The energy sword is one of Halo’s most notable weapons, usually carried by the most esteemed honor guards in the Halo story. Meleeing your enemy to death is one thing, but using the energy sword to do it always seemed to feel good. Even better yet, doing it while invisible was just unfair sometimes. You would often find teams in Halo multiplayer games trying to make sure that the other team didn’t get the energy sword because it is such a large advantage in close-quarter combat. Once you got in range, the energy sword was a one-shot kill in a Halo multiplayer game and is feared in smaller maps. Control the energy sword and you might have an easier time of winning your match.
What is the Origin of the Energy Sword?
The energy sword is a weapon used by a race of aliens called the Sangheili. Named after their home planet, Sanghelios, Sangehilis are extremely strong, skilled and intelligent warriors.
They are known to humans and most Halo players as Elites. While it is the race of Sangheili that wielded the energy sword, not just anyone among them can wield them. Only the aristocrats were allowed to use these powerful weapons.
The way the Sangheili classify their people as aristocrats is quite different from that of the humans. While both consider the aristocrats as noble and the higher members of society, how the title is gained is completely different.
For humans, aristocrats are rare and they usually have hereditary titles. For the Sangheili, one can gain membership to the aristocracy by demonstrating outstanding martial prowess. Again, only the aristocrats of the Sangheili are permitted to wield energy swords.
This is why when you see an elite wielding an energy sword in a Halo campaign, you should be saying to yourself, “oh boy, this is a hard part.”
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What is the Energy Sword?
While the weapon is indeed named the energy sword, it actually makes use of superheated plasma and a magnetic field generators. Those are just to name some of what the weapon employs to generate its blade.
As mentioned earlier, what creates the body of the weapon’s blade is the superheated plasma. It is released from the hilt and is guided by a magnetic field. The hilt of the energy sword actually has two magnetic field generators.
It provides the barrier wherein the superheated plasma is contained forming the iconic look of the energy sword. Non-Halo players might also think that there’s just one type or design of the energy sword.
This is because while there are actually more than just one, two or even three different designs, these different designs of the energy sword are somehow similar or reminiscent of the original design though.
So, even though the designs of the energy sword from Halo 2, 3, 4 and 5 are different, it might not seem like it to those who are not keen on the game.
How Powerful is the Energy Sword?
Being made of superheated plasma, how strong is the energy sword? The energy sword is actually insanely strong. So strong that developers just had to put a limit on just how much the sword could be used.
Otherwise, in multiplayer, someone who acquired an energy sword might massacre everyone and it would be unfair and overpowered. That doesn’t mean that the energy sword doesn’t have any weakness though. The sword is just powerful in close quarters and it could be argued that it is the best weapon for close combat in the game.
Because the weapon is comprised of superheated plasma, the energy sword can cut through almost anything. Unlike a solid weapon, the energy sword won’t have any trouble cutting through even the hardest of metals.
This means that the most advanced and extreme armors become irrelevant when they come in contact with the energy sword. Even the ODST battle armor and the Titanium-A class plating of UNSC Destroyers are no match for it.
Because the energy sword can easily cut through the toughest material, you can only imagine what it can do to flesh. Injuries that are caused by the energy sword are never light. In fact, most of the times, these injuries are fatal.
Easily, the sword can cause loss of limbs, decapitation, bodies getting cut in half and complete perforation. Surviving an attack from the energy sword is made nearly impossible as it can also cause organs to get burnt and cauterized.
If no vital organs are damaged, the victim would still require immediate medical attention. This is why the energy sword can cause fear into the hearts of those that oppose its wielder. Just one attack can be more than enough to cause death.
What Does the Energy Sword Look Like?
While the energy sword does have more than just one design, as mentioned earlier, most, if not all of the designs are reminiscent to the original one. The very first appearance of the energy sword was in Halo: Combat Evolved or the first Halo game.
However, in Halo: Combat Evolved, the player is not able to use the sword because of a failsafe mechanism of the weapon. Much of it will be discussed later. The sword is mainly wielded by Stealth Sangheili and Zealots.
Regardless, this design would then become the benchmark for all the energy sword designs that follow. Like the lightsaber from Star Wars, the energy sword from Halo is just a hilt that would then release the blades when the wielder wants to kill spartans, covenant, or the flood.
The base of the blade forms a crescent that stretches to form the tips of the energy sword. The design has since evolved through each Halo game. Also, more than just having the blue color and the generic look of the hilt, the energy sword actually has different variants that look more intricate with a completely different design and color of both hilt and blades.
Before we get to more of the designs, it’s important that we first tackle the weakness or the disadvantages of the blade. After all, even though the energy sword is very powerful, it’s still not a perfect weapon.
What is the Weakness of the Energy Sword?
The energy sword actually comes in with a few disadvantages. Still, those disadvantages are reasonable and have created a more enjoyable and challenging experience for those that love to use the energy sword in Halo multiplayer.
- Melee Weapon – to start, the energy sword is a melee weapon. This means that its wielder is vulnerable to all forms of ranged attacks. While the energy sword can kill with a single strike, it would be irrelevant if the user can’t even get to its target before he or she is killed. The energy sword is a ferocious weapon for close-quarter combat. But from afar, the weapon is not a threat. If the distance between the wielder and the opponent is too great, there’s no point in using the energy sword.
- Overshield – over shields are great tools to increase the durability of the user. Against an opponent with an over shield, an energy sword wielder will have a harder time as it could take up to two strikes from the energy sword before the over shield breaks. More than that, the wielder would need to do another strike with the sword for the killing blow. A lot could happen just within the time limit of trying to break an over shield.
- Other Magnetic Fields – other magnetic fields can actually affect the energy sword. Other magnetic fields can block the weapon, disrupt it or even affect the weapon’s functionality. Two energy swords clashing together are a good example of this phenomena.
- Battery Powered – earlier, we mentioned that the energy sword makes use of superheated plasma. However, it’s power source is actually a battery. Like any battery, it requires charging or replacement once it gets depleted. At the time of this writing, unfortunately, being able to recharge the energy sword is a feature not available in the Halo games. Once the power runs out, the player has no choice but to discard the energy sword.
- 10% of Energy is Consumed Per Successful Hit – the math is easy from hereon. While the energy sword could instantly kill an opponent with a single hit, the energy sword can not last for a very long time. With each successful hit with the weapon, 10% of the energy is spent. This means that with the energy sword, you can only ever do 10 successful hits. While that may not seem like a lot, that could still mean that a user can kill up to 10 enemy targets with one energy sword.
Evolution of the Energy Sword’s Design and Use in Combat
The Energy Sword from Halo: Combat Evolved to Halo 2
Another explanation as to how the energy sword works is that electron-based gas is released from the hilt and is then trapped inside two magnetic fields in the shape of the blade’s design. Having said that, the sound the weapon makes when activated is actually that of gas being released.
In Halo: Combat Evolved, the energy sword used to have a cyan glow. In Halo 2, the color of the weapon’s glow changed from cyan to blue with some purple undertones. Electricity crackling through the blade was also added.
In Halo: Combat Evolved, the sword used to have a very strong fluorescent glow. In Halo 2, the strong glow changed, becoming more translucent. In combat, the energy sword from Halo 2 has a very fast attack speed.
The weapon functions so fast that you could make an attack before the blade could even fully form its blade. Another tactic that players used in Halo 2 were button combinations to make a lunge attack with the energy sword. This was done by waiting until the swords reticle turned red and then pressing the attack button. You would then lunge at the enemy much faster than a basic melee. If you want to become an energy sword master, you need to learn how to lunge and nothing else.
The player can also use the lunge attack to fling himself or herself towards an enemy then switching back to a firearm. This means that the button combination can be a means of fast travel. You can be firing at your enemies from different directions by quickly traversing through a significant distance in one leap.
Needless to say, the energy sword has been a great part of creating different tactics for combat. Although, in Halo 2, the energy sword was more of an offensive weapon than a defensive one.
The Energy Sword from Halo 2 to Halo 3:
At first glance, the change of the color of the blades can already be noticed. From blue and purple, the color of the blade is changed once again to cyan similar to the one from Halo: Combat Evolved.
However, with this design, some purple still remained near the hilt. Another very apparent change in design is that the blades are more angular. With the two previous designs, the energy sword was rounded.
An added benefit to having the energy sword was that it can light up the area because of the brightness of its glow as well.
In multiplayer, the change to how the energy sword behaved is massive. If in Halo 2 the energy sword was an offensive weapon, in Halo 3, the energy sword was more defensive. This is because the lunge distance and attack speed were reduced.
Another feature added was that two players who are both wielding energy swords can’t kill each other if they attack at the same time. They both needed to figure out a way on how they can be the first to do the killing blow without being canceled by the other player’s attack.
In Halo 3, this made it so that you can parry with the energy sword by attacking the other enemy (who also has an energy sword) at near same time they attacked you with their sword.
The Energy Sword from Halo 3 to Halo: Reach
In Halo: Reach, the color of the blades of the energy sword were made darker. Also, with this design, the sword has become even more angular. Although the blades have become darker, it retained its ability to light up the surrounding area.
With this design, the blades are nearer to each other compared to the previous designs. Depending on who is wielding the blade (Spartan or Sangheili), the way the weapon is held is different.
In terms of combat, the energy sword from Halo: Reach has become more balanced. While the range is reduced, its attack speed is increased. The lunge attack in this game can be blocked with a well-timed melee attack, making it much easier to parry than in Halo 3.
Although the lunge ability can be blocked, the sword in this game has a swing time of about 1.5 seconds. This means that players can do an attack right before they could reach their targets as opposed to only doing a lunge attack.
The Energy Sword from Halo: Reach to Halo 4
In Halo 4, the energy sword had lost almost all of its rounded blade design from the first Halo game. It had become mostly angular with the two blades still having a narrow distance between them.
The sound that the energy sword made upon being activated also changed. This design made use of a higher-pitched sound. Upon activation, it creates a sound similar to that of a lightsaber.
In multiplayer, this design of the energy sword is probably the most aggressive. To start, melee blocking was removed. Sprinting also became a default ability available for everyone. Customizable loadouts could even let players have unlimited sprint, making it much easier to close the distance to do a melee attack.
When someone finds an energy sword, they can dominate the fight because there’s very little that one can do to defend against it. With unlimited sprint, it’s even harder to deal with those that wield energy swords.
One needs to be very precise with the use of the energy sword though as even hitting objects can now also deplete the energy of the weapon’s battery.
The Energy Sword from Halo 4 to Halo 5: Guardians
The appearance of the energy sword in Halo 5: Guardians is similar to the design from Halo 4. However, this time, the sword can still light up the environment around the user, although the glow of the sword is darker.
In multiplayer, the way the energy sword works is again quite similar to that from Halo 4. Although now, it also grants its wielder a speed boost when equipped and its range is increased when aiming.
What Are the Other Variants of the Energy Sword?
As we mentioned earlier, there are more designs of the energy sword than just the generic ones or the Type 1 Energy Sword. We are sure that you will love looking and learning at all these different energy sword designs.
The Ravening Silver
The Ravening Silver isn’t actually silver and doesn’t even have the silver color. This design has a light green hilt with hues of purple and blue for its blade. The sword looks sinister with its color giving it a more of a dark and intimidating appearance.
This energy sword allows the player faster swings and equipt speed. Remember the fast energy sword from Halo 2? This design more or less has the same effect when used in combat.
The Vorpal Talon
The Vorpal Talon is another unique looking energy sword that seems to not only have electricity coursing through its blade but also an incredible amount of heat because of the redness around the base of its blade.
The Vorpal Talon has a red hilt, green blade and it’s overall design is similar to the one from Halo 4. It gives its wielder a few perks. One is that it increases its wielders jump height when equipped and it also extends the time in air when the player is using stabilization jets.
It allows the use of the radar when you’re aiming down. Lastly, it also allows its wielder to use two thruster chargers before it can recharge.
The Infected Sword
This design features a different looking hilt with a corrupted green blade. In the infection game, this energy sword is used by zombies. While this sword doesn’t give any perks, its design can still have you wanting to wield the infected sword.
The Bloodblade
In Halo 2: Anniversary, the Bloodblade is used by the infected players. It’s simply a variant of the Type-1 energy sword. The general design is very similar to the standard energy sword in Halo 2 but is only made to look evil in appearance.
It has a black hilt with raging red blades. The cool thing about this variant is that it actually has a place in Halo canon and hopefully, we’ll get to see more of this sword in future Halo games.
The Prophet’s Bane
The Prophet’s Bane is probably the coolest energy sword dating back before the Writ of Union. It’s an ancient energy sword that has the rarity classification of legendary. In ancient times, the Prophet’s Bane had a different name.
Back then, it was called the End of Night. However, after the Arbiter killed the High Prophet of the Covenant, he found the sword and reforged it using the components of the sword that was used in killing the Prophet of Truth.
The reforged End of Night then became the Prophet’s Bane. The Prophet’s Bane is the Arbiter’s personal sword and it can be used by the player.
In combat, it grants the player permanent invisibility and increased movement speed when equipped. It also allows an extended lunge distance. Perhaps the only downside of this sword is that you won’t really get to see much of it because it cloaks along with you.
A Brief Analysis of the Energy Sword
What if we bring to life the energy sword from the Halo games? Would the sword actually work? Would it be functional? Let’s find out!
- Superheated Plasma – Now that we know that the energy sword consists of superheated plasma, we can already make a guess based on what we know about very hot plasma. While heated plasma can definitely be used to cut through things, plasma at that temperature is ridiculously hot. With a plasma sword, upon activation, the user can instantly burst into flames. However, there is a way through this.
- Magnetic Field – If the magnetic field can somehow also trap the heat and the user has some form of protection, perhaps the energy sword can then be wielded. Still, once the sword comes in contact with something, it liquefies the material and the super-hot liquid can flow down the body of the blade to the user’s hands. This time, the heat generated by the sword as it comes in contact with an object can no longer be trapped and this heat can be fatal to the user.
- Weight Distribution – since the blades are only made of plasma, there can be no problem in terms of weight distribution.
- Grip – unlike how traditional swords are wielded, the energy sword is used more like a tonfa. Since the blade can be blocked or hit in some way, the way the weapon is held can be a problem. It can cause the blade of the weapon to swing towards the user causing serious injury or instant death.
While there are problems with the design of the energy sword if we are to make it in real life, to be fair, something can always be done to resolve those issues. Do we think that the energy sword can be brought to life? Sadly, no, not yet anyway.
Well, that’s not really surprising as the energy sword, after all, is from a sci-fi game. Although that doesn’t mean that it can never be possible in the future. Who knows? The technology to create the energy sword might even be created in our lifetime.
Regardless, there’s no doubt that the energy sword is equally, a dangerous and powerful weapon. There’s also no doubt that it’s one of the most popular energy weapons in pop culture.
We’ve shared with you everything we could gather about the energy weapon. We’ve discussed how it works, it’s standard design, it’s strengths and weaknesses, it’s other designs and it’s failsafe mechanism.
Now that you know much about the infamous energy sword from the Halo games, what are your thoughts about it? Do you love its design?
Do you think it can be brought into real life? Well, we hope you learned something new about the energy sword in this article. Let us know your thoughts and do share this article to your fellow Halo fans so they may also have something fun to read about the game.