Halo 4 Armor Unlocks Guide: Armor Sets, Visors, Stances

Halo 4 Armor Unlocks

Halo 4 offers a host of customizability options for players to create their own distinct Spartan in the game’s multiplayer modes, otherwise known as Infinity Multiplayer. As you earn experience points in multiplayer and gain Spartan Ranks (SR), you’ll be able to unlock new pieces of armor for which to bedeck your character. 

Gaining ranks isn’t the only way to earn new armor however, as you’ll also be given the opportunity to unlock new pieces of armor by getting Commendations. These range from completing the game’s single-player campaign on Legendary mode, to becoming a “Master” at the various multiplayer modes. 

Completing Specializations will also allow you to unlock new pieces of armor. 

Finally, pre-ordering the game from various outlets like GameStop and Bestbuy, or picking up the Limited Edition of the game will also earn you certain types of armors. 

If you’re wondering what you need to do to unlock the various armors in Halo 4, we’ve compiled a guide based on information provided by 343 Industries via its updates on the Halo Waypoint, this reddit thread and the game itself. The details in the list (sans images) were compiled by Cliffhangerzero on reddit with the aid of the site's Halo community. 

Visors

In addition to these visors, you will unlock two-tone visor colors by completing each Specialization

Visor Recruit (Blue) : Starting visor
Visor Solar (Red) - Rank up to SR-20
Visor Frost (White) : Rank up to SR-29
Visor Midnight (Black) : Rank up to SR-46
Visor Legendary (Gold) : Complete the campaign on Legendary (Solo or Co-op)
Visor Blindside (Dark Red) : Avenger Master
Visor Cyan (Light Blue) : From the Brink Master
Visor Verdant (Green) : Splatter Master
Visor Sunspot (Purple & Blue) : Assistant Master

Stances

Recruit : Starting stance
Heroic : Rank up to SR-10
Assassin : Rank up to SR-32
Last Stand : Rank up to SR-50
Breach : UNSC Weapons Master
Standoff : Covenant Ordnance Mastery
Believe : Forerunner Ordnance Mastery
Assault : First Strike Master

Ranks

Recruit : Starting armor
Warrior : Rank up to SR-8
Air Assault : Rank up to SR-11
Soldier : Rank up to SR-15
Aviator : Rank up to SR-17
Defender : Rank up to SR-21
Recon : Rank up to SR-26
E.V.A. : Rank up to SR-27
Warmaster : Rank up to SR-37
Scout : Rank up to SR-38
Orbital : Rank up to SR-41
Infiltrator : Rank up to SR-42
Hazop : Rank up to SR-43
E.O.D. : Rank up to SR-45
Oceanic : Rank up to SR-47
Enforcer : Rank up to SR-50

You can discover how to unlock armor based on Specializations, Commendations, and Limited Edition/Pre-Order Bonuses in the next slides. 

Specializations

Specializations become available to you once you reach the max level (50), at which point you can select a specialization to level up to 10. As you gain levels in a specialization, you will earn a variety of unlocks. Each specialization contains an armor set, a skin, a weapon skin, a custom visor color, and a specialization ability. Once you max out a specialization, you can choose another specialization to level up in.

Wetwork : Specialization
Pioneer : Specialization
Engineer : Specialization
Tracker : Specialization
Rogue : Specialization
Stalker : Specialization
Pathfinder : Specialization
Operator : Specialization

Commendations

Commendations are basically achievements you'll have to earn within the game itself—either in single-player or multiplayer depending on their prerequisites.  You can track your commendations from the player menu where you can choose your loadout and armor. Every commendation has several ranks, with Master as the final rank.

Mark VI : Complete the campaign on Legendary (Solo or Co-op)
Commando : Dominion Victory Master
Gungnir : Slayer Victory Master
C.I.O. : Spartan Slayer Master
Ranger : Combat Opportunity Master
Venator : Assassin Master
Protector : UNSC Loadout Master
E.V.A. BRCH : Hail of Death Master
Infiltrator TRAC : Multikill Master
Defender CTRL : Bullet in the Brain Master
Soldier ZNTH : Spartan Spree Master
Recon Surge : Covenant Loadout Master
Warrior Matrix : Forerunner Loadout Master
Enforcer Tribal : Turret Master
Protector Drift : Weapon Master
Orbital AEON : Covenant Destroyer
Aviator Bond : Wheelman Master
Air Assault Verg :Vehicle Master
Venator Raptor : Backstab Master
Soldier Zenith : Spartan Spree Master
Ranger STRK : Protector Master
EOD Shadow : Hail to the king Master
Vanguard Converge : Flag Victory Master
Scout APEX : Oddball Victory Master
Commando FRCT : Flood Victory Master
Contoured Arms CHVR : Perfection Master
Recruit Legs Tiger : Exterminator Master
Twin-Plated AEON : Close Quarters Master
Contoured Legs CHVR : Payback Master

Limited Edition / Pre-Order Bonuses

These armor sets are available to players who pre-order their copy of Halo 4 from a specific outlet, own the Limited Edition of Halo 4, or purchase the War Games Map Pass.

Raider : Halo Waypoint Classified Unlock
Strider : War Games Map Pass or Limited Edition Halo 4
Scanner : War Games Map Pass or Limited Edition Halo 4
Recruit PRIME : Limited Edition Halo 4
FOTUS : Limited Edition Halo Xbox
Hazop FRST : Pre-order from Gamestop
Vernator Raptor : Pre-order from BestBuy / Mighty Ape
Oceanic CIRCUIT : Pre-order from Walmart
C.I.O. WEB : Pre-order from Amazon
Gungnir Pulse : Pre-order from MS Store / Mighty Ape
Deadeye : Pre-order from BestBuy / Play.com
Locus : Pre-order from Future Shop / Mighty Ape or Play Mountain Dew King of the Hill iPhone app game