HRUNTING Mark III (B) Exoskeleton

Cyclops

The HRUNTING Mark III [B] Exoskeleton, also known as Cyclops, is a bipedal exoskeleton used by the UNSC Marine Corps during the early years of the Human-Covenant war. Based on Mark III Exoskeletons, the B variant was built for primarily non-combat military roles but has found uses in other, more unorthodox ways.

Overview
After initially launching the Mark III line of exoskeletons in 2510, the Office of Naval Intelligence eventually scrapped plans for the armor and turned their efforts towards Project MJOLNIR. However in 2513 the research team working at Weapons Research Facility T12A on Algolis, working on a separate project known as HRUNTING, evaluated the Mark III units and created the improved [B] variant called "Cyclops."

These one-man operated power suits, running off of a nuclear energy supply, could run for long periods doing menial tasks such as construction, transportation, terraforming and dock work. However, Cyclopes have been fielded in combat situations repairing damaged vehicles and, even more rarely, engaging in the destruction of enemy materiel and fortifications.

Cyclopes served aboard the UNSC Spirit of Fire in 2531 and took part in engagements with the Covenant on multiple worlds. Parts of the Cyclops' technology would also be used by the Algolis group in the creation of a more advanced prototype armor known as HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL.

Cyclops-II
In Adrift there is a Cyclops-II being made in the center of the map, it is not the Mantis.

Development
Originally, Ensemble had designed the unit as a canon-accurate MJOLNIR Mark I suit, but deemed it too visually similar to the Spartans to easily distinguish at a glance, something that is very important in a heated battlefield. The Cyclops was therefore rebuilt from the ground-up as a unique unit, both larger and bulkier than the MJOLNIR Mark IV the Spartans wear. During at least one point in development the Cyclops lacked the reflective visor, instead having only a bare crash cage over the wearer.

Part of the fanbase reacted poorly to the Cyclops; enough to garner a response from the development team.

The Halo Wars Cyclops is based on the Cyclops unit from Ensemble Studios game Age of Mythology, an actual Cyclops, which was similarly a large unit that dealt heavy melee damage. Even their alternate attacks are similar - when its bar has charged, the AoM Cyclops will lift a nearby infantry unit and hurl it at the enemy forces for additional damage. Pressing Y on the Halo Wars Cyclops will allow it to tear a vehicle apart, and hurl the chunks at enemy forces in a similar manner.

Combat
In combat, the Cyclops inflicts heavy melee damage, using its powerful arms, once used to carry heavy machinery and equipment, to deal devastating blows against enemy units and structures. It also possesses the ability to tear apart a destroyed vehicle and throw the pieces further at any other unit, including air units which they have no other offensive option on. If upgraded, the Cyclops can repair nearby vehicles and buildings. It costs 125 resource units and a tech level of one. Takes up one population cap. Has two upgrades:
 * "Repair Kit", which allows the Cyclops to repair buildings and mechanized units. The upgrade costs 400 resource units and requires a tech level of two.
 * "High-Torque Joint" which improves its movement speed. The upgrade costs 900 resource units and requires a tech level of three.

Although the Cyclops has heavy melee damage, when faced against multiple infantry squads it is weak, so it is advised that you back up the Cyclops with Warthogs and/or Marines. Unless it is holding an object it can throw, it is completely useless against air units, such as Banshees. Note that the Cyclops does heal buildings and vehicles, but it cannot heal infantry and airborne units. It also plays a significant role the twelfth campaign mission of Halo Wars because they are the only units that can repair the power core of the UNSC Spirit of Fire.

The Cyclops is available only if Sergeant John Forge is the leader.

Trivia

 * To date, the Cyclops is, along with the Gremlin, the only UNSC ground vehicle named after a mythological creature, unlike other vehicles which are usually named after real animals and creatures.
 * When used against infantry, the Cyclops will do "finishing moves" against weakened squads, such as breaking their necks or throwing them.
 * If the Y ability is used on an infantry unit and deals enough damage to kill a member, it will pick it up and can throw it.
 * The exoskeletal suits in the hit sci-fi film Avatar resemble the Cyclops.
 * A Cyclops can repair Covenant vehicles in addition to UNSC, as long as they are on the same team.
 * The back of the Cyclops has a glitch where the player can see right through it.
 * The Cyclops was a one-eyed giant in Greek mythology.
 * The Cyclops resembles the SCV from the Starcraft Series. Both are mechanized suits designed for construction which have been forced into combat situations. The only differences being that the SCV is faster due to thrusters built into the suit, and isn't anywhere near as effective in combat.

List of appearances

 * Halo Wars 
 * Halo 4