Weapon skins in Halo 5: Guardians allow players to customize the appearance of their SPARTAN-IV's weapons. Weapon skins can be unlocked via the game's Requisition system, which grants the player currency to buy packs of varying tiers, granting skins. Certain skins are locked to real world currency as a result of external tie-ins with the Halo Championship Series, and a few are barred to certain employees and players for being part of 343 Industries or accomplishing certain feats that are noticed by 343.
Overview
Halo 5: Guardians features rudimentary weapon skin customization similar to Halo 4, with the player being able to simply swap preset patterns on their weapon in the player customization menu. However, this will only pertain to personal weapons. Applying a skin to an M395 DMR and then picking up a DMR placed on the map will not result in the newly picked up weapon possessing the player's skin. However, at the same time, picking up a player's DMR which has a skin applied to it will feature the skin chosen by the player who owned it prior.
Launch and DLC skins
Launch and DLC skins refer to those available in the game on launch, and those released through the game's myriad of content updates. All weapon skins on launch were available through the game's REQ system, with common to rare unlocks being tied to Silver packs, and ultra-rare to mythic unlocks being reserved for Gold packs. Skins released through content updates were also tied to this system. A few, such as the white HCS contender variants were able to be unlocked through Guardians' in-game currency, but were tied to specific packs, with fixed unlocks.
Halo Championship Series skins
As part of a tie-in to the ongoing Halo Championship Series, sets of skins were launched for Guardians' esports aspect over its lifespan. A trio of skins, released for the MA5D assault rifle, M6H magnum, and BR85 battle rifle, were launched in a staggered fashion. All featured a red, blue, and white coloration, with HCS branding over the weapon's form, akin to CHALLENGER-class Mjolnir, without specific team branding. As mentioned prior, these were available only in specific packs, but weren't tied to real world currency inherently.
Separate to these skins were those based on the teams participating in the game's Pro League and Halo World Championships. Beginning in 2016, waves of these skins would come out, starting with skins based on Counter Logic Gaming, Evil Geniuses, and OpTic Gaming in the summer of 2016, and ending on Splyce in late 2017. These skins were only purchasable through real world currency in an effort to support the organizations behind them, and each pack came with an assault rifle and magnum skin.
Miscellaneous skins
Certain skins in the game weren't tied to the game's content drops, or real world currency, but were instead given out in a manner akin to Halo 3's RECON-class Mjolnir, pre-Vidmaster Challenge. This included the "Ice Unicorn" skin, granted to players who matched 343 Industries employees on certain announced playdates in either Halo 5 or Halo: The Master Chief Collection. It also included the "Fire Unicorn" skin, which was given to players who managed to be featured on the Halo Community Spotlight.
Additionally, 343 Industries employees possess a full set of skins dubbed "Unicorn Fist", featuring orange and black decals. These were made to replace the then-publicly available 343 Industries assault rifle and magnum skin set, which were released in the Spartan's Armory REQ pack in March of 2016.
A set of skins dubbed "Sticker Shock" was originally exclusive to the Halo Loot Crate promotion. However, in July of 2017, a pack containing the skins was released. The skins were exclusive to this pack, and aren't in the REQ pool.
In late 2018, an additional set of skins, dubbed "Targetmaster" was added to the game. A series of five skins for the magnum exclusively, each skin would unlock upon a certain amount of wins. In order, they would unlock after 75 wins, 175 wins, 300 wins, 450 wins, and 650 wins.
Cut skins
In late 2017, a series of skins based on the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Mexico were announced. Exclusive to the assault rifle and magnum as well, they were made in support of the nationalities present at the Halo World Championship tour. They were intended to be launched in the lead up to 2018's Halo World Championship, however, due to extraneous political circumstances, their release was delayed indefinitely.[1]
List of weapon skins
Launch and DLC skins
| Halo 5: Guardians launch weapon skins | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Fade | Uncommon | Spring inevitably turns to fall. |
|
Fade | Uncommon | Spring inevitably turns to fall. |
|
Fade | Uncommon | Spring inevitably turns to fall. |
|
Fade | Uncommon | Spring inevitably turns to fall. |
|
Fade | Uncommon | Spring inevitably turns to fall. |
|
Spiral | Rare | The golden ratio rules all. |
|
Spiral | Rare | The golden ratio rules all. |
|
Spiral | Rare | The golden ratio rules all. |
|
Spiral | Rare | The golden ratio rules all. |
|
Spiral | Rare | The golden ratio rules all. |
|
Steel | Rare | What is victory without resolve? |
|
Vengeance | Rare | Thus I refute thee. |
|
Ruptive | Ultra Rare | Approved by the UNSC Ordnance Commission in 2557. |
|
Ruptive | Ultra Rare | Approved by the UNSC Ordnance Commission in 2557. |
|
Ruptive | Ultra Rare | Approved by the UNSC Ordnance Commission in 2557. |
|
Ruptive | Ultra Rare | Approved by the UNSC Ordnance Commission in 2557. |
|
Ruptive | Ultra Rare | Approved by the UNSC Ordnance Commission in 2557. |
|
Bloodthirst | Ultra Rare | Peace through superior firepower. |
|
Lagrange | Ultra Rare | Death seeps out from cold stars. Be prepared. |
|
Bracer | Legendary | Though frowned on, troops in the field often adopt their own distinctive stylistic trappings. |
|
Bracer | Legendary | Though frowned on, troops in the field often adopt their own distinctive stylistic trappings. |
|
Bracer | Legendary | Though frowned on, troops in the field often adopt their own distinctive stylistic trappings. |
|
Bracer | Legendary | Though frowned on, troops in the field often adopt their own distinctive stylistic trappings. |
|
Bracer | Legendary | Though frowned on, troops in the field often adopt their own distinctive stylistic trappings. |
|
Clash | Legendary | When the moment of decision comes, strike. |
|
Potence | Legendary | Power flows where will directs. |
| Battle of Shadow and Light weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Green Machine | Rare | Spartans use the same wargear as other UNSC military personnel, with their own stylistic flair added. |
|
Green Machine | Rare | Spartans use the same wargear as other UNSC military personnel, with their own stylistic flair added. |
|
Green Machine | Rare | Spartans use the same wargear as other UNSC military personnel, with their own stylistic flair added. |
|
Green Machine | Rare | Spartans use the same wargear as other UNSC military personnel, with their own stylistic flair added. |
|
Green Machine | Rare | Spartans use the same wargear as other UNSC military personnel, with their own stylistic flair added. |
| Cartographer's Gift weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Gold Standard | Legendary | Spartans use the same wargear as other UNSC military personnel, with their own stylistic flair added. |
|
Gold Standard | Legendary | Spartans use the same wargear as other UNSC military personnel, with their own stylistic flair added. |
|
Gold Standard | Legendary | Spartans use the same wargear as other UNSC military personnel, with their own stylistic flair added. |
|
Gold Standard | Legendary | Spartans use the same wargear as other UNSC military personnel, with their own stylistic flair added. |
|
Gold Standard | Legendary | Spartans use the same wargear as other UNSC military personnel, with their own stylistic flair added. |
| Infinity's Armory weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Prestige | Ultra Rare | A, U! Where did you get that fancy weapon skin? |
|
Prestige | Ultra Rare | A, U! Where did you get that fancy weapon skin? |
|
Prestige | Ultra Rare | A, U! Where did you get that fancy weapon skin? |
|
Prestige | Ultra Rare | A, U! Where did you get that fancy weapon skin? |
|
Prestige | Ultra Rare | A, U! Where did you get that fancy weapon skin? |
|
Scratched | Rare | You could have painted this, but you didn't. |
|
Scratched | Rare | You could have painted this, but you didn't. |
|
Full Moon | Rare | One Spartan wolf pack. |
|
Last Slice | Rare | Hotter than Covenant plasma. |
|
Lord of the Fries | Rare | So much salt. |
|
Old Abe | Rare | Hear that? Sounds like freedom taking flight! |
|
Boomco. AR Blaster | Ultra Rare | Epic blasting action brought to life! |
|
Boomco. Magnum Blaster | Ultra Rare | Dive into the HALO Universe - blaster first! |
|
Ehh, Arr | Legendary | A Scotsman, pirate, and space monkey walk into a bar... |
|
Locke and Loaded | Legendary | These puns are criminal. |
| Hammer Storm weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Last Dawn | Rare | Hope is renewed at light's break. |
|
Last Dawn | Rare | Hope is renewed at light's break. |
|
Last Dawn | Rare | Hope is renewed at light's break. |
|
Last Dawn | Rare | Hope is renewed at light's break. |
|
Last Dawn | Rare | Hope is renewed at light's break. |
| Ghosts of Meridian weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Blue Steel | Rare | If looks could kill. |
|
Blue Steel | Rare | Designed by professionals, for professionals. |
|
Blue Steel | Rare | Blue is very fashionable this year. |
|
Blue Steel | Rare | Walk the firing line like you own it. |
|
Blue Steel | Rare | Propellants are the essence of kinetic energy, and kinetic energy is the essence of lethality. |
| Memories of Reach weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Azure Dream | Rare | Get cozy with your fireteam and dominate War Games. |
|
Azure Dream | Rare | It's all about the glory. |
|
Azure Dream | Rare | Put your boot up some alien backsides! |
|
Azure Dream | Rare | The UNSC needs every able body on the line to resist the Created. |
|
Azure Dream | Rare | Spread hate and discontent among the Covenant and Created forces. |
|
UNSC | Rare | Defending Earth and her colonies since 2163. |
|
UNSC | Rare | Welcome to Earth. |
|
ODST | Ultra Rare | Make every shot count. |
|
ODST | Ultra Rare | Feet first into the fire |
|
Fireteam Osiris | Ultra Rare | Chief Tested, Buck Approved. |
|
Fireteam Osiris | Ultra Rare | Every target's just another target. |
|
Sharktooth Grin | Ultra Rare | The ravenous maw betrays an insatiable taste for violence. |
|
Sharktooth Grin | Ultra Rare | Spartans are the ultimate land-based predator. |
|
Spirit Of Fire | Ultra Rare | Forged to perfection |
|
Spirit Of Fire | Ultra Rare | Rising from the ashes. |
|
Blue Team | Legendary | Olly olly oxen free! |
|
Blue Team | Legendary | Always in the right place at the right time. |
|
Noble Team | Legendary | To the last breath. |
|
Noble Team | Legendary | Plans can change, always have a backup. |
| Hog Wild weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Aurum | Ultra Rare | You don't get the riches without some risk. |
|
Aurum | Ultra Rare | This gold is made with blood, sweat, and tears in War Games. |
|
Aurum | Ultra Rare | What's next, gold-plated Warthogs? |
|
Aurum | Ultra Rare | The black and gold almost makes you look respectable. |
|
Aurum | Ultra Rare | Wisdom is better than gold, but not by much. |
| Anvil's Legacy weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Master Control | Rare | Survive. |
|
Master Control | Rare | Enjoy the power you have been given. |
|
Master Control | Rare | The Covenant started small, and ended small. |
|
Master Control | Rare | Prepare to terminate. |
|
Master Control | Rare | A new frontier. |
|
Landgrave | Legendary | Power truly does flow from the barrel of a gun. |
|
Landgrave | Legendary | Disorder creates beautiful opportunities. |
|
Landgrave | Legendary | Spartans are symbols of power in the shadows as well as the light. |
|
Landgrave | Legendary | Venezian business casual. |
|
Landgrave | Legendary | For those that appreciate the finer points of violence. |
| Monitor's Bounty weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Monstrous | Rare | Fear is highly articulated |
|
Monstrous | Rare | From the depths... |
|
Monstrous | Rare | Still waters conceal murderous intent. |
|
Monstrous | Rare | The rattle of ejected casings announces its presence. |
|
Monstrous | Rare | The damage adds up over time. |
|
Pop Culture | Rare | Just kitten, this description is totally serious business. |
|
Pop Culture | Rare | Stop your shenanigans right meow. |
|
Pop Culture | Rare | Purr-pare to face the UNSC's wrath! |
|
Pop Culture | Rare | Cat got your tongue? |
|
Pop Culture | Rare | Totally pawsome! |
|
Skulls And Roses | Ultra Rare | There is a cruel irony in the use of anagathic medical treatments to enhance the hyper-lethality of Spartans. |
|
Skulls And Roses | Ultra Rare | A handful of high velocity metal slugs are all that separate the living from the dead. |
|
Skulls And Roses | Ultra Rare | Modern wars meld flesh, armor, and electronic ghosts into a terrifyingly efficient matrix of destruction. |
|
Skulls And Roses | Ultra Rare | Even super-soldiers occasionally reflect on their dual role as both defender and despoiler. |
|
Skulls And Roses | Ultra Rare | Fallen soldiers are remembered in detail by their comrades, in abstract by the UNSC. |
Halo Championship Series skins
| HCS Contender weapon skins | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
HCS Contender | Unlocked by purchasing the HCS Pack in the in-game store. | The champion's prize purse often contains a few items of esoteric significance. |
|
HCS Contender | Unlocked by purchasing the HCS Pack in the in-game store. | To the victor goes the spoils. |
|
HCS Contender | Unlocked by purchasing the HCS Pack in the in-game store. | To the victor goes the spoils. |
|
HCS Contender Red | Unlocked by purchasing the HCS Pack in the in-game store. Also available through team skin packs. | Let's all take dying as an open action item. |
|
HCS Contender Red | Unlocked by purchasing the HCS Pack in the in-game store. Also available through team skin packs. | Let's all take dying as an open action item. |
|
HCS Contender Red | Unlocked by purchasing the HCS Pack in the in-game store. Also available through team skin packs. | The next best thing to getting a pony. |
|
HCS Contender Blue | Unlocked by purchasing the HCS Pack in the in-game store. Also available through team skin packs. | The next best thing to getting a pony. |
|
HCS Contender Blue | Unlocked by purchasing the HCS Pack in the in-game store. Also available through team skin packs. | The next best thing to getting a pony. |
|
HCS Contender Blue | Unlocked by purchasing the HCS Pack in the in-game store. Also available through team skin packs. | The next best thing to getting a pony. |
| Counter Logic Gaming weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Counter Logic Gaming | Purchase the Counter Logic Gaming REQ pack. | Play like a champion. |
|
Counter Logic Gaming | Purchase the Counter Logic Gaming REQ pack. | Let's go! #CLGFIGHTING |
| Evil Geniuses weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Evil Geniuses | Purchase the Evil Geniuses REQ pack. | Make 'em bleed... blue. |
|
Evil Geniuses | Purchase the Evil Geniuses REQ pack. | Add a little Evil to your arsenal. |
| OpTic Gaming weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
OpTic Gaming | Purchase the OpTic Gaming REQ pack. | Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe. |
|
OpTic Gaming | Purchase the OpTic Gaming REQ pack. | Welcome to the #GreenWall |
| Team EnVyUs weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Team EnVyUs | Purchase the Team EnVyUs REQ pack. | Blue with envy. |
|
Team EnVyUs | Purchase the Team EnVyUs REQ pack. | World class. |
| Team Liquid weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Team Liquid | Purchase the Team Liquid REQ pack. | Skill, passion, and friendship. But mostly skill. |
|
Team Liquid | Purchase the Team Liquid REQ pack. | A historic addition to the stable. |
| Allegiance weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Allegiance | Purchase the Allegiance REQ pack. | Unified. |
|
Allegiance | Purchase the Allegiance REQ pack. | Loyalty and commitment. |
| Luminosity weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Luminosity | Purchase the Luminosity REQ pack. | Thanks for being #LGLOYAL! |
|
Luminosity | Purchase the Luminosity REQ pack. | #LGLOYAL |
| Str8 Rippin weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Str8 Rippin | Purchase the Str8 Rippin REQ pack. | Start fraggin' like a pro. |
|
Str8 Rippin | Purchase the Str8 Rippin REQ pack. | Give 'em the backsmack! |
| Splyce weapon skins | |||
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Splyce | Purchase the Splyce REQ pack. | Strike hard and strike fast like a champion. |
|
Splyce | Purchase the Splyce REQ pack. | Go #OnTheHunt with Splyce. |
Miscellaneous skins
| Weapon skins | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin | Name | Unlock | Description |
|
Sticker Shock | Unlocked through the Sticker Shock REQ pack for a limited time. | Every sticker has a story. |
|
Sticker Shock | Unlocked through the Sticker Shock REQ pack for a limited time. | Authentic imitations of Venezian knockoffs. |
|
Sticker Shock | Unlocked through the Sticker Shock REQ pack for a limited time. | And that sticker? Well, there I was, in a Kig-Yar food pen … |
|
Sticker Shock | Unlocked through the Sticker Shock REQ pack for a limited time. | You can never have too much flair. |
|
Sticker Shock | Unlocked through the Sticker Shock REQ pack for a limited time. | Scratch the stickers for an authentic cordite scent. |
|
Targetmaster | Unlocked after achieving 75 wins in Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer. | Battered but not broken, Spartan steel is made of sterner stuff. |
|
Decorated Targetmaster | Unlocked after achieving 175 wins in Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer. | Fresh off the "minifacturing" lines of the UNSC Infinity. |
|
Superior Targetmaster | Unlocked after achieving 300 wins in Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer. | All tactical, all the time. |
|
Chromed Targetmaster | Unlocked after achieving 450 wins in Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer. | Out in a flash. |
|
Gilded Targetmaster | Unlocked after achieving 650 wins in Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer. | Gold never goes out of style. |
|
343 Industries | Unlocked through a glitch in the game's first HCS pack. Later unlocked through the Spartan's Armory REQ pack for a limited time. | Employee Discount. |
|
343 Industries | Unlocked through a glitch in the game's first HCS pack. Later unlocked through the Spartan's Armory REQ pack for a limited time. | Inside Job. |
|
Unicorn Fist | Exclusive to 343 Industries employees. | Unknown |
|
Unicorn Fist | Exclusive to 343 Industries employees. | The commute to the weapon factory requires a cryotube. |
|
Unicorn Fist | Exclusive to 343 Industries employees. | Unknown |
|
Unicorn Fist | Exclusive to 343 Industries employees. | Unknown |
|
Unicorn Fist | Exclusive to 343 Industries employees. | Unknown |
|
Fire Unicorn | Be featured on the Halo Community Spotlight. | Work your way up the burndown list. |
|
Ice Unicorn | Match a squad of 343 Industries employees during specially announced events. | CU II: The Wrath of Conn. |
|
Worth of Mouth | Participate in an event for Halo 5: Guardians at your local Microsoft Store. | By playing at your local Microsoft Store, you've taken a big step in supporting the grassroots Halo community. |
|
Know Your Roots | Be a member of the Halo Grassroots program, or be granted it by a member of the program. | The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. |
Cut skins
| Weapon skins | ||
|---|---|---|
| Skin | Name | Unlock |
|
Canada | Originally set to be available when the road to the Halo World Championship 2018 arrived in North America. |
|
Canada | Originally set to be available when the road to the Halo World Championship 2018 arrived in North America. |
|
United States | Originally set to be available when the road to the Halo World Championship 2018 arrived in North America. |
|
United States | Originally set to be available when the road to the Halo World Championship 2018 arrived in North America. |
|
Mexico | Originally set to be available when the road to the Halo World Championship 2018 arrived in Latin America. |
|
Mexico | Originally set to be available when the road to the Halo World Championship 2018 arrived in Latin America. |
|
United Kingdom | Originally set to be available when the road to the Halo World Championship 2018 arrived in Europe. |
|
United Kingdom | Originally set to be available when the road to the Halo World Championship 2018 arrived in Europe. |
|
Australia | Originally set to be available when the road to the Halo World Championship 2018 arrived in Oceania. |
|
Australia | Originally set to be available when the road to the Halo World Championship 2018 arrived in Oceania. |
Trivia
Production notes
- The Master Control skin set's creation was inspired by an edited image of a Halo screenshot that was presented by Halo community member, Vetoed. His post suggesting the skin idea would be posted in February, 2016[2], while the Master Control skin set wound up being introduced in the Anvil's Legacy update in September of 2016.[3]
References
- The base Targetmaster skin's description notes that "Spartan steel is made of sterner stuff". This is a reference to 1986's The Transformers: The Movie, during which Optimus muses that he thought Megatron was "made of sterner stuff", after a long battle leaving both severely battered.
- The Str8 Rippin skin set's descriptions are references to Tom "Tsquared" Taylor, a prominent member of the team who featured in multiple G4 video segments which spawned the skin's descriptions.