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Needler
H2A T33Needler.png
One pattern of the Needler, most commonly referred to as a Type-33 needler.
Weapon information

Type:

Needle-based weaponry[1]

Series:

Needler[2]

Description:

Subanese crystal projectile weapon[2]

Production information

Manufacturer:

Model(s):

 

Needlers, and sometimes known as the Needler pistols,[5] are a class of single-handed, fully-automatic infantry specialized weapons developed by the Covenant that launch chemically-charged Subanese crystalline shards with the ability to track targets.[6] The Covenant and its remnants formally designated the needler as needle launcher or shard launcher,[7][8] while the Office of Naval Intelligence has typically type-classified encountered needlers variants under the designation of the Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher (T-33 GML), with one outlier known as Type-56 Guided Munitions Launcher (T-56 GML).

Overview

Design details

While there are multiple known patterns of the needler, all needler patterns share the same general design which revolves around its function of firing individual, crystalline shards.[9] The bottom of the weapon, which contains the power supply, doubles as a stock,[6] with an extended handguard on some variants.[9] The grip connects the bottom of the weapon to the top of the weapon, which contains the the weapon's distinctive ammunition, Subanese crystals, with the exposed shards protruding from holes in the weapon chassis. The two main components converge at the barrel in front of the grip. The is barrel situated between channel braces, which extend outward around the barrel.[6]

Operation

When preparing to fire and launch the crystals, the needler breaks them, and charges their chemical mixture.[2]

The needler is also considered unique among Covenant weapons in that it does not require Forerunner technology to function.[10]

Ammunition

Main article: Subanese crystal

The needler makes use of Subanese crystal designed to home in onto targets as its ammunition.[1] When in the weapon the crystal is exposed above the weapon.[2] Different variants of the weapon using calibrated shard of the crystal.[11]

After the crystal shards have been charged and launched from needler, the shards home towards a target if one is present. If a shard hits a target it becomes chemically reactive and usually detonates,[2] where if more than one shard is in a target it explodes in a "supercombine" chain reaction with the other shards.[10]

Development history

Prior to the Covenant's formation, the Sangheili mined Subanese Crystals, using it in unique ways.[10]

Prior to 2552, the needler was manufactured by the Sacred Promissory on High Charity.[2] After the fall of High Charity during the Great Schism, the manufacturing of the needler fell to Lodam Armory.[3]

Usage

The needler was a weapon favored by poorly trained Covenant soldiers due to its "supercombine" explosion.[10] Used throughout the Human-Covenant War, humanity recorded some needlers in 2533 in their Type classification system as the Type-33 needler. [12]

After the Human-Covenant war the needler saw continued use, where humanity then proceeded to record more needlers in 2556 under Type-56, such as the Type-56D needler.[4]

During the Battle for Zeta Halo, the Banished employed the Posu'gelka-pattern needler. It was primarily used by Unggoy Conscripts and Ultras, Kig-Yar Freebooters, and Skirmishers.[13]

Types

Type-33 needler

Main article: Type-33 needler

The "Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher", also known as the "Type-33 needler", is a human term for a group of needlers that were seen across the Human-Covenant War.[14][15][16][2]

Type-56 needler

The "Type-56 needler" is a human term for a group of needlers that were started to be recorded in 2556.[4]

Posu'gelka-pattern needler

Main article: Posu'gelka-pattern needler

This variant of needler has an ammo counter on the chassis. This variant was employed by the Banished during the Battle for Installation 07 in 2560.[13]

Related arsenal

Weaponry

Vehicles

Aerial vehicles

In-game information

The Needler has appeared in several games in the Halo franchise.

Gallery

Concept art

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ a b Halo: The Essential Visual Guide - Needle Rifle, page 127
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Halo: The Essential Visual Guide - Needler, page 128
  3. ^ a b Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide - Weapons, Needler, page 85
  4. ^ a b c Halo Waypoint - News, Canon Fodder, Locke & Load (Retrieved on Aug 2, 2021) [local archive] [external archive]
  5. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, chapter 22
  6. ^ a b c Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 85 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "h4evg" defined multiple times with different content
  7. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 294
  8. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 479
  9. ^ a b Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 128
  10. ^ a b c d Halo Waypoint - Universe, Weapons, Needler (Retrieved on Aug 2, 2021) [local archive] [external archive]
  11. ^ a b Halo 5: Guardians, Needler: Talon of the Lost
  12. ^ Halo.Bungie.Net, Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher (Retrieved on Oct 12, 2014) [archive]
  13. ^ a b Halo Infinite, Needler
  14. ^ Halo 2, Needler
  15. ^ Halo 3, Needler
  16. ^ Halo: Reach, Needler
  17. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, Needler
  18. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, Needler: Hailstorm