Halo Wars Concept Art

I thought there was another thread on this, but it may have been on another site.. Also looks like everything that was presented before has been consolidated in this thread.. all this stuff looks great!!



I also thought it was especially hilarious that Serena the AI started off really skanky haha.

Also think that the Mk. IV spartans are more badass than before.. something about their armour being older and more antiquated is so cool.



Quick question though, wanted to ask this before but had nowhere to ask: I thought one of the upgrades from Mk.V to Mk.VI was that the computer could track dual wielded weapons? So how is it that the Mk.IV Spartans can dual wielded SMG's? Just curious is all.



All this artwork is wonderful! Thanks for putting it all together.

jareyes said:

I thought there was another thread on this, but it may have been on another site.. Also looks like everything that was presented before has been consolidated in this thread.. all this stuff looks great!!



I also thought it was especially hilarious that Serena the AI started off really skanky haha.

Also think that the Mk. IV spartans are more badass than before.. something about their armour being older and more antiquated is so cool.



Quick question though, wanted to ask this before but had nowhere to ask: I thought one of the upgrades from Mk.V to Mk.VI was that the computer could track dual wielded weapons? So how is it that the Mk.IV Spartans can dual wielded SMG's? Just curious is all.



All this artwork is wonderful! Thanks for putting it all together.

Click to expand...

Information from the wiki:



Mark I Prototype Exoskeleton

The Mark I Exoskeletons were one of the Navy's first experiments with powered exoskeletons. The Mark I battle armor was a bulky titanium exoskeleton that improved the strength and stamina of the user's muscles. A user could lift two tons (4,000 pounds) and run at 32 KPH (19.88 MPH). The armor was nearly impervious to standard light weapons. It could mount a 30mm mini-gun that fired on self-targeting armatures. It could also be equipped with motion sensors and infrared scopes. The armor used a hydraulic system for movement. The downfall to this system was that the device consumed enormous amounts of energy, so it required a connection to a fusion generator which hindered movement or the use of inefficient broadcast power, and was thus never seen in battle. It was, however, later used to carry heavy equipment in docking bays, and dozens of others were dumped into Reach's titanium mines.



The Mark I Prototype Exoskeleton was also used by trainers to protect them when training Spartan IIs under Chief Petty Officer Mendez's orders. Otherwise, the training may have killed those trainers, as evidenced by the first day back at Reach when three trainers were accidentally killed during hand to hand combat exercises[4]. Dr. Halsey's team scrapped this concept and redesigned the battle armor from the ground up for Project: MJOLNIR.[5]



Mark II Prototype

The Mark II battle armor utilized a dramatically slimmed-down profile, but still required a tethered connection to a fusion reactor for power.



Mark III Prototype

The next prototype, the Mark III, incorporated a wireless power transmitter and receiver so that power could be transmitted directly to it, much like the Orbital Defense Platforms used to defend UNSC colonies. This design was quickly rejected for two reasons: first, the main reason being that the armor still had a limited operational range as it had to remain within range of a bulky, immobile generator, and second, the destruction of the generator would result in the incapacitation of the unit. In the end however, all of the first three prototypes had one thing in common: They were impractical on the battlefield, as large exoskeleton units did not have a substantial use in any form of combat. While the Cyclops Powered Exoskeleton has many design similarities to the early MJOLNIR, it was developed separately by the Marine Corps and eventually abandoned.



MJOLNIR Mark IV

Halo Wars Spartan in a MJOLNIR Mk. IV."You're the only ones who can use them, Petty Officer. Who else could we give them to?"

—Dr.Halsey

Although the earlier attempts at developing high-powered armor produced designs that were impractical for battlefield deployment, Dr. Halsey's MJOLNIR Project would soon change that. The Mark IV was a radical redesign of the suit, taking advantage of many technological innovations. Developed and tested at the Damascus Testing Facility on Chi Ceti IV, this battle suit was the first to feature full integration with the user's body. The suit plugged directly into the user's neural network through a standard issue Neural Interface. The suit's many functions utilized the user's thoughts for commands, greatly speeding up the user's movements and reflexes. Its normal color is olive green.



This was also the first design to successfully utilize the reactive metal liquid crystal layer as a means of enhancing locomotion. It enhanced the speed and power of the wearer, a sharp contrast to previous versions, which required powered motors to allow the user's mobility. Because of this advancement, the design more closely resembled an actual suit of armor, as opposed to a powered exoskeleton; the user moved the suit, and in return the suit moved the user. This allowed for an incredibly compact design when compared to the previous incarnations. The success of this version was also dependent upon the parallel development of the Spartan-II program, which produced troops with the physical capabilities required to drive the system.



The Mark IV armor contained an integrated computer system which continuously monitors weapons, biological functions, and motion through intelligent motion-sensing radar. The suit was airtight, hardened against vacuum, and featured air-filtration systems as well as a built-in oxygen re-breather system that could last for up to 90 minutes. The suit's helmet also featured a standard UNSC mounted flashlight with its own separate power supply. Concealed side compartments in the upper thigh plates allowed the user to holster a sidearm.





A member of Spartan Gray Team wearing the Mark IV armor.In combat situations with the Covenant the Mark IV could only take a few shots from Covenant Plasma Weapons before failing, even with a refractive coat to help disperse energy attacks. The Mark IV still could not overcome the major problem of keeping its user safe.



The suit also had a number of other features, including recoil-compensating actuators, hydrostatic gel to regulate and monitor temperature and dampen impact force, and biofoam injectors. However, the biofoam injectors and medical care systems of the Mark IV had to be provided with a direct supply of biofoam, medicines, and stimulants from a standard Marine first aid kit when the user was injured, as the suit would not hold or generate a supply of medicines and biofoam, unlike the Mark VI. Another feature introduced, and applied to later versions, was magnetic soles on the suit's boots that allowed the wearer to stand on a high moving metal object, such as a ship's hull. The suit however did not accommodate magnetic plating to hold weapons and equipment.[6] Also, the suit was able to automatically pressurize to compensate for the addition of or lack of gravity as a life-saving mechanism. It was this function that Rebels took advantage of via the use of anti gravity plates.



The Mark IV Assault armor was fielded from November 27th, 2525[7] to August 29th, 2552, when it was replaced by MJOLNIR Mark V armor. Strangely, the Mark IV worn by the other SPARTAN-II's is different from that worn by Gray Team in color, which itself is gray. This is likely to differentiate them from the other SPARTANs, considering this team stands out even among other SPARTAN-II's.







MJOLNIR Mark V

The Mark V armor as it appears in Halo: Combat Evolved."This - is everything I had always dreamed it could be"

—Dr.Halsey

The newer Mark V replaced the Mark IV Assault Armor the day prior to the Covenant assault on Reach in 2552, though it was first produced in 2542. The Mark V was the realization of Dr. Halsey's vision. It had hundreds of minor technical improvements over the Mark IV as well as two major modifications. It could hold an Artificial Intelligence and had energy shields.



The Mark V was powered by a larger fusion pack than the Mark IV. This was necessary due to the fact that the Mark V had an integrated dynamic, self-recharging, energy shielding system, built using captured Covenant technology similar to those used by Elites, but designed from captured Jackal energy shields that repels mass objects and energy bursts. While impacts on the shield place a substantial drain on the system's power supply, the system's energy regenerates quickly once the user is no longer under fire. However, the process of adapting the shield to cover the entire body weakened the energy field, making the Mark V's shield system vulnerable to ballistic fire, unlike Jackal shields, which are nearly impervious to ballistic weaponry. This was unfortunate, as Flood Combat Forms frequently use UNSC weaponry. The armor was made up of layers of dense material and the outside was treated with an energy-absorbing coating that could ablate when under intense fire. It should also be mentioned that it is fairly better protected from plasma weaponry than ballistic.



In addition, the Mark V featured a weave of memory-processor super-conducting material, the same material as an AI's core beneath its armor. This gave the suit nearly the same capacity as a ship-borne AI system. This along with an upgrade to the standard-issue neural implant, allowed an A.I to inhabit the suit of armor and interface with the mind of its user, greatly enhancing the interface between the suit and the wearer as well as boosting real-time data processing power, which was intended to assist the user in real-time by monitoring communication channels, computer relays, and friendly combat updates. The A.I could translate thought into motion quickly, thus boosting the reaction time. Since, without the armor, a SPARTAN's reaction time is charted at twenty milliseconds, the AI boost could render it almost instantaneous. The A.I could "use" the person in who's suit they were installed as "memory." The AI can use some of the human's wet-ware biological processing for some of its functions.



The Mark V also has a sensor range of 15 meters



The MJOLNIR Mark V, along with its successor, the Mark VI, are equipped with magnetic pads placed throughout the suit, on the belt, thighs and back. This allows the user of the MJOLNIR suit to attach weapons, grenades, tank mines or a HAVOK Tactical Nuclear Weapon if the situation demands the use of it.



Extra components were developed for the Mark V, to which the remnants of the Spartan II Red Team on Reach added to their armor.



John-117 was the first Spartan to test the MJOLNIR Mark V. His test was to ring a bell after going through an obstacle course. This course involved 10 Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, a minefield with Lotus Anti-Tank Mines, three automated 30mm chainguns, a forest of wooden poles, and a Skyhawk Aircraft utilizing four 50mm cannons and Scorpion Anti-Tank Missiles. This test showed that AI’s could improve the armor's reaction times.



The lethality of the system was demonstrated by John-117, when he and the AI Cortana successfully fought their way across a planet-like, artificial ring-world called Halo.



In Halo 3 multiplayer, the Mark V armor has been upgraded to be compatible with all Mark VI MJOLNIR armor. The helmet is featured as one of the permutations. The chest is not available, but a very similar variant comes under the name EOD



Mark V had the shortest time period where it was used: from August 29, 2552 to October 20, 2552 when it was replaced by the new Mark VI.



MJOLNIR Mark VI

The MJOLNIR Mark VI as it appears in Halo 2.

Mark VI armor in Halo 3."Well, I guess it was all obsolete anyway. Your new suit's a Mark VI, just came up from Songnam this morning"

—Master Gunns

The Mark VI was first tested by Maria-062 in Songnam, Korea. She survived a battle against a squad of ODSTs, and after that the armor was approved for battle it was sent to John-117 in Cairo Station on October 20, 2552.



The Mark VI battle armor addressed some of the weaknesses of the earlier models. The energy shielding system recharged significantly faster and was notably stronger. There were a number of lights implemented into the armor plating to help indicate the current status of the energy shield. The lights would flicker rapidly when the shields were down and would glow brightly for the duration of the recharge time. The armor plating, while less bulky, was more dense, therefore offering as much if not more protection than previous models. The suit was more streamlined than the Mark V, eliminating a number of grapple points that an enemy could use in close-quarters battle. This version of the armor could track the status of two active weapons at the same time, and also included a visual magnification system, allowing the user to see distant objects with ease.



It seems that before John-117's activities in the First Battle of Earth, an improved reactive metal liquid crystal layer had been developed for this suit, increasing the mobility of the Spartan even further, although this has yet to be confirmed. However, this claim may be reinforced by evidence such as faster melee attacks in Halo 2 Campaign, slightly faster jumping speed, and increased jump height. John-117's physical performance appeared to have improved considerably.



The armor was also capable of healing minor to moderate injuries over a course of time, due to a regenerative on board supply of Biofoam, which was automatically injected into the wearer's body, filling and sealing wounds, but causing extreme pain. This new capability eliminated the need to manually apply a medkit or seek a field medic in order to tend to injuries. The Biofoam effectively treats all but the most critical wounds, and its use was capable of stabilizing the user and allowing him to perform his duties even while injured until such a time as more extensive medical attention was possible. It is also likely that the suit was capable of automatically increasing the pressure level of its hydrostatic gel as the user was falling, explaining the lack of fall damage in Halo 2. According to the Halo 3 intro cinematic, the Mark VI also included a "lockdown" mode where the suit retained a rigid form upon sustaining heavy trauma, most likely to avoid further injury. This also explains why a player's dead body gets 'stuck' in one stance when splattered.



John-117 is the only confirmed active SPARTAN-II to receive the full Mark VI armor in-game. Fred-104, Linda-058 and Will-043 may have been refitted with Mark VI armor once they returned to Earth after the events of Halo: First Strike.



The MJOLNIR is an adaptable suit of armor with many variations and modifications available, optimizing it for certain functions. The Mark VI armor experienced graphical changes between Halo 2 and Halo 3. These changes appear to be purely aesthetic in nature and have no canon explanation.

Awsome pics!

This is the stuff you wish came with the legendary edition... -___-

Ah well, thats life

Well now that's all just unreasonably pretty. *drools*

Those Spartan renders should be essential for anyone who's working on Mk. IV pep armor.



Good find!

One of the minor things I can't stand about Halo Wars is the fact that the Spartans don't look like they're wearing Mk IV armor, but like Mk V.5 or something. It doesn't look like it came before the Mk V, more like in-between V and VI...you see what I'm saying?

Plus, in the game the Spartans have energy shields when it clearly says the Mk V was the first to employ this technology...hmmm

Ronster said:

One of the minor things I can't stand about Halo Wars is the fact that the Spartans don't look like they're wearing Mk IV armor, but like Mk V.5 or something. It doesn't look like it came before the Mk V, more like in-between V and VI...you see what I'm saying?

Plus, in the game the Spartans have energy shields when it clearly says the Mk V was the first to employ this technology...hmmm

Click to expand...

It looks like that because Bungie didn't have the graphical abilities that Ensemble had when this game came out, when they released Halo: CE back in 2001. Also, Ensemble has said that the inclusion of shields are in gameplay only and are there to simply enhance gameplay.

To be honest the armor is exactly like the description on Dr. Halsy's design remember the suite showed a lot of inner workings while nower armor permutation hid those workings and were even made smaller so there were no visuals for better combat. Thats why when i made the MARK IV and MARK V i compared them to se the difference and in their final forms the high detailed MARK V shows its literally upgraded from the previews form so its kinda amazing how it really shows how in the future something like this is possible and btw even though its off topic there's talk about planetary colonization so maybe halo could be real who knows