M7057 flamethrower

"It takes a certain kind'a lunatic to use a flamethrower…"

- Anonymous E2-BAG/1/7 serviceman

The M7057/Defoliant Projector is a United Nations Space Command ground weapon.

Description
The M7057/DP is a standard chemical flamethrower, which projects and ignites a stream of a volatile, semi-liquid fuel. Flamethrowers are cumbersome and relatively difficult to use (psychologically as well as mechanically, especially when the fuel is located on the weapon itself). It appeared in the multiplayer of Halo PC and Halo 3. The Halo 3 version of the M7057 varies slightly from its first appearance in Halo PC, being roughly two times larger (and a twice as much fuel) with a shorter and wider nozzle (which means a wider, deadlier spray). It also poses a threat to vehicles, a full three-second burst being able to destroy a Warthog. The flamethrower is extremely powerful in Halo 3 and can kill it's target in less than two seconds as seen at the Omegathon.



However, the flamethrower's power comes at a cost: it can only sustain fire for about three seconds, so you'll need to pump the trigger once a burst dries out. The M7057 is in the Support Weapons category, like the Missile Pod, meaning wielders use the weapon in a third-person perspective and at a slower movement rate, and must drop the weapon to melee and cannot use grenades or equipment. The weapon is resisted by the bubble shield, "washing over the shield."

Observations
Referring to the M7057/DP as a weapon is a bit of a misnomer as the "DP" in its nomenclature indicate that it is a defoliant projector—to be used to rapidly clear away heavy foliage for in-theater construction projects and to destroy new or persistent growth from emplaced and/or hardened military assets. That having been said; its effectiveness as a psychological weapon is undeniable—unfortunately the psychological effect is a double-edged sword.

Disadvantages
Several things counterbalance the Halo 1 PC Flamethrower's high damage rate. First, it reloads slowly and is subject to overheating. Second, ammunition is often unavailable. And third, the Flamethrower can damage its own user if one walks into the trail of flame left behind by the weapon. This lets the enemy run away while stopping the user from giving chase.

If used at a distance, the Flamethrower takes longer to kill an enemy and might not even damage them. Finally, the Flamethrower is very rare. There are only one or two of them per map. Moving also affects the damage put out by the flamethrower. If you move forward while firing, the flame will be more damaging, but when moving backwards, the flame does about the same as an assault rifle. Therefore, while using this weapon in combat, your movement options are limited.

In Halo 3, the Flamethrower is far more powerful, laying waste to any opponent in close quarters, and can be used strategically to put flame in front of entry ways as a denial of entry, or to shoot it while running backwards around a corner (giving you the ability to damage them but denying you a direct line of sight to damage you). It also has a large fuel supply unlike it's Halo PC counterpart.

To counterbalance this, you cannot refuel the flamethrower, and you move slower and cannot melee or throw grenades or use equipment without having to drop it first. Also, if any enemies who are on fire walk into you, or you walk over a corpse having just incinerated that person, you take damage.

Influences
The Defoliant Projector Flamethrower was inspired by a similar flamethrower from the Marathon series. The shark-like decal on it is borrowed from the game as well. In Marathon, however, it is featured on the rocket launcher. The Defoliant Projector's number, 7057, is a alpha-numeric callback to the Weapon from Marathon's name, the TOZT. There is also a possibility it was influenced by the flamethrower from the Aliens movies.

Defoliating usage
Due to the weapon's name, it may be used as a way of clearing vegetation. A defoliant is a chemical sprayed or dusted onto plants to make their leaves fall off, and effectively kills them. The M7057 would distribute the defoliant (although it would be burning) over shrubs, bushes, and small trees that would impede a force's way, clearing a thick jungle path or burning an area where they could then set up camp, unimpeded by overgrowth. "Defoliant" may also simply refer to the fuel's effect on vegetation, but not actually describe the chemical properties of said fuel.

Role in Campaign
With the Flamethrower's campaign introduction in Halo 3, it has become an one of the indisputable best anti-Flood weapons. The hardest Flood to fight, the Pure Forms, will die instantly upon lighting on fire, and destroy any infection form that runs over the flames.

Though still highly effective against combat forms, they still live for some time while on fire, which can produce some awkward moments of avoiding their charging, flaming, bodies. The good thing is that it can begin killing multiple combat forms at once, with the ones on fire possibly lighting other ones on fire. Once they die, their bodies are consumed by the fire and will not be ressurectable by infection forms. In fact, any infection form that runs towards the body will also be consumed by flame.

In the campaign, it sees fairly limited use against the Covenant, however it is very effective.

Against sentinels, one burst of flame will instantly destroy any unshielded sentinel.

Multiplayer Role
The Flamethrower is best used in close quarters combat. The trail of flame can act as a temporary smokescreen to blind snipers with. It is especially effective if used to retreat by running backwards away from an enemy to leave a trail of flame, deterring would-be pursuers from giving chase to a wall of fire, use caution because the Flamethrowers damage is reduced when running backwards.

Multiplayer Recommendations
It is incredibly useful for close quarters defense, but should not be used in any open areas. Small room flag defense is highly recommended.

It is effective as a denial of area weapon, you can put the flames in doorways or on flags to discourage anyone from crossing that area, and damaging those that do (possibly even catching on fire and killing unshielded opponents).

As a slayer weapon, it is recommended to use it to surprise people entering enclosed spaces, it is very lethal up close. You can shoot the flames around a corner as you run backwards around a corner, and any opponent dumb enough to pursue will be roasted by flames but unable to get a line of sight to get you themselves.

Tactics

 * Guarding the bomb carrier in Assault
 * Guarding your VIP
 * Defending the hill in King of the Hill
 * Defending the flag in Capture the Flag

UNSC Remarks

 * "Foxtrots die pretty quick once you put the fire to 'em. We ought 'a burn 'em all. Low-life bastards. Burn all those low-life alien foxtrots."


 * "Gotta get too close for it to be any use offensively—if you're gonna use it as a weapon best to use it in a defensive role—fill up passages and weak-points in your perimeter with fire."


 * "Makes short work of weeds and thickets—but I wouldn't carry one into combat. Not on your life."


 * "I can see where it would be real effective in ousting dug in troops, but you aren't gonna be making any friends using it that way."


 * "I don't see where carrying around a big can of super-flammable stuff right next to my **** is such a good idea."


 * "You know those things ship with a cart, right? You aren't expected to carry them anywhere… they are not a weapon that you use on people… not even on alien people."

Trivia

 * The Flamethrower's number designation,7057, can be translated from "leetspeak", and it means the TOST. It may be a reference to the Marathon Flame Thrower, which was named the TOZT-7, or it simply relates to the flamethrower's function, to toast things.


 * The Halo 3 flamethrower bears a resemblance to the original flamethrower from Halo PC. However the main difference is it's fuel tank, and the flame projector.


 * In the cutscene of the level Keyes, where the Master Chief retrieves Captain Keyes' neural implants, the Master Chief was meant to burn Keyes' skull out of the Brain Form and retrieve the implants. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, the Flamethrower was removed. Even though, the burnt skull was said to be too gruesome and too realistic to be put into the game.