One of the greatest strengths ofHalo: Combat Evolvedupon its 2001 debut was its high level of enemy variety. In just the firstHalogame, the Covenant had Grunts, Elites, and Jackals in its ranks, and The Flood eventually joined the party in the game’s third act. Over the years, bothBungie and 343 Industries(now Halo Studios) continued to add to the Master Chief’s rogues gallery, adding Brutes, Drones, Skirmishers, Prometheans, and more.
But throughout it all, there’s been one enemy type that’s remainedHalo’s most dangerous. While Elites can put up a fight with their shields and agility, and Brutes have a high health pool and a penchant for a fearsome berserker rage, none match the sheer firepower and durability of the Hunter. But despite being one ofHalo’s most iconic foes, many don’t know all that much about the Hunter’s origin, or that they’re actually made up of thousands of individual creatures known as Lekgolo.
Halo’s Lekgolo and Mgalekgolo Species Explained
The Origins of Halo’s Lekgolo Explained
On the planet of Te, a species of orange worm-like creatures known as the Lekgolo lived inside caves, long-abandoned structures, and burrowed holes in the ground. To feed, the Lekgolo would make their way through the earth, breaking down minerals to use as sustenance. Much like countless planets intheHalouniverse, Te was once home to a Forerunner facility, before the firing of the Halo Rings wiped out the species.
To survive, the Lekgolo gradually burrowed their way inside this Forerunner facility, digesting everything in their path. In their galaxy-wide search for Forerunner artifacts, the Covenant eventually landed on Te and encountered the Lekgolo for the first time. Seeing the Forerunner facility decimated,the Covenant declared war on the Lekgolo.
But a problem soon arose. Many Lekgolo colonies had made their homes inside intact Forerunner relics.The Sangheili(Elites) deemed these relics holy, and refused to kill the Lekgolo inside in the fear that it might damage the relics. The appointed Arbiter at that time came up with a compromise. Rather than destroy the Lekgolo hiding in the Forerunner relics, the Covenant would try to “tame” them, and have them join their ranks.
The San’Shyuum (Prophets) agreed to this compromise. After a surprisingly hard-fought war, the Lekgolo responsible for destroying the Forerunner facility were killed, and those hiding in the remaining relics were forced into joining the Covenant, where they proved to be exceptionally useful.
The Mgalekgolo and Other Lekgolo Combinations Explained
Though an individual Lekgolo worm can be squashed easily, a horde of Lekgolo joined together to create one symbiotic hivemind is a powerful force to be reckoned with. The Covenant discovered this quickly during its war with the Lekgolo, with thousands of worms often combining into hulking brutes known as Mgalekgolo.
Once ingratiated into the Covenant, the Mgalekgolo were given full suits of heavy armor plating, along with powerful fuel rod assault cannons, turning them into the Hunters that the UNSC would go on to face duringthe Great Human-Covenant War. The Lekgolo were also able to combine to create much larger machines of war. The best example of this is the Covenant Scarab, which is technically one large colony of Lekgolo all working in tandem.
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.
