Jackal Shield

An unused, white Point Defense Gauntlet typically carried by Spec-Ops Jackals.

### Operation

Creates a linear energy field that deflects and absorbs all types of attacks directed in front of the bearer.

## Usage

### Counterweapon(s)

Short-Range* UNSC
	+ M91 Shotgun
	+ M7057 Flamethrower
* Covenant
	+ Energy Sword
	+ Hunter Shade Cannon
	+ Brute Plasma Pistol

Medium-Range

* UNSC
	+ M41 Rocket Launcher
	+ M310 Grenade Launcher
* Covenant
	+ Plasma Pistol
	+ Plasma Rifle
	+ Brute Plasma Rifle
	+ Void's Tear
	+ Hunter Fuel Rod Cannon
	+ Hunter Beam Cannon
* Forerunner
	+ Sentinel Beam

Long-Range

* Covenant
	+ Particle Carbine
	+ Focus Rifle
* Forerunner
	+ Sentinel Sniper Beam
	+ Sentinel Light Rifle

### Affiliation

Covenant Empire

The **Kig-Yar Point Defense Gauntlets**, also known as **Jackal Shields**, are arm-held energy shields mainly used by the Covenant Jackals for protection from enemy fire or close to mid-range explosions.

## Summary

Worn on the forearm of the user, the gauntlet creates a plasma barrier contained within a magnetic field, much like the Sangheili energy sword. This shield deflects and absorbs small arms weaponry to an extent; UNSC ballistic weapons and Needler/Shredder needles simply bounce off the plasma barrier, whereas the Covenant's plasma-based weaponry is absorbed by the plasma barrier, eventually collapsing it.

Heavier weaponry, such as the Hunter Fuel Rod Cannon, M41 Rocket Launcher, and the Gauss Cannon, are considerably effective against the gauntlet's plasma barrier. Alternatively, explosions and extreme force from grenades and melee attacks will collapse the plasma barrier and likely kill the wearer in the process. The shield has a small open section on both sides allowing the use of small arms. These openings, however, create a disadvantage for the user as they expose said weapon and any body parts behind it to enemy fire.

The shield of the point defense gauntlet reflects its current charge by changing color gradually from its original color to red before it deactivates completely.

There are several models of point defense gauntlets. The most common one is mounted on a wrist strap with an oval emitter, and has two cutaways for firing. A smaller variant is worn by Skirmisher Majors both wrists, and provide increased protection for the Skirmisher's upper body and arms.

## Gameplay Information

### Advantages:

* Usable Jackal Shields can block almost all forms of ballistic fire and is highly resistant to plasma fire.
* The only way the shield can be disabled is with the EMP effect generated by Gravity Grenades and Plasma Pistol/Void's Tear overcharge shots. Aside from those, the Jackal Shield cannot be overloaded otherwise.

### Disadvantages:

* The Jackal Shield obscures a large portion of the user's view, as it's near-blinding white colouration makes it almost impossible to see anything past the shield.
	+ The VISR Armor Upgrade can be used to circumvent this, as the colored overlays generated by VISR can still be seen through the shield while wielding the shield, allowing them to effectively see through the shield.
* The Jackal Shield can only block incoming damage from the direction the user is facing, and leaves them vulnerable to attacks from the sides and the rear unless they turn to face in that direction.
	+ Despite this The Jackal Shield cannot protect the user from explosive weaponry or melee attacks; the damage will bypass the Shield even if the user faces themselves in the direction of these.
* The Jackal Shield's nature as a purely defensive tool means that it offers no other ways of directly dealing damage, effectively restricting the user to melee attacks and thrown grenades.

## Trivia

* Due to possible animation difficulties, the ability to fire a sidearm when equipped with the shield was removed.
* Many players have made complaints that the Jackal Shield is the most useless piece of equipment in the game. From its blinding light, to its inability to allow players to use their sidearms. There is very little scenarios in which one would want to use it outside of challenge runs. Even when it comes to defense; the one thing the Jackal Shield is meant to be good at. It is nearly worthless. For one thing, explosives bypass its protective barrier and enemies like Grunts are known to throw plasma grenades constantly. For another thing, melee attacks also bypass the shield, so even if you want to use it as a weapon, the whole defensive effect is rendered pointless. The only time the Jackal Shield could be seen as viable is in the beginning of Two Betrayals, where the need for a shield is necessary against the barrage of Enforcers and Sentinels.