Armor customization (Halo 3)
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
Armor customization in Halo 3 allows players to customize their Spartan and Elite player model with a variety of armor pieces available to players. The feature is an improvement of Halo 2's player customization feature, and the first in the series to allow players to change the physical model of their character beyond species and colour selection.
Overview[edit]
Halo 3 features a number of armor selections for both Spartan and Elite player characters, unlocked primarily by accomplishing feats within the campaign, Matchmaking and earning achievements. It was first hinted at during the Halo 3 Beta, with the limited-access featuring the ability for players to customise their armour colouration and emblem - though no ability to customise armour permutations.[1][2] Hidden in the Beta's files were strings referencing the in-development names for the multiplayer armours, with some modders able to figure out the existence of a potential armour customisation system ahead of the official release.[3]
The system was initially unveiled in the July 2007 issue of GamePro, featuring a handful of images of the EVA and CQB armor sets alongside the standard Mark VI, though was noted by Bungie to not be the full set of armor available in game.[4] Bungie later officially announced the inclusion of Elite armor variants[5], and on Bungie Day 2007 officially unveiled the CQB and EVA permutations' visuals and lore. A piece of art illustrated by Isaac Hannaford released at the same time additionally revealed the existence of the Recon armor, though the armor was not specifically called out by Bungie or given any attention until later.[6][7]
In total, there are 17 armor sets included in Halo 3, 12 of which for the SPARTAN-II character model and 5 for the Elite character model. These armor permutations are organized into three categories: Helmet, Chest and Shoulder. There are a total of 30 color options to use with these armor permutations. Certain armor permutations can only be unlocked by completing the game on certain difficulties, accumulating certain Gamerscore, or by obtaining certain multiplayer-specific achievements. Some, such as Recon or the exclusive Bungie Armor, have more esoteric unlock requirements, and can only be granted under certain conditions. Additionally, some Spartan armor sets only contain a helmet piece or chest piece, with no other associated armor selections.
Halo 3 unlock requirements[edit]
Spartan armor | |||
---|---|---|---|
Armor | Helmet | Chest | Shoulders |
![]() Mark VI |
Unlocked by default | Unlocked by default | Unlocked by default |
![]() CQB |
Unlocked by default | Unlocked by default | Unlocked by default |
![]() EVA |
Complete the entire Halo 3 campaign on Normal difficulty or higher (Campaign Complete: Normal) | Beat Tsavo Highway on Normal difficulty or higher (The Road) | Beat The Ark on Normal difficulty or higher (Refuge) |
![]() EOD |
Complete the entire Halo 3 campaign on Legendary difficulty (Campaign Complete: Legendary) | Beat Tsavo Highway on Legendary difficulty | Beat The Ark on Legendary difficulty |
![]() HAYABUSA |
Collect all 13 skulls | Collect 5 skulls | Collect 9 skulls |
![]() Scout |
Unlock the Used Car Salesman achievement | Unlock the Too Close to the Sun achievement | Unlock the Mongoose Mowdown achievement |
![]() Recon |
| ||
![]() Security |
Get 1,000 ![]() |
N/A | Get 750 ![]() |
![]() ODST |
Reach the rank of |
N/A | |
![]() Mark V |
Achieve the rank of |
N/A | |
![]() Rogue |
Reach the rank of |
N/A | |
![]() Katana |
N/A | Earn 49 achievements or earn 1,000 ![]() |
N/A |
![]() Bungie Armor ("Flaming head") |
N/A | Be an employee of Bungie Studios | N/A |
Halo: The Master Chief Collection[edit]
For the Halo 3 multiplayer component of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, all armor - including Recon and Bungie - was unlocked for all players for use by default. Between the game's launch in 2014 and the launch of Halo 3 on PC in 2020, armor customization was limited to full sets with no mix-and-match customization, due to the difficulties of running multiple engines in the menu component. In this launch rendition, the armor sets were displayed in the menu as static renders, with the armors using full armor sets or - in the case of armors with no associated armor for chest, helmet or shoulder elements - Mark VI to supplement missing elements. As such, using a helmet such as Mark V or ODST required the usage of all Mark VI for everything else. Using the Katana chest, however, would use Hayabusa for all other armor elements. Additionally and for the first time, The Master Chief Collection allowed players to use the Bungie Armor (now renamed "Flaming Head"), and would display the characteristic flames and EOD chest as it did in the original game, though with enforced Mark VI shoulders and helmet.
Following the launch of Halo 3 on PC and start of Season 2: Spark, this system was updated to display Halo 3 character models in Unreal Engine 4, with full customization in-game as it was at the launch of Halo 3. In this change, the Bungie Armor chest was renamed "Legacy", and the Security armour set was given a chest armour piece; in launch Halo 3, equipping the Security helmet additionally outfitted the chest with a small antenna. Following the Season 2 update, the antenna is now considered a separate chest, and can be used regardless of helmet.
With the launch of Series 3: Recon, Halo 3 customisation was updated with the inclusion of skins for application on a player's weapon and several new visor colour options for use with all helmets. The full list of Halo 3 skins can be viewed here.
In the Season 4 December update, Halo 3 was expanded to include new techsuit customization, with the players being able to change it between a new Halo 3 techsuit and Halo 4 techsuit (both colored and full black).
Series 5: Anvil included twelve new armor permutations for Halo 3, originally created for the cancelled Halo Online. Additionally, included new forearm and leg customisation, allowing players to choose between the new twelve armors or the default Mark VI. These armors can be toggled off for a more classic experience, with any players using Halo Online armor instead displaying as default Mark VI.[8]
Series 6: Raven included several new armor permutations, including six Halo Online armor permutations and the four ODST armors used by Fireteam Raven in the namesake game. It also added a "Back Accessory" option, allowing players to choose between six new back packages (four being based on Halo: Fireteam Raven), three new techsuit options, and fifteen new animated visor colors.
Series 7: Elite saw the inclusion of seven new Halo Online armor permutations for the Elites. Additionally, it will include new forearm and leg customization, allowing players to choose between the new seven harnesses or the default Combat harness. The season also added seven new techsuit options. Series 8: Mythic will include new armor, visors and back accessories alongside skins for weapons and vehicles.[9]
For Halo's 20th Anniversary, a new armor permutation was added: the Mirage armor, based on the Semi-Powered Infiltration armor used by SPARTAN-IIIs.[10]
Spartan armor | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Armor | Helmet | Chest | Shoulders | Forearms | Legs |
Air Assault | ![]() Series 5, Tier 3 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 15 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 5, Tier 7( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 12 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 27 ( ![]() |
Aviator | ![]() Series 5, Tier 9 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 11 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 5, Tier 17 ( ![]() |
N/A | ![]() Series 5, Tier 94 ( ![]() |
COS | ![]() Series 6, Tier 53 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 73 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 6, Tier 66 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 90 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 71 ( ![]() |
Compass | ![]() Series 5, Tier 82 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 96 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 5, Tier 62 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 74 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 89 ( ![]() |
Deadeye | ![]() Series 5, Tier 78 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 38 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 5, Tier 54 ( ![]() |
N/A | ![]() Series 5, Tier 97 ( ![]() |
Demo | ![]() Series 5, Tier 37 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 26 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 5, Tier 39 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 32 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 66 ( ![]() |
Hammerhead | ![]() Series 6, Tier 75 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 11 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 6, Tier 35 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 22 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 46 ( ![]() |
Hivemind | ![]() Series 5, Tier 64 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 41 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 5, Tier 59 ( ![]() |
N/A | ![]() Series 5, Tier 67 ( ![]() |
Infiltrator | ![]() Series 6, Tier 33 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 13 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 6, Tier 29 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 49 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 59 ( ![]() |
Lancer | ![]() Series 6, Tier 16 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 42 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 6, Tier 27 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 31 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 56 ( ![]() |
Navigator | ![]() Series 5, Tier 72 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 92 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 5, Tier 81 ( ![]() |
N/A | ![]() Series 5, Tier 75 ( ![]() |
Nomdagro | ![]() Series 6, Tier 4 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 39 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 6, Tier 19 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 7 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 26 ( ![]() |
ODST/COMM | ![]() Series 6, Tier 40 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 52 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 6, Tier 62 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 60 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 64 ( ![]() |
ODST/DEMO | ![]() Series 6, Tier 20 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 32 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 6, Tier 55 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 48 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 44 ( ![]() |
ODST/HVY | ![]() Series 6, Tier 57 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 72 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 6, Tier 93 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 68 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 76 ( ![]() |
ODST/TAC | ![]() Series 6, Tier 2 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 14 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 6, Tier 30 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 25 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 6, Tier 6 ( ![]() |
Pioneer | ![]() Series 5, Tier 49 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 34 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 5, Tier 29 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 16 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 57 ( ![]() |
Rhine | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Series 6, purchase at The Exchange (![]() | |||||
Soldier | ![]() Series 5, Tier 19 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 98 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 5, Tier 73 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 99 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 44 ( ![]() |
Suture | ![]() Series 5, Tier 63 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 69 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 5, Tier 71 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 5 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 52 ( ![]() |
Tanker | ![]() Series 5, Tier 87 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 6 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 5, Tier 23 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 84 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 8 ( ![]() |
Warrior | ![]() Series 5, Tier 56 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 14 ( ![]() |
![]() ![]() Series 5, Tier 47 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 88 ( ![]() |
![]() Series 5, Tier 46 ( ![]() |
Mirage | ![]() The Exchange ( ![]() |
![]() The Exchange ( ![]() |
![]() The Exchange ( ![]() |
![]() The Exchange ( ![]() |
![]() The Exchange ( ![]() |
Duke Shoulders | N/A | ![]() The Exchange ( ![]() |
N/A |
Trivia[edit]
Mistakes[edit]
- In reusing tooltips from Halo: Reach's appearance menu, the updated customization menu for Halo 3 in Halo: The Master Chief Collection now erroneously states the choice between a Spartan and Elite player model is only applicable to appropriate, species-specific gametypes, despite the option being available regardless of gametype.
- Additionally, when hovering over the menu element to change Elite armor permutations, the game erroneously states the option is to change Spartan armor. This would be fixed with the release of Halo 3: ODST on PC.
Miscellaneous[edit]
- In early development for Halo 3, the ability to play as Elites in multiplayer had some canonical justification. Early text strings indicate that "Spartans have been authorized to assume Elite skins in combat scenarios".[11]
- A certain conceptual helmet seen in The Art of Halo 3 greatly resembles the AIR ASSAULT-class Mjolnir set that'd later appear in Halo: Reach.
- 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 an overcharged 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 have similar models.
- Many people speculate that hitboxes of the Spartans and Elites are shared but this is not true. While Bungie has officially commented on the hitboxes, they regard the size of the hitbox not the arrangement. Hitboxes are an unseen registry mechanic, which fall into the player models. They determine whether or not something has collided with the player. If an Elite is facing profile (sideways), and a shot is fired underneath the head (to where a Spartan's chest would be), the game will not register a hit. The head "hitbox" is forward more on Elites than it is Spartans.
Gallery[edit]
Concept art[edit]
Four conceptual armor sets from The Art of Halo 3. The Scout helmet is visible alongside an early depiction of the Air Assault helmet, later used in Reach.
Concept art of a Sangheili armor permutation bearing resemblance to the Commando harness.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection Season 8 concept art for the Belos armours.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection Season 8 concept art for the Blackguard armours.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection Season 8 concept art for the Drengr armours.
Menu images[edit]
Screenshots[edit]
A recreation of a Sangheili Zealot on Valhalla using the armor customization system.
The glitched armor from Floodgate, It appears to be a combination of the front part of the Assault harness and the back of the Combat harness.
The Sword and Board back accessory featured two machetes during flighting for Season 6: Raven.
A Spartan on Cold Storage showcasing a mix of Halo 3, Halo Online and Fireteam Raven-derived armours.
Miscellaneous[edit]
Sources[edit]
- ^ Bungie.net, Halo 3 Beta: Identity and Appearance (Retrieved on Jan 24, 2021) [archive]
- ^ YouTube - dirtyShisno213, Halo 3 Beta Armor Customization
- ^ 7th Columnist, *REVEALED* Halo 3 Custom New Armour Types (Retrieved on Sep 2, 2022) [archive]
- ^ GamePro, issue 226: July 2007 (Archive)
- ^ Bungie.net, Bungie Weekly Update: 06/08/07 (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ Bungie.net, Way Beyond the Beta: Screenshots Galore (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ Bungie.net, 7/7/07: Love, Bungie (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ 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 Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
- ^ Halo Waypoint Forums, MCC Development & Flighting Updates Page 5: Post 100 (Retrieved on Aug 27, 2021) [archive]
- ^ Halo Waypoint, Celebrating 20 Years of Halo in The Master Chief Collection (Retrieved on Nov 3, 2021) [archive]
- ^ Twitter, The Vengeful 'Vadam (@vengeful_vadam) (Retrieved on May 22, 2022) [archive]
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