An energy sword's twin blades are superheated plasma contained in a tightly configured magnetic field generated from its grooved hilt. [4] [10] Within the hilt, there is an energy storage device that doubles as a field generator, [8] [11] which, when activated, projects the blade, with the stabilized superheated plasma being enclosed in magnetic lines extending from the hilt. [5] [12] [13]

The weapon is powered by a small battery that supplies power to both the plasma generator and the magnetic field generator. [14] The battery's energy is reduced for each successful strike. Once the battery power is fully depleted, the sword will deactivate unless recharged. The horizontal hilt forces the wielder to use a punching motion to stab rather than the thrusting motion of most knives and swords. Within the Banished, there is no enforced uniformity for the energy sword, allowing each warrior to customize their weapons to their own needs. [10] That being said, the most common variants appear to be the Domotos-pattern and the Meluth'qelos-pattern. [48] [49] Variants [ edit ] PatternsDomotos-pattern energy sword - A variant with angular contours and a rectangular hole along the inner edge of either blades, with widespread use in the Banished, [48] Jul 'Mdama's Covenant, [50] and the Swords of Sanghelios in the post-war period. [51] Bloodblades were used by some Special Operations Sangheili, [3] [13] such as the Silent Shadow. [14] [6] One of their known uses was at the Battle of Algolis in 2549, during the Human-Covenant War, in the attempted execution of Atriox. [10] They were also seen in the defense of a Covenant moon base. [13] Bloodblades were also in use with the Banished, with one being in the possession of Jega 'Rdomnai as his personal energy sword during the Battle for Zeta Halo in 2560. [8] After John-117 defeated 'Rdomnai, the Spartan kept the Sangheili's personal Bloodblade as a memento. [15] [16]

When playing a custom game (normal or Firefight), the dagger will not appear for Elite-on-Spartan assassinations, but the dagger will appear if the same match is watched in Theater mode. Within the Covenant military, use of the energy sword is not restricted to aristocrats. [25] Sangheili Minors are generally not permitted to wield the sword because of the high regard in which it is held, [27] though exceptions have been witnessed. [43] [44] Storm troops, [45] Ultras, Zealots, Generals, special operation officers, stealth troops, and honor guardsmen commonly use energy swords. [25] [46] Some Sangheili special forces units, notably the Silent Shadow, employed bloodblades, blood red-colored energy swords which burn hotter than more common models. [11] [17] [47] In Halo 3, if a Mongoose is coming at you, you can actually sword-lunge over the windshield and kill the driver or passenger if there is one. But it requires very precise timing. A duel between Haka 'Suukaree, who is wielding a traditional Sangheili blade weapon, and Fal 'Chavamee, who is wielding a Pelosus-pattern energy sword. Bloodblades are energy swords that possess red-colored plasma blades instead of blue-colored ones. They are not exclusive to a specific pattern of fireblade, as they have been seen as Meluth'qelos-pattern fireblades, [8] Pelosus-pattern fireblades, [9] [10] and two unidentified patterns. [11] [12] Usage [ edit ]

In Halo: Combat Evolved, the Energy Sword has a cyan glow, a far less defined edge and makes a dull clunk when striking an object. It is only used by Stealth Sangheili and Zealots. The player cannot wield the energy sword due to the failsafe mechanism device that destroys the weapon upon killing the sword-wielder. It maintains this appearance, albeit with slightly more detail in Anniversary. Last but not least, the Type-1 Energy Weapon can sometimes betray the position of a Sangheili warrior employing active camouflage due to the weapon's energy output.