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{{Era|Forerunner|Post}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Forerunner Infobox
{{Forerunner infobox
|name=Promethean Knight
|name=Promethean Knight
|image=[[File:H4-Knight.png|300px]]
|image=[[File:H4-Knight.png|300px]]
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|width-title=Weight
|width-title=Weight
|width=407.3 kg (898 lb)–423.7 kg (934 lb)<ref name="H4EVG">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''pages 54-57''</ref>
|width=407.3 kg (898 lb)–423.7 kg (934 lb)<ref name="H4EVG">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''pages 54-57''</ref>
|height=302.3 cm (9 ft 11 in)–328.5 cm (10 ft 9.3 in)<ref name="H4EVG"/>
|height=302.3 cm (9 ft 11 in)–328.5 cm (10 ft 9.3 in){{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}}
|armament=*[[Hardlight blade]]
|armament=*[[Hardlight blade]]
*[[Z-250 Lightrifle]]
*[[Z-250 Lightrifle]]
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*[[Z-2500 Automated Protection Drone|Z-2500 Autosentry]]
*[[Z-2500 Automated Protection Drone|Z-2500 Autosentry]]
}}
}}
{{Quote|I have led you, my Prometheans, for thousands of years, and I shall continue to lead you. Rise! Rise, and protect the Forerunners! Rise, and protect the galaxy!|The [[Ur-Didact|Didact]] to his legions of newly created Promethean Knights<ref>'''[[Halo 4]]''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 4|Terminal 5]]''</ref>}}
{{Quote|I have led you, my Prometheans, for thousands of years, and I shall continue to lead you. Rise! Rise, and protect the Forerunners! Rise, and protect the galaxy!|The [[Ur-Didact|Didact]] to his legions of newly created Promethean Knights<ref>'''[[Halo 4]]''', ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal 5]]''</ref>}}
'''Promethean Knights''' are a class of mechanized [[Forerunner]] [[Promethean]] warriors created by the [[Ur-Didact]] toward the end of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]] to combat the [[Flood]]. After the [[Librarian]] exiled the Ur-Didact on [[Requiem]], several legions of these constructs stationed on the [[shield world]] went dormant for the next 100,000 years. The machines—as well as their master—were reawakened in late [[2557]], when [[John-117]] and the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] stumbled upon Requiem.<ref name="characters">[http://halo.xbox.com/halo4#!an-epic-universe/characters/8c164b48-05e7-4c13-a268-f60ec3a72938 '''Halo 4 Official site''', ''Characters'']</ref><ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/tech/promethean-knight '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Promethean Knight'']</ref> By [[2558]], they, along several other Promethean constructs, had fallen under control of the [[Created]], led by [[Cortana]], who believed the [[artificial intelligence]]s were the rightful heirs of the [[Mantle|Mantle of Responsibility]], not humanity.<ref>'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'''</ref>
'''Promethean Knights''' are a class of mechanized [[Forerunner]] [[Promethean]] warriors created by the [[Ur-Didact]] toward the end of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]] to combat the [[Flood]]. After the [[Librarian]] exiled the Ur-Didact on [[Requiem]], several legions of these constructs stationed on the [[shield world]] went dormant for the next 100,000 years. The machines—as well as their master—were reawakened in late [[2557]], when [[John-117]] and the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] stumbled upon Requiem.<ref name="characters">[http://halo.xbox.com/halo4#!an-epic-universe/characters/8c164b48-05e7-4c13-a268-f60ec3a72938 '''Halo 4 Official site''', ''Characters'']</ref><ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/tech/promethean-knight '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Promethean Knight'']</ref> By [[2558]] they, along with several other Promethean constructs, had fallen under control of the [[Created]] led by [[Cortana]], who believed the [[artificial intelligence]]s were the rightful heirs of the [[Mantle|Mantle of Responsibility]], not humanity.<ref>'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'''</ref>


== Overview ==
== Overview ==
The Promethean Knights are bipedal, fully weaponized mechanical warriors designed to operate and eliminate threats in a wide variety of environments.<ref name="characters"/> While the Knights are fully machines, their AI is a result of organic minds transformed into software format via a device called the [[Composer]], unlike the [[Promethean Crawler|Crawler]]s or the [[sentinel]]s which are completely artificial in origin.<ref name="H4EVG"/> This extreme measure was intended by the [[Ur-Didact]] to create an unstoppable army, completely immune to Flood infection, near the end of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]]. The Didact's [[Promethean]] [[Warrior-Servant]]s were the first Knights, but these were too few in number to turn the tide. Desperate for greater numbers and still refusing to accept the [[Halo Array]] as a final option, the Didact "conscripted" a large population of [[human]]s from [[Omega Halo]] to expand his army; this genocidal act was the ultimate reason the Librarian imprisoned her husband. Despite housing harvested human and Forerunner essences, the original personalities are no longer in evidence; the Knights are intelligent, but viciously ruthless in behavior and seemingly lacking any form of free will.<ref name="h4terminals">'''Halo 4''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 4|Terminals]]''</ref> A Knight's rank is based on a combination of past military service and "popularity amongst their peer group".<ref>[https://twitter.com/JoshingtonState/status/460168483809296384 '''Twitter''' - ''Joshington'' (26 April 2014)]</ref> Even composed children were converted into Promethean Knights.<ref>[https://twitter.com/joshingtonstate/status/492358229301551104 '''Twitter''' - ''Joshington'' (24 July 2014)]</ref>
The Promethean Knights are bipedal, fully weaponized mechanical warriors designed to operate and eliminate threats in a wide variety of environments.{{Ref/Reuse|characters}} While the Knights are fully machines, their AI is a result of organic minds transformed into software format via a device called the [[Composer]], unlike the [[Promethean Crawler|Crawler]]s or the [[sentinel]]s which are completely artificial in origin.{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}} This extreme measure was intended by the [[Ur-Didact]] to create an unstoppable army, completely immune to Flood infection, near the end of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]]. The Didact's [[Promethean]] [[Warrior-Servant]]s were the first Knights, but these were too few in number to turn the tide. Desperate for greater numbers and still refusing to accept the [[Halo Array]] as a final option, the Didact "conscripted" a large population of [[human]]s from [[Omega Halo]] to expand his army; this genocidal act was the ultimate reason the Librarian imprisoned her husband. Despite housing harvested human and Forerunner essences, the original personalities are no longer in evidence; the Knights are intelligent, but viciously ruthless in behavior and seemingly lacking any form of free will.<ref name="h4terminals">'''Halo 4''', ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals]]''</ref> A Knight's rank is based on a combination of past military service and "popularity amongst their peer group".<ref>[https://twitter.com/JoshingtonState/status/460168483809296384 '''Twitter''' - ''Joshington'' (26 April 2014)]</ref> Even composed children were converted into Promethean Knights.<ref>[https://twitter.com/joshingtonstate/status/492358229301551104 '''Twitter''' - ''Joshington'' (24 July 2014)]</ref>


Knights carry a single [[Promethean Watcher]] sentinel in the back of their armored carapace, which can be deployed at will for combat support. The Watcher's AI is a low-level ancilla split off from the Knight's essence when the Watcher is deployed.<ref name="H4EVG"/> The Watcher can greatly improve the Knight's combat capabilities by raising [[Z-90 hardlight shield|hardlight shields]], reviving fallen Knights, summoning [[Promethean Crawler|Crawlers]], building automated turrets, and  flinging back enemy [[grenade]]s while distracting them with its own weaponry.<ref name="demo">'''[[Halo 4 E3 2012 Stage Demo]]'''</ref>  
Knights carry a single [[Promethean Watcher]] sentinel in the back of their armored carapace, which can be deployed at will for combat support. The Watcher's AI is a low-level ancilla split off from the Knight's essence when the Watcher is deployed.{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}} The Watcher can greatly improve the Knight's combat capabilities by raising [[Z-90 hardlight shield|hardlight shields]], reviving fallen Knights, summoning [[Promethean Crawler|Crawlers]], building automated turrets, and  flinging back enemy [[grenade]]s while distracting them with its own weaponry.<ref name="demo">'''[[Halo 4 E3 2012 Stage Demo]]'''</ref>  


[[File:Knightpair.png|thumb|left|300px|A Knight launches a pulse grenade.]]
[[File:Knightpair.png|thumb|left|300px|A Knight launches a pulse grenade.]]
Promethean Knights utilize a broad arsenal of weapons. For close-quarters combat, they are armed with a [[hardlight blade]] on one hand. Each class of Knight has a uniquely shaped blade, totaling six variations amongst them. They also use various Forerunner ranged weapons, such as [[Z-180 Scattershot|Scattershots]], [[Z-130 Suppressor|Suppressors]], [[Z-250 lightrifle|LightRifles]], [[Z-750 binary rifle|Binary Rifles]], and [[Z-390 incineration cannon|Incineration Cannons]]; their dedicated armament largely depends on their class and role. They frequently employ [[Z-040 pulse grenade|pulse grenades]] in combat, generating it from the arm-blade's joint.<ref name="H4EVG"/> Some subtypes also make use of [[Z-2500 autosentry|autosentries]], in addition to the support that they can already summon.
Promethean Knights utilize a broad arsenal of weapons. For close-quarters combat, they are armed with a [[hardlight blade]] on one hand. Each class of Knight has a uniquely shaped blade, totaling six variations amongst them. They also use various Forerunner ranged weapons, such as [[Z-180 Scattershot|Scattershots]], [[Z-130 Suppressor|Suppressors]], [[Z-250 lightrifle|LightRifles]], [[Z-750 binary rifle|Binary Rifles]], and [[Z-390 incineration cannon|Incineration Cannons]]; their dedicated armament largely depends on their class and role. They frequently employ [[Z-040 pulse grenade|pulse grenades]] in combat, generating it from the arm-blade's joint.{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}} Some subtypes also make use of [[Z-2500 autosentry|autosentries]], in addition to the support that they can already summon.


Knights are remarkably agile, and in addition to using their limbs for conventional movement they are also capable of [[slipspace translocation|translocating]] over moderate distances, allowing them to either swiftly retreat from the battlefield or to flank their enemies. Although not commonly seen in the field, Knights can also be deployed from warships and are equipped with thruster engines on the sides of their carapace for maneuvering. This capability was used near the end of the Forerunner-Flood war, when Knights were deployed to [[boarding|board]] and destroy Flood-controlled ships from within.<ref name="h4terminals"/>
Knights are remarkably agile, and in addition to using their limbs for conventional movement they are also capable of [[slipspace translocation|translocating]] over moderate distances, allowing them to either swiftly retreat from the battlefield or to flank their enemies. Although not commonly seen in the field, Knights can also be deployed from warships and are equipped with thruster engines on the sides of their carapace for maneuvering. This capability was used near the end of the Forerunner-Flood war, when Knights were deployed to [[Naval boarding|board]] and destroy Flood-controlled ships from within.{{Ref/Reuse|h4terminals}}


The Knight's carapace is composed of [[smartmatter]], a form of [[Wikipedia:Programmable matter|programmable matter]] held together by [[hard light]] bonds.<ref>''[[Halo: Warfleet – An Illustrated Guide to the Spacecraft of Halo|Halo: Warfleet]]'', pg. 83</ref> Upon taking critical damage, Knights completely disintegrate, a process that [[Cortana]] described as a "data purge."<ref name="forelevel">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Forerunner (level)|Forerunner]]''</ref> Their bodies erode away from where the fatal shot was received and dissolve into glowing particles. After disintegration, a small ball of swirling light is left behind for a brief period; a Promethean Watcher can use this remnant to recreate and revive the Knight; however, an individual Knight can only be revived in this manner only once. If a Knight is destroyed, revived, and then destroyed again, the Knight's body disintegrates completely, leaving nothing behind. When a Knight is destroyed, it drops a weapon; after revival, it wields a weapon of the same type even if the first weapon was picked up.
The Knight's carapace is composed of [[smartmatter]], a form of [[Wikipedia:Programmable matter|programmable matter]] held together by [[hard light]] bonds.<ref>''[[Halo: Warfleet – An Illustrated Guide to the Spacecraft of Halo|Halo: Warfleet]]'', pg. 83</ref> Upon taking critical damage, Knights completely disintegrate, a process that [[Cortana]] described as a "data purge."<ref name="forelevel">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Forerunner (level)|Forerunner]]''</ref> Their bodies erode away from where the fatal shot was received and dissolve into glowing particles. After disintegration, a small ball of swirling light is left behind for a brief period; a Promethean Watcher can use this remnant to recreate and revive the Knight; however, an individual Knight can only be revived in this manner only once. If a Knight is destroyed, revived, and then destroyed again, the Knight's body disintegrates completely, leaving nothing behind. When a Knight is destroyed, it drops a weapon; after revival, it wields a weapon of the same type even if the first weapon was picked up.


== Appearance ==
== Appearance ==
Similar to the other Promethean constructs, as well as some earlier types of Forerunner military automatons,<ref>'''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''', ''page 256''</ref> Knights have a number of insectoid attributes; they produce noticeably insect-like clicking sounds and tend to make spasmodic movements, especially when idle. Additionally, their carapace resembles that of an insect and possesses hatches resembling insect wings which frequently twitch and flutter seemingly at random; located on the "wings" are the Knight's anterior shield distributors.<ref name="H4EVG"/> Knights have two sets of arms; two large, artificial arms at each shoulder in which the weapons are mounted and two smaller arms below the shoulders. The larger arms are composed of separate segments held in formation through an energy field. Knights also have a comparatively smaller set with small, five-fingered hands. These smaller arms are more "organic" in shape and are physically attached to the Knight's body. Their main locomotion is provided by a pair of extremely powerful legs designed for agility and speed. Broad-set stabilizers support the large body and reinforced joints offer fluid movement despite the Knight's size and mass. At the back of their feet there is a counter-locking system for tactile balance.<ref name="H4EVG"/>
Similar to the other Promethean constructs, as well as some earlier types of Forerunner military automatons,<ref>'''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''', ''page 256''</ref> Knights have a number of insectoid attributes; they produce noticeably insect-like clicking sounds and tend to make spasmodic movements, especially when idle. Additionally, their carapace resembles that of an insect and possesses hatches resembling insect wings which frequently twitch and flutter seemingly at random; located on the "wings" are the Knight's anterior shield distributors.{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}} Knights have two sets of arms; two large, artificial arms at each shoulder in which the weapons are mounted and two smaller arms below the shoulders. The larger arms are composed of separate segments held in formation through an energy field. Knights also have a comparatively smaller set with small, five-fingered hands. These smaller arms are more "organic" in shape and are physically attached to the Knight's body. Their main locomotion is provided by a pair of extremely powerful legs designed for agility and speed. Broad-set stabilizers support the large body and reinforced joints offer fluid movement despite the Knight's size and mass. At the back of their feet there is a counter-locking system for tactile balance.{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}}


Knights are covered in patterns of light and have a fire-like glow around their heads. The color of this light usually indicates their allegiance. Those with blue lights are controlled or otherwise loyal to the [[Librarian]] or her remnant;<ref>'''Halo 4''' - [[Terminal/Halo 4/Eight|Terminal 7]]</ref> upon the Didact's release from his [[Cryptum]] the Knights' color changed to orange, indicating they had returned to his control.<ref name="forelevel"/> The head features an armored helmet with glowing eyes and what appear to be grimacing jaws with rows of teeth. This helmet assembly can be retracted in two sections, revealing a glowing humanoid skull underneath.<ref name="demo"/> Cortana initially theorized that this is because the Prometheans have mimetic capabilities, and had based the skull on scans taken of the Master Chief, though the skull may in fact be based on that of a Forerunner.
Knights are covered in patterns of light and have a fire-like glow around their heads. The color of this light usually indicates their allegiance. Those with blue lights are controlled or otherwise loyal to the [[Librarian]] or her remnant;<ref>'''Halo 4''' - [[Terminal (Halo 4)/Eight|Terminal 7]]</ref> upon the Didact's release from his [[Cryptum]] the Knights' color changed to orange, indicating they had returned to his control.{{Ref/Reuse|forelevel}} The head features an armored helmet with glowing eyes and what appear to be grimacing jaws with rows of teeth. This helmet assembly can be retracted in two sections, revealing a glowing humanoid skull underneath.{{Ref/Reuse|demo}} Cortana initially theorized that this is because the Prometheans have mimetic capabilities, and had based the skull on scans taken of the Master Chief, though the skull may in fact be based on that of a Forerunner.


==Subtypes==
==Subtypes==
===Actual variants===
===Campaign variants===
*[[Knight Lancer]] - a variant equipped with long-range weaponry, greater mobility and enhanced tracking capabilities.
*[[Knight Lancer]] - a variant equipped with long-range weaponry, greater mobility and enhanced tracking capabilities.
*[[Knight Battlewagon]] - heavily armored variant.
*[[Knight Battlewagon]] - heavily armored variant.
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*[[Endurance-of-Will]]
*[[Endurance-of-Will]]
*[[Lochagos]]
*[[Lochagos]]
*[[Animus]]
*[[Animus-To-Remain]]
*[[Malice]]
*[[Malice-Begets-Demise]]
*[[Sever]]
*[[Habit-To-Sever]]
*[[Rive]]
*[[Rive]]


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*Promethean Knights are "voiced" by [[Wikipedia: Tasmanian devil|Tasmanian devils]].<ref>'''[[The Sprint: Composer]]'''</ref>
*Promethean Knights are "voiced" by [[Wikipedia: Tasmanian devil|Tasmanian devils]].<ref>'''[[The Sprint: Composer]]'''</ref>
*Promethean's small manipulator hands are connected to their bodies, but their weapon arms and legs float free of their body. The legs (as opposed to some form of anti-gravity device) nevertheless seem to support their weight because the body sways and moves in response to the Prometheans' heavy footsteps.
*Promethean's small manipulator hands are connected to their bodies, but their weapon arms and legs float free of their body. The legs (as opposed to some form of anti-gravity device) nevertheless seem to support their weight because the body sways and moves in response to the Prometheans' heavy footsteps.
*The Knight's helmet closely resembles that of a hornless [[FOTUS-class Mjolnir|FOTUS]] helmet.
*The Knight's helmet closely resembles a hornless [[FOTUS-class Mjolnir|FOTUS]] helmet.
*If a Knight boards a vehicle, it can only melee.
*If a Knight boards a vehicle, it can only melee.


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File:H4-Knight-BladeWeapon.png|Detailed closeup of a Promethean Knight's hard-light blade.
File:H4-Knight-BladeWeapon.png|Detailed closeup of a Promethean Knight's hard-light blade.
File:H4-Knight-Standard.png|Alternate preview of a standard Knight.
File:H4-Knight-Standard.png|Alternate preview of a standard Knight.
File:H4-PrometheanKnight-EliteKill.jpg|A Knight dispatches a [[Sangheili Commander]].
File:H4-PrometheanKnight-EliteKill.jpg|A Knight dispatches a [[Commander (Covenant)|Commander]].
File:H4-E3-Campaign-12.jpg|A Knight preparing to engage hostiles.
File:H4-E3-Campaign-12.jpg|A Knight preparing to engage hostiles.
File:H4-BlueKnight-Skull.jpg|A blue Knight revealing its skull.
File:H4-BlueKnight-Skull.jpg|A blue Knight revealing its skull.
File:HTMCC-H4 Knight Slipspace.png|A Knight emerges from slipspace.
File:HTMCC-H4 Knight and Watcher.png|A Promethean Knight with a watcher stored in its back.
File:HTMCC-H4 Promethean Knights.png|Knights observing chief in the Terminus.
File:Knight_skull.jpg|An orange Knight revealing its skull.
File:Knight_skull.jpg|An orange Knight revealing its skull.
File:H4-SpartanOps-4.jpg|A [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartan-IV]] engaging a Knight in close quarters.
File:H4-SpartanOps-4.jpg|A [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartan-IV]] engaging a Knight in close quarters.
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File:H4-Terminal-PrometheanKnight.jpg|A Closeup of a Promethean Knight in the terminals of ''Halo 4''.
File:H4-Terminal-PrometheanKnight.jpg|A Closeup of a Promethean Knight in the terminals of ''Halo 4''.
File:Halo_4_poster.jpg|Poster detailing the 4 variants of the Promethean Knights seen in ''Halo 4''.
File:Halo_4_poster.jpg|Poster detailing the 4 variants of the Promethean Knights seen in ''Halo 4''.
File:H4Terminal-DidactKnights.jpg|The [[Ur-Didact]], surrounded by his newly-created Promethean Knights.
File:HTMCC-H4 Terminals DidactAndKnights.png|The [[Ur-Didact]], surrounded by his newly-created Promethean Knights.
File:BluevsPrometheans.jpg|Promethean Knights attack [[Blue Team]] on [[Installation 03]] in 2557 in ''[[Halo: Escalation]]''.
File:BluevsPrometheans.jpg|Promethean Knights attack [[Blue Team]] on [[Installation 03]] in 2557 in ''[[Halo: Escalation]]''.
File:HE15 Hoya Saved.jpg|A Promethean Knight kicking one of [[Sali 'Nyon|Sali]] [[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant|'Nyon's]] [[Sangheili Zealot]]s during the [[Battle of Aktis IV]] in 2558.
File:HE15 Hoya Saved.jpg|A Promethean Knight kicking one of [[Sali 'Nyon|Sali]] [[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant|'Nyon's]] [[Sangheili Zealot]]s during the [[Battle of Aktis IV]] in 2558.
File:H5GC-ModifiedKnight.jpg|Concept of modified Promethean Knights for ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.
File:H5GC-ModifiedKnight.jpg|Concept of modified Promethean Knights for ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.
File:H5G KnightRedesigns Concept.jpg|Concept art of the redesigned Knights.
File:H5G KnightSideBits Concept.jpg|Concept art of the redesigned Knights' weak points.
File:H5G_Promethean_NewClasses_Concept_1.jpg|More concept art
File:H5G_Promethean_NewClasses_Concept_2.jpg|More concept art
File:H5G-CutKnights.jpg|Cut designs of Knights for ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:H5G-CutKnights.jpg|Cut designs of Knights for ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:H5G-WarzoneKnightMarshal.png|Knight Marshal in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:H5G-WarzoneKnightMarshal.png|Knight Marshal in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
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File:H5G-SadKnight.png|A captured Knight bangs the walls of its cell on [[Genesis]], seemingly depressed.
File:H5G-SadKnight.png|A captured Knight bangs the walls of its cell on [[Genesis]], seemingly depressed.
File:H5G-CryingKnight.png|The same Knight cradling its head in its arms.
File:H5G-CryingKnight.png|The same Knight cradling its head in its arms.
File:H5G-DeadKnight.png|A glitched Knight on Escape From ARC, showing its normally hidden death pose, as well as a Scattershot and Suppressor
File:H5G-DeadKnight2.png|Another image of the same Knight.
File:H5G-DeadKnight3.png|A third image of the Knight, showing its exposed back and core.
File:HM-I03.png|Promethean Knights engaging Blue Team on Installation 03 in ''[[Halo Mythos]]''.
File:HM-I03.png|Promethean Knights engaging Blue Team on Installation 03 in ''[[Halo Mythos]]''.
File:HW2C-Knight.jpg|Concept art of Promethean Knights attacking [[Red Team]] for ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.
File:HW2 ATN Knight Concept.jpg|Concept art of Promethean Knights attacking [[Red Team]] for ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.
</gallery>
</gallery>
{{Linkbox|gameplay=yes|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of Promethean Knights}}{{Clear}}
{{Linkbox|gameplay=yes|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of Promethean Knights}}{{Clear}}
Line 120: Line 130:
*''[[Scanned]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Scanned]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 4]]''  
*''[[Halo 4]]''  
**''[[Terminal/Halo 4|Terminals]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
Line 128: Line 138:
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
*''[[Halo: Epitaph]]''


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}
 
[[Category:Promethean]]
[[Category:Promethean]]
{{Promethean Ranks}}
{{Prometheans}}

Latest revision as of 01:54, February 27, 2024

Promethean Knight
H4-Knight.png
Overview

Role:

Defense, elimination of threats

Weight:

407.3 kg (898 lb)–423.7 kg (934 lb)[1]

Height:

302.3 cm (9 ft 11 in)–328.5 cm (10 ft 9.3 in)[1]

Armament:

 

"I have led you, my Prometheans, for thousands of years, and I shall continue to lead you. Rise! Rise, and protect the Forerunners! Rise, and protect the galaxy!"
— The Didact to his legions of newly created Promethean Knights[2]

Promethean Knights are a class of mechanized Forerunner Promethean warriors created by the Ur-Didact toward the end of the Forerunner-Flood war to combat the Flood. After the Librarian exiled the Ur-Didact on Requiem, several legions of these constructs stationed on the shield world went dormant for the next 100,000 years. The machines—as well as their master—were reawakened in late 2557, when John-117 and the UNSC stumbled upon Requiem.[3][4] By 2558 they, along with several other Promethean constructs, had fallen under control of the Created led by Cortana, who believed the artificial intelligences were the rightful heirs of the Mantle of Responsibility, not humanity.[5]

Overview[edit]

The Promethean Knights are bipedal, fully weaponized mechanical warriors designed to operate and eliminate threats in a wide variety of environments.[3] While the Knights are fully machines, their AI is a result of organic minds transformed into software format via a device called the Composer, unlike the Crawlers or the sentinels which are completely artificial in origin.[1] This extreme measure was intended by the Ur-Didact to create an unstoppable army, completely immune to Flood infection, near the end of the Forerunner-Flood war. The Didact's Promethean Warrior-Servants were the first Knights, but these were too few in number to turn the tide. Desperate for greater numbers and still refusing to accept the Halo Array as a final option, the Didact "conscripted" a large population of humans from Omega Halo to expand his army; this genocidal act was the ultimate reason the Librarian imprisoned her husband. Despite housing harvested human and Forerunner essences, the original personalities are no longer in evidence; the Knights are intelligent, but viciously ruthless in behavior and seemingly lacking any form of free will.[6] A Knight's rank is based on a combination of past military service and "popularity amongst their peer group".[7] Even composed children were converted into Promethean Knights.[8]

Knights carry a single Promethean Watcher sentinel in the back of their armored carapace, which can be deployed at will for combat support. The Watcher's AI is a low-level ancilla split off from the Knight's essence when the Watcher is deployed.[1] The Watcher can greatly improve the Knight's combat capabilities by raising hardlight shields, reviving fallen Knights, summoning Crawlers, building automated turrets, and flinging back enemy grenades while distracting them with its own weaponry.[9]

A Knight launches a pulse grenade.

Promethean Knights utilize a broad arsenal of weapons. For close-quarters combat, they are armed with a hardlight blade on one hand. Each class of Knight has a uniquely shaped blade, totaling six variations amongst them. They also use various Forerunner ranged weapons, such as Scattershots, Suppressors, LightRifles, Binary Rifles, and Incineration Cannons; their dedicated armament largely depends on their class and role. They frequently employ pulse grenades in combat, generating it from the arm-blade's joint.[1] Some subtypes also make use of autosentries, in addition to the support that they can already summon.

Knights are remarkably agile, and in addition to using their limbs for conventional movement they are also capable of translocating over moderate distances, allowing them to either swiftly retreat from the battlefield or to flank their enemies. Although not commonly seen in the field, Knights can also be deployed from warships and are equipped with thruster engines on the sides of their carapace for maneuvering. This capability was used near the end of the Forerunner-Flood war, when Knights were deployed to board and destroy Flood-controlled ships from within.[6]

The Knight's carapace is composed of smartmatter, a form of programmable matter held together by hard light bonds.[10] Upon taking critical damage, Knights completely disintegrate, a process that Cortana described as a "data purge."[11] Their bodies erode away from where the fatal shot was received and dissolve into glowing particles. After disintegration, a small ball of swirling light is left behind for a brief period; a Promethean Watcher can use this remnant to recreate and revive the Knight; however, an individual Knight can only be revived in this manner only once. If a Knight is destroyed, revived, and then destroyed again, the Knight's body disintegrates completely, leaving nothing behind. When a Knight is destroyed, it drops a weapon; after revival, it wields a weapon of the same type even if the first weapon was picked up.

Appearance[edit]

Similar to the other Promethean constructs, as well as some earlier types of Forerunner military automatons,[12] Knights have a number of insectoid attributes; they produce noticeably insect-like clicking sounds and tend to make spasmodic movements, especially when idle. Additionally, their carapace resembles that of an insect and possesses hatches resembling insect wings which frequently twitch and flutter seemingly at random; located on the "wings" are the Knight's anterior shield distributors.[1] Knights have two sets of arms; two large, artificial arms at each shoulder in which the weapons are mounted and two smaller arms below the shoulders. The larger arms are composed of separate segments held in formation through an energy field. Knights also have a comparatively smaller set with small, five-fingered hands. These smaller arms are more "organic" in shape and are physically attached to the Knight's body. Their main locomotion is provided by a pair of extremely powerful legs designed for agility and speed. Broad-set stabilizers support the large body and reinforced joints offer fluid movement despite the Knight's size and mass. At the back of their feet there is a counter-locking system for tactile balance.[1]

Knights are covered in patterns of light and have a fire-like glow around their heads. The color of this light usually indicates their allegiance. Those with blue lights are controlled or otherwise loyal to the Librarian or her remnant;[13] upon the Didact's release from his Cryptum the Knights' color changed to orange, indicating they had returned to his control.[11] The head features an armored helmet with glowing eyes and what appear to be grimacing jaws with rows of teeth. This helmet assembly can be retracted in two sections, revealing a glowing humanoid skull underneath.[9] Cortana initially theorized that this is because the Prometheans have mimetic capabilities, and had based the skull on scans taken of the Master Chief, though the skull may in fact be based on that of a Forerunner.

Subtypes[edit]

Campaign variants[edit]

Warzone variants[edit]

Known Knights[edit]

Trivia[edit]

  • Promethean Knights are "voiced" by Tasmanian devils.[14]
  • Promethean's small manipulator hands are connected to their bodies, but their weapon arms and legs float free of their body. The legs (as opposed to some form of anti-gravity device) nevertheless seem to support their weight because the body sways and moves in response to the Prometheans' heavy footsteps.
  • The Knight's helmet closely resembles a hornless FOTUS helmet.
  • If a Knight boards a vehicle, it can only melee.

Gallery[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]