Shield Scanner

The Shield Scanner (or Scanner Type II), the combat and Synth counterpart of the City Scanner, appears briefly in the later chapters of Half Life 2. It is similar to the City Scanner in terms of functions and capabilities. The Shield Scanner is commonly used by Combine forces to drop Hopper Mines in combat areas and is equipped with a large pincer arm which is kept concealed behind its front armour plate, along with several sensors and parts.

The shield scanner is commonly seen carrying Hopper Mines. Small, round explosive devices with a limited targeting system that, upon detecting a hostile presence nearby, hop up into the air in the direction of the target and detonate on impact. These mines are dropped in areas in which the Combine forces aim to limit the enemy's movement, such as certain streets and alleys. The shield scanner uses its retractable pincer arm to pick up and deploy the mines. Occasionally, the scanner might attempt to drop the mine on top of you, which then explodes. When not handling mines, shield scanners are used for scouting and reconnaissance purposes. They also sometimes accompany Striders and act as spotters for it. They follow targets into buildings and structures and report the positions of the targets hiding inside which the Strider would otherwise be unable to see. Unlike the city scanner, the shield scanner can take pictures of targets with a longer lasting flash, but does not attempt to crash into its attacker when critically damaged.

Trivia

 * The official Prima game guide states that the shield scanner is equipped with a light machine gun, however, it is never seen and was probably cut in the original release.


 * The shield scanner contains animation sequences that show it slashing and attacking targets with its claw, however, this is never seen being done in-game.


 * Shield Scanners sometimes drop 15 AP(armor point) HEV batteries after they are destroyed. This probably serves as their power source.

Chapter Location

 * Half-Life 2 - 11, 12
 * Half-Life 2: Episode One - 5

Spawning in-game

 * Type: give Entity Name (Gold Source Engine)
 * Point at ground where you want it to be created and type: npc_create Entity Name (Source Engine)
 * Half-Life: N/A
 * Opposing Force: N/A
 * Blue Shift: N/A
 * Half-Life 2: ?
 * Lost Coast: ?
 * Episode One: npc_clawscanner
 * Episode Two: npc_clawscanner
 * Obsidian Conflict: npc_clawscanner