Needle Grenade

## Antipersonnel Fragmentation Needle Grenade

### Operation

Creates a cloud of hyper-reactive Blamite crystals; supercombining anything that enters its field.

## Usage

### Counterpart

UNSC* M9 Fragmentation Grenade

Covenant

* Needler
* Shredder
* Plasma Grenade
* Gravity Grenade
* Cluster Grenade

### Affiliation

Covenant Empire

The **Antipersonnel Fragmentation Needle Grenade** or simply known as the **Needle Grenade** is a Covenant antipersonnel grenade used by Brutes in Lumoria. The grenades use the very same explosive Blamite crystals found in Needlers.

## Overview & Background

The **Needle Grenade** is a relatively simple weapon by Covenant standards. Consisting of nothing more than a single chunk of Blamite crystal, wrapped in a container and primed by an explosive charge, the Needle Grenade creates a field or cloud of deadly and extremely reactive crystal dust. Any organism or object caught disturbing the field would detonate the Blamite. Moreover, any residue undetonated Blamite would also explode when coming into contact with another entity, causing an unmitigated chain reaction until all remaining crystals are used up.

Despite their simplicity in design and sheer level of carnage, the Needle Grenade is rarely and unfavorably used by the Covenant, as the prospect of wind may blow the crystal dust into their direction, causing an unnecessary amount of friendly fire in the process. As such, Needle Grenades are only offered to Brutes, who are viewed as both disposable by the Elites and whose very nature is complemented with such ensuing carnage.

## Gameplay

### Advantages

* Creates a short-lived field of explosive crystals, which can turn into a very deadly and dangerous trap for any enemy or ally that foolishly walks into its radius.
* Explosions could supercombine onto other enemies, creating an uncontrollable and unmitigated chain reaction.
* Like the Plasma Grenade, the Needle Grenade could stick on enemies, ensuring an instant death.
* Fantastic against Hunters, as the cloud of Blamites completely surrounds the Hunter's armor and bypasses its shield.

### Disadvantages

* Allies may unwittingly step into the cloud, killing/injuring both the ally and you if you are nearby.
* The supercombine explosions, like all grenades, could set off any nearby grenades, making the battlefield increasingly hazardous
* Stuck enemies may unintentionally charge towards you, killing both you and the enemy.
* It is useless against vehicles, as the armored cockpit, speed and lack of any anti-armor of the crystals makes these grenades ineffective

## Trivia

* The Grenades resemble the Needler's casing, but in grenade form.
* It is likely that the Grenade is nothing more than a crystal chunk of Needler ammunition turned into a makeshift weapon.
* When primed and thrown, the Blamite needles would eject out of the holes from the grenade, in a similar vein to the Needler and Shredder.
* The Grenade replaces the Cluster Grenade in Lumoria as the primary crowd-control weapon. It also replaces the Fragmentation Grenade in The Commander and The Commander: Evolved since Thel 'Vadamee, the player character in those missions, can't use UNSC weapons or equipment.
* The Needle Grenade is one of the few weapons in *SPV3* not to be featured at all in Firefight.

## Gallery

Throwned Needle Grenade, note the primed needle extensions.Needle Grenade smoke trail.Needle Grenade primary explosion.Needle Grenade secondary blamite explosion.