Canon

FOTUS-class Mjolnir

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

FOTUS
Fotus-Halo5.png
Production overview

Manufacturer(s):

343 Industries[1]

Testing site(s):

434 Combat Readiness Lab[1]
RTC Facility[1]
Willows Complex[1]

Type:

MJOLNIR (GEN2)

Role(s):

Miscellaneous tasks and situations

 

"Tested in the rough and tumble streets of downtown Kirkland, Washington."
— FOTUS armory description

FOTUS-class Mjolnir is a variant of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN2] manufactured by 343 Industries.[2]

Overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

The helmet has a Torque-node component used to distract nearby predators, the base of the node detects levels of gravity-trough scaturiency. The helmet also features extended awareness conduits (ALK-03) which heightens mobility around senior operatives and moving-equipment personnel. The visor has lodged-tracking component 793-VF for improved survivability and maintenance. The chest has 90-RZ java-fuel monitoring software which evaluates current sustainability levels.[1][Note 1]

The armor is built also using the finest locally-sourced materials and loose Forerunner technology,[1][3] with some materials coming from Requiem.[4]

Development history[edit]

FOTUS was created by 343 Industries, by merging loose Forerunner technology and base Mjolnir architecture. It was originally forged at the RTC Facility before being transported to the Willows Complex for durability and survivability testing. At a later point it was tested at 434 Combat Readiness Lab where it was tested extensively in Kirkland's overcast and frigid nine-month winter season.[1][Note 1]

Before full production of the armor could start, engineers required that it meet COUGAR-class safety protocols in an effort to protect it against feral branches of wildlife. These protocols were met and FOTUS armor sets were deployed.[1][Note 1]

The FOTUS Torque-node component had proven to represent a breakthrough in replicating Forerunner "baffler" sensor-distortion systems.[3]

Skins[edit]

A skin of this armor was part of the Forerunner Hybrid Kit, which is a group of equipment using classified Forerunner technology from Requiem, it was developed for highly experienced Spartan-IV by the Office of Naval Intelligence.[4]

Usage[edit]

After being deployed, FOTUS was often used to acquire coffee at a variety of lightly secured sites, during the Kirkland's long seasons of wet, freezing cold weather.[1][Note 1]

FOTUS armor has proven invaluable in Seattle's corporate shadow-wars.[3]

In-game information[edit]

Halo 4[edit]

FOTUS was introduced as an armor set in Halo 4, being an exclusive unlock to the limited edition Xbox 360 promoting the title. FOTUS would later be unlocked by default in Halo: The Master Chief Collection. It was one of the few armor sets to feature only one variant, lacking any additional skins.

Armor Description Unlock requirements
(Halo 4)
Unlock requirements
(Halo: MCC)
H4 MJOLNIR Fotus.png
FOTUS
Helmet description (H4): Tested in the rough-and-tumble streets of Kirkland, Washington. Redeem a code included with the limited edition Halo 4 Xbox 360 console. Unlocked by default.
Helmet description (MCC): Tested in the rough-and-tumble streets of Kirkland, Washington.
Shoulder description (H4): Tested in the rough-and-tumble streets of Kirkland, Washington.
Shoulder descriptions (MCC): Highly resistant to surprise assaults by foam projectiles. (Left)
Increases Seattle freeze index by a substantial amount. (Right)
Chest description (H4): Tested in the rough-and-tumble streets of Kirkland, Washington.
Chest description (MCC): Its original factory is gone, but not forgotten.
Forearm description (H4): Land of Kirk cougar-safety protocols MUST be followed at all times.
Forearm description (MCC): FOTUS vambrace with cougar-safe coating.
Legs description (H4): Received excessively high movement proficiency ratings for coffee runs on rainy days.
Legs description (MCC): Augments proficiency at quickly acquiring caffeine-infused liquids.

Halo 5: Guardians[edit]

FOTUS returned as an armor set in Halo 5: Guardians, being unlockable through the Requisition system. Unlike Halo 4, FOTUS had two skins in Halo 5; Chillrose and Synchronize. FOTUS also shared a body armor design with Deadeye armor.

Armor Description Rarity Introduced in Unlock requirements
REQ icon for the FOTUS armor.
FOTUS (helmet)
The FOTUS helmet's torque-node extension represents a breakthrough in replicating Forerunner "baffler" sensor-distortion systems. Ultra Rare Introduced on launch. Purchase a Gold REQ pack for REQ Points 10,000 REQ points.
REQ icon for the FOTUS armor.
FOTUS Chillrose (helmet skin)
Legendary
REQ icon for the FOTUS armor.
FOTUS Synchronize (helmet skin)
REQ icon for the FOTUS armor.
FOTUS (body)
Hand-crafted from the finest locally-sourced materials and repurposed Forerunner technology, FOTUS-class powered assault armor has proven invaluable in Seattle's corporate shadow-wars. Ultra Rare
REQ icon for the FOTUS armor.
FOTUS Chillrose (body skin)
Legendary
REQ icon for the FOTUS armor.
FOTUS Synchronize (body skin)

Production notes[edit]

In Halo 4, the FOTUS armor is presented as a metafictional joke. The acronym supposedly stands for "Fist of the Unicorn(s)", which was referenced as a band made up of the crew members of the UNSC Pillar of Autumn in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. The in-game description has FOTUS being developed by 343 Industries, and tested in Kirkland, Washington, which is 343 Industries' hometown. The gauntlets are designed to defend against cougar attacks in the "Land of Kirk", while the FOTUS greaves earned high marks during coffee runs on rainy days. The prominent spike on top of the helmet is a reference to 343 Industries' running unicorn gag. While the FOTUS armor is canon, the armor's descriptions in Halo 4 are very tongue-in-cheek and obviously not meant to be taken seriously. The armor's descriptions in The Master Chief Collection's armory continue the references past this:

  • "Surprise assault by foam projectiles" references the time-honored tradition of coders and software workers shooting each other with foam darts to let off steam.
  • The "Seattle Freeze" is a widely-held belief in the difficulty of making friends or acquaintances in the Seattle metropolitan area.
  • The original factory being "gone, but not forgotten" is a reference to 343 Industries moving from their original building to a new one around the time The Master Chief Collection was releasing.
  • The overall callbacks to both Kirkland, cougars, and coffee.
  • Geographically, 343 Industries (and Microsoft itself) are officially located in Redmond, Washington, rather than Kirkland. The distance between them is effectively negligible.

References[edit]

The "corporate shadow-wars" mentioned in Halo 5: Guardians's FOTUS chest may be a reference to the RPG game Shadowrun, set in a futuristic Seattle run by mega-corporations.

Gallery[edit]

Halo 4 skin[edit]

Halo 5: Guardians skins[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Fotus throughout this source continues the joke of "acquiring coffee." Therefore, this is not a reliable source. However, as the only source available it should be taken as canon until a more official source gives the Armor its information.

Sources[edit]