Is Decimus Dead? A Deep Dive into the Fate of the Banished Commander

Hey there fellow Halo fan! Terry Williams here, back with another lore analysis for my favorite ringworld series. Today, we‘re diving into one of the biggest mysteries still hanging over the Halo universe – is Decimus really dead?

Back in Halo Wars 2, Atriox‘s feared lieutenant met a grim end at the hands of the Spirit of Fire heroes. But was this the last we‘ll see of the brutal Brute warrior? Let‘s analyze the clues and theories in depth and see if we can solve the question of Decimus‘ fate. Strap in, this will be a long read – but I promise it will be worthwhile for any true Halo lore aficionado!

Understanding Decimus‘ Significance

Before we get into the mystery around his death, it‘s important to understand who Decimus is and why the Banished value him so highly. As a loyal Halo fan, you likely know much of this, but let‘s recap for any newcomers reading this.

Decimus first stormed onto the scene in Halo Wars 2 as one of Atriox‘s top lieutenants. He commanded important Banished units and bases across the Ark and led the hunt for the Spirit of Fire.

Some key facts about Decimus:

• Veteran Jiralhanae field commander, served in the Covenant before joining Atriox‘s rebellion. Brings decades of experience.

• Known for his brutality and lack of mercy. Even his fellow Brutes consider him vicious.

• Wears custom orange-colored powered armor that can withstand incredible punishment.

• Wields Gravity Hammer and heavy weapons with devastating skill. A literal tank on the battlefield.

• Zealously loyal to Atriox. Serves as his most trusted lieutenant and disciple of his vision.

• Being groomed by Atriox as a potential successor should anything happen to him.

You can see why Atriox values Decimus so highly. He provides critical muscle and leadership for the Banished‘s military forces. Losing him deprives the Banished of Atriox‘s most capable field commander.

This is why his apparent "death" at the end of Halo Wars 2 carries such narrative significance. Or does it? Let‘s examine that climatic scene in closer detail.

The Ambiguous Nature of Decimus‘ "Death"

Near the end of Halo Wars 2, Decimus engages in an epic duel with Captain Cutter, Jerome-092, and Isabel‘s combined forces. After suffering substantial damage, he dramatically collapses to his knees and proclaims:

"Mortally wounded from the immense firepower, Decimus collapsed to his knees and ordered the humans to enjoy their victory as it would be their last, before dying."

This moment seems to show Decimus conclusively dying and the Spirit of Fire crew defeating him for good. But let‘s think critically about this scene:

• We never see Decimus‘ body go limp or his vitals flatline. The camera cuts away before his actual last breath.

• His final words imply he still believes the Banished will ultimately defeat humanity, undermining the finality of the death.

• We never see the UNSC forces actually recover Decimus‘ body or his armor. He essentially just disappears after this scene.

The subtle way this scene is presented leaves room for interpretation that Decimus‘ death may not be as conclusive as it first appears. This ambiguity is no accident – the writers intentionally left the door open for Decimus‘ possible return.

Clues That Suggest Decimus May Have Survived

Ever since that concluding scene in Halo Wars 2, there‘s been rampant speculation among Halo fans that Decimus could come back. A few subtle clues have emerged that give this theory some credence:

• In the novel Halo: Bad Blood, there is reportedly a reference to Decimus being included in some Banished glyphs that depict active personnel. However, the canonicity of this reference is disputed.

• In 2019, the developer 343 Industries posted an article about the state of the Banished that name-dropped Decimus and talked about Atriox needing "all the help he can get". This suggests 343 still views Decimus as a relevant character.

• Audio logs found in 2021‘s Halo Infinite indicate Atriox has been absent from the Banished for quite some time. If Decimus did survive Halo Wars 2, he could be leading them in Atriox‘s absence.

• Atriox‘s return in Infinite‘s post-credits proves he didn‘t urgently need Decimus‘ leadership. However, this doesn‘t rule out the possibility of a reunification down the road.

These are subtle hints, but they do plant seeds that Decimus‘ story may not be over. Similar references preceded the return of other supposedly dead Halo villains like the Didact. Perhaps something similar is being set up for Decimus…

How Could Decimus Have Survived?

If Decimus did manage to survive the battle with the Spirit of Fire, how could he have possibly pulled that off? Here are a few theoretical possibilities:

• Banished forces could have extracted him from the battlefield and used medical tech to stabilize him, keeping him alive (but out of commission) until he fully recovered from his wounds.

• They may have put him into some kind of stasis suspension, like a cryptum, to pause his condition until proper treatment could be provided.

• It‘s also possible his sturdy armor kept him alive long enough to be rescued. Perhaps the armor administered biofoam or other medicines to sustain him temporarily.

• Less likely, but another theory is that Decimus has kept fighting even as a mortally wounded warrior being kept alive through pure hate and dark determination. Think Darth Maul surviving being cut in half.

Obviously we have no hard proof yet of exactly how he could have survived. But the Banished clearly have some highly advanced technology and enough motivation to save Atriox‘s heir apparent. It‘s feasible Decimus could return.

What Would Decimus‘ Return Mean for Future Stories?

If he did defy death back in Halo Wars 2, Decimus‘ return could have major implications for future games and books:

• He could show up in a Halo Wars sequel, once again hunting the Spirit of Fire for revenge.

• We might see him appear as part of Atriox‘s inner circle in future mainline Halo entries.

• I‘d love to see him play a role in somehow rescuing Atriox from his months-long disappearance that‘s referenced in Infinite.

• It would be cool if he leads a breakaway faction of the Banished that splits off from Escharum‘s group we fought in Halo Infinite. Some fun faction in-fighting!

• Maybe he stays hidden until after the ongoing Endless arc concludes, revealing he was biding his time to recover.

Any of these ideas could make for an epic Decimus return that would excite Halo fans. And Atriox would surely be overjoyed to have his most trusted lieutenant back in the fold.

Theories on Decimus‘ Fate from a Lore Expert

Alright, time for me to go full Halo nerd and share my personal theories on whether Decimus reached the end of his journey in Halo Wars 2 or not.

Based on the purposefully ambiguous nature of his "death" scene and all the subsequent hints dropped, I believe there is a strong chance we will see Decimus again. There are just too many narrative threads left unresolved.

My money is on him either being saved and put into stasis after his duel with the Spirit of Fire, or perhaps functionally living on through grievous wounds via sheer force of will (he is NOT going to die easily).

I expect he will reemerge later on to inject more chaos and leadership into the Banished ranks after Atriox returns to rally them. What an epic moment that would be!

However, I‘m also prepared to be wrong. Maybe he just served his purpose for that one game and is gone for good. But that seems like a missed opportunity. This is a great rival character – take advantage of him!

In any case, I had a blast diving deep on this unresolved Halo storyline. Let me know in the comments what YOU think happened to Decimus after the ambiguous concluding scenes of Halo Wars 2. I can‘t wait to discuss more Halo lore with you all!

Live well, fight strong, and keep an eye out for Decimus‘ return. This is Terry Williams, signing off for now!