Editing Jiralhanae Chieftain

**[[Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant]]{{Ref/Novel|Id=Sacrifice|HSoR|Detail= Adjunct - [[Sacrifice]]}}

|notable=*[[Castor]]

*[[Bassus]]

*[[Avitus]]

*[[Unidentified Jiralhanae chieftain (Heian)]]

The '''Jiralhanae Chieftain''', also known as '''Alpha''',{{Ref/Game|H3|Bestiarum}} is a [[Covenant rank structure|position]] within the [[Jiralhanae]] race. It is one of the highest positions in the Jiralhanae hierarchy both in social aspects and in [[Covenant military|military]] rank within the [[Covenant]] and its [[Covenant remnants|splinter factions]], including the [[Banished]].{{Ref/Reuse|RoA}}{{Ref/Reuse|H3}}{{Ref/Reuse|HINF}}

In the [[Covenant]], Chieftains primarily served as military commanders. They are leaders of groups of the half-a-dozen or more Jiralhanae as well as several lower caste species within a "[[pack]]."  In Jiralhanae society, Chieftains are subordinate only to [[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|War Chieftain]]s and the [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]] himself. Apart from a pack leadership position, the Jiralhanae Chieftains are also spiritual leaders, giving sermons to their [[pack]]s.{{Ref/Level|Id=theark|H3|The Ark (level)|The Ark}}{{Ref/Level|Id=cov|H3|The Covenant (level)|The Covenant}} [[Maccabeus]], while War Chieftain of the ''[[Rapid Conversion]]'', would lead his pack in religious sermons, like the [[Progression of the Ages]] and blessing pack meals.{{Ref/Novel|HCH|Page=196}}

The Chieftain of the Jiralhanae, [[Tartarus]] was [[Battle for the Control Room (Installation 05)|killed]] by [[Thel 'Vadam]], his [[Sangheili]] [[Fleet of Retribution|allies]], and [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Johnson]] on [[Installation 05]]. He wielded a powerful ancient and unique [[Gravity hammer (fiction)|gravity hammer]], the [[Fist of Rukt]].{{Ref/Level|Id=TGJ|Game=Halo 2|Level=The Great Journey}} Preceding him was his uncle Maccabeus, the previous wielder of the Fist of Rukt. Maccabeus's death was at his young nephew's hands, as is the tradition within the Jiralhanae culture: a fight to the death over the Chieftain position within the pack. The same can likely be said for most Jiralhanae Chieftains unless the previous Chieftain fell in battle; however contestants may have had to fight to the death for the position if this was the case. This was known to have happened on at least one occasion during the [[Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss|Jiralhanae occupation]] of the colony [[Beta Gabriel]].{{Ref/Book|Id=H:Evo|Book=Halo: Evolution|Section=Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss|SectionLinkText=Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss}}

Jiralhanae Chieftains are typically clad in resilient ornate crimson and black/silver [[Chieftain power armor|armor]] and are instantly recognizable by their matching large horned headdress, a design which pays homage to the [[Degaeorth]] of [[Doisac]].{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Envoy|Page=40–41}} However, there's varying types of armor favored by Chieftains,{{Ref/Reuse|H3}}{{Ref/Reuse|HR}}{{Ref/Reuse|HINF}} including one design of armor that is thicker with its left arm to deliver bone-crushing melee attacks should they need to perform one without their gravity hammers.{{Ref/Reuse|H3}} Another chassis also have dual wrist-mounted blades extending over their hands for extra melee capabilities.{{Ref/Reuse|HINF}} While it cannot take as much damage as the bronze, gold-colored armor worn by War Chieftains, it allows greater speed and mobility.{{Ref/Reuse|H3}}{{Ref/Reuse|HR}} They are also equipped with renegerating [[energy shielding|personal energy shields]].{{Ref/Reuse|HR}} Their [[Jiralhanae power armor|power armor]] cannot be stuck by [[Anskum-pattern plasma grenade|plasma grenade]]s, [[Type-2 spike grenade|spike grenade]]s, or [[Type-33 needler|needler]] [[Blamite|projectiles]].{{Ref/Reuse|H3}} However, their armor can be stuck by [[Orgudam Workshop firebomb|firebombs]] and unarmored parts like the Chieftains' weapons, hands, and feet can be stuck by spike and plasma grenades.{{Ref/Reuse|H3}} Unlike the power armor worn by Jiralhanae of lesser ranks, a Chieftain's armor does not fall apart once the shields are disabled.{{Ref/Reuse|H3}} Additionally, their power armor grants Chieftains exceptionally high resistance to energy weaponry; even unshielded.{{Ref/Reuse|H3}}

There is another variant of the Chieftain [[Jiralhanae power armor|power armor]], which have a different design and better protection than typical types. It had also a techsuit that covers almost the entire body, including the hands.{{Ref/Reuse|Cards}} These armors were issued by several high-ranking Jiralhanae leaders such as [[Avitus]], also known as the "Brute Army Commander", and [[Unidentified Jiralhanae chieftain (Heian)|another Jiralhanae Chieftain]], albeit the former being also colored entirely in red, opposing red-and-black-colored chieftain power armors, and the latter entirely in blue rather than in red.{{Ref/Game|Id=Cards|HW|Detail=[[:File:HWDE Thrallslayer LeaderProfile.jpg|Collectors Edition Leader Cards]]}}{{Ref/Film|Id=legends|Film=Halo Legends|Story=The Babysitter}} Whenever if either the "Army Commander" term is considered a Jiralhanae title given to several of these Chieftains who wear these power armors or possibly a rank, or simply a nickname given to only Avitus is unknown.

While most Jiralhanae Chieftains were known to have worn power armor, a few were poorly armored, like the bulk of lower-ranked Jiralhanae warriors as a whole until the Great Schism, including [[Parabum]] and [[Lydus]].{{Ref/Reuse|H:Evo}}{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE|Comic=Halo: Escalation|Issue=[[Halo: Escalation Issue 1|#1]]}}

File: HINF BruteChieftainTypes.png|

The Jiralhanae Chieftain's primary and iconic armament is the [[Gravity hammer (fiction)|gravity hammer]],{{Ref/Reuse|H3}} although they sometimes use {{Pattern|Pez'tk|fuel rod gun}}s, {{Pattern|Kopasa'mada|plasma launcher}}s, {{Pattern|Pek|plasma cannon}}s,{{Ref/Game|Id=HR|HR}} {{Pattern|Shea'p|plasma cannon}}s and [[Grenflekt Workshop Scrap Cannon]]s. They usually carry the [[invincibility]] power-up, and sometimes at least another [[equipment]] such as a [[regenerator]], [[flare]], or [[power drain]].{{Ref/Reuse|H3}}

 

A Jiralhanae Chieftain's shields are stronger than those of a standard Jiralhanae, but, oddly, are slightly weaker than a [[Jiralhanae Captain]]'s. Unlike the power armor worn by Jiralhanae of lesser ranks, a Chieftain's armor does not fall apart once the shields are disabled. Additionally, their heavy helmets protect them from [[headshot]]s, and it requires a handful of shots to the head from a precision weapon to knock off their helmet and leave them vulnerable to a fatal headshot. On any difficulty it only takes one [[Type-50 particle beam rifle|beam rifle]] or [[SRS99D-S2 AM sniper rifle|sniper rifle]] shot to disable their shields, while Jiralhanae Captains require two shots on Heroic or Legendary to bring their shields down. On Heroic, a Chieftain's shield can be brought down with twelve [[MA5C Individual Combat Weapon System|assault rifle]] bullets or eight [[Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifle|plasma rifle]] bolts. However, even unshielded, a Jiralhanae Chieftain has extremely high durability and can survive incredibly high amounts of damage; on Heroic, it takes forty-three assault rifle bullets, five particle beam rifle shots, or five direct hits from a [[Type-25 Brute shot|Brute shot]] to kill an unshielded Chieftain, whereas any other Jiralhanae rank dies after only one beam rifle shot or one to two Brute shot grenades once their shields are disabled. This makes the durability of Chieftains much closer to that of the Jiralhanae of ''Halo 2'' than any other Jiralhanae unit in ''Halo 3''. Additionally, their power armor grants Chieftains exceptionally high resistance to energy weaponry; even unshielded, a Jiralhanae Chieftain can withstand more than two hundred plasma rifle bolts before falling, while most standard Jiralhanae die after only a little over a dozen plasma rifle bolts once their shields are gone. Their [[Jiralhanae power armor|power armor]] cannot be stuck by [[Anskum-pattern plasma grenade|plasma grenade]]s, [[Type-2 spike grenade|spike grenade]]s, or [[Type-33 needler|needler]] [[Blamite|projectiles]]. However, their armor can be stuck by [[Orgudam Workshop firebomb|firebombs]] and unarmored parts like the Chieftains' weapons, hands, and feet can be stuck by spike and plasma grenades.

The Jiralhanae Chieftain's primary armament is the [[Gravity hammer (fiction)|gravity hammer]], although they are also known to use {{Pattern|Pez'tk|fuel rod gun}}s, {{Pattern|Kopasa'mada|plasma launcher}}s, and {{Pattern|Pek|plasma cannon}}s. Jiralhanae Chieftains are the only enemy, aside from the occasional [[Flood]] and [[Sangheili General]], who use these weapons. On all level modes, they carry and almost always use the [[invincibility]] power-up. It is also possible for them to carry a [[regenerator]], [[flare]], or [[power drain]].

[[File:2514795-full.jpg|thumb|A Chieftain fighting Thel 'Vadam in the [[Citadel (Structure)|Citadel]].]]

*Another way, though difficult, is to circle around the back of the Chieftain, wait for them to do his backward melee attack, and again circle around them while they're still turning round to where you used to be. This gives you ample time for an assassination. Believe it or not, this is the best way to kill them: their swing animations are incredibly predictable during Halo 3, and this extends to all hammer-wielding Jiralhanae. Note: assassinations ignore invincibility, making this tactic even more useful.

*A good way to kill Chieftains is to use Cloaking and assassinate them. This way you are unharmed, and you can also pick up their Invincibility since they did not have time to activate it. However, you should be careful not to alert any of the surrounding Jiralhanae. If they know that you are there, even if they cannot see you, the Chieftain will sometimes be able to sense where you are even if you are cloaked and will turn around in your direction, although he does not attack. This will make it harder to get behind him and if you touch him, he will hit you and you will temporarily lose your cloaking, allowing the rest of the Jiralhanae to see and attack you.  

*Unlike energy sword-equipped Sangheili, who will generally make a beeline for their target without evading enemy fire, Jiralhanae Chieftains will jink back and forth as they charge, making them much more difficult to head shot or stick than their Sangheili counterparts. This is compensated for because of their slower speed and the comparative ease of dodging the slower hammer strike compared with a sword swing.

*If a Chieftain is transformed into a [[Flood]] [[Flood combat form|combat form]] in ''[[Halo 3]]'', his armor will become that of a [[Jiralhanae Minor]]. This is because the game engine does not have any code to transform the Chieftain into a "Chieftain" combat form. This can be easily observed in the Citadel during the level ''The Covenant'', where the Flood temporarily ally with the Master Chief and the Arbiter to attack the remaining Covenant forces. Another good place to see an infected Chieftain is on the level ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]'', because an infected Chieftain is in a [[Flood dispersal pod]].

===Concept art and illustrations===

File:H2A Terminals - Murder of the Councilors.jpg|Jiralhanae Chieftain [[Avitus]] overseeing the massacre of [[Sangheili Councilor]]s on Installation 05 in the ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' [[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|terminals]].

File:HTfS gallery Chieftain.jpg|A Chieftain preparing to fight a Marine in ''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''.

File:HW_Thrallslayer_1.jpg|Avitus, a Jiralhanae Chieftain in ''[[Halo Wars]]''.

File:ChieftainHalf.jpg|A Jiralhanae Chieftain with a gravity hammer in ''Halo: Reach''.

File:HTMCC-HR BruteChieftain.png|A Jiralhanae Chieftain with a fuel rod gun in ''Halo: Reach''.

File:H4 - Chieftain Battle.png|A Jiralhanae Chieftain against a [[Spartan-II]] in ''Halo 4''.

File:HINF ChieftainCannon.jpg|A Banished Chieftain welding a {{Pattern|Shea'p|plasma cannon}}.

File:Enc22 Vheiloth Chieftain.png|A Jiralhanae Chieftain in ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]''.

File:FallGuys-Chieftainroar.png|The Chieftain ROAR! emote in ''Fall Guys''.

*''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''

*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''