Editing Non-playable character

{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{Wikipedia}}
{{Center|''Looking for [[Artificial Intelligence|AI]], the term used in the Halo universe to refer to characters with artificial minds?''}}

'''Non-playable character''' ('''NPC'''), or '''Bots'''{{Ref/Site|Id=InsideJuly|D=27|M=7|Y=2021|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/inside-infinite-july-2021|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Inside Infinite - July 2021}} refers to any character in a gameplay scenario whose actions are not controlled by the player, but rather through an artificial intelligence. Several modes include NPCs including [[Firefight]], [[Multiplayer]] and most prominently [[Campaign]].

==Overview==
There are three types of NPCs: hostile, allied, and neutral. Hostile NPCs will attack the player on sight with whatever is available at their disposal, or deter the player in some way. Allied NPCs will actively fight the enemies of the player and generally help them. Neutral NPCs will not engage in any combat whatsoever. 

NPCs on either side have the ability to enter vehicles on the map. This can give either side huge advantages. NPCs can enter the turrets and side seats of larger vehicles, and drive certain vehicles. Which vehicles and the NPC's skill with them, is dependent on which game is played.

NPCs have unlimited ammo for their weapons. However, they must reload once they are done their magazines. In ''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[Halo 3]]'', ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', and ''[[Halo 4]]'' the player can switch weapons with allied NPCs, helping to resolve issues of low ammo or help optimize combat efficiency for your team of NPC. Conversely, you can obtain slightly more powerful weapons that may not be available on the ground.

Some may feature unique triggers and dialogue that differentiate them from "normal" allies because they are vital to the development of the game's storyline.

Every ''Halo'' game allows the player to be stealthy and eliminate enemies from behind without alerting other NPCs. This mechanic is extended to have special animations in ''Halo: Reach,'' ''Halo 4'', and ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' called [[assassination]]s.

==Gameplay==
===First-person shooters===
{{Main|First-person shooter}}
In ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', there are several types of NPCs. Some of whom are important story characters like [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] and [[343 Guilty Spark]]. Keyes is only seen a few times, but if he is killed, the mission is failed and you must restart the level. 343 Guilty Spark is invincible and immune to any attacks on him during the game. [[Avery Johnson]] and [[Marcus Stacker]] are two others but they can be killed with no repercussions.

In ''Halo 2'', all NPCs are invincible. They usually fight alongside the player and lead allies into battle. Most of the time they are also armed with stronger weapons and feature unique dialogue that is integral to the storyline. 

In ''Halo 3'', they share the same characteristics of ''Halo 2's'' NPCs, but when they take too much damage, they will fall to the ground, lifeless, and stay there until the battle is over. Soon after, they will stand back up and utilize the nearest available weapon, which usually tends to be their own. 

In ''Halo 3: ODST'', the same rules still apply from ''Halo 2'', though certain NPCs are playable in some campaign levels (for example, [[Tayari Plaza]] is told from [[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Edward Buck]]'s point of view, but he is an NPC ally in [[NMPD HQ|NMPD HQ]]). The only NPC excluded from the ''"invulnerable"'' rule is Vergil. 

In ''Halo: Reach'' NPCs function more akin to those in ''Halo 2''; they are invincible however still react to incoming fire. Unlike in ''Halo 2'', however, the player cannot swap weapons with allied those in [[NOBLE Team]]. ''Halo: Reach'' also features the [[Fireteam (gameplay mechanic)|Fireteam]] system, which is a unique way of recruiting friendly AIs. 

In ''[[Halo 4]]'', [[Thomas Lasky]] is the only unique NPC. He is completely invincible and doesn't flinch when shot. ''Halo 4 [[Spartan Ops]]'' also features [[Parg Vol]] as an enemy who can be fought.

In ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', both [[Blue Team]] and [[Fireteam Osiris]] are unique NPCs that are dubbed "Musketeers" by [[343 Industries]]. The Musketeers can take damage and go into a "final stand" or "down-but-not-out" state from which they can be revived. Similarly, the Musketeers can revive players in the same state. Musketeers can also be ordered by the player to take vehicles, attack enemies, look at different objects in the environment, take weapons and move to different locations.{{Ref/Generic|[[Halo 5: Guardians ViDoc: A Hero Reborn]]}} In the gametype [[Warzone]], players can fight a variety of different NPCs to earn points including "Legendary" enemies that are specific to the maps they are fought on.

''[[Halo Infinite]]'' will feature NPCs on multiplayer maps in special multiplayer training sessions. These "Bots" come in four types: Recruit, Marine, ODST, and Spartan.{{Ref/Reuse|InsideJuly}}

==List of Halo NPCs==
<div class="tabcontainer">
<div class="tabbox"><div class="tab">Halo: Combat Evolved</div>
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 50%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! scope="col"|Faction
! scope="col"|Relationship to Player
|-
|[[UNSC Marine Corps/Gameplay#Halo: Combat Evolved|UNSC Marines]]
|Allied
|-
|[[Sangheili/Gameplay|Elites]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Unggoy/Gameplay|Grunts]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Kig-Yar/Gameplay|Jackals]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Mgalekgolo/Gameplay|Hunters]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Z-1500 Automated Systems Drone|Sentinels]]
|Allied {{C|Until [[Two Betrayals]], then hostile}}
|-
|[[Flood]]
|Hostile
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 50%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! scope="col"|Character
! scope="col"|Relationship to Player
! scope="col"|Levels Encountered
|-
|[[Jacob Keyes|Captain Jacob Keyes]]
|Allied
|
*[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]
*[[The Truth and Reconciliation]]
|-
|[[343 Guilty Spark]]
|Neutral
|
*[[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]
*[[The Library]]
*[[The Maw]]
|-
|[[Avery Johnson|Staff Sergeant Avery J. Johnson]]
|Allied
|
*[[Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|Halo]]
*[[The Truth and Reconciliation]]
|-
|[[Lat 'Ravamee]]
|Hostile
|
*[[The Truth and Reconciliation]]
|}
</div>
<div class="tabbox"><div class="tab">Halo 2</div>
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 50%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! scope="col"|Faction
! scope="col"|Relationship to Player
|-
|[[UNSC Marine Corps/Gameplay#Halo 2|UNSC Marines]]
|Allied {{C|To the Master Chief}}
|Hostile {{C|To the Arbiter}}
|-
|[[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|UNSC ODSTs]]
|Allied
|-
|[[Sangheili/Gameplay|Elites]]
|Allied {{C|To the Arbiter}}<br />Hostile {{C|To John-117}}
|-
|[[Unggoy/Gameplay|Grunts]]
|Allied {{C|To the Arbiter}}<br />Hostile {{C|To John-117}}
|-
|[[Kig-Yar/Gameplay|Jackals]]
|Allied {{C|To the Arbiter until [[Quarantine Zone (level)|Quarantine Zone]]}}<br />Hostile {{C|To John-117 and the Arbiter after Quarantine Zone}}
|-
|[[Mgalekgolo/Gameplay|Hunters]]
|Allied {{C|To the Arbiter}}<br />Hostile {{C|To John-117}}
|-
|[[Yanme'e/Gameplay|Drones]]
|Allied {{C|To the Arbiter until Quarantine Zone}}<br />Hostile {{C|To John-117 and the Arbiter after Quarantine Zone}}
|-
|[[Jiralhanae/Gameplay|Brutes]]
|Allied {{C|To the Arbiter until Quarantine Zone}}<br />Hostile {{C|To John-117 and the Arbiter after Quarantine Zone}}
|-
|[[Z-1500 Automated Systems Drone|Sentinels]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Enforcer]]s
|Hostile
|-
|[[Constructors]]
|Neutral {{C|Appear as enemies in cross-hairs, but do not attack}}
|-
|[[Flood]]
|Hostile
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 50%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! scope="col"|Character
! scope="col"|Relationship to Player
! scope="col"|Levels Encountered
|-
|[[Master Gunnery Sergeant (Armory)|Master Gunnery Sergeant]]
|Allied
|
*[[The Armory (level)|The Armory]]
|-
|[[Miranda Keyes|Commander Miranda Keyes]]
|Allied
|
*[[Cairo Station (level)|Cairo Station]]
|-
|[[Avery Johnson|Sergeant Major Avery J. Johnson]]
|Allied
|
*[[Cairo Station (level)|Cairo Station]]
|-
|[[Rtas 'Vadum|Spec Ops Commander Rtas 'Vadumee]]
|Allied
|
*[[Sacred Icon]]
|-
|[[343 Guilty Spark]]
|Neutral
|
*[[The Oracle]]
|-
|[[Tartarus|Brute Chieftain Tartarus]]
|Hostile
|
*[[The Great Journey]]
|-
|[[Sesa 'Refumee|Heretic Commander Sesa 'Refumee]]
|Hostile
|
*[[The Arbiter]]
*[[The Oracle]]
|-
|[[Prophet of Regret]]
|Hostile
|
*[[Regret (level)|Regret]]
|}
</div>
<div class="tabbox"><div class="tab">Halo 3</div>
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 50%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! scope="col"|Faction
! scope="col"|Relationship to Player
|-
|[[UNSC Marine Corps/Gameplay#Halo 3|UNSC Marines]]
|Allied
|-
|[[Sangheili/Gameplay|Elites]]
|Allied
|-
|[[Jiralhanae/Gameplay|Brutes]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Yanme'e/Gameplay|Drones]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Unggoy/Gameplay|Grunts]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Kig-Yar/Gameplay|Jackals]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Mgalekgolo/Gameplay|Hunters]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Z-1500 Automated Systems Drone|Sentinels]]
|Allied <small>(Until [[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]], then hostile)</small>
|-
|[[Constructors]]s
|Neutral {{C|Appear as enemies in cross-hairs, but do not attack}}
|-
|[[Flood]]
|Hostile <small>(Allied for only [[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]])</small>
|-
|[[Voi factory workers]]
|Allied
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 50%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! scope="col"|Character
! scope="col"|Relationship to Player
! scope="col"|Levels Encountered
|-
|[[Thel 'Vadam|The Arbiter]]
|Allied
|All levels except [[Tsavo Highway (level)|Tsavo Highway]]
|-
|[[343 Guilty Spark]]
|Neutral <small>(Until Halo, then hostile)</small>
|
*[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]
*[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]
|-
|[[Avery Johnson|Sergeant Major Avery J. Johnson]]
|Allied
|
*[[Sierra 117]]
*[[Crow's Nest (level)|Crow's Nest]]
*[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]
|-
|[[Miranda Keyes|Commander Miranda Keyes]]
|Allied
|
*[[Crow's Nest (level)|Crow's Nest]]
|-
|[[Reynolds|Gunnery Sergeant Reynolds]]
|Allied
|
*[[Sierra 117]]
*[[Tsavo Highway (level)|Tsavo Highway]]
*[[The Storm]]
*[[Floodgate]]
|}
</div>
<div class="tabbox"><div class="tab">Halo 3: ODST</div>
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 50%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! scope="col"|Character
! scope="col"|Relationship to Player
! scope="col"|Levels Encountered
|-
|[[Edward Buck|Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck]]
|Allied
|
*[[NMPD HQ (level)|NMPD HQ]]
*[[Data Hive]]
*[[Coastal Highway]]
|-
|[[Taylor H. Miles|Taylor H. "Dutch" Miles]]
|Allied
|
*[[Kizingo Boulevard (level)|Kizingo Boulevard]]
*[[NMPD HQ (level)|NMPD HQ]]
*[[Kikowani Station (level)|Kikowani Station]]
|-
|[[Michael Crespo|Michael "Mickey" Crespo]]
|Allied
|
*[[ONI Alpha Site (level)|ONI Alpha Site]]
*[[NMPD HQ (level)|NMPD HQ]]
*[[Kikowani Station (level)|Kikowani Station]]
|-
|[[Kojo Agu|Kojo "Romeo" Agu]]
|Allied
|
*[[Kikowani Station (level)|Kikowani Station]]
|-
|[[Veronica Dare|Captain Veronica Dare]]
|Allied
|
*[[Data Hive]]
*[[Coastal Highway]]
|-
|[[Unnamed NMPD Officer]]
|Allied <small>(Upon discovering Dr. Endesha's body if the player has collected 29 [[Audio log (Halo 3: ODST)|Audio log]]s, turns hostile)</small>
|
*[[Data Hive]]
|-
|[[Vergil]]
|Allied
|
*[[Coastal Highway]]
|}
</div>
<div class="tabbox"><div class="tab">Halo: Reach</div>
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 50%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! scope="col"|Faction
! scope="col"|Relationship to Player
|-
|[[UNSC Army]]
|Allied
|-
|[[UNSC Marine Corps/Gameplay#Halo: Reach|UNSC Marines]]
|Allied
|-
|[[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|UNSC ODSTs]]
|Allied
|-
|[[Sangheili/Gameplay|Elites]]
|Hostile <small>(Allied only if an Elite in [[Firefight]])</small>
|-
|[[Unggoy/Gameplay|Grunts]]
|Hostile <small>(Allied only if an Elite in Firefight)</small>
|-
|[[Kig-Yar/Gameplay|Jackals]]
|Hostile <small>(Allied only if an Elite in Firefight)</small>
|-
|[[Jiralhanae/Gameplay|Brutes]]
|Hostile <small>(Allied only if an Elite in Firefight)</small>
|-
|[[Yanme'e/Gameplay|Drones]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Huragok|Engineers]]
|Hostile <small>(Allied only if an Elite in Firefight)</small>
|-
|[[Mgalekgolo/Gameplay|Hunters]]
|Hostile <small>(Allied only if an Elite in Firefight)</small>
|-
|[[Moa]]
|Neutral
|-
|[[Civilian]]
|Neutral
|-
|[[Gúta]]
|Hostile
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 50%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! scope="col"|Character
! scope="col"|Relationship to Player
! scope="col"|Levels Encountered
|-
|[[Carter-A259]]
|Allied
|
*[[Winter Contingency (level)|Winter Contingency]]
*[[ONI: Sword Base (level)|ONI: Sword Base]]
*[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]
*[[The Package (level)|The Package]]
|-
|[[Catherine-B320]]
|Allied
|
*[[Winter Contingency (level)|Winter Contingency]]
*[[ONI: Sword Base (level)|ONI: Sword Base]]
*[[Tip of the Spear]]
*[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]
|-
|[[Jun-A266]]
|Allied
|
*[[ONI: Sword Base (level)|ONI: Sword Base]]
*[[Nightfall]]
*[[The Package (level)|The Package]]
|-
|[[Emile-A239]]
|Allied
|
*[[Winter Contingency (level)|Winter Contingency]]
*[[ONI: Sword Base (level)|ONI: Sword Base]]
*[[The Package (level)|The Package]]
*[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]
|-
|[[Jorge-052]]
|Allied
|
*[[Winter Contingency (level)|Winter Contingency]]
*[[ONI: Sword Base (level)|ONI: Sword Base]]
*[[Tip of the Spear]]
*[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]
|-
|[[Duvall|Sergeant Major Duvall]]
|Allied
|
*[[Exodus]]
|-
|[[Ardo 'Moretumee]]
|Hostile
|
*[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]
|}
</div>
<div class="tabbox"><div class="tab">Halo 4</div>
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 50%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! scope="col"|Faction
! scope="col"|Relationship to Player
|-
|[[UNSC Marine Corps/Gameplay#Halo 4|UNSC Marines]]
|Allied
|-
|[[Spartan Operations|UNSC Spartans]]
|Allied
|-
|[[Sangheili/Gameplay|Elites]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Unggoy/Gameplay|Grunts]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Kig-Yar/Gameplay|Jackals]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Mgalekgolo/Gameplay|Hunters]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Promethean Crawler]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Promethean Watcher]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Promethean Knight]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Z-1500 Automated Systems Drone|Sentinels]]
|Allied
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 50%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! scope="col"|Character
! scope="col"|Relationship to Player
! scope="col"|Levels Encountered
|-
|[[Thomas Lasky]]
|Allied
|
*[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]
|-
|[[Parg Vol]]
|Hostile
|
*[[Catherine/Hunting Trip|Spartan Ops Episode 3 - Chapter 5: Hunting Trip]]
|}
</div>
<div class="tabbox"><div class="tab">Halo 5: Guardians</div>
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 50%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! scope="col"|Faction
! scope="col"|Relationship to Player
|-
|[[UNSC Marine Corps/Gameplay#Halo 4|UNSC Marines]]
|Warzone Only. Allied and Hostile
|-
|[[Sangheili/Gameplay|Elites]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Unggoy/Gameplay|Grunts]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Kig-Yar/Gameplay|Jackals]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Mgalekgolo/Gameplay|Hunters]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Promethean Crawler]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Armiger Soldier]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Promethean Watcher]]
|Hostile
|-
|[[Promethean Knight]]
|Hostile
|}
===Musketeers===
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 50%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! scope="col"|Character
! scope="col"|Relationship to Player
! scope="col"|Levels Encountered
|-
|[[Linda-058|Petty Officer Second Class Linda-058]]
|Allied
|
*[[Blue Team (level)|Blue Team]]
*[[Reunion]]
*[[The Breaking]]
|-
|[[Kelly-087|Petty Officer Second Class Kelly-087]]
|Allied
|
*[[Blue Team (level)|Blue Team]]
*[[Reunion]]
*[[The Breaking]]
|-
|[[Frederic-104|Lieutenant, Junior Grade Frederic-104]]
|Allied
|
*[[Blue Team (level)|Blue Team]]
*[[Reunion]]
*[[The Breaking]]
|-
|[[Olympia Vale|Spartan Olympia Vale]]
|Allied
|Every level excluding
*[[Blue Team (level)|Blue Team]]
*[[Reunion]]
*[[The Breaking]]
|-
|[[Holly Tanaka|Spartan Holly Tanaka]]
|Allied
|Every level excluding
*[[Blue Team (level)|Blue Team]]
*[[Reunion]]
*[[The Breaking]]
|-
|[[Edward Buck|Spartan Edward Buck]]
|Allied
|Every level excluding
*[[Blue Team (level)|Blue Team]]
*[[Reunion]]
*[[The Breaking]]
|}
</div>
</div>

==Production notes==
During the [[Development of Halo: Combat Evolved|development of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'']], the [[Keelbug]] was conceptualized as a method to remove NPC dead bodies in order to free up memory in the game.

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

[[Category:Real-world terms and phrases]]