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Sangheili harness

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

Three varieties of Sangheili harness.

Sangheili harness refers to a wide variety of armor systems used by the Sangheili soldiers of the Covenant and its splinter groups. The differences between harnesses depend on rank, function, or style. Some harnesses are used by Sangheili of many ranks, while others are more restricted.[1] High-ranking Sangheili may choose between a standard or ornamental design.[2][3] Gold coloration is universally associated with field command authority.[4][5][6] The Sangheili harness is almost always equipped with energy shielding, with some variants featuring enhanced shields.[7] It also boosts the speed and strength of its user, though it remains less effective than the human-made MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor.[8]

The Covenant Empire originally applied a fairly structured coding for both combat and ceremonial roles—with Sangheili-derived livery choices subsisting on the margin.[1] After the empire's collapse, the armor color coding loosened significantly.[6]

Though the combat harness is only one variant among many other Sangheili harnesses, the term "combat" is sometimes used off-handedly in a synecdochical manner when referring to other Sangheili harnesses, as the combat harness is the most basic, well-known, and widespread armor variant.[9][10]

Sangheili harness variants

Arbiter body armor

Main article: Arbiter body armor

The Arbiter armors were an extremely rare type of harness only donned by ancient Sangheili judge-kings, and by specific Sangheili appointed by the Hierarchs during the Covenant era.[11][12]

Artifact retrieval harness

Main article: Heretic Sangheili#Equipment

This harness was used to recover Forerunner artifacts. It has a breathing apparatus that enables breathing in hazardous environments. Sesa 'Refumee's detachment used this set.

Ascetic harness

Main article: Ascetic harness

The Ascetic harness is an ancient design utilized by a religious order that was reactivated during the Great Schism. It features a traditional bladed mandible guard.[13]

Assault harness

Main article: Assault harness

The Assault harness is an ancient type of armor that is fully sealed. Formerly restricted by the Covenant, dissident Sangheili decided to reuse it during the Covenant civil war.[14]

Ceremonial battle harness

Main article: Sangheili Zealot#Ceremonial battle harness

The ceremonial battle harness refers to an ornamental armor used by some chapters of Sangheili Zealots.[12][3][15] A variation is also used by the Field Marshal subclass.

Combat harness

Main article: Sangheili combat harness

The combat harness is the ubiquitous armor system available to Sangheili of all ranks. The armor exists in a wide range of colors, and there are slight funtional and aesthetic variations.[12][2]

Commander-class harness

Main article: Sangheili Commander#Armor

The Commander-class harness is fielded by Sangheili who were experienced officers of the Covenant.[12][16] It has an ornate helmet very similar to that of the Officer variant.[17]

Commando harness

Main article: Commando harness

The Commando harness is a lighter and sturdier variant. It is equipped with hardened communications gear and uplink capabilities, for use by Commando Units.[14]

Flight harness

Main article: Flight harness

The Flight harness is a sealed armor destined for pilots of space fighters, such as the Tarasque heavy fighter and the Gigas fighter-bomber.[14]

General harness

Main article: Sangheili General#Armor configuration

The harness used by Generals is golden, signifying their role as field masters. It features a command helmet.[18]

Hesduros Zealot-class harness

Main article: Sangheili Zealot#Hesduros-inspired design

The harness's design is used by Zealots and Kaidons who originate from Hesduros. This traditional armor has a very organic, irregular surface.[19]

High Councilor harness

Main article: Sangheili High Councilor#Equipment

The High Councilors were equipped with a large, ornamental helmet.[2] A similar but highly stylized version of this armor was also in use for Imperial Admirals.[20]

Honor Guard harness

Main article: Sangheili Honor Guardsman

The harness was a highly ornamented, ceremonial equipment issued to Sangheili Honor Guardsmen.[2][21] The elite Lights of Sanghelios wore a bright-white base armor variant, instead of crimson red.[22]

Infiltration harness

Main article: Infiltration harness

The Infiltration harness is an armor equipped with active camouflage technology.[23] As such, it is commonly used by Special Operations and Stealth Sangheili.[3][15]

Invader harness

Main article: Invader harness

The Invader harness was a ceremonial armor used by Sangheili hunting lodges. Since the dissolution of the Covenant, it has been modernized for combat against the Jiralhanae.[24]

Kaidon harness

Main article: Kaidon harness

The noble Kaidons have donned a variety of ceremonial battledresses with different styles and colors throughout Sangheili history.[12][25][26]

Officer harness

Main article: Sangheili Major#Officer

Contrary to standard Majors who use the combat harness, the Officer subclass is equipped with a more ornate harness and helmet.[27] It exists in dark golden red and matte burgundy.[3][15]

Outrider harness

Main article: Outrider harness

The Outrider harness is an upgraded armor destined to improve survivability and effectiveness for its user, especially during risky missions on frontier worlds.[24]

Ranger harness

Main article: Ranger harness

The Ranger harness is a sealed armor used for extra-vehicular activity. There are many variations, including some derived from the Assault or Storm platforms.[28][29][30]

Storm harness

Main article: Storm harness

The Storm harness is a variant produced by Lodam Armory originally for specialized shock troopers who operated on frontier worlds. The Storm variant gained prominence during the Sangheili civil war.[12][30]

Ultra-class armor

Main article: Ultra-class armor

The armor is mostly worn by Sangheili Ultras, though it is not restricted to them. It is typically of a glistening white.[31] Some feature secondary red markings and a crested helmet.[3]

Warrior-class harness

Main article: Sangheili Warrior#Armor

The Warrior-class harness is reinforced with a shield-bolstering pauldron system. It also has an accentuated helmet design.[32] The armor is typically golden, signifying a command position.

Human derivatives

After the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC, ONI and various private corporations started developing a number of armor permutations based on Sangheili armor technology for the MJOLNIR (GEN2) platform. This was done either by cooperating with human-allied Sangheili—like those from the Swords of Sanghelios—, or by independent research, testing, and reverse-engineering, sometimes bordering on disrespect for safety protocols.

The ANUBIS-class helmet's enhanced sensor suite was developed in collaboration with Sangheili, though ONI security paranoia has slowed technology integration.[33] The COPPERHEAD's external appearance and heads-up display bear Sangheili features, though it was not built from Sangheili technology properly. This Mjolnir variant is for militarized anthropology, including xenoanthropology.[33] The FREEBOOTER's seamless nanofabricated armor panels hint at a Sangheili trade link. It is produced by Beweglichkeitsrüstungsysteme.[33] The VALKYRIE-class Mjolnir is fully compatible with all known human and Covenant flight systems alike.[33]

Sangheili-sourced high-tier nanolaminates and scanning elements make the Dauntless sensor grid and faceplate outrageously expensive even by Watershed Division standards.[33] The Saturnine VISR hardware is fully compatible with Sangheili combat harness power and data feeds, leading some to believe it is intended for export.[33]

The HELIOSKRILL was developed by a Sangheili artisan-armorer prodigy who managed to crack through the MJOLNIR platform thanks to her skill. This Mjolnir variant is produced by Kolaar Manufactorum. The name comes from a predatory creature from Sanghelios.[33]

Gallery

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ a b Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - Clarity & Grace
  2. ^ a b c d Halo 2: Anniversary
  3. ^ a b c d e Halo: Reach
  4. ^ Halo 2: The Official Strategy Guide, page 141
  5. ^ Halo: The Great Journey: The Art of Building Worlds, page 52
  6. ^ a b HaloArchive: Canon Fodder Thread GrimBrother One's comment
  7. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, pages 57, 60
  8. ^ Halo Encyclopedia, page 131 (2011 edition)
  9. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, pages 56, 60
  10. ^ Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, pages 28, 48
  11. ^ Halo 2: Anniversary: Terminals
  12. ^ a b c d e f Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - Fighting Words
  13. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 56
  14. ^ a b c Halo 3
  15. ^ a b c Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
  16. ^ Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 47
  17. ^ Halo 4
  18. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 57
  19. ^ Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, pages 27, 49
  20. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles
  21. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 95
  22. ^ Halo Waypoint: Covenant Honor Guard
  23. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 59
  24. ^ a b Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - Marching On
  25. ^ Halo Waypoint: Arbiter Thel Vadam
  26. ^ Ultra-Combo.com: Arbiter’s Colors & Accessories
  27. ^ Halo Encyclopedia, page 135 (2011 edition)
  28. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 58
  29. ^ Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - Brute Force
  30. ^ a b Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - Fury's Road
  31. ^ Halo Waypoint: Hints and Heroes
  32. ^ Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, pages 29, 48
  33. ^ a b c d e f g Halo 5: Guardians