Special Operations Unggoy

Special Operations Grunt, abbreviated as SpecOps Grunt, is a Covenant Unggoy (Grunt) rank.

Role
Ones of such rank are a type of special forces unit of the Covenant. Grunts are generally deployed in standard infantry roles and have in the past been referred to as cannon-fodder. However, the Grunts can be trained for specialized roles and provide excellent support in SpecOps teams. Generally tougher, smarter and certainly more aggressive then their infantry counterparts, SpecOps Grunts are always deployed with Elite team leaders and specialized equipment. These resilient, loyal and dangerous operatives are not to be underestimated under any circumstances. If a SpecOp Grunt's leading elite is killed, rather than panicking and fleeing, they will often seek revenge, finding cover and sending grenades accurately at the opponent who killed the Elite. They are also much more accurate than their counterparts, and their armor is much more resilient than another type of grunt. A number of these Black Grunts assaulted the Heretic Gas Mine. They were sucsessful at letting the Arbiter after Sesa 'Refum.

Rank
Special Operations Grunts are denoted by their signature jet-black armor, which matches the black armor of their Elite commanders. In Halo 2, sometimes they are even equipped with Active Camouflage. Also in Halo 2, equipped with the same active camo, there are Ultra Grunts that are similar to the Ultra Elites. These Grunts are sometimes mistaken for SpecOps Grunts. SpecOps Grunts are the only Covenant caste, other than the Elites, who have the distinction of using this technology. Although, in the level of Regret passing in the subterranean area where you can find the massive holograph of the Prophet of Regret, there have been sightings of Veteran Grunts and Regular Grunts wearing this said camouflage, they are only hard to kill when they are carrying a needler, since the needler does not generate a glow unlike its plasma cousins.

They are only called in during special combat situations, and hold a unique amount of respect for a member of their race. They are highly trained and only commanded by the skilled Special Operations Elites. Unlike most Unggoy, they are vehicle drivers. In Halo:CE, a SpecOp Grunt was seen shooting down the Pelican, Echo 419.

Combat
SpecOps Grunts almost never panic during combat, as Minor and Major Grunts do. They often wield Plasma Pistols, Needlers, Fuel Rod Cannons, and Plasma Grenades. The biggest concern of facing a SpecOps Grunt, however, is that a SpecOps Elite is more than likely nearby. SpecOps Grunts are not to be underestimated, though. Sometimes if the highest ranking Elite is down, the SpecOps will run, but to better cover and will usually send you deadly accurate barrages of plasma grenades. Like earlier, they are not to be trifled with, and must be taken down with precision to allow you to survive Legendary difficulty.

They usually move in teams of two or three, with one SpecOps grunt wielding a Fuel Rod Cannon while the others cover him with Plasma Pistols and Needlers, in which case it is best to target one holding a Fuel Rod Cannon as his teammates may be killed when it explodes. These Grunts are faster and sometimes it takes multiple headshots or melee attacks to kill them.

In Halo 1, all but one SpecOps Grunts wields either a Needler or a Fuel Rod Gun. In Halo 2, SpecOps Grunts can wield the following weapons:

Like Ultra grunts, they use Plasma Grenades. Many use Plasma Rifles, almost all use Needlers, about a quarter use Fuel Rod Cannons, and only a small number use Plasma Pistols.
 * Plasma Pistol
 * Plasma Rifle
 * Needler
 * Plasma Cannon
 * Fuel Rod Cannon
 * Plasma Grenades

Halo: Combat Evolved
SpecOps Grunts make their first appearance in the Halo: Combat Evolved level Two Betrayals. The first one is right outside the tunnel in that small Covenant outpost. The SpecOps Grunts also appear in the level, Keyes and The Maw, where they are also dispatched to the crashed UNSC Pillar of Autumn to eliminate the Flood from it.

Halo Graphic Novel
A team of SpecOps Grunts under Rtas 'Vadumee and Kusovai were sent to the Infinite Succor to deal with the Flood infestation. The Grunts brought in heavy weapons, such as Fuel Rod Guns, but it seems they were all eventually infected or killed by the Flood, and all were killed when the ship was destroyed.

Halo 2
SpecOps Grunts are seen in the Halo 2 levels The Arbiter and The Oracle as allies to the player, helping to put down the Heretic rebellion, the Grunts are far superior to the Heretic Grunts they fight. They are often helpful, however the SpecOps Elites are much more powerful than they are. They will use plasma rifles if given to them by The Arbiter, and normally begin with portable plasma turrets, needlers, fuel rod cannons, and occasionally plasma pistols. SpecOps Grunts are effective in killing Heretic Grunts, as well as Infection Forms. Several Grunts can take down a Combat Form, however at least one will normally be killed. The only level where SpecOps Grunts are encountered as enemies is Gravemind, where they are attempting to control the Flood outbreak on High Charity. On this level if you look closely you will see that their armor unlike in the levels where they are your allies is a lot more weathered, and has a lot of orange stains/markings on it particularly on the chest part.

Halo 3
SpecOps Grunts appear in Halo 3 as the highest grunt rank replacing the Ultra Grunt.

Trivia
It is not known for certain if they are actually a slightly different variant of spec ops grunt as all the markings seem identical although it is probably just because they have done a lot of fighting by the time you reach them.
 * SpecOps Grunts were made into an Action Figure by Joyride Studios, the Halo s3 SpecOps Grunt, which were cloaked in Active Camo and were to scale with the SpecOps Elite action figure. These were the only Grunt figures in the Halo 2 collection except the unreleased Heretic Grunt figure.
 * Every SpecOps Grunt in Halo: Combat Evolved had either a Needler or a Fuel Rod Gun. The only exception to this was an Easter Egg: the "Thirsty Grunt" who had a Plasma Pistol, the standard weapon of all other ranks of Grunts. He does not fight, however.