Unggoy Major

Major
Function:	Infantryman
Species:	Unggoy
Affiliation:	Covenant ; Thel 'Vadam's Covenant faction

Unggoy Major is a common Unggoy rank in the Covenant military.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Background

Role

Unggoy Majors are higher in rank than Minors and are slightly more powerful than their lesser counterparts in terms of strength, intelligence, leadership, and morale. They often lead Minor Grunts in battle, and sometimes entire lances when no higher caste species are present. However, even these higher-ranked Unggoy hold no power over any other forces in Covenant society.

Appearances

Grunt Majors mostly appear leading a squad of Grunt Minors under the leadership of any Sangheili, even a Minor. They usually appear wherever Grunt Minors do. They are found in almost all the levels in the Halo games where Covenant forces are encountered. In Halo 3, not much changes for Grunt Majors, as they are still lead by the lowest ranks of the highest Covenant society, which at this time are Brutes. They are usually led by Jiralhanae Minors to Jiralhanae Captain Ultras. They also fight alongside Drones, Jackals, and even Hunters on occasion. In Halo: Reach, Majors' methane tanks are distinctly shaped like dual columns.

Description

They are seen in combat as decorated in lucid red-colored armor (similar to their Elite counterparts), contrary to the orange armor of Minor Grunts. They are more courageous as well, often staying to fight under conditions that would make their lesser brethren flee. If all of their commanders, Sangheili or Jiralhanae, are killed, they will sometimes continue to fight. However, they still aren't very courageous and can more often be observed fleeing along with Minor Grunts, though they are more likely to go kamikaze than the Minors. They usually fight alongside a combined team of other Unggoy and Kig-Yar, and have command over the former. Grunt Majors are the first enemy to wield the hand-held Type-33 fuel rod gun in the Halo series. They were first seen utilizing these deadly weapons after the player had destroyed the first Pulse Generator in the Halo: Combat Evolved level, Two Betrayals. They also know to use equipment on occasion.^[4]

Deployment

During combat, Majors are usually the first ones to jump out of the Type-52 Phantoms. They are known to combine their forces in battle often. The Majors will also pair up and fight together with numerous subordinate Unggoy and even Kig-Yar or Yanme'e soldiers.

Combat

Major Grunts are only slightly stronger than their lesser brothers, and are easily taken down with a headshot. In Halo: Combat Evolved, Grunt Majors could be taken out with a single headshot or a couple of body shots. In Halo 3, they are stronger and may require two body shots on Heroic and Legendary.

Sometimes Minor Grunts will still fight even if the Brute or Elite leading them is dead, if a Major Grunt is nearby, though this is very uncommon. The Majors will sometimes be seen leading a small pack of Grunt Minors by themselves, but this is rare as well. The presence of Grunt Majors seems to improve the Minors' accuracy slightly in Halo 3 (possibly because of the stern and almost fierce new influence the Brutes have over the Grunts). Major Grunts also throw Plasma Grenades more often than Minors.

Gallery

An Unggoy Major within Halo: Combat Evolved.
Detailed view of an Unggoy Major in Halo: Combat Evolved.
An Unggoy Major in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.
An Unggoy Major in Halo 2.
An Unggoy Major from Halo: Reach wielding a Needler.
An Unggoy Major on High Charity. Note the black skin and eyes, less reflective armor, and a helmet.
An alerted Major stands ready near Voi, Kenya, with a standard plasma pistol.
A group of grunts including four Grunt Majors, a Grunt Heavy, a Grunt Minor, and a Grunt Ultra.
4 Grunts.jpg

A group of Grunt Minors are lead by a Major.
Unggoy Majors as they appear in Halo: Reach
A column of Unggoy in Halo: Reach.
A render of a Unggoy Major as it appears in Halo 3.
An Unggoy Major in Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary.