RECON-class Mjolnir

The Mark VI MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/R variant, or Recon Armor is a type of United Nations Space Command body armor.

Introduction
The Recon Armor is a variant of the standard Mark VI MJOLNIR powered battle armor. It is an Armor Permutation in Halo 3 multiplayer. Armor permutations have no effect on gameplay.

Development and History
The Recon armor was developed parallel to the Scout Armor in the B5D Ordnance Testing Facility in Swanbourne, Perth, Australia. The main aim of it was to create armor with stealth capabilities with little or no loss of endurance, specifically by reducing its IR signature, reflective surfaces, and Cherenkov radiation emission.

Helmet Characteristics
The Helmet features largely rounded features with a rise along the top of the head with two black triangles pointing out the front of the head on each side of the rise. It has a thin visor and an area of black alloy beneath it, surrounded by armor. The helmet is largely angular with a pair of what look like breathers on each side of the mouth and a small indent on the forehead.

Shoulder Characteristics
The shoulder pads are a more angular version of the EVA, with a box like shoulder pad and a section jutting out and down the arm. It also features a slanted rectangular strip of metal jutting outwards at a 90 degree angle from the shoulder pad. They are similar to the Mark V shoulder armor. They are also very similar to the brute shoulder armor.

Chest Characteristics
The Chest piece is similar to the Mark VI but instead of being made up of smooth plates reflecting the human body it is more angular like the other parts of the armor and reflects it with a few small changes.

Unlock

 * Head: Bungie Employees or community members that impress Bungie in some way shape or form


 * Shoulders: Bungie Employees
 * Body: Bungie Employees
 * It is claimed that forge maps that impress Bungie may earn you Recon
 * It has confirmed that this armour permutation may be unlocked through Bungie special events such as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. It was awarded to people who achieved the most overall kills, flamethrower kills, double kills, assists, and grenade sticks in the tournament.
 * On the Bungie podcasts you can get off iTunes they are supposedly releasing a code for the armor

Controversy
When it was finally announced by Bungie to be only usable by Bungie employees it prompted a community backlash. On Bungie.net, a topic devoted to the search of it ran for fifteen thousand posts, Luke Smith (a.k.a. Lukems and Bungie Employee) and other possessors of the armor left cryptic clues behind to its potential unlock, many community members feeling that this lead them on. Also, many have seen it as 'false advertising' as Bungie not only released an image of the Mark VI, CQB Armor, EVA armor, and the Recon armor on Bungie Day, they also showed it along with the ODST Armor at the PAX Omegathon '07.

Trivia

 * The armor permutation was first discovered in the Bungie update on the 7th of July then later with videos from PAX ’07 and leaked images.
 * The game guide makes no mention of the Recon armor. It is noted that Bungie requested that some of the armor permutations not be in the guide.
 * Some torrents have allowed the ability to get the armor, from burning an illegal copy of the game.
 * According to Bungie, as of October 26, 2007, Bungie will give it out based on "good deeds and valuable community service and occasionally because the players make them laugh. There will be plenty of occasions and reasons to get it."
 * The armor was auctioned together with other Halo items at the annual Childs-play dinner organized by the Penny Arcade. According to Tycho, Frankie O'Connor came on stage to comment the addition of the armor during the event.
 * The Recon Armor was auctioned off with a famous Mister Chief painting. Unfortunately the winner of the bidding does not have Live for the armor and is auctioning it off as a separate item.
 * It's awarded as the prizes for the St. Valentines day Massacre Playlist.
 * This armor has lead to the creation of the very popular meme, "i can haz recon?", in the Halo community, sourcing from the wide unavailability of this armor, a Bungie-produced satire image, and the machinima "Arby "n" The Chief".
 * In Episode 2: Recon of DigitalPh33r's machinima, "Arby and the Chief", 'sent an e-mail' to Bungie asking to get recon armor for Master Chief. This caused a controversy over DigitalPh33r receiving it because of an e-mail, although he later revealed that he already had recon armor before the production of the video, and it was used a plot object to introduce the armor into the series.
 * If you look closely, you notice that the recon shoulders are very similar to that of the shoulder armor of brutes