Mortar Synth

Mortar Synth
General information
Type	Synth
Affiliation	Combine
Individual information
Attacks / Weapons	Energy grenade mortar
Game information
Designed by	Unknown
Entity name	monster_generic

The Mortar Synth is an incomplete Half-Life 2 aerial enemy only glimpsed towards the end of the game in the Citadel on a conveyor belt along with the Crab Synth, during Gordon Freeman's second pod ride. It is unknown where it is transported to, as it is never encountered in combat anywhere during the game or its episodes. With the Crab Synth, it is said to be "the backbone of the Combine's subsequent armies".

Overview

Mortar Synths in the Citadel.

The Mortar Synth consists of a fleshy, triangular body with a mortar located on its back. Its front end features many spiked protrusions and various mechanical systems. Hovering low above the ground, it was to use its mortar to throw "energy grenades" flinging upwards its rear section, similar to a catapult. It was likely to be used as a support infantry by the Combine, its attack allowing it to hit only far targets, being inefficient at close range (according to the file "skill.cfg" in the Half-Life 2 files, its energy grenades were to have a good range, but only inflict minor damage to targets).

Behind the scenes

• The Mortar Synth was never completely finished and seems to bear a temporary name, likely related to its use of a mortar (with the Crab Synth, it is one of the only Synth to have "Synth" in its name). It has incomplete animations, model errors, both high and low quality textures and missing files. This is likely why it is only glimpsed and not confronted during the game.

• It is likely one of the earliest created Synths (with the Crab Synth), when they bore more red and yellow and did not feature any Combine logo (see also the original Dropship). Ted Backman subsequently defined the current design, with more blue and more pale colors. Added to the fact that it is incomplete, it can be seen as an Easter egg of the early Synth designs, while still canon.

• The player was originally to directly confront the Mortar Synth in several situations; in the Skyscraper and during the City 17 street battles, among others.

Trivia

When a Mortar Synth is approached during play and interacted with the "Use" key, the entity's current animation will freeze and continue moving by frame when it is shot. Its animation would resume when the "Use" key is pressed again.

Gallery

View from the back.

Shooting animation.

Mortar Synths and Crab Synths in the Citadel.

Ditto.

List of appearances

• Half-Life 2 (First appearance)