Fuel rod cannon

Were you looking for the closely related shoulder-mounted Fuel Rod Gun?

The Fuel Rod Cannon is a Covenant direct-fire energy weapon with anti-vehicle and anti-air applications. It is featured in Halo 2, and in Halo 3 as part of the arsenal of various Covenant vehicles. It is the secondary weapon of the Banshee and the primary weapon of the Anti-Air Wraith and Scarab.

Description
The Fuel Rod Cannon is a Covenant heavy weapon used by their vehicles as a heavy weapon. Banshees, Anti-Air Wraiths, and Scarabs have all been seen using this weapon. It is a vehicle-mounted version of the infantry issue Fuel Rod Gun. The Banshee's version of the weapon can only fire one shot before reloading, but it makes up for this with its virtually unlimited ammunition. The Halo 3 Scarab has also been seen firing volleys of Fuel Rod shots as a defense mechanism. At least some variants of the Hunter's Assault Cannon have been called Fuel Rod Cannons.

Usage
The Fuel Rod Cannon is a powerful weapon, and vehicles equipped with it should never be taken lightly. The Banshee in Halo and Halo 3 often uses the weapon to soften you up before firing its Plasma Cannons, especially if you are using a LAAG or Shade. It is possible and desired to avoid the shot entirely, as they often fire it while they are still far away. This is harder in Halo 3, as the shots now partially home in. In Halo 2, campaign, Banshees never use the weapon and the issue does not come up.

In Halo: First Strike, a pair of Hunters are described as using Fuel Rod Cannons, indicating that at least one variant of their Assault Cannon can be considered to be the same class as the Fuel Rod Cannon.

Trivia

 * In Halo 3, it takes about 8 shots to take down a Phantom on Normal difficulty, about 3-4 shots at the Phantom's "eyes".


 * When you give a Fuel Rod Gun to a Marine, their animation is the same as if they were holding a Rocket Launcher. If you look closely, their left hand is at an angle, just like holding the Rocket Launcher.


 * In Halo 2 during Campaign mode (most likely on Legendary), the bolts have a slight homing ability. Only enemies have this ability. If you strafe as the wielder fires upon you, it will turn very slowly into your direction. In Halo 3, it also has a slight tracking ability, but this time it is the player and allies only who get this ability.


 * Sometimes in Halo 3 Forge, when you put the Fuel Rod Gun on a map (usually High Ground), the weapon will not appear in game. It is unknown why, most likely still frame rate issues.


 * In Halo 3 if the shot hits the ground shortly after leaving the gun it will bounce like the Brute Shot from Halo 2.


 * Most likely due to the Cowbell Skull, a Phantom only takes four shots to kill with a Fuel Rod Gun, even on Legendary.


 * In Halo 3, the Fuel Rod Gun ricochets when fired at a 25° angle at any solid surface.