View source for Armor abilities

{{Status|Gameplay}}
{{Series/Gameplay/Sandbox}}
'''Armor abilities''' are gameplay items introduced in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', and featured in ''[[Halo 4]]'', ''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]'' and ''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''. Similar to the [[equipment]] of previous games, armor abilities are reusable pickups that grant a player various support abilities. They were replaced in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' by the universally-available [[Spartan abilities]].

==Universe and lore==
Armor abilities the form of modular plug-in modules developed by the [[United Nations Space Command]], [[Covenant]], and [[Forerunner]]s. They are generally mounted at the base of a given soldier's back, and tweak their [[Powered exoskeleton|power armor]]'s performance or enable the suit to interface with new hardware. For the UNSC, armor abilities are used by [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]], while for the Covenant, they are used on [[Sangheili harness]]es or [[Jiralhanae]] armor; Forerunner armor abilities are used by [[Promethean Knight]]s.{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG|EVG|Page=15}}

In the case of MJOLNIR armor, attaching and using alien-derived plugins is relatively trivial and something that can be accomplished with a software patch administered by a suit's [[Smart AI]].{{Ref/Level|H4|H4:Requiem|Requiem|Quote=I'll run a soft patch to it from the suit. Never know what might come in handy|Quotee=Cortana}} Armor abilities attached to a MJOLNIR suit sync with a [[Spartan]]'s neural network to improve their armor's abilities or even integrate new components. As of [[2552]], the UNSC had yet to fully explore Covenant plugin modules, though suspected they worked similarly to their own designs, using dummy modules or terminator plugs.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}

==Gameplay==
Armor abilities are an alteration of ''[[Halo 3]]''{{'}}s [[equipment]]. Instead of being single-use, each ability is reusable, with a cooldown time between uses. In ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' [[campaign]], the player begins with the sprint armor ability at the start of each level, and is able to swap it with other armor abilities they may come across. In [[multiplayer]], armor abilities can be chosen through [[loadout]]s before a match is started or during a player's respawn time. Armor abilities can be manipulated like weapons in [[Forge]].<ref name="armor">[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=faq&cid=25850 '''Bungie.net''': ''Armor Abilities'']</ref>

Most armor abilities are enabled by a small device attached to the user's lower back, with each ability displaying a different color. When not in use, these devices will project a hologram that displays the icon of the ability, allowing for quick recognition from a distance or when switching abilities. When players are killed, the armor abilities will not be dropped.

All armor abilities are rendered useless to players when transporting objects such as [[Flag]]s and [[Oddball]]s. If players attempt to use an armor ability, the object simply drops out of their hands. In custom games, the cooldown time can be altered and the ability to use armor abilities while holding objectives can be added.

== List of armor abilities ==
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<div class="tab">Halo: Reach</div>
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<div class="tab">Halo 4</div>
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<div class="tab">Halo: Spartan Assault</div>
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<div class="tab">Halo: Spartan Strike</div>
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== Trivia ==
===Tips===
*Hologram and Active Camouflage are great armor abilities to use during [[Infection]] gametypes as hologram can confuse zombies and active camo will straight up hide from them. These work well as they, to an extent, depend on the enemy not looking hard enough, something zombies don't have time to do. However, both become useless the moment the operator becomes the Last Man Standing, as a massive skull appears over their head.
*It is often advantageous to have a teammate using the Drop Shield ability in both Firefight and standard Multiplayer modes (mainly Invasion, as few other gametypes allow it for balancing reasons). This is due to the fact that this ability will heal wounded teammates without wasting [[health pack]]s.
*When using the Active Camouflage, try "crouch walking." This will allow the invisibility to last longer and make it harder for the opponents to see the player while they is still moving. 
*When one's Energy Shields are low or completely depleted, use Armor Lock until the energy shields recharge as much as they can before Armor Lock deactivates. This will ensure that a sudden ambush after a battle that left the shields depleted will not overwhelm one. Be wary of an enemy standing back, however.
*Active Camo can be useful during Generator Defense matches. While enemies are focused on the generators, one can sneak up on each one and assassinate or stick them.
*Promethean Vision is the only armor ability which can be used while carrying a detached turret. Using any other armor ability will cause the player to drop the turret.
*Armor abilities are weakened in War Games, in relativity to Campaign or Spartan Ops. This means that armor abilities have a shorter use time (Hardlight Shield, Autosentry, etc.) or have a weaker effect (thruster pack has shorter travel distance, players cannot jump while deploying the Hardlight Shield).
*In ''Halo: Reach'', take advantage of the jammer on Active Camo. You can use it to move at top speed and get into position, while the enemies that don't have line of sight on you can't be sure of what you're doing because of the jammer. It can be useful while standing still as well (such as when using a sniper rifle) as the mass of dots will conceal your still form, possibly leading enemies on a wild-goose chase away from your position...or into your sights.

===Miscellaneous===
*In campaign, the player almost always starts, and can complete the level, with the Sprint Armor Ability. The only exceptions to this are in [[Reach:Exodus|Exodus]] Rally Point Alpha, where a player must have a Jetpack to advance the level, and during a short sequence in the [[Reach:The Pillar of Autumn|Pillar of Autumn]] (where the player pushes through the {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}}), in which the player will spawn with Armor Lock. As there is no additional need for Armor Lock at this point, this was likely an oversight.
*Before, it was previously thought that each species can only use certain armor abilities (Elites were thought to be the only ones able to use Evade, and Spartans were the only ones thought to be able to use Armor Lock and Sprint).<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta]]'''</ref> In the final product, this is not the case as both species can use all seven Armor Abilities.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_061810 '''Bungie.net''': ''Bungie Weekly Update 06.18.10'']</ref>
*In the early stages of the game development, Elites using the Armor Lock ability were shown with a red aura instead of blue, while Spartans had a large and bulky attachment to their backs. However, these changes were erased before the game was released, so now both Elites and Spartans use the same blue armor lock.
*Skirmishers have the ability to use the Hologram armor ability.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/Stats/Reach/FileDetails.aspx?fid=966525 '''Bungie.net''': ''Skirmisher hologram?!?'']</ref>
*Armor Abilities will change form depending on whether an Elite or Spartan is using them. That is, Elite will have Armor Abilities made from purple metal, while Spartans have Armor Abilities which appear dull silver and rectangular. If a player drops an Armor Ability, it will take the form of the way it appeared on the player's back. The only exception is Evade, even if a Spartan drops it, it will still appear like a Covenant ability. This is odd as while on the Spartan's back, it can clearly be seen to share a design to other Spartan Armor Abilities (dull silver and rectangular).
*[[NOBLE Team]] (aside from the player) can be seen sprinting or using Armor Lock without the required attachments. Likewise, [[Jiralhanae|Brutes]] and AI [[Sangheili|Elites]] use their Armor Abilities (Armor Lock or Evade) without the necessary external attachment. Brutes aren't even wearing any sort of Energy Shielding that could be supercharged with Armor Lock.
*If one were to use Hologram and walk into the projection, they would notice that no matter what helmet they are wearing, the inside of the helmet of the hologram will always be the same. One can see this at the beginning of [[Reach:Noble Actual|Noble Actual]] when Noble Six puts on his/her helmet. This was likely done to save time and resources.
*There are a total of [[seven]] Armor Abilities in ''Halo: Reach'', another reference to Bungie's favorite number.
*In the game ''Crysis 2'', there is a Hologram ability almost exactly identical in function to that of ''Halo: Reach'''s. However, it is a weapon attachment rather than an armor ability.
*If a player's [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|Energy Sword]] is depleted, the blade can still be seen when Active Camouflage is activated.
*In ''Halo 4'', a player's Hologram will not show any customized weapon skins, nor any customized emblem.
*In ''Halo 4'', meleeing a dead player's [[Forerunner]] armor ability attachment (on the lower back) will produce a unique sound effect.

===Glitches===
*Any weapons that are stored on the back when not in use clip right through the jetpack.
*Holograms cannot use the mechanical lift on [[Reflection]] or the large tubular gravity lifts on [[Spire (map)|Spire]], even though they are affected by all other kinds of gravity lift or human-made lift, such as man cannons or the air lifts on Reflection.
*Armor abilities are often used to produce glitches. A few examples of armor abilities-related glitches are the [[Armor permutation glitch]] and the [[Infinite armor lock glitch]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HRB Elite evading.jpg|An Elite evading in the ''Halo: Reach Beta''.
File:HR_ArmourAbility_Concept.jpg|''Halo: Reach'' concept art of the armor ability device.
File:Halo_Reach_Sprinting.jpg|A SPARTAN using the Sprint armor ability in ''Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta''.
File:Active_Camo.jpg|A SPARTAN using the active camouflage armor ability in the ''Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta''.
File:Halo_Reach_Elite_Evade.jpg|An Elite using the Evade armor ability, which can launch the player into the air if performed up an incline.
File:Evade.jpg|Third-person view of an Elite evading.
File:Armor ability lag.jpg|Lag-related glitch where the armor abilities momentarily appear on players when they spawn.
File:H4 - Belt bomb.jpg|Concept art for ''Halo 4''{{'}}s armor abilities, including what appears to be a "belt bomb".
File:H4 ArmourAbilityModules Concept.jpg|''Halo 4'' concept art of armor ability devices.
File:H4_ArmourAbilityModules_UNSC_Render_1.jpg|A render of the ''Halo 4'' model for the UNSC armor ability.
File:H4_ArmourAbilityModules_UNSC_Render_2.jpg|A render of the ''Halo 4'' model for the UNSC armor ability.
File:H4_ArmourAbilityModules_UNSC_Render_3.jpg|A render of the ''Halo 4'' model for the UNSC armor ability.
</gallery>

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Navbox/Pickups/Gameplay}}
[[Category:Armor]]
[[Category:Armor abilities| ]]