MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V(B)

The MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V[B] is a variant of the Mark V MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor.

Background
Along with the Mark V[M] and Mark VI[A] variants, the Mark V[B] is designed and manufactured by private organizations hired by the UNSC rather than developed by the UNSC specifically, due to numerous problems with funding. On November 24, 2551, the initial Mark V model entered service; the Mark V[B] was given exclusively to members of SPECWAR Group Three. Thom-293 of NOBLE Team wore a full set of Mark V[B] armor.

The Mark V[B] helmet's external design can be traced back to a variant of the first-generation Mark IV. Fred-104 wore such a helmet during the Battle of Circinius IV in 2526. Similarly, the original Mark IV helmet was later modified for the second-generation Mark V and another Mark IV variant served as the basis of the Mark VI.

Gameplay characteristics
The helmet is the only component of the Mark V[B] that has been named and identified in the armory. The rest of the default suit of armor is the first generation of the Mark V with the second and final generation of the Mark V seen in Halo: Combat Evolved.

Helmet
Price: N/A (Default)

The Mark V[B] helmet is similar to the standard Mark V MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor, with a few key differences. The helmet has a sleeker design, resembling both the standard Mark V helmet and the ODST helmet, and seems to be somewhat of a combination of the two. Whilst the rear of the helmet is similar to the Mark V, the front strongly resembles the ODST helmet's triangular jaw guard and rounded top, with a flatter visor shape.

This helmet is the starting helmet for all players, and is purchased and equipped by default. Currently, there are two upgrades available for the Mark V[B] helmet; the UA (up-armored) upgrade for 750 cR (This is a combination of both of the Beta upgrades); and the UA/HUL, for 1500 cR, which adds an External Hardened Uplink to the right side of the helmet, redesigned from the Beta.

Trivia

 * In the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta, there were two upgrades available for the Mark V[B] helmet. An External Command Network Module or "CNM", standard issue to Special Forces unit commanders (1000 cR), and an External Hardened Uplink or "HUL", required for sensitive operations (5000 cR). The CNM and HUL attachments as seen in the Beta were merged into a single attachment, the UA upgrade, for the final game. The HUL is now an additional camera/sensor-like attachment on the side of the helmet, rather than being located on the top.
 * While both the Mark V[B] and FJ/PARA shoulder pauldrons were present in the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta, the Mark V[B] shoulders were changed to the FJ/PARA variant in the final game. Currently, the Mark V[B] has no shoulder pauldron permutations.
 * The UA attachment from the beta strongly resembles the classic MJOLNIR sun visor, seen on both the Mark V and Mark VI helmets.
 * In the marketing campaign for Halo: Reach, an exclusive armor piece would be given to players who pre-ordered the game. During this time the armor piece was known as the "UA/Multi-Threat Mark V[B]." Any relation of this armor piece to the Mark V [B] is absent in the game.
 * In Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, Fred-104's helmet resembles the Mark V[B]'s. In the real world, this is because the production team reused Thom-293's Mark V[B] helmet from the Deliver Hope short.

List of appearances

 * Deliver Hope
 * Halo: Reach