Summary
A great Sci-Fi universe usually needs some great alien designs, especially when those aliens play a pivotal role in the series' narrative. Thankfully,Halohas some of thebest alien designsin all of gaming, with its Covenant antagonists boasting some incredibly unique visual designs, some great gameplay mechanics, and some surprisingly deep lore.
In the currentHalocanon, the Covenant is made up of eight different alien species, all of whom have been indoctrinated under one common religion, often referred to as ‘The Great Journey.’ Led by the Prophets, the Covenant searches the stars for relics left behind by an ancient race known as the Forerunners, and they stop at nothing to ensure that they’re the only faction in the galaxy able to wield these mysterious artifacts, bringing them to war with humanity. While all of the Covenant’s units are iconic, their capability for violence varies quite heavily between them.
S-Tier Covenant Units in Halo
The Most Deadly Covenant Units
As mentioned above, the Covenant is home to eight different species, and the three included in this tier are by far the most deadly of the lot. Starting with arguably the most iconic enemy intheHalofranchise, Elites are the glue that holds the Covenant together, at least in the vast majority ofHaloentries. Often seen leading a pack of Grunts, Elites are usually equipped with sturdy shields, fierce plasma rifles, and a range of other tools that can quickly kill any standard UNSC soldier, and give a fully-trained Spartan a run for their money. When equipped with stronger armor and a power weapon such as an Energy Sword or Fuel Rod Cannon, Elites become a true force of nature.
Introduced inHalo 2, the Brutes begin as a secondary threat to the Elites, but take center stage inHalo 3as one of the primary threats to humanity. Though they often lack shields, Brutes are equipped with heavy armor and weapons that are even deadlier than the Elites' plasma arsenal. Brutes also have a penchant for going into a berserker rage, where they can charge and leap across battlefields and deliver powerful melee attacks.
Hunters should also be considered some of the strongest Covenant units. Though they’re technically just a collection of orange worm-like creatures that form a sort of strong symbiosis, Hunters are extremely deadly to humans, wearing full sets of armor that cover most of their flesh, and sporting giganticFuel Rod Cannonsthat can blow apart vehicles with ease.
A-Tier Covenant Units in Halo
Covenant Units That Pack a Punch
Though they can technically be killed quite easily, Jackals are some of the Covenant’s more formidable warriors. While less-equipped Jackals wielding a simple Plasma Pistol and a point defense gauntlet can be killed easily, long-range snipers equipped with a Beam Rifle can be extremely dangerous, capable of killing a Spartan with just one well-placed shot. Asubspecies of Kig-Yar, Skirmishers are also strong fighters, zipping around the battlefield at high speeds and blocking oncoming fire with small arm-mounted shields.
B-Tier Covenant Units in Halo
Covenant Units That Put Up a Fight
While they can technically be killed with just one accurate shot,the Covenant’s Dronesare much trickier than they appear. Capable of flying around at high speeds and swarming enemies in great numbers, Drones pose a significant threat to those without heavy armor. Prophets, on the other hand, pose a much lower threat to oncoming attackers, essentially being frail beings stuck in a floating chair. However, those floating chairs are often equipped with some powerful Covenant technology, making them still a sizable threat.
C-Tier Covenant Units in Halo
Covenant Cannon Fodder
At the very bottom of the barrel,Halo’s Gruntsare primarily used as cannon fodder by the Covenant, being sent in droves to die at the hands of the enemy in an attempt to thin their numbers. Though some Grunts can get a hold of some powerful weapons, and some are willing to sacrifice their lives in an explosive display of zealotry, they can all be killed very easily. Finally, there are the Engineers, who land at the bottom of this list by default as they’re simply a support unit for the rest of the Covenant’s forces.
Halo Infinite
WHERE TO PLAY
When all hope is lost and humanity’s fate hangs in the balance, the Master Chief is ready to confront the most ruthless foe he’s ever faced. Step inside the armor of humanity’s greatest hero to experience an epic open-world adventure and explore the massive scale of the Halo ring.With Network Campaign Co-Op and Mission Replay, you can relive your favorite moments, rediscover collectibles and explore the wonders of Zeta Halo on your own or with up to three other fireteam members.Experience Halo’s celebrated multiplayer reimagined and free-to-play! With over 70 maps in matchmaking, billions of customization configurations, and countless community Forge creations to experience, Halo Infinite is the franchise’s most expansive multiplayer offering to date.Enjoy an unprecedented variety of gameplay experiences, ranging from fast-paced intense ranked modes to whimsical mayhem in Custom Games, or even co-operative coordination in the wave-based survival mode Firefight: King of the Hill. Assemble your Fireteam and conquer every mode – Halo offers endless opportunities for teamwork, strategy, and unforgettable victories.
