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{{Era|Post}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{disambig header|the Covenant remnant rank|other uses|Commander (disambiguation)}}
{{disambig header|the Covenant rank|other uses|Commander (disambiguation)}}
{{Unit infobox|variant=Cov
[[File:H2A Rtas-Ingame.png|300px|thumb|[[Rtas 'Vadum]], a Sangheili commander in [[Covenant Special Operations]].]]
|name=Commander
'''Commander''' is a [[Covenant rank structure|military rank]] in the [[Covenant military|armed forces]] of the [[Covenant]], and the empire's [[Covenant remnants|remnants]]. The title is most typically held by the [[Sangheili]].{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=240}} Within the [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|post-war]] era, the rank of commander has seen prominent usage by [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]]{{Ref/Site|Id=Guide|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/intel/inteldetail/695c3af5-2897-4280-88db-8daa48d0337a/elite-commander-|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Halo 4 Interactive Guide - Enemies: Elite Commander|D=01|M=05|Y=2013|LocalArchive=Halo 4 Interactive Guide#Covenant}}{{Ref/Site|Id=H4Renders|URL=http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/Universe/Detail/character-enemy-renders/421563ab-3b18-4e29-8487-3dd79b627a70#imageNumber=16|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Characters & Enemy Renders|D=25|M=09|Y=2012}}, the [[Swords of Sanghelios]]{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.megaconstrux.com/en-us/halo/sets/swords-sanghelios-combat-lance-dxf04|Site=MEGA Construx|Page=Swords of Sanghelios Combat Lance|D=04|M=09|Y=2022}} and even mercenary outfits such as [[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group|that led]] by [[Vata 'Gajat]] and the [[Banished]].{{Ref/Game|Id=inf|Hi|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Banished Audio Logs|Banished Audio log}}
|image=[[File:SangheiliCommander.png|300px]]
|species=[[Sangheili]]
|branch=
|mission=Ground assault/infantry
<br>Squad leader
|armament=[[Type-1 energy sword]]
<br>[[Type-1 plasma grenade]]
<br>[[Type-25 plasma pistol]]
<br>[[Type-33 Needler]]
<br>[[Type-33 fuel rod gun]]
<br>[[Type-50 concussion rifle]]
<br>[[Type-51 carbine]]
<br>[[Type-53 plasma caster]]
<br>[[Type-54 plasma pistol]]
<br>[[Type-55 storm rifle]]
<br>[[Type-56 needler]]
<br>[[Type-57 carbine]]
<br>[[Type-58 fuel rod cannon]]
<br>[[Z-130 suppressor]]
|equipment=[[Sangheili combat harness]]
<br>[[Storm harness]]
<br>[[Sangheili personal energy shield]]
<br>[[Type-3 active camouflage]]
|notable=*[[Gek 'Lhar]]
*[[Parg Vol]]
|affiliation=[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]]<br>
[[Swords of Sanghelios]]<br>
[[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group]]
}}


'''Commander''' is a [[Sangheili]] military rank that existed within [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] and continues to exist in the [[Swords of Sanghelios]].<ref>[https://shop.megabrands.com/en-us/shop/construction-toys/halo/swords-sanghelios-combat-lance-dxf04 Swords of Sanghelios Mega Bloks set]</ref>
==Overview==
[[File:BOB plasma rifle.jpg|250px|thumb|left|A Sangheili Ranger Commander.]]
===Covenant===
Within the Covenant of old, the rank of commander (and below it, [[sub-commander]]) allowed the Sangheili to maintain unit cohesion across species.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} They represent the primary leadership of the Covenant in ground engagements, and provide overall strategic direction to the [[Sangheili]], [[Kig-Yar]] and [[Unggoy]] units under their command.{{Ref/Book|Id=H4EVG|H4EVG|Page=47}}{{Ref/Reuse|Guide}}


==Designation==
====Covenant special forces====
===Role===
Within the Covenant's [[Special Warfare Group]], Commanders were tasked with leading specialised strike teams of special warfare personnel. This included Covenant [[Covenant Special Operations|Special Operations]], in which Commanders led strike teams consisting of a sub-commander and several [[Special Operations Officer]]s{{Ref/Comic|Id=Succor|HGN|Story=The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor}} - personnel serving in this role were sometimes termed "SpecOps Commanders".{{Ref/Generic|See the [[#Production notes|production notes]] section for more details}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc11|Enc11|Page=136}}{{Ref/Book|EVG|Page=175}} Commanders also served in the [[Fleet Security]]'s [[Ranger]] divisions, leading detachments of Ranger personnel in the field.{{Ref/Site|Id=WPSangheili|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/species/sangheili|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Sangheili|Detail=Media Gallery|Quote=Ranger Commander|D=24|M=07|Y=2021}}
Sangheili Commanders, like the [[Sangheili Major]]s before them, act as attack-and-command units within mixed-unit teams. They usually assert themselves as the leaders of local squads, and given their experience with mixed groups, they are valued for their expertise and intelligence on the field of battle. After the collapse of the Covenant, many Commanders set themselves up as warlords, accruing their own loyal forces and fleets, some forming their own separate alliances on far-flung colonies and others signing on with [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|larger groups]].<ref>[http://www.ultra-combo.com/arbiters-colors-accessories/ '''Ultra Combo''': ''Arbiter’s Colors & Accessories'']</ref>


===Combat===
===Covenant remnants===
Sangheili Commanders are battle-hardened warriors. Many of them have decades of experience behind them from serving with the [[Covenant]], making them dangerous opponents on the battlefield. Commanders have been known to wield both the infamous [[Type-51 carbine]] and the devastating [[Type-50 concussion rifle]].<ref>[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/intel/inteldetail/695c3af5-2897-4280-88db-8daa48d0337a/elite-commander-?category=enemies '''Halo Waypoint''' Elite Commander]</ref>
Following the dissolution of the Covenant, many seasoned and battle-hardened Sangheili went on to form the backbone of leadership within the Covenant's various successor states. For many, this involved becoming commanders of their own successor faction, who in turn formed alliances with one another throughout the [[Covenant colonies|Covenant sphere]].{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.ultra-combo.com/arbiters-colors-accessories/|Site=Killer Instinct|Page=Arbiter's Colors & Accessories|D=04|M=09|Y=2022}} The more experienced of these warlords, those who served in the old Covenant for decades in both [[Planetary warfare|ground]] and [[space warfare]], became an integral backbone for some of the larger post-Covenant groups, such as the [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|faction]] led by [[Jul 'Mdama]]. Their experience allowed them to rapidly gain respect within the alliance, and power to go along with it.{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|Guide}}


==Equipment==
[[File:SangheiliCommander.png|250px|thumb|A Sangheili commander in [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]].]]
===Armor===
===Armor===
Sangheili Commander [[Sangheili harness|armor]] can be described as a more sophisticated set of the [[Sangheili Storm]] armor with both sporting the same lower body armor and chest harnesses; Commanders on the other hand wear more angular shoulder-pads, wrist-guards, a smooth bodysuit and a much more ornate helmet. Commander Armor appears similar to the suits worn by Sangheili Officers from the original [[Covenant]] in terms of design, although the Commander's set is colored a deep claret compared with the Officer's scarlet.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/Universe/Detail/character-enemy-renders/421563ab-3b18-4e29-8487-3dd79b627a70#imageNumber=17 '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''New Halo 4 Renders'']</ref> They can also occasionally be found in a green<ref>'''[[Talk:Sangheili Commander]]'''</ref> and gold<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 14|Issue #14]]''</ref> combat harness. The raised claw on their boots are reminiscent of ancient ceremonial armor.<ref>'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 47''</ref>
Within the Covenant empire, Commanders serving in Covenant Special Operations employed the {{Pattern|Gheocin|combat harness}} in a grey-white colouration similar to that of the [[Evocati]], and equipped with [[active camouflage]].{{Ref/Reuse|Succor}}{{Ref/Game|H2|Rtas 'Vadum in-game model}} Commanders of Ranger detachments generally employed the standard {{Pattern|Tlaipoz|exo harness|}} and {{Pattern|Ebgione|exo harness}}es - the former of which would be worn in a gold colouration.{{Ref/Game|HR|[[BOB]] in-game unit}}{{Ref/Game|H2A|Terminals (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminal 14}} The precise preferences of mainline [[Covenant military]] commanders are unknown, though they may have employed [[Sangheili harness|harness]] designs in a gold command colouration similar to [[General (Covenant)|generals]] and [[Zealot]]s.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.ultra-combo.com/arbiters-colors-accessories/|Site=Killer Instinct|Page=Arbiter's Colors & Accessories|D=04|M=09|Y=2022|Detail=Commander harness description|Quote=Or perhaps you’ll outfit in resplendent gold, harkening back to days spent elevated within the Covenant’s rank structure. }}


Though it has been seen that Commanders can wear different armor. In the case of [[Gek 'Lhar]], he wore the [[Storm harness]] without a helmet. In the case of [[Parg Vol]] and [[Kitun 'Arach]], they wore the [[Sangheili_Warrior#Armor|Warrior-class harness]].
Sangheili [[Commander harness]]es - particularly those used by post-war groups such as Jul 'Mdama and the Swords of Sanghelios - can be described as a more sophisticated set of the [[Storm harness]] with both sporting the same lower body armor and chest harnesses of [[Hesduros|Hesduron]] aesthetic principle; Commanders on the other hand wear more angular shoulder-pads, wrist-guards, a smooth bodysuit and a much more ornate helmet. Commander harnesses appear similar to the suits worn by Sangheili [[Officer (Covenant)|Officers]] of the original [[Covenant]] in terms of design, although the Commander's set is colored a deep claret compared with the Officer's scarlet.{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}} They can also occasionally be found in a green<ref>'''[[Talk:Sangheili Commander]]'''</ref>{{Citation needed}} and gold{{Ref/Comic|HE|Issue=14}} combat harness. The raised claw on their boots are reminiscent of ancient ceremonial armor.{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}}
 
Though, it has been seen that few known post-war Commanders have worn different armor. In the case of [[Gek 'Lhar]], he wore the [[Storm harness]] without a helmet. In the case of [[Parg Vol]] and [[Kitun 'Arach]], they wore the standard [[Warrior harness]] used by Jul 'Mdama's Covenant.
 
===Weaponry===
The deployments of Covenant-era commanders are little-known, and thus their particular preferences are similarly unknown. Commanders in SpecOps units, such as [[Rtas 'Vadum]], were prominent swordsmen and made heavy use of the [[Type-1 energy sword|energy sword]].{{Ref/Reuse|Succor}}
 
Commanders within Jul 'Mdama's Covenant group have been known to wield both the infamous {{Pattern|Mosa|carbine}} and the devastating {{Pattern|Zebando'Taa|concussion rifle}}. They rarely engage enemy forces without heavy firepower at their disposal.{{Ref/Reuse|Guide}}
 
==Notable individuals==
===Covenant===
;Special Operations Commander
*[[Rtas 'Vadum]] - Commander within [[Covenant Special Operations]]; later assumed the titles of [[Shipmaster]] and [[Fleetmaster]] during the [[Great Schism]].
 
===Jul 'Mdama's Covenant===
*[[Gek 'Lhar]] - Commander within Jul's Covenant.{{Ref/Book|H4EVG|Page=28}}
*[[Parg Vol]] - Commander within Jul's Covenant.{{Ref/Book|H4EVG|Page=29}}
 
==In-game information==
{{Expand-section}}
Sangheili holding the rank of commander appear primarily across ''[[Halo 2]]'' and ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' in minor roles, with ''[[Halo 4]]'' and ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' heavily expanding on the concept.
==Gameplay==
===''Halo: Reach''===
Sangheili Ranger Commanders appear in ''Halo: Reach'' as the [[BOB]] Easter egg.
 
===''Halo 5: Guardians''===
Ranger Commanders appear in [[Warzone]] on the map [[Escape from ARC]]. Two spawn as the second boss on the level, one in each tunnel of the East and West Armories. Each is accompanied by two [[Sangheili Ranger]]s. They are armed with storm rifles and throw plasma grenades. Killing one will award the team 25 VP, and earn the player a [[Boss Takedown]] medal.<ref name="ReadyUpLive">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Xz2Ggn5tU '''YouTube''': ''Halo 5 WARZONE GAMEPLAY | Full Match | Phaeton, Plasma Caster, Running Riot'']</ref> As most simulated Sangheili bosses in Warzone, they do not wear their correct harness, in their case the Ranger variant, instead sporting the Warrior-class harness if Legendary or the Commander-class harness if Mythic.
 
 
==Production notes==
===Special Operations Commander===
This rank is often titled "Special Operations Commander" (or similar) in various works, though much of this comes down to an oft-repeated misconception on the part of the ''Halo'' fanbase and older pages on Halopedia. The term "SpecOps Commander" was used throughout the [[Development of Halo 2|production]] of ''[[Halo 2]]'' to refer to the character of [[Rtas 'Vadum]], who had not been named at the time. This labelling can be seen in the game files for the character tag, and even in published media such as the [[Halo 2: The Official Strategy Guide|''Halo 2'' strategy guide]] (a source with dubious canon authority) and the ''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]'' commentary for the story ''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]'', in which author [[Lee Hammock]] refers to Rtas as "the SpecOps Commander".{{Ref/Comic|HGN|Story=The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor|Page=55}} Crucially, the story itself does not refer to the rank of "SpecOps Commander" at any point, only referring to the characters of Rtas 'Vadum and [[Bero 'Kusovai]] as commander and sub-commander, respectively.
 
In-universe sources for the rank of "SpecOps Commander" were first published in the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'' and repeated in its [[Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition)|2011 reprint]], which discuss Rtas 'Vadum as having "''been reassigned to the position of SpecOps Commander''".{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}} This is repeated in the ''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide|Essential Visual Guide]]'' page on the character with mostly identical wording; neither of which discuss the rank as a particular title and can be easily interpreted as referring to a Special Operations Commander in the same way one may refer to an "SAS General". Given the [[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)#Reception and errors|many errors]] present throughout the 2009 encyclopedia, this source is generally considered untrustworthy should alternates be available. Within the EVG itself, Rtas' explicit rank is given as [[Shipmaster]], with the term "SpecOps Commander" only ever used as a general descriptor.
 
More recent media published by [[343 Industries]] has almost entirely neglected to mention the idea of the "Spec Ops Commander"; the first mention within more recent media occured in the [[2016]] novel ''[[Halo: Envoy]]'' during which [[Rojka 'Kasaan]] refers to [[Keza]] as "''one of his special operations commanders''" - with no capitalisation, suggesting the title is not intended as a proper noun, but instead a general descriptor.{{Ref/Novel|HEnv|Chapter=8}} More recently, the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]'' discusses the ranks of commander and sub-commander as general ranks employed throughout the Covenant military in a similar fashion to [[Major (Covenant)|Major]] or [[Minor]],{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}, while the book's page on Rtas 'Vadum explicitly states he "''served as '''a''' Special Operations commandeer''" - explicitly avoiding to call him a Special Operations Commander, presented as a proper noun.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=250}} Given that the concept of a Sangheili Commander rank was fully established within ''[[Halo 4]]'' (and its supporting media such as the [[Halo 4 Interactive Guide|Interactive Guide]] and ''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''), it would seem that the concept of a Special Operations Commander rank was based on a misreading of game data and ambiguous wording in early ''Halo'' media, and one [[343 Industries]] has consciously gone out of their way to retcon/ ignore.
 
===Ranger Commander===
In ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', Rangers holding the rank of commander appear in-game infrequently as part of the [[BOB]] easter egg. In select levels, gold-clad Rangers may spawn as part of the easter egg. It was not until a [[2015]] post on [[Halo Waypoint]] that the gold Rangers were canonised as Ranger commanders.{{Ref/Reuse|WPSangheili}} In the post-game carnage report of ''Halo: Reach'', this type of Sangheili was referred to as "Elite light vehicle".


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of Sangheili Commanders}}
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Elite Commander.png|Two variations of the Sangheili Commander in ''[[Halo 4]]''.
File:Elite Commander.png|Two variations of the Sangheili Commander in ''[[Halo 4]]''.
File:H4-SangheiliCommander1.jpg|A Sangheili Commander with a [[Type-50 concussion rifle]].
File:H4-SangheiliCommander1.jpg|A Sangheili Commander with a {{Pattern|Elo'Nakada|concussion rifle}}.
File:H4 Officer.png|A Sangheili Commander on [[Requiem]].  
File:H4 Officer.png|A Sangheili Commander on [[Requiem]].  
File:H4-SangheiliCommander.png|A Sangheili Commander with a [[Type-55 storm rifle]].
File:H4-SangheiliCommander.png|A Sangheili Commander with a {{Pattern|Kelos'vaarda|storm rifle}}.
File:H4-SpOps-EliteCommander.jpg|A Sangheili Commander in ''Halo 4'''s ''[[Spartan Ops]]'' episodic campaign mode.
File:H4-SpOps-EliteCommander.jpg|A Sangheili Commander in ''Halo 4''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s ''[[Spartan Ops]]'' episodic campaign mode.
File:H4-SO-SangheiliCommander.jpg|A closeup view of a Sangheili Commander in combat, with shields flickering.
File:H4-PrometheanKnight-EliteKill.jpg|A [[Promethean Knight]] dispatches a Sangheili Commander.
File:H4-PrometheanKnight-EliteKill.jpg|A [[Promethean Knight]] dispatches a Sangheili Commander.
File:SpartanOps - SangheiliCommander.png|A Sangheili Commander giving orders to [[Unggoy]] troops.
File:SpartanOps - SangheiliCommander.png|A Sangheili Commander giving orders to [[Unggoy]] troops.
Line 61: Line 74:
File:H4-SangheiliCommanders.png|Two Sangheili Commanders on Requiem.
File:H4-SangheiliCommanders.png|Two Sangheili Commanders on Requiem.
File:HE14 Gold.jpg|A Sangheili Commander aboard the ''[[Song of Retribution]]'' in ''[[Halo: Escalation]]''.
File:HE14 Gold.jpg|A Sangheili Commander aboard the ''[[Song of Retribution]]'' in ''[[Halo: Escalation]]''.
File:H5GA-LockestickingCommander.png|A Sangheili Commander getting stuck by a [[Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade|plasma grenade]] by [[Jameson Locke]].
File:H5GA-LockestickingCommander.png|A Sangheili Commander getting stuck by a [[Anskum-pattern plasma grenade|plasma grenade]] by [[Jameson Locke]].
File:H5G - Stealth Elite.png|A Sangheili Commander using [[active camouflage]] on [[Raid on Apex 7]] in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.
File:H5G - Stealth Elite.png|A Sangheili Commander using [[active camouflage]] on [[Raid on Apex 7]] in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.
File:H5G-SangheiliCommander.png|A Sangheili Commander with a storm rifle on [[Escape from ARC]].
File:H5G-SangheiliCommander.png|A Sangheili Commander with a storm rifle on [[Escape from ARC]].
File:H5G-SangheiliCommander&crap.png|A Sangheili Commander manning a [[Type-57 Phantom]]'s [[Type-58 plasma cannon|plasma cannon]].
File:H5G-SangheiliCommander&crap.png|A Sangheili Commander manning a {{Pattern|Mikpramu|Phantom}}'s [[Shea'p-pattern plasma cannon|plasma cannon]].
File:Elite 785.png|A Sangheili Commander on [[Sanghelios]].
File:Elite 785.png|A Sangheili Commander on [[Sanghelios]].
File:H5G-SangheiliCommander&T27.png|A Sangheili Commander with a [[Type-27 beam rifle]] on [[Urban]].
File:H5G-SangheiliCommander&T27.png|A Sangheili Commander with a {{Pattern|Zubo|beam rifle}} on [[Urban]].
File:H5G-MythicSangheiliCommander.png|A cloaked Mythic Sangheili Commander on [[Attack on Sanctum]].
File:H5G-MythicSangheiliCommander.png|A cloaked Mythic Sangheili Commander on [[Attack on Sanctum]].
File:H5G-MythicRangerCommanders.png|Two Mythic Sangheili Commanders, one armed with a ''[[Pool of Radiance]]'' and the other with a ''[[Vorpal Talon]]''.
File:H5G-MythicRangerCommanders.png|Two Mythic Sangheili Commanders, both armed with a ''[[Type-58 fuel rod cannon#Variants|Pool of Radiance]]'' and a ''[[Type-1 energy sword#Vorpal Talon|Vorpal Talon]]''.
File:KillerInstinctCommanderOptions.png|The Commander harness in ''Killer Instinct''.
File:KillerInstinctCommanderOptions.png|The Commander harness in ''Killer Instinct''.
File:KICommander harness 2.png|The Commander harness in ''Killer Instinct''.
File:KICommander harness 2.png|The Commander harness in ''Killer Instinct''.
File:HO_CommanderHarness_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the Commander harness, as it would have appeared in ''[[Halo Online]]''. In ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'', this armour was canonised as the [[General harness]].
</gallery>
===Ranger commanders===
<gallery>
File:BOB Medal.png|The awarded medal for killing a BOB in ''Halo Reach''.
File:Ranger Commander(Bob).png|The image of the Ranger Commander in the Sangheili Universe article.
File:H5G-RangerCommander.png|A Sangheili Ranger Commander in the [[Warzone]] mode of ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.
File:H5G-MythicRangerCommanders.png|Two Sangheili Ranger Commanders in Warzone Firefight.
</gallery>
</gallery>
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of Sangheili Commanders}}
{{clear}}


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 4]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
**''[[Terminal/Halo 4|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
**''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''
*''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]''
*''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]''
*''[[Halo: Envoy]]''
*''[[Halo: Renegades]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]'' {{Mo}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}


{{Sangheili Ranks}}
{{Sangheili Ranks}}


[[Category:Sangheili ranks and titles|Commander]]
[[Category:Sangheili ranks and titles|Commander]]

Latest revision as of 16:52, October 22, 2023

This article is about the Covenant rank. For other uses, see Commander (disambiguation).
Rtas 'Vadum, a Sangheili commander in Covenant Special Operations.

Commander is a military rank in the armed forces of the Covenant, and the empire's remnants. The title is most typically held by the Sangheili.[1] Within the post-war era, the rank of commander has seen prominent usage by Jul 'Mdama's Covenant[2][3], the Swords of Sanghelios[4] and even mercenary outfits such as that led by Vata 'Gajat and the Banished.[5]

Overview[edit]

A Sangheili Ranger Commander.

Covenant[edit]

Within the Covenant of old, the rank of commander (and below it, sub-commander) allowed the Sangheili to maintain unit cohesion across species.[1] They represent the primary leadership of the Covenant in ground engagements, and provide overall strategic direction to the Sangheili, Kig-Yar and Unggoy units under their command.[6][2]

Covenant special forces[edit]

Within the Covenant's Special Warfare Group, Commanders were tasked with leading specialised strike teams of special warfare personnel. This included Covenant Special Operations, in which Commanders led strike teams consisting of a sub-commander and several Special Operations Officers[7] - personnel serving in this role were sometimes termed "SpecOps Commanders".[8][9][10] Commanders also served in the Fleet Security's Ranger divisions, leading detachments of Ranger personnel in the field.[11]

Covenant remnants[edit]

Following the dissolution of the Covenant, many seasoned and battle-hardened Sangheili went on to form the backbone of leadership within the Covenant's various successor states. For many, this involved becoming commanders of their own successor faction, who in turn formed alliances with one another throughout the Covenant sphere.[12] The more experienced of these warlords, those who served in the old Covenant for decades in both ground and space warfare, became an integral backbone for some of the larger post-Covenant groups, such as the faction led by Jul 'Mdama. Their experience allowed them to rapidly gain respect within the alliance, and power to go along with it.[6][2]

Equipment[edit]

A Sangheili commander in Jul 'Mdama's Covenant.

Armor[edit]

Within the Covenant empire, Commanders serving in Covenant Special Operations employed the Gheocin-pattern combat harness in a grey-white colouration similar to that of the Evocati, and equipped with active camouflage.[7][13] Commanders of Ranger detachments generally employed the standard Tlaipoz-pattern and Ebgione-pattern exo harnesses - the former of which would be worn in a gold colouration.[14][15] The precise preferences of mainline Covenant military commanders are unknown, though they may have employed harness designs in a gold command colouration similar to generals and Zealots.[16]

Sangheili Commander harnesses - particularly those used by post-war groups such as Jul 'Mdama and the Swords of Sanghelios - can be described as a more sophisticated set of the Storm harness with both sporting the same lower body armor and chest harnesses of Hesduron aesthetic principle; Commanders on the other hand wear more angular shoulder-pads, wrist-guards, a smooth bodysuit and a much more ornate helmet. Commander harnesses appear similar to the suits worn by Sangheili Officers of the original Covenant in terms of design, although the Commander's set is colored a deep claret compared with the Officer's scarlet.[6] They can also occasionally be found in a green[17][citation needed] and gold[18] combat harness. The raised claw on their boots are reminiscent of ancient ceremonial armor.[6]

Though, it has been seen that few known post-war Commanders have worn different armor. In the case of Gek 'Lhar, he wore the Storm harness without a helmet. In the case of Parg Vol and Kitun 'Arach, they wore the standard Warrior harness used by Jul 'Mdama's Covenant.

Weaponry[edit]

The deployments of Covenant-era commanders are little-known, and thus their particular preferences are similarly unknown. Commanders in SpecOps units, such as Rtas 'Vadum, were prominent swordsmen and made heavy use of the energy sword.[7]

Commanders within Jul 'Mdama's Covenant group have been known to wield both the infamous Mosa-pattern carbine and the devastating Zebando'Taa-pattern concussion rifle. They rarely engage enemy forces without heavy firepower at their disposal.[2]

Notable individuals[edit]

Covenant[edit]

Special Operations Commander

Jul 'Mdama's Covenant[edit]

In-game information[edit]

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Sangheili holding the rank of commander appear primarily across Halo 2 and Halo: Reach in minor roles, with Halo 4 and Halo 5: Guardians heavily expanding on the concept.

Gameplay[edit]

Halo: Reach[edit]

Sangheili Ranger Commanders appear in Halo: Reach as the BOB Easter egg.

Halo 5: Guardians[edit]

Ranger Commanders appear in Warzone on the map Escape from ARC. Two spawn as the second boss on the level, one in each tunnel of the East and West Armories. Each is accompanied by two Sangheili Rangers. They are armed with storm rifles and throw plasma grenades. Killing one will award the team 25 VP, and earn the player a Boss Takedown medal.[21] As most simulated Sangheili bosses in Warzone, they do not wear their correct harness, in their case the Ranger variant, instead sporting the Warrior-class harness if Legendary or the Commander-class harness if Mythic.


Production notes[edit]

Special Operations Commander[edit]

This rank is often titled "Special Operations Commander" (or similar) in various works, though much of this comes down to an oft-repeated misconception on the part of the Halo fanbase and older pages on Halopedia. The term "SpecOps Commander" was used throughout the production of Halo 2 to refer to the character of Rtas 'Vadum, who had not been named at the time. This labelling can be seen in the game files for the character tag, and even in published media such as the Halo 2 strategy guide (a source with dubious canon authority) and the Halo Graphic Novel commentary for the story The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor, in which author Lee Hammock refers to Rtas as "the SpecOps Commander".[22] Crucially, the story itself does not refer to the rank of "SpecOps Commander" at any point, only referring to the characters of Rtas 'Vadum and Bero 'Kusovai as commander and sub-commander, respectively.

In-universe sources for the rank of "SpecOps Commander" were first published in the Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition) and repeated in its 2011 reprint, which discuss Rtas 'Vadum as having "been reassigned to the position of SpecOps Commander".[9] This is repeated in the Essential Visual Guide page on the character with mostly identical wording; neither of which discuss the rank as a particular title and can be easily interpreted as referring to a Special Operations Commander in the same way one may refer to an "SAS General". Given the many errors present throughout the 2009 encyclopedia, this source is generally considered untrustworthy should alternates be available. Within the EVG itself, Rtas' explicit rank is given as Shipmaster, with the term "SpecOps Commander" only ever used as a general descriptor.

More recent media published by 343 Industries has almost entirely neglected to mention the idea of the "Spec Ops Commander"; the first mention within more recent media occured in the 2016 novel Halo: Envoy during which Rojka 'Kasaan refers to Keza as "one of his special operations commanders" - with no capitalisation, suggesting the title is not intended as a proper noun, but instead a general descriptor.[23] More recently, the Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition) discusses the ranks of commander and sub-commander as general ranks employed throughout the Covenant military in a similar fashion to Major or Minor,[1], while the book's page on Rtas 'Vadum explicitly states he "served as a Special Operations commandeer" - explicitly avoiding to call him a Special Operations Commander, presented as a proper noun.[24] Given that the concept of a Sangheili Commander rank was fully established within Halo 4 (and its supporting media such as the Interactive Guide and Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide), it would seem that the concept of a Special Operations Commander rank was based on a misreading of game data and ambiguous wording in early Halo media, and one 343 Industries has consciously gone out of their way to retcon/ ignore.

Ranger Commander[edit]

In Halo: Reach, Rangers holding the rank of commander appear in-game infrequently as part of the BOB easter egg. In select levels, gold-clad Rangers may spawn as part of the easter egg. It was not until a 2015 post on Halo Waypoint that the gold Rangers were canonised as Ranger commanders.[11] In the post-game carnage report of Halo: Reach, this type of Sangheili was referred to as "Elite light vehicle".

Gallery[edit]

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Ranger commanders[edit]

  • The awarded medal for killing a BOB in Halo Reach.

    The awarded medal for killing a BOB in Halo Reach.

  • The image of the Ranger Commander in the Sangheili Universe article.

    The image of the Ranger Commander in the Sangheili Universe article.

  • A Sangheili Ranger Commander in the Warzone mode of Halo 5: Guardians.

    A Sangheili Ranger Commander in the Warzone mode of Halo 5: Guardians.

  • Two Sangheili Ranger Commanders in Warzone Firefight.

    Two Sangheili Ranger Commanders in Warzone Firefight.

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 240
  2. ^ a b c d Halo Waypoint, Halo 4 Interactive Guide - Enemies: Elite Commander (Retrieved on May 1, 2013) [local archive] [external archive]
  3. ^ Halo Waypoint, Characters & Enemy Renders (Retrieved on Sep 25, 2012) [archive]
  4. ^ MEGA Construx, Swords of Sanghelios Combat Lance (Retrieved on Sep 4, 2022) [archive]
  5. ^ Halo Infinite, Banished Audio log
  6. ^ a b c d Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 47
  7. ^ a b c Halo Graphic Novel - The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor
  8. ^ See the production notes section for more details
  9. ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 136
  10. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 175
  11. ^ a b Halo Waypoint, Sangheili: Media Gallery "Ranger Commander" (Retrieved on Jul 24, 2021) [archive]
  12. ^ Killer Instinct, Arbiter's Colors & Accessories (Retrieved on Sep 4, 2022) [archive]
  13. ^ Halo 2, Rtas 'Vadum in-game model
  14. ^ Halo: Reach, BOB in-game unit
  15. ^ Halo 2: Anniversary, Terminal 14
  16. ^ Killer Instinct, Arbiter's Colors & Accessories: Commander harness description "Or perhaps you’ll outfit in resplendent gold, harkening back to days spent elevated within the Covenant’s rank structure." (Retrieved on Sep 4, 2022) [archive]
  17. ^ Talk:Sangheili Commander
  18. ^ Halo: Escalation, issue 14
  19. ^ Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 28
  20. ^ Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 29
  21. ^ YouTube: Halo 5 WARZONE GAMEPLAY | Full Match | Phaeton, Plasma Caster, Running Riot
  22. ^ Halo Graphic Novel - The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor, page 55
  23. ^ Halo: Envoy, chapter 8
  24. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 250

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