Type-33 needler: Difference between revisions

The Needler takes a general shape of a V with the top and bottom part of the weapon being curved the top of the weapon. The weapon takes on a Purple/Pinkish color, and has 14 holes on the top, with the needles protruding out of the holes. When the trigger is pulled the needle is somehow fed from the top into the "barrel" of the weapon, and fired at high speeds. Once all the ammo has been depleted the ammo is reloaded from a point that to this day remains a mystery, while speculation has varied no definitive answer, or logical conclusion has emerged. One thing that is unique is that the crystals are not individually loaded into the weapon, but rather a big chunk, once loaded into the weapon it somehow splits the chunk into the invidual crystals that will then protrude from the top of the weapon. Like all Covenant weapons, the Needler still uses an Energy Coil to power and fire the weapon, should the coil fail the weapon would be rendered useless.<ref> Halo: First Strike Page 82 - 83</ref>

While the Needler is incredibly effective against most infantry, it is much less effective against vehicles. The fired needles are slow and ineffective to the point of just bouncing off them. Unshielded enemies are killed much faster with a precision weapon such as the [[M6D Magnum]], as the needles take time to hit/explode on the target, leaving the target time to move in and inflict some of the explosive splash damage on the shooter. This is best illustrated when dealing with the [[Flood]] or a [[Zealot]] wielding an [[Energy Sword]]. It is nearly impossible to hit [[Active Camouflage|Camoflaged]] enemies with the Needler because  it does not home in on invisible targets, although in ''Halo 3'' the Needler is able to home in on camouflaged [[Brutes]]. The learning curve of the "lead" needed to hit strafing targets is also high, and when faced with experienced opponents in multi-player (who often randomize their strafing patterns) the weapon is almost always overshadowed by better, more reliable options. An enemy who goes in a circular path will always dodge the Needler rounds; you can empty magazines into the air and not hit him or her. Against larger and more heavily armored opponents, such as [[Hunters]] and [[Brute Chieftain|Brute Cheiftains]], the Needler is next to useless, as the needles will harmlessly ricochet off of the armor both units possess. The Needler also proves ineffective against [[Jackal|Jackals]] because the needles will harmlessly repel off the shields the Jackals carry, and the aforementioned precision weapons are much more effective. The needles themselves do not inflict much damage, and only the general explosion inside the enemy will kill them. Because of this, in  [[Halo 2]], the Needler should be dual wielded only with another Needler or a plasma weapon for draining Jackal shields.