Editing Leader

{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{New content|[[Halo Wars 2]]}}
{{Center|"Hero unit" redirects here. For other uses of the word "Hero", see [[Hero]].}}
'''Leaders''', sometimes called '''hero units''', are [[UNSC]]/[[Covenant]]/[[Banished]] player characters in ''[[Halo Wars]]'' and [[Halo Wars 2|its sequel]], each of whom feature specific units, traits, and abilities in gameplay. Some leaders can also be summoned to the field in-game as special units.

==''Halo Wars''==
Leaders offer a varied experience in ''Halo Wars''{{'}} [[multiplayer]] aspects, bringing unique abilities into the fray. The Covenant have leaders that double as in-game units, while the UNSC leader powers vary greatly and are numerous. Hero units are more adept to fighting, possessing more armor for protection against enemy units, as well as access to unique weaponry and "special abilities" (such as "Rage mode" for [[Ripa 'Moramee|the Arbiter]] or special upgrades like the ODSTs for Captain Cutter).

In [[campaign]], leaders can be revived if they are killed in action, as long as the life bar is halfway full. The life bar automatically regenerates while the leader is knocked down. However, in [[Skirmish]] or multiplayer if they die, they die for good and will have to be purchased again to be on the battlefield, though only Covenant hero units are present on the battlefield in Skirmish and multiplayer.

Given leaders are typically geared toward specific playstyles. For instance, Cutter is more "measured" while Forge's playstyle is quite aggressive.

===UNSC===
<gallery heights="300" mode="packed-hover" align="center">
File:HWguide Cutter.png|Overview of Capt. Cutter
File:HWguide Forge.png|Overview of Sgt. Forge
File:HWguide Anders.png|Overview of Prof. Anders
</gallery>

====Leader powers====
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 75%;" 
! rowspan="2" style="width: 30%" | Name !! colspan="3" style="width: 30%" | Cost !! rowspan="2" style="width: 40%" | Description
|- 
| style="width: 10%" | '''Population''' || style="width: 10%" | '''Tech''' || style="width: 10%" | '''Resources''' 
|-
! colspan="5"|All UNSC Leaders
|- style="height: 40px"
| [[XGBU-302 bomb|Disruption Bomb]] || N/A || {{HWTech|0}} || {{HWResources|450}} || Disrupts existing Leader Powers and prevents new Leader Powers from being initiated in a small area for 1 minute.
|- style="height: 40px"
| Transport || N/A || {{HWTech|0}} || {{HWResources|200}} || Call in [[D77H-TCI Pelican|Pelicans]] to transport a small group of units from one place to another.

|-
! colspan="5"|[[Captain]] [[James Cutter|Cutter]]
|- style="height: 40px"
| MAC Blast || N/A || {{HWTech|1}} || {{HWResources|600}} || Use [[UNSC Spirit of Fire|Spirit of Fire]]'s awesome [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|Mass Accelerated Cannons]] to incinerate enemy troops.
|- style="height: 40px"
| [[ODST]] Drop || {{HWPop|1}} || {{HWTech|3}} || {{HWResources|100}} || 
* Requires [[UNSC Barracks#Halo Wars|ODST upgrade]].
* Drops an ODST squad at target location.

|-
! colspan="5"|[[Sergeant]] [[John Forge|Forge]]
|- style="height: 40px"
| Carpet Bomb || N/A || {{HWTech|1}} || {{HWResources|600}} || Use the UNSC [[B-65 Shortsword|Shortsword Bomber]] to devastate a strip of land with [[Mark 208 bomb|massive bombs]].

|-
! colspan="5"|[[Ellen Anders|Professor Anders]]
|- style="height: 40px"
| [[GBU-1105 bomb|Cryo Bomb]] || N/A || {{HWTech|1}} || {{HWResources|600}} || Use the UNSC Shortsword Bomber to drop Cryo Bombs in an area, freezing all things for a short time.
|}

===Covenant===
<gallery heights="270" mode="packed-hover" align="center">
File:HWguide Regret.png|Overview of the Prophet of Regret
File:HWguide Arbiter.png|Overview of the Arbiter
File:HWguide Chieftain.png|Overview of the Brute Chieftain
</gallery>

==''Halo Wars 2''==
{{Expand-section}}
===UNSC===
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 100%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
!scope="col"|Image
!scope="col"|Name
!scope="col"|Description
!scope="col"|Blitz Special Units
!scope="col"|Skirmish Special Units
!scope="col"|Leader Powers
|-
|[[File:HW2-CaptainJamesCutter-Render-Fullbody.png|95px]]
|<center>'''Captain Cutter'''<br/>
[[James Cutter|Lore]] • [[James Cutter/Gameplay#Halo Wars 2|Gameplay]]</center>
|''As Captain of the Spirit of Fire, Cutter can send in powerful orbital support, drop in specialized UNSC units, and enhance currently deployed units.''
|
*[[Wild Hellbringers]]
*[[Trooper Hornet]]
*[[Stealth Kodiak]]
|
*Leader Power Unit
**[[ODST]]
*Hero Unit
**[[Jerome-092/Gameplay#Halo Wars 2|Jerome-092]]
|
*UNSC Raid
*Battle Hardened
*Archer Missiles
*Cyclops Drop
*ODST Drop
*ODST Assault Group
*Close Air Support
|-
|[[File:HW2 Isabel(High rez).png|90px]]
|<center>'''Isabel'''<br/>
[[Isabel|Lore]] • [[Isabel/Gameplay|Gameplay]]</center>
|''Isabel improves the effectiveness of vehicles using her database of the latest UNSC tech, and employs hacking and distraction powers in battle.''
|
*[[Lockdown Scorpion]]
*[[Armored Warthog]]
*[[M121 Jackrabbit|Wild Jackrabbit]]
|
*Hero Unit
**[[Alice-130]]
|
*Restoration Drones
*Turret Drop
*Lotus Mine
*Holographic Decoy
*MAC Blast
*The Best Offense
*Ghost In The Machine
|-
|[[File:HW2 Anders.png|95px]]
|<center>'''Professor Anders'''<br/>
[[Ellen Anders|Lore]] • [[Ellen Anders/Gameplay#Halo Wars 2|Gameplay]]</center>
|''Anders' scientific expertise allows her to field Sentinel units and makes all of her upgrades faster and cheaper.''
|
*[[Watchtower]]
*[[Armored Marines]]
|
*Unique Unit
**[[Protector Sentinel]]
*Leader Power Unit
**[[Retriever Sentinel]] (Super Unit)
*Hero Unit
**[[Douglas-042]]
|
*R&D
*Protector Sentinel
*Retriver Sentinel
*Sentinel Beacon
*Sentinel Synergy
*Sentinel Network
*Ark Defense
|-
|[[File:HW2 JohnForge.png|110px]]
|<center>'''Sergeant Forge'''<br/>
[[John Forge|Lore]] • [[John Forge/Gameplay#Halo Wars 2|Gameplay]]</center>
|''Forge's strengths lie in an armored and slow-building economy, using heavy vehicles to push through enemies.''
|
*[[Reactive Marines]]
*[[Vanguard Kodiak]]
|
*Unique Unit
**[[M850 Grizzly]]
*Hero Unit
**[[John Forge's Warthog]]
|
*Rolling Economy
*Accelerated Assembly
*Heavy Metal
*Combat Salvage
*Scatter Bomb
*Vehicle Drop
*Grizzly Battalion
|-
|[[File:HW2 Kinsano higher rez.png|105px]]
|<center>'''Kinsano'''<br/>
[[Morgan Kinsano|Lore]] • [[Morgan Kinsano/Gameplay|Gameplay]]</center>
|''Kinsano is all about the burn, launching pyrotechnic attacks and covering the battlefield in flames.''
|
*[[Hellbringers|Veteran Hellbringers]]
*Veteran [[M12F Flame Warthog|Flame 'Hog]]
|
*Unique Unit
**[[M12F Flame Warthog]]
*Hero Unit
**[[Kinsano's Cyclops]]
|
*Heat of Battle
*Redline
*Hellcharge
*Helldrop
*Flame Warthog Drop
*Firestorm Battle Group
*Napalm Missiles
*Inferno
|-
|[[File:Hw2-leader-crop-johnson.png|110px]]
|<center>'''Sergeant Johnson''' <br/>
[[Avery Johnson|Lore]] • [[Avery Johnson/Gameplay#Halo Wars 2|Gameplay]]</center>
|''Sergeant Major Avery Johnson, a hero of the Covenant War, geared up for battle. He's a dangerous adversary due to his powerful mechs and solid command.''
|
*[[Veteran Mantis]]
|
*Unique Unit
**[[Mantis]]
**[[HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark II (J) Colossus]]
*Unique Structure
**[[Bunker Drop]] (Leader Power Structure)
*Hero Unit
**[[HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark I (J) Green Machine|Avery Johnson]]
|
*Digging In
*Remote Sensors
*Pelican Transport
*Bunker Drop
*Siege Turret
*EMP MAC Blast
*Mech Overcharge
*Digging in Deep
|-
|[[File:Jerome Halo Wars 2 leader portait.png|105px]]
|<center>'''Commander Jerome'''<br/>
[[Jerome-092|Lore]] • [[Jerome-092/Gameplay#Halo Wars 2|Gameplay]]</center>
|''Omega Team's leader and a veteran Spartan of the Spirit of Fire, Jerome inspires and bolsters troops under his command.''
|
|
*Unique Unit
**[[Mastodon]]
*Leader Power Unit
**[[Team Omega]]
*Hero Unit
**[[Jerome-092/Gameplay#Halo Wars 2|Commander Jerome]]/[[Theseus]]
|
*Recon Sight
*Mastodon
*Victory Turret
*Victory Mines
*Time for Heroes
*Enduring Salvo
*Spartan Morale
*Field Promotion
*Omega Team
|-
|[[File:HW2 Render Serina-FullBody.png|105px]]
|<center>'''Serina''' <br/>
[[Serina|Lore]] • [[Serina/Gameplay#Halo Wars 2|Gameplay]]</center>
|''Smart AI that ran the Spirit of Fire's systems before being lost with all hands. Serina was an expert in cryo technology.''
|
|
*Unique Unit
**[[Cryo Troopers]]
**[[ZAV-48 Frostraven]]
*Hero Unit
**[[M88 Bison]]
|
*Ice Barrier
*Cryogenic Generator
*Cryotech Advances
*Frostraven
*Seismic Blast
*Cryo Bomb
*Cryo Drop
*Glacial Storm
|}

===Banished===
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 100%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
!scope="col"|Image
!scope="col"|Name
!scope="col"|Description
!scope="col"|Blitz Special Units
!scope="col"|Skirmish Special Units
!scope="col"|Leader Powers
|-
|[[File:HW2 Atriox.png|120px]]
|<center>'''Atriox'''<br/>
[[Atriox|Lore]] • [[Atriox/Gameplay|Gameplay]]</center>
|''Atriox focuses on a cunning and defensive style, supported by heavy cover and invulnerability powers''
|
|
*Unique Unit
**[[Unstable Jump Brutes]] (Leader Power upgrade)
*Hero Unit
**[[Atriox's Chosen]]
|
*Teleport
*Countermeasures
*Fortifications
*Plasma Mines
*Dying Breath
*Atriox’s Bulwark
*Unbreakable
*Eradication
|-
|[[File:HW2 - Decimus.png|110px]]
|<center>'''Decimus'''<br/>
[[Decimus|Lore]] • [[Decimus/Gameplay|Gameplay]]</center>
|''Decimus is a berserker who relies on hard-hitting rushes while siphoning their health away.''
|
|
*Hero Unit
**[[Jiralhanae Warlord]]
*Leader Power Unit
**[[Decimus/Gameplay|Decimus]]
|
*Spirit Assault
*Killing Frenzy
*Vortex Lightning
*Siphon
*Fury
*Boundless Siphon
*Boundless Fury
*Decimus Drop
|-
|[[File:HW2 - Let 'Volir.png|110px]]
|<center>'''Ship Master'''<br/>
[[Let 'Volir|Lore]] • [[Let 'Volir/Gameplay|Gameplay]]</center>
|''The Shipmaster favors stealth, teleportation tactics, and rapid assaults against his foes.''
|
|
*Unique Unit
**[[Prowling Grunts]] (replace basic Grunt Squads)
**[[Type-32 Ghost]] (replace Brute Chopper)
**[[Prowling Marauder]] (Leader Power upgrade)
*Hero Unit
**[[Sangheili Honor Guardsman]]
|
*Glassing Beam
*Banished Raid
*Scout Mine
*Extraction
*Advanced Cloaking
*Mass Cloaking
*Displacement
*Tactical Gateway
|-
|[[File:HW2 - Colony.png|110px]]
|<center>'''Colony'''<br/>
[[Colony|Lore]] • [[Colony/Gameplay|Gameplay]]</center>
|''A colony of Lekgolo with a focus on tough frontline units and healing.''
|
|
*Unique Unit
**[[Klavrig Workshop Skitterer]]
**[[Goliath]] (replace Jiralhanae Jumpers)
*Hero Unit
**[[Mgalekgolo Captain]]
|
*Skitterer
*Living Barrier
*Vehicle Symbiotes
*Engineer Swarm
*Hunter's Brand
*Colony Drop
*Battle Hardened
*Devastating Host
*Combat Repair
|-
|[[File:HW2 Render RipaMoramee-FullBody.png|110px]]
|<center>'''The Arbiter''' <br/>
[[Ripa 'Moramee|Lore]] • [[Ripa 'Moramee/Gameplay|Gameplay]]</center>
|''The Arbiter Ripa 'Moramee utilizes special stasis fields to trap enemies and control the battlefield.''
|
|
*Unique Unit
**[[Eklon'Dal Workshop Phantom|Banished Phantom]]
**[[Sangheili Enforcer]] (replace Jiralhanae Jumper)
*Hero Unit
**[[Ripa 'Moramee]]
|
*Phantom
*Stasis
*Stasis Mines
*Conduit of Rage
*Plasma Bolt
*Power Surge
*Mass Stasis
|-
|[[File:HW2 - Yapyap.png|110px]]
|<center>'''Yapyap the Destroyer'''<br/>
[[Yapyap the Destroyer|Lore]] • [[Yapyap/Gameplay|Gameplay]]</center>
|''At last, a Grunt rises to become a mighty leader! Or at least outnumber the enemy with an endless supply of cheap, expendable units!''
|
|
*Unique Unit
**[[Cannon Fodder]] (replace basic Grunt Squads)
**[[Methane Wagon]]
**[[Unggoy Rider]] (replace Jiralhanae Jumper)
**[[Unggoy Heavy]] (replace Suicide Unggoy)
*Hero Unit
**[[Eklon'Dal Workshop Goblin|Grunt Goblin]]
|
*Methane Wagon
*Methane Party
*Surprise Party
*Please Don't Shoot Me
*Guilt Trip
*Shade Drop
*Gruntdome
*Grunts from Above
*Get Back Out There
|-
|[[File:HW2-Voridus.png|120px]]
|<center>'''Voridus'''<br/>
[[Voridus|Lore]] • [[Voridus/Gameplay|Gameplay]]</center>
|''Voridus focuses on aggressive rush tactics and uses his unique incendiary gel weapons to create damaging pools of toxic liquid.''
|
|
*Unique Unit
**[[Brute Grenadier]] (replace Suicide Unggoy)
**[[Infused Engineer]] (replace basic Engineers)
**[[Ironclad Blisterback]] (Leader Power upgrade)
**[[Terror Wraith]] (Leader Power upgrade)
**[[Volatile Scarab]] (Super Unit)
*Hero Unit
**[[Voridus/Gameplay|Voridus]]
|
*Infused Mine
*Infusion Wake
*Infusion Tech
*Combat Spoils
*Grenadier Drop
*Invigorating Frenzy
*Voridus Pack Assault
*Maelstorm
*Cataclysm
|-
|[[File:HW2-Pavium.png|120px]]
|<center>'''Pavium'''<br/>
[[Pavium|Lore]] • [[Pavium/Gameplay|Gameplay]]</center>
|''Pavium's ephitet of 'The Unbreakable' comes from his mastery of defensive and economic tactics.''
|
|
*Unique Unit
**[[Eklon'Dal Workshop Wraith Invader|Wraith Invader]]
*Unique Structure
**{{Pattern|Emp'seam|Antlion}}
**[[Eklon'Dal Workshop Lich]] (Leader Power unit)
*Hero Unit
**[[Pavium/Gameplay|Pavium]]
|
*Antlion
*Wraith Invader
*Burnout
*Enduring Will
*Orbital Designator
*Rain of Fire
*Full Salvage
*Ultra Mines
*Pavium's Stand
*Lich Vanguard
|}

==Trivia==
*In the ''[[Halo Wars Demo]]'', [[James Cutter|Captain Cutter]] was the only available hero unit for the UNSC and the [[Prophet of Regret]] was the only available hero unit for the Covenant.<ref>[http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/857436/halo-wars/videos/ces2009sync_halowars_com_0108.html '''IGN''': ''CES 2009: Developer Commentary''] @2:54 of the video</ref>
*In the ''[[Halo Wars 2 Open Beta]]'', Captain Cutter and Atriox were the only leaders available.

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:Halo Wars]]
[[Category:Halo Wars 2]]