Template:Ratings Template:Covenant Rank Infobox
Minor is a Sangheili rank used by the Covenant and later by the Covenant Separatists. It is the lowest military rank a Sangheili can obtain.
Background
Sangheili Minors are logically, physically, and pragmatically the least-experienced warriors of their race; however, they are still skilled in combat. They are somewhat weaker than their crimson-armored Major Domo superiors. Being the lowest ranked in the Sangheili military hierarchy, they possess energy shielding that is weaker than any other Sangheili, (besides that of stealth units), and is also inferior to the shielding of MJOLNIR armor. Minors are seen making frequent tactical mistakes in battle, even occasionally hitting an Unggoy with a missed melee attack. They are still dangerous in their own right, especially when leading members of the lower castes in battle.
The Minor's rank seems roughly equivalent to a UNSC Marine sergeant, compared to an Elite Major being equivalent to a lieutenant and an Unggoy or Kig-yar Major being equivalent to a corporal). Minors often lead lances of Unggoy and/or Kig-yar into battle. If the Minor leading the lance is killed, their subordinates will often flee. Sangheili Minors who are neither promoted nor killed during their first campaign typically commit suicide to retain their honor.[1]
Combat
Minor are the most commonly seen in Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 on the Easy and Normal difficulties. On Legendary and Heroic, almost none are present. In Halo 3, the only level Minor domos appear in is The Covenant. Minors are usually found leading lances of Unggoy, but they themselves will likely be led by a Major Domo Sangheili.
Their armor's energy shielding is weak compared to that of higher-ranking Sangheili. They often make tactical errors such as standing in the way of an ally's fire, or rushing forward into enemy fire. They will seek less cover, often standing in one spot to fire and strafe less often than their superiors. When they are seriously injured or unshielded, they will also go "berserk", yelling a war cry and attempting to melee attack their opponent to death. They also fire in shorter bursts, and have somewhat less accuracy and lower rate of fire. Still, one should not underestimate an Elite of any rank, especially on the Heroic and Legendary difficulty settings.
Minors usually wield plasma rifles, occasionally dual wielding them. Most of the time, Minor Elites will not carry weaponry as powerful as a higher-ranking Elite would. Another common weapon they use is the needler, though not as often as the plasma rifle. They also very rarely have plasma pistols (most notably the two dual wielding plasma pistols at the beginning of Cairo Station). They sometimes use Covenant carbines, but this, along with the usage of the plasma pistol, is fairly rare. Sangheili Minors are strictly forbidden from wielding energy swords unless they are of aristocratic lineage.[2]. Only a more seasoned warrior, such as an Ultra, Honor Guardsman, or Zealot, is allowed to use this holy weapon. Despite this, the player is able to give Mino Elites energy swords on the levels Uprising and The Great Journey on Halo 2, perhaps suggesting that they can use the wepon on a superior's orders. It is possible to encounter sword-wielding Minors on Easy on the levels Delta Halo Regret in Halo 2.
The best weapons to use against a Minor Elite in Halo: Combat Evolved are the pistol, the sniper rifle, and the shotgun. On the Normal difficulty, it takes six headshots to kill a Minor Elite with the pistol. The sniper rifle can kill a Minor Elite with a single headshot, and the shotgun can kill one to two with a single point-blank blast. Another easy way to kill a Minor Elite is with sustained fire from an automatic weapon, such as the plasma rifle or assault rifle, followed by melee attacks. Firing seven consecutive needles from a needler is also almost always fatal to the usually stationary Minors.
The easiest way to kill a Minor domo Elite in Halo 2 is with the plasma pistol in conjunction with the battle rifle, Covenant carbine, or magnum. The technique of draining the Elite's shields with the plasma pistol and scoring a headshot is known as the "Noob Combo". Depleting the Minor's shields with a plasma weapon and then attacking with an SMG is also quite potent. The sniper rifle is just as effective as in Halo: Combat Evolved, taking a single headshot to kill one; this applies to the beam rifle as well. One beam rifle shot on Heroic still kills them, although it takes two on Legendary difficulty. The energy sword, shotgun, SMG/plasma rifle combination and dual magnums are also very effective in close-quarters combat. Four bursts from the battle rifle to the head on Easy difficulty, and five to six on Normal, can easily dispose of a Minor domo Elite. They are also not very agile and thus easy to stick with plasma grenades. When in close quarters, it is relatively easy to force any Elite to charge and attempt to melee the player. Before the Elite makes a melee attack, it is easy to sidestep, shoot it with a shotgun, or jump over this attack and melee the Elite's back for an instant kill. This tactic is helpful on Legendary difficulty when facing single Elites.
Sometimes Minors are seen driving Ghosts. Minors can also be seen driving human vehicles in Halo 3, and rarely in Halo 2. Showing off considerable intelligence despite their inexperience, Minor Elites will hide when their shields are lowered and will attempt to attack anyone foolish enough to enter into close combat with them with their weapon. However, as they are not a very high Elite rank, they carry standard weaponry, such as plasma rifles and needlers, and often have plasma grenades, but these are rarely used. When stuck by a plasma grenade on the lower difficulties, they will tend to panic, drop their weapon, and simply stand in one spot. However, on Heroic and Legendary, they will attempt to charge at the person who threw the grenade in order to take their enemy out with them. This tendency to panic can be used to the player's advantage, allowing the plasma grenade to not only kill the Elite, but also any other Covenant units accompanying the Elite. Also on higher difficulties, Elites can dodge and roll out of the way of grenades if they can see them.
On higher difficulties, when they have their shields down and are seeking cover, they sometimes let the player rush their hiding spot and land a killing blow if the player follows them to behind their cover. This should not be attempted without thinking, though, since the player could fall prey to Jackal snipers or other nearby Covenant allies.
Physical Appearance
Sangheili Minors wear distinctive cobalt-colored combat harnesses in Halo: Combat Evolved. In Combat Evolved, there are two differently shaped variations of the helmet. The more basic helmet features fins on the sides and rear. The secondary helmet from Combat Evolved is more curved toward the back. Their armor is sky blue in Halo 2. In Halo 3, Minors wear armor that is one of two shades of blue. In Halo: Reach, the color of Minors' armor most closely resembles its Halo 3 incarnation, though the armor itself looks like its Combat Evolved iteration. Elites in purple armor have been described in the novels, presumably referring to Minor Elites. In Halo PC's safe mode, their armor will appear purple.
Known Sangheili Minors
Gallery
A Minor Sangheili.
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Concept art for a Minor Elite in Halo: Reach.
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Halo 2's Sangheili Minors can be crack shots with Covenant carbines.
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A Minor on Installation 04.
Two Minor Elites accompanying a Zealot. Minor Elites are often assigned to protect Elites of higher rank.
Two Minor Elites guard the Silent Cartographer's security control room on Installation 04.
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A Minor with a plasma rifle.
A Sangheili Minor as it appears on the Elite multiplayer selection screen in Halo: Reach.
List of appearances
Sources
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia, page 127
- ^ Halo 2 Limited Collectors Edition Manual