Sangheili Zealot
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Template:Covenant Character Infobox
The Zealot is a Covenant Sangheili (Elite) rank.
Rank
"Zealot" is a very high rank in the known Covenant rank heirarchy, and is usually given to Elites who have killed many humans.
In the rank ladder of the Elite, they are fifth down, only looking up to Supreme Commanders, Imperial Admirals, Arbiters and Councillors. They are one step higher than Ultras and Honor Guards, and are equal in rank with Honor Guard Ultra.
Combat
Zealots are often found wielding Energy Swords, ceremonial weapons befitting their high rank, but sometimes wield Plasma Rifles. Although when playing as the Arbiter if you give a Zealot a Plasma Rifle they won't fire it, but rather use it as a makeshift club and melee enemies. Much faster than lower Elites, they are also far harder to hit and duck behind obstacles to avoid fire. When found with Energy Swords they are highly dangerous and should be dealt with quickly.
They are very powerful and smart, and are a force to be reckoned with.
The best way to deal with a Zealot is at a long range, as they almost always wield swords. One effective technique that is useful on all enemies with shields is to feed one a PP Overcharge shot, then a well aimed BR burst. This will quickly kill him. Another way is to shotgun him repeatedly while backpedaling.
Titles
Because "Zealot" is the highest military grade for an Elite, there appear to be a variety of rank titles for Zealot Elites, and some Zealots are subservient to others. Some of the known titles include:
- Supreme Commander: These are the highest known titles for Zealot Elites. Supreme commanders are in charge of entire fleets of starships, as well as all ground forces within those fleets. The only known supreme commander was the Arbiter, being in charge of the Fleet of Particular Justice.
- Fleet Master:This rank normally acts as the normal Ship Master, and controls only one ship, but when a fleet needs to do an special objective, the Fleet Master acts as the commander for the ships participating in that objective (normally called task force). Voro 'Mantakree was a Fleet Master, and were leading a task force to Onyx to pursue the Bloodied Spirit.
- Ship Master: This rank is equivalent to the UNSC naval "Captain". Ship Masters command Starships within the Covenant, but they still fall under the command of their fleet's Supreme Commander. An example of this is Orna 'Fulsamee, who was the ship master of the Truth and Reconciliation.
- Field Master: This rank is equivalent to the UNSC Marine "General". Field Masters command entire armies, battalion strength or greater. Unlike human "Generals", Field Masters take a much more active role in combat, as in charging into the battle with their troops rather than giving orders from a HQ miles away from the conflict. They are in charge of all warriors of any race within that army, as well as all armor, air support, and material utilized by that army. An example of this is Noga 'Putumee, who led forces against the humans on Installation 04.
Appearance
Physical
They wear distinct gold armor, often with tan lining, and their shields are far more powerful than those of their subordinates. Not only are they more protective, their shields also recharge faster.
Halo: Combat Evolved
In Halo: Combat Evolved, Zealot Elites appear with the same frequency on all settings, although their strength on each difficulty increases significantly in a direct proportion with the difficulty level. They are difficult to kill on Normal mode and almost impossible to kill on Legendary.
On Legendary, they always have highly enhanced energy shields (three times more powerful than standard MJOLNIR armor shields), and most also wield Energy Swords (however, on at least two occasions in the level Two Betrayals, Zealots are seen with Plasma Rifles also). Zealots are also always accompanied by a vanguard group of lesser ranking Elites. The ranks of these Elites vary depending on the Diffuculty, with Minor Elites making up the vanguard on Normal mode, and Major Elites and Stealth Elites making up the vanguard on Heroic and Legendary.
Halo 2
Unlike in Halo: Combat Evolved, Zealots only appear as enemies in the suicidal mode known as Legendary, with few exceptions.
Zealots are always seen with groups of subordinate Elites, as in Halo: Combat Evolved. They have strong energy shielding, roughly equivalent to that of Elite Majors, and will continually charge SPARTAN-117 and his Marine comrades until killed. They also exclusively wield Energy Swords, unless given a different weapon by an allied player. Furthermore, Zealots are usually in unusual positions. (see below)
They can be found on almost any level set on Legendary mode.
The following are a list of Zealot appearances in Halo 2.
- Cairo Station (Legendary only) - In Hangar B-01, a Zealot armed with an Energy Sword leads the fifth Covenant wave out of the boarding craft to fight SPARTAN-117.
- Outskirts (Legendary only) - At a point in the level where a Covenant Phantom dropship approaches and drops off troops, it will drop one Covenant Zealot off, along with the rest of the units. The Zealot will then normally charge toward and attack the player and any remaining Marines. Another example is a section of the same level near the Hotel Zanzibar, after Sniper Alley. There is always a Zealot in the half collapsed building, which will jump down and attack if the player walks down the streets near it.
- Metropolis (Legendary only) - As one gets to the service tunnel at the end of the Highway tunnel, a sword-wielding Zealot will emerge from there.
- Uprising - The Arbiter almost always gains a Zealot ally in the early part of the level Uprising, regardless of difficulty.
- The Great Journey - In the final battle with Tartarus, one or more Zealots with Energy Swords will be generated to aid you, either before or during the fight. Their usefulness is limited however, as Tartarus's shield protects him from Energy Swords and melee attacks. Since these are a Zealot's primary methods of attack, the Elites simply deal no damage and are left open to a close range attack from Tartarus's Hammer.
Zealots in Halo 2 are far more sneaky and tactical than in Halo: Combat Evolved. They usually fight in more refined and stealthy ways than their allies. An example of this is that, rather than simply charging the player the entire time, they will sneak on on him and only charge after being seen.
It should also be noted that the Zealot AI will not enter any vehicles.
Known Zealots
Supreme Commanders
- The Arbiter - former Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice
Fleet Masters
- Voro 'Mantakree - De facto Fleet Master of the Second Fleet of Homogenous Clarity
Ship Masters
- Orna 'Fulsamee - Ship Master of the Truth and Reconciliation
- Tano 'Inanraree - Ship Master of the Incorruptible
- Qunu - Ship Master of the Far Sight Lost
Field Masters
- Noga 'Putumee - Field Master in the Fleet of Particular Justice
Trivia
- Zealots (at least those of golden armor) are probably the Covenant equivalent of naval Captains, Rear Admirals/Brigadier Generals and Major Generals.
