Emblems

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Emblems, first introduced in Halo 2, are small designs that are associated with a Character Profile and used to represent a player's identity in multiplayer games and online play. They consist of a two-colored design or pattern overlaid upon a background (typically a geometric shape), with a user-selected color scheme applied to the result. The feature was later carried on into Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach and Halo 4.

Halo 2 emblems

In Halo 2, when a Character Profile is created, there is an option to make an Emblem for the player's in-game avatar. Emblems are the primary means of identifying players in multiplayer games and online play; they also appear in the game type Territories, where they are displayed on the flags that denote captured territories. The color and background of the emblems are usually determined by the primary and secondary armor colors. In-game, a player's emblem can be seen glowing on their back and shoulders.

Halo 3 emblems

Emblems also appear in Halo 3. All of the designs from Halo 2 (except for Sergeant, Waypoint, Cleave, and Race) are available, along with numerous new designs unique to Halo 3. The background shape's color is now determined by a third, user-selected color, as opposed to Halo 2, where it took on the same color as the player's armor. Also, in both games, a design can be "toggled" — the secondary Emblem color can be hidden.

Emblems in Halo 3 are less prominent than they were in Halo 2; in Halo 3, a Spartan player's emblem is only shown on their right shoulder, whereas in Halo 2, it could be seen on both shoulders and the player's back. Elite players' emblems are shown on their right shoulder and upper back. Emblems are no longer used to uniquely identify a player; that job has been taken on by a new, user-customizable call sign composed of a letter followed by two digits.

Some clans encourage their members to use the same emblem to signify unity; in such cases, the emblem functions similarly to a US Army Shoulder Sleeve Insignia.

The 80 primary emblem designs, the 80 "toggles" of those designs, the 48 possible emblem backgrounds, and the 30 possible colors for each of the above all allow for a combined total of 7,680 possible Emblems in Halo 3.

Halo 3: ODST emblems

Emblems are also featured in Halo 3: ODST's Firefight mode. All Emblem designs from Halo 3 are available, along with 16 new designs unique in Halo 3: ODST, bringing the total to 96. Emblem designs appear on the player's chest plate.

Halo: Reach emblems

Emblems return in Halo: Reach. They were also featured in the Multiplayer Beta. Once again there are 80 different emblems; 15 new emblems are available, while 31 of the emblems available in Halo 3: ODST have been removed. Notable among the deleted emblems are several which date back to Halo 2, including "Mark of Shame", "Snake", "Hawk", "Marathon" and "Trident." Three of the new designs featured in Halo: Reach were selected after Bungie held a contest where players could send in their ideas for emblem designs, similar to the contest that was held before Halo 3 was released.

Emblems are far less prominent on player armor in Halo: Reach than in previous games. Very small emblems appear on the upper right side of the player's chest piece; a UNSC logo is found in a similar position on the left side of the chest piece. In addition some of the unlockable chest pieces obscure the emblem entirely. Halo: Reach also marks the first appearance of emblems in campaign, being found on the player-customized SPARTAN-B312. The emblems are not present on Elite armor variants. Emblems only appear on player armor in campaign and Firefight; they are not visible in multiplayer.

Halo 4 emblems

Halo 4 is the first Halo title that requires emblems to be unlocked before they can be used. The Recruit emblem is unlocked by default. The next ten emblems are unlocked at SR-5, then another at ten at SR-19. Backgrounds must be unlocked separately; the first ten are unlocked at SR-21.

Some emblems are offered only as bonuses with certain products, or as exclusive emblems for players who pre-order the game from specific retailers.

List of Emblems

Multiplayer Emblems
	Halo 2	Halo 3	Halo 3: ODST	Halo: Reach	Halo 4
Seventh Column	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bullseye	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Vortex	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Halt	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Spartan	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Da Bomb	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Trinity	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Delta	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Rampancy	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Sergeant	Yes	No	No	No
Phoenix	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Champion	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Jolly Roger	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Marathon	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Cube/Ordnance	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Radioactive	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Smiley	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Frowney	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Spearhead	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Waypoint	Yes	No	No	No
Yin Yang	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Helmet	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Triad	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Grunt Symbol	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Cleave	Yes	No	No	No
Thor	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Skull King	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Triplicate	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Subnova	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Flaming Ninja	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Double Crescent	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Spades	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Clubs	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Diamonds	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Hearts	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Wasp	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mark of Shame	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Snake	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Hawk	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Lips	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Capsule	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cancel	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Gas Mask	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Grenade	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Tsantsa	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Race	Yes	No	No	No
Valkyrie	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Drone	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Grunt	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Grunt Head	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Brute Head	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Runes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Trident	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
"0"-"9"	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Stuck	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Surf	No	Yes	Yes	No
Pirate	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Spartan Helmet	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Crossed Swords	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Unicorn	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Wolf	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bubble Shield	No	Yes	Yes	No
Trip Mine	No	Yes	Yes	No
Daisho	No	Yes	Yes	No
Daisy	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Crosshairs	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
The Librarian	No	Yes	Yes	No
Tomcat	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Supernova	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Fleur de Lis	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bear Claw	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Flaming Horns	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Black Widow	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Peaceafist	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Keep it Clean	No	No	Yes	No
Superintendent	No	No	Yes	No
(New) Mombasa	No	No	Yes	Yes
ONI	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
Optican	No	No	Yes	No
Planet	No	No	Yes	No
Tycho	No	No	Yes	No
Chaos	No	No	Yes	Yes
Leo	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Webmaster	No	No	Yes	No
Chicken/Active Rooster	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bulltrue	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Elephant	No	No	Yes	Yes
Zebra	No	No	Yes	No
Spartan League	No	No	Yes	Yes
Infected	No	No	Yes	Yes
Power is On	No	No	No	Yes
Noted	No	No	No	Yes
Campfire	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
No Camping	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Cup of Death	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Rose	No	No	No	Yes
Dog Tags	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Castle	No	No	No	Yes
Buffalo	No	No	No	Yes
Jokers	No	No	No	Yes
Atomic	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Headshot	No	No	No	Yes
Cone'd	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Arrowhead	No	No	No	Yes
Anchor	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Recruit	No	No	No	No	Yes
Assassin	No	No	No	No	Yes
Bonebreaker	No	No	No	No	Yes
Bulletproof	No	No	No	No	Yes
Mjolnir	No	No	No	No	Yes
Prime	No	No	No	No	Yes
Falcon	No	No	No	No	Yes
Corbulo Academy insignia	No	No	No	No	Yes
Wiseguy	No	No	No	No	Yes
Raider	No	No	No	No	Yes

Trivia

• In the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta, emblems were not visible on the players' armor.
• The player can "toggle" a design by pressing X while modifying his/her emblem's design, background, or colors; doing so hides all portions of the Emblem that use the secondary emblem color.
  • Some players have formed unique emblems by toggling the designs. As an example, toggling the Grunt design and using the Arrow background makes "The Bat". On a similar note, a chicken can be created by using a Bullseye with the Ball of Fire.
  • Toggling the Seventh Column design makes it completely invisible, as the entire design is shown using the secondary emblem color. This, in combination with the Blank background, makes it possible to have a completely transparent emblem.
• The Bubble Shield and Trip Mine emblems return in Halo 3: ODST, despite the player not using Equipment in Halo 3: ODST while playing as an ODST. These emblems probably returned due to the fact that Brutes can still carry and use them.
• The Marathon symbol is available as an emblem in Halo 2, Halo 3, and in Halo 3: ODST.
• Prior to Halo 3's release, Bungie held a contest in which people could send in their ideas for Emblem designs. The Pirate Emblem was the winner, and can be used in Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo: Reach.
• The three Spartans from Red Team in Halo Wars have emblems from Halo 3 and are also the first characters to use emblems in Campaign.
• Emblems, when shown on a player's armor, are most prominent on a Spartan CQB Right Shoulder armor part.
• In Halo 3: ODST, one of the many new emblems added is the seal of the rampant UESC AI Tycho. Tycho's seal is the second emblem to be added to the list that makes reference to Bungie's previous game, Marathon.
• Every player on Live that played a Halo 3 or Halo 3: ODST game on the 21st/22nd of January with the "Hearts" icon colored red and white, Bungie donated $100 for every 1,000 players, up to $77,000, to Red Cross for Haiti earthquake relief efforts. The campaign was called:Be a Hero! with the slogan: Help us help Haiti.
• The new Halo: Reach emblem that is a human skull with a bullet hole through the head was designed by a fan in an emblem contest Bungie held. The emblem has since been made into a T-shirt available on the Xbox Live Avatar Marketplace.
• The "Triad"/Delta emblem is identical to the Triforce from the Zelda franchise.
• The "Grunt Symbol" emblem resembles the Slavic Kolovrat, however the emblem has six spokes rather than the full eight.
• In Halo: Reach, the "4 Diamonds" background is a duplicate of the "4 Plots" background, unlike in previous games where it has been it's own design.

Gallery

• 1210644830 Emblems.gif

  A picture of all the emblem foregrounds available in Halo 3.

• Beahero.PNG

  The Halo 3 and ODST emblem used to help Haiti relief efforts, courtesy of Bungie.