This article is about the content update released for Halo: The Master Chief Collection. For the seasonal update for Halo Wars 2, see Season 5 (Halo Wars 2).

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Series 4: Reclaimer

Next:

Series 6: Raven

Season 5: Anvil
HTMCC Season5 Emblem.png

HTMCC S5 Keyart Logoless.jpg

Start date:

January 27, 2021[1][2]

End date:

April 7, 2021[3]

Number of tiers:

100[4]

Total unlock cost:

Spartan Point 100

Includes content for:

 

Season 5: Anvil is a season for Halo: The Master Chief Collection, released on January 27, 2021.[1] 343 Industries included previously-cut AKIS and Mariner helmets as part of this update,[5] after they were pushed back from Season 4 due to difficulties encountered during development.[6] Additionally, Season 5 sees the introduction of 12 armor sets from the cancelled game Halo Online into Halo 3.[7]

The season is named after ANVIL Station and Anvil Initiative; a space station known for testing the MJOLNIR armors introduced with the update and the organization that runs the station, respectively.[8] The season's logo is the Anvil Initiative's logo: a Human and a Sangheili shaking hands.

Season unlocksEdit

 
Keyart from Xbox.com showcasing some of the season's content.

Season 5 added the following content to the game. Notably, the Halo: Reach and Halo 3 customization options were implemented into the game in the Season 4 December update, as available for preview in the game's menus. However, they are unable to be unlocked and used in-game without the use of modding.

Halo: The Master Chief CollectionEdit

Halo: ReachEdit

  • Two new Halo: Reach helmets originally cut from the release of the Anniversary Map Pack: AKIS, Mariner
    • Three Halo: Reach helmet attachments for AKIS: GRD, CBRN, GRD/CBRN
    • Three Halo: Reach helmet attachments for Mariner: Mister Chief, Defiant and OPTREX
  • Six new Halo: Reach chest armors, five of which are new robot arm variants of existing chests and one new:
    • Default [R]
    • UA/Counterassault [R]
    • Tactical/Recon [R]
    • Tactical/Patrol [R]
    • Collar/Grenadier [UA] [R]
    • EXO/TSCS

Halo 3Edit

For Halo 3, the existing "New Skins in Halo 3" toggle will be updated to include the new armor permutations mentioned below alongside weapon and vehicle skins. If the new cosmetics are turned off, any players using Halo Online-based armor will instead display as using the default Mark VI.[9]

Page 1Edit

Tier Unlock requirements Unlocks Images Game
1   1 AKIS helmet and Reach Metal nameplate    
2   1 Bullet nameplate  
3   1 Air Assault helmet    
4   1 SMG Scorpio skin    
5   1 Suture forearms    
6   1 Tanker chest    
7   1 Air Assault shoulders     
8   1 Tanker legs    
9   1 Aviator helmet    
10   1 Mariner helmet    

Page 2Edit

Tier Unlock requirements Unlocks Images Game
11   1 Aviator chest    
12   1 Air Assault forearms    
13   1 No Entry and Bullet Stack nameplates  
14   1 Warrior chest    
15   1 Air Assault chest    
16   1 Pioneer forearms    
17   1 Aviator shoulders     
18   1 Battle Rifle Desert skin    
19   1 Soldier helmet    
20   1 EXO/TSCS chest    

Page 3Edit

Tier Unlock requirements Unlocks Images Game
21   1 Battle Rifle Scarlet Thorn skin    
22   1 Rocket Launcher Hazard Pay skin    
23   1 Tanker shoulders     
24   1 Bandage nameplate  
25   1 Default [R] chest    
26   1 Demo chest    
27   1 Air Assault legs    
28   1 Needler schism skin    
29   1 Pioneer shoulders     
30   1 AKIS CBRN helmet attachment    

Page 4Edit

Tier Unlock requirements Unlocks Images Game
31   1 Plasma Pistol Schism skin    
32   1 Demo forearms    
33   1 Battle Rifle Hunter's Blood skin    
34   1 Pioneer chest    
35   1 Cowboy Shells nameplate  
36   1 Carbine Zealot skin    
37   1 Demo helmet    
38   1 Deadeye chest    
39   1 Demo shoulders     
40   1 Pistol Tech Camo Bravo skin    

Page 5Edit

Tier Unlock requirements Unlocks Images Game
41   1 Hivemind chest    
42   1 Magnum Blast nameplate  
43   1 Assault Rifle Hazard Pay skin    
44   1 Soldier legs    
45   1 Mariner Defiant helmet attachment    
46   1 Warrior legs    
47   1 Warrior shoulders     
48   1 Battle Rifle Hazard Pay skin    
49   1 Pioneer helmet    
50   1 Bullet Line nameplate  

Page 6Edit

Tier Unlock requirements Unlocks Images Game
51   1 Pioneer legs    
52   1 Suture legs    
53   1 Battle Rifle Golden skin    
54   1 Deadeye shoulders     
55   1 Grenadier [UA] [R] chest    
56   1 Warrior helmet    
57   1 Pistol Hazard Pay skin    
58   1 Carbine Splendor skin    
59   1 Hivemind shoulders     
60   1 AKIS GRD helmet attachment    

Page 7Edit

Tier Unlock requirements Unlocks Images Game
61   1 Sniper Rifle Red Alert skin    
62   1 Compass shoulders     
63   1 Suture helmet    
64   1 Hivemind helmet    
65   1 Battle Rifle Grey Scales skin    
66   1 Demo legs    
67   1 Hivemind legs    
68   1 Sniper Rifle Hazard Pay skin    
69   1 Suture chest    
70   1 Tactical/Recon [R] chest    

Page 8Edit

Tier Unlock requirements Unlocks Images Game
71   1 Suture shoulders     
72   1 Navigator helmet    
73   1 Soldier shoulders     
74   1 Compass forearms    
75   1 Navigator legs    
76   1 Tactical/Patrol [R] chest    
77   1 SMG Art of War skin    
78   1 Deadeye helmet    
79   1 Carbine Schism skin    
80   1 Mariner OPTREX helmet attachment    

Page 9Edit

Tier Unlock requirements Unlocks Images Game
81   1 Navigator shoulders     
82   1 Compass helmet    
83   1 Battle Rifle Great Journey skin    
84   1 Tanker forearms    
85   1 Bullet Pile nameplate  
86   1 Assault Rifle Desert skin    
87   1 Tanker helmet    
88   1 Warrior forearms    
89   1 Compass legs    
90   1 UA/Counterassault [R] chest    

Page 10Edit

Tier Unlock requirements Unlocks Images Game
91   1 Plasma Rifle Keeper skin    
92   1 Navigator chest    
93   1 SMG Golden skin    
94   1 Aviator legs    
95   1 Fuel Rod Gun Schism skin    
96   1 Compass chest    
97   1 Deadeye legs    
98   1 Soldier chest    
99   1 Soldier forearms    
100   1 AKIS GRD/CBRN helmet attchment and From The Beginning nameplate    

FlightsEdit

Main article: MCC Insider Program

No Flighting was conducted for Season 5, due to 343 Industries' staff being on leave for the 2020 Christmas period. However, Season 5 content (specifically, the new Halo Online armor sets) were added into the collection for preview purposes in a patch on December 16.

MarketingEdit

Season 5 preview streamEdit

On January 25, 2021, 343 Industries conducted a livestream on YouTube in which they showed off the new content for the season prior to release.[10] The stream can be found here.

TrailerEdit

Main article: Halo: The Master Chief Collection - Season 5 Trailer

To showcase the release of Season 5 and its new customisation content, a trailer for the update was released on January 27, 2021. Notably the trailer showcased some upcoming armor not included in the Season 5 patch including the Infiltrator, Nomdagro and Operator designs.

Season 5 fan kitEdit

On January 28, 2021, a number of 4K wallpapers were released on Halo Waypoint for fans to use, showcasing some of the new content.[11] The fankit can be found here, and the images in the gallery section at the bottom of this article.

Patch notesEdit

December patchEdit

While Season 5 launched on January 27, 2021, the patch released in December 2020 physically added the bugfixes and new content to the game. The patch notes for the December patch can be found here.

January 27 patch notes (Version 1.2094.0.0)Edit

January 27 (season launch) patch (Version 1.2094.0.0)

The Season 5 patch launched alongside the start of the season on January 27, 2021.[12]

Install Size by Version

  • Steam
    • Max size of 258 MB
  • Microsoft Store and Xbox Game Pass for PC
    • Max size of 6.3 GB
  • Xbox
    • Max size of 9.9 GB

New Features

Season 5, “Anvil,” begins with this update. It includes a variety of new unlockable cosmetics for Halo 3 and Halo: Reach, including new skins for armor and weapons, new nameplates, and a new Mongoose skin.

The New Skins in Halo 3 toggle in settings has been expanded. Players who want to maintain a classic Halo 3 experience can flip this setting to “disabled” to avoid seeing any new cosmetic items while playing Halo 3, including weapon skins, vehicle skins, and armor. While cosmetics are disabled, any players in your game who are wearing new armor will appear with the default Mark VI.

GalleryEdit

Promotional imagesEdit

SourcesEdit

  1. ^ a b Twitter, @Halo: "Season 5 of MCC arrives for free in just one week! [...] All live on January 27th." (Retrieved on Jan 22, 2021) [archive]
  2. ^ Halo Waypoint, GRD is Here: MCC Season 5 Now Live (Retrieved on Jan 27, 2021) [archive]
  3. ^ Twitter, Halo (@Halo): "Ready yourselves, Spartans. Season 6 of MCC, Raven, arrives for free on April 7! 🛡️ 100 tiers to unlock in the Season Pass 🎒Brand new back accessories, skins, and armor 🍃 A fresh set of Seasonal Challenges with 3 unique rewards 🎮 Xbox Series X" (Retrieved on Mar 31, 2021) [archive]
  4. ^ Halo Waypoint, Forums, MCC Development & Flighting Updates: "With it, players can look forward to all new customization options that you can unlock through Timed Seasonal Challenges, in-game events, and through the free 100 tier season pass." - Postums (Retrieved on Jan 22, 2021) [archive]
  5. ^ Halo Waypoint, News, MCC Development Update - November 2020 (Retrieved on Feb 28, 2021) [archive]
  6. ^ Halo Waypoint, News, MCC Development Update - October 2020 (Retrieved on Feb 28, 2021) [archive]
  7. ^ a b c Halo Waypoint, News, MCC Development Retrospective - December 2020 (Retrieved on Feb 28, 2021) [archive]
  8. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Armor Online (Retrieved on Feb 28, 2021) [archive]
  9. ^ Halo Waypoint Forums, MCC Development & Flighting Updates: Page 4, post 63 "The team is currently working on a game update that expands the existing skin toggle in the settings menu to also apply to armor. If you prefer a true classic experience, you’ll be able to flip the “New Skins in Halo 3” toggle to “disabled” and you won’t see any new cosmetic items (weapon skins, vehicle skins, or armor) when you’re playing Halo 3. If you decide to turn off cosmetics, any players in your game who are wearing new armor will appear as default Mark VI." (Retrieved on Feb 28, 2021) [archive]
  10. ^ YouTube - Halo, Halo Season 5 Preview - Halo: The Master Chief Collection
  11. ^ Halo Waypoint Forums, Season 5: Anvil Wallpapers (Retrieved on Mar 18, 2021) [archive]
  12. ^ Halo Support, Halo: The Master Chief Collection (MCC) Patch Notes - January 2021 (Retrieved on Feb 28, 2021) [archive]