Brutes

• from Halo, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST

A Jiralhanae Captain standing tall (Halo 3)

Brutes, or Jiralhanae, are a race that has been identified as a recent addition to the Covenant collective. From their muscular ape-like appearance, it is clear that the Brutes are warriors and should be regarded with extreme caution on the battlefield. The Brute weapons allow them to strike at targets from a distance yet also come equipped with a fearsome blade for up-close melee confrontations.

In Halo 2[edit]

In Halo 2, Brutes had no armor or energy shields, but made up for it in their strength and ability to take lots of direct damage. The Brutes were very ferocious and didn't hesitate to charge directly at enemies when they berserk. Berserking Brutes move rapidly and home in on your position to attempt to smash into you - when confronted with several charging Brutes be careful - they can make quick work of you even with your shields at full. Charging Brutes injure themselves when they miss their target and ram into walls and stationary objects - you will notice that Brutes actually ram themselves to death. A good strategy to use when dealing with charging Brutes is to jump out of their way at the last moment before they leap forwards. Backpedal and shoot them with rapid fire weapons - Plasma Rifles and Needlers are especially effective against Brutes. The Brutes were overall uncontrollable.

In Halo 3[edit]

Brutes in Halo 3 were pretty much the new elites. They are deployed with armor and more or less remained out of the combat to command their Covenant soldiers. The Brutes had become more tactical. The typical Brute armour is blue in colour - some blue armoured Brutes can be killed in game modes up to Heroic by a single well placed head shot by a Sniper Rifle. When a Brute is injured his armour shatters and falls apart. After this they are more vulnerable to common weapons and easily dispatched.

Halo 3 also introduces the Brute Chieftains. The Chieftains often have the ability to turn invincible for a short time, had distinct armor, and usually has a Gravity Hammer, Fuel Rod Cannon or Plasma Turret. Brutes always travel in packs. There is an abundance of them in battle, as they have a population on their home plant of over 20 billion. If hurt badly, a Brute may tear his armor off and charge you, however, unlike in Halo 2, a charging Brute in Halo 3 moves slower and is generally less menacing.

Brute Ranks[edit]

Infantry[edit]

Brute Minor - Light Teal Armor

Brute Major - Light Blue Armor

Brute Ultra - Light Purple Armor

Leaders[edit]

Brute Captain - Heavy Purple & Red Armor

Brute Captain Major - Heavy Gold Armor

Brute Captain Ultra - Heavy Blue Armor

Heroes[edit]

Brute Chieftain w/ Weapon - Ornate Black & Red Armor

Brute Chieftain w/ Armor - Super-Heavy Black Armor