Halo Covenant Melee Weapons

# **Melee Weapons**

## **Sangheili Energy Garrote**

The energy garrote is a weapon comprising of a small two-piece cylinder that splits apart in the middle, revealing a center of focused plasma. The plasma is not powerful enough to cut through flesh, but can choke and burn an enemy from behind, resulting in a quick, silent kill. It is used mostly by Special Operations Sangheili.

An energy garrote was used by Zuka 'Zamamee to kill Rick Hale, the pilot of a Pelican, and take control of the craft to land at the human Alpha Base on Installation 04.

## **Sangheili Energy Dagger**

The Energy Dagger is an energy melee weapon employed by the Sangheili, particularly the Zealot classes, during the Human-Covenant war.

## **Kig-Yar Energy Cutlass**

An energy cutlass is a Covenant melee weapon primarily used by the Kig-Yar. It is a shard of glass-like crystal and is pink in color. The Kig-Yar use them primarily to dispatch enemies in close-quarters fights. The weapon has a self-destruct ability, causing it to explode when the sequence is activated.

The Unggoy also used energy cutlasses on the Tiara during the First Battle of Harvest.

**Game Notes**:

* **Self Destruct Ability**:

* **Blast Radius**: 0-1/2/3/4m
* **Blast Damage**: 4D/3D/2D/1D

## **Sangheili Energy Sword**

The Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword consists of a curved hilt, housing an energy storage module and a device for projecting the plasma which forms the blade. The actual blade is composed of two partially ionized 'blades' of free moving electron based gas held in a blade-like form by two small magnetic-field generators built into the handle of the weapon. This forms and contains the oval shaped, ionized blades for which the weapon is recognized. The battery's energy is reduced for each successful strike. Each killing strike from the sword will drain the battery by 10% of its energy. Once the battery power is fully depleted, the sword will deactivate unless recharged, which is impossible in the games.

The Type-1 Energy Weapon contains a failsafe mechanism witnessed during the Battle of Installation 04 that can permanently disable the weapon if the Sangheili wielding it drops it. When dropped, the failsafe engages by deactivating the magnetic field before dispersing the energy. The energy then consumes the handle and thus destroys the weapon. The failsafe is included to prevent enemy infantry from acquiring the weapon and using it, and is yet another insight to Sangheili tactics. The failsafe seems to be rarely used, or was only included in a variant of Energy Sword issued to the Covenant ground forces deployed to Installation 04 by the Fleet of Particular Justice.

The Energy Sword is the signature weapon of the Sangheili, and has been their weapon of nobility since its creation during one of their Ages of Discovery. Viewed as a holy weapon the Sangheili pride themselves on their skills with this weapon and believe that it is better for a Sangheili to fall on his sword as an act to redeem his honor. The Sangheili are also very strict on who can be trained in the art of swordsmanship - only aristocrats are permitted to wield Energy Swords and sword wielders are no longer eligible for marriage. Although Fal 'Chavamee was a skilled swordsman and instructor, despite being married it is unknown how his aristocrat status was enforced or if this was changed as a result of his actions. Breeding with any female they choose is permitted, married or otherwise, to ensure successful transmission of "swordsman" genes. In service to the Covenant, Sangheili of a high or important rank are permitted to wield this weapon - lower ranks are not permitted to wield the sword because of its high status. In the Covenant, Sangheili Ultras, Sangheili Zealots, Special Operations Sangheili, Stealth Sangheili, Sangheili Councilors and Sangheili Honor Guardsman, are permitted to use Energy Swords.

## **Energy Stave**

The Energy Stave is a Covenant melee weapon. It is used exclusively by the Elite Honor Guard, Brute Honor Guard, and Honor Guard Ultra. It is a long metal staff, and has a forked tip with a series of orange panels although there have been blue staves observed.

These weapons are long staves with a spear-like end that is similar in color to the "glowing armor panels" of their wielders. Not much is known about these exotic weapons, except that they have a length of 527 centimeters (17.3 feet). They do not seem to have much of a combat purpose but more a ceremonial one, as the Honor Guard Sangheili will use the Plasma Rifle, Energy Sword, and Covenant Carbines in combat. However, they were used by Brutes to subdue any Grunts and Jackals that came too close to the Council Chamber during one of the High Prophet of Truth's sermons regarding the discovery of the Sacred Icon. This weapon is never used in game-play by any characters. It is possible that the staves are fully-designed for combat, just that traditional infantry armaments are favored by the Honor Guardsmen.

## **Sangheili Curveblade**

The Curveblade is a Sangheili melee weapon resembling a steel single-bladed energy sword. This weapon was often used as a hunting knife and for personal defense, becoming the standard in those roles before the formation of the Covenant, though it continued to be used thousands of years after.

A Sangheili shipmaster wielded a curveblade during his search for guidance on the glassed human world of Kholo in 2559.

## **Jiralhanae Combat Knife**

The Jiralhanae Combat Knife was a close quarter combat weapon issued to the Jiralhanae. Chieftain Lepidus used his combat knife to torture Colonel James Ackerson into giving up information on the Key of Osanalan. When the Key proved to be a hoax designed to protect Colonel Ackerson's brother, Lepidus used the knife to behead the prisoner.

## **Jiralhanae Gravity Hammer**

The Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer is a large hammer that serves as an excellent and powerful melee weapon in the game. It is a highly symbolic Jiralhanae weapon that is analogous to the Sangheili Energy Sword. This powerful weapon can also be used to manipulate gravity, allowing it to push opponents away or pull them towards the wielder, as well as deflecting incoming projectiles. This weapon consists of a shaft, head, and blade. A field generator, which is located in the head, emits a kinetic pulse (~4.5 meters). The exact mechanism by which it functions is currently under investigation by the UNSC.

**Game Notes**:

* **Gravity Shockwave**: Each powered strike Produces a Gravity Shockwave upon anything it fully strikes.

* **Blast Radius**: 0-1/2/3/4.5m
* **Blast Damage**: 4D/3D/2D/1D

* **Massive Size**: This weapon is heavy, 38.7 kilograms (85 lb). Because of this the user must have a minimum Strength of 3D+2 to effectively wield it.

## **Source**

* Halo Wiki: Energy garrote
* Halo Wiki: Energy Dagger
* Halo Wiki: Energy cutlass
* Halo Wiki: Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword
* Halo Wiki: Energy Stave
* Halo Wiki: Curveblade
* Halo Wiki: Jiralhanae Combat Knife
* Halo Wiki: Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer
* thedemonapostle