 Bungie designed the majority of Covenant technology to mirror the aesthetic of the Elites ; the exteriors are sleek and graceful , with a more angular and complex core underneath hinting at the fictional Forerunner origins of the technology . In contrast to the sleek Elite @-@ based designs of the Covenant at large , the Brutes were given their own visual design distinct from the other Covenant . Weaponry was designed to reflect the Brute 's " souls " distilled to its purest form — conveyed by dangerous shapes , harsh colors , and objects that looked " dangerous to be around " . A UNSC weapon designed for Combat Evolved in 1999 that was discarded at the time was re @-@ purposed as the Brute 's " Mauler " weapon . 
