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Cut Halo Wars ambient life

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This page discusses elements of deleted material and cut content. Some information on the page is sourced from game files and may not be verifiable through external sources. Where possible, such information should be clearly-marked and replaced with a proper external source as soon as one is available.
Heretic Grunts spawned in Halo Wars via modding, an example of a "creep" neutral faction cut from the final game.
Image of a cut Gargoyle to use in Halopedia templates. Do not add to pages.

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During the production of Halo Wars, Ensemble Studios developed concepts and models for a number of ambient creatures and enemies that were intended to be found in the game's playable environments. Broadly, these can be split into two categories - neutral fauna that would have roamed the various worlds the game takes place on, and "creep"; a development term for the neutral hostile AI factions that can be found in the multiplayer. In the final game, three creep factions were included - Rebels, the Flood, and Sentinels.

For an overview of the main cut UNSC, Covenant and Forerunner units, see this page.

Creep[edit]

A number of maps in Halo Wars feature neutral AI factions such as rebels, Sentinels and Flood. These factions will typically be hostile to both the UNSC and Covenant. A number of additional factions were intended to be implemented in the game. These factions were developed under the codename of "creep", and include the following.

Heretics[edit]

One possible creep faction intended to be included in Halo Wars were the Covenant heretics - those who sought fit to defy the Covenant religion. Concept art reveals that Sangheili were intended to be soldiers in this faction, while unused files within the releases of Halo Wars and Halo Wars: Definitive Edition showcase additional Heretic Grunts. An additional texture file known as creep_heretic_ghost_01 indicates the Heretics would have access to the Ghost vehicle; piloted by a Sangheili.

  • Concept art for the Heretic Elites.
    Concept art for the Heretic Elites.
  • The Heretic Grunts; spawned in via modding.
    The Heretic Grunts; spawned in via modding.
  • The in-game unit icon for the Heretic Grunts.
    The in-game unit icon for the Heretic Grunts.

Jackal pirates[edit]

Another cut creep faction that would have been included are the Kig-Yar pirates. Files for the Jackals are still available within Halo Wars, allowing the units to be spawned in via modding. The Jackals were to spawn in squads of four, armed with plasma pistols or needlers. The pirates would also have access to Kig-Yar Snipers armed with beam rifles.

  • Concept art for the Jackal Pirates.
    Concept art for the Jackal Pirates.
  • Concept art for the Jackal Pirates.
    Concept art for the Jackal Pirates.
  • The final model for the pirates.[1]
    The final model for the pirates.[1]
  • The Jackal Pirates spawned into Halo Wars; armed with needlers.
    The Jackal Pirates spawned into Halo Wars; armed with needlers.
  • The Jackal Pirates spawned into Halo Wars; armed with plasma pistols.
    The Jackal Pirates spawned into Halo Wars; armed with plasma pistols.
  • The Jackal Pirate snipers.
    The Jackal Pirate snipers.

Rebels[edit]

While an unidentified insurrectionist group does appear in the final Halo Wars game on maps set on Harvest and Arcadia, released concept art indicates the rebels were intended to be much-more fleshed out. Released concept art showcases a rebel "sci-trooper" wielding an EMP gun and an insurrectionist-branded Gauss Warthog.

  • Concept art for the rebel sci-trooper and EMP gun.
    Concept art for the rebel sci-trooper and EMP gun.
  • Concept art for the rebel sniper units which were included in Halo Wars, and the cut Warthog.
    Concept art for the rebel sniper units which were included in Halo W