Energy stave
H2-EnergyStave.png
Production overview

Manufacturer:

Covenant

Type:

Melee weapon

Service history

In service:

Human-Covenant War
Great Schism
Post-Covenant War conflicts

 

The energy stave,[1][2][3] also known as the energy pike,[4] is a Covenant melee weapon, consisting of a long metal staff and a bladed tip with a series of glowing panels. Different variants of the energy stave are used for both practical and ceremonial purposes.[5][6]

Despite their appearance generally lacking the distinct plasma blades of energy swords and their cousins, energy staves (as their name implies) are fully-powered weapons and emit a great heat when activated,[7] alongside a crackling sound of sparks emitting.[1] At least one variant of the energy stave does employ an energy mechanism containing blue plasma.[4]

TypesEdit

Ceremonial staveEdit

The ceremonial energy stave features an elaborate, forked tip with ornate panels similar in color to the armor worn by the Covenant Honor Guard, serving as a symbol of office.[3] They were originally used by the Honor Guard's Sangheili personnel, including the Lights of Sanghelios.[1] Following the Changing of the Guard use of the stave fell to their Jiralhanae successors.[8] Following the end of the Human-Covenant War Sangheili Zealots in Jul 'Mdama's Covenant irregularly used the ceremonial stave for guarding prisoners.[9]

The energy stave's function is largely ceremonial. The Honor Guard Sangheili mostly used Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifles, energy swords, and Vostu-pattern carbines in combat. However, they were used by Jiralhanae to subdue any Unggoy and Kig-Yar who came too close to the High Council Chamber during one of the High Prophet of Truth's sermons regarding the discovery of Halo Installation 05's "Sacred Icon".[8]

Non-ceremonial staveEdit

This version of the energy stave is more ascetic in design than the one used by the Honor Guard. Metallic gray in color, it incorporates a twin-bladed tip with blue paneling. Unlike the ceremonial staves used by the Honor Guard, these weapons can also be wielded by regular Sangheili, including Stealth Sangheili. During the Battle of Trove, a group of Sangheili guards assigned to protect the Apex Site on the shield world were equipped with energy staves.[6] The Honor Guardsmen escorting the Prophet of Regret's on the shield world wielded combat energy staves in addition to wearing non-ceremonial armor.[2]

GalleryEdit

List of appearancesEdit

SourcesEdit

  1. ^ a b c Halo: Contact Harvest, Epilogue
  2. ^ a b Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 95
  3. ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 307
  4. ^ a b Halo: The Cole Protocol, chapter 69
  5. ^ Halo 2, campaign level Sacred Icon
  6. ^ a b Halo Wars, campaign level Escape
  7. ^ Halo: Oblivion, chapter 5
  8. ^ a b Halo 2, campaign level Gravemind
  9. ^ Halo: Escalation, issue 22