Shield Scanner



First Seen: Half-Life 2, Chapter Eleven - Anticitizen One
 * Health total: 30
 * Weapon damage: Dive (25)
 * Entity:  (spawned in Episode One only, and in Half-Life 2, in "Anticitizen One" chapter only)

The successor of the city scanner, the shield scanner appears for a brief time in later chapters of the game. It is very similar to the city scanner in terms of function and capabilities. The shield scanner (or "Hopper Dropper") features a stronger, and more blinding search light, and is equipped with a large pincer arm, which is kept concealed behind an armored hatch at its front, along with several additional sensors and parts.

The shield scanner, unlike the city scanner, has minor combat roles. A shield scanner uses its pincer arm to efficiently pick up and deploy hopper mines, giving it the additional combat support roles of a miniature equipment transport and minelayer. Shield scanners are also used as target-spotters for striders, alerting them to the presence of enemies hiding inside structures, or in other areas that might be used for concealment. The official Prima game guide says that this type of scanner is equipped with a light machine gun. However, this feature was most likely cut from Half-Life 2, as the shield scanner never uses such a weapon in-game.