Plasma mortar

The Plasma Mortar is the primary weapon of the Wraith and the Covenant Air Artillery.

Introduction
The Plasma mortar, fires huge ball of slowly moving superheated plasma with a large explosion radius and slow rate of fire. It is extremely powerful, usually kills infantry in a single hit and can destroy just about anything on the battlefield in a minimal amount of shots. Its plasma projectile moves relatively slowly, making it more susceptible to gravity, causing it to fire in an arc, which allows for it to simply go over obstructions such as barricades and hills which can be effective in ambush attacks. The plasma bolt can be out maneuvered by a fast vehicle such as the Ghost or Mongoose. The mortar is very effective against dug in enemies which can deplete the amount of resistance the Covenant ground troops are going to have to face.

In the Halo novels, the physical effect of plasma weapons result in extreme heat and the melting/boiling of enemy armour. This effect is never shown in the Halo games, with the plasma having an explosive reaction instead.

Tactics

 * A Plasma Mortar fires in an arc so it is somewhat difficult to hit a target. The further away you are, the higher you will have to aim to actually hit the target.
 * Due to its slow-moving nature, the Plasma ball will be much easier to avoid than a human projectile.
 * Remember that even if you are behind cover, you may still not be protected from the plasma's curved trajectory.
 * Even in the books, along with the actual Halo universe, the Wraith is considered stronger than the Human Counterpart, the Scorpion due to the one-hit kill for the plasma mortar. In contrast, the Wraith can sustain two direct Scorpion shells. In addition, the gravity even make it superior, despite the requirement to aim because the Plasma Mortar can clearly destroy reinforcements that are being stored behind a stronghold.

Covenant Artillery
A giant stationary plasma mortar was seen destroying buildings in the Halo 2 E3 Demo video. Sergeant Banks called in an airstrike and a group of Longsword fighters flew in and destroyed it.

The stationary plasma mortar can be seen. on the beaches of New Mombasa in the Halo 2, but they are never seen firing. Several large plasma mortars can be seen destroying the Sentinel Factory ships on the level Quarantine Zone, but it's never confirmed if these are from stationary plasma mortar cannons, or otherwise. However, due to the area containing the two Wraiths fighting Enforcers, and its close proximity with the destroyed remains of the factory, it is likely that they are the Wraiths Plasma Mortars. It is even possible to see those same Wraiths fire at the remains of the factory, when the player destroys the Enforcers before the Wraiths are immobilized.