The goal of this series of articles is to try to pair the helmets down to roughly 50 returning in Halo Infinite. I feel that number of helmets is PLENTY. Mind you, these might not line up with the armor series of articles. Meaning, I may have helmets without armor and vice versa. That’s quite deliberate as I feel some helmets look great while their armor doesn’t and again, vice versa, some armor looks great but their corresponding helmets do not.

I’ve been wanting to write these articles for awhile now. As we start to edge closer to more news about Halo Infinite, it’s time we discuss what helmets (and armor, in another series of articles I’m writing) will return.

There are some helmets that definitely have their place, some that are marginal and could be considered for returning or not, some that shouldn’t return for various reasons and a few that well…should never see the light again, LOL.

That said, I do realize that real people put in work to make these. So I try to take a light approach with helmets I’m not fond of. We are as humans though given to having varied opinions and these are mine. So they aren’t meant to be taken as the “word of Halo”.

There are more than 100 unique helmets in Halo 5 Guardians, not including skins. As such, I’ve split this subject into three articles. I’m not including the skinned versions of helmets as skins can relatively easily be changed. This topic is more about the form and functionality of the helmets themselves than their skins.

With so many helmets in Halo 5 Guardians, I felt the need to divide these up into some basic categories. These being:

• Astronaut Types
• Bungie Era Types
• Character Types
• Large Visor Types
• Medium Visor Types
• No or Limited Visor Types
• Thin Visor Types

Part 1 will cover “Astronaut”, Bungie Era, and named Character helmets. 

To be clear, there are many other helmets in Halo beyond Halo 5. Mostly from the Bungie games and some from Halo 4. I’m not including those in these articles. This is specifically for Halo 5 helmets (and armor to follow).

There may be some overlap of what helmets might have fit into other categories. Just go with it folks…LOL.

Each helmet will be given my vote of RETURN (bring back in Halo Infinite), GONE (do NOT bring back in Halo Infinite), and UNSURE (though there will likely be very few of these)

Okay, let’s get started.

Astronaut Type Helmets:
For obvious reasons, I’m calling this category Astronaut due to most having the large rounded helmet with very large rounded visor that resembles today’s astronauts.

There’s been a lot of discussion of the several varied helmets in this category. On the whole, the vocal community seems to say there are too many. I concur.

The Buccaneer helmet is probably the closest to today’s modern Astronaut helmet. While it’s look is clean, it’s a bit dated for a game that takes place 500 years in the future.
GONE

Ah, the classic EVA helmet from Halo. Yes, this could have been in the Bungie Era helmets category. However, since I made a category that is specifically for large rounded helmets/visors, I just had to include this one here. As this IS the classic helmet of round and large visors and to this day remains popular, I’m definitely in the crowd for it returning.
RETURN

This is 343’s version of the classic EVA helmet. It’s decent. However, i think the lines on the visor are unnecessary and the large rounded objects on the side of the helmet should be smaller. For these reasons, I vote GONE.

I’m not quite sure what the black portion of the visor is supposed to be. Therein lies the biggest problem with this helmet. It’s similar enough to the EVA that it’s really not needed.
GONE

While I know this is popular with the toy manufacturer Mega Construx, who makes a lot of fun Halo toys, Orbital is again another helmet that is too much like EVA that it really needn’t be included in the next game.
GONE

Now, while I dismissed the lines of the 343 revised EVA visor, here with the Strider helmet, I like them. They make more sense and this helmet is most certainly different enough from the other helmets in the Astronaut category to warrant inclusion in the next game.
RETURN

Okay, this is a special helmet. You can only get it through using Forge for a specific amount of time. So it has some meaning behind it. That said, it’s kind of goofy and doesn’t feel like a Halo helmet to me. So this is one of the rare UNSURE votes.

The very bulbous nature of the visor just says to me “shoot me here!” I’m not much of a fan of the rest of the helmet either. So this is an easy pass for me.
GONE

The lower portion of the helmet has some good design to it. It’s that wider upper portion, that I’m not fond of. I rarely see this in matchmaking, which tells me it’s not so popular. SO for those reasons..
GONE 

Bungie Era Helmets:
I’m a little surprised 343 didn’t include more Bungie era helmets into the mix. I hope more are included in Infinite. As these relative few listed below are the only ones they put into Halo 5, they are the only ones I’m commenting on, for now. (Though I still want Hayabusa!)

A take on the KAT helmet from Reach. It’s a good looking helmet and most certainly needs to RETURN.

The CQB helmet was my favorite of Halo 3. It’s got a partial football helmet look and a smidge of Boba Fett going on. Definitely a classic that should RETURN.

Often referred to as the Stormtrooper helmet, the thin visor and protruding jaw attachments give this helmet a great look. It’s a must have!
RETURN

I like this helmet and used it a bit in Reach. That said, I do not see it much if at all in Matchmaking. It pains me to say, but this one shouldn’t return.
GONE

Another classic Reach helmet, the Pilot helmet has extra meaning as it’s the base helmet used for the “Haunted” version. It’s large visor makes sense along with the added protective device at the top of the helmet.
RETURN

“Can I haz Recon” was the line of the day back in Halo 3. That has since worn off. While this is a good helmet, 343’s more modern version is better, IMO. So the classic doesn’t need to return.
GONE

Now this isn’t quite the original like Bungie made. But it’s a good representation. It’s a solid design that doesn’t see much use in Halo 5. I’m unsure about this one, but definitely lean towards RETURN.

Character Helmets:
This is to say helmets modeled after named characters in Halo games. By their very nature of being the helmet of a named character, you’d think these should all return. And in fact, I agree with that for the most part. However, there are some exceptions. Read on.

Linda’s helmet. It’s a very different design with all of those attachments. But it’s SO unique. As a member of Blue team, Linda’s helmet has been elevated to a position of prominence.
RETURN

Fred’s helmet. I like this design in almost every way. The only thing I’d change is the top of the helmets. That mohawk/fin, whatever you want to call it, is a tad large. Perhaps making that a bit smaller would help. Regardless, this is a must to RETURN.

Vale’s helmet. I must admit, it IS unique. However, in this case, that’s NOT a good thing. Too pointy at the chin while too bulbous at the top. Those jaw fins look out of place too. Vale isn’t a popular character. Unless Fireteam Osiris makes an appearance in Halo Infinite, I’d say this is an easy pass.
GONE

Ugh, 343, what did you do to Noble Six’s helmet? The visor is way off and the helmet feels stunted. If 343 goes back and makes this much more like the Reach version, then include it in Infinite. However, if they keep it as this version then no…it’s got to be GONE.

Again, 343 took an already awesome helmet in the ODST helmet and changed it. Sigh. Many a discussion has been had regarding change for change sake. This version seems to look droopy and emote sad at the same time. The original ODST helmet is do classic and iconic to the franchise that it didn’t need fuddling with. Another case of if it resembles the more classic version bring it to Infinite. If it stays this way and again if Osiris isn’t in Infinite, then it’s got to be GONE. Yes, I realize that may bring some ire to folks who love ODSTs. But ask yourselves, is this really the BEST representation of that helmet?

Now, while the Hermes helmet could have easily been in the Astronaut category, since it’s Kelly’s helmet, it needed to be in the Character category instead. The visor bears a strong resemblance to 343’s EVA. Gone though are the large round protrusions from the side of the helmet. It’s hard to see in the graphic above, but the visor is somewhat pointed in the front. That’s just not practical. I’d like to see a bit of reworking for this helmet. Not much, just smooth out the visor some and reduce some of the lines on it. Still, as it’s a member of Blue Team’s helmet, it needs to RETURN.

Spartan Locke…The character brought a lot of mixed feelings to Halo fans. Most I know and have spoken with are not fans of him. Still, the helmet itself is a good design. I think it fits into Halo nicely. Even if Osiris isn’t features in Infinite, I wouldn’t mind seeing this helmet RETURN.

Ah, Jorge…How I miss you buddy. Jorge from Noble Team in Halo Reach was my absolute favorite Spartan in that game and is only second to Master Chief for me in the franchise. The helmet/armor was called Gungnir in Reach. I don’t really care what the name of it is. I NEED this to return. It has a lot of the classic lines of Halo helmets of old.
RETURN RETURN RETURN!

Ket’s helmet has become a mainstay I’d say. It’s simple design fits with many armors. It must make a RETURN.

Mark IV, V, VI…I’d be run out of town or kicked off the planet if I voted against any of these. As it were, these are too iconic to say no to anyway. So yes, they all need to RETURN.

I really like Carter’s helmet. It so neatly fits into Halo. Classic mid to large sized visor, rounded helmet, jaw accoutrements.
RETURN

Hoya from Fireteam Majestic of Halo 4 wears this helmet. It’s somewhat of a take on the Security helmet of old. Decent design that has classic lines.
RETURN

Tedra Grant of Fireteam Majestic wears Pathfinder. It’s an odd angular design. That “T” visor speaks power to me. I’m a little unsure of this one, but definitely lean towards RETURN.

By far, this was one of 343’s better modernization of Bungie’s classic helmets. Spartan Madsen of Majestic utilizes it as part of his sniper repertoire. This is a definite RETURN, imo.

I often feel like this is the Spartan version of the ODST helmet.I even started writing a fan fic about this at one time. Though never published it. As this is the base helmet for all of Infinity’s Spartans in the Halo 4 campaign as well as Gabriel Thorne’s from Majestic, this definitely needs to come back.
RETURN

I like the angles of this helmet. That it belongs to Commander Sarah Palmer, a divisive character, is an aside. The helmet looks great, so it’s a must RETURN for me.

Soldier is the helmet worn by Spartan DeMarco. Yeah, he was a smart-ass in Halo 4, but finally came around. He even died a hero’s death in the Halo comics from Dark Horse. As far as I’m concerned, this is already a classic Halo helmet. That it belongs to a named character just adds to it. RETURN

While Holly Tanaka, the Spartan who wears this helmet, isn’t popular (which is a shame as I like the character), the helmet is a very SOLID design. I most certainly feel it needs to RETURN.

This is Jun’s “Recon” helmet from Halo Reach. Love this design. Jun to this day remains a popular character too. So it’s got to RETURN!

Anyone want to tell Emile his helmet can’t return? I didn’t think so!
RETURN
Seriously though, it’s such a bad ass looking version of the EVA helmet.

So let’s recap for those of you playing along at home. Below shows which I think should RETURN, be GONE, and I’m UNSURE of:

RETURN

GONE

UNSURE

Come back tomorrow for Part 2, where I’ll discuss large and medium visor types, which should return, which should go, any I’m unsure of, and why.

-Sal