Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifle: Difference between revisions

| type=Directed Energy Rifle

| cost=

| service=  

| weight= {{Convert|5.9|kg|lb}}<ref name="bnet">[http://www.bungie.net/projects/halo3/content.aspx?link=h3plasmarifle '''Bungie.net''' - ''Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle'']</ref>

|length= {{Convert|62.1|cm|in}}<ref name="essential"/>

| range= {{Convert|50|m|ft}}<ref name="bnet"/>

}}

[[File:Plasma-rifle 02.png|thumb|left|160px|A Plasma Rifle's schematics.]]

The lethality of the Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle is extreme. Injuries inflicted to a victim are severe third-degree burns, this type of injury destroys the outer layer of skin and the entire layer beneath; the wound is cauterized instantly upon impact.<ref name="plas3">'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 130''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''pages 328''</ref> Body fluids would be subjected to flash vaporization, inducing a strain or a shock on the body after impact<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 22''</ref>, fluids trapped in organs or arteries in addition to the rapid expansion of heat would cause ruptures or small explosions causing additional damage to the target. At close range two bursts from the Type-25 DER have enough thermal transfer and kinetic energy to pass through victims with ease,<ref name="plas4">'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 129''</ref> close range impacts can also cause dismemberment of limbs.<ref name="plas3"/> Near misses can also cause injury to the target, as they produce severe burns to the area they pass, this can also cause heat trauma or heat stroke from the extreme temperatures of the bolt.<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 19''</ref><ref name="reach">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 315''</ref> Should the plasma impact an object, the impact can cause splash damage creating debris both non-heated and heated that may come into contact with a target, with a crippling or lethal effect.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 15''</ref> Generally two hits from either a Plasma Pistol or Plasma Rifle will kill a light or unarmored target.<ref name="plas4"/>

The Plasma Rifle in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' is far more powerful than its ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'' counterparts; also the weapon holds the unique ability to stun opponents that were hit by high amount of plasma rounds: this effect greatly reduces the victim's ability to move and dodge the incoming projectiles and allows the user to easily hold the opponent in the weapon's firing arc. However, the drawback was that this effect is only felt with continuous fire. While stunned, the weapon will often overheat before the opponent is killed, especially if it is an Elite or Hunter. Despite this drawback, the stun ability is a useful and potent feature in the hands of an experienced user. Beware that the Plasma Rifle decreases in accuracy while heating up. However, firing in bursts can counteract this and is much more useful over longer ranges. In the campaign, the Plasma Rifle is best used against the [[Sentinels]] and Elites. Fully charged Plasma Rifles can be obtained by killing Elite [[Combat Forms]] or killing Elites riding on [[Ghost]]s and [[Banshee]]s.

In ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'', the Plasma Rifle utilises ''Reach''<nowiki />'s design and features a remastered audio as well as firing effect.

The Plasma Rifle in ''Halo 2'' is not as powerful as its predecessor and lacks the ability to stun. In addition it is also noticeably less accurate, especially at long range. These drawbacks are compensated by a higher rate of fire and the ability to dual-wield, allowing it to be paired with a wide variety of other weapons. The changes done to the weapon are directly related to the inclusion of dual-wielding for balancing purposes. The Plasma Rifle, along with many other weapons from ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', has been tweaked to better fit the new game engine. A Plasma Rifle is much more efficient at taking out the shields of an opponent compared to ballistic weaponry, but it is less efficient against flesh. This version of the Plasma Rifle behaves more as an SMG rather than a rifle. The Plasma Rifle now has a new firing sound effect to give it along with other plasma weapons a distinct sound to distinguish it easier. In addition to that a new variant, the [[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle/Jiralhanae Variant|Brute Plasma Rifles]], is introduced.

==Tactics==

===Campaign===

*In ''[[Halo 2]]'', dual-wielded Plasma Rifles work extremely effective against a Hunter's back. It seems to stop and "stun" a [[Hunter]] from using its back melee on the player. This is very useful on higher difficulties.  

*In ''Halo 3'' Campaign, plasma rifles work the best against the Flood. [[Dual-wielding|Dual-wielded]] Plasma Rifles work as well as the [[Brute Shot]] over longer ranges and pick off more distant Forms, especially [[Ranged Form]]s and [[Combat Forms]]. By zooming in, and looking at the bottom of the [[heads-up display]], one will see red numbers indicating their distance - Plasma Rifles works best against hostiles within 50 meters. Opening short bursts of fire will immobilize them easily, as they flinch and cease fire when being shot.

*In ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'', dual-wielding in conjunction with a weapon that does high flesh damage (i.e. SMG or Mauler) can be very effective if the Plasma Rifle is first used to deplete the target's shields, followed by the next weapon used to secure the kill. Keep in mind that accuracy of both dual-wielded weapons will be reduced.

*''“The Type-25 DER has no recoil to speak of; it tears up shields and you can shoot the thing all day long—it's on the heavy side though.”''

*''“I realize that it uses a battery instead of a magazine, but nobody has figured out how to swap it or recharge it yet? Don’t we have scientists working for us or something?”''

*In ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', Plasma Rifles are one of the few weapons which has a reticule that never changes size.  

*In the Original Trilogy, the Plasma Rifle's UNSC counterpart seems to be the MA5B ICWS or the [[M7 Caseless Submachine Gun]]. However, in ''Halo: Reach'', the way a Spartan or Sangheili wield the Plasma rifle is identical when wielding an [[M6G Personal Defense Weapon System|M6G Magnum]], even with [[alert carry]], which implies that the Plasma rifle's counterpart is also the M6G Magnum.

*In ''[[Halo 4]]'', the plasma rifle is replaced by the functionally similar [[Type-55 Directed Energy Rifle/Advanced|storm rifle]] which also fills a similar in-game role. This marks the first ''Halo'' game in which the plasma rifle is not present in gameplay; however, the weapon appears briefly in the [[Prologue]] cinematic.

==Gallery==

<gallery>

File:Overheat.png|A Plasma Rifle overheating in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.

File:SpecOpsElite.jpg|A [[Special Operations Sangheili|SpecOps Elite]] holding a Plasma Rifle in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.

File:PlasmaRifle-H2.png|A profile view of the Plasma Rifle in ''Halo 2''.

File:1206987304 Elite Councilor.jpg|A Councilor with a Plasma Rifle in ''Halo 2''.

File:H2V Compare.png|A comparison between the standard Plasma Rifle and the [[Brute Plasma Rifle]].

File:Halo3-N'tho 'Sraom-Thumb1024.png|[[N’tho ‘Sraom]] with a Plasma Rifle in ''Halo 3''.

File:Plasmarifle.png|A [[Halo: Reach Beta|''Halo Reach'' Beta]] render of the Plasma Rifle, showing a red-purple hue reminiscent of the ''Halo 3'' version. This is not present in the final game.

File:H4 Elite with Sword and Plasma Rifle.jpg|A Sangheili wielding a Plasma Rifle along with an Energy Sword in ''[[Halo 4]]'''s [[Prologue]] cutscene.

</gallery>

<references/>

*[[M7/Caseless Submachine Gun]]

{{Covenant Weapons}}

[[Category:Covenant infantry weapons]]

[[Category:Infantry plasma weapons]]