(Elite or Blue Plasma Rifles)
Ammunition: Superheated Plasma
Dual-wield: Yes
Damage: Medium
Range: Close
Accuracy: Medium
Rate of fire: High
Autofire capability: Continuous Fire
Energy per round: 0.5%
Overheating: After Approximately 6% to 7%
Melee attack: Fast
Headshot Capable: No
Scope: No
(Brute or Red Plasma Rifles)
Ammunition: Superheated Plasma
Dual-wield: Yes
Damage: Medium-High
Range: Close
Accuracy: Medium
Rate of fire: High
Autofire capability: Continuous Fire
Energy per round: 1%
Overheating: After Approximately 4%
Melee attack: Fast
Headshot Capable: No
Scope: No
The Blue Plasma Rifle is a staple of Covenant troops, and is mainly brandished by Elites due to its large size. It fires blue-white plasma at high velocity and can be fired automatically (which doesn't reduce accuracy when wielded alone. Dual wield has horrible accuracy.) It is inclined to overheat rapidly, and is limited by a built-in failsafe system that kicks in once its temperature reaches a certain level. As with all hand-held plasma weapons, you should always give it time to cool when necessary. Short, successive bursts of fire tend to work best, particularly against the energy shields of Jackals and Elites. When its battery is exhausted the plasma rifle must be replaced by another. Elites also use the weapon's bulged bottom part as a crude club to melee their enemies.
Brutes have their own version of this weapon: the Brute Plasma Rifle. Red in color and typified by a higher shield and flesh damage rate, this variation is even more prone to overheating and is slightly less accurate. Its redeeming quality is the fact that it will stun opponents briefly.
In multiplayer, this weapon reduces shields very quickly, second only to a plasma pistol overcharge. When used in tandem with a human SMG, one can rip through enemy players at close range; this combo can even take down seemingly implacable energy sword wielders.
This weapon is a very effective one, and really the only thing that stops it from being unstoppable save for against swords and rocket launchers is that it overheats pretty fast. It is recommended that it can be coupled with another rapid fire weapon in terms of dual wielding, instead of another plasma rifle. One very good tactic to bypass overheating is to dual-wield plasma rifles and fire one until it overheats, then alternate to the other one.