Stealth Sangheili

"I still have nightmares about the Stealth Elites... they would come out of nowhere. You have to look very, very closely: you could see the air move just before they jump you. But then it was usually already too late..."

- Private Roger Alfarsi

The Stealth Sangheili are a class of specialized Sangheili units in the Covenant and some of its splinter factions, tasked with infiltration and stealth operations. Within the Covenant, they reported to Fleet Security of the Special Warfare Group. They are typically equipped with energy swords and plasma rifles, and are often seen commanding a file of Unggoy soldiers.

Description
Not to be confused with Special Operations Sangheili, Sangheili Stealth soldiers are the assassins and spies of the Covenant Fleet Security. Unlike the Special Operations Sangheili, Sangheili serving under the Stealth class are distributed throughout the Covenant's ground forces in standard battlefield units. Stealth Sangheili participate in most widespread ground engagements. Though part of the Special Warfare Group, Stealth Sangheili report through Fleet Security as their role concentrates more on the acquisition of intelligence and strategic countermeasures than direct combat. Their commanders are usually high-ranking fleet leaders and can even be San'Shyuum Prophets, depending on the nature of their service. The Stealth Sangheili corps is divided into several subgroups, such as the Ossoona. Ossoona was a title assigned to Sangheili ordered with recovering hostile intelligence from the battlefield, or sent on high-risk missions of critical importance, such as assassinations.

During the events of the Great Schism, the Covenant replaced the Stealth Sangheili with the Jiralhanae Stalker, who have a similar set of equipment and role. During the Battle of Draetheus V in 2554, some Stealth Sangheili participated in the battle serving under Merg Vol's Covenant. In 2557, many Stealth Sangheili would serve in Jul 'Mdama's Covenant during the Battle of Installation 03.

Equipment
While they possess active camouflage units, their defensive capabilities are lower than those of other Sangheili due to the weakness of their personal energy shields. Early in the Human-Covenant War, Stealth Sangheili had no energy shields, relying only on their stealth and weapons to accomplish their complicated missions. This was later rectified, but their newly gained energy shields were weak, causing any Sangheili who held the rank to still rely heavily on stealth and quickness.

While Stealth Sangheili are not required to be armed, and several subgroups like the Ossoona very specifically are not, most still brandish at least a few standard-issue weapons in preparation of any new assignment. Stealth Sangheili often arm themselves with Type-25 plasma rifles or Type-33 needlers, and utilize Type-1 energy swords for close-quarters combat. However, during the Battle of the Etran Harborage in February 2531, some Stealth Sangheili were seen armed with a non-ceremonial variant of the energy stave.

In terms of armor sets, Stealth Sangheili wear either the standard Combat harness or the more specialized Infiltration harness. Simulated Warzone Stealth Sangheili are seen with the Commander-class harness.

Halo: Combat Evolved
Stealth Sangheili are usually armed with plasma rifles and, frequently, energy swords. They are also far less prone to making tactical mistakes, such as not charging directly into a fight and taking cover more often. Their agility and active camouflage makes them difficult targets to hit, and they often attack in pairs, much like Mgalekgolo.

The best way to combat a Stealth Sangheili in Halo: Combat Evolved would be to take advantage of their lack of shields. The M6D magnum and the SRS99C-S2 AM sniper rifle will kill them with a single shot to the head, though it can be difficult to land shots due to the Sangheili's agility and camouflage ability. The MA5B assault rifle is very effective at close range, as its ability to fill the air with a large number of projectiles reduces the need for accurate aiming, and allows the player to find the Sangheili more easily while they are still camouflaged.

Despite having active camouflage, when a Stealth Sangheili is equipped with an energy sword, the sword's glow will give away their location, making for an easy kill.

Halo 2
Compared to the iterations in Halo: Combat Evolved, the Stealth Sangheili are now equipped with energy shields similar to a normal Sangheili Minor. Likewise, a headshot-capable weapons such as the SRS99C-S2 AMB sniper rifle, M6C magnum, BR55 battle rifle, or the Type-51 carbine would be the best tool to eliminate these Sangheili. In close-quarters, consider using the M90 shotgun or dual-wielding the SMGs or plasma rifles. Two variations exist, one with tan/brown armor and another with white/silver armor. The tan/brown is uncommon, although their energy shield strength and combat skills are the same.

Stealth Sangheili appear frequently in the Halo 2 campaign and mainly the level Outskirts on Legendary, though they also appear in the underwater structure in the level Regret, and on Gravemind.

Halo: Spartan Assault and Halo: Spartan Strike
Stealth Sangheili reappear in Halo: Spartan Assault. While their energy shielding and armor is not as strong as other Sangheili in the game, they are still extremely deadly. They are armed solely with energy swords, making them extremely dangerous in close-quarter situations. Their energy swords can kill a player in two hits. Stealth Sangheili generally patrol around a certain area on a level. Once the player comes into the Sangheili's view, it will charge at the player with its sword. Additionally, Stealth Sangheili use active camouflage which makes them difficult to see to inattentive players. Levels with thick forests filled with Stealth Sangheili, such as Hunt for the Phantom, are especially dangerous as the Sangheili can easily blend in with their surroundings.

The best tactic to use against Stealth Sangheili is to avoid allowing one to get close. Grenades, explosives, and other weapons that deal heavy damage are effective. A player can get near a Stealth Sangheili without it seeing the player by staying out of its detection zone. This can allow the player to attack the unaware Sangheili.

Halo 5: Guardians
Stealth Sangheili only appear in Halo 5: Guardians's Warzone mode. They appear on the map Raid on Apex 7 as the Zealot Assassins' minions on each side of the map, two minutes after the game's beginning. Stealth Elites are equipped with active camouflage and energy swords, and their energy shields are very weak as usual. The harness they use is the Commander type. They typically charge at the player, but can be killed quite easily. It is recommended to take them down after the Zealot Assassin, so as to avoid missing the boss kill, but players must be careful not to be ambushed by the Stealth Elites.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Combat Evolved
 * Halo: The Flood
 * Halo 2
 * Halo Wars
 * Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
 * Halo: Spartan Assault
 * Halo 2: Anniversary
 * Halo: Spartan Strike
 * Halo 5: Guardians