Crossbow (Half-Life 2)
|
Warning! This article has yet to be cleaned up to a higher standard of quality, per our Cleanup Project. It may contain factual errors and nonsense, as well as spelling, grammar and structure issues, or simply structure problems. Reader's discretion is advised until fixing is done. |  |
|---|---|---|
You can help clean up this page by correcting spelling and grammar, removing factual errors and rewriting sections to ensure they are clear and concise, and moving some elements when appropriate. |
| |
| Crossbow | |
|---|---|
| Production information | |
| Faction | |
| Type |
Crossbow |
| Technical specifications | |
| Damage |
100 (instant death to human-sized enemies) |
| Magazine/reload type |
Single rebar, manual reload |
| Max ammo |
10 |
| Weapon category |
4 |
| Ammo type |
Heated Rebar |
| Operation |
Single shot |
| Recoil |
Low |
| Spread |
None (But has bullet drop) |
| Projectile speed |
Fast (slow compared to bullets) |
| Accuracy |
High |
| Range |
All distances (best overall for long range) |
| Usage | |
| Used by | |
| Game information | |
| Entity |
|
- "Citizen Tech crossbow is constructed with tubular steel sections comprising the main body, obvious weld marks and mismatched hardware communicate the nature of this junkyard prototype. This crossbow utilizes a electric drive cocking mechanism."
- ― Concept art
The Crossbow is a long-range sniper weapon featured in Half-Life 2 and its Episodes.
Contents
Overview[edit]
The Crossbow is a ranged weapon that fires red-hot bolts of steel rebar. It is constructed by Resistance fighters from the scavenged junk and debris that litters City 17 and its surrounding environs. Built into the weapon is a telescopic sight situated on top of the tiller, as well as an extendable stock for stability. A battery is attached to the underside of the tiller, powering a circuit that sends an electrical current through any conductive material loaded into the Crossbow, and is strong enough to heat steel to a glow. The Crossbow’s locking mechanism must be reset manually after each shot before another bolt can be loaded into it. The primary fire button will launch the loaded bolt, while the secondary fire button will allow the user to zoom in through the sight. Targets who are killed by the Crossbow’s bolt will be pinned to any nearby surface tangent to the trajectory of the bolt.
Ammunition for the Crossbow is rare, and usually found near Resistance bases, citizen shelters, or in supply crates. The Crossbow itself can be found infrequently throughout Half-Life 2 and its Episodes. In Half-Life 2, it can first be acquired in the chapter Highway 17, not far from an Overwatch outpost, where the player can use the Crossbow to earn the "Targeted Advertising" achievement. It can be found again on the bridge at Bridge Point. In Episode One, the Crossbow appears in the chapter Urban Flight, and in Episode Two it is found in the chapter Riding Shotgun.
Tactics[edit]
The crossbow is an exceptionally powerful weapon, capable of killing most organic targets instantly. However, like other weapons in the series, it does have its disadvantages. The Crossbow is most effective against human-sized targets and Hunters - even a Combine Elite will be killed by a single bolt, and a Hunter can be downed by a well-placed shot to its flechette launchers. Contrariwise, Manhacks and Headcrabs would be challenging to hit even at close range. The Crossbow also lacks the crowd-control ability necessary to deal with swarming Antlions due to its slow reload. Vehicles and Striders, however, will shrug off Crossbow bolts outright.
The Crossbow's bolts travel through the air with a slight arc, making hitting moving targets mostly a case of prediction and timing proficiency, as the targets' track and the gravity acting on the bolt both need to be taken into account. Aim both above and in front of the target to accurately land the hit. The bolts are capable of ricocheting and can "skip" across the ground. Although this is a difficult and impractical tactic in most situations, it can be useful sometimes. For example, firing just below a target coming down a hill can result in the bolt ricocheting off the ground up into the target. Another unique trait of the crossbow is that it is the only weapon aside from the Pistol that can fire underwater. However, the bolts' flight underwater can be erratic.
If an opponent is using a crossbow in multiplayer, it is possible to dodge and zig-zag to juke the bolts. There is another multiplayer trick involving the crossbow and SLAM mines. When an explosive lying on the floor is hit, the bolt won't ricochet but will continue to travel along the floor with its speed drastically reduced. The bolt essentially turns into a makeshift floor-sliding rocket-propelled grenade, deadly to anyone who stands in the way. A similar effect can be achieved using Grenades.
Related Achievements[edit]
| Half-Life 2 | |
|---|---|
|
Targetted Advertising (10G) |
| Pin a soldier to the billboard in the chapter Highway 17. | |
Behind the scenes[edit]
The crossbow's retail HUD icon bears more resemblance to the Crossbow in Half-Life, which might suggest that the Half-Life 2 crossbow was originally supposed to be just like the original, as well as the unused ammo icon resembling the original Half-Life Crossbow arrows. It also features the same kind of magazine and stock as the original Half-Life model. The original model was also used in Half-Life 2 as a placeholder at G-Phoria 2004.
Originally, just like the original Half-Life crossbow, the Half-Life 2 crossbow was in the third weapon slot, unlike in the final game where it is in the fourth weapon slot.[1]
Gallery[edit]
Pre-release[edit]
Concept art for an early version.
Concept art for the current version.
HUD icon, from
HalfLife2.ttffile.
HUD pickup icon, from
HalfLife2.ttffile.
Early HUD ammo pickup icon, resembling the original Half-Life arrow, from
HalfLife2.ttffile.
The original Half-Life model used as a placeholder on the G-Phoria 2004.
Retail[edit]
HUD ammo pickup icon, from
HalfLife2.ttffile.
Worldmodel.
Viewmodel. Strangely, the handle of the Crossbow is missing.
Viewmodel, without ammunition.
Crossbow bolts.
Crossbow bolt used when firing.
The first place the Crossbow can be obtained in Half-Life 2.
The Crossbow on the underside of Bridge Point's railway bridge.
A Crossbow on a supply crate in Nova Prospekt.
A crossbow replica at Valve headquarters in Seattle.
List of appearances[edit]
Main games[edit]
- Half-Life 2 (First appearance)
- Half-Life 2: Episode One
- Half-Life 2: Episode Two
Other[edit]
- Half-Life 2: Deathmatch (Non-canonical appearance)
- Half-Life 2: Lost Coast (Non-canonical appearance)
- Source Particle Benchmark (Game files only) (Non-canonical appearance)
