The Type-38 Anti-Aircraft Cannon, nicknamed the "Tyrant", is a type of anti-aircraft emplacement used by the Covenant Empire. It fires extremely powerful bolts of superheated plasma at a high velocity.^[2]
The T38 AAC was known to be used during the Fall of Reach. It differs considerably from the sleeker, more streamlined Mantis seen during the Battle of Earth and the Battle of Installation 00. The T38 is significantly heavier in construction, and is able to fire three bolts in a rapid succession. It has a small command center inside it, with slopes leading to the second level of the structure's base. The gun's vulnerable power core is encased in the center. Each time the cannon fires, a bolt of plasma is generated by the core and fired up into the gun.^[2]
There are two ways to destroy the T38 AAC. The first way is to enter its interior and destroy the core, which will cause the gun to explode. This method is rather tedious, but it gets the job done. The second way is to simply fire at the back of the cannon with any weapon to destroy it, although heavy vehicles like the Scorpion or Wraith are the easiest and fastest way to do so. This may be convenient if the player does not want to bother defeating the large amounts of infantry that are almost always guarding it.

Trivia

• The Tyrant is an oddity among Covenant weaponry, as it is not named after a supernatural entity or, in the case of the Scarab and Locust which are refitted mining vehicles, an insect. However, given Bungie.net user and Mythic difficulty founder The Tyrant's increasing recognition and endorsement on Bungie.net, and the recent introduction of LASO into Reach's weekly challenges,^[3] it is likely that the vehicle is named after him.
• The Tyrant appears to be the Covenant analog to the UNSC's Onager.
• The Tyrant is, visually, a cross between Halo 2's Covenant artillery and Halo 3's Type-27 Anti-Aircraft Cannon.

Gallery

Type-38 "Tyrant" Anti-Aircraft Cannon. A Type-38 Anti-Aircraft Cannon firing. The inner core of a T-38 AAC. A Tyrant on the ruins of Airview Base. A Tyrant's explosion is extremely visible. A Tyrant firing. A Hunter defends a Tyrant. A destroyed Tyrant.

List of appearances

• Halo: Reach (First appearance)