Armor customization

Armor Permutations are a feature in Halo 3 and in Halo 3: ODST which let players customize their Multiplayer character's armor to their liking. In Halo 3, this feature allows players to change the helmet, shoulders and chest armor pieces worn by their multiplayer character. Players also have the option of choosing between being a Spartan or Elite in Multiplayer.

SPARTAN Armor Permutations
There is a wide variety of SPARTAN II armor permutations in Halo 3. Eleven helmets, eight shoulder pieces and eight chest pieces for a total of 5,632 different SPARTAN II armor permutation possibilities: One helmet, two shoulder pieces and one chest piece per permutation, not including the Bungie Armor Chest piece. It should be noted the Rogue, Mark V, and ODST armour only have helmet pieces and Security armour has both helmet and shoulder pieces but is in the absence of a chest permutation. The HAYABUSA Project includes the HAYABUSA and Katana permutations.

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 49 out of 79 Achievements or more on Halo 3.
 * 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.
 * Scout: Complete the Used Car Salesman Achievement.
 * Recon: Complete all of the Vidmaster Challenge Achievements in Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST. (A Bungie.net account is required to unlock Recon)

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 Ark in Campaign on Legendary difficulty.
 * Hayabusa: Collect at least 9 different skulls in Campaign.
 * Security: Earn 750 gamerscore in total from Halo 3 achievements.
 * Scout: Complete the Mongoose Mowdown achievement.
 * Recon: Complete all of the Vidmaster Challenge Achievements in Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST. (A Bungie.net account is required to unlock Recon)

Chest Armor

 * Mark VI: Unlocked by default.
 * CQB: Unlocked by default.
 * EVA: Complete Tsavo Highway in Campaign on Normal or higher difficulty.
 * EOD: Complete Tsavo Highway in Campaign on Legendary difficulty.
 * Hayabusa: Collect at least 5 different skulls in Campaign.
 * Katana: Earn 1000 gamerscore in total from Halo 3 achievements. There have been reports from people who have unlocked it with fewer achievements. Since the release of the Mythic Map Pack, the Katana seemed to unlock for those that downloaded it early (without the need for 1000 gamerscore).
 * Scout: Complete the Too Close to the Sun Achievement. This chest piece has occasionally been reported to unlock late.
 * Recon: Complete all of the Vidmaster Challenge Achievements in Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST. (A Bungie.net account is required to unlock Recon)
 * Bungie: A popular misconception is that Bungie's Flaming Helmet is actually a variant of the Hayabusa armor. In fact, it is a flame on the collar and is a chest piece. The Bungie Chest Piece creates the flame on the player's head which can be used with any helmet and shoulder piece. There are but extremely few ways to receive this. One, is to be a Bungie employee, or compete in a new competition called the "Sarkathlon" run by G4TV. (This competition has now ended)

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 Elite armor permutations: One helmet, two Shoulder pieces, and one 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: 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 aesthetic 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 affect game play. Without a helmet, the player still has the same health and stamina and they can still use VISR mode.

Players 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.
 * It is possible that Halo: Reach will feature armor permutations that were sported in the trailer, each Spartan was wearing a different make of armor.