Weapon skins (Halo 4)

For other uses, see Weapon skins.

Weapon skins in Halo 4 allow players to customize their SPARTAN-IV's weapon aesthetic. Weapon skins can be unlocked via progression in Specializations, purchasing specific editions of the game and DLC, and finally, by buying specific figures from Series 2 of the McFarlane line of figures.

Overview

Halo 4 features rudimentary weapon skin customization, with the player being able to simply swap preset patterns on their weapon in the loadout modification menu. However, this will only pertain to personal loadouts. Applying a skin to an M395 DMR and then picking up a DMR placed on the map will not result in the newly picked up weapon possessing the player's skin. However, at the same time, picking up a player's DMR which has a skin applied to it will feature the skin chosen by the player who owned it prior.

Launch skins

Launch skins refer to the weapon skins that were in the game at launch. These include skins that were unlockable though Specialisations, pre-ordering the game, or though special editions. These skins were able to be used in Spartan Ops.

Weapon skins can be unlocked in a multitude of ways, with the most common method of unlocking them being through the grinding of Specializations. For example, upon reaching Spartan Rank 5 within the Wetwork's Specialization, the "Noble" DMR skin tied to it will unlock for the player. Each specialization has one weapon skin tied to it.

Specific editions of the game, such as the Halo 4 Limited Edition also include special weapon skins for buyers. The Limited Edition includes the "Prime" assault rifle skin, specifically. These skins were later made available for buyers of the Halo 4 Game of the Year Edition. The Halo 4 Xbox 360 console includes the "Imprint" lightrifle skin, though this was not made available for buyers of the Halo 4 Game of the Year Edition.

DLC skins

DLC skins refer to skins that were available through the Champions Bundle, or though McFarlane Toys figures. These skins were not programmed into Spartan Ops, so they can not be used in it.

Finally, unlocking skins can also be done by purchasing specially marked figures from Series 2 of the McFarlane toy line launched in 2013. For example, purchasing the Elite Ranger figure will unlock the "Chill" skin for the storm rifle.

There are two cut weapon skins which can be viewed only through modding or glitching. These skins can be used through a glitch in the game only on Halo 4 on Xbox 360, though they will not remain unlocked with this method.^[1]

List of weapon skins

Launch skins

Weapon skins
Skin	Name	Unlock
	Prime (PRM)	Unlocked by purchasing the Halo 4 Limited Edition or the Halo 4 Game of the Year Edition
	Predator (PDT)	Reach Pathfinder SR-5
	Arctic (ACT)	Unlocked by pre-ordering Halo 4 at specific retailers, or by purchasing the Halo 4 Game of the Year Edition
	Dunes (DNE)	Reach Stalker SR-5
	Noble (NBL)	Reach Wetwork SR-5
	Reign (RGN)	Reach Rogue SR-5
	Imprint (IMP)	Unlocked by purchasing the Halo 4 Xbox 360
	Shatter (SHA)	Reach Engineer SR-5
	Static (STC)	Reach Operator SR-5
	Fracture (FTC)	Reach Pioneer SR-5
	Piston (PST)	Reach Tracker SR-5

Champions Bundle skins

Weapon skins
Skin	Name	Unlock
	Turbine (TBN)	Purchase the Champions Bundle
	Teeth (TTH)	Purchase the Champions Bundle
	Trauma (TRM)	Purchase the Champions Bundle
	Steam (STM)	Purchase the Champions Bundle
	Salvage (SLV)	Purchase the Champions Bundle
	Monocle (MCL)	Purchase the Champions Bundle
	Striped (STP)	Unlocked by purchasing the Bullseye Pack and unlocking the classified Draetheus V archive.
	Locomotive (LMV)	Purchase the Champions Bundle
	Industrial (IDT)	Purchase the Champions Bundle
	Compression (CMP)	Purchase the Champions Bundle
	Mechanical (MCN)	Purchase the Champions Bundle
	Combustion (CBN)	Purchase the Champions Bundle
	Indigo (IND)	Purchase the Champions Bundle
	Flare (FLR)	Purchase the Champions Bundle
	Boilerplate (BPL)	Purchase the Champions Bundle
	Engine (ENG)	Purchase the Champions Bundle

Figure exclusive skins

Weapon skins
Skin	Name	Unlock
	Riptide (RPT)	Purchase the Master Chief figure from the Series 2 line of McFarlane figures for Halo 4.
	Bones (BNS)	Purchase the CIO Spartan figure from the Series 2 line of McFarlane figures for Halo 4.
	Engage	Purchase the Storm Jackal figure from the Series 2 line of McFarlane figures for Halo 4.
	Chill (CHL)	Purchase the Elite Ranger figure from the Series 2 line of McFarlane figures for Halo 4.
	Refractive (RFC)	Purchase the Ur-Didact figure from the Series 2 line of McFarlane figures for Halo 4.

Cut skins

Weapon skins
Skin	Name	Unlock
	Blast (BLS)	Unobtainable
	Concrete (CTE)	Unobtainable

Gallery

Launch skins

Prime AR skin.
Prime, while reloading, revealing more of the skin's pattern.
Predator AR skin.
Predator, while reloading, revealing more of the skin's pattern.
Arctic BR skin.
Dunes BR skin.
Noble DMR skin.
Reign Carbine skin.
Imprint lightrifle skin.
Imprint, while meleeing, revealing more of the skin's pattern.
Shatter Suppressor skin.
Shatter, while meleeing, revealing more of the skin's pattern.
Static Magnum skin.
Static, while reloading, offering a more clear view of the skin's pattern.
Fracture Plasma Pistol skin.
Fracture, while overcharged, revealing more of the skin's pattern.
Piston Boltshot skin.

Champions Bundle skins

Turbine AR skin.
Turbine, while reloading, revealing more of the skin's pattern.
Teeth AR skin.
Teeth, while reloading, revealing more of the skin's pattern.
Trauma AR skin.
Trauma, while reloading, revealing more of the skin's pattern.
Steam BR skin.
Salvage BR skin.
Monocle DMR skin.
Striped DMR skin.
Locomotive Carbine skin.
Industrial lightrifle skin.
Industrial, while meleeing, revealing more of the skin's pattern.
Compression Storm Rifle skin.
Compression Storm Rifle skin, while overheating, revealing more of the skin's pattern.
Mechanical Suppressor skin.
Mechanical Suppressor skin, while meleeing, revealing more of the skin's pattern.
Combustion Magnum skin.
Combusion Magnum skin, while reloading, offering a more clear view of the skin's pattern.
Indigo Magnum skin.
Indigo Magnum skin, while reloading, offering a more clear view of the skin's pattern.
Flare Magnum skin.
Flare Magnum skin, while reloading, offering a more clear view of the skin's pattern.
Boilerplate Plasma Pistol skin.
Boilerplate Plasma Pistol skin, while overcharged, revealing more of the skin's pattern.
Engine Boltshot skin.