Flood Juggernaut

This article is about the Flood form. For the multiplayer gametype, see Juggernaut.

Juggernaut
Biological overview
Classification:	Combat form Key mind
Species:	Flood
Physical information
Avg. height:	548 centimeters (18 ft 0 in)
Distinctions:	Massive with two immensely large tentacles for arms and quick legs which give it the ability to make incredible jumps

The Juggernaut is a large Flood key mind command form. They are a kind of combat form consisting of multiple hosts melded together via Flood Super Cell and controlled by multiple pod infectors. In combat, they function as field commanders for the larger Flood host, avoiding direct encounters where possible but still capable of inflicting extreme damage when directly engaging enemy forces.

Overview

Juggernauts are a highly-specialised combat form with large crossover with the concept of a key mind. While consisting of multiple host bodies melded together under the control of multiple pod infectors, Juggernauts are used in a role more comparable to other key minds, serving as commanders and directors for Flood forces in the field. This distinction blurs the concepts of a combat form and a pure form, and paves the way for the emergence of more advanced types of key mind such as Abominations—a distinct evolution of the Juggernaut.

In its role as a key mind, the Juggernaut is capable of harnessing the minds of its hosts to analyse enemy activity and adjust the tactical strategy of Flood forces in the field. They can synchronise other nearby Flood forms and act as a repeater, passing information to other, more distant Flood hordes until such a time as more permanent Gravemind is established. In extremely large outbreaks, Juggernauts are subservient to larger command forms, though still act as local field commanders.

Physiologically, the Juggernaut is a towering behemoth with a body plan similar to that of the Gaunt and Abomination (the latter of which specifically an evolution of the Juggernaut). It consists of a large, bulbous mass of Flood Super Cell atop two trunk-like legs, and with two large tentacle-like arms, each ending in a spike. In combat, the Juggernaut can use these tendrils to great effect by swiping at enemies, slamming them onto the ground, picking up and throwing enemies, or even impaling larger targets such as vehicles, or by crushing smaller foes under its feet. This sheer strength, when combined with their extraordinary mobility, allows them to be extremely potent combatants when pushed onto the front lines - though they typically prefer to stay away from direct combat and instead direct other lesser Flood from afar.

History

Multiple Flood Juggernauts were unleashed by the Flood during the Battle of Installation 04. Following their crash-landing late in the conflict, Fireteam Raven encountered two pairs of Flood Juggernauts battling the forces of the Covenant, and were able to destroy them while waiting for evacuation. During the final hours of the conflict, at least five Juggernauts joined the Flood's attack on the downed UNSC Pillar of Autumn, where they battled the remaining Covenant and UNSC forces on the plains below the crash site. Three of the Juggernauts were killed by the focus cannon of a Deutoros-pattern Scarab, while the remaining two were killed by Fireteam Raven.

During the Outbreak on Installation 00 in 2559, several advanced Juggernaut forms referred to as Abominations were encountered and destroyed by the Banished.

Production notes

"More like Jugger-NOT"

— Urk

Main article: Cut Halo 2 enemies § Flood juggernaut

The Juggernaut was originally planned to debut as a gameplay enemy in Halo 2, but was ultimately cut from the game. The form's canon status remained in limbo until it was mentioned in Halo Wars 2's Phoenix Logs and eventually made an appearance as an enemy in the arcade shooter Halo: Fireteam Raven.

Juggernauts were originally slated to appear in the levels "The Oracle", "Sacred Icon" and "Quarantine Zone". There would never be more than one Juggernaut in any given place. Once the player eliminated it, the combat forms that were supplementing it would go "offline". The Juggernaut has four to six infection forms inside its body to control it, similar to combat forms. According to Robert McLees, the Juggernaut was supposed to be "... this uber-intelligent mini boss, but the suggested intelligence was way too high for what design needed to use it for, which was as a big tank". For a full recounting of the known information on the Halo 2 iteration of the Juggernaut, see here.

The Juggernaut was also the conceptual progenitor of the pure forms seen in Halo 3. However, whereas the Juggernaut was to be controlled by infection forms, pure forms are created entirely from Flood biomass.

In 2009, the "Halo 101" post on Halo Waypoint showed a Flood Juggernaut in the background image of the "Halo" section.

Trivia

• The Art of Halo features a concept sketch of the Flood carrier form that resembles the Juggernaut.
• Juggernauts are playable pieces in Halo Wars Risk. However, they do not resemble the Juggernaut, rather looking like a thrasher form instead.
• In the motion comic adaptation of the short story The Mona Lisa, a Sangheili-derived combat form closely resembles the Juggernaut.

Gallery

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  Halo 2 concept art for the Juggernaut.

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  A Juggernaut in Halo 2.

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  Fighting a Flood Juggernaut.

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  A Flood Juggernaught in Halo 2.

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  A Juggernaut performing its flurry attack.

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  A Juggernaut in defensive stance.

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  A Juggernaut-like form in The Mona Lisa. Note that it spawned from a Sangheili host, indicated by its head being on the right shoulder.

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  A Juggernaut in Fireteam Raven.

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  A Juggernaut in Fireteam Raven.

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  A Juggernaut spawned into Halo 2: Anniversary viewed in remastered graphics. The model lacks a texture, as it is not intended to be seen.

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  Multiple Juggernauts in the keyart for the Flood chapter of the 2022 Halo Encyclopedia.

List of appearances

• Halo Wars 2 (First mentioned)
• Halo: Fireteam Raven (First appearance)