Yanme'e Major

Yanme'e Majors are a high Yanme'e caste and infantry rank.

Description
Yanme'e Majors are differentiated from lower ranks by their crimson shells, and frequently possess energy shields. They have longer wings and can fly faster than Drone Minors. They usually have Needlers as their weapons in the games.

Due to the difference in mentality of Drones compared to other species, it is possible that Drones become a Major once they have reached a certain age by which point they will have a certain amount of experience, meaning less experienced Drones can follow them, rather than due to distinguished service or bravery as seen in other major creatures such as Unggoy and Kig-yar. This is similar to how older insects in sociable colonies take on different roles, such as from scout to guard.

In Halo: Reach, however, they are represented differently, with a more unique appearance. This may suggest that the Major is actually a caste that one must be born into in order to be able to hold the rank, or it might still be representative of biological growth that allows them to be promoted. The appearance of the Yanme'e Ultra is even more drastically unique.

Combat
Yanme'e Majors are more skilled in combat than Yanme'e Minors and often wield Needlers or Brute Plasma Rifles. On Easy and Normal difficulties, they do not use the Needler's super-combine ability. However, on Heroic and Legendary difficulties, it is recommended the player takes cover frequently to regain lost stamina as Yanme'e Majors do use the Needler's super-combine ability.

Yanme'e Majors normally command a group of six to ten Yanme'e Minors. Some strategies are to stick one of the Yanme'e in the group with a Plasma Grenade, bombard them with Needler or dual-wielded Plasma Rifle fire. As with all enemies who move in groups, super-combining Needler rounds will produce an explosion that will most likely kill multiple Yanme'e in the group. One can also use ballistic fire, but some Yanme'e Majors have shields, especially in the presence of Engineers, hence making ballistic fire ineffective to a certain extent. Using Noob Combo is a good tactic. Yanme'e Majors also land on the ground much less often than their Minor brethren, making them less vulnerable to melee attacks.

Counter tactics

 * Using the 'Noob Combo' (A Plasma Pistol and a Pistol) can take down Yanme'e Majors easily. It is recommended that you kill them first, then use a SMG to kill the rest of the pack.
 * Supercombining Needler rounds on Yanme'e Majors is an effective tactic and you can also strip them of ammo after you kill them -- they often carry Needlers.
 * Yanme'e Majors (as well as most Yanme'e) seem to have an uncanny ability to fly towards and attack when the player's Stamina is low, thereby heightening the chance for a kill and most likely stripping away some precious, much-needed Health. If this happens, use a SMG to gun them down.
 * On Legendary difficulty in Firefight, the Yanme'e Majors can easily strip a player's armor with a few Brute Plasma Rifle shots. They also have high accuracy when flying and moving. Brute Plasma Rifle wielding Yanme'e should be killed at range with pistols.
 * In a swarm, Yanme'e can be overwhelming and it is advised to use a Brute Plasma Rifle, SMG or Spiker against these enemies. These weapons have a high rate of fire and deliver staggering amounts of damage to unshielded organic targets.
 * Making use of one of the mounted turrets littered about is another way to deal with these foes; however, it can be a double-edged sword as carrying the turret reduces the player's movement speed and maneuverability.

List of appearances

 * Halo 3: ODST
 * Halo: Reach