Jiralhanae Jumper

"Jet Pack Brutes! Don't let 'em get behind us!"

- Edward Buck during the Battle of Mombasa

Jiralhanae Jumpers, also known as Jump-Pack Jiralhanae, were a specialist rank for Jiralhanae serving in the Covenant and are a specialist role in the Banished's military. They are airborne troops that utilize jump packs. The Jiralhanae believe that there are few honors higher than serving in a Jump Pack unit.

Description
On their dorsal sides, Jiralhanae Jumpers carry jump packs for increased mobility. The front-mounted jump thrusters allow the Jiralhanae Jumpers to move with ease in the air. Although they can use their jump packs to propel themselves to great distances, Jumpers are still not capable of true flight. However, the jump packs are relatively weak and only small amounts of damage is needed for the jump packs to become disabled or destroyed.

They serve as the Jiralhanae counterpart to Sangheili Rangers, but unlike the Rangers whom were met in a low-gravity environment, Jumpers are not capable of complete aerial tactical maneuvering; rather, their jump packs propel them on an immense jump across a great distance.

There are also two main subclasses within this rank: Jumper Major and Jumper Ultra.

Operational history
Jiralhanae Jumpers served in many battles towards the end of the Human-Covenant War, including the Battle of Earth and the Battle of Installation 00. After the war, many Jumpers continued to serve in Merg Vol's Covenant. Jiralhanae of this rank fought on behalf of the faction during the Battle of Draetheus V in 2554. Many Jiralhanae Jumpers were known to serve within the violent mercenary faction known as the Banished as of 2559.

Equipment
Jiralhanae Jumpers don a distinctive dark blue power armor. Jumpers use jump packs to propel themselves in the air. Jiralhanae Jumpers are often equipped with a wide variety of weapons, including Type-2 gravity hammer, Type-2 spike grenades, Type-25 Brute plasma rifles, Type-25 plasma rifles, Type-25 spikers, Type-25 Brute shots, Type-51 carbines, and Type-33 fuel rod guns.

They are occasionally armed with radar jammers, flares and trip mines, flying in and dropping them near their opponents. Their jump packs do not break down with the rest of their power armor when heavily damaged, so they may continue their airborne assaults until they are killed.

Gameplay
Jiralhanae Jumpers will often use their high mobility to get behind and out-flank their enemies. As such, it is imperative to listen for the sounds of their jump packs and quickly locate and eliminate them. One of their main weaknesses is they generally stay in the same position upon landing and before take off. The large number of blue lights on their chest can betray a Jiralhanae Jumper's position and are a good aiming aid for a player, particularly when one is using a more accurate weapon, like the BR55HB battle rifle, or Type-51 carbine. Also, when flying, they appear unable to fire their weapons. They can, however, begin throwing a Type-2 spike grenade before lifting off, completing this action when airborne.

Jiralhanae Jumpers normally use such weapons as spikers, Brute shots, and more often than not, carbines. It would be smart to bring mid-to-long range weapons, such as a carbine or battle rifle. Even better is to obtain a sniper rifle or beam rifle, and then kill as many as you can before entering the area.

Upon being defeated, if the final shot or melee attack made contact with the jump pack, the jump pack will malfunction and rocket the Jiralhanae forwards a short distance. This also works when they are sniped out of the air, and when assassinated.

Tips
Jiralhanae Jumpers are not extremely challenging in small numbers, though they can be overwhelming in large forces, especially with the catch skull on meaning that all they have to do is fly, land, spam some grenades and fly off again so quick reflexes and decent sniping skills are required to counter that. However, their jump is very predictable, so the player can easily look up and run under the Jiralhanae, then assassinate him when he lands. It is recommended for you not to use an automatic weapon while they are soaring through the air. However, turrets are very useful in taking them out. Precision weapons are much more effective. Also, on the level Crow's Nest, Jiralhanae Jumpers have trip mines, and placing one down under the spot where they are about to land is usually an instant kill. However, players can accidentally step on their own activated trip mines.

Trivia

 * If one is infected by the Flood, it will lose its jump pack. This is because there are no separate models for the different types of Flood combat forms. However, a Flood combat form would most likely be able to use such technology, if the Flood had absorbed enough Jiralhanae that know how to operate the jump packs.
 * If a Jiralhanae Jumper goes berserk, it will fly at the player and try to hit the player on the head, killing the player upon impact.
 * Halo 3 ODST is the only game in which Drones and Jiralhane Jumpers can be seen in the same room.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Uprising
 * Halo 3
 * Halo Wars
 * Halo 3: ODST
 * Halo: Spartan Assault
 * Halo Wars 2