While Halo made its name due to its innovative gameplay and beautiful environments, the titles have always provided compelling stories, too. However, the tales wouldn't be nearly as engaging if it wasn't for the interesting cast of characters. And there has been a lot of them since most characters come and go.
Even if you just focus on the main players, there has been plenty of them. So, it's nice to reminisce about how they all entered and left the series - or if they haven't left yet, the last thing they've done. In the spirit of that, here are every main character's first and final words (so far) in the Halo games.
10 Edward Buck
- First Line - “You Know The Music. Time To Dance.”
- Last Line - “Locke… You Can Do It.”
Buck's first appearance comes in Halo 3: ODST, where he runs his own squad. While he does answer to Dare, he orders around the rest of the team. So, when the alarm goes off, informing the team that the ship they're riding on is in position, Buck delivers his first line, essentially telling them to get ready.
He delivers his last line towards the end of Halo 5. It comes when Locke is desperately trying to release the Chief from Cortana'a captivity. The Spartan is wavering, so Buck tries to give him some encouragement.
9 Atriox
- First Line - “As I Suspected…Nothing But A Man.”
- Last Line - “What Are You Doing?”
Atriox is among the most powerful villains in the series, and he shows that in his first scene in Halo Wars 2. The strong brute demolishes a group of Spartans single-handedly. Then he picks up one of their helmets and comments on them being just a man.
His final line so far comes in one of Cortana's echoes. After the AI asks him an ominous question about possibly regretting his decisions, the brute questions what she's doing as the echo ends. It's a memory of the moment when Cortana blew up the ring, which seems to be the end for Atriox until he appears later.
8 The Weapon
- First Line - “It’s Been Six Months! Where Have You Been?”
- Last Line - "Then… I Think… I Think I Might Have The Perfect One.”
343 Industries made the ambitious decision to add a new Cortana to the series in Halo Infinite. When the new sophisticated AI makes her first appearance, she immediately questions where the Chief has been. Her curiosity makes sense as he disappeared for six months after his battle with Atriox.
Chief and The Weapon have a rocky relationship for much of the game. But by the end, they're on the same page. The protagonist even gives her the chance to choose a proper name - 'The Weapon' isn't technically her actual name. Her reply is the last thing she says in the game and hints that she's going to be known as Cortana going forward.
7 Prophet Of Truth
- First Line - “One? Are You Sure?
- Last Line - “I Am Truth. The Voice Of The Covenant.”
The Prophet of Truth serves as one of the main antagonists of the original trilogy. The creature first appears among its brethren during Thel 'Vadam's trial in Halo 2. When the future Arbiter explains his failure to stop the Pillar Of Autumn, Truth wants confirmation that there was only one ship.
The Prophets' treatment of the Arbiter and his people eventually rubs the warrior the wrong way. So, in Halo 3, when The Arbiter eventually gets ahold of Truth, he's quick to kill the villain. The Prophet's claim that he's the voice of the Covenant doesn't grant him mercy.
6 Jameson Locke
- First Line - “Understood, Commander.”
- Last Line - “She’s Gone, Sir.”
Locke is one of the series' more controversial characters, partially because he virtually took Chief's spot as the protagonist in Halo 5. But also, despite being a strong Spartan, he's not the most interesting guy. His first and last quotes in the game are proof of his blandness. His first words are an acknowledgment of his superior's orders for the upcoming mission.
He says his last line to Chief to explain that Cortana is gone. You could argue that his first line technically comes in Halo 2 Anniversary, as there was originally a prologue at the start of that game featuring Locke and Arbiter. Yet, the scene has since been removed, so it doesn't count.
5 Fernando Esparza (Echo 216)
- First Line - “This Is UNSC Pelican Echo-216. Can You Hear Me?”
- Last Line - “Alright, Here We Go! Get Ready!”
Fernando Esparza, more commonly known as Echo 216, is an important character in Halo Infinite. And he starts the game in a bad way as he's stranded on a ship. The guy is alone for six months until he comes across a friendly signal, which is when he delivers his first line.
By the end of Infinite, the character has made friends with Master Chief and The Weapon. As such, he's a lot more enthusiastic and ready to take on the antagonists. His last line comes when he straps himself into the pilot seat of his ship in anticipation of their next adventure.
4 The Arbiter (Thel 'Vadam)
- First Line - “There Was Only One Ship… Yes. They Called It The Pillar Of Autumn.”
- Last Line - “Hunt Them To The Last. Today We Extinguish The Covenant’s Light Forever!”
While you don't get to see Thel 'Vadam and his awesome character design until Halo 2, the first line of the game indicates that he was involved in the original title as he mentions the Pillar Of Autumn. He does so while recounting the events of his failure to the Prophets.
By Halo 5, The Arbiter isn't answering to the Prophets any more. The warrior is leading his own crew. As such, his last line is a rallying cry to his team about hunting the Covenant. Unfortunately, he doesn't get a chance to say anything later when he comes face-to-face with the Chief once again.
3 Noble Six
- First Line: “Commander, Sir.”
- Last Line: “Negative. I Have The Gun. Good Luck, Sir.”
Noble Six serves as the main protagonist in Halo Reach. In the game, they are the newest member of Noble Team but certainly not the most talkative. The character's first words are an acknowledgment of their CO, Noble One, when the leader initiates conversation.
Their last line comes towards the end of the game when Captain Keyes is ready to leave Reach with Cortana. A marine tells Noble Six to get aboard, too, but the Spartan denies the order. Instead of leaving, the protagonist takes control of a cannon to protect Keyes and the departing marines.
2 Cortana
- First Line - “I Think We Both Know The Answer To That.”
- Last Line - “I Chose Well, Master Chief. I Really Did. Now It’s Up To You.”
Cortana is involved in the first very conversation in the series. Her first words are a response to Captain Keyes questioning whether they managed to shake the Covenant. The tone of her delivery makes it clear that they absolutely didn't lose their pursuers.
The AI changes a lot during the series, so she's a very different character when she says her final line. In fact, she's not even really around anymore as the words come from an echo left by her. At the end of a powerful speech to the Chief, she acknowledges that she made the right choice when she picked the Spartan to be her partner.
1 Master Chief
- First Line - “Captain Keyes.”
- Last Line - “You Get To Choose Your Name.”
While not quite a silent protagonist, Master Chief has always been a man of few words. This is clear at the start of the first game when he wakes up and doesn't say anything until reaching Captain Keyes. Then he simply says the man's name. He doesn't even add a "hi" or "hello," it's just the name.
At the end of Halo Infinite, he delivers his last line of the series so far. And the words are directed at The Weapon, who's thinking about what she wants to be called. The Chief gives her the chance to choose her own name.