Editing Kig-yar Sniper

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{{era|HW|TCP|H2|GOO|H3|H3R|RVB|}}
{{Covenant Rank Infobox
|name=Jackal Sniper
|image=[[File:JackalSniper.png|300px]]
|species=[[Kig-Yar]]
|weapons=*[[Particle Beam Rifle]]
*[[Covenant Carbine]]
*[[Plasma Pistol]]
|equipment=
|vehicles=
|missions=Ground invasion, defense, scouting
|role=Scouts, covering fire, defense, infiltration
|notable=
|affiliation=[[Covenant]], later [[Covenant Loyalists]]
}}
{{Quote|The only thing worse than Jackals are Jackals with sniper rifles!|Marine about Jackal Snipers}}
'''Jackal Snipers''' are the most unusual of their species, and were first seen in ''[[Halo 2]]''. 

==Background==
Unlike standard infantry Jackals, Jackal Snipers do not use [[Jackal Personal Arm Shields]], as they are unwieldy for snipers, and block their views (though they carry them in [[Halo Wars]]). Oddly, they still wear the gauntlet. They wield long range [[weaponry]], serving as the Covenant's answer to the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] sharpshooters. They are usually hidden and are only noticed when the laser from their [[Beam Rifles]] or [[Carbine]] hits a target, or they are given away by the purple light on their mask; also, when they turn on their Beam Rifles a shining sound is heard. 

The Covenant [[Beam Rifle]] is a very powerful sniper weapon; it may take your shields down in [[Easy]] or [[Normal]] but in [[Heroic]] or [[Legendary]], the Beam Rifle may only take one shot to end the life of a player. Jackal Snipers are not like the regular Jackals; they do not keep shooting if you are close, but instead drop their Beam Rifle, draw out a [[Plasma Pistol]] and retreat.

==Appearances==
[[Image:Carbine Jackal.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Jackals are also seen wielding Carbines in ''Halo 3''.]]
Jackal Snipers appear commonly in ''[[Halo 2]]'' and ''[[Halo 3]]'', and can be quite frustrating and dangerous if you are playing on higher difficulty levels. On [[Legendary]], these Snipers are&nbsp;quite accurate: they sometimes miss the first shot but almost&nbsp;never the second, and the sniper is a one-hit kill. Most of them often snipe from hard to reach places, such as ledges, cliffs, and even some large branches on trees. They are easily seen however, in ''[[Halo 3]]'', as their headpieces glow purple. The player can use this to their advantage, as it gives away the Jackal's position.

===''[[Halo 2]]''===
*''[[Outskirts (Level)|Outskirts]]'' and ''[[Metropolis (Level)|Metropolis]]''- Jackal Snipers were swarming all over rooftops of buildings and set-up Gravity Platform Towers. Later in the more city-congested parts, they were crawling all over several Human-made platforms such as roofs and balconies.
*''[[Delta Halo (Level)|Delta Halo]]'' and ''[[Regret (Level)|Regret]]''- Many were on [[Forerunner]] structures to assist other Covenant troops to prevent the [[UNSC]] forces from finding the [[Prophet of Regret]].
*''[[Gravemind (Level)|Gravemind]]'' and ''[[High Charity (Level)|High Charity]]''- They, along with other Jackal ranks, sided with the [[Covenant Loyalist]]s and helped them to take out [[Covenant Separatist]] forces, hanging back to engage in long range combat. They also fight [[John 117|Master Chief]] when he comes across them. Later when the planetoid was infested by the [[Flood]], a few were seen alive struggling to defeat the Flood.
*''[[Uprising (Level)|Uprising]]'' and ''[[The Great Journey (Level)|The Great Journey]]''- Jackal Snipers are seen throughout the two levels, with the last one supporting other Jackals in an effort to stop the [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter]] and his allies from advancing.

===''[[Halo 3]]''===
*''[[Sierra 117 (Level)|Sierra 117]]''- Several Jackal Snipers wielding [[Beam Rifle]]s and [[Covenant Carbine]]s took several positions guarding the jungle from UNSC forces.
*''[[Crow's Nest (Level)|Crow's Nest]]''- A few were seen inside the base mostly wielding Carbines to support the other Covenant troops from a distance.
*''[[Tsavo Highway (Level)|Tsavo Highway]]''- Some Jackal Snipers took positions on Gravity Platform Towers to support Covenant Infantry and Armour against UNSC Forces.
*''[[The Ark (Level)|The Ark]]''- Numerous Snipers were placed throughout the sand dunes on parts of the [[Installation 00|Ark]] and some wielding Carbines were seen in the [[Silent Cartographer|Cartographer]] facility.
*''[[The Covenant (Level)|The Covenant]]''- They were seen defending the three shield barrier towers. Later they were seen on a few Gravity Platform towers assisting Covenant vehicles in preventing the UNSC and Separatist forces from entering the Ark's [[Citadel]].
*''[[Ghost Town (Level)|Ghost Town]]'' They are not actually seen, but you can hear them turning on their [[Beam Rifle]] and [[Carbine]] if you listen closely.
[[Image:1217438061 Jackalsnipers.jpg|thumb|left|Jackal Snipers shooting with their [[Carbine]]s.]]

==Killing Jackal Snipers==
[[Image:1218738807 Sniper Jackel2.jpg|thumb|right|A Jackal at watch.]]
The best way to kill a Jackal Sniper is to use a [[Beam Rifle]], [[Sniper Rifle]], [[Battle Rifle]], [[Carbine]] or the [[Automag]], in [[Halo 3: ODST]], for a possible instant kill (if shot in the head).You can also throw a [[Plasma Grenade]] or a [[Spike Grenade]] on it. However, since they are usually perched high away from your position, a grenade stick will require near perfect accuracy. 
[[Image:Sniperdies.jpg|thumb|A Jackal Sniper dying.]]
Unlike all other [[Jackal]]s, Jackal Snipers are slow but have compact bodies. The [[Beam Rifle]] or [[Sniper Rifle]] is the best weapon on them. One shot, one kill. Make sure you take cover as they can kill you with a single shot on higher difficulties. Switch to an automatic weapon such as the [[Plasma Rifle]] or the [[Assault Rifle]] and blow away any retreating Jackals, but the [[SMG]] is not very effective, due to its low damage rate and walking. But on Legendary, and sometimes even Heroic, Jackals can be extremely hard to counter-snipe. Most weapons will be completely useless unless several rounds are fired into the skinny body, but shots to the beak are always instant kill. If you can ever use a Sniper Rifle or Beam Rifle against them, it is recommended you do so. Also, they will pick out targets much faster, and you may only have a second or two to line up and fire before it shoots you first, and blindly taking shots is nearly useless due to the small target that it is. 

Jackal Snipers often snipe from well covered [[Gravity Platform]] positions. In these cases, it may often be best just to destroy the platform, or if you don't have sufficient firepower, try to go up the gravity lift, and engage the Jackal in close combat. Often, you can destroy the [[Gravity Platform]] with a single [[Plasma grenade]].

Another way to kill them is by getting as close as possible, without getting sniped or spotted for that matter, as they will drop their Beam Rifle and pull out a Plasma Pistol. But even though they may drop their strongest weapon, you can still die down to low health or take your time to kill them. It isn't hard to kill them in this state as Jackal Snipers do not wield shields. A simple beating or shot could finish the job. Jackals hate close combat, and even flee with their backs exposed on lower difficulties.

== Trivia ==
[[Image:Jackal_Sniper.JPG|thumb|Jackal Snipers first made
their appearance in ''Halo 2''.]]
*In the level [[Outskirts (Level)|Outskirts]], there is a Jackal Sniper in a tower that when killed, an "invisible [[Jackal Personal Arm Shield|shield]]" collapses, and you can see the tell-tale blue electricity and impression.
*In ''[[Halo 3]]'', the Jackal Snipers sport helmets with a personal scope attached to the left eye. This scope shines a vivid purple light that actually gives the Sniper's position away.
*It is possible the eyepiece they wear impedes their aiming, but increases vision.
*In a [[Bungie]] interview, they stated that Jackal Snipers in ''[[Halo 2]]'' were too dangerous and too accurate. So to even the game out a bit more, Bungie made the Jackals' aim less accurate in ''[[Halo 3]]''&nbsp;than it was in ''[[Halo 2]]''.
*The [[Jackals]] with [[Carbine]]s are better known as "Marksmen" Jackals.
*In the ''[[Halo 3]]'' [[Multiplayer]] level [[Ghost Town]], you can hear the sound of Sniper Jackals turning on their [[Beam Rifles]], if you listen closely.
*A good way to snipe Jackals without using sniper ammo is to use a Battle Rifle. Just simply aim at the head and shoot.
*In ''[[Halo 3]]'', the Sniper Jackals mainly carry Carbines, and are not very accurate, which is why they are considered less hostile than in ''[[Halo 2]]''.
*The Jackal Sniper was featured in the first series of McFarlane's action figures.
*On [[Easy]] and [[Normal]] difficulties, Sniper Jackals can be found mostly using [[Carbine]]s, but in [[Heroic]] and [[Legendary]], they use the [[Beam Rifle]] far more often, and their aim is better.
*Jackal Snipers in ''[[Halo 2]]'' do not have the eyepieces seen in the above pictures.
*It is stated on the [[Bungie]] site that only battle hardened veterans are selected to become Jackal Snipers. This could suggest that as well as being a special type of rank, Jackal Sniper is an elevated rank either for Jackal Majors (i.e. the next promotion) or in between Jackal Minors and Jackal Majors. However, their duties do not tend to involve commanding other troops.
*If you look at a film, when they first raise their weapons, their shield generators float for a moment.
*In Halo 2 Vista, if a Jackal Sniper drops his beam rifle, he will then hold his Plasma Pistol as if he was still holding a Beam Rifle.
*In [[Halo 3: ODST]] Jackal Snipers are actually less deadly on Legendary than they were in Halo 3. One shot from their Beam Rifles will drain your [[Stamina]] and most of your of health, but will not kill you instantly like in Halo 3.
*Jackal Snipers armed with Beam Rifles in ''Halo 3'' can occasionally fire two rapid consecutive shots, instead of pausing for a few seconds between shots like in ''Halo 2''. This is extremely dangerous, since if both shots connect it will kill the player instantly.
*Jackal Snipers still have their shield gauntlets, in some instances when the player gets to close the Jackal drops the Beam Rifle, takes out a plasma pistol and runs away.

==Sources==
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{{Template:Jackal Ranks}}
[[Category:The Covenant]]
[[Category:Ranks]]
[[Category:Jackals]]