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- "After the collapse of the Covenant, the Sangheili found themselves weakened and embroiled in another fierce civil war - this time with their own kind."
- — Description of the Elite Mercenaries[1]
Sangheili Mercenaries[1][2] are the standard low ranking Sangheili mercenaries working for the Banished. While Banished Sangheili are mercenaries in general, higher ranking mercenaries can hold roles such as Honor Guard,[3] or Shipmaster as Let 'Volir did.[4]
Overview
While many Sangheili continued to genocidally hunt down and slaughter the Jiralhanae,[5][6] a few were persuaded by Atriox to work for the Banished, as he claimed to have no complicity with Tartarus and the other Jiralhanae who had betrayed and massacred their kind.[7] As such, a small minority of Sangheili have joined the Banished as mercenaries, some of which used their earnings of military resources to fight out disputes with other Sangheili kin on their homeworlds.[8][1] Joining the Banished was frowned upon in Sangheili culture, Let 'Volir's name was notably forever tarnished for working under a Jiralhanae.[9]
Operational history
Many of Let Volir's mercenaries took part in the battle between the UNSC Spirit of Fire and the Banished on the Lesser Ark, as Rangers and Honor Guards.[4]
Many standard Sangheili Mercenaries fought for the Banished during the Installation 07 conflict.[10] They came from the mercenary Sangheili clans of the Warriors of Malaston, Valorguards of the Chosen, Bloodbrave Guardian of Suban, and Kaepra's Grief. In addition, Chak 'Lok brought several Sangheili Ultra mercenaries into the fold.[11]
Equipment
Sangheili Mercenaries are issued a blue colored version of the Sangheili harness, akin to the Combat harness used by the Covenant's Sangheili Minor. They are always equipped with Plasma grenades, and near always wield the Pulse carbine, though they often arm themselves with better weapons found on the battlefield. They are also the species and rank most commonly found piloting Ghosts, Banshees, and Wraiths.
Gameplay
Mercenaries are the lowest ranked Elites encountered in Halo Infinite. They can be found leading groups of Jackals, Grunts and Skimmers, and if alongside Brutes, they tend to be in lower numbers. Elite Officers often have one or two Mercenaries working alongside them.
They are fast at moving and good shots, especially with the homing capabilities of the Pulse Carbine, and prefer to fire and throw grenades while on the run. However, they can be impatient, and will jump out of cover to pursue the player if he doesn't engage them on their terms, especially if out of allies. These characteristics also apply to their driving patterns; while they usually hang back, they will come searching if the player stays hidden.
A Mercenary's energy shields can withstand two full bursts of Pulse Rifle, or one Plasma Pistol overcharge, before collapsing, at which point they will usually roar and charge while firing their weapon, though they may instead take cover if the enemy is far away. Mercenaries, like other Elites in the game, do not keep their shields active while patrolling, making them easy targets when unaware. They are very quick at turning them on when they sense danger though, so be prepared.
While Mercenaries always wield Pulse Carbines by default, they will pick up more powerful weapons if they find them on the battlefield. This can make an encounter with them significantly more challenging, so beware of killing weak enemies with strong weapons (like Jackal Snipers or Skimmers) when there are still Elites alive in the area.
Production notes
With the design of Sangheili in Halo Infinite taking inspiration from Halo 3 and Halo: Reach,[12] the design of the Sangheili Mercenaries bear an almost-identical design to that of a concept art of a Sangheili Minor created by Isaac Hannaford during the development of Halo: Reach (shown below).
Gallery
Isaac Hannaford's Halo: Reach Elite Minor concept art.
An Elite mercenary in combat in the July 2020 gameplay.
July 2020 gameplay showing an Elite Mercenary.
A monster energy promo of the Elite Mercenary.
A Sangheili Mercenary with a Stalker rifle.
Close up of a Sangheili Mercenary.
Render of a Sangheili Mercenary.
List of appearances
- Halo Infinite (First appearance)
Sources
- ^ a b c Twitter, @Kidskull51: "Elite: After the collapse of the Covenant, the Sangheili found themselves weakened and embroiled in another fierce civil war - this time with their own kind."
- ^ Mega Construx, Halo - Recon Getaway™ | Mega Construx (Retrieved on Mar 28, 2021) [archive]
- ^ Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare: "An Honor Guard's cloaking ability could prove useful to us. Get ready to earn your keep, mercenary!" - Voridus
- ^ a b Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: Shipmaster Let 'Volir
- ^ Halo: Evolutions – Motion Comics - The Return
- ^ Halo: Tales from Slipspace - Hunting Party: "Now we have but one aim... the slaughter of beasts."
- ^ Halo: Tales from Slipspace - Hunting Party
- ^ Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual, page 161
- ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Log – Banished - Shipmaster Let 'Volir
- ^ Halo Infinite Campaign Gameplay Premiere
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 455
- ^ Halo Waypoint, Inside Infinite - October 2021 (Retrieved on Oct 29, 2021) [archive]
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