Kig-Yar

The Kig-yar (Latin Perosus latrunculus, or Jackals as Humans call them, serve as snipers and scouts within the Covenant due to their exceptional senses of sight, smell and hearing. They were the first Covenant species encountered by UNSC ground forces.

Background
They commonly carry Plasma Pistols, but may also be found carrying Plasma Rifles, Needlers and Carbines. Sniper Jackals are equipped with Super-Cooled Accelerated Charged Particle Beam Rifles or Covenant Carbines for maximum damage and range, in addition to a Plasma Pistol for close combat. In addition, all but the snipers carry a powerful handheld energy shield. The most effective way of killing them is to throw a grenade behind their shield or to melee-attack them. At 5'8 ", Jackals are somewhat smaller than the average human. It should be noted that the Halo manual claims that Jackals are five feet eight inches tall.

In Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, the Jackals are always first encountered during the second level. The Jackals are never found on human ships for some odd reason. This may have something to do with the fact that their shields seem vulnerable to melee damage, limiting the Jackals' deployment options and make them vulnerable to close combat fighting. However, in Halo 3, they are encountered on the first level, Sierra 117.

Unlike Humans or Elites, Jackals are not brave and are by no means willing to give their life for the good of the Covenant, for example, when you approach a sniper jackal, it will drop it's weapon and pull out it's plasma pistol and start running away. This is due mostly to the fact that they are merely mercenaries, rather than religious fanatics. In battle, Jackals share many similarities with Grunts. Like Grunts, they are a weak subordinate race and are somewhat cowardly. Despite their efforts to assure the Covenant of their superiority over the Grunts, they often cower in battle and run away with their shields up in the air. This is not done nearly as often as the Grunts, but it is a reminder that Jackals are not much better than Grunts. These attributes make Jackals one of the more hated members of the Covenant, unlike Elites or Grunts.

Culture


Unlike races such as the Grunts, the Kig-Yar were space-faring long before joining the Covenant. As such, the Jackals are unique among Covenant species: rather than faithful followers of the Prophets' religion, they are mercenaries working for the Covenant and pay only the barest lip service to the Great Journey however due to the long time they have been in the Covenant it is possible some or many have accepted the Covenant religion. In their quest for profit, Jackals frequently operate as "privateers" (with commissions granted by the Ministry of Tranquility) against civilian human vessels.

When inducted into the Covenant, the Kig-Yar were intended to replace the Grunts as the Covenant's footsoldiers but the temperament of the Jackals made such a change impractical. Instead, they were placed in roles that suited their abilities such as scouts and being in teams of commando units which allowed the exploitation of their fine senses in the battlefield. They are also deployed as police forces on occupied worlds though this was always done under the supervision of a member of the higher castes. The reason for this duty was unclear as its not known if the Covenant feel that the Grunts could not be trusted with such roles or if the predatory nature of the Jackals allowed them a greater ability to police planets. 

Jackals have little status in the Covenant hierarchy, and are subservient to all but the Grunts. Although they technically stand as equals with the Grunts, the reality is that Jackals are usually in an elevated position. While the other races consider the Grunts beneath notice, the Jackals are often purposefully cruel to them in order to assure themselves of their own superiority.

Like the other lower caste members of the Covenant, the Jackals are not represented on the High Council but are instead vetted by the Ministry of Concert. However, unlike the other castes, the Kig-Yar do not vocally complain about their position but instead have chosen to siphon off resources to their brothers but whether the Covenant leadership was aware of this is unknown. 

Jackals are not permitted by the Elites to have more than one name, but Jackal society had never placed a premium on such things, so they don't care. Jackal names are invariably single syllable, with two consonants and one vowel, such as Yeg, Jak, and Bok. The ranking authorities in Covenant society have been known to feed prisoners to Jackals, perhaps indicating that the Jackals are more bloodthirsty and cruel than previously seen in combat.

Rank Structure

 * Jackal Minors: are signified by a blue/cobalt armor and turquoise arm shield and serve as general infantry. In Halo: Combat Evolved some also had very dark green, almost black skin, and a distinct, curved head. In the first Halo game, many had helmets as well. They occasionally attack with a charged plasma pistol shot, depleting the player's shields.
 * Jackal Majors: are slightly more elevated and are signified by an orange shield and orange armor. Not much is different about their appearance other than their shield color and, in Halo 2, the clothing under their armor, which is orange. They fire charged plasma pistol shots more often than minors.
 * Sniper Jackals: have gray armor and do not carry energy shields, as both their hands are used to operate Beam Rifles or Carbines, the Covenant long range sniper weapon. On the Heroic and Legendary difficulties, one shot may be all it takes for a beam rifle to kill the player. However, if sufficient distance is closed, they may drop their Beam Rifle and bring out a Plasma Pistol as they retreat from an advancing opponent. In Halo 2 they can also be identified with having gray clothing under their armor and are easily seen because of their bright orange eyes that tend to stand out.
 * Ranger Jackals: are now a defunct section of the Covenant ranks. They once operated alongside Ranger Elites, but it is speculated they have since been replaced by Drones.

Unknown
In Halo: Ghosts of Onyx a high ranking Jackal in Red armor is mentioned but it is unsure where these red armor Jackals fit in to the ranking scheme. It is assumed to be above Jackal Majors. Assuming that like all other Jackals, their shield will be similar in color to its armor, red or yellow is a good possibility.

Jackal Anatomy and Physiology
Jackals are vaguely avian in appearance, with feather-like quills on their heads and arms, and taloned, bird-like feet. They have three fingers on each hand including an opposable thumb. Jackals have exhibited both beaks and needle sharp teeth. Such a great variation may be indicative of two species of Jackal.

Though they are not a low-g species, they do have many qualities that are shared with species from low-g worlds. The female of the species lack the spiny plumage of the male; replacing it with calloistic plates at the forearms and the rear of the head. Aside from the differences in reproductive organs, the male and females of the species are somewhat identical in appearance with no physical disparity or mass distribution between the sexes. 

ONI scientists have noted a great variance in skin tone and color between Jackals, usually a dark orange or green, and some are mottled or spotted with markings of various color. The purpose of color variation in Jackals is unknown, though it has been speculated to be tribal tattooing or camouflage suitable for their home world. Although the Jackals vary in skin color, their blood is purple in color similar to that of Elites, possibly showing a similar genetic or chemical makeup.

Jackals seen thus far in the games have been predominantly left-handed; none have been seen wielding a firearm with their right hand. All Jackals wear their shields on their right arm.

The boots that Jackals wear are shaped similarly to the feet of birds. The number of bird-like physiological traits could be an indication of Avian ancestry. Several other bird features include keen eyesight, three fingers like the first birds and possibly hollowed bones because they are fragile against melee attacks.

Changes from Halo: Combat Evolved to Halo 2


In Halo: Combat Evolved, the Jackals wore more armor, and often had helmets, had shorter, stubbier beaks, more jewel-like eyes, and came in two skin color variations: dark green and dark orange. In Halo 2, they are more avian looking and have only an orange skin color. It is unknown why these changes happened, and if the Halo 2 Jackals are a different variety/race of Jackals than the ones in Halo or if the changes were mostly just graphical. Besides the aesthetic differences, there has also been changes in the way the Jackal Personal Arm Shield works and looks, and the addition of a sniper rank. In neither game do Jackals utilize Plasma Grenades, although they do carry grenades in Halo 2.

In Halo: Combat Evolved, Jackals hunt predominantly in pairs, usually one major and a minor, 2 minors, or sometimes 2 majors (though more than one pair may be present in certain areas). In Halo 2, shielded Jackals work primarily in teams upwards of four, though they are occasionally found in pairs. Sniper Jackals can also be found working in teams on occasions.

Speculated changes in Halo 3
Jackals appear to be able to wield Covenant Carbines without having to be given them. This may or may not have been a beta build change, and has yet to be confirmed as in the final shipment of the game.


 * The changes look like the Jackals may wear more armor to better protect themselves, so it may be more difficult to kill a Jackal from behind.

Trivia

 * 'Kig-Yar' is Breton for 'chicken' and (Phonetic) Welsh for 'chicken meat'.
 * One of the things that Jackals say is 'Hackata! Hoo-ya!' As Jackals say reversed human phrases, this, when translated, means "You! Attack!".
 * Several pieces of Jackal dialog are English sentences that have been reversed and sped up.
 * Although Jackals in Halo 2 carry grenades, they are never seen using them. This is likely because of the fact that, in terms of game mechanics, they 'dual-wield' their energy shield with whatever other weapon they are carrying.
 * When playing as the Arbiter, you may give Jackals Plasma Pistols, Plasma Rifles, Needlers, Magnums, SMGs and even Shotguns. They may also be given Carbines and Battle Rifles; however, this is due to a glitch, and the animation is flawed. On a modded level of "Outskirts" where you play as a Jackal, you can pick up human Sniper Rifles because the sniping weapons have the same tags. And the animation is near perfect too.
 * Jackals will eat Grunt meat whenever possible. Grunts also sometimes get fed to the Jackals for making errors in combat.
 * In Halo 2, Jackals feature a reloading animation for the Needler, and the Needler only.
 * All Jackals shoot left handed, including the use of sniper weapons, and are the only Covenant to do so. (with the exception of Rtas 'Vadum)
 * When you kill a Jackal, if you look at their eyes, they flicker on and off.
 * The only level where Jackals spawn with different weapons is on the level Delta Halo, they spawn with Plasma Rifles, at the part where Cortana says: "We're coming up on another structure". They should be right in front of you on a structure.
 * The most likely reason Jackals can't become flood is to do with their frail bone structure.

Related Links

 * Jackal Point Defense Gauntlet


 * Jackals Unlimited Plasma Pistols