Covenant Needler
The Covenant Needler is one of the most iconic weapons in the Covenant Empire, considered by the Imperium, as one of the most gruesome weapons they have encountered, as well as one of the most dangerous. What makes the Needler weaponry so dangerous is their homing feature and point-to-impact explosion which can chain-react and cause even bigger explosions if multiple needles are embedded.
Variants
Noted for their use of their unusual ammunition, the Covenant Needler has a wide range of variants, each more dangerous then the last. Their structure and firing mechanisms are still considered too alien to be studied, even by the Covenant themselves.
Needler Pistol
The smallest of the bunch, this pistol size Needler carries less rounds, have less rate of fire, and has shorter range then their larger counterparts. Wielded only by high ranking Covenant officers, in trade of a much powerful pistol, the Needler pistol is still a dangerous weapon to even the Astartes.
Needler
Your basic Needler, their needles which often protrudes out of the gun can be used as a make-shift bayonet for devastating results. Their firing mechanisms and where the Covenannt find the needles from is still largely unknown, however what is known is that the gun "Chips" away small sections of each individual needle, said chip is accelerated by what can be identified as a magnetic accelerator of unknown origins.This "chipped" needle then follows their target either through heat signature or fire-on-sight mechanism, when it embeds into their victim, the needle then violently explodes either due to chemical reaction in the body, this explosion can be amplified with more needles. Such damage is equal if not worse then that of a Bolter.
Needle Rifle
Considered as the "Marksman" version of the Needler, this rifle like design fire the entire needle rather then just small chips of it, and because of the longer barrel, the needle travels much faster, hits harder, and have a longer range, but sacrifices firing rate. They are so powerful that just three needles are enough to cause a "Super-combine" explosion, and crack open Astartes Power armor like an egg.
Heavy Needler
The biggest of them all, only mounted on turrets and vehicles. These massive guns are meant to fire at aircraft due to their homing feature, and instead of firing individual needles or just chips like their smaller brethren, these guns fire entire blocks of needles. Such damage would be devastating to enemy aircraft, and its effects on infantry would be at best, ignored.