety; and the M6/X, which employed an experimental alternating power distributor, considered a revolutionary modification to the weapon. All variants typically sport a green and black colour scheme, save for the M6/E which was painted white with a red stripe.

Overview
The Spartan Laser a power weapon, which fires a powerful laser beam that deals an incredible amount of damage, destroying most vehicles with a single well-placed shot. The Spartan Laser is one of the most powerful weapons in the game, and to compensate, it has a limited use of four shots, a short cooldown after a discharge, and inability to pick up ammo.

Variants
There are two Spartan Laser variants, both of which are REQ variants from Halo 5: Guardians.

Advantages

 * Deals an incredible amount of damage, killing all but heavy vehicles in a single hit
 * Very long range, allowing for long-distance vehicle snipes
 * Also features a 2x scope, allowing for easier aiming at long distances

Disadvantages

 * Very slow charge-up, resulting in a low rate of fire
 * Requires a cooldown after firing
 * Difficult to aim at smaller targets like infantry
 * Targetting laser, and the bright beam when firing, will reveal the shooter's location

Tactics

 * Save ammunition for more dangerous targets such as vehicles and Hunters
 * If skilled enough, you can hide the targetting laser by aiming away from the target during the charge-up, and only targetting them in the final moments before the shot
 * For heavy vehicles like the Scorpion, which may not be destroyed in one hit, remain near cover so you can hide quickly, as the driver will likely try to kill you before you can shoot again

Changes from Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST to Halo: Reach

 * The Spartan Laser has a slightly altered form factor, a darker color scheme, a different charging animation, and a thermal display attached to the side, which folds out when the weapon is unholstered or picked up.
 * The Spartan Laser has a longer forward grip, with less space between it and the trigger than in Halo 3, making it appear that there is not enough space for the forward grip to fold up when not in use.
 * When the weapon is charged, instead of one arrow moving down on the side of the reticule, two arrows move toward each other, meeting at the side of the reticule.
 * The charging time is now 2.5 seconds exactly.
 * The scope no longer zooms out instantly after each shot.
 * The beam can now be moved in a sweeping motion (albeit for a brief time), inflicting (reduced) damage to multiple targets.
 * The battery consumption for each shot is now increased to 25%, limiting the weapon to four shots.

Changes from Halo: Reach to Halo 4

 * The weapon has been given new sound effects.
 * The weapon now lacks the rear metal bar that is present on the Halo: Reach version.
 * The red glare while charging is considerably reduced.

Changes from Halo 4 to Halo 5: Guardians

 * It has been given a new paint job of a white finish.
 * Beam deals variable damage depending on where it hits.
 * Damage no longer applied all at once; beam deals less damage if not all of it hits.
 * General decrease in overall damage, potentially requiring more than one shot for even light-armored vehicles such as the Mongoose, Warthog, or Banshee - though the weapon has since been buffed.

Changes from Halo Wars to Halo Wars 2

 * Laser velocity increased.
 * Firing sound now reminiscent of the M6/E from Halo 5: Guardians.
 * Range decreased.
 * Base damage decreased, though damage increases proportionally to unit veterancy.
 * The Spartan Laser is now exclusive to Jerome-092, under Captain Cutter as leader on Campaign and Skirmish.

List of appearances

 * Halo 3
 * Halo Wars
 * Halo 3: ODST
 * Halo: Reach
 * Halo 4
 * Halo: Spartan Assault
 * Halo: Spartan Strike
 * Halo 5: Guardians
 * Halo Online
 * Halo Wars 2