Editing Sangheili Mercenary

{{Status|Canon}}
{{disambig header|the standard low-ranking Sangheili used by the Banished|the standard low-ranking Sangheili used by the [[Covenant]]|Sangheili Minor}}
{{Unit infobox
|variant=Ban
|name=Mercenary
|image=[[File:HINF Sangheili Mercenary Cutout.png|250px]]
|species=[[Sangheili]]
|branch=[[Legion#Banished|Sangheili mercenary clans]]
*[[Enduring Conviction|Let 'Volir's clan]]
*[[Warriors of Malaston]]
*[[Valorguards of the Chosen]]
*[[Bloodbrave Guardians of Suban]]
*[[Kaepra's Grief]]
*[[Nobles of the Fied's Rising]]
*[[Nwari Wastewalkers]]
|mission=*Ground assault/infantry
*Lance leader
|equipment=[[Combat harness|Sangheili combat harness]]
<br>[[Sangheili personal energy shield]]
|notable=
|affiliation= [[Banished]]
}}
{{Quote|I have become estranged from my family, who even after the truth has come to light, refuse to fully renounce [[Covenant religion|the ancient doctrines]] I have brought [[Sangheili#Culture|shame]] upon our name by offering up my blade alongside [[Enduring Conviction|my brothers]]...for hire.|[[Orda Val 'Saham]]{{Ref/Game|HW2|Phoenix Log#Banished|Phoenix Log – Banished – "The Blinded"}}}}

'''Sangheili Mercenaries''' are the standard low ranking [[Sangheili]] mercenaries working for the [[Banished]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p455}} While all Banished Sangheili are mercenaries in general, higher ranking mercenaries can hold roles such as [[Sangheili Honor Guardsman|Honor Guard]],{{Ref/Game|Id=HW2HonorGuard|Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare|Quote=An Honor Guard's cloaking ability could prove useful to us. Get ready to earn your keep, '''mercenary'''!|Quotee=[[Voridus]]}} or [[Shipmaster]] as [[Let 'Volir]] did.{{Ref/Game|Id=HW2PL|Halo Wars 2|[[Phoenix Logs]]: [[Phoenix Logs/Leaders/Shipmaster Let 'Volir|Shipmaster Let 'Volir]]}}

==Overview==
While many [[Sangheili]] [[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war|continued]] to battle the [[Jiralhanae]] following the [[Great Schism]] and the fall of the Covenant,{{Ref/Film|Id=The Return|EvoMC|Story=[[The Return#Motion Comic|The Return]]}}{{Ref/Comic|TFS|Story=Hunting Party|Quote=Now we have but one aim... the slaughter of beasts.}} there were Sangheili who were persuaded by [[Atriox]] to work for the [[Banished]], as he claimed to have no complicity with [[Tartarus]] and the other Jiralhanae who had [[Great Schism|betrayed and massacred]] their kind and offered power and sport for those who would join the Banished.{{Ref/Comic|TFS|Story=Hunting Party}} As such, many Sangheili have joined the Banished as mercenaries, some of which used their earnings of military resources to fight out disputes with other Sangheili kin on their [[Sangheili colonies|homeworlds]].{{Ref/Book|Id=H:OSFM3|OSFM|Page=161}} Joining the Banished was frowned upon in Sangheili culture, [[Let 'Volir]]'s name was notably forever tarnished for working for Atriox.{{Ref/Game|HW2|Phoenix Log#Banished|Phoenix Log – Banished - Shipmaster Let 'Volir}}

===Operational history===
Many of Let Volir's mercenaries took part in the battle between the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} and the Banished on the [[Lesser Ark]], as [[Sangheili Ranger|Ranger]]s and [[Sangheili Honor Guardsman|Honor Guard]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HW2PL}} 

Many standard Sangheili Mercenaries fought for the Banished during the [[Battle for Zeta Halo]].{{Ref/Generic|[[Halo Infinite Campaign Gameplay Premiere]]}} They came from the mercenary Sangheili clans of the [[Warriors of Malaston]], [[Valorguards of the Chosen]], [[Bloodbrave Guardians of Suban]], and [[Kaepra's Grief]]. In addition, [[Chak 'Lok]] brought several [[Sangheili Ultra]] mercenaries into the fold.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22p455|Enc22|Page=455}}

==Equipment==
Sangheili Mercenaries are issued a blue colored version of the [[Sangheili harness]], akin to the [[Combat harness]] used by the Covenant's [[Sangheili Minor]]. They are always equipped with [[plasma grenade]]s, and almost always wield the {{Pattern|Erudo'ma'keth|pulse carbine}}, though they often arm themselves with better weapons found on the battlefield. They are also the species and rank most commonly found piloting [[Riuctda Workshop Ghost|Ghosts]], [[Kaelum Workshop Banshee|Banshees]], and [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Wraith|Wraiths]].

==Gameplay==
Mercenaries are the lowest ranked Elites encountered in ''Halo Infinite''. They can be found leading groups of [[Kig-Yar/Gameplay|Jackals]], [[Unggoy/Gameplay|Grunts]] and [[Skimmer]]s, and if alongside [[Jiralhanae/Gameplay|Brutes]], they tend to be in lower numbers. [[Sangheili Major|Elite Officers]] often have one or two Mercenaries working alongside them.

They are fast at moving and good shots, especially with the homing capabilities of the Pulse Carbine, and prefer to fire and throw grenades while on the run. However, they can be impatient, and will jump out of cover to pursue the player if he doesn't engage them on their terms, especially if out of allies. These characteristics also apply to their driving patterns; while they usually hang back, they will come searching if the player stays hidden. Mercenaries favor agility and have a tendency to [[Armor abilities/Reach|evade]] shots making them harder to hit.

A Mercenary's energy shields can withstand two full bursts of Pulse Rifle, or one [[Plasma Pistol]] overcharge, before collapsing, at which point they will usually roar and charge while firing their weapon, though they may instead take cover if the enemy is far away. Mercenaries, like other Elites in the game, do not keep their shields active while patrolling, making them easy targets when unaware. They are very quick at turning them on when they sense danger though, so be prepared.

While Mercenaries always wield Pulse Carbines by default, they will pick up more powerful weapons if they find them on the battlefield. This can make an encounter with them significantly more challenging, so beware of killing weak enemies with strong weapons (like Jackal Snipers or Skimmers) when there are still Elites alive in the area.

==Production notes==
With the design of Sangheili in ''Halo Infinite'' taking inspiration from ''[[Halo 3]]'' and ''[[Halo: Reach]]'',{{Ref/Site|Id=InsideOct|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/inside-infinite-october-2021|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Inside Infinite - October 2021|D=29|M=10|Y=2021}} the design of the Sangheili Mercenaries bear an almost-identical design to that of [[:File:HR EliteMinor Concept 3.jpg|a concept art]] of a [[Sangheili Minor]] created by [[Isaac Hannaford]] during the development of ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' (shown below).

==Gallery==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of Sangheili Mercenaries}}
<gallery>
File:HR EliteMinor Concept 3.jpg|Isaac Hannaford's ''Halo: Reach'' Elite Minor concept art.
File:HINF Sangheili Mercenary.png|An Elite mercenary in combat in the July 2020 gameplay.
File:HI Screenshot Gameplay-PulseCarbine1.png|July 2020 gameplay showing an Elite Mercenary.
File:HINF Elite.png|Promotional image of a Sangheili Mercenary.
File:HINF-EMcloseup.jpg|Close up of a Sangheili Mercenary.
File:HINF-EliteMercenary.jpg|Render of a Sangheili Mercenary.
File:Snapchat Monster Energy - Elite.jpg|A Monster Energy promo of the Elite Mercenary.
File:HINF SangheiliMercenaryClose.jpg|A Sangheili Mercenary on patrol.
File:HINF Sangheili Mercenary Closeup.png|A Sangheili Mercenary up close.
File:HINF EliteMercenaries.png|Two Sangheili Mercernaries with their energy shields.
File:HINF-Elitesniper.png|A Sangheili Mercenary with a Stalker rifle.
File:HINF Sangheili Mercenary Shotgun.png|A Sangheili Mercenary with a [[CQS48 Bulldog]].
File:HINF Sangheili Mercenary BR75.png|A Sangheili mercenary with a [[BR75 battle rifle]].
File:HINF Sangheili Mercenary plasma grenade.png|A Sangheili mercenary getting ready to throw a plasma grenade.
File:HINF-MercBandit.png|A Sangheili Mercenary with a [[M392 Bandit]] on [[Oasis (map)|Oasis]].
File:HFP Elites.png|A pair of Sangheili Mercenaries from [[Halo: Flashpoint]].
File:HFP EliteModels.png|Another pair of Sangheili Mercenaries in ''[[Halo: Flashpoint]]''.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Rubicon Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo: Battle for the Blood-Moon]]''
*''[[Halo: Flashpoint]]''

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

{{Sangheili Ranks}}