Success inHalo Wars 2means choosing theright Leader for the job, and that can be difficult given the differences inherent to each when it comes to everything from resources to attack and defense tactics. As is typical with strategy titles of this ilk, balance is everything, which means acquainting yourself with each Leader’s particular traits is of paramount importance.
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343 Industries has implemented a number of tweaks over the last three years in an attempt to balance the Leaders out, and this list attempts to reference the most up-to-date values currently in play. Read on to find out how we’ve ranked everyHalo Wars 2Leader, from worst to the absolute best.
Updated July 20, 2025, by Thomas Bowen:With the delay of Halo Infinite having deprived series fans of a true next-gen Halo experience for the immediate future, many are turning their attention to some ofthe series' older entriesto get their fix of futuristic combat. One of the franchise’s most overlooked entries is perhaps Halo Wars 2, which features one of the most enjoyable combat systems in any of the Halo games. Its RTS system may not be to everyone’s tastes, but, for those willing to give it a shot, there sure are some excellent leaders to chose from.
Height: 8'1"
As far as DLC Leaders go, the Arbiter has been somewhat of a letdown. Subsequent balance tweaks have drastically reduced his effectiveness in mid-to-late missions, primarily due to focus on offense with nothing in the way of support or tactical abilities.
Because the character is so lopsidedly unbalanced, players will be forced to spam his Rage ability almost continuously to achieve any sort of effective ground strategy. This might work in the interim, but it’s far less advantageous later on.
Height: Unknown
The Shipmaster is another support leader who has a lot going for him in terms of teleporting units away from danger, but he’s not nearly as effective at offensive rushes as his abilities and units suggest.
This Leader is also difficult for some players to effectively master, perhaps given his lack of full-on offensive strength. Sometimes charging forth unabated is the best strategy, rather than trying to save every unit on the map.
Voridus is one of the weakest DLC Banished Leaders to play as, if not the entire game. His toxic liquid-based attacks are intriguing, but rarely applied effectively in battle. This is a shame given his interesting contingent of units which gives the impression that he would be one of the stronger Leaders in the game.
Maelstrom might be effective during a heated battle with many units on screen, but it’s a one-trick pony. Cataclysm on the other hand fares a bit better, as it lights up infused units to increase overall damage output.
Pavium is another DLC character who has suffered from gameplay tweaks and balances over the years, turning him from one of the most promising Leaders of the game to a much-maligned one.
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At first glance, his abilities seem incredible, including Mega Turret, Ring of Fire and Pavium’s Stand, but this particular Leader seems lopsided in favor of a support character, rather than an offensive one. This makes it hard to progress.
Morgan Kinsano started out as a highly effective and strong unit inHalo Wars 2when she was added into the game, but over time she’s fallen by the wayside into subpar territory despite her pyrotechnic abilities and attacks.
While fire is her asset, it’s hard to turn it into an effective element on the battlefield. She has a few neat abilities up her sleeve including Firestorm Battle Group and Inferno, but the latter’s inability to harm air units is a glaring weakness against oncoming forces.
Height: N/A
The AI Isabel isa nice alternative to Cortana, but she’s an overall generic Leader inHalo Wars 2. She doesn’t offer nearly enough to set herself apart from other leaders in battle, although she at least has an interesting backstory.
Her signature standout ability is Ghost In The Machine which allows her to commandeer enemy vehicles for 20 seconds, which is handy to counteract a full-fledged strike by enemy forces. Beyond that, she’s rather meat and potatoes.
Serina represents another AI entity in the game, but she suffers from the same generic set of abilities and strengths as Isabel, with little to differentiate her from other Leaders. She’s not awful by any means, but for a DLC leader players may have been expecting a little more from her.
Her field of expertise is Cryo technology, and this is represented in some definitely handy abilities such as Cryo Drop and Glacial Storm, the latter of which drops a cryogenic charge that leads into a prolonged ice storm. Her ability to freeze units and structures can buy her some time while inflicting chill damage.
Height: 6'3"
Forge is a strong Leader inHalo Wars 2, but he’s hampered by the slow speed of his Grizzly units which leave other units open to direct retaliation by faster ground forces, or air-based attacks. This is especially problematic when playing on some of the game’s larger maps.
His Rolling Economy ability is a good starting point when it comes to building, however, as too are some of his more offensive abilities such as Vehicle Drop and Grizzly Battalion. There are certainly better leaders to choose from, although players could definitely do a lot worse. For a free DLC, it’s difficult to complain too much either way.
Height: 6'2"
Johnson is another DLC Leader who benefits greatly from unlocked abilities as the game progresses, especially ones such as EMP MAC Blast and Bunker Drop. This allows him tobeef up his unitsand keep them within striking distance of enemy forces.
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His Mech-based unit approach is especially handy in a fight, especially when paired with his Mech Overcharge ability which give power and speed boosts to those units, along with temporary invulnerability.
Height: 6'1"
Captain Cutter becomes a force to be reckoned with as the game progresses and his level increases, giving him a number of drop-related abilities that can quickly overwhelm opponents and prevent them from gaining any traction.
His Archer Missile ability is crushing against both units and structures, while his ODST Assault Group ability tosses in veteran units, an M9 Wolverine and a Scorpion tank onto the battlefield.
