In the Halo TV series, the Sangheili, commonly known as Elites to the UNSC, are a prominent alien species. They serve as a leading faction within the Covenant, a religious alliance on a crusade against humanity in the name of their gods, The Forerunners. Second only to the Prophets, Elites form the backbone of the Covenant’s military and are frequent adversaries of Master Chief John-117 (Pablo Schreiber).
Resembling their depiction in the original Halo video games and books, Elites are saurian creatures with reptilian skin, long necks, and quadruple-hinged mandibles. As bipedal beings, they are tall and formidable opponents, often clad in various forms of armor. Even skilled UNSC Spartans like Master Chief and Silver Team find them challenging to defeat.
Throughout the Halo TV series, Elites play a significant role in the conflict with humanity, showcasing their history within the Covenant and their relentless pursuit of victory.
Backstory of the (Covenant) & Elites
Before the Covenant alliance formed, the Sangheili, also known as Elites, revered the Forerunners as gods. Alongside the San’Shyuum, who later became the Prophets, they worshiped these ancient beings. Over time, as conflicts raged, the Elites deferred to the Prophets’ “wisdom” regarding Forerunner enlightenment. This led to the formation of the Covenant, uniting various subservient castes such as the Kig-Yar (Jackals) and Unggoy (Grunts) with the goal of acquiring and utilizing Forerunner relics for greater ascension, including the Halo rings.
Within the Covenant, the Sangheili became the protectors of the Prophets, while the Prophets themselves delved into Forerunner studies in pursuit of “The Great Journey.” Elites assumed strategic roles as tacticians and military leaders, directing Grunts and Jackals against the UNSC and their Spartans, whom the Prophets deemed the primary obstacle to their Great Journey. However, the Sangheili’s allegiance to the Covenant would eventually be challenged as the truth concealed by the Prophets about humanity came to light.
Where do the Elites (Sangheili) Originate From
The Sangheili, commonly known as Elites, hail from their homeworld Sangheilios. Initially, Sangheilios served as the primary outpost for the Covenant before the construction of High Charity, a massive space station that became the Covenant’s political and religious center.
However, Sangheilios experienced prolonged periods of civil unrest, particularly after the Human-Covenant War, during which factions of the Sangheili broke away from the Covenant.
While Sangheilios remained significant even after the construction of High Charity, it’s unlikely to be featured in the Halo television series. The series is set amidst the Human-Covenant War and events preceding the first Halo game. However, Paramount’s show operates within its own timeline, with deviations from the game and novel canon already occurring. Therefore, a potential visit to Sangheilios remains a possibility.
How Powerful (Strong) are Elites?
In the Halo universe, the combat prowess of Sangheili Elites is comparable to that of UNSC Spartans, thanks to their advanced combat armor systems. Despite being more agile, Elites have exposed sections between their armor plating, which skilled Spartans can exploit.
Elites are often seen wielding plasma-based energy swords, a formidable weapon on the battlefield. Additionally, they utilize a variety of plasma-based rifles and pistols.
In combat scenarios, Elites typically lead squads of Grunts and Jackals, who serve as cannon fodder. This strategy mirrors the dynamics seen in both the Halo show and games, with Elites emerging as the most frequently featured Covenant race on-screen.
Elites Ability to Turn Invisible!
Many Elites are equipped with active camo generators integrated into their combat armor. This technology renders the Sangheili nearly invisible by bending light around their bodies and armor, making them ideal for stealth missions, infiltrations, and assassinations. However, the energy demands of active camo limit its duration, preventing Elites from remaining invisible for extended periods.
Skilled Spartans, relying on their heightened senses, can detect Elites using active camo even when invisible, providing a countermeasure against this stealth technology.
How the Elites Fit into Halo Season 2 (& Future Seasons)
In the first season of Halo, the presence of a Brute suggests that tensions between the Sangheili and the Prophets may arise much earlier than the Covenant’s Great Schism, depicted in the second Halo game. Originally known as the Jiralhanae, Brutes were the final race to join the Covenant and harbored animosity toward the Sangheili.
The Prophets exploited this tension to replace the Sangheili with the Brutes, especially as many Elites began questioning their leadership and the hidden truths about the Forerunners’ connection to humanity. This manipulation ultimately leads to an alliance between the UNSC and some Elites later in the original Halo timeline.
It remains to be seen whether Halo’s second season will hint at these growing tensions between the Elites and Prophets or reference the eventual alliance between the UNSC and certain Elites.
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