Halo: Flashpoint Tactics – The Covenant
26th Oct 2026
Cleric
Today we pass control of the blog over to the Halo: Flashpoint Rules Committee and dive into some exciting gameplay details for the game's third faction, the Covenant, which will be shipping and hitting tables around the world this winter.
Now, let's hear from Dylan for a breakdown, where he reveals some (but not all!) of the Covenant's potential playstyles...
The Great Journey
As a faction, the Covenant has a wide roster and toolkit that promotes varied teams and thematic combinations. There are several routes you can go down in constructing your Covenant Fireteam, covering elite Sangheili-focussed teams, horde-style lists, or a flexible force centred around a San'Shuyuum. The key features of this faction involve high Energy Shield values, mobility, and aptitude with plasma weaponry - a unique set of skills and abilites.
With the core of the roster being Sangheili, Covenant Fireteams will typically have high mobility and board control (access to strong melee and fast movement means that even your basic Sangheili Minor can efficiently engage in close combat). If longer-range firepower is more your thing, Rangers are perfect for you - these are the dedicated Sangheili for sniping and pressuring your opponent from across the board.
Unggoy and Kig-Yar models are the cheaper options within the Covenant roster, an easy way to increase board control and have more options available. The Kig-Yar Sniper with Beam Rifle is an incredibly lethal threat, bringing precision killing power along with decent mobility. The Beam Rifle is a new weapon for Halo: Flashpoint, and one that will surely become a staple.
Sangheili Minors
Our cheapest and most basic options for Sangheili in the Covenant; with average stats and Evade (Reckless) these are good models to bolster your Fireteam. These have a reduced profile compared to the Sangheili Mercenaries in the Banished as these are the most basic rank of Sangheili warrior in Halo: Flashpoint.
The Reckless tag on Evade means that the evading Sangheili has to end closer to the model that shot at it - representing their often dangerous desire for honour that can get in the way of more tactical restraint. Sangheili Minors do not require much in the way of upgrades, as they start with high movement and have Plasma Grenades they are effective fighters from the start.
Sangheili Rangers
Rangers are elite troops with heavy firepower, trading Evade for Fast Transition and Jump Pack. These are staple models for taking expensive weaponry such as the Covenant Carbine or Concussion Rifle, as they can use their equipped Plasma Repeater or Needle Rifle in addition.
Rangers benefit from Crouching and getting into position at the start of the game and by using their mobility tricks to fly up to better vantage spots, they can devastate enemy models with a barrage of plasma. As well as being a useful sniper, the Needle Rifle variant can efficiently disrupt and suppress with R6 Rapid Fire.
Sangheili Majors
As a reliable source of Tactician, they have a strong, balanced statline which allow them to fill into many different roles within a Fireteam. Majors start with Pulse Carbines and a Plasma Grenade, a strong starting loadout that can cover both anti-armour and anti-shielding roles.
Majors take upgrades well, so take advantage of their balanced statline and choose what role you want them to play. Maybe you'll enhance them in combat with an Energy Dagger, play defensive with a Drop Wall or Active Camouflage upgrade, or focus on ranged damage with a purchased weapon.
Sangheili Honour Guard
These elite Sangheili are exceptionally durable and deadly in close combat, these form an unbreakable lynchpin for your Fireteam to centre around. With the keywords Honour Guard and Guarded, they are true beasts to deal with - both augmenting the survivability of friendly models nearby, and being impervious to most ranged Headshots.
Honour Guard can fit into a more defensive role from mid-board with the Fuel Rod Gun, or an offensive role, up close with the Energy Sword. As these are some of the most expensive options to take in the Covenant faction, it's worth building your team around the might of an Honour Guard.
Mgalekgolo
Commonly known as Hunters, these make an explosive entrance into Halo: Flashpoint with Judgement, dominating the board with ranged bombardments and terrifying combat rampages. With both high stats of Ablative Armour as well as HP, the Mgalekgolo can withstand the firepower of several enemy models easily.
Armed with an Assault Cannon and a vicious melee strike, they are a threat from range and in combat. Due to Hulking, Mgalekgolo cannot pick up or be given Items or Weapons - they are already monstrous enough! Mgalekgolo excel in missions involving holding an objective or area, as they are formidable tanks and brawlers.
Watch out for pairs though, as they have a Special Order that leans into what happens when that bond is broken...
The Prophets
San’Shuyuum are the manipulative schemers of the Covenant, and in Halo: Flashpoint they are your lynchpin for Tactician.
They have average stats and high durability due to their protective gravity thrones. With Stable and Stoic, San’Shuyuum will gracefully advance across the board - ideally accompanied by a Sangheili Honour Guard. San’Shuyuum can defend themselves with concentrated blasts from their Gravity Cannons - a new weapon profile unique to them.
In terms of upgrades, choosing either Active Camouflage or a Grappleshot will be particularly useful. Camouflage will augment their durability even further, while a Grappleshot will help to trigger Stable and therefore more shots from their weapons.
The Prophet of Regret has even higher levels of Tactician than a base San’Shuyuum, and interacts differently in terms of a Special Order...
Plasma Mastery, which is a staple Covenant Special Order, is a fantastic way to supercharge ranged attacks and add a brutal edge to mainstay weaponry of the Covenant. This order allows the attacking model to gain both Sticky and Lethal (1) on select weapons - at the cost of an automatic wound, going straight through armour or shielding.
If you can afford to take the damage this is the best way for spiking your offensive power, just be careful to avoid using it at the wrong time!
