Type-52 Special Applications Rifle

The Type-52 Special Applications Rifle (or T52 SAR), more commonly known as the Focus rifle is a Directed Energy Weapon used by the Covenant Empire. So far, it has only been used by the Covenant during the Battle of Reach in August 2552.

Description
The Focus Rifle is a Covenant sniper-style weapon, that, despite its visual similarities to the Type-50 Sniper Rifle System, functions quite differently from its counterpart. It fires a continuous yellow-tinted beam, similar in operation to a Sentinel Beam. The weapon is believed to be battery-powered, though the exact mechanism by which it functions is currently under investigation by the UNSC.

The beam will take approximately 1.5 seconds to kill a fully shielded Spartan, and is designed to emphasize more of a "tracking" skill set than other weapons because this weapon, being a sniper variant, does not feature any aim assist to compensate for its power. It is designed for ranged suppression rather than instant death, and is considered a power weapon. Its appearance and reticle is very similar to that of the Beam Rifle, with a 5-10x magnification scope. Unlike its counterpart, it sports a thermal-imaging screen on the top, much like the UNSC Sniper Rifle, but it just appears to be purely cosmetic, as it has very little use in gameplay.

Trivia

 * The beam-like nature of the weapon suggests that it could have been reverse-engineered from a Sentinel Beam and used some technologies from the Beam rifle.
 * The Halo: Reach manual states that the main armament of the Scarab is an "ultra-heavy focus cannon." This implies a similar operating mechanism to the Focus Rifle, coupled with the power of a Fuel Rod Gun.
 * The Forge Monitor in Halo: Reach appears to possess a Focus Rifle. It appears at the top right when the player first switches from a Spartan to a Monitor, and can fire for about 1 second.
 * There is a slight delay between pressing the trigger and firing..
 * It has relatively low damage compared to the UNSC Sniper Rifle, and it is quite visible and audible when firing. Despite this, if a target is unaware or caught in the open they are very easy targets; the Focus Rifle can eliminate a fully shielded Spartan in just a couple seconds, and is a very effective long-range suppression and support weapon.
 * Despite being known as a Sniper Weapon, you can not get a Sniper Headshot medal with the Focus Rifle.
 * At times the Focus Rifle appears to become more powerful the longer it is fired. Whether or not this is an illusion is unknown; it may be because it does more damage to flesh than shielding.
 * On the Firefight Matchmaking map Waterfront, Jackal Snipers with Focus Rifles will spawn on one of the background hills, and can be deadly to weakened players who are not aware of their surroundings.
 * The Focus Rifle is mainly used by Airborne Sangheili and Kig-Yar specialist.
 * It's name is a reference to 7. (5+2=7)

Appearances

 * Halo: Reach