The alt-fire mode charges up the weapon to fire more powerful white-hot beams these can shoot through multiple targets or walls, causing a devastating explosion blast of particles on the far side. Though only moderately per hit, these rapid discharges can quickly gun down unarmored targets. The first shoots tau particles semi-automatically, visible as yellow beams in the air each beam damages a target with its negative charge and its bullet-like kinetic energy. The Tau Cannon fires beams of Tau particles. The depleted Uranium-235 ammunition is shared with the Gluon Gun and the Displacer Cannon. Furthermore, Gordon does not have to reload the weapon – it taps directly into the HEV Suit’s ammo reserve. Its advanced technology allows it to use depleted Uranium-235 as fuel.
A prototype energy-based particle accelerator, the Tau Cannon is a weapon developed by scientists at Black Mesa.