Among all sci-fi video game franchises, Halo is one of the most popular ever. While the Master Chief is a primary reason for its fame and recognition, it is also important not to overlook the Covenant's major role.
The alien empire is a fearsome and memorable antagonist that helped put Halo on the map, leaving a lasting impression on those who've faced it. For those who'll be fighting the Covenant for the first time, likely people who'll be playing Halo: Campaign Evolved, they'll have questions such as what it is exactly that allowed it to earn its infamy.
To answer them, it's essential to understand its origins and its purpose. As mentioned earlier, the Covenant is an alien empire comprising many different races. But it didn't start this way; its original members only consisted of the Prophets and Elites. While the latter would have been expected to lead the Covenant, given its high physical prowess and intelligence, it was the former that ultimately became the top figure.
As for how, it is because the Prophets had the advantage of owning Forerunner technology and information, which they've construed into a religion that promises transcendence into godhood, even though it would actually lead to every being's destruction. This became known as The Great Journey and was used to officially establish the Covenant with the Elites, turning them into honored protectors and the main military force. The two then scoured different planets, all in the hopes of finding the Halo rings left by the Forerunners, who had become their gods, that would allow them to reach the state of divinity they thought they would acquire.
Throughout the process, the Covenant subjugated many other races to its cause, but not without resistance. There were those like the Jackals and the Grunts who fought against the idea of joining The Great Journey's cause, but the strength of the Elites proved too much, resulting in massacres that subdued them into joining.
With more numbers added to its strength and a wealth of technology, the Covenant felt destined to find the rings and fulfill what was promised to them. That is, until the Prophets discovered that their gods actually meant for a race known as humans to inherit their mantle and activate the rings, a truth that would shatter the entire empire if made known.
To prevent that from happening, the religious leaders waged war on humanity, branding them as heretics to The Great Journey in the hopes of exterminating them. This led to a years-long battle that cost many colonies and lives. If not for the Spartan Program, which is the reason for Master Chief's existence, there's no doubt that the Covenant would have succeeded in fully wiping out its opposition.
Today, people know that humanity emerged victorious, even though the rings were never truly activated, but it took the lives of many to make it happen. The Covenant, deluded as it may have been and failing in its purpose, struck fear and had a depth unlike any other villain like it, which is why many consider it to be one of the best antagonists in video game history. So, if you're planning to face the empire, make sure to treat them as the threat they deserve to be.
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