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 Season Point, which 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 Season 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

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

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.

Season 8 will add several new helmets to Halo: Reach.[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

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. [verification needed]
  • The current cost of all the armor pieces in the Halo: Reach armory combined is 9,634,201 cR. [verification needed]
  • 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.
  • Female Spartans have noticeably different gauntlet armor compared to their male counterparts, although they only display in third person. This is because both male and female spartans share the same first person viewmodels.

Gallery

Spartan

Elite

Sources