Sangheili Ranger

"Glory and honor guide our ascension."

— Sangheili Ranger's mantra.

The Sangheili Ranger is a Covenant Sangheili rank, a specialty class like Special Operations Sangheili. They are suited for zero-gravity battlefields.

The Sangheili Ranger corps is a special forces branch that conducts its operations in unusually dangerous battlegrounds, particularly the vacuum of space. Experts in low gravity and aerial combat, Sangheili rangers are capable of posing a threat to ships, stations, as well as many other types of aircraft.

Rank

Main article: Rank

While not distinctively a rank, Sangheili Rangers fall between Stealth Sangheili and Special Operations Sangheili. These units do not command troops but can be seen working together with one telling the others what to do, so there may be sub-ranks within this class of Sangheili. They have the shielding of Minor Sangheili, but the rank does not apply, and the lack of more powerful shielding could be due to the energy being diverted to the mounted Antigravity Pack.

Equipment

Rangers use something between the Flight Harness and the Assault Harness, an oddity considering that the use of the Assault Harness was restricted by treaties between the San 'Shyuum and the Sangheili at the close of the Sangheili-San 'Shyuum War, as it gave the latter an advantage in combat. The fact that it was equipped by Ranger units may indicate a willingness by the Sangheili to ignore the Prophets' decree, or it simply could have been allowed by the Prophets as an exception, as a zero-gravity specialty troop would need an airtight helmet. Now that the Sangheili have left the Covenant, the armor that makes Rangers so distinctive on the battlefield is to be introduced into wider service. The Assault Harness allows activity even in exo-atmospheric environments, allowing Rangers to operate even in space for insertion, demolitions tasks^[1] and protecting their wearers in areas where Flood infection is a threat.

Rangers also use an anti-gravity pack that allows flight, giving the user unparalleled mobility through the air and also allows the user to bypass traditional defenses. They also appear to use plasma cannons to defend positions in space, probably because they could easily carry heavy weapons in a zero gravity environment.

In Halo: Reach, Rangers appear to wear vacuum suits. They have a bluish visor, in which their face can be seen. Additionally, their armor is colored silver, instead of the original blue.

Combat

Ranger Sangheili are a type of Special Operations Commando Unit, though not necessarily connected to the traditional Spec Ops Sangheili, as they are specialists in anti-gravity combat. In Halo 2, Rangers will use their thrusters to great effect in battle, using them to strafe while firing their weapons. They are most often seen in Halo 2 when dual-wielding plasma rifles, firing in prolonged bursts. Rangers sometimes also set up portable plasma cannons to provide heavy support fire against human space-capable forces.^[2] Their energy shields are about the same strength as a Minor Sangheili's and, although their tactics differ, they require the same amount of firepower to lower, rendering the wearer vulnerable.

Rangers are susceptible to Plasma Pistols and Needlers, which use their tracking ability to great effect, lowering their shields, or in the Needler's case, killing them outright. However, for long-range combat a Battle Rifle, Covenant Carbine, Beam Rifle, or the UNSC Sniper Rifle can allow the player to kill them from long ranges, preventing them from becoming a threat at close range.

Background

Ranger Sangheili have been observed at the Fall of Reach, Operation: FIRST STRIKE, the Battle of Earth, the Battle of Installation 05, and at the First Battle of High Charity. The Rangers were also seen at the planet Reach when John-117 returned to the planet aboard the Ascendant Justice.

With the Sangheili's departure from the Covenant, the Rangers were replaced by the Jump Pack Jiralhanae and Yanme'e as aerial infantry units.

Changes from Halo 2 to Halo: Reach

Main articles: Halo 2, Halo: Reach

They appear bulkier, with heavy armor around the chest and back. They also sport a different helmet, similar in appearance to the MJOLNIR EVA helmet, with a transparent faceplate.
They are a playable class in Multiplayer and Matchmaking.
Their armor is greyish white, while in Halo 2 it was cyan.
They rarely use Plasma Rifles and now opt for Focus Rifles instead.
Their Jet-packs do not allow them to fly, but now allow them to perform extended jumps, much like the Brute Jump Pack.

Trivia

In Halo 2, Rangers' eyes can be seen through their helmets' eye pieces.
The Heretic leader Sesa 'Refumee wore a modified Ranger suit.
If you shoot a Ranger in their Antigravity Pack while they are flying, they will fall a bit on Heroic and Legendary difficulty levels, and fall to the ground or to their deaths on Easy and Normal difficulty levels.
In Halo 2, while firing, a Ranger wielding one weapon will have both hands affected by recoil, as if holding two weapons. This is probably because they often wield two Plasma Rifles,and the game does not support an animation with only one weapon.
Rangers make a reappearance in Halo: Reach multiplayer as a Loadout class.
Rangers in Halo: Reach wear a new type of helmet, bearing some resemblance to the MJOLNIR EVA helmet. This helmet may be the type worn by Rangers in Halo: The Fall of Reach, as the novel describes them as having transparent visors.
It is quite possible that the armor types featured in Halo 2 and Halo: Reach are used synonymously by Rangers, as the one in Halo 2 seems more for low-altitude combat, whilst the armor seen in Halo: Reach appears to be designed for high-altitude and exo-atmospheric combat, with a vacuum-sealed helmet and suit similar to the MJOLNIR EVA equivalent.
In Halo: Reach, Rangers' helmets are translucent, and if one looks closely, the face of the Sangheili can be seen.
In Halo: Reach, dead Rangers have their mandibles protruding from their faceplateTemplate:Fact.
In Halo: Reach, there are special gold/yellow-armored Rangers known as BOBs. In the post-game carnage report, they are listed as Covenant vehicles.

Gallery

Rangerelite2.jpg

A Sangheili Ranger in combat.
A Sangheili with an Antigravity Pack in Halo 2.
Model of a Sangheili Ranger in Halo ActionClix.
A Ranger in mid-flight.
Http://www.bungie.net/images/Games/Reach/images/screenshots/80610/CUTOUTS/640/Reach EliteRanger.jpg/A render of a Ranger

List of appearances

Halo 2
Halo: Reach
Halo: The Fall of Reach (First appearance)
Halo: The Flood
Halo: First Strike

Sources

^ Halo: The Fall of Reach
^ Halo 2, Cairo Station

[1] Halo: The Fall of Reach

[2] Halo 2, Cairo Station

[1]

[2]