Armor customization

Armor Permutations are a feature in Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST, letting the player aesthetically customize his or her multiplayer character's armor. This feature allows players to change the helmet, shoulders, and torso armor pieces worn by their multiplayer avatar. Players also have the option of choosing between the human and elite race, having the ability to either be "Spartan" or "Elite" in Halo 3 multiplayer.

SPARTAN Armor Permutations
There are a wide variety of SPARTAN II armor permutations, with eleven helmets, eight shoulder pieces, and eight chest pieces for a total of 5,632 different SPARTAN II armor permutations: one helmet, two shoulder pieces, and one chest piece per permutation, not including the Bungie Armor chest armor. It should be noted the Rogue, Mark V, and ODST Armor, which only have helmet pieces, and Security Armor, which has both helmet and shoulder pieces but is in the absence of a chest permutation. The HAYABUSA Project, includes the HAYABUSA and Katana permutations.

Players without XBOX Live can unlock the following permutations:


 * Full Hayabusa armor (find all 13 skulls in campaign)
 * Full EOD (Legendary completion)
 * Full EVA (Normal completion)
 * Security (Head and Shoulders)
 * Scout (Helmet and Chest)
 * Katana (Chest)

Helmets

 * Mark VI: Unlocked by default.
 * CQB: Unlocked by default.
 * EVA: Complete Campaign on Normal or higher difficulty.
 * EOD: Complete Campaign on Legendary difficulty.
 * Hayabusa: Collect all 13 different Skulls in Campaign.
 * Security: Earn 1000 gamerscore in total from Halo 3 achievements.
 * ODST: Complete the Spartan Graduate achievement. (In the new rank progression system) - Reach the rank of Private in any playlist ranking.
 * Mark V: Complete the UNSC Spartan achievement. (In the new rank progression system) - Reach the rank of Sergeant in any playlist ranking.
 * Rogue: Complete the Spartan Officer achievement. (In the new rank progression system) - Reach the rank of Lieutenant in any playlist ranking.
 * Recon: One way is to complete all of the Vidmaster challenges in Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST. The armor can also be unlocked by achieving something that makes Bungie feel you deserve it, such as a Forge map, film or screenshot or winning against Bungie in a Bungie VS World event.
 * Scout: Complete the Used Car Salesman achievement.

Shoulder Pieces

 * Mark VI: Unlocked by default.
 * CQB: Unlocked by default.
 * EVA: Complete The Ark in Campaign on Normal or higher difficulty.
 * EOD: Complete the level The Ark on Legendary difficulty.
 * Hayabusa: Collect at least 9 skulls in Campaign.
 * Security: Earn 750 gamerscore from Halo 3 or higher.
 * Scout: Complete the Mongoose Mowdown achievement.
 * Recon: Get all the Vidmaster Achievements in Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST. It can also be unlocked by doing something that makes Bungie feel you deserve it, such as a Forge map, film, or screenshot, or participating in a Bungie vs. World Event.

Chest Armor

 * Mark VI: Unlocked by default.
 * CQB: Unlocked by default.
 * EVA: Complete The Tsavo Highway on Normal difficulty or higher.
 * EOD: Complete The Tsavo Highway on Legendary difficulty.
 * Hayabusa: Collect at least 5 skulls in Campaign.
 * Katana (Add-On): Unlock at least 49 achievements out of 79 and have at least 1000 Gamerscore in Halo 3. NOTE: There are reports from people who get it with less achievements. Since the release of the mythic map pack the Katana seems to unlock for those that download early(without the need for 1000 gamerscore OR 49 achievements)
 * Scout: Unlock the Too Close to the Sun Achievement, although has been reported that it may appear later sometimes.
 * Recon: Get all the Vidmaster Achievements in Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST. It can also be unlocked by doing something that makes Bungie feel you deserve it, such as a Forge map or screenshot and also winning a contest or various competitions that Bungie composes.
 * Bungie: A popular misconception is that the Bungie Flaming Helmet is actually a variant of the Hayabusa armor. In fact,however, it is a piece of fire on the collar and is a chest piece. It is the Bungie Chest Piece that allows the flame on the head which can be used with any helmet and shoulder piece. There are but very, VERY few ways to recieve this. One, the more obvious option, is to be a Bungie employee, or two, a new competition called the "Sarkathlon" run by G4TV (this competition has now ended).

Sangheili/Elite Armor Permutations
There are a wide variety of Elite armor permutations, with 5 helmets, 5 shoulder pieces, and 5 chest pieces for a total of 15 different Sangheili armor permutations: one helmet, two shoulder pieces, and chest piece per permutation and 625 possible combinations with all pieces in consideration.

The armor pieces obtainable by players without XBOX LIVE:
 * Full Combat Harness: Default
 * Full Assault Armor: Default
 * Full Flight Armor: Complete Campaign on Heroic or above(All other armor permutations for Sangheili armor are only obtainable from XBOX LIVE)

Helmets

 * Combat: Unlocked by default.
 * Assault: Unlocked by default.
 * Flight: Unlock either Campaign Complete: Heroic or Campaign Complete: Legendary Achievements.
 * Ascetic: Unlock the Steppin' Razor achievement.
 * Commando: Unlock the Overkill Achievement.

Shoulder Pieces

 * Combat: Unlocked by default.
 * Assault: Unlocked by default.
 * Flight: Complete the level The Ark on Heroic or Legendary difficulties.
 * Ascetic: Unlock the Overkill achievement.
 * Commando: Automatically unlocks for everyone after Title Update 1.

Chest Armor

 * Combat: Unlocked by default.
 * Assault: Unlocked by default.
 * Flight: Complete the level Tsavo Highway on Heroic or Legendary difficulties.
 * Ascetic: Unlock the Up Close and Personal achievement.
 * Commando: Unlock the Triple Kill achievement.

ODST Permutations


Halo 3: ODST features armor customization, though it is not as complex as Halo 3's. One can play as each member of the squad having their own unique aesthic armor. Players can choose primary and secondary armor colors, but the armor's main color remains the same. Players can also choose not to wear a helmet unless they are using the Rookie character model. Choosing not to wear a helmet does not effect game play. Without a helmet the player still has the same health and stamina and they can still use VISR mode.

People who pre-ordered Halo 3: ODST can play as Sergeant Major Avery Johnson.

Characters

 * Rookie: Unlocked by default.
 * Dare: Complete the Campaign on Legendary.
 * Buck: Unlock the Tayari Plaza Achievement.
 * Dutch: Unlock the Uplift Reserve Achievement.
 * Romeo: Unlock the NMPD HQ Achievement.
 * Mickey: Unlock the Kizingo Boulevard Achievement.
 * Sergeant Johnson: Came with pre-order of Halo 3: ODST.

Trivia

 * There was originally going to be an Arbiter Armor Permutation, but it was taken out before Halo 3 ' s release. Bungie, however, did not explain why.
 * The neck of an Elite (regardless what armor permutation used) is completely immune to any form of damage except for a charged Type-25 Directed Energy 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 share the same hitbox (i.e. where you can hit the character), but have different models.
 * Each Elite also has a modified neck, whether sleek black, or a different model such as scale-like plating at the back.