Sangheili Major

Major Domo Elite, sometimes referred to as the Elite Major is a Covenant Sangheili (Elite) rank.

Rank
Elites bearing this rank are matured warriors whose rank is Medium-Low in the Covenant Sangheili rank structure, but still are higher than a Minor Domo Elite. There has been some proof that Major Domo Elites 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 Elite can become an Ossoona, mainly due to the fact that a more seasoned warrior prefers combat, not stealth, and a Minor Domo Elite is too inexperienced to become the Ossoona. The Ossoona is a temporary rank that is given to few Elites. The job of an Ossoona is to spy on enemies, but not attack them unless they are discovered.

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

Equipment
Enemy Major Elites (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 Elites are often 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 the Arbiter they, like all Elite 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 Elite Minor or a Major with an energy sword (this only happens at random in gameplay).

These Elites have more powerful Energy shields than their blue-clad Minor Domo Elites subordinates, as fitting with their rank. In Halo 2, these shields are the same strength as those of Honor Guard Elites, Zealots, and Heretic Elite 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 4 body shots and 2 headshots.

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 the Elites.

Fighting a Major Elite
The same tactics used to kill Minor Domo Elites can be used against Major Elites 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 Elite, as the Plasma Pistol's charged shot instantly disables any shields regardless of strength.

Tactics
Elite Majors 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 Elite, as the quick bursts fired by major Elites can strip shields down in a matter of seconds. It's even more dangerous to face a Major Elite 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 Elites 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 Hunters, groups of Drones, or Jackal Snipers, but almost never attempt it while alone.

In Halo 3 Major Elites fire in what seems to be shorter bursts.

Appearance
Major Elites wear red (specifically crimson or scarlet) armor, comparable to the red armor of Grunt Majors. Major Elites in Halo 3 are shown in two colors they are clad in metallic crimson or metallic brownish red colored armor, and have white symbols on the front of their chest armor. Like Minor Elites, the symbols in Halo: Combat Evolved had Forerunner letters, while in Halo 3 they glow a greenish color.

Halo: Combat Evolved
Major Elites 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 Elites appear with about the same frequency on all levels, except on Heroic and Legendary difficulties. On Easy, the Elite guarding the bridge on Halo was a Major Elite.

Halo 2
In Halo 2, Major Elites appeared in every level where the player controlled the Master Chief except for High Charity. In Metropolis, up to five Major Elites were present on the Scarab. Three went to the top deck to kill the Master Chief, all wielding Plasma Rifles, and two Elite Majors 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 Elites.

While playing as the Arbiter, a Major Elite 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 Elite leading a group of Special Operations Elites on the level Floodgate who converse 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 Elites of Special Operations Elite rank and higher can carry them in the honor of battle.

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

Trivia

 * In Halo 2 level Cairo station at the last chapter, "Return To Sender" on Heroic difficulty, you can see a Major Elite duel wielding a Plasma Rifle and a Needler, after you kill all the Elites except the Major 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, odd because the Major 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 Elite Majors were originally supposed to have a wrist shield similar to that of a Jackal's except with a diamond pattern that could reflect most small-arms fire from weapons.
 * It appears as though the color closest to an Elite Major's would be entirely crimson in Halo 3 and red with steel secondary coloring in Halo 2.
 * Major Elites are the most common Elites in Halo 3 to be seen alive, appearing in all levels where elites (dead or alive) would be generated (i.e. Floodgate [Alive], The Covenant [Alive], and Cortana [Dead]).