Spore Launcher

This article is about the Half-Life: Opposing Force weapon. For the Xen plant, see Xen Spore.

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Spore Launcher
Production information
Faction	Race X
Type	Bio weapon / grenade launcher
Technical specifications
Damage	90 if direct hit, 50 average, splash damage
Ammo	5
Max ammo	20
Weapon category	7
Ammo type	Spore
Accuracy	High
Range	Long
Usage
Used by	Adrian Shephard
Game information
Entity	weapon_sporelauncher
Designer(s)	Stephen Bahl

 

The Spore Launcher is an improvised biological weapon seen in Half-Life: Opposing Force. It is actually a Shock Trooper still in its infancy; a large amphibious alien specimen which is fed clusters of Spore Fruit and then manipulated into forcefully expelling the spore clusters.

Overview

• An infant Shock Trooper, the Spore Launcher resembles a large lungfish or tadpole, with a smooth rounded skull crowned by spikes, gills along its side and trailing tentacles, one of which is used by Shephard as a "grip". The creature can store the mushroom-like spores which dot parts of Black Mesa in its digestive tract, and then launch them forcibly when required to. It seems to have an affectionate nature, often making purring noises which Shephard rewards with a friendly stroke along its back.

• The Spore Launcher has two modes of fire. Primary fire shoots a spore in a straight line, which then explodes on impact. Secondary fire discharges the spore in an arcing path, that will bounce for a few times, exploding either after the third bounce, or on contact with an enemy unit.

• The Spore Launcher is discovered by Adrian Shephard in the chapter Vicarious Reality, in the Biodome Complex. It is on the floor near a broken glass tube. If you miss it, you cannot get it in the same playthrough.

Tactics

• The Spore Launcher is very powerful if it directly hits a target; it can kill a human in one shot. It can be inaccurate, however, as the spores travel slower than bullets and the explosion radius of the spore itself is much smaller than a grenade.

• The Spore Fruit, which grows the ammo for the Launcher, regrows after a short period of time. Take advantage of this to stock up to the weapon's limit, as Spore Fruits are quite rare.

• Although the Launcher has a surprisingly fast firing rate, do not be tempted to use it in close combat, as it is likely to do splash damage to the player.

• By using the primary fire and shooting at the ground while jumping or jumping and running at the same time, the player can travel farther distances and reach areas otherwise inaccessible.

• Shooting the Spore Fruit with any weapons will cause it to launch its spore. A good tactic is to shoot the Spore Fruit if there is an enemy near it and since Spore Fruits usually come in numbers shooting all of them will cause great damage to whoever is in range. Sometimes, shooting one is enough and will cause a chain reaction with other Spore Fruits.

• This weapon can be fired underwater.

Trivia

• The idle animation for this weapon shows Shephard petting the "head" area of the creature, with it showing some acknowledgement in return.

Gallery

• 

  HUD icon.

• 

  Worldmodel.

• 

  Viewmodel.

• 

  The Spore Launcher being reloaded.

• 

  Spore ammo as found on grounds and walls.

• 

  Spore.

• 

  Stored Spore Launchers.

• 

  Stored ammo.

List of appearances

• Half-Life: Opposing Force