Gameplay

Armor customization (Halo: Reach)

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

This article is about the armor customization in Halo: Reach. For other games, see armor customizations.
The Armory in Halo: Reach

Armor 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 Spartan Point Spartan Point. The Spartan Points can be used to unlock the next tier in the progression system. Halo: Reach unlocks in Halo: the Master Chief Collection are contained within Season 1: Noble, and Series 5: Anvil. Noble contains Reach's base unlocks present in the original title, while Anvil contains multiple planned, but cut armor permutations, including AKIS.

Overview[edit]

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.[1]

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[2]

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.[3] 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[edit]

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 Series 5: Anvil of The Master Chief Collection's post-launch support, Reach saw the addition of several new helmets and chest armor pieces, never-previously usable 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.

Series 8: Mythic added several new helmets to Halo: Reach. They're not based on cut or removed material from the original title, but are fully new assets, which are also shared with Halo 3.[4]

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 customizations[edit]

Spartan[edit]

Helmets
Helmets
Helmet Unlock (Halo: Reach) Unlock (Halo: The Master Chief Collection) Helmet attachments Unlock (Halo: Reach) Unlock (Halo: The Master Chief Collection)
HR Default Visor Icon.png
Mark V [B]
0 cR - Default Unlocked by default HR MarkVB UA Helmet Icon.png
UA
Halo: Reach rank icon Recruit, 750 cR Series 1 Tier 4, Spartan Point 1
HR MarkVB UAHUL Helmet Icon.png
UA/HUL
Halo: Reach rank icon Corporal, 1,500 cR Series 1 Tier 15, Spartan Point 1
HR CQC Helmet Icon.png
CQC
Halo: Reach rank icon Recruit, 0 cR Series 1 Tier 1, Spartan Point 1 HR CQC CBRN Helmet Icon.png
CBRN
Halo: Reach rank icon Sergeant, 750 cR Series 1 Tier 5, Spartan Point 1
HR CQC UAHUL Helmet Icon.png
UA/HUL
Halo: Reach rank icon Sergeant, 1,500 cR Series 1 Tier 16, Spartan Point 1
HR ODST Helmet Icon.png
ODST
Halo: Reach rank icon Recruit, 2,000 cR Series 1 Tier 19, Spartan Point 1 HR ODST UACNM Helmet Icon.png
UA/CNM
Halo: Reach rank icon Corporal, 1,000 cR Series 1 Tier 19, Spartan Point 1
HR ODST CBRNHUL Helmet Icon.png
CBRN/HUL
Halo: Reach rank icon Sergeant, 500 cR Series 1 Tier 38, Spartan Point 1
HR HAZOP Helmet Icon.png
HAZOP
Halo: Reach rank icon Recruit, 7,000 cR Series 1 Tier 1, Spartan Point 1 HR HAZOP CBRNHUL Helmet Icon.png
CBRN/HUL
Halo: Reach rank icon Sergeant, 2,000 cR Series 1 Tier 27, Spartan Point 1
HR HAZOP CNMI Helmet Icon.png
CNM-I
Halo: Reach rank icon Captain, 1,000 cR Series 1 Tier 45, Spartan Point 1
HR EOD Helmet Icon.png
EOD
Halo: Reach rank icon Sergeant, 15,000 cR Series 1 Tier 29, Spartan Point 1 HR EOD CNM Helmet Icon.png
CNM
Halo: Reach rank icon Sergeant, 5,000 cR Series 1 Tier 29, Spartan Point 1
HR EOD UAHUL Helmet Icon.png
UA/HUL
Halo: Reach rank icon Sergeant, 3,000 cR Series 1 Tier 29, Spartan Point 1
HR Operator Helmet Icon.png
Operator
Halo: Reach rank icon Sergeant, 7,000 cR Series 1 Tier 30, Spartan Point 1 HR Operator UAHUL Helmet Icon.png
UA/HUL
Halo: Reach rank icon Sergeant, 2,000 cR Series 1 Tier 30, Spartan Point 1
HR Operator CNM Helmet Icon.png
CNM
Halo: Reach rank icon Sergeant, 1,000 cR Series 1 Tier 30, Spartan Point 1
HR Grenadier Helmet Icon.png
Grenadier
Halo: Reach rank icon Warrant Officer, 25,000 cR Series 1 Tier 39, Spartan Point 1 HR Grenadier UA Helmet Icon.png
UA
Halo: Reach rank icon Warrant Officer, 5,000 cR Series 1 Tier 39, Spartan Point 1
HR Grenadier UAFC Helmet Icon.png
UA/FC
Halo: Reach rank icon Warrant Officer, 2,000 cR Series 1 Tier 41, Spartan Point 1
HR AirAssault Helmet Icon.png
Air Assault
Halo: Reach rank icon Warrant Officer, 15,000 cR Series 1 Tier 37, Spartan Point 1 HR AirAssault UACNM Helmet Icon.png
UA/CNM
Halo: Reach rank icon Warrant Officer, 7,500 cR Series 1 Tier 37, Spartan Point 1
HR AirAssault FCI Helmet Icon.png
FC-I
Halo: Reach rank icon Warrant Officer, 5,000 cR Series 1 Tier 38, Spartan Point 1
HR Scout Helmet Icon.png
Scout
Halo: Reach rank icon Captain, 40,000 cR Series 1 Tier 40, Spartan Point 1 HR Scout HURS Helmet Icon.png
HU/RS
Halo: Reach rank icon Captain, 5,000 cR Series 1 Tier 40, Spartan Point 1
HR Scout CBRNCNM Helmet Icon.png
CBRN/CNM
Halo: Reach rank icon Captain, 5,000 cR Series 1 Tier 40, Spartan Point 1
HR EVA Helmet Icon.png
EVA
Halo: Reach rank icon Major, 30,000 cR Series 1 Tier 51, Spartan Point 1 HR EVA CNM Helmet Icon.png
CNM
Halo: Reach rank icon Major, 7,000 cR Series 1 Tier 52, Spartan Point 1
HR EVA UAHUL3 Helmet Icon.png
UA/HUL[3]
Halo: Reach rank icon Lieutenant Colonel, 15,000 cR Series 1 Tier 58, Spartan Point 1
HR JFO Helmet Icon.png
JFO
Halo: Reach rank icon Lieutenant Colonel, 60,000 cR Series 1 Tier 59, Spartan Point 1 HR JFO HULI Helmet Icon.png
HUL-I
Halo: Reach rank icon Lieutenant Colonel, 20,000 cR Series 1 Tier 59, Spartan Point 1
HR JFO UA Helmet Icon.png
UA
Halo: Reach rank icon Lieutenant Colonel, 10,000 cR Series 1 Tier 61, Spartan Point 1
HR Commando Helmet Icon.png
Commando
Halo: Reach rank icon Commander, 85,000 cR Series 1 Tier 68, Spartan Point 1 HR Commando CBRNCNM Helmet Icon.png
CBRN/CNM
Halo: Reach rank icon Commander, 40,000 cR Series 1 Tier 69, Spartan Point 1
HR Commando UAFCI2 Helmet Icon.png
UA/FC-I[2]
Halo: Reach rank icon Commander, 40,000 cR Series 1 Tier 71, Spartan Point 1
HR EVAC Helmet Icon.png
EVA [C]
Halo: Reach rank icon Commander, purchase EVA helmet, 120,000 cR Series 1 Tier 70, Spartan Point 1 HR EVAC CNM Helmet Icon.png
CNM
Halo: Reach rank icon Commander, 25,000 cR Series 1 Tier 70, Spartan Point 1
HR EVAC UAHUL3 Helmet Icon.png
UA/HUL[3]
Halo: Reach rank icon Commander, 140,000 cR Series 1 Tier 70, Spartan Point 1
HR MarkV Helmet Icon.png
Mark V
Halo: Reach rank icon Lieutenant Colonel, 130,000 cR Series 1 Tier 60, Spartan Point 1 HR MarkV CNM Helmet Icon.png
CNM
Halo: Reach rank icon Lieutenant Colonel, 10,000 cR Series 1 Tier 60, Spartan Point 1
HR MarkV UA Helmet Icon.png
UA
Halo: Reach rank icon Lieutenant Colonel, 15,000 cR Series 1 Tier 60, Spartan Point 1
HR Pilot Helmet Icon.png
Pilot
Halo: Reach rank icon Commander, 90,000 cR Series 1 Tier 80, Spartan Point 1 HR Pilot HUL3 Helmet Icon.png
HUL[3]
Halo: Reach rank icon Commander, 25,000 cR Series 1 Tier 80, Spartan Point 1
HR Pilot UAHUL3 Helmet Icon.png
UA/HUL[3]
Halo: Reach rank icon Commander, 55,000 cR Series 1 Tier 80, Spartan Point 1
HR Pilot Haunted Helmet Icon.png
Haunted
Halo: Reach rank icon Inheritor, all prior helmets and attachments must be purchased, 1 cR Series 1 Tier 100, Spartan Point 1
HR Recon Helmet Icon.png
Recon
Halo: Reach rank icon Colonel, 100,000 cR Series 1 Tier 3, Spartan Point 1 HR Recon HUL Helmet Icon.png
HUL-I
Halo: Reach rank icon Colonel, 75,000 cR Series 1 Tier 74, Spartan Point 1
HR Recon UAHUL Helmet Icon.png
UA/HUL[3]
Pre-order/ day one purchase of Halo: Reach. Series 1 Tier 10, Spartan Point 1
HR MarkVI Helmet Icon.png
Mark VI
Halo: Reach rank icon Brigadier, 300,000 cR Series 1 Tier 86, Spartan Point 1 HR MarkVI FCI2 Helmet Icon.png
FC-I[2]
Halo: Reach rank icon Brigadier, 75,000 cR Series 1 Tier 90, Spartan Point 1
HR MarkVI UAHULI Helmet Icon.png
UA/HUL-I
Halo: Reach rank icon Brigadier, 75,000 cR Series 1 Tier 91, Spartan Point 1
HR Gungnir Helmet Icon.png
GUNGNIR
Halo: Reach rank icon Brigadier, 250,000 cR Series 1 Tier 85, Spartan Point 1 HR Gungnir HURS Helmet Icon.png
HU/RS
Halo: Reach rank icon Brigadier, 125,000 cR Series 1 Tier 89, Spartan Point 1
HR Gungnir CBRN Helmet Icon.png
CBRN
Halo: Reach rank icon Mythic, 400,000 cR Series 1 Tier 94, Spartan Point 1
HR Security Helmet Icon.png
Security
Halo: Reach rank icon General, 250,000 cR Series 1 Tier 90, Spartan Point 1 HR Security UAHUL Helmet Icon.png
UA/HUL
Halo: Reach rank icon General, 200,000 cR Series 1 Tier 99, Spartan Point 1
HR Security CBRNCNM Helmet Icon.png
CBRN/CNM
Halo: Reach rank icon Legend, 200,000 cR Series 1 Tier 96, Spartan Point 1
HR MilitaryPolice Helmet Icon.png
Military Police
Halo Waypoint exclusive: reach Waypoint Career Milestone 15 and unlock The Soldier We Need You To Be achievement. Series 1 Tier 2, Spartan Point 1 HR MilitaryPolice CBRNHURS Helmet Icon.png
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, Spartan Point 1
HR MilitaryPolice HURSCNM Helmet Icon.png
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, Spartan Point 1
HR CQB Helmet Icon.png
CQB
Halo Waypoint exclusive: reach Waypoint Career Milestone 20 and unlock the Folks Need Heroes... achievement. Series 1 Tier 1, Spartan Point 1 HR CQB HURS Helmet Icon.png
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, Spartan Point 1
HR CQB UAHUL Helmet Icon.png
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, Spartan Point 1
HR AKIS Helmet Icon.png
AKIS
N/A (Cut) Series 5 Tier 1, Spartan Point 1 HR AKIS GRD Helmet Icon.png
GRD
N/A (Cut) Series 5 Tier 60, Spartan Point 1
HR AKIS CBRN Helmet Icon.png
CBRN
Series 5 Tier 30, Spartan Point 1
HR AKIS GRDCBRN Helmet Icon.png
GRD/CBRN
Series 5 Tier 100, Spartan Point 1
HR Mariner Helmet Icon.png
Mariner
N/A (Cut) Series 5 Tier 10, Spartan Point 1 HR Mariner Defiant Helmet Icon.png
Defiant
N/A (Cut) Series 5 Tier 45, Spartan Point 1
HR Mariner MisterChief Helmet Icon.png
Mister Chief
Series 5 Challenge: Because You Begged
The Exchange, Spartan Point 2
HR Mariner OPTREX Helmet Icon.png
OPTREX
Series 5 Tier 80, Spartan Point 1
Belos N/A (MCC-exclusive) Series 8 HTMCC Season 8 battlepass icon.
Belos Heran
N/A (MCC-exclusive) Series 8, Tier 6 Spartan Point 1
HTMCC Season 8 battlepass icon.
Belos Syntrofos
Series 8, Tier 56 Spartan Point 1
HTMCC Season 8 battlepass icon.
Belos Kerata
Series 8, Tier 14 Spartan Point 1
HTMCC Season 8 battlepass icon.
Belos Leontokardos
Series 8, Tier 85 Spartan Point 1
HTMCC Season 8 battlepass icon.
Belos Stheno
Series 8, Tier 25 Spartan Point 1
HTMCC Season 8 battlepass icon.
Belos Cerberus
Series 8, Tier 28 Spartan Point 1
Blackguard N/A (MCC-exclusive) Series 8 HTMCC Season 8 battlepass icon.
Blackguard Warfeast
N/A (MCC-exclusive) Series 8, Tier 21 Spartan Point 1
MCC Menu icon.
Blackguard Fallen Equerry
The Exchange
HTMCC Season 8 battlepass icon.
Blackguard Forsaken Dragon
Series 8, Tier 37 Spartan Point 1
HTMCC Season 8 battlepass icon.
Blackguard Carrion Crow
Series 8, Tier 49 Spartan Point 1
HTMCC Season 8 battlepass icon.
Blackguard Sorrowful Visage
Series 8, Tier 73 Spartan Point 1
HTMCC Season 8 battlepass icon.
Blackguard Ashen Crown
Series 8, Tier 19 Spartan Point 1
Drengr N/A (MCC-exclusive) Series 8 HTMCC Season 8 battlepass icon.
Drengr Skald
N/A (MCC-exclusive) Series 8, Tier 42 Spartan Point 1
HTMCC Season 8 battlepass icon.
Drengr Valdemar
Series 8, Tier 58 Spartan Point 1
HTMCC Season 8 battlepass icon.
Drengr Dvalinn
Series 8, Tier 52 Spartan Point 1
HTMCC Season 8 battlepass icon.
Drengr Thyra
Series 8, Tier 81 Spartan Point 1
HTMCC Season 8 battlepass icon.
Drengr Nari
Series 8, Tier 88 Spartan Point 1
HTMCC Season 8 battlepass icon.
Drengr Tyr
Series 8, Tier 92 Spartan Point 1

Elite[edit]

Elite armor
Armor Unlock (Halo: Reach) Unlock (Halo: The Master Chief Collection)
HR Elite Minor Icon.png
Minor
Unlocked by default Unlocked by default
HR Elite SpecOps Icon.png
Spec Ops
Halo: Reach rank icon Corporal Series 1, Tier 8, Spartan Point 1
HR Elite Ranger Icon.png
Ranger
Halo: Reach rank icon Sergeant Series 1, Tier 21, Spartan Point 1
HR Elite Ultra Icon.png
Ultra
Halo: Reach rank icon Warrant Officer Series 1, Tier 45, Spartan Point 1
HR Elite Zealot Icon.png
Zealot
Halo: Reach rank icon Captain Series 1, Tier 50, Spartan Point 1
HR Elite General Icon.png
General
Halo: Reach rank icon Major Series 1, Tier 65, Spartan Point 1
HR Elite FieldMarshal Icon.png
Field Marshall
Halo: Reach rank icon Lieutenant Colonel Series 1, Tier 79, Spartan Point 1
HR Elite Officer Icon.png
Officer
Halo: Reach Xbox 360, Limited and Legendary editions only Series 1, Tier 98, Spartan Point 1

Trivia[edit]

  • The current cost of all the armor pieces in the armory combined is 9,634,201 cR. [verification needed]
  • In gameplay, 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.
  • Armor customization returns in Reach's port for Halo: The Master Chief Collection, however, there are discrepancies between the Unreal Engine 4 renders and in-game customization. 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.
  • In Halo games starting from Halo: Reach, initial spawn points used in Forge show a Spartan-III holding a magnum. The Spartan is male, wears the base MARK V [B] helmet, a CQC pauldron for his left shoulder, a Mark V pauldron for his right, the default Mark V [B] chest, the TACPAD on his wrist, the TACTICAL/TRAUMA KIT as a utility and FJ/PARA knee guards. Due to a singular color being used for the model, the Spartan's visor and armor colors are unknown.

Gallery[edit]

Developmental images[edit]

Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta[edit]

Halo: Reach[edit]

Sources[edit]