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- "I have become estranged from my family, who even after the truth has come to light, refuse to fully renounce the ancient doctrines I have brought shame upon our name by offering up my blade alongside my brothers...for hire."
- — Orda Val 'Saham[1]
Sangheili Mercenaries are the standard low ranking Sangheili mercenaries working for the Banished.[2] 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] 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 Battle for Zeta Halo.[10] They came from the mercenary Sangheili clans of the Warriors of Malaston, Valorguards of the Chosen, Bloodbrave Guardians of Suban, and Kaepra's Grief. In addition, Chak 'Lok brought several Sangheili Ultra mercenaries into the fold.[2]
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 almost always wield the Erudo'ma'keth-pattern 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 Enforcers 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. Mercenaries favor agility and have a tendency to evade shots making them harder to hit.
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,[11] 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
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Browse more images in this article's gallery page. |
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.
Promotional image of a Sangheili Mercenary.
Close up of a Sangheili Mercenary.
Render of a Sangheili Mercenary.
A Monster Energy promo of the Elite Mercenary.
A Sangheili Mercenary on patrol.
A Sangheili Mercenary with a Stalker rifle.
A Sangheili Mercenary with a CQS48 Bulldog.
A Sangheili Mercenary up close.
A Sangheili mercenary with a BR75 battle rifle.
A Sangheili mercenary getting ready to throw a plasma grenade.
A Sangheili Mercenary with a M392 Bandit on Oasis.
List of appearances
- Halo Infinite (First appearance)
- Halo: The Rubicon Protocol
- Battle for the Blood-Moon
Sources
- ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Log – Banished – "The Blinded"
- ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 455
- ^ 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 Waypoint, Inside Infinite - October 2021 (Retrieved on Oct 29, 2021) [archive]
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