Unggoy

The Unggoy are a species of subordinate warriors in the unified conglomerate races of the Covenant. The Humans have termed such warriors Grunts, because of their speech patterns and their status in Covenant society.

Introduction

Grunts are the lowest-ranked species of the Covenant, and are the lowest in the Covenant caste system. They are often pressed into combat and manual labor, although they are poor and overall cowardly warriors. They are physically diminuitive, and wear minimal armor, are too weak to bear most types of heavier weaponry, and are tactically inadept and inaccurate at shooting.

They are unusual in that they appear to be a methane-based lifeform. Their combat armor is even integrated with a methane rebreather system, as Grunts appear to be unable to survive long without methane.

Anatomy and Physiology

Grunts are approximately 5' tall and are relatively weak when compared to other Covenant species, although they can easily walk either upright on two legs, or on all fours. While carrying arms, they are forced to walk upright so that they may support their weapons with their hands, but while trying to flee, or while patrolling without a weapon drawn, they will use their over sized arms as forelegs to add speed or stability to their gait.

Grunts have hooves on their three-toed feet, and their skin is leathery and purple-gray. They have a single claw that protrudes from each elbow, but its function is unknown, since there are no known instances where it was used in combat.

Grunts are small and are not agile, and most are weak, unable to carry a weapon heavier than a Plasma Rifle, although certain Grunts of higher ranks appear to be surprisingly strong, able to carry an undeployed Plasma Cannon or fire a Fuel Rod Cannon without toppling from the recoil.

Grunts have average eyesight and hearing, but they seem to have a very well developed sense of smell, sometimes sniffing the air to detect traces of foes.

Main article: Grunt Homeworld

The home world of the Grunts is a cold, swampy planet with a methane atmosphere and naturally occurring pillars of fire. The cold nature of their planet makes them highly covet any source of heat they can find. They have also been seen inhabiting large environment domes that have airlocks and methane filters for them to breathe while not in armor or restocking their methane reserves at Battlefield Methane Tanks. Grunts also have high-pitched and squeaky voices, possibly due to acclimization to prolonged methane gas exposure. These voices are commonly regarded as humorous by other races.

Grunts also have thick, luminescent, light-blue blood, possibly a result of methane-based binding proteins in the blood to facilitate methane-based respiration.

Furthermore, Grunts are known for their frequent naps, even sleeping in high-risk combat environments, sometimes even in open daylight or immediately after an enemy has retreated. Whether this is a product of their methane-based metabolism is unknown.

Rank

Overall

The Grunts are the lowest tier of the Covenant rank hierarchy, and are despised by Jackals, and by a political standpoint, are expected to obey the commands of Elites without hesitation. This unwavering faithfulness is enforced by the threat of punishment, although on the battlefield, such social protocols are often ignored.

The Grunts are subdivided into sub-rankings. Lower-ranked Grunts are often times poor at combat, while higher-ranked Grunts may be formidable adversaries in combat and show signs of leadership capability.

Rank Structure

Grunts have several classes, which are easily identificable by the color of their armor:

File:Grunt.jpg

A Minor Grunt.

Main article: Minor Grunt

• Minor Grunts: The lowest-ranking Grunts, and wear orange armor. They are often times the least threatening and most cowardly, and are often inaccurate shooters, and when their commanding Elite is killed, will often break formation and flee.

File:GruntMajor01A.jpg

A Major Grunt.

Main article: Major Grunt

• Major Grunts: Veteran Grunts that wear crimson armor. They sometimes command several lesser Minor Grunts and are slightly more skilled in combat and courageous than Minor Grunts, but this is barely noticable.

A Gunner Grunt.

Main article: Gunner Grunt

• Gunner Grunts: Specialized Grunts wearing green armor often deployed in defensive actions whose primary purposes are to deploy Plasma Cannons and man them, but occasionally wield Fuel Rod Cannons as well.

A Special Operations Grunt.

Main article: Special Operations Grunt

• Special Operations Grunts: Experienced and specially-chosen Grunts that wear distinctive jet-black armor and are commanded by the Special Operations Elites. They are part of the Covenant Special Operations division of the Covenant Special Warfare Group. Special Operations Grunts are relatively skilled in warfare compared to the Grunt species, and are far less likely to panic in combat situations than lesser grunts. They are sometimes seen wielding Fuel Rod Cannons, and throw Plasma Grenades more often than other Grunt ranks.

File:GruntUltra03.jpg

An Ultra Grunt.

Main article: Ultra Grunt

• Ultra Grunts: Grunts that appear to be field commanders for other Grunts, and wear distinctive pearlescent white armor reminiscent of the Ultra Elites. While they appear to have some authority over lesser-ranked Grunts (besides Special Operations Grunts, who are of a different jurisdiction), they have no control whatsoever over the other Covenant races. Ultra Grunts are also stronger opponents than their subordinates, and are more accurate with firearms, throw plasma grenades often, and appear to have heavier armor, being able to sustain more damage than most other Grunts.

Combat

Grunts are often armed with the ubiquitous plasma pistol, although they are occasionally seen wielding Needlers or Plasma Rifles. Some are equipped with plasma grenades, although only mostly Ultra Grunts and Special Operations Grunts throw grenades in combat. As aforementioned, most Grunts are inaccurate shooters, although Ultra Grunts and Special Operations Grunts may be of some threat with their more accurate marksmanship and their tendency to lob grenades. However, Grunts are relatively lightly armored, and are easily dispatched with brief bursts of automatic fire from a M7/Caseless Submachine Gun or a Plasma Rifle, or with the three-round bursts of a BR55 Battle Rifle. Minor and Major Grunts can be taken out with a single Battle Rifle burst to the head, while Ultra and Special Operations Grunts can withstand more.

Counters

Grunts are no real danger to any player, but can be annoying, as they damage you very slightly, but they can knock your aim off, or generally distract you. It is easiest to shoot their back, as it is roughly on eye-sight level (the level where the cross-hairs automatically return). Curl-backs do not have such a feature, so they are harder to dispatch of quickly. As in pure shooting terms, the SMG, and other automatic/semi automatic rifles are efficient. Grenades are useful, as Grunts tend to stay together. In most levels, if you are not careful, the grunts will try to find a mounted weapon and take advantage of it, so be sure to take them out. Low level grunts when hit with a plasma grenade it will sometimes flee to the nearest elite for comfort, (injuring the elite and always killing the grunt), or sometimes attempt to run to the player and kill them in a suicidal attack. In the books, when a grunt's methane tank is hit by a bullet, an explosion usually ensues. It is yet unknown whether this will be in Halo 3. Grunts are usually easy to dispatch but sometimes can pose a real threat when encountered in large numbers. Grunts of every rank have been known to toss plasma grenades, and higher ranked grunts throw them more profusely.

File:Grunt.JPG

Two Grunts from Halo 3

Vehicle Compatibility

• Ghost(Halo CE, 2 and 3 )
• Shadow (Seen in Halo 2 E3 demo, have animation but not used)
• Shade (Halo 1 only)
• Shielded Plasma Cannon (Halo 2 only)
• Plasma Cannon (Halo 2 only)

Culture

File:Groupofgrunts.jpg

Grunts never operate alone. Note the Curl-back design on one of them.

Grunts were one of the original races of the Covenant, serving as soldiers and laborers in all different fields, and their original culture has been all but erased by their incorporation into the Covenant. They are obedient, loyal, and hard working, though not overly intelligent or creative. They are one of the most sociable of the Covenant races, possessing a strong pack mentality, which causes them to present a formidable danger when encountered in large numbers.

Grunts are essentially a slave race, who obey the other Covenant races out of fear, because they have no political power in Covenant society. However, within the Grunt community there is a strong hatred of other species, especially Jackals (this excludes the Elites because they might be the only race in the Covenant that treat them with a certain amount of respect and dignity), and a belief that someday a tall, dynamic Grunt leader will lead them to freedom on a methane-rich paradise world.Template:FactIt has been indicated that at some time in the Covenant's history, there was a Grunt Rebellion, which was quelled, thanks in part to an Arbiter who was named during that period for that purpose.

Due to their low status, Grunts are not permitted by the Elites to possess family names. They do value their ties to their offspring, but are usually separated from their families at an early age by the requirements of their service to the Covenant. The Grunts resent this greatly, but are unable to muster any response.

A pack of Grunts in Halo 3

In the meantime, the Grunts generally follow a few short, simple guidelines given to them by the Elites; namely "When in doubt, shoot" or "Stay out of the way, live another day."

Grunts feel safe when in large numbers or led by an Elite, though if the Elite or most of the squad dies, or if a superior enemy gets too close, they tend to panic and flee. This exposes a vulnerable backside, where a single melee attack with any weapon will kill them.

It should be noted that the Heretic Grunts, unlike its brethren, will not flee in combat if the enemy approaches, which is likely due to the fact that when heretic Grunts are faced, you are playing as an Elite, which is a race they know about. It is unknown how they would react to the Master Chief, an enemy they know very little about.

Trivia

File:Halo-grunt2.jpg

A "curl-back" Grunt.

• In Tagalog, the language spoken in the Philippines, "unggóy" means "monkey".
• In Halo: Combat Evolved, there was a "curl-back" design for the Grunt life support system that occurred on all ranks. This variation is not in Halo 2. It could have been a traditional difference between male and female grunts. Possibly a suit was made by the time of Halo 2 that accommodated both sexes. The differentiation between the two appearances has never been stated.
• In Halo: The Flood, a group of Grunts coordinate a well timed attack against the Master Chief. A group of them dropped onto him and tried to remove his helmet while another lit a Plasma Grenade. Their goal was to drop the grenade into the Chief's suit, though they failed. This is particularly noteworthy as Grunts are typically shown as unintelligent canon-fodder; incapable of functioning like a military unit without the presence of a higher ranked Covenant race.
• During the Covenant Civil War, Grunts, having the lowest status in Covenant society, were too afraid to openly pledge support for one side. Thus, Grunts in Halo 3 will fight for both sides.
• What they lack in power and size they make up for it with great numbers and sheer tenacity.
• Somehow, Grunts may be stronger then some Marines as they can carry Fuel Rod Cannons/Guns. When Corporal Locklear tried to lift a Fuel Rod Gun in Halo: First Strike, it was too heavy but grunts in game carry Fuel Rod Cannons/Guns with no problem.
• In the level Gravemind, a single Grunt is the protector of the hidden skull. This Grunt is one of the most dangerous enemies in the game because he is completely invisible and fires a fuel rod cannon. You best change of killing him is a lucky Carbine headshot
• In Halo 3 grunt rebreathers appear to be able to be knocked off as seen in a screenshot released by bungie,also in a picture of the campaign in the latest EGM it appears that you can shoot the tank on a grunt's back and the tanks on their backs will explode like in the books. May cause damage to your enemies. If true it would be a good tactic to shoot at retreating grunts first to cause damage to it's allies.