Leader

"Hero unit" redirects here. For other uses of the word "Hero", see Hero.

Leaders, sometimes called hero units, are UNSC/Covenant/Banished player characters in Halo Wars and its sequel, each of whom feature specific units, traits, and abilities in gameplay. Some leaders can also be summoned to the field in-game as special units.

Halo Wars leaders

Leaders offer a varied experience in Halo Wars' multiplayer aspects, bringing unique abilities into the fray. The Covenant have leaders that double as in-game units, while the UNSC leader powers vary greatly and are numerous. Hero units are more adept to fighting, possessing more armor for protection against enemy units, as well as access to unique weaponry and "special abilities" (such as "Rage mode" for the Arbiter or special upgrades like the ODSTs for Captain Cutter).

In campaign, leaders can be revived if they are killed in action, as long as the life bar is halfway full. The life bar automatically regenerates while the leader is knocked down. However, in Skirmish or multiplayer if they die, they die for good and will have to be purchased again to be on the battlefield, though only Covenant hero units are present on the battlefield in Skirmish and multiplayer.

Given leaders are typically geared toward specific playstyles. For instance, Cutter is more "measured" while Forge's playstyle is quite aggressive.

UNSC

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  Overview of Capt. Cutter

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  Overview of Sgt. Forge

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  Overview of Prof. Anders

Covenant

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  Overview of the Prophet of Regret

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  Overview of the Arbiter

• 

  Overview of the Brute Chieftain

Halo Wars 2 leaders

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UNSC

Image	Name	Description	Blitz Special Units	Skirmish Special Units	Leader Powers
	Captain Cutter Lore • Gameplay	As Captain of the Spirit of Fire, Cutter can send in powerful orbital support, drop in specialized UNSC units, and enhance currently deployed units.	Wild Hellbringers Trooper Hornet Stealth Kodiak	Leader Power Unit ODST Hero Unit Jerome-092	UNSC Raid Battle Hardened Archer Missiles Cyclops Drop ODST Drop ODST Assault Group Close Air Support
	Isabel Lore • Gameplay	Isabel improves the effectiveness of vehicles using her database of the latest UNSC tech, and employs hacking and distraction powers in battle.	Lockdown Scorpion Armored Warthog Wild Jackrabbit	Hero Unit Alice-130	Restoration Drones Turret Drop Lotus Mine Holographic Decoy MAC Blast The Best Offense Ghost In The Machine
	Professor Anders Lore • Gameplay	Anders' scientific expertise allows her to field Sentinel units and makes all of her upgrades faster and cheaper.	Watchtower Armored Marines	Unique Unit Protector Sentinel Leader Power Unit Retriever Sentinel (Super Unit) Hero Unit Douglas-042	R&D Protector Sentinel Retriver Sentinel Sentinel Beacon Sentinel Synergy Sentinel Network Ark Defense
	Sergeant Forge Lore • Gameplay	Forge's strengths lie in an armored and slow-building economy, using heavy vehicles to push through enemies.	Reactive Marines Vanguard Kodiak	Unique Unit M850 Grizzly Hero Unit John Forge's Warthog	Rolling Economy Accelerated Assembly Heavy Metal Combat Salvage Scatter Bomb Vehicle Drop Grizzly Battalion
	Kinsano Lore • Gameplay	Kinsano is all about the burn, launching pyrotechnic attacks and covering the battlefield in flames.	Veteran Hellbringers Veteran Flame 'Hog	Unique Unit Flame Warthog Hero Unit Kinsano's Cyclops	Heat of Battle Redline Hellcharge Helldrop Flame Warthog Drop Firestorm Battle Group Napalm Missiles Inferno
	Sergeant Johnson Lore • Gameplay	Sergeant Major Avery Johnson, a hero of the Covenant War, geared up for battle. He's a dangerous adversary due to his powerful mechs and solid command.	Veteran Mantis	Unique Unit Mantis HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark II (J) Colossus Unique Structure Bunker Drop (Leader Power Structure) Hero Unit Avery Johnson	Digging In Remote Sensors Pelican Transport Bunker Drop Siege Turret EMP MAC Blast Mech Overcharge Digging in Deep
	Commander Jerome Lore • Gameplay	Omega Team's leader and a veteran Spartan of the Spirit of Fire, Jerome inspires and bolsters troops under his command.		Unique Unit Mastodon Leader Power Unit Team Omega Hero Unit Commander Jerome/Theseus	Recon Sight Mastodon Victory Turret Victory Mines Time for Heroes Enduring Salvo Spartan Morale Field Promotion Omega Team
	Serina Lore • Gameplay	Smart AI that ran the Spirit of Fire's systems before being lost with all hands. Serina was an expert in cryo technology.		Unique Unit Cryo Troopers ZAV-48 Frostraven Hero Unit Bison	Ice Barrier Cryogenic Generator Cryotech Advances Frostraven Seismic Blast Cryo Bomb Cryo Drop Glacial Storm

Banished

Image	Name	Description	Blitz Special Units	Skirmish Special Units	Leader Powers
	Atriox Lore • Gameplay	Atriox focuses on a cunning and defensive style, supported by heavy cover and invulnerability powers		Unique Unit Unstable Jump Brutes (Leader Power upgrade) Hero Unit Atriox's Chosen	Teleport Countermeasures Fortifications Plasma Mines Dying Breath Atriox’s Bulwark Unbreakable Eradication
	Decimus Lore • Gameplay	Decimus is a berserker who relies on hard-hitting rushes while siphoning their health away.		Hero Unit Jiralhanae Warlord Leader Power Unit Decimus	Spirit Assault Killing Frenzy Vortex Lightning Siphon Fury Boundless Siphon Boundless Fury Decimus Drop
	Ship Master Lore • Gameplay	The Shipmaster favors stealth, teleportation tactics, and rapid assaults against his foes.		Unique Unit Prowling Grunts (replace basic Grunt Squads) Type-32 Ghost (replace Brute Chopper) Prowling Marauder (Leader Power upgrade) Hero Unit Sangheili Honor Guardsman	Glassing Beam Banished Raid Scout Mine Extraction Advanced Cloaking Mass Cloaking Displacement Tactical Gateway
	Colony Lore • Gameplay	A colony of Lekgolo with a focus on tough frontline units and healing.		Unique Unit Skitterer Goliath (replace Jiralhanae Jumpers) Hero Unit Mgalekgolo Captain	Skitterer Living Barrier Vehicle Symbiotes Engineer Swarm Hunter's Brand Colony Drop Battle Hardened Devastating Host Combat Repair
	The Arbiter Lore • Gameplay	The Arbiter Ripa 'Moramee utilizes special stasis fields to trap enemies and control the battlefield.		Unique Unit Banished Phantom Sangheili Enforcer (replace Jiralhanae Jumper) Hero Unit Ripa 'Moramee	Phantom Stasis Stasis Mines Conduit of Rage Plasma Bolt Power Surge Mass Stasis
	Yapyap the Destroyer Lore • Gameplay	At last, a Grunt rises to become a mighty leader! Or at least outnumber the enemy with an endless supply of cheap, expendable units!		Unique Unit Cannon Fodder (replace basic Grunt Squads) Methane Wagon Unggoy Rider (replace Jiralhanae Jumper) Unggoy Heavy (replace Suicide Unggoy) Hero Unit Grunt Goblin	Methane Wagon Methane Party Surprise Party Please Don't Shoot Me Guilt Trip Shade Drop Gruntdome Grunts from Above Get Back Out There
	Voridus Lore • Gameplay	Voridus focuses on aggressive rush tactics and uses his unique incendiary gel weapons to create damaging pools of toxic liquid.		Unique Unit Brute Grenadier (replace Suicide Unggoy) Infused Engineer (replace basic Engineers) Ironclad Blisterback (Leader Power upgrade) Terror Wraith (Leader Power upgrade) Volatile Scarab (Super Unit) Hero Unit Voridus	Infused Mine Infusion Wake Infusion Tech Combat Spoils Grenadier Drop Invigorating Frenzy Voridus Pack Assault Maelstorm Cataclysm
	Pavium Lore • Gameplay	Pavium's ephitet of 'The Unbreakable' comes from his mastery of defensive and economic tactics.		Unique Unit Wraith Invader Unique Structure Mega Turret Banished Lich (Leader Power unit) Hero Unit Pavium	Mega Turret Wraith Invader Burnout Enduring Will Orbital Designator Rain of Fire Full Salvage Ultra Mines Pavium's Stand Lich Vanguard

Trivia

• In the Halo Wars Demo, Captain Cutter was the only available hero unit for the UNSC and the Prophet of Regret was the only available hero unit for the Covenant.
• In the Halo Wars 2 Open Beta, Captain Cutter and Atriox were the only leaders available.