Armor customization (Halo: Reach)

For other uses, see armor permutations.

The Armory in Halo: Reach

Player customization returns in Halo: Reach, but with far deeper customization options than Halo 3. In Halo 3, unlocking armor permutations involved getting a certain achievement, or a group of achievements. In Halo: Reach, armor is mostly acquired by purchasing it with "credits" (cR) in The Armory, although some armor permutations may have to be unlocked first by reaching a certain rank. Credits are earned by winning or finishing games in the Campaign, Matchmaking, Custom game, Firefight, or Forge modes; by completing achievements; by getting commendations; or by completing daily and weekly challenges. As with Halo 3, every armor permutation in Halo: Reach is purely for aesthetic purposes and does not impact gameplay whatsoever.

With Halo: Reach being added to Halo: The Master Chief Collection, 343 Industries overhauled the game's unlock system. Credits are dropped in favor of a "battle pass"-esque manner of progression, with XP being earned contributing to levels that, when passed, grants the player a Season Point, which can be used to unlock the next tier in the progression system. All current Halo: Reach unlocks in Halo: the Master Chief Collection are currently contained within Season 1: Noble's progression system.

Overview

In Halo: Reach, there are ten available slots for SPARTAN armor customization. The ten available slots customizable to Spartans feature the Helmet (can be "upgraded" with various gadgets, known as Helmet Variants), Left and Right Shoulder, and the Chest piece, which returned from Halo 3. The new slots for customization include Wrist, Utility, Visor Color, Knee Guards, Armor Effect, and Firefight Voice. In addition to armor customization, players can also choose Noble Six's gender. Any customization done to Noble Six will be reflected in the campaign's cutscenes.

The game no longer allows players to use Elites as their default player model in matchmaking. Instead, Elites are limited to Elite Slayer, Invasion and Invasion Slayer gametypes. Elites are also usable in custom games (through a "Preferred Species" setting) and in Firefight. Armor customization for Elites has been largely simplified from Halo 3: players can only choose a complete armor set rather than making individual armor changes to their Elite player model. Unlocking each armor set requires the player to reach a certain rank for certain armor; for example, to obtain the armor of an Ultra Elite, the player must reach the rank of Warrant Officer.

Armor Effect choices with Legendary (Flaming helmet) selected.

Additionally, the Limited and Legendary Editions of Reach include exclusive armor permutations and effects for the player's character. The Limited Edition comes with the "Sangheili Officer" Elite permutation, while the Legendary Edition includes the aforementioned permutation, along with a Spartan "Flaming Head" effect. However, if the player is equipped with the exclusive flaming helmet effect, the flames will be visible during gameplay but will not be shown in cinematics. A redeemable token that gives the player access to an exclusive variant of the Recon helmet, featuring its own attachments, which was also bundled with the game to all sales made on the release date, and with all pre-orders outside of North America.

The last two sets of helmets for Halo: Reach are available through Halo Waypoint only. Using Waypoint will show the player how to unlock said armor pieces, which each have a base and two additional styles. The unlocks are linked to overall Halo Career Milestones (linked to universal Halo Gamerscore) and specialist achievements; for example, the Military Police helmet requires the user to have completed Halo: Reach on Normal difficulty, the second variant of the helmet requires the user to have the A Spoonful of Blamite achievement and Halo 3's Fear the Pink Mist achievement (accompanied by the right Career Milestone award and the base helmet variant).

Much like Halo 3's "Bungie" armor permutation that granted the player an exclusive flaming head, Halo: Reach featured a then Bungie-exclusive armor effect known as "Eternal", with flames that glowed a bright blue over the normal red-orange. This armor permutation was unobtainable originally, but was made available in 2011 through Bungie's iOS app.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Halo: Reach's port on Halo: The Master Chief Collection forgoes the prior information, instead opting to have all in-game permutations be unlockable through its revised season amd rank system. All items from the original Halo: Reach game can be obtained in Season 1: Noble's progression system, including all previously-limited edition and exclusive content. Additionally, the UA/Multi-Threat and UA/Base Security chest pieces have been added into the game separate from their [W] counterparts already in Halo: Reach, featuring the same chest armor plates without the grenades.

In Season 5: Anvil of The Master Chief Collection's post-launch support, Reach will see the addition of several new helmets and chest armour pieces, never-previously useable in any edition of Halo: Reach. The two new helmets; AKIS and Mariner; are content cut from the original Halo: Reach game and intended for inclusion in the Anniversary Map Pack in 2011. These helmets both have three attachments. Additionally, six new chest armour pieces are to be added to Reach. Five of these are "[R]" (robot arm) variants of already available chest pieces, while the sixth - EXO/TSCS - is a completely new armor piece brought back from the cutting room floor similarly to the AKIS and Mariner helmets.

A second cut chest piece, named in game files as "Preserve", is known to exist with 343 Industries having mentioned bringing "multiple" chest pieces back from the cutting room floor, though its present status and if/when it will be brought into The Master Chief Collection is unknown.

List of permutations

Spartan

Helmets

Helmets
Helmet	Unlock (Halo: Reach)	Unlock (Halo: The Master Chief Collection)	Helmet attachments	Unlock (Halo: Reach)	Unlock (Halo: The Master Chief Collection)
Mark V [B]	0 cR - Default	Unlocked by default	UA	Recruit, 750 cR	Series 1 Tier 4, 1
			UA/HUL	Corporal, 1,500 cR	Series 1 Tier 15, 1
CQC	Recruit, 0 cR	Series 1 Tier 1, 1	CBRN	Sergeant, 750 cR	Series 1 Tier 5, 1
			UA/HUL	Sergeant, 1,500 cR	Series 1 Tier 16, 1
ODST	Recruit, 2,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 19, 1	UA/CNM	Corporal, 1,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 19, 1
			CBRN/HUL	Sergeant, 500 cR	Series 1 Tier 38, 1
HAZOP	Recruit, 7,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 1, 1	CBRN/HUL	Sergeant, 2,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 27, 1
			CNM-I	Captain, 1,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 45, 1
EOD	Sergeant, 15,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 29, 1	CNM	Sergeant, 5,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 29, 1
			UA/HUL	Sergeant, 3,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 29, 1
Operator	Sergeant, 7,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 30, 1	UA/HUL	Sergeant, 2,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 30, 1
			CNM	Sergeant, 1,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 30, 1
Grenadier	Warrant Officer, 25,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 39, 1	UA	Warrant Officer, 5,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 39, 1
			UA/FC	Warrant Officer, 2,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 41, 1
Air Assault	Warrant Officer, 15,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 37, 1	UA/CNM	Warrant Officer, 7,500 cR	Series 1 Tier 37, 1
			FC-I	Warrant Officer, 5,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 38, 1
Scout	Captain, 40,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 40, 1	HU/RS	Captain, 5,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 40, 1
			CBRN/CNM	Captain, 5,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 40, 1
EVA	Major, 30,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 51, 1	CNM	Major, 7,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 52, 1
			UA/HUL[3]	Lieutenant Colonel, 15,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 58, 1
JFO	Lieutenant Colonel, 60,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 59, 1	HUL-I	Lieutenant Colonel, 20,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 59, 1
			UA	Lieutenant Colonel, 10,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 61, 1
Commando	Commander, 85,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 68, 1	CBRN/CNM	Commander, 40,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 69, 1
			UA/FC-I[2]	Commander, 40,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 71, 1
EVA [C]	Commander, purchase EVA helmet, 120,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 70, 1	CNM	Commander, 25,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 70, 1
			UA/HUL[3]	Commander, 140,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 70, 1
Mark V	Lieutenant Colonel, 130,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 60, 1	CNM	Lieutenant Colonel, 10,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 60, 1
			UA	Lieutenant Colonel, 15,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 60, 1
Pilot	Commander, 90,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 80, 1	HUL[3]	Commander, 25,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 80, 1
			UA/HUL[3]	Commander, 55,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 80, 1
			Haunted	Inheritor, all prior helmets and attachments must be purchased, 1 cR	Series 1 Tier 100, 1
Recon	Colonel, 100,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 3, 1	HUL-I	Colonel, 75,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 74, 1
			UA/HUL[3]	Pre-order/ day one purchase of Halo: Reach.	Series 1 Tier 10, 1
Mark VI	Brigadier, 300,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 86, 1	FC-I[2]	Brigadier, 75,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 90, 1
			UA/HUL-I	Brigadier, 75,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 91, 1
GUNGNIR	Brigadier, 250,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 85, 1	HU/RS	Brigadier, 125,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 89, 1
			CBRN	Mythic, 400,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 94, 1
Security	General, 250,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 90, 1	UA/HUL	General, 200,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 99, 1
			CBRN/CNM	Legend, 200,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 96, 1
Military Police	Halo Waypoint exclusive: reach Waypoint Career Milestone 15 and unlock The Soldier We Need You To Be achievement.	Series 1 Tier 2, 1	CBRN/HU/RS	Halo Waypoint exclusive: reach Waypoint Career Milestone 20 and unlock Pink and Deadly achievement in Halo 3: ODST, alongside having the base Military Police helmet unlocked.	Series 1 Tier 9, 1
			HU/RS/CNM	Halo Waypoint exclusive: reach Waypoint Career Milestone 25 and unlock Fear the Pink Mist achievement in Halo 3, alongside having the base Military Police helmet and CBRN/HU/RS attachment unlocked.	Series 1 Tier 9, 1
CQB	Halo Waypoint exclusive: reach Waypoint Career Milestone 20 and unlock the Folks Need Heroes... achievement.	Series 1 Tier 1, 1	HU/RS/CNM	Halo Waypoint exclusive: reach Waypoint Career Milestone 25 and unlock the Campaign Complete: Heroic achievement in Halo 3: ODST, alongside having the base CQB helmet unlocked.	Series 1 Tier 6, 1
			UA/HUL	Halo Waypoint exclusive: reach Waypoint Career Milestone 30 and unlock the Campaign Complete: Legendary achievement in Halo 3, alongside having the base CQB helmet and HU/RS/CNM attachment unlocked.	Series 1 Tier 10, 1
AKIS	N/A (Cut)	Series 5 Tier 1, 1	GRD	N/A (Cut)	Series 5 Tier 60, 1
			CBRN		Series 5 Tier 30, 1
			GRD/CBRN		Series 5 Tier 100, 1
Mariner	N/A (Cut)	Series 5 Tier 10, 1	Defiant	N/A (Cut)	Series 5 Tier 45, 1
			Mister Chief		Series 5 Challenge: Because You Begged The Exchange, 2
			OPTREX		Series 5 Tier 80, 1
Belos	N/A (MCC-exclusive)	Series 8	Belos Heran	N/A (MCC-exclusive)	Series 8, Tier 6 1
			Belos Syntrofos		Series 8, Tier 56 1
			Belos Kerata		Series 8, Tier 14 1
			Belos Leontokardos		Series 8, Tier 85 1
			Belos Stheno		Series 8, Tier 25 1
			Belos Cerberus		Series 8, Tier 28 1
Blackguard	N/A (MCC-exclusive)	Series 8	Blackguard Warfeast	N/A (MCC-exclusive)	Series 8, Tier 21 1
			Blackguard Fallen Equerry		The Exchange
			Blackguard Forsaken Dragon		Series 8, Tier 37 1
			Blackguard Carrion Crow		Series 8, Tier 49 1
			Blackguard Sorrowful Visage		Series 8, Tier 73 1
			Blackguard Ashen Crown		Series 8, Tier 19 1
Drengr	N/A (MCC-exclusive)	Series 8	Drengr Skald	N/A (MCC-exclusive)	Series 8, Tier 42 1
			Drengr Valdemar		Series 8, Tier 58 1
			Drengr Dvalinn		Series 8, Tier 52 1
			Drengr Thyra		Series 8, Tier 81 1
			Drengr Nari		Series 8, Tier 88 1
			Drengr Tyr		Series 8, Tier 92 1

Chests

Chest armor
Chest armor	Unlock (Halo: Reach)	Unlock (Halo: The Master Chief Collection)
Default	0 cR - Default	Unlocked by default
HP/HALO	Recruit, 600 cR	Series 1 Tier 14, 1
UA/Counterassault	Corporal, 600 cR	Series 1 Tier 26, 1
Tactical/LRP	Sergeant, 1,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 31, 1
UA/ODST	Warrant Officer, 750 cR	Series 1 Tier 41, 1
Tactical/Recon	Warrant Officer, 1,500 cR	Series 1 Tier 44, 1
Collar/Grenadier	Captain, 4,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 47, 1
Tactical/Patrol	Major, 4,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 54, 1
Collar/Breacher	Lieutenant Colonel, 8,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 62, 1
Assault/Sapper	Commander, 14,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 73, 1
Assault/Commando	Colonel, 12,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 75, 1
HP/Parafoil	Colonel, 8,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 78, 1
Collar/Grenadier [UA]	General, 40,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 49, 1
UA/Multi-Threat [W]	Halo: Reach GameStop pre-order exclusive.	Series 1 Tier 32, 1
UA/Base Security [W]	Halo Waypoint exclusive: reach Waypoint Career Milestone 30 and unlock the Yes, Sensei achievement.	Series 1 Tier 31, 1
Collar/Breacher [R]	Lieutenant Colonel, 75,000 cR (Must have Collar/Breacher already purchased)	Series 1 Tier 62, 1
HP/Parafoil [R]	Brigadier, 175,000 cR (Must have HP/Parafoil already purchased)	Series 1 Tier 62, 1
Assault/Sapper [R]	General, 250,000 cR (Must have Assault/Sapper already purchased)	Series 1 Tier 62, 1
UA/Multi-Threat	N/A (Unused)	Series 1 Tier 18, 1
UA/Base Security	N/A (Unused)	Series 1 Tier 17, 1
Default [R]	N/A	Series 5 Tier 25, 1
UA/Counterassault [R]	N/A	Series 5 Tier 90, 1
Tactical/Recon [R]	N/A	Series 5 Tier 70, 1
Tactical/Patrol [R]	N/A	Series 5 Tier 76, 1
Collar/Grenadier [UA] [R]	N/A	Series 5 Tier 55, 1
EXO/TSCS	N/A (Cut)	Series 5 Tier 20, 1

Shoulders

Shoulder
Shoulder	Unlock (Halo: Reach)	Unlock (Halo: The Master Chief Collection)
Default	0 cR - Default	Unlocked by default
FJ/PARA	Recruit, 250 cR	Series 1 Tier 11, 1
HAZOP	Recruit, 500 cR	Series 1 Tier 12, 1
JFO	Recruit, 1,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 13, 1
Recon	Corporal, 1,500 cR	Series 1 Tier 22, 1
UA/Multi-Threat	Corporal, 2,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 23, 1
Jump Jet	Sergeant, 5,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 24, 1
EVA	Sergeant, 3,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 28, 1
GUNGNIR	Warrant Officer, 5,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 36, 1
ODST	Captain, 25,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 46, 1
UA/Base Security	Major, 12,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 53, 1
CQC	Lieutenant Colonel, 20,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 61, 1
Operator	Commander, 28,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 72, 1
Commando	Commander, 40,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 71, 1
Grenadier	Colonel, 65,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 76, 1
Sniper	Brigadier, 80,000 cR (left), 75,000 cR (right)	Series 1 Tier 88, 1
MJOLNIR Mk. V	Brigadier, 100,000 cR (left), 80,000 cR (right)	Series 1 Tier 87, 1
Security	General, 70,000 cR (left), 275,000 cR (right)	Series 1 Tier 83, 1

Knee guards

Knee guards
Knee guard	Unlock (Halo: Reach)	Unlock (Halo: The Master Chief Collection)
Default	0 cR - Default	Unlocked by default
FJ/PARA	Sergeant, 10,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 33, 1
GUNGNIR	Captain, 25,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 48, 1
Grenadier	Lieutenant Colonel, 45,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 64, 1

Wrists

Wrist attachment
Wrist attachment	Unlock (Halo: Reach)	Unlock (Halo: The Master Chief Collection)
Default	0 cR - Default	Unlocked by default
UA/Buckler	Sergeant, 5,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 32, 1
UA/Bracer	Warrant Officer, 10,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 42, 1
Tactical/TACPAD	Major, 50,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 55, 1
Tactical/UGPS	Lieutenant Colonel, 80,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 63, 1
Assault/Breacher	Colonel, 200,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 81, 1

Utility

Utility
Utility	Unlock (Halo: Reach)	Unlock (Halo: The Master Chief Collection)
Default	0 cR - Default	Unlocked by default
Tactical/Hard Case	Captain, 40,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 36, 1
UA/CHOBHAM	Purchase Tactical/Hard Case, 30,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 51, 1
UA/NxRA	Major, purchase Tactical/Hard Case 40,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 57, 1
Tactical/Trauma Kit	Lieutenant Colonel, purchase Tactical/Hard Case 80,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 66, 1
Tactical/Soft Case	Colonel, 100,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 82, 1
Hydration Container	N/A	The Exchange (Week of December 8, 2021)

Visor colors

Visor Color
Visor Color	Unlock (Halo: Reach)	Unlock (Halo: The Master Chief Collection)
Default	0 cR - Default	Unlocked by default
Silver	Sergeant, 35,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 34, 1
Blue	Warrant Officer, 50,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 43, 1
Black	Lieutenant Colonel, 100,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 69, 1
Gold	Colonel, 250,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 84, 1

Armor effects

Armor Effects
Effect	Unlock (Halo: Reach)	Unlock (Halo: The Master Chief Collection)
Default	Unlocked by default
Legendary	0 cR - Included with the Legendary Edition of Halo: Reach.	Series 1 Tier 83, 1
Eternal	0 cR- Formerly only available to Bungie employees, required e-mail verification through Bungie.net. Available until 7/7/11.	Series 1 Tier 100, 1
Birthday Party	200,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 25, 1
Heart Attack	300,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 65, 1
Pestilence	1,000,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 52, 1
Inclement Weather	2,000,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 79, 1

Firefight voices

Firefight Voices
Firefight voice	Unlock (Halo: Reach)	Unlock (Halo: The Master Chief Collection)
Noble Six	Unlocked by default	Unlocked by default
Jorge S-052	10,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 77, 1
Jun S-266	10,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 20, 1
Emile S-239	10,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 35, 1
Kat S-320	10,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 49, 1
Auntie Dot [A.I.]	15,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 56, 1
Carter S-259	100,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 67, 1
GYSGT Stacker	5,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 7, 1
GYSGT Buck	15,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 81, 1
SGTMAJ Johnson	100,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 97, 1
Cortana [A.I.]	100,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 95, 1
John S-117	150,000 cR	Series 1 Tier 100, 1

Elite

Elite armor
Armor	Unlock (Halo: Reach)	Unlock (Halo: The Master Chief Collection)
Minor	Unlocked by default	Unlocked by default
Officer	Halo: Reach Xbox 360, Limited and Legendary editions only	Season 1 Tier 98, 1
Spec Ops	Corporal	Season 1 Tier 8, 1
Ranger	Sergeant	Season 1 Tier 21, 1
Ultra	Warrant Officer	Season 1 Tier 45, 1
Zealot	Captain	Season 1 Tier 50, 1
General	Major	Season 1 Tier 65, 1
Field Marshal	Lieutenant Colonel	Season 1 Tier 79, 1

Trivia

• With the addition of Firefight Voices (color schemes, armor effects and gender included,) there are 8,132,665,405,440,000 possible configurations; approximately 242 times the current population of the Earth.
• The current cost of all the armor pieces in the Halo: Reach armory combined is 9,634,201 cR.
• In Halo: Reach, the mandibles of an Elite will protrude out after its death. This is most noticeable with the Ultra, Spec Ops and Ranger permutations as the mandibles will stick out of the helmet.
• The player's combat knife, along with any armor abilities or armor effects, will not be displayed during cutscenes in Halo: Reach.
• Halo: Reach armor permutations return in Halo: The Master Chief Collection, mostly identical to their original form. Notably, the soft case the mounts on the lower back of the Assault/Commando chest piece is missing in the armor customization menu, though it still appears in gameplay. Conversely, the smaller cases which appear in the same location on the Tactical/Recon chest piece can be seen in the armor customization menu, but do not appear in gameplay.

Gallery

Spartan

• 

  Concept art of Spartan armor permutations.

• 

  Concept art of various helmets in Halo: Reach.

• 

  Armor permutation customization in the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta.

• 

  The exclusive "flaming helmet" Spartan armor effect included in the Halo: Reach Legendary Edition, much like the Bungie armor from Halo 3.

• Reach 19459598 Full.jpg

  A Recon-clad spartan with the Legendary Flames.

• 

  The Recon helmet with specific attachments, available to all who purchase Halo: Reach on launch date in North America and pre-order in other countries.

• 

  UA Multi Threat MJOLNIR Mk. V/W Armor available exclusively for those who pre-order Halo: Reach from Gamestop.

• Reach InitialArmoryInventor.jpg

  Initial Halo: Reach Armor Options

• All Known Helmet Variants.jpg

  All Halo: Reach helmets

• SBgJn.jpg

  Most armor permutations in Halo: Reach.

• 

  The "GRD" armor seen in the Defiant Map Pack's official screenshots.

• Halo reach visor color default-1-.jpg

  Default visor.

• Halo reach visor color silver-1-.jpg

  Silver visor.

• Halo reach visor color black-1-.jpg

  Blue visor.

• Halo reach visor color black1-1-.jpg

  Black visor.

• Halo reach visor color gold-1-.jpg

  Gold visor.

Elite

• 

  Concept art of a Sangheili Minor's combat harness.

• HR EliteCommando Concept.jpg

  Concept art of a cut Sangheili armor permutation bearing resemblance to the Commando harness.

• 

  Concept art of various cut designs for the Sangheili.

• 

  Early design for the Special Operations Sangheili.

• 

  Concept art of a Sangheili "nemesis".

• 

  Concept art of a Sangheili "sword master".

• 

  The exclusive Sangheili Officer armor included in the Limited and Legendary Editions of Halo: Reach.

• Elitesv3.png

  All Sangheili Armor Permutations in Halo: Reach.