Editing Seraph

{{Status|Canon}}
[[File:HaloReach - SeraphFormation.png|350px|thumb|A trio of Seraph in formation during a [[space warfare]].]]
'''Seraphs''' are combat [[space fighter]]s used by [[Covenant military|armed forces]] of the [[Covenant]] empire and its [[Covenant fleet|fleet]], and inherited by [[Covenant remnants|its splinter factions]].<ref name="HTEVG">''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', p. 169</ref>

==Summary==
[[File:HM SpaceBattle ColourAdjusted Small.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Seraphs used in an active combat between the [[UNSC]] and a [[Covenant fleet]] above a [[human]] [[Human colonies|colony]].]]
===Design details===
The Seraph features a piscine, teardrop-like shape, fitting with the overall design elegance the [[Covenant]] is known for. Seraph fighters are mostly stored in the [[hangar bay]]s of Covenant ships or stations when they are not in battle or escorting a ship. ''Morsam''-pattern Seraphs have two movable flaps on either side of their hull, and their twin "tails" are articulated to aid with directing exhaust, while those on the ''Kai''-pattern are fixed. These features give the Seraph superior turning capabilities in zero-gravity environments. Despite their efficiency and speed in space, Seraph fighters are graceless and sluggish in atmospheric conditions due to their odd teardrop-like shape. Seraphs fill a variety of roles in a [[Covenant fleet]], such as a strike fighter or for ship-to-ship combat in dogfights.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-gb/universe/detail/82613d70-17cc-4652-8ab1-a1f16e29c516/banshee-fighter '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Banshee Fighter'']</ref> Seraphs can also be used for the occasional bombing run,<ref name="enc283">''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', p. 283 (2011)</ref> but it is considered a rare sight by [[UNSC]] forces.<ref name="ghosts">''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', p. 17-22</ref> Seraphs have the ability to power down and slip past hostile sentries and human sensors.<ref name="flood12">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', p. 12 (2010 edition)</ref> Unlike the [[Banshee]] or the [[Phantom]] [[dropship]], Seraphs are equipped with multiphase [[energy shielding]],{{Ref/Reuse|ghosts}} although some Seraphs may have been seen not always using their energy shields.<ref name="package">''[[Halo Legends]]'', [[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]</ref> However, these energy shields are only a fraction of the strength of those on [[capital ship]]s and are easily depleted with sustained fire.<ref name="For">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', p. 330 (2010 edition)</ref>

As the Covenant's main space-based attack fighter, the Seraph is highly maneuverable while in space, and can easily keep pace with the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]'s [[GA-TL1 Longsword]].{{Ref/Reuse|enc283}}

===Armaments===
Seraphs have demonstrated that they are a very effective counter-weapon against Longsword interceptors unless the latter attacks from the side or behind. Seraphs usually attack in formations of ten, their assaults on enemy ships range from simple harassment to full out strafing attacks. They have also been seen patrolling in pairs. It is assumed that Seraph fighters can be piloted by a single [[Sangheili]] or [[Jiralhanae]].{{Ref/Reuse|enc283}}

The Seraph is armed with a variety of weapons. Seraphs are seen firing multiple heavy plasma cannons, and are also armed with fuel rod cannons and plasma charges for strafing and bombing runs.{{Ref/Reuse|enc283}} A Seraph's bombing runs are very deadly, as evidenced in [[Operation: TORPEDO]], the [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-III]] [[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta Company]]'s attack on a Covenant refinery on [[Pegasi Delta]].{{Ref/Reuse|ghosts}} The Seraph's energy weapons deliver a hard punch to anything it attacks, such as [[D77-TC Pelican]] [[dropship]]s,<ref>''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', p. 8-9 (2003 edition); p. 18-19 (2010 edition)</ref> and when dueling with the UNSC space-superiority [[FSS-1000 Sabre]]s.<ref name="lnos">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]</ref> A Seraph was also capable of doing some damage against a {{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}}'s [[Titanium-A armor]] plating.{{Ref/Reuse|flood12}}

==Types==
*'''{{Pattern|Kai|Seraph}}'''
*'''{{Pattern|Morsam|Seraph}}'''
<gallery class=center>
File:Enc22 KaiSeraph.png|A {{Pattern|Kai|Seraph}}.
File:H4-T31SeraphXMF.png|A {{Pattern|Morsam|Seraph}}.
</gallery>

==Operational history==
Covenant forces have long made use of various Seraph patterns within their fleets.{{Ref/Note|This section details the use of unidentified Seraph patterns only. For specific appearances of named Seraph patterns, see the "Service history" sections in the articles for the [[Kai-pattern Seraph#Operational history|''Kai''-pattern]] and ''[[Morsam-pattern Seraph#Operational history|''Morsam''-pattern]]''.}}

===Human-Covenant War===
On [[2526#March|March 26, 2526]], [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-II]] [[Blue Team|Blue]], [[Gold Team|Gold]], and [[Green Team]]s led [[Battle over Etalan|a mission]] to destroy the logistics fleet serving the [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]]. In orbit over [[Etalan]], the Gold and Green Teams piloted four [[S-14 Baselard]]s alongside sixteen other Baselards. To accomplish their goal of destroying four Covenant [[Freighter|equipment freighters]], the Baselards had to fight through swarms of Seraphs and {{Pattern|Elsedda|Banshee}}s.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS19|HSS|Chapter=19}}

Seraphs have seen operational use as early as the [[Harvest campaign]], and would later become a common adversary of Longsword fighters. These starfighters provided excellent fire support to all Covenant forces in space and on the groundside. Elite pilots considered piloting a Seraph merely a means to attain enough glory to be reassigned to a ground combat position, valuing their fighters only as tools to accomplish this. Despite their extensive training, their honor code gave them a tendency to peel off from their squadrons to engage in one-on-one dogfights, making them vulnerable in combat. Brute pilots were excluded from such training, but their pack mentality and rigid social hierarchy made them far more effective teams. Human pilots soon learned to fear Brute-piloted Seraphs, identified by clan markings and Forerunner symbols carved on their hulls, more than Elite-piloted Seraphs.<ref name="warfleet">''[[Halo: Warfleet]]'', p. 58-59</ref>

In [[Operation: TORPEDO]], the Seraphs harassed the incoming [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-III]]s by bombarding them during the UNSC surprise assault of the Covenant refinery facilities. Several fighters were shot down by missiles fired from the [[M19-B surface-to-air missile launcher]]s used by the SPARTAN-IIIs.<ref name="ghosts"/>

==Related vehicles==
*{{Pattern|Elsedda|Banshee}} - Similar in role to the Seraph, Type-27 "Space Banshees" are often used to screen fighters and bombers.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/banshee ''Halo Waypoint:'' Universe - Banshee]</ref>

== In-game information==
{{Linkbox|gameplay=yes}}
{{Main|Seraph}}
{{Expand-section}}

==Trivia==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of Seraphs}}
Instead of having a name that represents a sinister supernatural being like the [[Zurdo-pattern Wraith|Wraith]] or [[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantom]], the word "[[Wikipedia:Seraph|Seraph]]" is derived from the highest level of angels as described in certain texts of the Bible. However, Biblical seraphim have six wings while the Seraph has none.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HCE CovenantTank_Concept 1.png|Early concept art of the Seraph for ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.
File:HCE CovenantTank_Concept 2.png|More ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' concept art.
File:HR EarlySeraphConcepts.jpg|Early design explorations for the Type-31 ''Morsam''-pattern Seraph in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.
</gallery>

==Usage==
Seraphs were prominently used during [[Operation: WARM BLANKET]],<ref name="package"/>, the [[Battle of Earth]],<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Cairo Station (level)|Cairo Station]]''</ref> the [[Onyx Conflict]], and the [[Battle of Installation 00]]. In [[Operation: TORPEDO]], the Seraphs harassed the incoming [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-III]]s by bombarding them during the UNSC surprise assault of the Covenant refinery facilities. Several fighters were shot down by missiles fired from the [[M19-B surface-to-air missile launcher]]s used by the SPARTAN-IIIs.<ref name="ghosts"/>

==List of appearances==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''
**''[[Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]'' {{C|Motion comic only}}
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Envoy]]''
*''[[Halo: Retribution]]''
*''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''
*''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]''
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]''
*''[[Halo: The Rubicon Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]'' 
{{Col-end}}

==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Covenant Atmospheric/Exoatmospheric Vehicles}}

[[Category:Space fighter classes]]
[[Category:Covenant ship classes]]