The Unggoy serve as a prominent Covenant infantry force and enemy of the player in all of the Halo games.
Combat
The Grunt can use any sort of weapon that is designed to be held in one hand. In some situations grunts have been seen to use heavy artillery weapons, such as the Fuel Rod Gun. So, on higher difficulties, the Grunt can prove to be a dangerous enemy to the Player and his/her allies.
Grunts usually fight in groups consisting of mostly low ranked Grunts, one or two higher ranked Grunts, and an Elite or Brute leader. Most of the time, when their leader is dead, Grunts will run away, even the higher-ranking ones. Typically, Grunts fight by having the Minor Grunts combine their firepower to soften and lower the enemy's shields, so that their more dangerous allies can finish off enemy units more easily. Small groups of Grunts are generally used to slow enemy movements or deal minor damage to weaken enemy forces, and force them to waste ammunition and time. There are times they take advantage of their small size; they can easily hide and ambush or surprise their enemies with an overcharged plasma bolt or grenade. Grunts working in cooperation with Jackals are very good at seizing the initiative to flank unsuspecting enemies as well.
Grunts can be tenacious fighters as long as they have someone leading them. Higher-ranking Grunts may not run away, but instead, keep fighting after the leader has fallen. Occasionally, when driven into a corner, Grunts will commit suicide be detonating two plasma grenades in close proximity to their target. They also have a tendency to over charge their plasma pistols, which drains the battery significantly, but can completely drain an enemies shields, or cause vehicles to temporarily stop working.
Weaponry
Grunts are often armed with the ubiquitous Plasma Pistol, although they are often seen wielding Needlers and Fuel Rod Guns. Their combined fire, even with weaker plasma pistols, can quickly erode an enemy's shields. Grunts are almost never seen equipped with two-handed weapons like Covenant Carbines, Brute Shots, Type-50 particle beam rifle, etc. Special Operations grunts and Grunt Heavies are occasionally seen bearing Fuel Rod Guns. Grunt Heavies can carry folded Plasma cannons. On The Storm and The Ark, a Grunt can be seen with a Brute Spiker. If a Grunt is in a Phantom that is shot down, and somehow manages to survive, it will sometimes be wielding a Spiker.
Grunts in the employment of the Banished are observed with a wider range of weaponry. While plasma pistols and needlers are still the most common, the Disruptor and Mangler can also be found in the hands of higher ranked grunts. Certain commanders also outfit their troops with specialized weaponry (or none at all in the case of Yapyap's Cannon Fodder), such as Decimus's Bloodfuel rifle.
All Grunts are equipped with, and often use, Plasma Grenades, although higher-ranking Grunts such as Ultra Grunts, Special Operations Grunts and Grunt Majors throw grenades in combat more often. With the Catch skull enabled, Grunt Heavies have been observed throwing upwards of six plasma grenades. They have been known to "spam" Plasma Grenades on the Legendary difficulty, which means that in a group of 10 Grunts, as many as eight of them will throw Plasma Grenades, one after the other, in an attempt to easily dispatch their foes.
In Halo 3 and onward, Grunts have a tendency to arm two Plasma Grenades and rush to the player, causing an explosion as a result of their Elite or Brute leader being killed in a brutal way (ie, being stuck with a plasma grenade, shot in the head or blown up by a Needler). These Grunts are generally referred to as "Kamikaze Grunts" or "Suicide Grunts".
In Halo Wars, Suicide Grunts are a special forces unit, starting with a plasma pistol, being only the leader-specific unit of the Arbiter. These Grunts have large, cylindrical methane tanks on their backs which hold far more of the gas than other Grunt's tanks. These tanks are used as explosives. The grunts charge at their enemies and detonate their methane bombs, causing massive splash damage. An example of this is the fact that at least 10 fully-upgraded Suicide Grunts can destroy a UNSC base. Suicide Grunts will also charge their plasma pistols, making them very effective against the Prophet of Regret, the Spartans, Type-26 Wraith and Type-32 Ghosts with shields and Shield Generators.
Changes
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Changes from Halo CE to Halo 2
- New ranks added: Heavy, Ultra. Heretic Unggoy also appear.
- Grunts carry and man plasma turrets.
- Allied grunts appear in Arbiter missions. They can be given one handed weapons and launchers.
- Spec Ops will use active camo along with their elite leaders.
Changes from Halo 2 to Halo 3 and Halo 3 ODST
- Spec Ops and Ultra grunts appear almost indistinguishable from each other.
- Grunts no longer use active camo.
- Heavies often man the turrets of Phantoms.
- They can now pilot Ghosts.
- When their leader dies, they have a chance to go suicidal.
- Grunt backpacks can be destroyed, and their masks can be shot off.
Changes from Halo 3 ODST to Halo Reach
- Grunts, like all Covenant, don't speak in the language the game is set in.
- The Unggoy combat harness has different permutations depending on their rank.
- Ultras have a face protection that must be shot off before headshots can be scored.
- Heavy and above grunts will overcharge their plasma pistols.
- When his backpack is shot off, a grunt will go flying wildly before bursting in a weak explosion.
- Grunts can now man Wraith turrets.
- Assassinations can be performed on grunts.
- In the beginning of the level Exodus, the player will encounter Suicide Grunts, although they don't have a dedicated armor or look.
Changes from Halo Reach to Halo 4
- Grunt ranks change. They now feature Storm, Heavy, Imperial and Ranger. Like elites, their armor comes in varied colors within the same rank.
- Grunts can now make a sort of jump pack leap by overcharging their methane tanks. This move is slow leaves them very vulnerable while being performed.
Changes from Halo 4 to Halo 5 Guardians
- Ranks are the same as the previous game in the campaign, but in Warzone, Bodyguards appear, as well as Jockeys as pilots for the new Goblin.
- Grunts, like most enemies, speak in the language the game is set in again.
- Grunts now have a weak melee attack.
Changes from Halo 5 Guardians to Halo Infinite
- Featured ranks include Conscripts, Assault, Ultra and Mule.
- Ultra grunts often have Energy shielding.
- Lower rank grunts have are more likely to go suicidal compared to higher ranked ones.
- Brutes will rarely throw a suicidal grunt that runs close to them.
- Grunts piloting ghosts will drive recklessly and often strafe close to the player, allowing for easier hijacks.
Gameplay
Halo Wars
In Halo Wars, the Grunt Squad serves as the main infantry unit for the Covenant army, as goes with all games. On default, the squad is composed of three Unggoy commanded by either an Elite Minor, or a Brute Minor, depending on whichever individual was selected to be the leader unit for the game. They are the direct counterpart to the "Marine Squad" unit of the UNSC, serving as an all-round infantry unit. Though they may be inferior to "Marine Squads", they do move slightly faster. As with all Covenant units, the Grunt Squad is inferior to the Marine Squad, in both armament and skill. Being the main infantry unit, the Grunt Squad is effective against most types of units due to its varied armament. Their standard, primary weapon is the plasma pistol, and their secondary weapon/special ability is the plasma grenade, which is much more effective against light vehicles and even armor. Grunt squads cost 100 resources, a tech level of 0, a population of 1, and can be built at a Hall. They function best in very large mobs, where their combined fire plus the overwhelming amount of plasma grenades can be a valuable asset. This is at its best when assaulting an enemy base.
As with all Halo Wars units, the Grunt Squad can receive three upgrades to significantly increase their combat effectiveness. The upgrades are in order as follows:
- Peons - Upgrades the Squad with two additional grunts. 200 resources and a tech level of 1.
- Needler - Upgrades the Grunts with Needlers rather than Plasma Pistol, increasing their damage. 400 resources and a tech level of 2.
- Deacon - Adds a Grunt Deacon to the Squad. Deacons will sometimes outlive their Elite/Brute leader and the entire squad. They guide the squad with battle cries and promises of the Great Journey. A Deacon boosts combat values through spirituality. Note that the actual effect of the Deacon is a further increase in damage. 700 resources and a tech level of 3.
Note: Deacon grunts carry Plasma Pistols rather than Needlers however, the Deacon will charge his plasma pistol when needed.
Halo Wars 2
Jiralhanae-led Unggoy
- Info: Core Infantry, Cheap and Expendable, Low. pop count, Quick capture unit
- Tier: 0
- Cost: Population 2, Supplies 100, Power 0
Grunt Squad upgrade: Shrapnel Mines
- Info: New Ability, Can throw grenades, Small Area Attack, Cannot target air
- Tier: 1
- Cost: Supplies 0, Power 300
Grunt Squad upgrade: Pack Brother
- Info: Additional Brute and Grunt join squad
- Tier: 2
- Cost: Supplies 0, Power 550
Sangheili-led Unggoy
- Info: Core Infantry, Cheap and Expendable, Low. pop count, Quick capture unit
- Tier: 0
- Cost: Population 2, Supplies 100, Power 0
Grunt Squad upgrade: Active Camo
- Info: New Ability, Enables the Elite squad leader to temporarily cloak the squad
- Tier: 1
- Cost: Supplies 0, Power 300
Grunt Squad upgrade: Squad Reserves
- Info: Additional Elite joins squad
- Tier: 2
- Cost: Supplies 0, Power 550
Grunt Squads can be built by all Banished leaders at the Banished outpost. Unupgraded Grunts perform okay against infantry and aircraft but poorly against vehicles and structures. Once the Pack Brother or Squad Reserves upgrade is researched Grunt squads will fair okay against vehicles and structures. Elite-led Grunt squads perform better at ranged combat. In Blitz Grunt Squads cost 10 energy, Prowling Grunts cost 40 energy, Bloodfuel Grunts cost 50 energy, and Grunt Mobs cost 60 energy.
Trivia
- In Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo: Reach, and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, the Grunt Birthday Party Skull will make Grunts explode into confetti when killed by a headshot. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary also features a skull called the Grunt Funeral Skull which makes every Grunt's methane tank explode in a similar fashion to a plasma grenade, once the Grunt possessing it is killed. This skull is only available for those who pre-ordered Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary and it was released exclusively on Halo: The Master Chief Collection.
- In Halo: Reach, the Unggoy's voices have been changed. Instead of being high pitched and squeaky, their voices sound slightly deeper and mechanical, possibly because of their breathing masks. In addition, unlike other Halo games, the Grunts are unable to speak English, a deliberate action made to emphasize the Covenant's alien nature and distance them from the friendly treatment some Covenant species received in the latter half of the Halo trilogy.
- In Halo: Reach, when a Grunt's methane tank is shot off, its body will humorously rocket around like a balloon as the compressed gas is released. After a few seconds, the remaining gas will explode. This mini explosion can kill nearby character if they have no shields and have low health, and will often times set off any grenades laying around on the ground. This effect can also be seen in Halo Wars, though it is purely cosmetic. This effect returns in Halo 5: Guardians.
- In Halo: Reach, on rare occasions if a Grunt is shot with a Spartan laser or rocket launcher he will fly out of the map.
- Grunts drop their weapons as they kamikaze. On the rare occasions that a suicide Grunt survives having his grenades explode, he will be weaponless and unable to fight.
- In Halo 5: Guardians, Grunts can now melee the player if they get too close. They also have more animations, such as reacting to being shot by snapping to the side.