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{{Ratings}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Era|H2|H3|HW|H3R|RE|FS|GOO|CH|HE|HGN|UP|LE}}
{{Center|''Were you looking for the rank [[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|War Chieftain]] or [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]], the ruler of the [[Jiralhanae]]?''}}
<center>''Were you looking for the rank [[War Chieftain]] or [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]], the rulers of the [[Jiralhanae]]?''</center>
{{Unit infobox
{{Covenant Rank Infobox
|variant=Cov
|name=Jiralhanae Chieftain
|name=Chieftain
|image=[[File:RegChieftain.png|300px]]
|image=[[File:RegChieftain.png|300px]]
|species=[[Jiralhanae]]
|species=[[Jiralhanae]]
|weapons=*[[Gravity Hammer]]
|mission=*Pack Leaders
*[[Spike Grenade]]
*Battlefield Commanders
|equipment=*[[Invincibility (Equipment)|Invincibility]]
|role=Spiritual Leaders{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
*[[Power Drain]]
|affiliation=*[[Covenant]]{{Ref/Game|Id=H3|H3}} <br>
*[[Flare]]
*[[Covenant remnants]]
*[[Regenerator]]
**Individual Jiralhanae factions
|vehicles=
***[[Jovus' clan]]{{Ref/Comic|Id=RoA|RoA|Issue=[[Halo: Rise of Atriox Issue 5|#5]]}}
|missions=Various
**[[Keepers of the One Freedom]]
|role=Pack Commanders
**[[Banished]]{{Ref/Game|Id=HW2|HW2}}{{Ref/Game|Id=HINF|HINF}}
Clan Leaders
**[[Merg Vol's Covenant]]{{Ref/Game|Id=HSA|HSA}}
|affiliation=*[[Covenant]]
**[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]]{{Ref/Game|Id=HSS|HSS}}
*[[Covenant Loyalists]]
**[[Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant]]{{Ref/Novel|Id=Sacrifice|HSoR|Detail= Adjunct - [[Sacrifice]]}}
|notable=*[[Castor]]
*[[Cethegus]]
*[[Hekabe]]
*[[Jovus]]
*[[Lydus]]
*[[Parabum]]
*[[Avitus]]
*[[Unidentified Jiralhanae chieftain (Heian)]]
}}
}}
{{quote|The [[pack]] will feast on you!|Jiralhanae Chieftain to the [[John-117|Master Chief]]|[[Halo 3]]}}
{{quote|Commanding troops requires both strength and audacity.|Jiralhanae Chieftain's mantra}}{{Ref/Game|Id=HRPG|HR|Detail=Post-game carnage report}}


The '''Jiralhanae Chieftain''', also known as the '''Alpha Jiralhanae''', is a [[Covenant]] Chieftain rank for the [[Jiralhanae]] race. It is one of the highest in the [[Jiralhanae]] hierarchy in social aspects and military [[rank]].
The '''Jiralhanae Chieftain''', also known as '''Alpha''',{{Ref/Game|H3|Bestiarum}} is a [[Covenant rank structure|position]] within the [[Jiralhanae]] race. It is one of the highest positions in the Jiralhanae hierarchy both in social aspects and in [[Covenant military|military]] rank within the [[Covenant]] and its [[Covenant remnants|splinter factions]], including the [[Banished]].{{Ref/Reuse|RoA}}{{Ref/Reuse|H3}}{{Ref/Reuse|HINF}}


==Overview==
==Overview==
In ''[[Halo 2]]'', the first and only Chieftain presented was [[Tartarus]], the highest-ranked Chieftain/commander of the [[Jiralhanae]], who was killed by [[Thel 'Vadamee|Thel 'Vadam]] and his [[Sangheili]] allies on [[Installation 05]]. He used a powerful and unique [[Gravity Hammer]], called the "[[Fist of Rukt]]", in this battle. His uncle [[Maccabeus]] was the Chieftain who preceded him and was the previous wielder of [[Fist of Rukt]]. Maccabeus' death was at his young nephew's hands, as is the tradition within the Jiralhanae culture, a fight to the death over position within the pack. The same can be said for all Brute chieftains, unless the previous chieftain fell in battle, however contestants may have had to fight to the death for the position if this was the case, so the situation would have stayed the same.
===Roles and responsibilities===
In the [[Covenant]], Chieftains primarily served as military commanders. They are leaders of groups of the half-a-dozen or more Jiralhanae as well as several lower caste species within a "[[pack]]."  In Jiralhanae society, Chieftains are subordinate only to [[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|War Chieftain]]s and the [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]] himself. Apart from a pack leadership position, the Jiralhanae Chieftains are also spiritual leaders, giving sermons to their [[pack]]s.{{Ref/Level|Id=theark|H3|The Ark (level)|The Ark}}{{Ref/Level|Id=cov|H3|The Covenant (level)|The Covenant}} [[Maccabeus]], while War Chieftain of the ''[[Rapid Conversion]]'', would lead his pack in religious sermons, like the [[Progression of the Ages]] and blessing pack meals.{{Ref/Novel|HCH|Page=196}}


In ''[[Halo 3]]'', more Chieftains are shown, commanding their troops in a "pack" and enforcing that particular group mentality. Prior to the game's release, the video documentary "[[Et Tu Brute?]]" revealed their role in the game along with the overarching fact that the Brutes had replaced the Elites. They wear very elaborate gold or red [[Power Armor (Jiralhanae)|Power Armor]], breast-plates, and an even more intricate headdress.<ref>[http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/1353/1166618976.jpg TeamXbox Image]</ref> The Brute Chieftain may hold a rank similar to the [[Elite]] [[Zealot]]. In [[Halo Wars]], only one Chieftain appears, which is the [[Jiralhanae Army Commander]].
===History===
The Chieftain of the Jiralhanae, [[Tartarus]] was [[Battle for the Control Room (Installation 05)|killed]] by [[Thel 'Vadam]], his [[Sangheili]] [[Fleet of Retribution|allies]], and [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Johnson]] on [[Installation 05]]. He wielded a powerful ancient and unique [[Gravity hammer (fiction)|gravity hammer]], the [[Fist of Rukt]].{{Ref/Level|Id=TGJ|Game=Halo 2|Level=The Great Journey}} Preceding him was his uncle Maccabeus, the previous wielder of the Fist of Rukt. Maccabeus's death was at his young nephew's hands, as is the tradition within the Jiralhanae culture: a fight to the death over the Chieftain position within the pack. The same can likely be said for most Jiralhanae Chieftains unless the previous Chieftain fell in battle; however contestants may have had to fight to the death for the position if this was the case. This was known to have happened on at least one occasion during the [[Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss|Jiralhanae occupation]] of the colony [[Beta Gabriel]].


== Combat ==
Due to animosity stoked by the [[Great Schism]], the Jiralhanae and [[Sangheili]] typically did not work together after the war, at least not as equals.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Envoy3|Halo: Envoy|Chapter=1 "The Covenant had failed, obliterated under the weight of many lies; as a result, the Sangheili did not make common cause with Jiralhanae anymore, at least not as equals. No, this was strange. "}} For reasons unknown, a few Jiralhanae Chieftains would eventually join [[Merg Vol's Covenant]] as lesser infantry after the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]]. These few Jiralhanae would fight on behalf of the group during the [[Battle of Draetheus V]] in [[2554]].{{Ref/Reuse|HSA}} Very few Chieftains were depicted serving [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] in a [[UNSC Tactical Simulator]] set during the [[Battle of Installation 03]] in [[2557]].{{Ref/Reuse|HSS}}
[[Image:1216073359 Chieftain.jpg|thumb|right|A Brute Chieftain charging towards his opponent.]]
 
Many Chieftains served in the [[Banished]], leading standard [[pack]]s. Certain Banished Chieftains with massive packs formed them into [[legion#Banished|legion]]s and were titled [[Legionmaster]]s.{{Ref/Novel|Id=SOR4|HSoR}} Other Chieftains with high authority were titled [[Jiralhanae Warlord|Warlord]]s to keep other packs in line.{{Ref/Reuse|SOR4}} The supreme leading Chieftains of the Banished consisted of [[War Chief]]s, including both [[Decimus]] and [[Escharum]],{{Ref/Reuse|SOR4}} and the [[Warmaster]] [[Atriox]].{{Ref/Book|Id=H:OSFM5|OSFM|Page=158|Quote=Atriox: Warmaster of the Banished}}
 
==Equipment==
===Armor===
===Armor===
These Jiralhanae Chieftains are clad in ornate red and black armor. While it cannot take as much damage as the bronze, gold-colored armor worn by [[War Chieftain]]s, it allows greater speed and mobility. Their power armor cannot be stuck by [[Plasma Grenades]], [[Type-2 Antipersonnel Fragmentation Grenade|Spike Grenades]], or [[Needler]] projectiles. However, their armor can be stuck by [[Type-3 Antipersonnel/Antimateriel Incendiary Grenade|Incendiary Grenades]].
{{Main|Chieftain power armor}}
Jiralhanae Chieftains are typically clad in resilient ornate crimson and black/silver [[Chieftain power armor|armor]] and are instantly recognizable by their matching large horned headdress, a design which pays homage to the [[Degaeorth]] of [[Doisac]].{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Envoy|Page=40–41}} However, there's varying types of armor favored by Chieftains,{{Ref/Reuse|H3}}{{Ref/Reuse|HR}}{{Ref/Reuse|HINF}} including one design of armor that is thicker with its left arm to deliver bone-crushing melee attacks should they need to perform one without their gravity hammers.{{Ref/Reuse|H3}} Another chassis also have dual wrist-mounted blades extending over their hands for extra melee capabilities.{{Ref/Reuse|HINF}} While it cannot take as much damage as the bronze, gold-colored armor worn by War Chieftains, it allows greater speed and mobility.{{Ref/Reuse|H3}}{{Ref/Reuse|HR}} They are also equipped with renegerating [[energy shielding|personal energy shields]].{{Ref/Reuse|HR}} Their [[Jiralhanae power armor|power armor]] cannot be stuck by [[Anskum-pattern plasma grenade|plasma grenade]]s, [[Type-2 spike grenade|spike grenade]]s, or [[Type-33 needler|needler]] [[Blamite|projectiles]].{{Ref/Reuse|H3}} However, their armor can be stuck by [[Orgudam Workshop firebomb|firebombs]] and unarmored parts like the Chieftains' weapons, hands, and feet can be stuck by spike and plasma grenades.{{Ref/Reuse|H3}} Unlike the power armor worn by Jiralhanae of lesser ranks, a Chieftain's armor does not fall apart once the shields are disabled.{{Ref/Reuse|H3}} Additionally, their power armor grants Chieftains exceptionally high resistance to energy weaponry; even unshielded.{{Ref/Reuse|H3}}
 
There is another variant of the Chieftain [[Jiralhanae power armor|power armor]], which have a different design and better protection than typical types. It had also a techsuit that covers almost the entire body, including the hands.{{Ref/Reuse|Cards}} These armors were issued by several high-ranking Jiralhanae leaders such as [[Avitus]], also known as the "Brute Army Commander", and [[Unidentified Jiralhanae chieftain (Heian)|another Jiralhanae Chieftain]], albeit the former being also colored entirely in red, opposing red-and-black-colored chieftain power armors, and the latter entirely in blue rather than in red.{{Ref/Game|Id=Cards|HW|Detail=[[:File:HWDE Thrallslayer LeaderProfile.jpg|Collectors Edition Leader Cards]]}}{{Ref/Film|Id=legends|Film=Halo Legends|Story=The Babysitter}} Whenever if either the "Army Commander" term is considered a Jiralhanae title given to several of these Chieftains who wear these power armors or possibly a rank, or simply a nickname given to only Avitus is unknown.
 
While most Jiralhanae Chieftains were known to have worn power armor, a few were poorly armored, like the bulk of lower-ranked Jiralhanae warriors as a whole until the Great Schism, including [[Parabum]] and [[Lydus]].{{Ref/Book|Book=Halo: Evolution|Section=Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss|SectionLinkText=Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss}}{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE|Comic=Halo: Escalation|Issue=[[Halo: Escalation Issue 1|#1]]}}
 
<gallery>
File:RegChieftain.png|
File:Reach - Chieftain.png|
File:HINF-Chieftain.jpg|
</gallery>


Unlike the Power Armor worn by regular Brutes and Brute Captains, a Chieftain's armor does not fall apart once the shields are disabled. Additionally, their heavy helmets protect them from headshots, and it requires a handful of shots to the head from a precision weapon to knock off their helmet and leave them vulnerable to a fatal headshot.
===Weaponry===
The Jiralhanae Chieftain's primary and iconic armament is the [[Gravity hammer (fiction)|gravity hammer]],{{Ref/Reuse|H3}} although they sometimes use {{Pattern|Pez'tk|fuel rod gun}}s, {{Pattern|Kopasa'mada|plasma launcher}}s, {{Pattern|Pek|plasma cannon}}s,{{Ref/Game|Id=HR|HR}} {{Pattern|Shea'p|plasma cannon}}s and [[Grenflekt Workshop Scrap Cannon]]s. They usually carry the [[invincibility]] power-up, and sometimes at least another [[equipment]] such as a [[regenerator]], [[flare]], or [[power drain]].{{Ref/Reuse|H3}}


A Brute Chieftain's shields are stronger than those of a standard Brute, but slightly weaker than a [[Brute Captain]]'s. On any difficulty it only takes 1 [[Particle Beam Rifle]] or [[Sniper Rifle]] shot to disable their shields, while Brute Captains require 2 shots on Heroic or Legendary to bring their shields down. On Heroic a Brute Chieftain's shield can be brought down with 12 [[MA5C Assault Rifle]] bullets or 8 [[Plasma Rifle]] bolts. However, even unshielded a Brute Chieftain has extremely high durability and can survive incredibly high amounts of damage; on Heroic it takes 43 assault rifle bullets, 5 [[Particle Beam Rifle]] shots, or 5 [[Brute Shot]] direct hits to kill an unshielded Chieftain, whereas any other Brute rank dies after only 1 beam rifle shot or 1-2 Brute Shot grenades once their shields are disabled. Additionally, their Power Armor grants Chieftains exceptionally high resistance to energy weaponry; even unshielded, a Brute Chieftain can withstand more than 200 plasma rifle bolts before falling, while most standard Brutes die after a little over a dozen plasma rifle bolts once their shields are gone.
==Known Chieftains==
*[[Ballas]]
*[[Bracktanus]]
*[[Castor]]
*[[Cethegus]]
*[[Deukalion]]
*[[En'Geddon]]
*[[Ik'Novus|Ik'Novus The Devourer]]
*[[Hekabe]]
*[[Jovus]]
*[[Lydus]]
*[[Parabum]]
*[[Pellius]]
*[[Avitus]]
*[[Ipso]]


===Equipment===
==Gameplay==
Their primary armament is the [[Gravity Hammer]]. Brute Chieftains are the only enemy, aside from the occasional Flood, who uses this weapon. On all level modes, they carry and almost always use the [[Invincibility]] power-up. It is also possible for them to carry a [[Regenerator]], [[Flare]], or [[Power Drain]]. On their left arm, the armor is thicker to deliver bone-crushing melee attacks.  
[[File:H3 Raging Brute chieftain.jpg|thumb|left|A Brute Chieftain charging towards his opponent.]]
A Jiralhanae Chieftain's shields are stronger than those of a standard Jiralhanae, but, oddly, are slightly weaker than a [[Jiralhanae Captain]]'s. Unlike the power armor worn by Jiralhanae of lesser ranks, a Chieftain's armor does not fall apart once the shields are disabled. Additionally, their heavy helmets protect them from [[headshot]]s, and it requires a handful of shots to the head from a precision weapon to knock off their helmet and leave them vulnerable to a fatal headshot. On any difficulty it only takes one [[Type-50 particle beam rifle|beam rifle]] or [[SRS99D-S2 AM sniper rifle|sniper rifle]] shot to disable their shields, while Jiralhanae Captains require two shots on Heroic or Legendary to bring their shields down. On Heroic, a Chieftain's shield can be brought down with twelve [[MA5C Individual Combat Weapon System|assault rifle]] bullets or eight [[Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifle|plasma rifle]] bolts. However, even unshielded, a Jiralhanae Chieftain has extremely high durability and can survive incredibly high amounts of damage; on Heroic, it takes forty-three assault rifle bullets, five particle beam rifle shots, or five direct hits from a [[Type-25 Brute shot|Brute shot]] to kill an unshielded Chieftain, whereas any other Jiralhanae rank dies after only one beam rifle shot or one to two Brute shot grenades once their shields are disabled. This makes the durability of Chieftains much closer to that of the Jiralhanae of ''Halo 2'' than any other Jiralhanae unit in ''Halo 3''. Additionally, their power armor grants Chieftains exceptionally high resistance to energy weaponry; even unshielded, a Jiralhanae Chieftain can withstand more than two hundred plasma rifle bolts before falling, while most standard Jiralhanae die after only a little over a dozen plasma rifle bolts once their shields are gone. Their [[Jiralhanae power armor|power armor]] cannot be stuck by [[Anskum-pattern plasma grenade|plasma grenade]]s, [[Type-2 spike grenade|spike grenade]]s, or [[Type-33 needler|needler]] [[Blamite|projectiles]]. However, their armor can be stuck by [[Orgudam Workshop firebomb|firebombs]] and unarmored parts like the Chieftains' weapons, hands, and feet can be stuck by spike and plasma grenades.
 
The Jiralhanae Chieftain's primary armament is the [[Gravity hammer (fiction)|gravity hammer]], although they are also known to use {{Pattern|Pez'tk|fuel rod gun}}s, {{Pattern|Kopasa'mada|plasma launcher}}s, and {{Pattern|Pek|plasma cannon}}s. Jiralhanae Chieftains are the only enemy, aside from the occasional [[Flood]] and [[Sangheili General]], who use these weapons. On all level modes, they carry and almost always use the [[invincibility]] power-up. It is also possible for them to carry a [[regenerator]], [[flare]], or [[power drain]].


===Tactics===
===Tactics===
Jiralhanae Chieftains will be closely guarded by two or more [[Jiralhanae]]s, only leaving the security of the pack when they feel it is tactically sound or simply when they thirst for blood. Then, they will run at the [[John-117|Master Chief]] (or [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter]] if co-op). Chieftains generally hang back and allow their entourage of Brutes to do the fighting, only charging forward to attack after several of their Brute pack subordinates have been slain.
Jiralhanae Chieftains will be closely guarded by two or more [[Jiralhanae Bodyguard]]s as well as high numbers of Jiralhanae of other ranks, only leaving the security of the pack when they feel it is tactically sound or simply when they thirst for blood. Chieftains generally hang back and allow their entourage of Jiralhanae to do the fighting, generally only charging forward to attack with their gravity hammers after several of their Jiralhanae pack subordinates have been slain.


If they run for you, turn and run as fast as you can. More often than not, unless you've managed to kill them within the first few seconds, they will activate their [[Invincibility (Equipment)|Invincibility]] if they are carrying one and you will not be able to kill them until it wears off. Chieftains can close distances quickly, and will not hesitate to smack anything out of their path. In the novel [[Contact Harvest]], Tartarus likely wore this or a similar armor before he killed Maccabeus and obtained the same armor as War Chieftains wear. Though being weaker than the more ornate [[War Chieftain]]s they are far faster and much deadlier in close combat, and they still boast extremely powerful shields and armor.
If they run for you, turn and run as fast as you can. More often than not, unless you've managed to kill them within the first few seconds, they will activate their [[invincibility]] if they are carrying one and you will not be able to kill them until it wears off. Chieftains can close distances quickly, and will not hesitate to smack anything out of their path. Though less durable than the more ornate [[War Chieftain]]s, they are far faster and much deadlier in close combat, and they still boast extremely powerful shields and armor.


.
===Counter-Chieftain tactics===
 
[[File:2514795-full.jpg|thumb|A Chieftain fighting Thel 'Vadam in the [[Citadel (Structure)|Citadel]].]]
==Counter-Chieftain Tactics==
*Jiralhanae Chieftains, as fitting their "commander" role, have incredible physical strength and agility - far more so than their lesser brethren. Avoid going into melee combat with a Chieftain. However, if you do get yourself in the situation, do not try to melee him or he will quickly deliver a direct blow with the gravity hammer, which is a one-hit-kill even on [[Normal]] difficulty. Run away as quickly as possible once you see him trying to get close enough to melee you. Shoot him enough times with one of your weapons, until his Power Armor breaks, then try to shoot his helmet/headdress off so that you can score a [[headshot]].
[[Image:2514795-full.jpg|thumb|left|A Chieftain fighting Thel 'Vadam in the [[Citadel (Structure)|Citadel]].]]
*Another way, though difficult, is to circle around the back of the Chieftain, wait for them to do his backward melee attack, and again circle around them while they're still turning round to where you used to be. This gives you ample time for an assassination. Believe it or not, this is the best way to kill them: their swing animations are incredibly predictable during Halo 3, and this extends to all hammer-wielding Jiralhanae. Note: assassinations ignore invincibility, making this tactic even more useful.
*Brute Chieftains, as fitting their "commander role", have incredible physical strength and agility, more so than their lesser brethren. Avoid going into melee combat with a Chieftain, and even when facing off against a War Chieftain, take care not to get hit. However, if you do get yourself in the situation, do not try to melee him; if you are foolish enough to try and melee him, he will quickly deliver a deadly, final blow. Run away as quickly as possible once you see him trying to get close enough to melee you. Shoot him enough times with one of your weapons, until his "shielding" or power armor breaks, and try to save grenades up until this fight to "stick" him with one.
*One of the best ways to kill a Chieftain is to charge at them from a distance. They will begin to leap at you; use the time when they are crouching down to leap to get up close to them. When they leap, if done correctly, they over the player's head, giving him or her enough time to perform an assassination.
*Another way, however hard, is to circle round the back of the Chieftain, wait for them to do their backwards melee attack, and again circle round them while their still turning round to where you used to be. This gives you ample time for an assassination.
*A hammer-wielding Chieftain will often utilize the Invincibility power-up while charging at you if you're firing and back-pedaling at the same time. However, if the player is able to kill the Chieftain before he activates it, the player can use the Invincibility to great gain.  
*One of the best ways to kill a Chieftain is to charge at them from a distance. They will begin to leap at you; use the time when they are crouching down to leap to get up close to them. When they leap, if you did it correctly, they will go way past you, giving you time to do an assassination.
*Even when Chieftains utilize the invincibility power-up, an assassination will still kill them.  
*A hammer-wielding Chieftain will often utilize the invincibility power-up while charging at you if you're firing and back-pedaling at the same time. However, if the player is able to kill the Chieftain before he activates it, the player can use the Invincibility to great gain.  
*A good way to kill Chieftains is to use Cloaking and assassinate them. This way you are unharmed, and you can also pick up their Invincibility since they did not have time to activate it. However, you should be careful not to alert any of the surrounding Jiralhanae. If they know that you are there, even if they cannot see you, the Chieftain will sometimes be able to sense where you are even if you are cloaked and will turn around in your direction, although he does not attack. This will make it harder to get behind him and if you touch him, he will hit you and you will temporarily lose your cloaking, allowing the rest of the Jiralhanae to see and attack you.  
*Even when Chieftains utilize the Invincibility power-up, an assassination will still kill them.
*Probably the easiest way to kill a Chieftain is to use a Spartan Laser on him. This will kill the Jiralhanae instantly, allowing you to pick up his invincibility and, if you want, his gravity hammer. It is easier to do this as soon as you see them while they are taunting and growling at you, for on higher difficulties, they will activate their invincibility as the laser hits them, rendering the shot wasted. In ''Halo 3'', this can only be done on the level ''the Covenant'', as it is the only Halo 3 level where you are given a Spartan Laser.
*Another good tactic to deal with Chieftains is to shoot its helmet/headdress off and shoot it in its head.  
*Although you cannot stick Chieftains, if you are a good shot you can stick the Chieftain's weapon, which usually is the gravity hammer. It's quite difficult, but it will kill him immediately. (This does not work on Legendary difficulty.)
*A good way to kill a Chieftain is to use Cloaking and assassinate them. This way you are unharmed, but you can also pick up their Invincibility, since they did not have time to activate it. However, you should be careful not to alert any of the surrounding Brutes. If they know that you are there, and even if they cannot see you, the Chieftain can sometimes sense where you are even if you are cloaked and will turn around in your direction, although he does not attack. This will make it harder to get behind him and if you touch him, he will hit you and you will temporarily lose your cloaking, allowing them to see and attack you.  
*When facing a charging Chieftain, jump up as they try to hit you with their hammer and the blow from the hammer will push you away from the Jiralhanae, giving you more time to damage him and ultimately kill him as well as recharge your shields. Make sure you're not on an edge or the blast from the hammer could knock you over the edge, killing you.  
*Probably the easiest way to kill a Chieftain is to use a Spartan Laser on him. This will kill the Jiralhanae instantly, allowing you to pick up his Invincibility and, if you want, his Gravity Hammer. It is easier to do this as soon as you see them while they are taunting and growling at you, for on Higher difficulties, they will activate their invincibility as the laser hits them. On Halo 3, this can only be done on "The Covenant", as it is the only Halo 3 level where you start with a Spartan Laser.
*Incendiary Grenades are a good way to kill a Chieftain, although on Legendary, this is not a guaranteed one hit kill, including a shot from Flamethrower as he can easily activate his Invincibility and negate the effects of your grenade.  
*Although you cannot stick him, you can stick the Chieftain's weapon, which usually is the Gravity Hammer. It's quite difficult, but it will kill him immediately. This does not work on Legendary.  
*If the Chieftain is alone, you may attempt to lure him into a close range fight and melee him before sidestepping. The Chieftains are surprisingly slow to recover after a melee/hammer attempt, so you can kill them with multiple melee hits by edging around him/jumping over him every time he attempts to melee/hammer you. This is quite risky, however, and is not recommended on higher difficulties.
*When facing a charging hammer Chieftain, jump up as they try to hit you with their hammer and the blow from the hammer will push you away from the Brute, giving you more time to damage him, and ultimately kill him. Make sure you're not on an edge or the blast from the hammer could knock you over the edge, killing you.  
*Another good way to kill a Chieftain is to dual-wield spikers, as Chieftains seem to have a vulnerability to the spikes. Enough spikes will also slow down the Chieftain, occasionally stopping the Chieftain's charge and if you pump enough into him, he ''will'' eventually go down. Same with plasma rifles.
*Incendiary Grenades are a good way to kill a Chieftain, although on Legendary, this is not a guaranteed one hit kill, as he can easily activate his Invincibility and negate the effects of your grenade.  
*When a Chieftain swings their gravity hammer at you, you can perform a 'gravity jump.' While not an actual move incorporated into the game, this involves jumping moments before the hammer hits, so that you ride the shock wave, usually to a place far away from the chieftain. Skilled players may utilize this to get out of an explosive's blast range, or to get head shots from above.
*If the Chieftain is alone, you may attempt to lure him into a close range fight and melee him before sidestepping. The Chieftains are surprisingly slow to recover after a melee/hammer attempt, so you can kill them with multiple melee hits by edging around him/jumping over him every time he attempts to melee/hammer you.
*In ''Halo: Reach'', Chieftain armor can be stuck with plasma grenades. However, their reasonably strong shields and high unshielded durability mean that they can usually survive a stick attempt.
*When the Chieftain jumps and performs the over-head lunge, you can, with the right timing, jump and jump off of the Chieftain, gaining greater height, allowing you to live longer.
*The sniper rifle is devastating against Chieftains in ''Halo: Reach''. Two head shots will kill any Chieftain on Easy, Normal and Heroic difficulties.
*When you have missed the assassination after avoiding the standard attack, do not run away, but if possible, get close to the Chieftain. The Chieftain will attempt to do the 180 swing attack and it is possible to avoid the attack by strafing. <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C2U3DFu2Kk Halo 3 - How to kill a Brute Chieftain on The Covenant on Legendary]</ref>
*Unlike energy sword-equipped Sangheili, who will generally make a beeline for their target without evading enemy fire, Jiralhanae Chieftains will jink back and forth as they charge, making them much more difficult to head shot or stick than their Sangheili counterparts. This is compensated for because of their slower speed and the comparative ease of dodging the slower hammer strike compared with a sword swing.
*Another good way to kill a Chieftain is to dual wield Spikers. Chieftains seem to have a vulnerability to the spikes. Enough spikes will slow down the Chieftain, if not stop the Chieftain's charge.
*The Chieftain, if lucky, can be killed in one hit by a Spartan Laser at ''Halo 3: ODST''. Normally, when the laser hits the Chieftain, his power armor will break, but somehow he was able to activate the Invincibility power-up to withstand the blow, forcing the player to fire another round.
**Utilizing Flamethrower is also a good idea, but the player must maintain its distances since breaking the power armor often makes the Chieftain triggers the Invincibility power-up.


==Production notes==
*During the early development of ''[[Halo 3]]'', a Jiralhanae Chieftain was seen wielding an [[Type-1 energy sword|energy sword]]. This was probably taken out due to the fact that Jiralhanae prefer their own gravity hammers, and because the energy sword is a [[Sangheili]]-exclusive weapon (and the Jiralhanae dislike the Sangheili).
*All Jiralhanae Chieftains are voiced by [[John DiMaggio]] in both ''Halo 3'' and ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''.
*In ''[[Halo 3: The Official Strategy Guide]]'', there is a mistake on the last page, where there is a War Chieftain wielding a gravity hammer. There are also images of an ordinary Jiralhanae Chieftain wielding a plasma turret and a fuel rod gun.


== Trivia ==
== Trivia ==
*During the early development of [[Halo 3]], the Brute Chieftain was seen wielding an [[Energy Sword]]. This was probably taken out due to the fact that [[Brutes]] prefer the crude [[Gravity Hammer]]s over Energy Swords, and because of the Energy Sword being an Elite-exclusive weapon.
{{linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of Jiralhanae Chieftains}}
*Chieftains are arguably stronger than [[Hunters]] due to their special armor, Gravity Hammers, and extreme durability. They do, however, have two weakness that the Hunters do not have: a melee hit at the back would be an instant kill; and once their headpiece is removed as they are susceptible to head shots. The latter of these is emulated, however, by the Hunter's vulnerability to shots at its waist.
*If a Chieftain is transformed into a [[Flood]] [[Flood combat form|combat form]] in ''[[Halo 3]]'', his armor will become that of a [[Jiralhanae Minor]]. This is because the game engine does not have any code to transform the Chieftain into a "Chieftain" combat form. This can be easily observed in the Citadel during the level ''The Covenant'', where the Flood temporarily ally with the Master Chief and the Arbiter to attack the remaining Covenant forces. Another good place to see an infected Chieftain is on the level ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]'', because an infected Chieftain is in a [[Flood dispersal pod]].
*Despite the seeming weakness of their Power Armor's shields, the armor at full charge is largely equivalent to a Brute Ultra, being able to withstand at least one melee attack, and is only divested of the shield after a barrage of small arms fire or a sniper or beam rifle shot.
*In the ''Halo 3'' level ''[[Sierra 117]]'', a Chieftain is seen hanging onto the side of a Phantom in the clearing with a crashed Pelican down the cliff. Oddly, this Chieftain can be stuck with plasma grenades, but shows no reaction to them, and is completely immune to the blast.
*Brute Chieftains are voiced by [[John DiMaggio]] in both Halo 3 and [[Halo 3: ODST]].
*The Chieftain appears in [[Wikipedia:Epic Games|Epic Games]] and [[Wikipedia:Mediatonic|Mediatonic]]'s ''[[Wikipedia:Fall Guys|Fall Guys]]'' as one of the characters in the Spartan Showdown event.
*If a Chieftain is transformed into a [[Flood]] [[Combat Form]], their armor will become that of a [[Jiralhanae Minor]]. This is because the game engine does not have any code to transform the Chieftain into a Chieftain Combat Form. This can be easily observed in the Citadel of [[The Covenant (Level)|The Covenant]], where the Flood temporarily ally with the Master Chief and attack the [[Covenant]].


*In [[Halo 3: The Official Strategy Guide]], there is a mistake in the last page, where there is a [[War Chieftain]] wielding a Gravity Hammer. There are also images of an ordinary Brute Chieftain wielding a Plasma Cannon and a [[Fuel Rod Gun]].
== Gallery ==
*In the Halo 3 level, "[[Sierra 117 (Level)|Sierra 117]]", a Chieftain is seen hanging onto the side of a Phantom, in the clearing with a crashed Pelican down the cliff. Oddly, this Chieftain can be stuck with [[Plasma Grenade]]s, but shows no reaction to it, and is immune to the blast.
===Concept art and illustrations===
*In Halo 3: ODST, a Chieftain uses the blade on the back of his hammer to puncture [[Romeo]]'s lung. This is the first time the blade of the [[Gravity Hammer]] is seen in use.
<gallery>
*In [[Halo Legends]]'s [[The Babysitter]] short, a blue armored [[Unidentified Chieftain (The Babysitter)|Jiralhanae Chieftain]] is seen throughout the short wearing armor similar to that of the [[Jiralhanae Army Commander]].
File:H3 Chieftain Concept.jpg|Concept art of a Jiralhanae Chieftain for ''[[Halo 3]]''.
*Apart from pack leadership position the Jiralhanae Chieftains are spiritual leaders. [[Maccabeus]],&nbsp;while the Chieftain of the [[Rapid Conversion]]&nbsp;would lead his pack in religious sermons, like the Progression of the Ages and blessing pack meals. Also during the [[The Covenant (Level)]]&nbsp;at several points chieftains can be seen giving sermons to their packs in the Jiralhanae language.
File:H3 RedChieftainConcept.jpg|Another concept for a Chieftain in ''Halo 3'', this time with a more reddish color scheme closer to the final design.
File:H4_BruteChieftain_Concept.jpg|Chieftain concept art for ''[[Halo 4]]''{{'}}s [[Prologue]] entry.
File:Haloinitiation1variant.jpg|A Jiralhanae Chieftain fighting against [[Sarah Palmer]] on the cover of ''[[Halo: Initiation Issue 1]]''.
File:H2A Terminals - Murder of the Councilors.jpg|A Jiralhanae Chieftain—possibly an Army Commander—overseeing the massacre of [[Sangheili Councilor]]s on Installation 05 in the ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' [[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|terminals]].
File:HTfS gallery Chieftain.jpg|A Chieftain preparing to fight a Marine in ''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''.
File:HINF-Chieftainconcept.jpg|Concept art of a Banished Jiralhanae Chieftain for ''[[Halo Infinite]]''.
File:HINF-Chieftainconcepts.jpg|More concept art of Banished Chieftains.
File:HINF Chibi Chieftain Emblem.png|A ''Halo Infinite'' multiplayer emblem of a Brute Chieftain.
</gallery>


== Gallery ==
===Screenshots===
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Tartarusfull.jpg|[[Tartarus]], the only Chieftain of ''[[Halo 2]]''. He held the  title of [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]], the highest Brute rank.
File:emag_halo3_092307_2_bd140.jpg|A Jiralhanae Chieftain attacking John-117 in ''Halo 3''.
Image:2 Chieftains.jpg|A Brute Chieftain standing near a [[War Chieftain]].
File:2 Chieftains.jpg|A Jiralhanae Chieftain standing near a [[War Chieftain]].
Image:Brute 1024.jpg|The [[Brute Army Commander]] from [[Halo Wars]].
File:ChieftainPrecher.jpg|A Chieftain delivers a sermon to his pack.
Image:emag_halo3_092307_2_bd140.jpg|A Brute Chieftain attacking [[Master Chief]].
File:HW_Thrallslayer_1.jpg|Avitus, a Jiralhanae Chieftain in ''[[Halo Wars]]''.
File:UnarmedChieftain.png|An unarmed Chieftain in ''Halo 3: ODST''.
File:Brute_Chieftain_ODST.jpg|A Jiralhanae Chieftain illuminated by [[Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance|VISR]].
File:Brute_Chieftain_Close-Up.jpg|A close-up of a Chieftain's elaborate headdress.
File:Chieftain_Action_Figure.jpg|A Jiralhanae Chieftain action figure from [[McFarlane Toys]].
File:HReach - Chieftain Jiralhanae.png|An early build of a Jiralhanae Chieftain in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:Halo- Reach - Brute Chief.jpg|A Chieftain charging a [[Spartan-III]].
File:Brute_chieftain_pose.png|A Chieftain holding its hammer.
File:Reach 6610802 Full.jpg|A Chieftain without its helmet in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:ChieftainHalf.jpg|A Jiralhanae Chieftain with a gravity hammer in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:HTMCC-HR BruteChieftain.png|A Jiralhanae Chieftain with a fuel rod gun in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:Brute Chieftain symbols.png|Pattern on the Chieftain Armor in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:ChieftainFull.jpg|Another view of the Chieftain.
File:H4 SPARTAN-II against Jiralhanae.jpg|A Jiralhanae Chieftain against a [[Spartan-II]] in ''Halo 4''.
File:Spartan_Strike_chieftain.png|A Jiralhanae Chieftain in ''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''.
File:HINF-Oiyougotapermitforthat.jpg|A Covenant Chieftain alongside two other Jiralhanae in a flashback during ''[[Halo Infinite]]''.
File:HINF FF PressKit Chieftain.jpg|A Chieftain with a gravity hammer.
File:HINF ChieftainCannon.jpg|A Banished Chieftain welding a {{Pattern|Shea'p|plasma cannon}}.
File:HINF-ReachChieftain.jpg|A Jiralhanae Chieftain guarding a Banished outpost on Installation 07.
File:HINF ChieftainHammer 1.png|A Jiralhanae Chieftain with a gravity hammer.
File:HINF ChieftainHammer 2.png|A Jiralhanae Chieftain smashes the ground with a gravity hammer.
File:HINF ChieftainTurret&Minor.png|A Chieftain alongside a Jiralhanae Warrior.
File:HINF Brute Chieftain hammer.png|A gravity hammer-wielding Chieftain with its armor partially shot off.
File:Enc22 Vheiloth Chieftain.png|A Jiralhanae Chieftain in ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]''.
File:FallGuys-Chieftainroar.png|The Chieftain ROAR! emote in ''Fall Guys''.
</gallery>
</gallery>
==List of appearances==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Starry Night]]''
*''[[Believe]]''
**''[[Diorama]]'' {{C|Diorama only}}
*''[[Halo: Landfall]]''
**''[[Halo: Last One Standing]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[The Babysitter]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''
**''[[Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss]]''
**''[[The Return]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
{{col-2}}
*''[[Halo 4]]'' {{c|[[Prologue]] only}}
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: Last Light]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Envoy]]''
*''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox]]''
*''[[Halo: Retribution]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''{{Ref/Novel|Id=SOR3|HSoR|Chapter=3}}
**''[[Sacrifice]]''
*''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
*''[[Halo: The Rubicon Protocol]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Battle for the Blood-Moon]]''
*''[[Halo: Age of Retribution]]''
{{col-end}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}
 
{{Jiralhanae Ranks}}
{{Jiralhanae Ranks/Banished}}


{{BruteRanks}}
[[Category:Covenant ranks]]
[[Category:The Covenant]]
[[Category:Brutes]]
[[Category:Ranks]]

Latest revision as of 12:29, November 8, 2024

Were you looking for the rank War Chieftain or Chieftain of the Jiralhanae, the ruler of the Jiralhanae?
Chieftain
RegChieftain.png

Function:

  • Pack Leaders
  • Battlefield Commanders

Species:

Jiralhanae

Affiliation:

Other role(s):

Spiritual Leaders[8][9]

Notable individuals:

 

"Commanding troops requires both strength and audacity."
— Jiralhanae Chieftain's mantra[10]

The Jiralhanae Chieftain, also known as Alpha,[11] is a position within the Jiralhanae race. It is one of the highest positions in the Jiralhanae hierarchy both in social aspects and in military rank within the Covenant and its splinter factions, including the Banished.[2][1][4]

Overview[edit]

Roles and responsibilities[edit]

In the Covenant, Chieftains primarily served as military commanders. They are leaders of groups of the half-a-dozen or more Jiralhanae as well as several lower caste species within a "pack." In Jiralhanae society, Chieftains are subordinate only to War Chieftains and the Chieftain of the Jiralhanae himself. Apart from a pack leadership position, the Jiralhanae Chieftains are also spiritual leaders, giving sermons to their packs.[8][9] Maccabeus, while War Chieftain of the Rapid Conversion, would lead his pack in religious sermons, like the Progression of the Ages and blessing pack meals.[12]

History[edit]

The Chieftain of the Jiralhanae, Tartarus was killed by Thel 'Vadam, his Sangheili allies, and Sergeant Major Avery Johnson on Installation 05. He wielded a powerful ancient and unique gravity hammer, the Fist of Rukt.[13] Preceding him was his uncle Maccabeus, the previous wielder of the Fist of Rukt. Maccabeus's death was at his young nephew's hands, as is the tradition within the Jiralhanae culture: a fight to the death over the Chieftain position within the pack. The same can likely be said for most Jiralhanae Chieftains unless the previous Chieftain fell in battle; however contestants may have had to fight to the death for the position if this was the case. This was known to have happened on at least one occasion during the Jiralhanae occupation of the colony Beta Gabriel.

Due to animosity stoked by the Great Schism, the Jiralhanae and Sangheili typically did not work together after the war, at least not as equals.[14] For reasons unknown, a few Jiralhanae Chieftains would eventually join Merg Vol's Covenant as lesser infantry after the end of the Human-Covenant War. These few Jiralhanae would fight on behalf of the group during the Battle of Draetheus V in 2554.[5] Very few Chieftains were depicted serving Jul 'Mdama's Covenant in a UNSC Tactical Simulator set during the Battle of Installation 03 in 2557.[6]

Many Chieftains served in the Banished, leading standard packs. Certain Banished Chieftains with massive packs formed them into legions and were titled Legionmasters.[15] Other Chieftains with high authority were titled Warlords to keep other packs in line.[15] The supreme leading Chieftains of the Banished consisted of War Chiefs, including both Decimus and Escharum,[15] and the Warmaster Atriox.[16]

Equipment[edit]

Armor[edit]

Main article: Chieftain power armor

Jiralhanae Chieftains are typically clad in resilient ornate crimson and black/silver armor and are instantly recognizable by their matching large horned headdress, a design which pays homage to the Degaeorth of Doisac.[17] However, there's varying types of armor favored by Chieftains,[1][18][4] including one design of armor that is thicker with its left arm to deliver bone-crushing melee attacks should they need to perform one without their gravity hammers.[1] Another chassis also have dual wrist-mounted blades extending over their hands for extra melee capabilities.[4] While it cannot take as much damage as the bronze, gold-colored armor worn by War Chieftains, it allows greater speed and mobility.[1][18] They are also equipped with renegerating personal energy shields.[18] Their power armor cannot be stuck by plasma grenades, spike grenades, or needler projectiles.[1] However, their armor can be stuck by firebombs and unarmored parts like the Chieftains' weapons, hands, and feet can be stuck by spike and plasma grenades.[1] Unlike the power armor worn by Jiralhanae of lesser ranks, a Chieftain's armor does not fall apart once the shields are disabled.[1] Additionally, their power armor grants Chieftains exceptionally high resistance to energy weaponry; even unshielded.[1]

There is another variant of the Chieftain power armor, which have a different design and better protection than typical types. It had also a techsuit that covers almost the entire body, including the hands.[19] These armors were issued by several high-ranking Jiralhanae leaders such as Avitus, also known as the "Brute Army Commander", and another Jiralhanae Chieftain, albeit the former being also colored entirely in red, opposing red-and-black-colored chieftain power armors, and the latter entirely in blue rather than in red.[19][20] Whenever if either the "Army Commander" term is considered a Jiralhanae title given to several of these Chieftains who wear these power armors or possibly a rank, or simply a nickname given to only Avitus is unknown.

While most Jiralhanae Chieftains were known to have worn power armor, a few were poorly armored, like the bulk of lower-ranked Jiralhanae warriors as a whole until the Great Schism, including Parabum and Lydus.[21][22]

  • RegChieftain.png
  • Reach - Chieftain.png
  • HINF-Chieftain.jpg

Weaponry[edit]

The Jiralhanae Chieftain's primary and iconic armament is the gravity hammer,[1] although they sometimes use Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod guns, Kopasa'mada-pattern plasma launchers, Pek-pattern plasma cannons,[18] Shea'p-pattern plasma cannons and Grenflekt Workshop Scrap Cannons. They usually carry the invincibility power-up, and sometimes at least another equipment such as a regenerator, flare, or power drain.[1]

Known Chieftains[edit]

Gameplay[edit]

A Brute Chieftain charging towards his opponent.

A Jiralhanae Chieftain's shields are stronger than those of a standard Jiralhanae, but, oddly, are slightly weaker than a Jiralhanae Captain's. Unlike the power armor worn by Jiralhanae of lesser ranks, a Chieftain's armor does not fall apart once the shields are disabled. Additionally, their heavy helmets protect them from headshots, and it requires a handful of shots to the head from a precision weapon to knock off their helmet and leave them vulnerable to a fatal headshot. On any difficulty it only takes one beam rifle or sniper rifle shot to disable their shields, while Jiralhanae Captains require two shots on Heroic or Legendary to bring their shields down. On Heroic, a Chieftain's shield can be brought down with twelve assault rifle bullets or eight plasma rifle bolts. However, even unshielded, a Jiralhanae Chieftain has extremely high durability and can survive incredibly high amounts of damage; on Heroic, it takes forty-three assault rifle bullets, five particle beam rifle shots, or five direct hits from a Brute shot to kill an unshielded Chieftain, whereas any other Jiralhanae rank dies after only one beam rifle shot or one to two Brute shot grenades once their shields are disabled. This makes the durability of Chieftains much closer to that of the Jiralhanae of Halo 2 than any other Jiralhanae unit in Halo 3. Additionally, their power armor grants Chieftains exceptionally high resistance to energy weaponry; even unshielded, a Jiralhanae Chieftain can withstand more than two hundred plasma rifle bolts before falling, while most standard Jiralhanae die after only a little over a dozen plasma rifle bolts once their shields are gone. Their power armor cannot be stuck by plasma grenades, spike grenades, or needler projectiles. However, their armor can be stuck by firebombs and unarmored parts like the Chieftains' weapons, hands, and feet can be stuck by spike and plasma grenades.

The Jiralhanae Chieftain's primary armament is the gravity hammer, although they are also known to use Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod guns, Kopasa'mada-pattern plasma launchers, and Pek-pattern plasma cannons. Jiralhanae Chieftains are the only enemy, aside from the occasional Flood and Sangheili General, who use these weapons. On all level modes, they carry and almost always use the invincibility power-up. It is also possible for them to carry a regenerator, flare, or power drain.

Tactics[edit]

Jiralhanae Chieftains will be closely guarded by two or more Jiralhanae Bodyguards as well as high numbers of Jiralhanae of other ranks, only leaving the security of the pack when they feel it is tactically sound or simply when they thirst for blood. Chieftains generally hang back and allow their entourage of Jiralhanae to do the fighting, generally only charging forward to attack with their gravity hammers after several of their Jiralhanae pack subordinates have been slain.

If they run for you, turn and run as fast as you can. More often than not, unless you've managed to kill them within the first few seconds, they will activate their invincibility if they are carrying one and you will not be able to kill them until it wears off. Chieftains can close distances quickly, and will not hesitate to smack anything out of their path. Though less durable than the more ornate War Chieftains, they are far faster and much deadlier in close combat, and they still boast extremely powerful shields and armor.

Counter-Chieftain tactics[edit]

A Chieftain fighting Thel 'Vadam in the Citadel.
  • Jiralhanae Chieftains, as fitting their "commander" role, have incredible physical strength and agility - far more so than their lesser brethren. Avoid going into melee combat with a Chieftain. However, if you do get yourself in the situation, do not try to melee him or he will quickly deliver a direct blow with the gravity hammer, which is a one-hit-kill even on Normal difficulty. Run away as quickly as possible once you see him trying to get close enough to melee you. Shoot him enough times with one of your weapons, until his Power Armor breaks, then try to shoot his helmet/headdress off so that you can score a headshot.
  • Another way, though difficult, is to circle around the back of the Chieftain, wait for them to do his backward melee attack, and again circle around them while they're still turning round to where you used to be. This gives you ample time for an assassination. Believe it or not, this is the best way to kill them: their swing animations are incredibly predictable during Halo 3, and this extends to all hammer-wielding Jiralhanae. Note: assassinations ignore invincibility, making this tactic even more useful.
  • One of the best ways to kill a Chieftain is to charge at them from a distance. They will begin to leap at you; use the time when they are crouching down to leap to get up close to them. When they leap, if done correctly, they over the player's head, giving him or her enough time to perform an assassination.
  • A hammer-wielding Chieftain will often utilize the Invincibility power-up while charging at you if you're firing and back-pedaling at the same time. However, if the player is able to kill the Chieftain before he activates it, the player can use the Invincibility to great gain.
  • Even when Chieftains utilize the invincibility power-up, an assassination will still kill them.
  • A good way to kill Chieftains is to use Cloaking and assassinate them. This way you are unharmed, and you can also pick up their Invincibility since they did not have time to activate it. However, you should be careful not to alert any of the surrounding Jiralhanae. If they know that you are there, even if they cannot see you, the Chieftain will sometimes be able to sense where you are even if you are cloaked and will turn around in your direction, although he does not attack. This will make it harder to get behind him and if you touch him, he will hit you and you will temporarily lose your cloaking, allowing the rest of the Jiralhanae to see and attack you.
  • Probably the easiest way to kill a Chieftain is to use a Spartan Laser on him. This will kill the Jiralhanae instantly, allowing you to pick up his invincibility and, if you want, his gravity hammer. It is easier to do this as soon as you see them while they are taunting and growling at you, for on higher difficulties, they will activate their invincibility as the laser hits them, rendering the shot wasted. In Halo 3, this can only be done on the level the Covenant, as it is the only Halo 3 level where you are given a Spartan Laser.
  • Although you cannot stick Chieftains, if you are a good shot you can stick the Chieftain's weapon, which usually is the gravity hammer. It's quite difficult, but it will kill him immediately. (This does not work on Legendary difficulty.)
  • When facing a charging Chieftain, jump up as they try to hit you with their hammer and the blow from the hammer will push you away from the Jiralhanae, giving you more time to damage him and ultimately kill him as well as recharge your shields. Make sure you're not on an edge or the blast from the hammer could knock you over the edge, killing you.
  • Incendiary Grenades are a good way to kill a Chieftain, although on Legendary, this is not a guaranteed one hit kill, including a shot from Flamethrower as he can easily activate his Invincibility and negate the effects of your grenade.
  • If the Chieftain is alone, you may attempt to lure him into a close range fight and melee him before sidestepping. The Chieftains are surprisingly slow to recover after a melee/hammer attempt, so you can kill them with multiple melee hits by edging around him/jumping over him every time he attempts to melee/hammer you. This is quite risky, however, and is not recommended on higher difficulties.
  • Another good way to kill a Chieftain is to dual-wield spikers, as Chieftains seem to have a vulnerability to the spikes. Enough spikes will also slow down the Chieftain, occasionally stopping the Chieftain's charge and if you pump enough into him, he will eventually go down. Same with plasma rifles.
  • When a Chieftain swings their gravity hammer at you, you can perform a 'gravity jump.' While not an actual move incorporated into the game, this involves jumping moments before the hammer hits, so that you ride the shock wave, usually to a place far away from the chieftain. Skilled players may utilize this to get out of an explosive's blast range, or to get head shots from above.
  • In Halo: Reach, Chieftain armor can be stuck with plasma grenades. However, their reasonably strong shields and high unshielded durability mean that they can usually survive a stick attempt.
  • The sniper rifle is devastating against Chieftains in Halo: Reach. Two head shots will kill any Chieftain on Easy, Normal and Heroic difficulties.
  • Unlike energy sword-equipped Sangheili, who will generally make a beeline for their target without evading enemy fire, Jiralhanae Chieftains will jink back and forth as they charge, making them much more difficult to head shot or stick than their Sangheili counterparts. This is compensated for because of their slower speed and the comparative ease of dodging the slower hammer strike compared with a sword swing.
  • The Chieftain, if lucky, can be killed in one hit by a Spartan Laser at Halo 3: ODST. Normally, when the laser hits the Chieftain, his power armor will break, but somehow he was able to activate the Invincibility power-up to withstand the blow, forcing the player to fire another round.
    • Utilizing Flamethrower is also a good idea, but the player must maintain its distances since breaking the power armor often makes the Chieftain triggers the Invincibility power-up.

Production notes[edit]

  • During the early development of Halo 3, a Jiralhanae Chieftain was seen wielding an energy sword. This was probably taken out due to the fact that Jiralhanae prefer their own gravity hammers, and because the energy sword is a Sangheili-exclusive weapon (and the Jiralhanae dislike the Sangheili).
  • All Jiralhanae Chieftains are voiced by John DiMaggio in both Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST.
  • In Halo 3: The Official Strategy Guide, there is a mistake on the last page, where there is a War Chieftain wielding a gravity hammer. There are also images of an ordinary Jiralhanae Chieftain wielding a plasma turret and a fuel rod gun.

Trivia[edit]

Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.
  • If a Chieftain is transformed into a Flood combat form in Halo 3, his armor will become that of a Jiralhanae Minor. This is because the game engine does not have any code to transform the Chieftain into a "Chieftain" combat form. This can be easily observed in the Citadel during the level The Covenant, where the Flood temporarily ally with the Master Chief and the Arbiter to attack the remaining Covenant forces. Another good place to see an infected Chieftain is on the level Halo, because an infected Chieftain is in a Flood dispersal pod.
  • In the Halo 3 level Sierra 117, a Chieftain is seen hanging onto the side of a Phantom in the clearing with a crashed Pelican down the cliff. Oddly, this Chieftain can be stuck with plasma grenades, but shows no reaction to them, and is completely immune to the blast.
  • The Chieftain appears in Epic Games and Mediatonic's Fall Guys as one of the characters in the Spartan Showdown event.

Gallery[edit]

Concept art and illustrations[edit]

Screenshots[edit]

  • A Jiralhanae Chieftain attacking John-117 in Halo 3.

    A Jiralhanae Chieftain attacking John-117 in Halo 3.

  • A Jiralhanae Chieftain standing near a War Chieftain.

    A Jiralhanae Chieftain standing near a War Chieftain.

  • A Chieftain delivers a sermon to his pack.

    A Chieftain delivers a sermon to his pack.

  • Avitus, a Jiralhanae Chieftain in Halo Wars.

    Avitus, a Jiralhanae Chieftain in Halo Wars.

  • An unarmed Chieftain in Halo 3: ODST.

    An unarmed Chieftain in Halo 3: ODST.

  • A Jiralhanae Chieftain illuminated by VISR.

    A Jiralhanae Chieftain illuminated by VISR.

  • A close-up of a Chieftain's elaborate headdress.

    A close-up of a Chieftain's elaborate headdress.

  • A Jiralhanae Chieftain action figure from McFarlane Toys.

    A Jiralhanae Chieftain action figure from McFarlane Toys.

  • An early build of a Jiralhanae Chieftain in Halo: Reach.

    An early build of a Jiralhanae Chieftain in Halo: Reach.

  • A Chieftain charging a Spartan-III.

    A Chieftain charging a Spartan-III.

  • A Chieftain holding its hammer.

    A Chieftain holding its hammer.

  • A Chieftain without its helmet in Halo: Reach.

    A Chieftain without its helmet in Halo: Reach.

  • A Jiralhanae Chieftain with a gravity hammer in Halo: Reach.

    A Jiralhanae Chieftain with a gravity hammer in Halo: Reach.

  • A Jiralhanae Chieftain with a fuel rod gun in Halo: Reach.

    A Jiralhanae Chieftain with a fuel rod gun in Halo: Reach.

  • Pattern on the Chieftain Armor in Halo: Reach.

    Pattern on the Chieftain Armor in Halo: Reach.

  • Another view of the Chieftain.

    Another view of the Chieftain.

  • A Jiralhanae Chieftain against a Spartan-II in Halo 4.

    A Jiralhanae Chieftain against a Spartan-II in Halo 4.

  • A Jiralhanae Chieftain in Halo: Spartan Strike.

    A Jiralhanae Chieftain in Halo: Spartan Strike.

  • A Covenant Chieftain alongside two other Jiralhanae in a flashback during Halo Infinite.

    A Covenant Chieftain alongside two other Jiralhanae in a flashback during Halo Infinite.

  • A Chieftain with a gravity hammer.

    A Chieftain with a gravity hammer.

  • A Banished Chieftain welding a Shea'p-pattern plasma cannon.

    A Banished Chieftain welding a Shea'p-pattern plasma cannon.

  • A Jiralhanae Chieftain guarding a Banished outpost on Installation 07.

    A Jiralhanae Chieftain guarding a Banished outpost on Installation 07.

  • A Jiralhanae Chieftain with a gravity hammer.

    A Jiralhanae Chieftain with a gravity hammer.

  • A Jiralhanae Chieftain smashes the ground with a gravity hammer.

    A Jiralhanae Chieftain smashes the ground with a gravity hammer.

  • A Chieftain alongside a Jiralhanae Warrior.

    A Chieftain alongside a Jiralhanae Warrior.

  • A gravity hammer-wielding Chieftain with its armor partially shot off.

    A gravity hammer-wielding Chieftain with its armor partially shot off.

  • A Jiralhanae Chieftain in Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition).

    A Jiralhanae Chieftain in Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition).

  • The Chieftain ROAR! emote in Fall Guys.

    The Chieftain ROAR! emote in Fall Guys.

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Halo 3
  2. ^ a b Halo: Rise of Atriox, issue #5
  3. ^ Halo Wars 2
  4. ^ a b c d Halo Infinite
  5. ^ a b Halo: Spartan Assault
  6. ^ a b Halo: Spartan Strike
  7. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach: Adjunct - Sacrifice
  8. ^ a b Halo 3, campaign level The Ark
  9. ^ a b Halo 3, campaign level The Covenant
  10. ^ Halo: Reach: Post-game carnage report
  11. ^ Halo 3, Bestiarum
  12. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 196
  13. ^ Halo 2, campaign level The Great Journey
  14. ^ Halo: Envoy, 1 "The Covenant had failed, obliterated under the weight of many lies; as a result, the Sangheili did not make common cause with Jiralhanae anymore, at least not as equals. No, this was strange. "
  15. ^ a b c Halo: Shadows of Reach
  16. ^ Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual, page 158: "Atriox: Warmaster of the Banished"
  17. ^ Halo: Envoy, page 40–41
  18. ^ a b c d Halo: Reach
  19. ^ a b Halo Wars: Collectors Edition Leader Cards
  20. ^ Halo Legends - The Babysitter
  21. ^ Halo: Evolution - Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss
  22. ^ Halo: Escalation, issue #1
  23. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 3

v • d • e
 
Jiralhanae ranks (Covenant)
Chieftains
Officers
Specialists
Infantry
Minor • Major • Ultra
Other

v • d • e
 
Jiralhanae ranks (Banished)
Banished Chieftains
Affiliated Chieftains
Officers
Specialists
Infantry
Warrior (Standard • Chosen)
Other
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