Editing Stealth Sangheili

{{Ratings}}
{{era|H1|H2|HW|}}
{{Covenant Rank Infobox
|name=Stealth Elite
|image= [[Image:SElite.jpg]]
|species=[[Sangheili]]
|weapons=*[[Energy Sword]]
*[[Plasma Rifle]]
|equipment=*[[Active Camouflage]]
*[[Elite Personal Energy Shield]]
|vehicles=
|missions=Stealth, Infiltration
|role=Flanking, Spying and Stalking 
|notable=
|affiliation=[[Covenant]]
}}

The '''Stealth Elite''' is a [[Sangheili]] [[rank]] of the [[Covenant]], and later, the [[Covenant Separatists]]. 

==Roles==
Not to be confused with [[Covenant Special Operations|Special Operations Elites]], these [[Sangheili]] Stealth soldiers are the assassins and spies of the [[Covenant Army]] [[Covenant Special Warfare Group|Special Warfare Group]]. 

The use of their active camouflage makes them experts at ambushing enemies in tight quarters. They are usually equipped with [[Energy Swords]] or [[Plasma Rifles]], and are seen commanding [[Grunt]]s similarly equipped with active camouflage.

While they possess [[Active Camouflage]], their defensive capabilities are lower than those of other Elites due to the weakness of their personal energy shields. Early on in the [[Human-Covenant War]], Stealth Elites had no Energy Shields, relying only on their stealth and weapons to accomplish their complicated missions. This was later rectified, but the Stealth Elites' newly gained Energy Shields were weak, causing any Sangheili who held the rank to still rely heavily on stealth and quickness.

==Combat==
[[Image:250px-Stealth Elite.jpg|thumb|right|150px|A camouflaged Stealth Elite armed with an [[Energy Sword]] on [[Installation 04]].]]
Stealth Elites are usually armed with [[Plasma Rifles]], either single-wielded or dual-wielded. Frequently, these soldiers are allowed to carry and use [[Energy Swords]]. They often lie in wait in order to ambush their enemies. They are also far less prone to tactical mistakes, such as not charging directly into a fight and taking cover more often. Their agility and [[Active Camouflage]] make them difficult targets to hit, and they often attack in pairs, much like [[Hunters]].

The best way to combat a Stealth soldier in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' would be to take advantage of their lack of shields. The [[M6D Pistol]] and the [[SRS99C-S2 AM Sniper Rifle]] will kill them with a single shot to the head, though it can be difficult to land shots, due to the [[Sangheili]]'s agility and camouflage ability. The sniper rifle's night vision makes this easier because it makes them quite visible. The [[MA5B ICWS Assault Rifle|MA5B]] is very effective at close range, as its ability to fill the air with a large number of projectiles reduces the need for accurate aiming, and allows you to find the [[Sangheili]] easier while they are still camouflaged. Explosives are also extremely effective when trying to flush them out of hiding or from behind cover, or to damage them.

In ''[[Halo 2]]'', use head shot-capable weapons such as the [[SRS99C-S2 AMB Sniper Rifle]], [[M6C Magnum Sidearm]], [[BR55 Battle Rifle]], or the [[Covenant Carbine]]. Their relatively weak shields can be broken easily by these weapons, and like any other [[Sangheili]] soldier, they can be killed by a single headshot while unshielded. Marksman [[weapon]]s such as the Sniper Rifle can kill them with a single headshot even when fully-shielded depending on difficulty you're playing on. The [[M90A Close Assault Weapon System|shotgun]] is very effective when combating a Stealth Elite in a close quarter’s environment.

Stealth Elites appear frequently in the ''[[Halo 2]]'' campaign and mainly the level [[Outskirts]] on Legendary, though they also appear in the underwater structure in the level [[Regret (Level)|Regret]], and on [[Gravemind (Level)|Gravemind ]].

===Armor and Shields===
These Sangheili are clad in armor that comes in several different variations. They are a specialty class, like [[Elite Ranger|Rangers]], and are suited for stealth operations.

During and prior to the [[Battle of Installation 04]], their armor was a light blue or gray color, depending on the lighting, and had a [[Forerunner]] emblem on the back. However, this armor system did not allow for use of a [[Elite Personal Energy Shields|Sangheili Personal Energy Shield]], allowing for a quick and easy kill if you know where they are. 

During the [[Battle of Earth]] and the [[Battle of Installation 05]], these Stealth soldiers received updated and improved armor. The color was changed from a grayish tone to either a brown or silver/steel color. In addition, the designers added in personal energy shields for increased survivability. The shielding system worn by Stealth Elites is significantly different from any other armor system worn by the Sangheili.&nbsp; Stealth Elites' shields recharge incredibly quickly, much faster than any other shield system seen in use in the Halo universe (including the shielding systems of Elite combat harnesses, SPARTAN power armor, and Brute power armor). Additionally, Stealth Elites appear to have almost twice as much health as a standard Minor Elite. On the downside, these shields are noticeably weaker than those worn and used by [[Minor Elite|Sangheili Minors]], with almost 50% the shield strength of a Minor Elite's shields.

==''Halo Wars''==
In a ''[[Halo Wars]]'' trailer, Stealth Elites attack a [[Marine]] squad called Blue 5. The last two survivors of Blue 5 tried to escape, but both were shot in the back by plasma bolts, presumably from a [[Plasma Rifle]]. One of the two Marines survived and began to crawl away from the Elites, but one of the Sangheili warriors stabbed him with his energy sword. He then picked up the Marines dead body, growled, and tossed it away. When Marine team Blue 6, armed with [[Scorpion Tank]]s, [[Warthog]]s and [[Battle Rifle]]s, got to the Stealth Elites' position, Blue 5 was already dead. A huge battle broke out. The trailer ended with the leader of [[SPARTAN Group Omega]] saying "If they want war, we'll give 'em war!"

Stealth Elites are also seen throughout ''Halo Wars'' campaign. Their invisibility makes it impossible for the player's units to see them. The Elites invisibility ends when they take a certain amount of damage. They use energy swords. It was once speculated that they would be the unique unit of [[Ripa 'Moramee]], although this was later proven to be untrue. Despite wearing silver armor in the previous Halo games, in ''Halo Wars'', they appear with white armor.

==Trivia==
*There are confirmed [[Sangheili Stealth Minor|Minor]] and [[Sangheili Stealth Major|Major]] ranks, with Minors wearing silver armor, and Majors wearing brown armor. Majors' sheilds are slightly mmore powerful, and they make less tactical errors.
*In ''[[Halo 3]]'', instead of fighting Sangheili Stealth specialists, you fight [[Brute Stalker|Jiralhanae Stalkers]] which nearly have the same role as their [[Sangheili]] counterparts except for the fact that the ''[[Stalkers]]'' protect their pack's [[Chieftain]]. 
*The [[Sangheili]] of this expertise do not appear during the events of ''[[Halo 3]]'', though it is still possible that some of these soldiers still fought during the [[Battle of Voi]] and the [[Battle of Installation 00]]. It's also possible that some of these Sangheili were absorbed into the [[Covenant Separatist]] [[Covenant Special Operations|Special Operations groups]] during the [[Great Schism]].
*In the last level of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', [[The Maw]], there are some [[Combat Forms]] with their [[Active Camouflage]] still working. This means that they are likely infected Stealth Elites. However, they do not carry weapons.
*Stealth Elites are not to be confused with [[Ossoona|Ossoonas]], who also employ the [[active camouflage]]. Ossoonas are meant to spy on the enemy without participating in the fight unless spotted, while Stealth Elites are for combat purposes.
*Stealth Elites mainly show up in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', but some Stealth Elites are seen in ''[[Halo 2]]'', and are then replaced by [[Brute Stalker]]s in ''[[Halo 3]]''.
*Stealth Elites are not the only Elites that can use Active Camouflage. They are the only ones who have the dedicated role of attacking by stealth in a combat situation so they are trained specifically for it. [[Special Operations Elites]] also use Active Camouflage, as can the [[Arbiter]], but unlike the Arbiter's, Spec-Ops Elites and Stealth Elites' camoflauge can last as long as they want.
*Among the scattered&nbsp;bodies of Elites that can be found throughout the playable sections of [[New Mombasa]] in [[Halo 3: ODST]], there are bodies that wear gray armor, similar to that of Stealth Elites.

==References==
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{{Elite Ranks}}
[[Category:The Covenant]]
[[Category:Elites]]
[[Category:Ranks]]