Jiralhanae Chieftain

"The hopes of all the Covenant rest on your shoulders, Chieftain."

- Prophet of Truth

The Brute Chieftain is a Covenant rank for the Jiralhanae (Brute) race, the highest in the Jiralhanae hierarchy. In Halo 2, there was only one, Tartarus, who was killed by the Arbiter and his Sangheili allies on Delta Halo. He used a powerful gravity hammer called the Fist of Rukt.

[] A Brute Chieftan prepares to swing his Gravity Hammer. In Halo 3, they will command a "pack" of lesser Brutes, and will enforce the pack-like mentality. In the Halo 3 video documentary "Et Tu, Brute?", there are multiple Brute Chieftains seen, although probably not as high as Tartarus, who was believed to be the highest of the Jiralhanae. They wear very elaborate gold or red Power Armor (which is stronger then usual and impervious to sticky grenades), breast-plates, and an even more intricate headdress. A Chieftain was seen wielding an Energy Sword, however they rarely if ever use them.  The Brute Chieftain may hold a rank similar to the Alpha Jiralhanae or the Elite Zealot.

Brute Chieftain Minor
Clad in red Power Armor, these Chieftains are slightly less powerful then the Majors, and are more likely to wield Plasma Cannons rather then Gravity Hammers.

Brute Chieftain Major
Clad in gold Power Armor, these are the toughest, strongest of all Brute soldiers. They often use Invincibility, and will charge you with with a deadly Gravity Hammer, espescially in confined spaces.

Tactics
It is advised to never charge a hammer wielding Chieftain, as it is almost always a one hit kill.

Also a good tactic is to shoot its helmet/headress off and shoot it multiple times in its head.