Special Operations Unggoy

Special Operations Grunt, abbreviated as Spec Ops Grunt, is a Covenant Unggoy rank.

Role
Unggoy of this rank are part of the Special Operations Division, of the Covenant. Normally, Grunts are poorly trained in combat and are usually deployed in massive numbers as cannon fodder. However, if Grunts are given proper training they can acquire specialized roles and provide excellent support to Spec Ops teams. Generally tougher, smarter, and certainly more aggressive than their lesser brethren, Spec Ops Grunts are always deployed with Spec Ops Elite team leaders and specialized equipment and sometimes will be lead by Ultra Grunts. These resilient, loyal, and dangerous operatives are not to be underestimated under any circumstances. If a Spec Ops Grunt's leading Elite is killed, rather than panicking and fleeing, they will often seek revenge, finding cover and sending grenades and plasma bolts accurately at the opponent who killed the Elite. They are also much more accurate than their counterparts, and their armor is much more resilient to damage than other types of Grunt. A number of these black-armored Grunts assaulted the Heretic Gas Mine. They were successful at aiding the Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee take down the Heretic Leader, Sesa 'Refumee.

Rank
Special Operations Grunts are denoted by their signature jet-black armor, which matches the black armor of their Elite commanders. In Halo 2, they are occasionally equipped with Active Camouflage. Spec Ops 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 Major Grunts and Minor Grunts wearing camouflage. They are only hard to kill when they are carrying a Needler, since the Needler does not generate a glow unlike Covenant plasma weapons.

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. They have slightly more health than Grunt Heavys but about the same as Ultras.

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

They usually move in teams of two or three, with one Spec Ops Grunt wielding a Fuel Rod Gun while the others cover him with Plasma Pistols and Needlers. In Halo 1, it is best to target the one holding a Fuel Rod Cannon as his teammates may be killed when it explodes, and also since the Grunt fires the fuel rod gun very rapidly which can prove fatal even on Easy difficulty. In Halo 2, throwing grenades at them can be effective, especially when sticking them with plasma grenades.

These Grunts are faster and sometimes it takes multiple melee attacks to kill them. Special Ops Grunts are seen more frequently in Halo 2 than in Halo: Combat Evolved

In Halo: Combat Evolved, all but one Spec Ops Grunts wields either a Needler or a Fuel Rod Gun. In Halo 2, Special Ops Grunts can wield the following weapons:


 * Plasma Pistol
 * Needler
 * Plasma Cannon
 * Fuel Rod Gun
 * Plasma Grenades
 * Plasma Rifle (If given to in Halo 2 Campaign)



Trivia

 * Spec Ops 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 Spec Ops Elite action figure. These were the only Grunt figures in the Halo 2 collection except the unreleased Heretic Grunt figure.
 * Every Spec Ops Grunt in Halo: Combat Evolved had either a Needler or a Fuel Rod Gun, as per their status as elite infantry. 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. However, he does not shoot. This is probably due to the Thirsty Grunt being delirious, as he mentions having worked up a "big, grunty thirst".
 * A Spec Ops Grunt has been made into a Halo ActionClix figure that comes with a Fuel Rod Gun.
 * In the Halo 2 level, The Oracle's opening cinematic, the Grunts that file in after the Elites have no weapons, but have Plasma Pistols when the game starts.
 * Spec Ops Grunts are part of the Covenant Special Operations Division and as such, do not fall into the proper rank structure much like specialists of other species (See the specialists ranks on Covenant species' rank tables).
 * Spec Ops Grunts only appear as enemies in Halo: Combat Evolved and in the level Gravemind in Halo 2.