Editing Mgalekgolo

{{Era|Forerunner|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW|Post}}
{{References}}
{{Disambig header|the species|the armor|MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Hunter}}
{{Species Infobox
|name=Mgalekgolo<br />(''Ophis congregatio'')
|othernames=
Hunter
<br>Can o' Worms
<br>Ogre
<br>Worm-guts
|image=[[File:H5G - Mgalekgolo render.jpg|300px]]
|homeworld=[[Te]]
|height={{Convert|12|ft|cm}}<ref name="ENC">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 141''</ref>
|weight={{Convert|10500|lb|kg}}<ref name="ENC"/>
|distinctions=A single entity created by a unified colony of small worm-like creatures called [[Lekgolo]]
|lifespan=
|notable-group=[[Covenant]]
<br>[[Swords of Sanghelios]]
<br>[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction]]
<br>[[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group]]
|notable-person=
[[Ogada Nosa Fasu]] 
<br>[[Igido Nosa Hurru]]
<br>[[Paruto Xida Konna]]
<br>[[Waruna Xida Yotno]]
}}
{{Quote|They're all scary and angry and they like to smash things...|[[Bungie]]}}

The '''Mgalekgolo'''<ref name="Bestiarum">'''[[Bestiarum]]'''</ref> (''Ophis congregatio'', meaning "serpent union"),<ref>[http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=865756 '''HBO Forums''': ''Bestiaium Latin names translated'']</ref> is a gestalt of [[Lekgolo]], which are small worm-like creatures that group together to exponentially increase their intelligence, strength, and maneuverability. Of the myriad Lekgolo collectives, the best known is the Mgalekgolo or '''Hunter''', a bipedal form that is used for heavy assault. Ironically, the Mgalekgolo is among the least common Lekgolo configurations, but due to their formidable combat capabilities they are most commonly fielded by the [[Covenant]].<ref name="Bestiarum"/> While the term "Mgalekgolo" is formally limited to this particular type of Lekgolo gestalt with the other forms having different names,<ref name="Bestiarum"/><ref name="wp lekgolo"/> it is sometimes applied to other Lekgolo colonies as well, such as that used to operate the [[Type-47 Scarab]].<ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 163''</ref>

==History==
<!--This section describes the history of the Mgalekgolo configuration; the history of the entire Lekgolo species is described in the Lekgolo article.-->
After the formation of the [[Covenant]], early experiments with the [[Luminary|Luminaries]] reverse-engineered from the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] in ''[[High Charity]]'' led the Covenant to the Lekgolo homeworld Te, which was located near [[Urs]], the home system of the [[Sangheili]]. While the [[San'Shyuum]] and [[Sangheili]] hoped to find a treasure trove of Forerunner artifacts, they instead found hives of Lekgolo inside orbital rings surrounding the planet. The rings were in fact the destroyed remains of an ancient Forerunner installation in orbit. The relics had been the Lekgolo's food for millennia, and the orbital rings were actually composed of digested-and-destroyed Forerunner relics that some of the Lekgolo had been consuming.<ref name="ch">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 269-271''</ref>

[[File:H2A Terminals - First Hunters.jpg|thumb|250px|left|An Arbiter facing off against unarmored Mgalekgolo.]]
Enraged by the Lekgolo's "desecration" of Forerunner relics, the Covenant began a military campaign against the Lekgolo. After facing considerable difficulty eradicating the creatures,<ref name="Bestiarum"/><ref name="ch"/> a Sangheili [[Unidentified Arbiter (Taming of the Lekgolo)|Arbiter]] sent to study the Lekgolo for a full year on [[Rantu]], one of Te's moons. It was there that the Arbiter witnessed the Lekgolo combine into Mgalekgolo to battle him, forming around a series of rocks to support their bipedal forms.<ref>'''Halo 2: Anniversary''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|Terminal 8]]''</ref> Recognizing the potential of the gestalts, the Arbiter returned to ''[[High Charity]]'' and suggested that the Lekgolo be inducted into the Covenant. This event later came to be known amongst the Covenant as the "[[Taming of the Lekgolo]]". 

The Mgalekgolo gestalts, armed with thick armor plates and [[assault cannon]]s, would come to serve the Covenant as shock troops. Numerous Mgalekgolo participated in the [[Human-Covenant War]]. During the [[Great Schism]], most Mgalekgolo pairs sided with the Sangheili and the [[Swords of Sanghelios]], though others remained with the [[Prophet of Truth]] and the main body of the Covenant.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Uprising]]''</ref> There is no known reason for the split in loyalty.<ref name="Bestiarum"/>

During the [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|further conflicts]] in the wake of the [[Human-Covenant War]] many Mgalekgolo would fight on behalf of [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|new Covenant order]] against humanity.<ref>'''Halo 4'''</ref> These Mgalekgolo participated in the battles of [[Requiem]]. Several would join [[Vata 'Gajat]]'s [[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group|mercenary group]] and partake in the [[Battle of Ealen IV]].<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue 2'''</ref> 

==Description== 
===Anatomy and physiology===
[[File:Mgalekgolo back.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[Lekgolo]] worms on a Mgalekgolo's exposed back.]]
{{main|Lekgolo}}
A Mgalekgolo is not a single organism, but rather a collective of small, orange, eel-like creatures called [[Lekgolo]]. In order to form a Mgalekgolo, dozens of individual Lekgolo bond with one another both physically and neurologically to form a single "hive-minded" community.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 267''</ref> The Mgalekgolo is the most common form seen in combat during the [[Human-Covenant War]], but is actually one of the more rarer and smaller forms in the Lekgolo society, used primarily in interaction with the Covenant hierarchy.<ref name="Bestiarum"/> Their primary combat tactic is an approximation of a hunter-killer formation, hence the name "Hunter".<ref name="wp lekgolo">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/species/lekgolo-mgalekgolo-hunter '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Lekgolo/Mgalekgolo'']</ref> Because of their combined neural nets' sensitivity to their surroundings, Mgalekgolo can think and work as an effective combat unit without even using verbal communication. They can also locate their enemies even without directly "seeing" them, such as when they are facing the opposite direction.

Mgalekgolo do not use vocal chords to speak, but instead vibrate their bodies to make a low rumble to produce speech. They are capable of mimicking the language of other species, forming words and sentences that are "felt" rather than heard. Their quiet nature among other races of the Covenant is probably a result of difficulty speaking with other Covenant races. The known names of some Mgalekgolo seem to imply that they use very simple vowels and only a few consonants.

Mgalekgolo usually stand between twelve to thirteen feet tall, but during combat they hunch themselves over to protect their vulnerable neck and midsection, reducing their height to roughly eight feet. They fight using [[assault cannon]]s integrated directly into their armor, and they carry an enormous shield made of an alloy derived from the same [[Nanolaminate hull plating|material]] that forms Covenant warship hulls.<ref name="wp lekgolo"/> This shield protects them from almost every form of [[plasma weaponry|plasma-based]] or ballistic weaponry available to Covenant and human infantry alike, and is a powerful [[melee]] tool capable of crushing anything in its path and allowing the Mgalekgolo to sweep away most enemies in close combat. 

The assault cannon the Mgalekgolo wields operates in two modes; one firing a single explosive capsule of incendiary fluid,<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved'''</ref> the other spraying the fluid out like a beam.<ref>'''Halo 2'''</ref><ref name="Halo 3">'''Halo 3'''</ref>

===Bond brothers===
When a single Mgalekgolo becomes too big, the colony will divide in half to create two independent Lekgolo colonies. These colonies will share an extremely close and mysterious bond, referred to only as being "bond brothers", or "mates".<ref name="Halo: The Flood">'''Halo: The Flood''', ''"Chapter ??"'', ''page ??"</ref> Mgalekgolo that have split into "bond brothers" are recognized by spiked appendages that rise from their shoulders, which means that they are bonded to another Mgalekgolo.<ref name="ch"/> Bonded Mgalekgolo colonies are dropped into battle together by the Covenant, as the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartans]] learned: where you find a Mgalekgolo, there is always another close by. If one of the bonded colonies is killed, the other will go into a frenzied state, much like the berserk state of a [[Jiralhanae]], or the suicidal charge of a desperate Unggoy. If left alone for a long period of time, however, they will adopt a "tactical split personality" of shooting followed by melee attacks.

===Naming===
Mgalekgolo have three names: a personal name, a bond name, and a line name. The personal name is given at their "birth". The line name represents the genetic heritage, being the name of the most successful Mgalekgolo of its ancestors.{{Citation needed}} If one reaches a certain level of status, its offspring will have its personal name as their line name.{{Citation needed}} The bond name, or their middle name, is taken between bonded pairs. Examples of some Mgalekgolo names include [[Igido Nosa Hurru]] and [[Ogada Nosa Fasu]].<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 163''</ref>

==Ranking system==
[[File:ODST TayariPlaza06.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Edward Buck]] fighting a golden Hunter on [[Tayari Plaza]].]]
Unlike most Covenant forces, Mgalekgolo seem to possess no visible rank. As they are deployed more like equipment or weapons platforms rather than conventional troops, rank may simply not apply for them.

However, they can be deployed independently of other Covenant troops, which may indicate that a level of independence and responsibility may be granted, thus meaning that they may have a high enough rank to be trusted by themselves. During the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]], Mgalekgolo are seen guarding the crystal in [[Côte d'Azur]], which is retrieved by [[Blue Team]]. One of these Mgalekgolo killed a Kig-Yar by stepping on it,<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 222''</ref> demonstrating the Lekgolo colonies' characteristic disregard for the lives of other species, whom they generally view as annoyances rather than allies.<ref name="wp lekgolo"/> During the [[Battle of Onyx]], some Mgalekgolo apparently had command of lower-ranking Sangheili, even killing one of them for failing to follow orders, signifying they may have a higher military rank in the Covenant military than previously indicated.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 358''</ref>

During the [[Battle of Mombasa]], Mgalekgolo appeared in two different forms in two different colors: the normal blue-armored Mgalekgolo that are armed with an [[assault cannon]] that fires a continuous stream of radioactive incendiary gel, and a gold-armored Mgalekgolo armed with an assault cannon that fires a single bolt of radioactive incendiary gel.<ref name="ODST">'''Halo 3: ODST'''</ref>
{{Clear}}
==Trivia==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gameplay=yes}}
===Production notes===
*''Halo: The Flood'', mentions that Mgalekgolo have skin and a jutting spine. This is incorrect, as they were later revealed to be a compound of small worm-like creatures. However, this does not preclude the possibility that the worms may form a skin-like membrane on the outside of their colony for protection against more casual damage, and in ''Halo 3 ''a metal column can be seen after the back armor plating has been detached, perhaps forming an artificial "spine" for vertical support. Strangely, the reference to Mgalekgolo having spines was kept in the 2010 re-release of the novel.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''' (2010), page 181</ref>
*At first, Mgalekgolo were meant to comprise the whole of [[Heretic]] forces on the [[Threshold gas mine]].<ref>'''[[Halo 3 Essentials]]''': ''Disk ??''</ref>
*The Mgalekgolo was inspired by the [[w:c:marathongame:Pfhor|Pfhor]] [[w:c:marathongame:Hunter|Hunter]] from the ''[[Marathon]]'' series, as well as by the [[w:c:marathongame:Drinniol|Drinniol]], or Hulk, from the original ''Marathon''. However, the Pfhor Hunter is actually a class of power armored soldier with a shoulder-mounted cannon rather than an arm-mounted cannon. The Drinniol also inspired the creation of the [[Sharquoi|Drinol]], Covenant species that was designed for ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' but was cut during development. 
*No Mgalekgolo are ever seen supporting the [[John-117|Master Chief]] during the events of ''[[Halo 3]]''. This is because in the making of ''Halo 3'', [[Bungie]] did not want to confuse players by having them with both allies and enemies.
*Despite appearing on the cover of ''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]'' none actually appear in game.
*In the [[Halo Legends]] episode ''[[The Duel]]'', the Mgalekgolo are shown to be at least 50 feet tall. This was explained by [[Frank O'Connor]] saying that a Hunter's appearance changes due to the gravity and environment.

===Gameplay===
*When combating Mgalekgolo, a player can 'leapfrog' the charging melee attack, either jumping above or to the side of the Mgalekgolo. This exposes the rear armor to a quick shotgun blast or grenade stick, often resulting in death on lower difficulties. Although this tactic does not work as well on ''Halo 3: ODST'', simply circling around behind the Mglekgolo at the right time works the same way.
*In ''[[Halo 3]]'', it is possible to splatter a Mgalekgolo with a [[M274 Mongoose]].
*In ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' Mgalekgolo are not harmed by [[Type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon|fuel rod gun]]s. This may be because you're not supposed to have fuel rod guns in campaign, or it may be a precaution meant to prevent Mgalekgolo from injuring each other when fighting.
*Mgalekgolo have ranks in the actor variant [[tag]]s. One variant is called 'Hunter' and another called 'Hunter major'.
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', a single shot from a pistol or sniper rifle to any non armored section will kill a Mgalekgolo; this is likely because the Mgalekgolo's exposed flesh was considered to be its "head."
*In ''[[Halo 2]]'', a Mgalekgolo's mass is enough to kill other characters if they push them against a surface. This can sometimes be seen in [[The Great Journey]], where friendly Mgalekgolo may accidentally crush Sangheili against walls.
*In ''[[Halo 2]]'', it is impossible to kill or even damage Mgalekgolo with melee attacks.
*In ''[[Halo Wars]]'', a Mgalekgolo's shield can deflect projectiles that would almost always kill them in previous games, like [[Type-26 Assault Gun Carriage|Wraith]] Mortars and shots from the [[M808B Scorpion]]'s main cannon.
*In ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', Mgalekgolo have received a huge graphical overhaul. They are much more textured, are larger, have Forerunner symbols and emblems on their armor and appear to have some kind of eyes on their helmets.
*Mgalekgolo are also much tougher in ''Reach''. They are capable of surviving multiple explosive hits and even repeated plasma grenade sticks. Their back armor is much more durable, making their weak point harder to expose. They will also raise their shield vertically when being attacked from the front, covering both their neck and mid-section to protect themselves from incoming fire and are less likely to turn around and expose their back to the player.
*In ''Halo: Reach'', a near-miss from a Mgalekgolo's melee will cause the player's screen to violently shake.
*Although the Mgalekgolo present in ''Halo: Anniversary'' use the ''Halo: Reach'' skin, they are almost half the size of their ''Halo: Reach'' counterparts due to the much smaller skeleton frame used in the original game. Their abdomens also appear to be armored, though this armor doesn't do anything and they're just as vulnerable as they were in the original game.
*In ''[[Halo 4]]'', Mgalekgolo perform melee attacks much faster than their predecessors, making it harder to dodge them. Like in ''Halo Reach'', a near-miss from a melee will cause the player's screen to violently shake.
*In ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'', Mgalekgolo received a new skin that also incorporates abdominal armor, though this armor is also purely cosmetic and offers no protection whatsoever.
*In ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', Mgalekgolo are far more lethal than their predecessors. Their melee strikes are now nearly impossible to dodge. They also utilize both firing modes of their assault cannons. They also appear to be far more durable than their predecessors. In addition, when one is killed, the remaining Mgalekgolo will start emitting green electrical sparks and will fire it assault cannon's close range attack twice in each volley.

===Miscellaneous===
*Like most other races of the Covenant, Mgalekgolo's [[blood]] differs from that of humans. Mgalekgolo blood is bright, fluorescent orange and appears to have a very thick, slimy texture. It has also been noted that their blood smells strongly of burnt plastic, hinting that the make-up of their bodily fluids is drastically different from that of a [[human]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Early Hunter.jpg|Early concept art of a Mgalekgolo for ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.
File:Hunter.jpg|A conceptual render of a Mgalekgolo in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:HaloCE-MgalekgoloHunter.png|Final in-game view of the Mgalekgolo in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', with [[assault cannon|gun]] raised.
File:HCE-MgalekgoloHunterAlt.png|Alternate preview of the Mgalekgolo in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', crouched behind its massive shield.
File:Hunter1.jpg|A Mgalekgolo in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:Concept-H2-Hunter.jpg|Finalized concept art of a Mgalekgolo for ''[[Halo 2]]''.
File:H2-AltMgalekgoloHunter.png|An in-game view of the Mgalekgolo in combat stance in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2-MgalekgoloHunter.png|An in-game view of the Mgalekgolo running in ''Halo 2''.
File:Huntercrouched.jpg|A Mgalekgolo preparing to launch a melee attack in ''Halo 2''.
File:H3-BlueHunter.png|An in-game view of the blue-armored Mgalekgolo in ''[[Halo 3]]''.
File:Hunter FireCharge.jpg|A Mgalekgolo about to fire its assault cannon.
File:Fuel Rod Beam Cannon in Action.jpg|A Mgalekgolo firing its assault cannon.
File:Hunter BloodBond.jpg|A Mgalekgolo pair in combat in ''Halo 3''.
File:Cov Hunter.jpg|Concept art of a Mgalekgolo for ''[[Halo Wars]]''.
File:Covenant hunter.gif|A pair of Mgalekgolo from ''Halo Wars''.
File:H3ODST-GoldHunter.png|An in-game view of the gold-armored Mgalekgolo in ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''.
File:Gold Hunter.png|A pair of gold Mgalekgolo in ''Halo 3: ODST''.
File:Hunter blood.jpg|Mgalekgolo blood in ''Halo 3: ODST''. Note the blood's luminosity.
File:HLHunters.png|A larger form of Mgalekgolo in the ''[[Halo Legends]]'' episode, ''[[The Duel]]''.
File:HBL-Bestthingever.png|A Mgalekgolo carrying three [[Unggoy Minor]]s during the [[Battle of Line Installation 1-4]] in ''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''.
File:HReach - Mgalekgolo.png|A Mgalekgolo in the [[Halo: Reach Beta|''Halo: Reach'' Beta]]. 
File:HReach-MgalekgoloHunter.png|An in-game view of the Mgalekgolo in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' final build.
File:HunterPairReach.jpg|A group of Mgalekgolo ready to attack in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:HunterFirefight.jpg|A Mgalekgolo about to launch a melee attack in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:Hunter99.jpg|A Mgalekgolo on [[Corvette (level)|Corvette]].
File:Ceahunter.png|Mgalekgolo in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.
File:HCEA-MgalekgoloHunter.png|In-game preview of the Mgalekgolo in ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''.
File:FUD-Hunter.jpg|A Mgalekgolo in ''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''.
File:FUD-Hunter-Closeup.jpg|A close-up of a Mgalekgolo's helmet in ''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn''.
File:H4 profile - Mgalekgolo.png|A Mgalekgolo in ''[[Halo 4]]''
File:H4-Render-Hunter.jpg|Conceptual three-dimensional render of a Mgalekgolo in ''Halo 4''.
File:H4-Campaign-MasterChief-Vs-Hunter.jpg|[[John-117]] battling a Mgalekgolo in during the [[Raid on Ivanoff Station]].
File:HE19 PalmerfightsHunter.jpg|[[Sarah Palmer]] fighting a Mgalekgolo in a [[War Games]] simulation in ''[[Halo: Escalation]]''.
File:H2A - Mgalekgolo 1.jpg|3D render of the Mgalekgolo's body armor in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''.
File:H2A - Mgalekgolo 2.jpg|Final render of the Mgalekgolo in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:H2A Mgalekgolo.png|Render of the Mgalekgolo in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:H2A-SOSMgalekgolo.png|Mgalekgolo at the Bastion of the Brutes.
File:H2A-TallMgalekgolo.png|A Mgalekgolo standing straight.
File:H2A-Mgalekgoloface.png|A close-up of a Mgalekgolo's helmet in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:H2A Terminals - First Hunters.jpg|Pre-Covenant Mgalekgolo in [[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|''Halo 2: Anniversary''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> terminals]].
File:H5G-Hunterforming.png|A Mgalekgolo being formed aboard the {{UNSCShip|Argent Moon}} in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.
File:H5G-WarzoneHunters.png|Two Serpent Mgalekgolo part of a War Games simulation.
File:H5G-WarzoneHunter.png|A Serpent Mgalekgolo on [[Escape from ARC]].
File:H5G-ElderHunter.jpg|A hologram of an Elder Mgalekgolo.
FilE:ElderHunterA.png|An Elder Mgalekgolo on [[Raid on Apex 7]].
FilE:ElderHunterB.png|Another Elder Mgalekgolo on Raid on Apex 7.
File:Brave warrior.png|A Mgalekgolo and a Swords of Sanghelios Elite dueling.
File:H5G-Mgalekgolo.png|Render of a War Games Mgalekgolo in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
**''[[Conversations from the Universe]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
**''[[Bestiarum]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[The Duel]]''
**''[[Prototype]]''
{{col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'' 
**''[[Blunt Instruments]]''
**''[[The Return]]'' {{mo}} 
**''[[Wages of Sin]]'' {{mo}} 
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''
*''[[Halo: Nightfall]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
{{Col-end}}

==Sources==
{{Reflist|2}} 

{{Covenant}}

[[Category:Lekgolo]]
[[Category:Sapient species]]
[[Category:Covenant species]]