Armor customization

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Armor Permutations are a feature in Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo: Reach that lets players customize their multiplayer character's armor to their liking. In Halo 3 and Halo: Reach, 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 Halo 2 and Halo 3.

Halo 3 Permutations

SPARTAN Armor Permutations

There is a wide variety of SPARTAN-II armor permutations in Halo 3. There are 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 armor have only helmet pieces, and Security Armor has both helmet and shoulder pieces but no chest permutation. The HAYABUSA Project includes the HAYABUSA and Katana permutations.

Template:MJOLNIR Variations

Sangheili Armor Permutations

There is a wide variety of Sangheili armor permutations, with five helmets, five shoulder pieces, and five chest pieces for a total of 625 different Sangheili armor permutations, with one helmet, two shoulder pieces, and one chest piece per permutation.

Template:Elite Variations

Unlocking Permutations

Spartan Armor Permutations
	Chest	Shoulder	Helmet
Mark VI	(Starter)	(Starter)	(Starter)
CQB	(Starter)	(Starter)	(Starter)
EVA	Beat Template:Levelname (Normal)	Beat Template:Levelname (Normal)	Campaign Complete: Normal
EOD	Beat Tsavo Highway (Legendary)	Beat The Ark (Legendary)	Campaign Complete: Legendary
Hayabusa	Collect 5 gold skulls	Collect 9 skulls	Collect all 13 skulls
Katana	Earn 49 Achievements or 1000 Gamerscore	N/A	N/A
Bungie	Bungie employees only	N/A	N/A
Security	N/A	Get 750 Gamerscore	Get 1000 Gamerscore
Recon	Complete all the Vidmaster Challenges of Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST.	Complete all the Vidmaster Challenges of Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST.	Complete all the Vidmaster Challenges of Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST.
Scout	Get the Achievement Too Close to the Sun	Get the Achievement Mongoose Mowdown	Get the Achievement Used Car Salesman
ODST	N/A	N/A	Become a Spartan Graduate
Mark V	N/A	N/A	Become a UNSC Spartan
Rogue	N/A	N/A	Become a Spartan Officer
Sangheili Armor Permutations
Combat	(Starter)	(Starter)	(Starter)
Assault	(Starter)	(Starter)	(Starter)
Flight	Beat Tsavo Highway (Heroic)	Beat The Ark (Heroic)	Campaign Complete: Heroic
Ascetic	Get the Achievement Up Close and Personal	Get the Achievement Overkill	Get the Achievement Steppin' Razor
Commando	Get the Achievement Triple Kill	Halo 3 Auto-Updates/Steppin' Razor^[1]	Get the Achievement Overkill

ODST Permutations

File:Nohelmet.jpg

Choosing not to wear a helmet will not affect gameplay.

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 Bungie-created armor. Players can choose primary and secondary armor colors, but the armor's main color remains the same (dark gray). Players can also choose whether or not to wear a helmet, unless they are playing as the Rookie or Sergeant Johnson, who cannot remove his helmet and cannot put one on, respectively. Choosing not to wear a helmet does not affect gameplay. Without a helmet, the player still has the same health and stamina, and they can still use VISR mode.

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 the pre-order of Halo 3: ODST.

The Armory (Halo: Reach Permutations)

For the work in progress article see The Armory

Trivia

There was originally going to be an Arbiter Armor Permutation in Halo 3, but it was taken out before the game's release. Bungie, however, did not explain why. Many fans expected it to be released as DLC, but due to the nature of the game that would be impossible.
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 a charged 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 share the same hitbox (where you can hit the character), but have different models.
Each Elite also has a modified neck, either sleek black or a different model such as scale-like plating at the back of the neck.
The armor in Halo 3 was originally planned to be more detailed, with dents and other details in the armor, but this detail was never implemented.
Some exclusive Spartan armor permutations for Halo: Reach are available on Halo Waypoint by earning achievements.
According to Bungie once the Colonel Grade 3 lock in Halo: Reach is lifted, new armors will be unlockable.

Gallery

Spartans

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.
IMGP0819.JPG

Three conceptual armor sets from The Art of Halo 3.
Hayabusa in Halo 3
Recon in Halo 3
Rogue in Halo 3
Scout in Halo 3
Security in Halo 3
CQBArmor.png

CQB in Halo 3
EOD in Halo 3
EVA in Halo 3
ODST in Halo 3
CurrentMarkV.png

Mark V in Halo 3
Untitled.jpg

Mark V helmet with the UA attachment in Halo: Reach
The exclusive "flaming helmet" Spartan armor effect included in the Halo: Reach Legendary Edition, much like the Bungie armor from Halo 3.
Reach Recon.jpg

The Recon helmet, available to all who purchase Reach on launch date in North America and pre-order in other countries.
UA Multi Threat MJOLNIR Mk. V[B] Armor available exclusively for those who pre-order Halo: Reach at a Gamestop location or Gamestop.com.
FJ Para Shoulders as they appear in the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta.
CQB Helmet Reach.jpg

CQB in Halo: Reach
CQC base.jpg

CQC in Halo: Reach
EVA in Halo: Reach
Millitary Police in Halo: Reach
EOD in Halo: Reach
MARKVI IN REACH.png

Mark Vl in Halo: Reach
Grenadier in Halo: Reach
ODST in Halo: Reach
The AA in Halo: Reach
The Operator helmet in Halo: Reach
Armor permutation customization in the Halo: Reach beta.
Reach InitialArmoryInventor.jpg

Initial Halo: Reach Armor Options
All Known Helmet Variants.jpg

All Known Halo: Reach Helmet Variants
SBgJn.jpg

Most armor permutations in Halo: Reach.

Sangheili

Elite Armor Permutations.png

All of the Elite armor permutations in Halo 3.
Ascetic in Halo 3
Assault in Halo 3
Combat in Halo 3
Commando in Halo 3
Flight in Halo 3
This is a "Glitched" armor from Floodgate, It resembles the Sangheili Ultra armor of Halo: Reach, Minus the spikes.
Ultra in Halo: Reach
Spec-Ops in Halo: Reach
General.jpg

General in Halo: Reach
Fieldmarshall.jpg

Field Marshall in Halo: Reach
ReachZealot.png

Zealot in Halo: Reach
Ranger in Halo: Reach
The exclusive Sangheili Officer armor included in the Limited and Legendary Editions of Halo: Reach.
Sangheili Officer

Sources

^ Bungie.net: "The longstanding “Elite Commando Shoulders aren’t unlocking with the achievement” bug is being resolved in the auto update. The shoulders weren’t unlocking when the Steppin’ Razor achievement was acquired. In the post-auto update era, the Commando Shoulders will be unlocked for everyone, regardless of the status of the corresponding achievement."

External links

[Title_Update-1] Bungie.net: "The longstanding “Elite Commando Shoulders aren’t unlocking with the achievement” bug is being resolved in the auto update. The shoulders weren’t unlocking when the Steppin’ Razor achievement was acquired. In the post-auto update era, the Commando Shoulders will be unlocked for everyone, regardless of the status of the corresponding achievement."

[1]