MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV: Difference between revisions

The visual appearance of the MJOLNIR Mark IV has varied in different media, leading to confusion over whether these are separate variants or are the result artistic license.<ref group="note">This section is here in part to bring together a difference of opinions pertaining to the design of the MJOLNIR Mark IV, using what information is available and combining them into a single as factual as can be entry. No official source has defined if the ''Halo Wars'' or ''The Cole Protocol'' version is the standard variant. Please refer to the talk page for questions or issues.</ref> However, it has since been shown that several versions, including the baseline model, the suit worn by Gray Team, the suit worn by Red Team, and the model used during [[Raid on the Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence|the mission to rescue Halsey]] are distinct variants of the Mark IV. Despite their different superficial appearances, they share the same internal components.<ref>[http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz145/DaliThought/FRANKMarkIV.jpg Frank O'Connor's comment regarding the Mark IV]</ref><ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us#/intel/theuniverse/tech/video/the-mjolnir-project-2/46e89c1a-f619-41e2-ad7f-ab65c61ca2df?filter=all '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''The MJOLNIR Project 2'']</ref>  

===Halo: The Cole Protocol===

The ''Cole Protocol'' cover design of the Mark IV depicts it as a very rough, yet familiar in recognition to later incarnations of the MJOLNIR armor. Its chest plate is more angular than that of the other versions, somewhat reminiscent of the Mark V. The helmet of the Mark IV shows hints in design to both the Mark V and Mark VI helmet. The shoulder pauldrons consist of a semi-circular plate of metal to allow more freedom of movement in the shoulder area. The back shoulder plates also appear to be removable to attach additional equipment.

===Halo Wars/Legends/The Fall of Reach===

This version was introduced in ''[[Halo Wars]]'', and has appeared in several titles produced by [[343 Industries]], including the ''[[Halo Legends]]'' episodes ''[[The Babysitter]]'' and ''[[Origins]]'', as well as the 2010 cover of ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''. In this version, the armor plating for the body, arms and legs are more akin to the Mark VI, with a bulky, angular chest plate and large, bulbous shoulder pauldrons. The helmet in terms of design is almost exactly like the Mark V's, and both [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]] and the ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' [[Armor Permutations#The Armory (Halo: Reach Permutations)|Armory]] clarify that they are the same helmets, adapted for use on the later armor model.<ref>'''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''' - ''The Armory'', Mark V permutation description</ref> The armor also has magnetic holders for magazines and weapons.<ref group="note">''Halo Wars'' portrays the Mark IV with energy shields. This is a liberty taken by the developers for the sake of gameplay, as stated [http://www.halowars.com/news/devblog/archive/2009/08/25/Lessons-Learned.aspx here.]</ref>

===The Package===

In ''The Package'', the Mark IV armor is almost visually identical to the Mark VI, despite some differences in the proportions and the details, such as having larger rougher shoulder pauldrons. There are slight differences in the helmets as well. Each SPARTAN's number is also printed on the chest plate of the armor along with other markings such as white stripes in the chest and the shoulders. This version has magnetic holders for weapons as well as a sheath for a combat knife to be attached on the shoulder pauldrons.<ref group="note">In ''Halo: Legends'', most of the designs for characters, armor, and so forth are portrayed with considerable artistic interpretation and may or may not be embraced as canon. However, [http://halo.xbox.com/en-us#/intel/theuniverse/tech/video/the-mjolnir-project-2/46e89c1a-f619-41e2-ad7f-ab65c61ca2df?filter=all a video] on ''Halo Waypoint'' has revealed that the Mark IV suit featured in ''The Package'' is one of several variants, which, despite its appearance, shares its internal components with the rest of the Mark IV line.</ref>

===Homecoming===

The Mark IV worn by [[Daisy-023]] in ''[[Homecoming]]'' resembles the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/C variant|MJOLNIR/C variant]], but is otherwise largely unrelated to it.<ref group="note">The armor description for the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/CQC variant|CQC variant]] in ''[[Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta]]'' states that the CQC variant, the precursor for the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/C variant|C variant]], entered service in 2548, thus making it impossible for the C variant to have been in use around twenty years earlier. In addition, the C variant was developed using feedback from the [[Battle of Jericho VII]], which occurred years after the [[Harvest Campaign]]. The direct's commentary for the episode reveals that the armor's appearance is largely an aesthetic concession to the studio to allow for some visual variety for the character, and as a nod towards multiplayer fans who use armor permutations, such as the CQC variant. The same is true for the armor's color, though this is also representative of an effort to camouflage the suit. This means that other than the suit's color, the armor's appearance is non-canon.</ref> The appearance of the armor is a stylistic and aesthetic nod towards multiplayer fans who use different colors in various environments and the various armor permutations, as well as an aesthetic concession to the anime studio as a means of possessing visual variety.<ref>'''[[Halo Legends]]''' - ''Homecoming'', director commentary.</ref>