Sangheili Major

Major Domo Sangheili, is a Covenant Sangheili rank.

Summary
Major Domo are matured warriors whose rank is Medium-Low in the Covenant Sangheili rank structure, but still are higher than a Minor Domo Sangheili. There has been some proof that Major Domos are a Higher Rank than Special Operation Elites in Halo 3. This may merely be a measurement of how powerful their shields are, not actual rank. Also, only a Major Domo can obtain the temporary rank of Ossoona, mainly due to the fact that a more seasoned warrior prefers combat, not stealth, and a Minor Domo is too inexperienced to become the Ossoona.



They command groups of Minor Domo as well as other Covenant races in ground combat situations. On lower difficulties of both Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, Major Domos are rarely seen without a Minor Domo present. However, on the higher difficulty levels (Heroic and Legendary), these Sangheili are more numerous than Minor Domos, in order to increase the difficulty of the game.

They are the physical equivalent of a SPARTAN-II super soldier, in terms of strength and shielding. They are far more intuitive and quick-thinking than their subordinates. A single Major Domo is capable enough to survive against an entire squad of Marines. To humans, they would be and are considered Lieutenants in the Covenant. The rank of a Major Domo can be compared to that of a Brute Major.

Equipment
Enemy Major Domos (encountered throughout Halo: Combat Evolved and in Halo 2 only when playing as the Master Chief) are only found wielding Plasma Rifles, Needlers, and sometimes Carbines. Major Domos can sometimes be found duel-wielding Plasma Rifles instead of just wielding one. They also carry, but never use Plasma Grenades. However, when the player encounters them as Thel 'Vadamee they, like all Sangheili allies, can be given any held weapon, even the Energy Sword, although they aren't allowed because of its religious purpose, but strangely in levels such as Regret sometimes in the outside of the first temple there will appear a Major elite with an energy sword (Sometimes a Minor will appear with the sword). Also in level Delta Halo when the second phantom arrives after you clear the first ruin structure sometimes it will drop off a an Minor Domo or a Major with an energy sword (this only happens at random in gameplay).

These Sangheili have more powerful Energy shields than their blue-clad Minor Domo subordinates, as fitting with their rank. Their shields are 50% stronger than those of standard Minor Domo, and in Halo 2 their shield strength is identical to that of the Honor Guard Sangheili, Zealots, and Heretic Sangheili Majors. On lower difficulties they can take a maximum of three hits on the body, or a single head-shot from the Sniper Rifle or Beam Rifle, and, in higher difficulties, they can take up to four body shots and two headshots. On Heroic difficulty their shields can withstand about 30 rounds of MA5B Assault Rifle or M7/Caseless Submachine Gun fire, or 7 to 9 Plasma Rifle bolts, with a handful of additional shots required to deplete their health and kill them.

In Halo 3 when Majors are dropped into battle to aid the player they always wield Plasma Rifles, although the player can always exchange weapons with theirs.

Fighting a Major Elite


The same tactics used to kill Minor Domos can be used against Major Domos as well. However, their stronger energy shields make them more resilient to damage. For example, in Halo: CE on Normal difficulty, it takes eight headshots from the M6D pistol to kill a Major, compared to six for a Minor. Furthermore, the sniper rifle takes two headshots on Heroic and Legendary difficulty. However, the "Noob Combo" is just effective as it is against as any other Sangheili, as the Plasma Pistol's charged shot instantly disables any shields regardless of strength.

Tactics
Major Domos fire in sustained bursts and evasively strafe while shooting. They also rarely make tactical mistakes, such as charging directly into a fight, or forgetting to take cover. On higher difficulty settings, it's very dangerous to face a Major Domo, as the quick bursts fired by Major Domos can strip shields down in a matter of seconds. It's even more dangerous to face a Major Domo duel-wielding Plasma Rifles on higher difficulty settings, as they can easily take out your shields and kill you in a matter of seconds.

Much like Minor Domos on higher difficulty, they will attempt to lure the player into the open. They do this far more often when they have support from significant threats such as Mgalekgolo, groups of Yanme'e, or Kig-yar Snipers, but almost never attempt it while alone.

In Halo 3 Major Domo fire in what seems to be shorter bursts. They will rarely try to flank or lure the enemy out into a trap, however. They will usually only do this if they have allies near by.

Appearance
Major Domos are clad in red (specifically crimson or scarlet) armor, comparable to the red armor of Unggoy Majors. Major Domos in Halo 3 are shown in two variants they are clad in metallic crimson or metallic maroon colored armor, and have white symbols on the front of their chest armor. In Halo 2, Majors either wore bright red or orange-red armor. Like Minor Domos, the symbols in Halo: Combat Evolved had Forerunner letters, while in Halo 3 they glow a greenish color.

Halo: Combat Evolved
Major Domos were seen in almost every level in Halo: Combat Evolved, their first appearance being in The Pillar of Autumn. They do not appear on 343 Guilty Spark, The Library and The Maw. They appear almost whenever Minor Domos appear with about the same frequency on all levels, except on Heroic and Legendary difficulties. On Easy, the Sangheili guarding the bridge on Halo was a Major Domo.

Halo 2
In Halo 2, Major Domos appeared in every level where the player controlled the Master Chief except for High Charity. In Metropolis, up to five Major Domos were present on the Scarab. Three went to the top deck to kill the Master Chief, all wielding Plasma Rifles, and two Major Domos controlled the Scarab in the city-center. These Elites were unusual in that they could not be killed while still at their stations, even from a direct Rocket Launcher hit. Once they abandoned their posts, however, they were just as strong as normal Major Domos.

While playing as the Arbiter, a Major Domo was gained as an ally halfway through Quarantine Zone, only if all of the player's allies had already been killed. In The Great Journey, one of these Elites can be presented to the player with a Banshee to accompany Sergeant Johnson's Scarab.

Halo 3


There is a Major Domo leading a group of Special Operations Elites on the level Floodgate who converses with Thel 'Vadam about the state of the Elite military forces ensuing the Flood's raid of High Charity and how as to the infested cruiser managed to reach Earth's borders. This is an interesting point to note since Special Operations Elites are supposedly higher ranking over Major Domos. Another point is that he can be seen carrying an Energy Sword, since generally it has been assumed that only Sangheili of Special Operations rank and higher can carry them in the honor of battle.

There are also randomly generated Major Domos on the level The Covenant along with some Minor Domos; they are dropped in by a pair of Separatist Phantoms. On Heroic, they appear more frequently than Minor Domos and on Legendary almost entirely unseating and replacing their Minor Domo comrades. With the Thunderstorm Skull on, only Major Domos will be generated on any difficulty.

Trivia

 * Major Domos are one of only Sangheili ranks shown alive in Halo 3 gameplay.
 * In Halo 2 level Cairo Station at the last chapter, "Return To Sender" on Heroic difficulty, you can see a Major Domo duel wielding a Plasma Rifle and a Needler, after you kill all the Sangheili except the Major Domo that is dual wielding, throw a Plasma Grenade at him. Sometimes if you do this, he will drop his Needler and go into the stance of holding an Energy Sword. You can also see his hand looks like he is wielding an Energy Sword. This is odd because the Major Domo acts like he is wielding a sword, but you can't see it, and he is still wielding the Plasma Rifle.
 * As seen in a Halo: Combat Evolved original 2000 teaser trailer, the Major Domos were originally supposed to have a wrist shield similar to that of a Kig-yar's but without the diamond pattern.