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Subject: Why Use Plasma Pistol Overcharge Against Jackals?
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I have read, in this forum and in virtually all the walkthroughs and weapons tips, to use the overcharge on the plasma pistol to take down the elite's or the jackal's shield, then finish him of with normal shots. In my short Halo career (have finished Normal and am in the Library on Heroic) I have found that I get more mileage out of my pp on Jackals by just using normal shots.

If one uses the prescribed method (overcharge), the pp charge goes down by 10 percent. Experimentation shows that there are 500 shots in a fully loaded pp (100%); thus, 10% is worth 50 shots. So, the overcharge uses up 50 shots, and then it takes, say, 5 more shots to finish him off: 55 shots, total.

I have found that if I just shoot at the Jackal's feet, the slot, or other exposed area, and keep laying the fire on, that the Jackal will quickly roll or otherwise expose himself to my constant fire and almost always take a hit that opens him up for follow-on shots. In the end he goes down after about 20 to 30 shots, which uses up much less pp charge.

Am I missing something? Why do all the guides say to use the overcharge on Jackals when the job can be done about as quickly and with much less charge using normal shots?

  • 08.10.2004 9:39 AM PDT
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on harder difficulty levels (most guides are written for legendary) the elite and jackal shields take many more standard shots to deplete, you also dont have the time to stand there and shoot him with normal shots, as they have impossibly fast trigger fingers, faster than a PR on full auto, and more accurate, so u gotta get rid of protection and take him out quikly. in legendary it can take 1.5 AR clips to drain an elites shield, and balistic weapons are completly ineffective against jackal shields.

  • 08.10.2004 9:46 AM PDT
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I use this tactic for its speed. In Legendary, which is the level I play if you use the tactic you use you can take a lot of damage, especially against Elites. So you use the overcharge shot and it removes the shield, then take out your AR or Needler or whatever weapon you want to finish them off. This is a nice quick way to kill them and you take minimal damage!

  • 08.10.2004 9:51 AM PDT
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Because it saves you alot of pistol and Assault Rifle ammo. Its alot easier to find a plasma pistol than a pistol cartache.

  • 08.10.2004 10:00 AM PDT
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if you do it right you can fire the pp as fast as the jackals on legendary do but no matter how much you shoot them their shields will not disappear unless you charge it up... for the elites if you can fire the pp really fast it is much better than the charge up since the charge up doesn't freeze them like quick fire does.

  • 08.10.2004 10:01 AM PDT
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no, a jackals sheild will go down with normal shots from plasma pistol or rifle....

  • 08.10.2004 10:06 AM PDT
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it goes down but it takes alot of shots and some of them backfire at you. but like i said . wat can you find faster a pistol or a plasma pistol?

  • 08.10.2004 10:11 AM PDT
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In legendary it is almost impossible to get a jackal's shield down with normal fire because unless it is all alone you will die first or it will move or roll and take cover and the shield will recharge.

  • 08.10.2004 10:15 AM PDT
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Posted by: zoggyzoggerson
In legendary it is almost impossible to get a jackal's shield down with normal fire because unless it is all alone you will die first or it will move or roll and take cover and the shield will recharge.


Earlier you didnt say almost. I get what your saying now. Its a lot more efficcent healthwise to use the overcharge.

  • 08.10.2004 10:16 AM PDT
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thats wat we've been trying to say

  • 08.10.2004 10:27 AM PDT
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the ammo is not such a big problem. there is a grunt around every corner and 70% of the grunts have plasma pistols

  • 08.10.2004 10:33 AM PDT
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Posted by: zoggyzoggerson
...or it will move or roll and take cover ...


Exactly.

O.K., zoggyzoggerson and Agent X sort of answered the intent of my question; but I can tell from most of the other answers that I wasn't as clear as I could be. I am not talking about killing elites: I understand the need for overcharged shots against these tough guys. I am also not talking about using the pp versus using some other weapon (just one mode of pp vs. another mode). And I am definitely not talking about taking out a jackal's shield with normal shots (didn't even know you could do that). Here is what I am talking about: Method A and Method B (below).

Method A: Standard recommended method of using the plasma pistol overcharge to take out the Jackal's shield and then finish him off with the plasma pistol (uses the equivalent of about 55 pp shots, assuming your first overcharge hits).

Method B: Pour on normal plasma pistol shots aimed at the shield slot (or some other exposed area of the Jackal, NOT his shield) to force him to quickly roll, run or turn away. Keep up the plasma pistol fire to keep him manuevering so that you get in a chance hit on the areas he exposes during his roll/whatever. The plasma pistol hit stuns him for a very short time, during which time more plasma pistol hits lock him in stun until he goes down. Notice that he goes down with his shield in good working order. Total ammo expenditure for the MC is about 20-30 pp shots, which is far less pp charge than is used by Method A.

Notice that both methods use only the plasma pistol and no other weapon; so we are not talking about conserving any other ammo besides pp charge. I have taken out maybe two dozen jackals using Method A, and literally over a hundred using Method B. (I have also used many other methods to take out Jackals, but that is not germane to this discussion.)

So my question is: Why use Method A instead of Method B for Jackals?

The only viable answer I have gotten, so far, is that Method B leaves you exposed slightly longer, and that on the higher difficulties that can get you killed. "Higher difficulties" must mean Legendary and/or the last half of Heroic; because I am in the Library on Heroic and have toasted many a Jackal using Method B, with no ill effects.

Anyone want to second zoggy's or Agent X's reasoning or offer another?

(BTW, thanks to all for your previous answers.)

[Edited on 8/10/2004 11:32:36 AM]

  • 08.10.2004 11:26 AM PDT
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I only use the plasma pistot when there is three or more in a tight space, when I don't have grenades. Its better just to use the Pistol and shoot the little slit of the hand. Its not that hard.

  • 08.10.2004 12:03 PM PDT
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Do you use this technique in legendary?
...Its better just to use the Pistol and shoot the little slit of the hand. Its not that hard.
Do you prefer this technique over using the overcharge? On Legendary?

  • 08.10.2004 12:15 PM PDT
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well as on campaign my favorite weapon is the plasma pistol I feel that method b is better.

1.charge up takes time to charge, then travels slowly and tends to seek walls.
2.with numerous targets you would have to use this technique many times perhaps undercharging once or twice and not getting the shot off, while ducking for cover alot.
3.ducking for cover gives things a chance to regroup and perhaps move closer pinning you in.
4.take the turn speed off 3... work your way up to a higher number at least 8 with the higher turn speed you might find that method b works a little better. and im not saying that your turn speed is on three, just that when I play people in multiplayer who have it and I run circles around them.
5.my method of running into the middle of groups and rapidfiring usually gives me only one bar of health to work with, but its faster, my friend frickin memorizes the position of every creature and picks them off from around corners... he spends about 5-6 hours on each level. this is a waste of time.

  • 08.10.2004 12:31 PM PDT
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Posted by: NobleNick
Do you use this technique in legendary?
...Its better just to use the Pistol and shoot the little slit of the hand. Its not that hard.
Do you prefer this technique over using the overcharge? On Legendary?


Yea, because they flinch and give you a chance to finish them off.

  • 08.10.2004 1:11 PM PDT
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I dont even usually use a plasma pistol

  • 08.10.2004 1:14 PM PDT
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Its not so hard to do the overcharge. If you just aim right the shot will follow the enemy you want to kill.

  • 08.10.2004 2:15 PM PDT
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And since ammo is not a problem we shouldent even have this discussion. Since over charge is a much faster way to do. Plus if u use overcharge their shield never recovers. letting you take other jackals shields and finish them all off at the end. or taking their shiel down so someone else can shoot them if they dont have a plasma weapon.

  • 08.10.2004 2:19 PM PDT
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in legendary (the only hard difficulty) its just MUCH easier to use the plasma pistol overcharge. if you stand in one spot and try to the slot,then your gonna die from the jackal or any other guy there.

this guy is N00B you kow,only on heroic. he doesnt know what he's talking about.

  • 08.10.2004 6:51 PM PDT
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Posted by: NobleNick
I have read, in this forum and in virtually all the walkthroughs and weapons tips, to use the overcharge on the plasma pistol to take down the elite's or the jackal's shield, then finish him of with normal shots. In my short Halo career (have finished Normal and am in the Library on Heroic) I have found that I get more mileage out of my pp on Jackals by just using normal shots.

If one uses the prescribed method (overcharge), the pp charge goes down by 10 percent. Experimentation shows that there are 500 shots in a fully loaded pp (100%); thus, 10% is worth 50 shots. So, the overcharge uses up 50 shots, and then it takes, say, 5 more shots to finish him off: 55 shots, total.

I have found that if I just shoot at the Jackal's feet, the slot, or other exposed area, and keep laying the fire on, that the Jackal will quickly roll or otherwise expose himself to my constant fire and almost always take a hit that opens him up for follow-on shots. In the end he goes down after about 20 to 30 shots, which uses up much less pp charge.

Am I missing something? Why do all the guides say to use the overcharge on Jackals when the job can be done about as quickly and with much less charge using normal shots?


There is only flood and elites and Grunts.

  • 08.10.2004 6:53 PM PDT
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There is only flood and elites and Grunts.

Sorry. I did not get the point of your post.

  • 08.11.2004 8:10 AM PDT
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It's a very good strategy to take out jackal shields with overcharge Plasma pistol. Because Jackals always carries plasma pistols. And they are seldom alone.
Let's say you're playing on legendary, and you have some grunts and 2 jackals ahead of you.
Two ways to this

A) kill the grunts easy with normal fire. Overcharge the jackal shields, and then kill them normally. Consumes approx. 30 % battery. But then you can choose from several fresh plasma pistols.

B) Kill everything using normal fire. Will take less ammo, longer time, and is more dangerous. But you will swap the Plasma pistol anyway.

Conclusion:
There are too much plasma pistols. Waste as much ammo as you can. There is always a new plasma pistol nearby.

  • 08.11.2004 8:46 AM PDT

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A blue Elite will go down pretty quickly from the AR, and a red Elite takes a full clip. For the people that are still getting used to Legendary, using the charge shots is good. It brings down the enemy shield, giving you the opportunity to follow up with the AR or Pistol.

  • 08.11.2004 8:56 AM PDT
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Conclusion:
There are too much plasma pistols. Waste as much ammo as you can. There is always a new plasma pistol nearby.

Thanks, DaEIAITH2; I can easily see that argument. I'll also have to do some timed experiments to see if I really can take a jackal down with normal shots faster than I can with overcharge.

  • 08.11.2004 9:10 AM PDT

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