Gao'Uld Weapons

Unit: Goa'uld Hand Device
Manufacturer: Unknown Goa'uld Facility.
Type: Personal Defensive Weapon / Torture Device
Bore diameter: NA
Maximum effective range 'Throw' effect: 20 meters
Maximum effective range 'Mind-attack' effect: 2 meters
Ammunition: Modified Liquid Naquida power cell from a staff weapon. Many thousands of years power when used infrequently.
Known modifications: 'Ra' Hand Device

The Goa'uld Hand Device is the premier personal defense system of a Goa'uld. It is a modified glove that covers the hand, usually the right hand. The core of the system is a red crystal/power source that is held in place in the middle of the palm of the hand by the glove. From this point, either of two effects may be produced. The first effect is generally used for self defense. It creates a type of force which visually looks like a 'ripple' effect which is fired from the crystal at a target. It imparts an direct KE force onto the target, generally throwing a man sized and massed objecjct across the room. Or it fired at closer ranges into several people, it send them all flying across the room. The second effect is a energy beam that is projected at the brain of a person. It can be used to either cause extreme pain and punish someone or continued to be used to execute them. When the energy beam is in use, the target loses most of their motor control making resistance very difficult. The device also has the ability to activate Goa'uld technology in ships and installations around them. Transport rings can be activated by them without the need for a control panel or the Jaffa activation switch. Doors and basic systems on Motherships can be triggered by them, which speaks to the degree of Goa'uld conformity in construction. Even on the ships of rival system lords, a hand device from an enemy will activate the rings and other systems. As is establishde in the technology page, there is some kind of common computer protocols in place within Goa'uld technology.

The Hand Device is controlled via what amounts to 'thought control'. As Carter said, 'thought control amplified with emotion'. Which function of the device is wanted to be activated, be it the energy beam causing pain or the force effect is triggered by what amounts to a mental command by the Goa'uld, without the need to physically activate any controls. The degree of pain of the energy beam can be very carefully controlled by the Goa'uld. So they can slowly torture a person to death in great pain, render their motor skills ineffective but keep them very much conscious, kill them quickly and relatively painlessly or quickly and very painfully. There is also a degree of control over the force effect. It can be used with great skill to deflect relatively small and slow moving objects from impacting.

An interesting fact, the device will not work for someone who does not have traces of Naquida in their bloodstream. All blended and formerly blended hosts of symboytes will have this marker and can use this (and other) Goa'uld technology. This was probably done in an attempt to keep Jaffa from using Goa'uld technology. Even if they tried it on, they would be unable to activate it, keeping it safely in the realm of 'Goa'uld magic' that is beyond their ability to use or understand. Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill both have this Naquida trace in their blood having been blended with Goa'uld at various times. Carter has used both the Hand Device and to a greater extent the Healing Device, however Col O'Neill, given his experiences with Goa'uld (nearly becoming a host to one of Hathors Goa'ulds and being betrayed by the Tok'ra Keleb) will probably not wish to attempt using Goa'uld technology.

However there is a realism problem with the devices ability to impart Kinetic Energy to a target. The problem of recoil. Newton physics rather clearly show that in exerting the force that pushes people across rooms, there should be a counter force acting on the person using the device, pushing them back just as heavily. However this is clearly not the case. In more then a few circumstances, the person using the Hand Device is in the worst possible position to try and brace against any recoil from the firing effect. As strong as a Goa'uld host may be, they can't make recoil vanish. The only logical explanation is that through some unknown mechanism, the device is able to nullify almost all the recoil effect. When Major Carter used it in "Thors Chariot", her arm did jolt slightly when she used the 'push' effect. Also in "Seth", she used it twice. In the first instance she was well braced and any recoil would have shifted into her body. In the second instance her arm was extended at an angle and it did move it back slightly. So it appears that almost all the recoil is dissipated, perhaps leaving just enough for feedback so as to better control it.

Unit: Ra Hand Device
Manufacturer: Unknown Goa'uld Facility.
Type: Personal Defensive Weapon / Torture Device
Bore diameter: NA.
Maximum effective range 'Throw' effect: 30 cm
Maximum effective range 'Mind-attack' effect: 30 cm
Ammunition: Modified Liquid Naquidah power cell from a staff weapon. Many thousands of years power when used infrequently.
Known modifications: None

Ra used a hand device very similar but not identical to the type used by other Goa'uld system lords. The central crystal visually looks identical to that on standard hand devices and it has the same two functions. However the actual device is visually, somewhat different. Rather then a full glove that covers the entire hand, it is held on by two rings that are placed around the index and fifth finger of the hand. It also has some somewhat more elaborate wire decoration on the dorsal surface on the top of the hand, formed into the eye symbol of Ra. The rest of the device as it covers the lower forearm is appears similar to the standard hand device.

The only difference in function appears to be the range at which it can be used. While not conclusive proof of inferior range to the standard hand device, the weapon on Ra's hand is not used beyond a distance of ~20cm either with the propulsive force or energy beam. The standard Hand Weapon can also be used at these ranges and it may simply mean that Ra chose to use it at that range rather then at longer ranges. However in the absence of evidence that it can be used at such ranges, we can not assume it can.

Unit: Transphasic Eradication Rod (TER)
Manufacturer: Unknown Goa'uld Facility / Tokra
Type: Trans-Phase Illumination system / Trans-Phase Energy Weapon
Bore diameter: Emission point: 30mm.
Maximum effective range: Unknown. Observed max of ~15 Meters
Maximum effective area illumination range: 200 meters
Ammunition: Unknown.
Known modifications: None

The Transphasic Eradication Rod or (TER for short) is a device produced by the Goa'uld (and ripped off by the Tok'ra) which defeats the natural cloaking ability of the Retu (as well as the personal cloaking device the Goa'uld used which is based off that ability). It is comprised of two sections. The first section is some kind of active illumination system that scans out ahead of the device in a cone shape like a spotlight. It has an effective range of several hundred meters and can at those ranges illuminate an area around forty meters in width. This active energy field when it impacts upon a Retu (apparently without their knowledge) will bring them into our phase both visually and audibly. Then the second function comes into play. A burst of energy of some kind, unlike any other Goa'uld weapon is emitted from the firing assembly below the illumination system, out of the red crystal. It appears to cause the Retu to explode. It is unknown what this energy burst will do to non phase shifted targets. When it impacted upon walls and doors at the SGC, it did not appear to exert any force. Nor did it leave any debris or body parts of the Retus in our phase.

Unit: Zae'Tarc / Goa'uld holdout weapon.
Manufacturer: Unknown Goa'uld Facility
Type: Holdout Energy Weapon / Suicide Device
Bore diameter: 1mm
Maximum effective range: Unknown. Observed to be around 15 meters
Ammunition: Unknown. None
This weapon is one of the more ingenuous technological developments of the Goa'uld. It combines a high powered energy weapon of extreme destruction power with a tiny size and ease of concealment. It incorporates the same 'foldout' style technology used in much of Goa'uld designs, such as their helmets, keeping it small and inconspicuous until the time to strike is at hand.
The base unit is a large half ring circling the midle and ring ringers of ones hand with an extending projection in between the fingers. The ring only partially circles to the front of the hand making it easy to conceal when it is worn. Firing the weapon is not accomplished through any clear physical action either explicate or implicate. Rather it appears to be controlled through the same thought pattern recognition technology as used in Goa'uld hand devices. However there is no indication that Naquadah is required to be present in the user to allow use of this weapon. In fact from a covert point of view, it would be extremely unlikely to be a requirement. And beyond that, we have seen people presumably Naquadah free use them. It is likely that the necessary mental skill to use this technology is included with Za’Tarc programming and the Goa’uld self defence version naturally is used by beings who are quite capable of this feat already.
What *kind* of weapon this is, is rather difficult to pin down. It fires a pink/red incoherent beam with a core+wave pattern faintly similar to that of a Zat Gun. It appears to generate quite a bit of recoil, packing a large amount of Kinetic Energy as well as assorted thermal effects into targets. Hand movement during firing causes the projected 'beam' to also move with no perceptible bending visible. It does *not* travel at C however as it can clearly be seen propagating through space. The initial beam appears to be relatively harmless. Damage appears to start after ~0.08 seconds, though the main 'punch' of the weapon does not kick in until ~0.5 seconds as the visible intensity increases. Thermal effects will ramp up during this phase including heating and vaporisation effects. Over a period of ~0.2 seconds, the beam appears to increase its wattage considerably, at least by an order of magnitude resulting in extreme damage to a target. Between the initial beam and wattage jump the beam still has sufficient power to penetrate clear through two adult humans, though it appears to only cause damage directly along a narrow path. When the power jumps, a large-scale vaporisation events will often take place on people, leaving a glowing charred hole in their chest. Against the SGC's concrete reinforced walls, it had sufficient fragmentation energy to blast craters a good fifteen centimetres wide and three deep. Essentially equivalent to the Staff Weapon discharges against the concrete in 'Chain Reaction'. Of course its firepower is not always this extreme, Osiris in 'Chimera' fired short controlled bursts which were enough to kill, but not to cause excessive damage. Against a surveillance van, short bursts were stopped by the engine covering while a full power shot penetrated the fuel tank and blew the vehicle sky high. But Given the size difference between a Staff weapon and this holdout weapon, it is an incredible advancement in Size V Firepower, for once a Goa'uld weapon built for function rather then effect. Though we don't know the stamina of this weapon., it is sufficient for at least a half dozen shots and a high yield self destruct.

A secondary function of the weapon, at least those issued to Za'Tarcs is a high power self destruct sequence. Activated by pressing a stud where the main projection and ring join, it causes energy to arc over their body with increasing frequency and luminescence before some kind of detonation takes place that we never see directly. Said detonation leaves absolutely no trace of the assassin but it does not appear to be violent enough to be a vaporisation event. Given the similarity of the energy arcing over the body to a Zat discharge, I conclude it is a release of similar particles in either strength or numbers sufficient to completely 'vaporise' the body, while the explosion is the weapon itself self destructing.


Unit: Staff Weapon (Mark I).
Manufacturer: Unknown Goa'uld Facility.
Type: Energy Weapon / Melee Weapon
Bore diameter: Emission point: 15mm. Emission Assembly: 80mm
Maximum effective range point target: ~70 Meters
Maximum effective range area target: Unknown.
Ammunition: Liquid Naquadah power cell.
Known modifications: None.
The right arm of any Jaffa warrior, the Staff has been the primary weapon of the Goa'uld Ground forces for over ten thousand years and will quite probably go on for the foreseeable future as their main weapon. Powered by an internal Naquadah fuel cell, the weapon can hold a functional charge for thousands of years and still be quite functional when picked up and activated. The total endurance of this system is unclear in total power, but there is never any concern over ammunition displayed by the Jaffa. The weapon is built into a quarter staff approximately 2.3 meters long . The main shaft is a cylinder approx. 30mm in diameter, of a material light enough for field use yet massive enough to make an effective melee weapon. It is highly rigid, never bending or bowing under the weight the oval shaped emission tip on one end or the teardrop/circular shaped melee butstop on the other end. All Jaffa undergo intense training with their Staffs as a matter of course, several styles of staff fighting exist among the Goa'uld with different emphasis on attack or defence, dependent on the Jaffa master teaching. While such combat techniques might be scoffed at by Earths military teams, the martial traditions of the Jaffa lend themselves well to such disciplines.

As with all "Staff" based energy weapons (a generic term defining weapons firing the same type of energy in a coherent bolt), the energy weapon fires what appears to be a burst of high energy plasma, suspended in a containment field off unknown type at a velocity of between 50-70 M/s. For more information on these weapons, please refer to the "Staff Weapons" essay in the articles section. The energy pulse of a staff weapon is launched from the forward end of the staff and causes damage through thermal and kinetic effects on impact.

The energy bolts have a typical fire rate of ~2 shots per second for full power blasts. The weapon can be fired with a higher ROF, with a penalty for firepower incurred. Rapid fire blasts were used by Bre'Tac to blast the ground between him and some unfriendly Jaffa in "Bloodlines"causing a mixture of steam and vapour to create a smokescreen to block their view while be 'Bre-Fued' their ases. The weapon is activated and fired by means of a trigger built into the Staff, 50-65% of the way down the staff. When triggered, the Staff head will 'split' open and expose the innards, simultaneously a charge of golden energy will cascade along the outside and inside of the energy weapon from rear to front. When fired, the energy pulse will cascade down the 4 exposed sections, then collects centre front and is fired. As an energy weapon is it effective in firepower and damage. A single blast will generally kill a human target if it impacts on the chest. Hits on extremities are often non lethal as the hit will heavily cauterise the wound and prevent blood loss, even if the skin and muscle damage might be bad. The thermal pulse will not penetrate heavily into a target, second and third degree burns are common, but deeper effects are not. It appears a large component of the damage is from kinetic effects, similar to the larger Staff Cannons, but more focused. Broken bones are not an uncommon after-effect from Staff hits, though bone concentrations may make impacts survivable. This is a thin possibility though without some kind of armour to at least partially ablate the thermal pulse.

However as effective as the pulse is, it is heavily compromised by Goa'uld design and asthetic problems. The staff is a good weapon...for what it does. Against the primitive pre industrial (pre gunpowder for that matter) populations that exist on 99% of the human transplanted worlds, it is an effective enough weapon. To quote Colonel Jack O'Neill; "This is a weapon of Terror, its made to intimidate the enemy". An apt enough description. Quarterstaffs would not be uncommon weapons on these planets. Ones that are stronger and lighter then anything seen on these planets that shoot fireballs out one end however are another matter entirely. The weapon provides a far superior standoff weapons ability compared to bows and arrows. The explosive effects of the energy impact provide a degree of demolition ability on the fly and the Staff is an effective melee weapon to combat the more primitive weapons in HTH combat. Against combat SG teams on the other hand, it is a horrible weapon. Grossly inferior in range, lethality and accuracy to modern firearms. It is a situation the Goa'uld have never been in before and the inability for the Jaffa to effectively deal with it shows the inertia of their training and doctrine.

Unit:Staff weapon Mark II.
Manufacturer: Unknown Goa'uld Facility operated by Ra.
Type: Combat Energy Weapon / Melee Weapon
Bore diameter: Emission point: 15mm. Emission Assembly: 80mm
Maximum effective range point target: 45 Meters
Maximum effective range area target: 70 meters
Ammunition: Unknown. Presumed to be Liquid Naquadah power cell. Many thousands of years power when used infrequently.
Known modifications: Modified stun ending.
These staff weapons were the type used on Abydos by Ra's Personal Horrus Guard, against Colonel Jack O'Neill's team and the Abydonian uprising. While almost identical in function and form to the standard staff weapons, they do have slight differences. The end of this staff weapon has the ability to project some type of stun charge on direct contact with an opponent. The charge is non visible and not able to be projected beyond direct contact. It is also relatively small scale, only causing short term effects. However in Melee combat it is a decided advantage. Any kind of physical contact will stun an opponent The charge has a strikingly similar sound to an Intar training weapon and very similar effects in terms of the lowest settings of that weapon. While no true evidence as such can be found to prove this, it is a very compelling comparison. They superficially do have some other differences to the regular staff weapons, they lack the purple colour in the lower era of the staff, being almost totally brown-gold but otherwise are essentially impossible to tell apart.
The staff does have a major difference in yield though. The weapon can be fired with far higher firepower then the conventional staffs used by the System Lords. The firepower of these weapons in fact approaches Staff Cannon levels at times. One interesting fact is that the firing head when using these higher levels of power opens to present a much wider gap, however when firing more conventional blasts it closes to a more normal size. Refire rate for these higher power levels appears to be roughly one shot per two seconds. Rapid firing is possible, though again with a penalty in firepower. How this staff achieves its higher levels of power is unclear, best guess is an enhanced capacitor or extra capacitors installed that can hold a much higher charge level compared to standard Staffs.

Unit:Zat'Nikatal (Zat's).
Manufacturer: Unknown Goa'uld Facility.
Type: Personal Energy Weapon
Bore diameter: Emission point: 5mm. Emission Assembly: 20mm
Maximum effective range: 30 Meters
Ammunition: Liquid Naquadah power cell.
Known modifications: None.
Also known as the Zat Gun, this is the primary side arm and close combat energy weapon of the Goa'uld forces. The weapon is a stylised pistol design that pops up when activated and expands its head to take on a menacing cobra' persona, almost a pet snake that shoots lighting out of its mouth. As usual, the Goa'uld panache for terror weapons shows through, however some through has been put into making it an effective weapons system. The weapon is close range in design but is effective out to the same ranges Staff weapons due to its superior ergonomics combined with the beam propagation rate. In 'Within The Serpents Grasp" Teal'c commented that "it used a different form of energy then a Staff weapon". We know from "Deadman's Switch" that is uses a Naquadah power cell, so it is clearly in reference to the actual energy emitted Teal'c refers to.
The Zat beam is comprised of two parts. One is a comprised of a series of parallel beams fired in a straight line from the emitter to the target. Two beams quite close together appear to form the core of the discharge, though at any distance other then point blank it looks like a single thick beam. Each beam appears to be roughly one meter long and from a distance appears to be a single beam.
Around this beam is an extremely strange helix/wave shaped diffuse energy pattern. The same colour as the main beam, though somewhat less luminescent. It stays a set distance away from the main beam and maintains a clear up-down on the Z axis like a waveform graph, how this is done is completely unknown. It appears that the 'secondary beam' is shot up and away from the main line of travel of the center beam, then pulled down and past the beam, then pulled back up again. However this pattern has been seen to continue in absentia of the 'main beam' either ahead or behind it. It is possible the Zat itself is projecting some kind of nonvisable energy field/beam that is controlling this behaviour...but it is unlikely for several reasons.
* We see multiple beams fired at different targets, with the older beams continuing on.
* We have seen snapshots with Zats followed by the radical movement of the Zat behind cover, with no effect on the beam

Unit: Kul Warriors Energy Weapon.
Manufacturer: Anubis's Tartarus Facility
Type: Personal Energy Weapon
Bore diameter: Emission point: 10mm.
Maximum effective range: ~100 Meters
Ammunition: Unknown. Presumed to be Liquid Naquadah power cell. Many thousands of years power when used infrequently.
Known modifications: None.
Arguably the most lethal personal weapon developed by the Goa'uld to complement the most lethal shock trooper ever deployed by them. The device essentially takes the effective aspects of the Staffs energy weapon, enhances them and delivers them in a package that negates most of the Jaffa's weapons faults. While it has not been officially named onscreen, it has been unofficially dubbed the 'blaster' by many fans...because its remarkably good at blasting things :) As such, we informally refer to it as the "Arm Blaster"
The Arm Blaster is just that, a compact energy weapon attached to the forearm, just forward of the elbow, on a Kuk Warriors armoured suit. Painted the same black as the rest of the suit it is only broken by a blue light of some kind. Why this is exposed is unclear. It might be some kind of charge or diagnostic light. It also may have some kind of function and need to be exposed (possibly part of a cooling system?), but this is pure speculation. Its existence is undefined and unnecessary to define. The weapon is approximately twenty centimetres long and is mounted to the armour at its aft end, the leading ten centimetres projects forward ending in a wedge that houses the emitter. It has an internal power supply not dependent on the rest of the suit as it can be removed and used as a stand alone weapon.

The weapon itself appears to shoot energy "projectiles" of the same type in most respects as a Staff Weapon. However the bolt under examination maintains a far greater coherency, not appearing to loose the plasma to the environment as the Staff does. The bolts are also of a far smaller size and appear to have a greater luminosity as well as a more defined shape, somewhat narrower then Staff blasts.

The weapon (indeed the Kul Warrior itself) appears to be designed specifically by Anubis to counter the threats he found himself opposing upon his return. The Jaffa as always were the primary weapon of the System Lords, but it appears that many of the features of this weapon were designed to counter SG teams and their strengths. Firstly and most important is the placement of the blaster. A relatively small weapon mounted on the arm, it is inherently easier to aim then the Staff. It does not come equipped with any targeting attachments, however it is quite possible (even probable) the Kul Warriors suit has an integrated targeting system as part of the helmet assembly. Even if it does not, the placement is suitable for engagement at short to medium range. Enhancing this is the fire rate. Unlike Staff weapons which can only fire full bursts every few seconds at best, the 'Blaster' typically fires three shot salvos of full powered shots in less then a second. The weapon appears to have enough capacitors to fire a stream of shots on full automatic fire for ~3 seconds. It appears at this point the weapons capacitors appear drained and require recharge. However to counter this eventuality, the Kul Warrior is issued two of them, one on each arm, allowing a blistering barrage to be sent against any target for suppressive purposes or just to blast the hell out of masses of targets (such as a Jaffa charge?).

The main improvement in the weapon apart from refire rate appears to be penetration and damage. The bolts improvement in focus and coherency appear directed at increasing the penetration power of the weapon and by extension, its killing power. While Staffs *generally* kill, they are by no means certain of that result, especially against SG teams wearing combat armour. While they may get a mobility kill, often the hit will not render the target immobile or inactive. The Kul's weapon on the other hand appears designed with penetration of such defensive methods in mind. While the weapon appears to have variable power levels, on high we have seen in blast through a ~2 cm wooden door, through an unarmoured SG team member and keep going on. Such a level of firepower is excessive and rarely used, however the fact that the weapon has such levels of over- penetration shows how well thought out the design is. The energy bolts diffuse thermal energy as they pass through targets at quite high temperatures locally, though air being such a poor conductor means direct contact is needed. It is sufficient to cauterise wounds suffered which is a small blessing, but mostly irreverent as the Warriors shoot for the centre of mass and vaporise the vital organs.
Interestingly, the weapon appears to fire in a 'spread fire' pattern. One shot out of most bursts heads straight down the centreline of the weapon, but the shots will disperse in a circular pattern to bracket any potential target or catch groups of targets together with one round of fire. At longer range this can make for poor accuracy against a point target, but against an area target it is an ideal suppressive weapon. Indeed, the general tactics for the Kul warriors consist of advancing on a target while delivering suppressive fire until in close, then switching weapon arms to rake their victim with full powered shots. However it appears the shorter the burst, the more focused the weapon discharges in spread pattern. If this is a result of simple technological limits for the fire rates is unknown, but possible. Effective range is thus limited somewhat on full auto, however single shots or small bursts remain accurate to over one hundred meters, as show with the Kul Warrior shooting a low flying UAV out of the sky as it approached.
The perfect weapon for his perfect soldier, the "blaster" is light-years ahead of the Staff or Zat as an effective field weapon for the Goa'ulds ground forces. When mated with the near indestructible Kul Warrior, it is more arguably the most deadly personal weapon deployed by the Goa'uld, even perhaps edging the best of the Tauri weapons out in overall lethality.

Unit: Explosive Charge
Manufacturer: Unknown Goa'uld Facility.
Type:Demolition Charge
Bore diameter: Unit Diameter 12cm
Maximum effective range: Explosive potential unknown. Does not appear to be as powerful as a comparable Earth explosive charge.
Ammunition: Unknown. Clearly not Weapons Grade Naquidah given the weight and explosive power.
Known modifications: None.

This weapon is the Goa'uld equivalent of a C4 demolition charge used for explosive work to destroy large targets. Its exact yield is not known. However Seth deployed at least six of these around his complex on Earth which appeared to be an un-reinforced building, in an attempt to destroy all technology inside. Only part of the explosion and its effects were seen however it did not appear to be as energetic as a C4 explosion given the numbers of explosives placed around the building and no visible effects to the teams and personal outside and people directly under the house. Teal'c and Bre'Tac also had a number of these charges in their aborted attempt to destroy the Ancient weapon Anubis was using to attack Earth.

The actual explosive is visually identical to the sphere Shock Grenades and Tak'Unit'Agaminituron's use. It has the same casing and control interface as the other two.

Unit: Goa'uld Shock Grenade
Manufacturer: Unknown Goa'uld Facility.
Type:Thrown Stun Grenade
Bore diameter: NA. Unit diameter 12cm.
Maximum effective range: Stun effect has a spherical field effect, controllable to minimum size of 6 meters and an observed maximum of ~20 meters.
Ammunition: Single use stun field
Known modifications: None.

The Goa'uld Shock Grenade is used by Jaffa as the equivalent to the Earth Stun Grenade or 'Flashbang', to stun and disorient enemy forces prior to an attack or when they are beyond the reach of LOS weapons (or when a frontal attack is near impossible). The grenade produces a large energy field in a white sphere which can render a Human or Jaffa unconscious for some time, also impairing eyesight for a time after (though it will recover). It can be set on a timer to detonate a certain number of seconds after being activated or set to detonate on contact with the ground after being thrown. Unlike its Earth Equivalent, its area of effect is able to be limited to a small area. The detonation is characterised by a bright white light and a loud piercing noise. Exactly how the stun effect is delivered is not quite clear, however it appears to be related to those two effects. The best guess is that the noise is simply a device to get attention as most people naturally will react and look around for a sudden noise that stands out. And that the light is, when looked directly at inside the area of effect, instance enough to overload the optic nerve of the target. Which results in unconscious and temporary blindness.

The grenade is set via an interface on the site. Once active, a countdown is represented via a series of white lights that flash in sequence, if a countdown is active. Also, its size and shape precludes throwing it very far or accurately, being designed to be rolled access relatively smooth surfaces, unlike Earth grenades which are designed to fit easily into the palm of the hand for easy throwing. It also must have more or less direct LOS to the target to work, a partiality closed doorway is enough to protect one from the stun effect.

Unit: Goa'uld Tak'Unit'Agaminituron (Tac's)
Manufacturer: Unknown Goa'uld Facility.
Type:Defensive Energy Weapon Turret
Bore diameter: Emission point diameter ~5cm
Maximum effective range: Unknown. Longest range observed ~15 meters
Ammunition: Unknown. Assumed to be Naquidah power cell. Many thousands of years power when used infrequently.
Known modifications: None

Tak'Unit'Agaminituron (commonly known as Tacs) are a short range automatic area defence weapon operating on heat seeking tracking and targeting. They fire bolts which look and sound identical to those used in the Za'Tarc personal weapon and will be assumed to be the same weapon, operating in an autonomous weapons system. The weapon itself is contained within the same 'ball' case that Goa'uld shock grenades and detonation devices are contained in, appearing to confirm that the case is a standardised manufactured casing used for multiple purposes. The weapon itself is not very robust and a single hit from a Zat Nikatal will disable it.

Unit: Staff Cannon Type I.
Manufacturer: Multiple Goa'uld Facilities.
Type: Heavy Energy Weapon / Defensive Emplacement
Bore diameter: Emission point: 20mm. Emission Assembly: 100mm
Maximum effective range area target: 300 meters + (surface to air)
Ammunition: Unknown. Assumed to be Liquid Naquidah power cell.
Known modifications: Glider Cannon Mount. Swivel Cannon Mount. Tower Emplacement Mount.

The Jaffa are primarily a mobile light infantry force. They lack armoured vehicles or transport other then spacecraft across a planetary surface. They are usually deployed on short term campaigns often lasting hours or days at the worst in a very small geographical area. However this has not negated the need for heavier fire support. While your typical Jaffa unit does not have any organic fire support attached on the squad level, they do have a need for heavier emplacements to guard strategic targets. Into this gap comes the Staff Cannon.

The 'Type 1' Staff Cannon resembles a heavy Staff Weapon. It is a flexible weapons system, able to be mounted on a simple swivel mount, in a sophisticated defence tower or on a Gliders wing as its primary weapon. With a very similar firing sequence to a Staff Weapon. Energy cascades down four discrete conduits to converge over an emission point, then a bolt is fired at a target. The fire rate of the weapon is slightly inferior to that of a Staff, but in most other respects it is comparable. The energy fired is the same type, though with a greater bolt size. Propagation is the same. The power difference however is considerable. The weapon is capable of blasting a Jaffa and another Staff Cannon apart with a direct hit. The main threat of this weapon is its incredible concussive effects. Possibly from the plasma superheating the air and creating a local shockwave upon impact. But it is sufficient to throw Jaffa five meters, generally killing them from either the blast or uncontrolled impact (or both). The weapon is to unwieldy and too slow firing to be effective against point targets. It is ideal for the defence of the Stargate and defending from intruders from the Gate and it almost always used in this role.

This weapon is also used on Death Gliders for surface to air attacks. Based on this we can estimate an effective range of several hundred meters. These Cannons are quite capable of being detached and used on the move, with the help of a shoulder strap to fire from the hip. It is most useful against tight concentrations of enemy troops, such as defenders emerging from a Stargate or squad or greater units on the move. It is not easily portable nor it is apparently designed to be, thus it is best described as a static defence.

Unit: Staff Cannon Type II.
Manufacturer: Multiple Goa'uld Facilities.
Type: Heavy Fixed Weapons Emplacement
Bore diameter: Emission point: 25mm. Emission Assembly: 110mm
Maximum effective range area target: 300+ meters
Ammunition: Unknown. Assumed to be Liquid Naquidah power cell.
Known modifications: None.

The Type II Staff Cannon is the heaviest ground based weapon emplacement used by the Goa'uld to defend their surface based installations and strategic points. It is essentially a heavier version of the Type I cannon, mounted in a heavy Tripod mount that provides some minimal protection for the gunner from hostile fire. The weapon is a standard feature in Goa'uld Gate Defence. Defensive units of Jaffa are generally built around these weapons in semi critical locations, A single one of these can dominate a Gate exit and make attacks through a Stargate near impossible. They are not man portable which is why they are defined as static emplacements.

Three types of these weapons have been seen in use. By far the most prevalent is the standard cannon. Mounted on a tripod with a limited field of fire, it is effective as a static emplacement covering a line of advance such as a Stargate. It is not mobile, requiring two Jaffa to lug the cannon along on foot, the stand must also be moved along. It is also effective to blast through enemy barricades or fortifications, sometimes being carried up by troops for use in demolition work.

The second type was seen in 'The Warrior'. There the Rebel Jaffa mounted the Staff cannon into a classic 17th century style field artillery mount, two large wheels attached to make it semi mobile. A large wooden 'towbar' is attached in the same style, leading one to believe the Jaffa may have beasts of burden in their encampment to make the weapons somewhat more mobile. At the least it would allow Jaffa to haul them rapidly to one part of a battle or another.

The third type was seen briefly in the season 2 episode 'Thors Chariot' in use by the Goa'uld Herur. Nicknamed the 'Staff Mortar' by some fans, it is a strange hybrid of a Staff 1 and Staff 2 cannon. Little can be inferred about this weapon. However its charging sequence does take somewhat longer then the other Cannons,giving enough time for a warning to get under cover. The blast effect was sufficient to blow the trunk of a tree in half, but otherwise we know nothing about this weapon as it has not been seen again.