Editing Sniper

{{Status|Canon}}

{{Center|"Sniper" redirects here. You may be looking for the [[Sniper Rifle]] gameplay page or the [[Armor accessories/Sniper|Sniper]] armor permutation in [[Halo: Reach]].}}

A '''sniper''' is an infantry specialist equipped with a high-precision weapon, typically a [[Sniper rifle (disambiguation)|sniper rifle]]. Snipers engage targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the detection capabilities of enemy personnel.

All snipers in the [[United Nations Space Command]] armed forces receive similar training and equipment, but their method of employment varies by service and unit. [[UNSC Army]] snipers are arranged into specialized reconnaissance units at the [[battalion]] level, and operate as scouts and forward observers first, snipers second.<ref name="gc recon">'''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''', ''UNSC Recon Team description''</ref> Army snipers and marksmen are trained to live off the land for years, allowing them to operate in the field for extended periods of time.<ref name="artofwars">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/the-art-of-war-s '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - ''THE ART OF WAR(S)'']</ref> Though snipers provide anti-infantry and anti-vehicle capabilities to the units they work with, the primary objective of a sniper is defined as augmenting the main strategic effort of their unit by placing sensors and extending the [[UNSC battle network]] into enemy territory.{{Ref/Reuse|gc recon}} The Army fields cavalry scouts, while the [[UNSC Marine Corps]] has reconnaissance [[division]]s and force reconnaissance units.{{Ref/Reuse|artofwars}}

Some UNSC snipers, such as those serving aboard the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}, are accompanied by two [[MQ-96 Support Drone]]s in lieu of a spotter, with one drone designed to spot targets and the other to detect cloaked enemies.<ref>'''Halo Wars 2'''</ref>

Covenant snipers during the Human-Covenant War were predominantly [[Kig-Yar]] [[Kig-Yar Sniper|marksmen]] who were equipped with an array of precision carbines and rifles for medium-to-long ranged combat.{{Ref/Site|Id=universe|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/weapons/beam-rifle|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Beam Rifle|D=13|M=04|Y=2016}}{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=292}} The Covenant made effective use of the Kig-Yar's  natural stealth skills and superior senses of sight, smell and hearing to deploy them as effective long-ranged combatants, often able to eliminate hidden enemies from extreme ranges.{{Ref/Site|Id=H4 Interactive Guide|URL=http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-US/halo4guide|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Halo 4 Interactive Guide|D=01|M=11|Y=2012}} [[Kig-Yar sniper]]s were often stationed within [[Covenant watchtower]]s on the battlefield, which granted them a height advantage over enemy ground troops and provided them with clean lines of fire.{{Ref/Game|Id=H2|H2}}{{Ref/Game|Id=H3|H3}}{{Ref/Game|Id=HW|HW}}{{Ref/Game|Id=ODST|ODST}}{{Ref/Game|Id=HR|HR}} When deployed in urban environments, Covenant snipers often took position in the upper levels of buildings and other large structures.{{Ref/Reuse|H2}}{{Ref/Reuse|H3}}{{Ref/Reuse|HW}}{{Ref/Reuse|ODST}}{{Ref/Reuse|HR}}

 

The [[Jha'kaar]] were a specialized order of Kig-Yar snipers that served within the Covenant. They were selected by the [[Prophet of Regret]] to serve as deadly enforcers of his will. The Jha'kaar were virtually indistinguishable from other Kig-Yar snipers, as they bore no particularly externally-identifiable markings, armour or weaponry beyond the standard equipment assigned to all snipers, which allowed them to appear as ordinary as any other unit to external observers, and each member's name was only known to their commander. The few who knew of their existence generally understood that they were extremely capable snipers, able to perform shots considered otherwise impossible, with some attributing this extreme marksmanship to preternatural instinct possessed by the Jha'kaar.{{Ref/Site|Id=CFHVT|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-high-value-histories|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - High Value Histories|D=08|M=09|Y=2022}}

 

As well as Kig-Yar, the Covenant also employed select [[Sangheili]] to serve as snipers, who were often deployed in similar fashion.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} Sangheili personnel within the Covenant's [[Covenant Special Operations|Special Operations]] division sometimes deployed with particle beam rifles, acting as long ranged support for others in their units.{{Ref/Level|H2|[[The Arbiter]]}} Following the onset of the [[Great Schism]] in [[2552#November|November 2552]], the [[Jiralhanae]] took the place of the Sangheili as operators of long-ranged weaponry.{{Ref/Reuse|H3}}

 

Following the end of the Human-Covenant War, several [[Covenant remnants|remnant factions]] of the former Covenant employed Kig-Yar snipers in largely the same fashion as those of the original hegemony. The largest of these groups, [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|a faction]] led by [[Supreme Commander]] [[Jul 'Mdama]], contained numerous Kig-Yar snipers who were deployed during the many battles fought by the alliance.{{Ref/Game|Id=H4|H4}}{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE|HE}}{{Ref/Game|Id=H5G|H5G}} [[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group|An offshoot]] of Jul's Covenant led by [[Vata 'Gajat]] also had several Kig-Yar mercenaries who served as snipers within their numbers.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HEI2|HE|Issue=2}}

 

The [[Covenant]] made heavy use of personnel specialized in sniper roles throughout their [[Human-Covenant War|genocidal campaign]] against [[Human|humanity]]. During the early years of the war, the Covenant's battle doctrine often hindered the users of long-ranged weaponry from making full use of their capabilities, but as the war continued, human snipers proved how accurate and precise use of firepower could throw entire armies into disarray. This prompted a change in Covenant combat doctrine, and they began to elevate production of armaments such as [[particle beam rifle]]s, which they selected as their primary special application precision weapon to combat the UNSC's [[SRS99 series]] of sniper rifles.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc293|Enc22|Page=293}} By the final few months of 2552, the {{Pattern|Sulok|beam rifle}} was the most commonly-encountered Covenant long-ranged weapon by UNSC troops.{{Ref/Site|Id=bnetbeamrifle|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/projects/halo3/content.aspx?link=h3beamrifle|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Type-50 Sniper Rifle System|D=16|M=01|Y=2021|LocalArchive=Machines, Materiel and Munitions from the Human-Covenant Conflict, 2525 - Present#Type-50 Sniper Rifle System}}

 

During the [[Fall of Reach]], a Sangheili [[Sangheili Field Marshal|Field Marshal]] of the [[Devoted Sentries]] armed with a {{Pattern|Gadulo|needle rifle}} fatally shot [[SPARTAN-III program|Spartan-III]] [[Catherine-B320]] in the head from an overhead {{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}} as [[NOBLE Team]] were running towards a fallout bunker to escape from the [[glassing]] of [[New Alexandria]] on August 23, 2552. Following the outbreak of the [[Flood]] in the later stages of the [[Battle of Installation 04|Battle of]] [[Installation 04]] in September 2552, Kig-Yar snipers of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]] armed with [[T-50α particle beam rifle|Type-50 Alpha]] beam rifles fought valiantly against the parasite on the ring, displaying uncharacteristic bravery during the battle.{{Ref/Game|Id=Alpha|H5G|List of REQ cards|REQ Card|Detail=Halo 2 Beam Rifle 'Alpha'}} During his [[Battle of Mombasa|invasion]] of [[Mombasa]] and the later [[Battle of Installation 05|Battle of]] [[Installation 05]], the Prophet of Regret deployed Jha'kaar personnel alongside other Covenant forces.{{Ref/Reuse|CFHVT}} Following the outbreak of the Great Schism, the [[Prophet of Truth]] deployed an elite team armed with [[T-50δ particle beam rifle|Type-50 Delta]] beam rifles to hunt down his political enemies.{{Ref/Game|Id=Delta|H5G|List of REQ cards|REQ Card|Detail=Halo 2 Beam Rifle 'Delta'}}

 

Following the end of the Human-Covenant War, Kig-Yar snipers within Jul 'Mdama's Covenant were among the forces deployed on [[Requiem]] where they partook in the [[Battle of Requiem|engagement]] against UNSC forces in [[2557#July|July 2552]].{{Ref/Reuse|H4}} The faction continued to make heavy use of snipers during the [[Requiem Campaign]] in [[2558#February|February 2558]],{{Ref/SpOps}} as well as the various battles that the group participated in throughout that year,{{Ref/Reuse|HE}} until the destruction of the faction on [[Sanghelios]] in October 2558. A Kig-Yar sniper part of [[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group]] participated in [[Attack on Ealen IV|a raid]] against a peace delegation between the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] and the [[Children of Oth Sonin]] on [[Ealen IV]]. During the attack, the sniper targeted Jiralhanae [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]] [[Lydus]], but was slain by [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] before he could fire his beam rifle.{{Ref/Reuse|HEI2}}

 

Kig-Yar snipers typically donned similar [[Kig-Yar combat harness|combat harnesses]] to other Kig-Yar. They sometimes wore [[Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|point defense gauntlets]], but typically did not activate them so as to have better aim with their weapons.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo3.com/believe/test/shell.html|Site=Believe campaign website (defunct)}} Kig-Yar snipers were generally distinguished from their brethren by their [[Kig-Yar targeting headgear|targeting headgear]], which is [[smart-linking|smart-linked]] to their weapon, providing the sniper with increased range and other ocular enhancements.{{Ref/Site|Id=H4 Interactive Guide|URL=http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-US/halo4guide|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Halo 4 Interactive Guide|D=01|M=11|Y=2012}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc154|Enc11|Page=154-155}} Kig-Yar snipers within Jul 'Mdama's Covenant occasionally wore colored armor to blend into their environment.{{Ref/Level|H4|[[Requiem (level)|Requiem]]}}{{Ref/Level|H4|[[Infinity (Halo 4 level)|Infinity]]}}. Additionally, some of 'Mdama's snipers carried [[Type-3 active camouflage]] armor plug-ins to provide additional stealth capabilities.{{Ref/SpOps|Scattered|Search and Destroy}} The [[Sangheili harness|combat harnesses]] worn by Sangheili snipers within the Covenant and its remnants also possessed smart-linking technology that allowed them to make effective use of their weaponry.{{Ref/Site|Id=focus|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/weapons/focus-rifle|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Universe - Weapons - Focus Rifle|D=14|M=5|Y=2021}}

 

 

The {{Pattern|M'tara|focus rifle}} was another long-range system employed by the Covenant. Instead of using individual beams of ionized particles, the focus rifle allowed users to effectively suppress enemy combatants with a continuous stream of electromagnetically guided plasma. The focus rifle possessed an enormous energy draw which the Covenant were unable to reduce, which meant that the weapon was generally relegated to shock troops and to provide suppressing fire. While several patterns of focus rifle were employed by the Covenant, only the ''M'tara''-pattern was extensively used throughout the Human-Covenant War, seeing usage in pivotal battles such as the [[Fall of Reach]],{{Ref/Reuse|Enc293}} as well as limited usage by Sangheili personnel of several Covenant remnant factions in the years following the war.{{Ref/Game|SA}}{{Ref/Game|SS}}

 

The [[Banished]] employ dedicated sniper units comprised of both [[Jiralhanae Sniper|Jiralhanae]] and Kig-Yar soldiers.{{Ref/Game|Id=HI|HI}} Jiralhanae snipers belonging to the Banished are drawn from the greatest of the species' outland hunters. Naturally skilled at tracking their prey, Jiralhanae snipers are vigorously trained within their birth-clans. They are incredibly deadly and stealthy warriors, able to effectively eliminate enemy combatants from ranges of several thousand meters away, oftentimes without being detected. Banished hunting and raiding parties often host Jiralhanae snipers on their [[Qavardu Workshop Prowler|war-sleds]] and [[Qavardu Workshop war-skiff|skiffs]], from which they used their superior abilities to track and neutralize their quarry, often during the heat of a chase. Additionally, Jiralhanae snipers were often stationed in elevated positions around Banished bases and redoubts, allowing them to scan the surrounding areas for signs of enemy movement{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc426|Enc22|Page=426}}

 

Kig-Yar snipers within the Banished operate largely the same as they did within the Covenant. Kig-Yar snipers of the Banished are used in hunting parties to attack enemy forces, as well as to provide support for other Banished ground forces. They were also used in defensive roles, augmenting their Jiralhanae brethren in protecting Banished outposts and other key locations.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc433|Enc22|Page=433}}

 

 

Jiralhanae snipers in the Banished are equipped with moderate body armor, which comes in both a red and blue variation,{{Ref/Reuse|HI}} and wear an armored helmet which contains a specialized sensor array and a native-link optic suite,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc426}} while Kig-Yar wear similar harnesses and targeting headgear as their Covenant counterparts.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc433}}

 

Blue-armored Jiralhanae snipers deployed on Zeta Halo usually equip [[Flaktura Workshop Skewer|Flaktura Workshop skewer]]s as their primary weapon,{{Ref/Reuse|HI}} which they used to devastating effect against vehicles as well as while hunting prey on the surface of the ring.{{Ref/Game|Id=forge|HINF|Forge - Skewer description|Quote=Bold and brutal, this Banished weapon fires a single massive armor-piercing harpoon. It has proven useful in hunting both beast and machine on Zeta Halo.}} They also carried [[Ukala Workshop Mangler]]s as sidearms.{{Ref/Reuse|HI}} Red-armored Jiralhanae snipers instead preferred to use [[Sicatt Workshop shock rifle]] as their weapon of choice,{{Ref/Reuse|HI}} using the rifle's brutal precision to kill enemy targets at extreme ranges,{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=477}} while using [[Sicatt Workshop Disruptor|Sicatt Workshop disruptor]]s as sidearms.{{Ref/Reuse|HI}}

 

*[[Frederic-104]]

*[[G. R. Scott]]

*[[Fones]]

*[[Devon Sparks]]

File:HGN-P122-Full.jpg|Corporal Avery Johnson and a Marine work to assassinate Jerald Mulkey Ander.

File:H5G-Linda GI.jpg|[[Spartan-II program|Spartan-II]] [[Linda-058]], renowned among Spartans for her skill with a rifle, in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.

File:HINF MarineSniper.png|A Marine sniper on [[Installation 07]] in ''[[Halo Infinite]]''.

File:HW2 - spartan sniper.jpg|Unused concept of a Spartan sniper for ''Halo Wars 2''.

File:HW2B Sniper uncloaked.png|A UNSC sniper in ''Halo Wars 2''.

{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:UNSC combat occupations]]