M'tara-pattern focus rifle

Template:Weapon Infobox

The Type-52 Special Applications Rifle (T52 SAR),^[1] commonly known as the focus rifle,^[2] is a directed-energy weapon used by the Covenant in 2552.^[3]^[4] The marksman rifle is in the same "lineage" as the Type-27 beam rifle and the Type-50 particle beam rifle.^[5]

Design details

A blueprint of a focus rifle.

The Focus Rifle is a sniper-style weapon, that, despite its visual similarities to the Type-50 particle beam rifle, functions quite differently, being designed for ranged suppression rather than for anti-personnel role. The smooth and organic appearance and purple coloration of the weapon is reflective of typical Covenant aesthetic tendencies, as such, its ergonomic grip is designed for Sangheili use. Although powerful and intimidating, the combat effectiveness Focus Rifle is crippled by several glaring flaws in the design. The beam fired by the weapon is extraordinarily visible; firing the weapon immediately reveals the user's position. Although highly effective at depleting shields the weapon is only marginally effective against armored targets, causing negligible damage to vehicles and requiring continuous fire to ensure lethality against organic targets. If the weapon overheats it will automatically vent excess plasma, burning the user and rendering the weapon inoperable for several seconds.

Operation

The focus rifle copies some elements of the sterilization beams employed by Aggressor Sentinels, though the magnetic accelerators and particle guide beam emitters are novel creations of Covenant origin. These features present a counterpoint to the idea that the Covenant never innovated when it comes to technological development.^[6] Instead of a firing a single beam in one shot like the Covenant beam rifle, the rifle fires a continuous purple-tinted beam of magnetically contained plasma, similar in operation to a Sentinel Beam, the Forerunner weapon from which the T-52 SAR was reverse-engineered. The plasma is formed in a cylindrical module and directed through a channel of electromagnetic coils, forming a precise beam. Like most Covenant infantry weapons, the weapon draws its power from a battery. The weapon requires high power expenditure and the battery is easily depleted.^[7] The exact mechanism by which it functions was under investigation by the UNSC as of August 2552.^[1]

The weapon's name and visual appearance suggest a shared operating mechanism with the larger Scarab-mounted focus cannon.

Scope

The weapon is equipped with a 3.5-9.5× magnification scope and uses the same smart-link firmware as the Particle Beam Rifle, but uses a different scope. As with the Particle Beam Rifle, the smart-link feed shows the weapons remaining power and accumulated heat level. The link also displays diagnostic information and allows semi-automatic adjustment of the plasma beam angle when interlinked with the hardware in Sangheili combat harnesses or Kig-Yar marksman sets. This provides a limited amount of moving-target tracking without the firer having to adjust their aimpoint at distant targets.^[5] These targeting protocols are unusual and incompatible with most interlink translation software.^[6]

Gameplay

It deals relatively low damage compared with the sniper rifle, and it is quite visible and audible when firing. Despite this, if a target is unaware or caught in the open they are very easy targets; the Focus Rifle can eliminate a fully shielded Spartan in mere seconds, and is a very effective long-range suppression and support weapon.
On the Firefight map Waterfront, Jackal Snipers with Focus Rifles will spawn on one of the background hills, and can be deadly to weakened players who are not aware of their surroundings.

Trivia

It is similar in name and firing style as the Scarab's focus cannon, indicating that the cannon may be a larger-scale application of the weapon's technology.
The Forge Monitor in Halo: Reach appears to possess a Focus Rifle. It appears at the top right when the player first switches from a Spartan to a Monitor. In game files, the monitor's weapon has the id monitor_beam.
The Focus Rifle is mainly used by Sangheili Rangers, Kig-Yar Snipers and occasionally some Skirmishers and rarely other Sangheili.
In Halo: Spartan Assault and Halo: Spartan Strike, the focus rifle is only carried by Sangheili Majors.

Gallery

The Focus Rifle in first-person during the Halo: Reach Beta.
A different angle of a Spartan-III firing the Focus Rifle during the Halo: Reach Beta.
A render of the Focus Rifle.
A turnaround reference of the Type-52 SAR.
A view of the focus rifle.
In-game side view of the Focus Rifle from Halo: Reach.
A Spartan firing the Focus Rifle.‎
A Sangheili Ranger wielding the Focus Rifle.
First-person view of the Focus Rifle in the final build of Halo: Reach.
A Focus Rifle overheating.
View through the Focus Rifle's scope, with the beam striking a Spartan's shields.
Another view through the Focus Rifle's scope, with a Spartan almost dead center.
Sarah Palmer using a focus rifle during the Battle of Draetheus V in Halo: Spartan Assault.
A Spartan and Sangheili Field Master exchange focus rifle fire during the Battle of Installation 03 in Halo: Spartan Strike.