A player using a mix of armor sets in Halo: The Master Chief Collection.
Armor permutations in Halo 3 allow players to customize their Spartan and Elite player model with a variety of armor pieces available to players. The feature is an improvement of Halo 2's player customization feature, and the first in the series to allow players to change the physical model of their character beyond species and colour selection.
Overview[edit]
Artwork by Isaac Hannaford revealing the existence of Recon, long before the armor was officially announced.
Halo 3 features a number of armor selections for both Spartan and Elite player characters, unlocked primarily by accomplishing feats within the campaign, Matchmaking and earning achievements. The system was initially unveiled in the July 2007 issue of GamePro, featuring a handful of images of the EVA and CQB armor sets alongside the standard Mark VI, though was noted by Bungie to not be the full set of armor available in game.[1] Bungie later officially announced the inclusion of Elite armor variants[2], and on Bungie Day 2007 officially unveiled the CQB and EVA permutations' visuals and lore. A piece of art illustrated by Isaac Hannaford released at the same time additionally revealed the existence of the Recon armor, though the armor was not specifically called out by Bungie or given any attention until later.[3][4]
In total, there are 17 armor sets included in Halo 3, 12 of which for the SPARTAN-II character model and 5 for the Elite character model. These armor permutations are organized into three categories: Helmet, Chest and Shoulder. Certain armor permutations can only be unlocked by completing the game on certain difficulties, accumulating certain Gamerscore, or by obtaining certain multiplayer-specific achievements. Some, such as Recon or the exclusive Bungie Armor, have more esoteric unlock requirements, and can only be granted under certain conditions. Additionally, some Spartan armor sets only contain a helmet piece or chest piece, with no other associated armor selections.
Halo 3 unlock requirements[edit]
Note: The below unlock requirements only apply to the original Halo 3 game on Xbox 360 or via Xbox One backward compatibility. In The Master Chief Collection, all armor is unlocked by default for all players - including the Bungie armor.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection[edit]
The Demo, Suture and Compass armors introduced into Halo 3.
For the Halo 3 multiplayer component of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, all armor - including Recon and Bungie - was unlocked for all players for use by default. Between the game's launch in 2014 and the launch of Halo 3 on PC in 2020, armor customization was limited to full sets with no mix-and-match customization, due to the difficulties of running multiple engines in the menu component. In this launch rendition, the armor sets were displayed in the menu as static renders, with the armors using full armor sets or - in the case of armors with no associated armor for chest, helmet or shoulder elements - Mark VI to supplement missing elements. As such, using a helmet such as Mark V or ODST required the usage of all Mark VI for everything else. Using the Katana chest, however, would use Hayabusa for all other armor elements. Additionally and for the first time, The Master Chief Collection allowed players to use the Bungie Armor (now renamed "Flaming Head"), and would display the characteristic flames and EOD chest as it did in the original game, though with enforced Mark VI shoulders and helmet.
Following the launch of Halo 3 on PC and start of Season 2: Spark, this system was updated to display Halo 3 character models in Unreal Engine 4, with full customization in-game as it was at the launch of Halo 3. In this change, the Bungie Armor chest was renamed "Legacy", and the Security armour set was given a chest armour piece; in launch Halo 3, equipping the Security helmet additionally outfitted the chest with a small antenna. Following the Season 2 update, the antenna is now considered a separate chest, and can be used regardless of helmet.
With the launch of Season 3: Recon, Halo 3 customisation was updated with the inclusion of skins for application on a player's weapon and several new visor colour options for use with all helmets. The full list of Halo 3 skins can be viewed here.
In the Season 4 December update, Halo 3 was expanded to include new techsuit customization, with the players being able to change it between a new Halo 3 techsuit and Halo 4 techsuit (both colored and full black).
Season 5: Anvil included twelve new armor permutations for Halo 3, originally created for the cancelled Halo Online. Additionally, included new forearm and leg customisation, allowing players to choose between the new twelve armors or the default Mark VI. These armors can be toggled off for a more classic experience, with any players using Halo Online armor instead displaying as default Mark VI.[5]
Season 6: Raven will include several new armor permutations, including six Halo Online armor permutations and the four ODST armors used by Fireteam Raven in the namesake game. It will also add a "Back Accessory" option, allowing players to choose between six new back packages (four being based on Halo: Fireteam Raven), three new techsuit options, and at least three new animated visor colors.
Armor
Spartan armor
|
Armor
|
Helmet
|
Chest
|
Shoulders
|
Forearms
|
Legs
|
Air Assault
|
 Season 5, Tier 3 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 15 ( 1)
|
  Season 5, Tier 7( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 12 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 27 ( 1)
|
Aviator
|
 Season 5, Tier 9 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 11 ( 1)
|
  Season 5, Tier 17 ( 1)
|
N/A
|
 Season 5, Tier 94 ( 1)
|
COS
|
 Season 6, Tier 53 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 73 ( 1)
|
  Season 6, Tier 66 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 90 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 71 ( 1)
|
Compass
|
 Season 5, Tier 82 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 96 ( 1)
|
  Season 5, Tier 62 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 74 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 89 ( 1)
|
Deadeye
|
 Season 5, Tier 78 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 38 ( 1)
|
  Season 5, Tier 54 ( 1)
|
N/A
|
 Season 5, Tier 97 ( 1)
|
Demo
|
 Season 5, Tier 37 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 26 ( 1)
|
  Season 5, Tier 39 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 32 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 66 ( 1)
|
Hammerhead
|
 Season 6, Tier 75 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 11 ( 1)
|
  Season 6, Tier 35 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 22 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 46 ( 1)
|
Hivemind
|
 Season 5, Tier 64 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 41 ( 1)
|
  Season 5, Tier 59 ( 1)
|
N/A
|
 Season 5, Tier 67 ( 1)
|
Infiltrator
|
 Season 6, Tier 33 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 13 ( 1)
|
  Season 6, Tier 29 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 49 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 59 ( 1)
|
Lancer
|
 Season 6, Tier 16 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 42 ( 1)
|
  Season 6, Tier 27 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 31 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 56 ( 1)
|
Navigator
|
 Season 5, Tier 72 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 92 ( 1)
|
  Season 5, Tier 81 ( 1)
|
N/A
|
 Season 5, Tier 75 ( 1)
|
Nomdagro
|
 Season 6, Tier 4 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 39 ( 1)
|
  Season 6, Tier 19 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 7 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 26 ( 1)
|
ODST/COMM
|
 Season 6, Tier 40 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 52 ( 1)
|
  Season 6, Tier 62 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 60 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 64 ( 1)
|
ODST/DEMO
|
 Season 6, Tier 20 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 32 ( 1)
|
  Season 6, Tier 55 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 48 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 44 ( 1)
|
ODST/HVY
|
 Season 6, Tier 57 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 72 ( 1)
|
  Season 6, Tier 93 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 68 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 76 ( 1)
|
ODST/TAC
|
 Season 6, Tier 2 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 14 ( 1)
|
  Season 6, Tier 30 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 25 ( 1)
|
 Season 6, Tier 6 ( 1)
|
Pioneer
|
 Season 5, Tier 49 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 34 ( 1)
|
  Season 5, Tier 29 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 16 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 57 ( 1)
|
Rhine
|
 75px75px75px Season 6, purchase at The Exchange ( 20)
|
Soldier
|
 Season 5, Tier 19 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 98 ( 1)
|
  Season 5, Tier 73 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 99 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 44 ( 1)
|
Suture
|
 Season 5, Tier 63 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 69 ( 1)
|
  Season 5, Tier 71 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 5 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 52 ( 1)
|
Tanker
|
 Season 5, Tier 87 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 6 ( 1)
|
  Season 5, Tier 23 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 84 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 8 ( 1)
|
Warrior
|
 Season 5, Tier 56 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 14 ( 1)
|
  Season 5, Tier 47 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 88 ( 1)
|
 Season 5, Tier 46 ( 1)
| Visors
Visor customisation was introduced to Halo 3 in Season 3: Recon. A number of visor colours can be unlocked for Season Points, though like other Halo 3 skins, they can be toggled off in the menu. Season 6 will include animated visor colors. Season 6 introduced more visors in the form of animated visors.
In-game |
Appearance Name |
Unlock Requirements |
Description
|
|
Blue |
Season 3, Tier 1 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Red |
Season 3, Tier 3 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Green |
Season 3, Tier 4 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Yellow |
Season 3, Tier 5 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Purple |
Season 3, Tier 7 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Orange |
Season 3, Tier 8 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Bronze |
Season 3, Tier 10 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Silver |
Season 3, Tier 11 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Dark Red |
Season 3, Tier 13 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Dark Yellow |
Season 3, Tier 15 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Dark Purple |
Season 3, Tier 17 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Dark Blue |
Season 3, Tier 19 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Dark Green |
Season 3, Tier 20 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Spectrum |
Season 3, Tier 23 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Dark Orange |
Season 3, Tier 26 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Pastel Blue |
Season 3, Tier 27 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Pastel Green |
Season 3, Tier 29 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Pastel Red |
Season 3, Tier 30 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Pastel Yellow |
Season 3, Tier 32 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Pastel Purple |
Season 3, Tier 34 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Pastel Orange |
Season 3, Tier 35 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Groovy |
Season 3, Tier 37 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Pearlescent Yellow |
Season 3, Tier 38 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Pearlescent Blue |
Season 3, Tier 41 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Platinum |
Season 3, Tier 42 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Pearlescent Red |
Season 3, Tier 44 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Pearlescent Green |
Season 3, Tier 45 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Pearlescent Orange |
Season 3, Tier 47 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Pearlescent Purple |
Season 3, Tier 48 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Onyx |
Season 3, Tier 49 ( 1) |
Part of a suite of experimental VISR enhancements.
|
|
Another Sunrise |
Season 6 Challenge: Package Deal |
Every sunrise is proof of victory.
|
|
Cool Depths |
Season 6, Tier 5 1 |
What lies beneath?
|
|
Neon |
Season 6, Tier 37 1 |
Let's be frank...
|
|
Burn Radius |
Season 6, Tier 98 1 |
Danger! Do not touch!
|
|
Nebula |
Season 6, Tier 74 1 |
So close, yet so far away.
|
|
Old Salt |
Season 6, Tier 82 1 |
Worn, but ready for battle.
|
|
Patina |
Season 6, Tier 69 1 |
Mark of a true veteran.
|
|
Plated |
Season 6, Tier 84 1 |
Anniversary edition faceplate.
|
|
Red Shift |
Season 6, Tier 92 1 |
Spartans in motion around distant stars.
|
|
Shadow |
Season 6, Tier 89 1 |
What lies within?
|
|
Shoreline Sunset |
Season 6, Tier 10 1 |
This is living.
|
|
Tall Tales |
Season 6, Tier 80 1 |
The after-action reports may have been exaggerated.
|
|
Turbulence |
Season 6, Tier 67 1 |
Spartans work well in murky environments.
|
|
Uncontrolled Growth |
Season 6, Tier 78 1 |
Even the flower of life can bring death.
|
|
Tropic Cove |
Season 6, Tier 8 1 |
Smells like vacation.
|
Back accessories
Back Accessory customisation was introduced to Halo 3 in Season 6: Raven.
In-game |
Appearance Name |
Unlock Requirements |
Description
|
|
Default |
Default |
No backpack
|
|
Tactical Pack |
Season 6: Raven, Tier 23 1 |
All-purpose hardened storage.
|
|
Demolitions Pack |
Season 6: Raven, Tier 50 1 |
A one-stop shop for your front-line combat engineer.
|
|
Communications Pack |
Season 6: Raven, Tier 54 1 |
Battle network relay. Provides the user with a multi-channel secure network uplink. The case meets or exceeds all UNSC mil-spec standards for temperature, impact, moisture, vibration, and foreign particulate resistance.
|
|
Ammo Pack |
Season 6: Raven, Tier 97 1 |
Keep the party going with additional ammunition reserves and a back-up knife. In field situations packs such as these extend the duration of combat excursions and reduce the need for supply drops, but in training environments they have no effect.
|
|
Pulaski |
Season 6: Raven, Tier 86 1 |
Spartans serve as a fire break for many existential threats.
|
|
Sword and Board |
Season 6 Challenge: Best at Both |
Survive the onslaught.
|
|
Katana |
Unlocked by default |
Fortune favors the honorable and dedicated.
|
Techsuit
A comparison of all Season 5 techsuit variants. From left to right: the original Halo 3 techsuit, the new GEN1 techsuit, the GEN2 techsuit and the GEN2 Tinted techsuit.
As of the December 2020 update, Spartans in Halo 3 can now choose between three different techsuits to display underneath their MJOLNIR armor. Season 6 will include three new colored techsuits, with these techsuits not inhereting the player's primary color. These include the following;
- GEN1: Integral to the entire Mjolnir system, the techsuit encases the wearer's body and provides attachment points for the armor plating above it.
- This techsuit replaces the standard Halo 3 techsuit available in the original game and pre-update MCC. It is noticeably more detailed than the original, and is much more form-fitting.
- By Season 6, if the player has the toggle option for Halo 3 skins off, the Spartan model will be replaced with the original Halo 3 Spartan model.
- GEN2: Though similar to earlier systems, the GEN2 techsuit is a bespoke form-fitted armored polymuscle exoskeleton.
- The standard GEN2 techsuit introduced in Halo 4, Online and Halo 5: Guardians. This undersuit is only available in black.
- GEN2 Tinted: A variant of the standard GEN2 techsuit with additional chromatic customization options.
- A coloured variant of of the GEN2 undersuit, which inherits the player's primary colour.
- GEN2 Azure: The sky is not the limit.
- GEN2 techsuit with blue coloration.
- GEN2 Gunmetal: Never one for subtlety.
- GEN2 techsuit with grey coloration.
- GEN2 Maroon: A pleasant color for a gruesome business.
- GEN2 techsuit with dark red coloration.
Mistakes[edit]
- In reusing tooltips from Halo: Reach's appearance menu, the updated customization menu for Halo 3 in Halo: The Master Chief Collection now erroneously states the choice between a Spartan and Elite player model is only applicable to appropriate, species-specific gametypes, despite the option being available regardless of gametype.
- Additionally, when hovering over the menu element to change Elite armor permutations, the game erroneously states the option is to change Spartan armor. This would be fixed with the release of Halo 3: ODST on PC.
Miscellaneous[edit]
- A certain conceptual helmet seen in The Art of Halo 3 greatly resembles the AIR ASSAULT-class Mjolnir set that'd later appear in Halo: Reach.
- In Halo 3, the neck of an Elite (regardless what armor permutation used) is completely immune to any form of damage except for a shot from an overcharged Plasma Pistol. In addition, the projectile will simply pass through the neck, as though the neck wasn't there, without a blood spatter. This is because both Elites and Spartans have similar models.
- Many people speculate that hitboxes of the Spartans and Elites are shared but this is not true. While Bungie has officially commented on the hitboxes, they regard the size of the hitbox not the arrangement. Hitboxes are an unseen registry mechanic, which fall into the player models. They determine whether or not something has collided with the player. If an Elite is facing profile (sideways), and a shot is fired underneath the head (to where a Spartan's chest would be), the game will not register a hit. The head "hitbox" is forward more on Elites than it is Spartans.
Gallery[edit]
Concept art[edit]
The armor permutation menu for Spartans in the Xbox 360 edition of Halo 3.
The armor permutation menu for Sangheili in the Xbox 360 edition of Halo 3.
The armor permutation menu for Halo 3 on The Master Chief Collection prior to Halo 3: ODST's PC launch, featuring an erroneous tooltip, and a different pose for the player's Spartan.
Color choices for Halo 3 in Halo: The Master Chief Collection, following Halo 3: ODST's launch, with an updated character pose.
Screenshots[edit]
All the Elite permutations in Halo 3.
The glitched armor from Floodgate, It appears to be a combination of the front part of the Assault permutation and the back of the Combat permutation.
Miscellaneous[edit]
All of the Spartan permutations in Halo 3. Note: If a part of the armor set doesn't exist, it has been substituted with its Mark VI counterpart.
Sources[edit]
- ^ GamePro, issue 226: July 2007 (Archive)
- ^ Bungie.net, Bungie Weekly Update: 06/08/07 (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ Bungie.net, Way Beyond the Beta: Screenshots Galore (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ Bungie.net, 7/7/07: Love, Bungie (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ Halo Waypoint Forums, MCC Development & Flighting Updates: Page 4, post 63 "The team is currently working on a game update that expands the existing skin toggle in the settings menu to also apply to armor. If you prefer a true classic experience, you’ll be able to flip the “New Skins in Halo 3” toggle to “disabled” and you won’t see any new cosmetic items (weapon skins, vehicle skins, or armor) when you’re playing Halo 3. If you decide to turn off cosmetics, any players in your game who are wearing new armor will appear as default Mark VI." (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
List of armor permutations by game titles
|
|
|
|
|
|
|