Armor customization

Introduction
Originally discovered in the Halo 3 Beta code by modders, Halo 3's new multiplayer armor permutations provide high levels of player customization and were confirmed by GamePro's June issue.

Bungie has confirmed that all of the armor permutations have no effect on gameplay. Besides being easier/harder to be seen.

Higher resolution screenshots of the armor permutations in action can be found at the Halo 3 Project's screenshots section at Bungie.net, as of July 2, 2007.

Bungie has stated that there are "thousands" of possible combos, but they refuse to state exactly how many variations will be in the final product.

In the Bungie Podcast, it was confirmed that 2 of Spartan and 2 Elite variant armors are given at the start of the game, speculated to be EVA, CQB, Combat and Assault.

Spartan Armor Permutations


Bungie has hinted to more types of armor in the June 8, 2007 Weekly Update. Also in June 22, 2007 Weekly Update: "Players were using different permutations than we’ve shown"

In a new update on Bungie.com on July 4: "The EVA Armor and the CQB Armor are two of the numerous types of armor available." .

There were 5 permutations for Spartans discovered by modders in the Beta code; Bungie has currently conformed the three armor permutations, MJOLNIR,Close Quarters Battle armor and the Extra Vehicular Armor. It is possible that the "numerous" permutations as mentioned above is numbered at five in total. However, more types of armor may have been developed or added to the game since the Beta's release.

Concept Art (Spartan)
This is a concept rendition of a new set of armor, unknown at this point.

Rendered Image (Spartan)
These are the images of the supposed leaked pre-skin rendered models below,

Helmets

 * EVA: Complete Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary
 * EOD: Complete Campaign on Legendary
 * Security: Earn 1000 out of 1000 Gamerscore Points for Halo 3
 * Scout: Complete "Used Car Salesman" Achievement
 * Mark V: Complete "UNSC Spartan" Achievement
 * ODST: Complete "Spartan Graduate" Achievement
 * Rogue: Complete "Spartan Officer" Achievement
 * Hayabusa: Collect all skulls

Shoulder Armor

 * EVA: Complete The Ark on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary
 * EOD: Complete The Ark on Legendary
 * Security: Earn 750 out of 1000 Gamerscore Points for Halo 3
 * Scout: Complete "We're in for some Chop" Achievement
 * Hayabusa: Collect 7 skulls

Body Armor

 * EVA: Complete Tsavo Highway on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary
 * CQB: Complete Tsavo Highway on Legendary
 * Scout: Complete "Too Close to the Sun" Achievement
 * Hayabusa: Collect 3 skulls

Elite Armor Permutations
Though unconfirmed by Bungie as of yet, Beta code modders also found the following Elite armor types:

A couple of images of the Elite permutations exist below,

Helmets

 * Flight: Complete Campaign on Heroic or Legendary
 * Ascetic: Unlock "Steppin' Razor" Achievement
 * Commando: Unlock "Overkill" Achievement

Shoulder Armor

 * Flight: Complete The Ark on Heroic or "The Storm" on Legendary
 * Ascetic: Unlock "Overkill" Achievement
 * Commando: Unlock "Killing Frenzy" Achievement

Body Armor

 * Flight: Complete Tsavo Highway on Heroic or Legendary
 * Ascetic: Complete "Up Close and Personal" Achievement
 * Commando: Complete "Triple Kill" Achievement