Halo Infinite is the first in the series to have an open world in the campaign to explore. Other past Halo games had a focused mission structure like other first-person shooters. However, Halo Infinite lets you explore a vast area while taking down outposts and completing side missions. Missions must be completed linearly, but how you get there is up to you. Throughout the world, you encounter various enemies in Halo Infinite.
Some enemies are new, and some are old. You might even run into a semi-boss out in the world between Halo Infinite missions that has a unique weapon for you to add to your arsenal. This guide will go over the many types of enemies you will see during your journey. Some of Halo Infinite’s enemies are way more dangerous than others, especially on higher difficulties.
Grunts
Let’s start this list off with the most familiar and common enemy in the Halo universe, Grunts. Grunts are short, bipedal aliens that come in different ranks in Halo Infinite. Each one serves a different purpose and can be very dangerous if left unchecked.
Grunt Minors are the most common and are easy to take down. They typically wield the Plasma Pistol. They will also run away a lot, especially when their allies start to die. This may not be only for Minor Grunts, but they aren’t afraid to go suicide bomber. They will ignite 2 Plasma Grenades in hand and start running toward the player. On rare occasions, one of their bigger allies might chuck them towards you, as in the whole grunt. It is equally hilarious and terrifying.
Grunt Majors are the same as Minors, but are tougher, have more health, and usually have a Needler instead. Majors were also seen using the Fuel Rod Cannon in previous Halo games, but they don’t seem to use power weapons in Halo Infinite.
Finally, Grunt Ultra is the highest-ranked Grunt enemy in Halo Infinite. They can be easily spotted due to their white armor. These Grunts fire more frequently and toss many grenades in Halo Infinite. Grunt Ultras usually use the Disruptor instead of a Needler or Plasma Pistol.
Jackals
The next enemy on our list is the Jackal. Jackals are tall, thin aliens that use personal energy shields to deflect incoming fire. Their shields can be taken down with enough firepower, but be careful as they will try to flank you when your guard is down. Depending on the variation of the Jackal, they can wield different weapons. Most will wield their shield and a one-handed weapon like the plasma pistol.
Their shield can be taken down quickly with a plasma-type weapon. Once their shield is gone, Jackals become much easier to take down. Jackals have very low health and can be killed with a couple of shots of any kinetic weapon.
On the other hand, Jackal Snipers are scary and can be a pain to deal with. On lower difficulties, they aren’t much of a problem. However, on Heroic or Legendary, these enemies will rip you to shreds from afar. They wield the deadly Stalker Rifle with perfect precision. You will need to find cover fast and kill them quickly. These Jackals still have relatively low health, so find a good ranged kinetic weapon, like the Battle Rifle or Sniper, to pick them off.
Enemy Elites in Halo Infinite
Elites are large, powerful aliens that wear blue armor and utilize a shield similar to Spartans to protect them in combat. The tall and ferocious Halo Infinite enemies come in various ranks and colors depending on their role. The lower-ranking Elites are easier to take down but can still pack a punch. They will often lunge with an Energy Sword at you. Higher-ranking Elites are much tougher and may have Active Camo on as well.
Elite Majors are more powerful than regular elites and wield various weapons in Halo Infinite. Their armor color is usually red to help spot them out more easily. Other than these key differences, their in-game behavior is mostly the same.
Some Elites wear golden armor and use the Heatwave and the Energy Sword. These golden armored warriors are the toughest Elites to take down, so it is best to bring a power weapon to take them down. Also, be careful some Elite will be using Active Camo, even while roaming. So you might start a fight and get ambushed real quick.
Brutes
Brutes are large, heavily-armored aliens that are incredibly tough to take down. These monstrosities have a close resemblance to an ape or gorilla. They typically use the Gravity Hammer but are also equipped with Brute manufactured guns like the Mangler or Shock Rifle. Like the other enemies in Halo Infinite, Brutes come in different ranks, with the higher-ranking Brutes being much more dangerous.
Brutes, in general, have a lot more health compared to other Elites. This may be because they don’t have shields. They will usually have helmets, though. This requires multiple shots to take off and makes them vulnerable to headshots.
Brute Snipers will use the Skewer or Shock Rifle from long range. However, these Brute types seem to have the least amount of health. A couple of headshots will do the trick. Also, because the Skewer and Shock Rifle fire slower than the Stalker Rifle, you have more time to find cover and take them down.
Brute Berserkers are some of the scariest enemies to deal with. These Brutes are incredibly fast and are not phased by most damage. Berserkers will continue to charge you until they get close enough to hit you with a haymaker.
Other Brutes to watch out for are the ones using heavy weapons and a jetpack. They will try to rush you with the jetpack or get to the high ground where they can hit you easily.
Hunter Enemies in Halo Infinite
Hunters are massive, hulking alien behemoths, some of Halo Infinite’s toughest enemies. These giant aliens don’t have ranks, but that doesn’t matter. All of them are more dangerous than most enemies in Halo.
They also carry a door-sized shield that blocks most projectiles. The best way to damage them is by breaking off their armor and hitting their skin. The best spot for the most damage is their back. Throwing grenades and using a Rocket Launcher is your best bet in defeating Hunters.
Skimmers
Not much is known about these strange-looking flying creatures, but Skimmers are very agile and fly across the battlefield. They commonly use the Shock Rifle, but they can also be equipped with other weapons like the Commando rifle.
These creatures use some type of jetpack to fly around the battlefield. Skimmers are usually in a group, but they have low shields and low health, making them easy to take down. However, if not taken out quickly, they can overwhelm you with a barrage of bullets.
Summary of the Different Types of Enemies in Halo Infinite
That’s all of the Halo Infinite enemies that players will come across. There are still many bosses and targets to take down as well. Boss fights are variations of enemy types but have unique mechanics associated with them. If you have trouble defeating the game’s bosses, you may want to check out our specific boss guides, such as a guide on how to beat the Harbinger in Halo Infinite or our tutorial on how to defeat Bassus.
Targets are usually tougher and have a unique weapon that you can add to your armory. Either way, as you progress through the campaign, you will see more variations of each enemy type in Halo Infinite. You will need to plan accordingly because going into a fight shorthanded is sure to get you destroyed.
For more insights into how to play Halo, check out our five quick Halo Infinite tips to help you improve immediately.
