Power drain

The power drain is a combat support device used by Covenant Jiralhanae forces.

Function
The power drain creates a short-range electromagnetic pulse (EMP) effect, which interferes with all electronic equipment within the radius of the pulse. It is designed primarily to interfere with common varieties of energy shielding, as well as the electrical components of vehicles. After a short time, the device overheats and explodes, and can wound or kill combatants in its resulting explosion. The electricity it produces can also harm biological systems and damage unshielded targets.

In combat, the power drain weakens shields that come within range of its EMP, and immobilizes any nearby vehicles.

Because it shares a similar design aesthetic to other examples of Jiralhanae technology, it is likely that this piece of equipment is manufactured by the Jiralhanae.

Trivia

 * Once thrown, the Power Drain takes 0.5 seconds to activate, and subsequently lasts 6.5 seconds, equaling a total of 7 seconds.
 * The Power Drain, Radar Jammer, and Flare are all visually identical save for the color of the glow each item emits.
 * The effects of the Power Drain pass through walls and floors, so simply fleeing to the bottom floor of a structure after an enemy activates one will still strip your shields if you pass through the field. This is most noticeable on levels such as Guardian.
 * The power drain can be used in a glitch called Equipment Jumping by moving against a wall, jumping, and then at highest point of the jump deploy the power drain. This allows you to jump off of it in mid air. This is a great tactic for reaching high areas of a map such as the second level of the tower on The Pit. This can also be done with the Radar Jammer and Flare, however, the Power Drain variation of the glitch can only be performed as an Elite.
 * Strangely, in Halo 3: ODST, when you are in the radius of a power drain, your stamina will drain, even though it's not powered by anything at all. This is simply for gameplay purposes, although research indicates that electromagnetic frequencies can affect one's sense of well-being, sometimes making one feel unusually tired. It is also possible that it is meant to represent the electricity causing damage to the ODST.

List of appearances

 * Halo 3
 * Halo 3: ODST