We're talking purely about Spartans in MJOLNIR Mark IV. That variant did not possess energy shields. While it was [b]WAY[/b] more durable than your standard Marine BDU, it still couldn't take direct hits from plasma-based weaponry. If it weren't for the Spartans having a ridiculously high pain tolerance, MJOLNIR Mark IV users would likely either fall unconscious from pain or die from shock caused by a single direct hit from a plasma discharge. All of the examples you provided were of Spartans wearing later MJOLNIR variants that possessed energy shields and had been modified to better withstand plasma-based weaponry. And your final comment about the Chief's assassination of Regret is just really bad. Chief was utilizing MJOLNIR Mark VI, along with an onboard "smart" AI, and possessed far more experience with Covenant tactics than Red Team would have had only 6 years into the war. Also, you've said it yourself. Gameplay =/= Canon. Look, I don't deny that Spartans were far superior to any normal human soldier. But for a team of only three of them in Mark IV armor to survive against a massive number of Sangheili soldiers using melee weapons in a small area that early into the war is nothing short of complete bullshit.

[quote]We're talking purely about Spartans in MJOLNIR Mark IV. That variant did not possess energy shields. While it was WAY more durable than your standard Marine BDU, it still couldn't take direct hits from plasma-based weaponry.[/quote]Yet it could and did. [quote]All of the examples you provided were of Spartans wearing later MJOLNIR variants that possessed energy shields and had been modified to better withstand plasma-based weaponry.[/quote]MJOLNIR Mk V's differences are minor logistical tweaks, a neural docking station, and energy shields. Otherwise, it is nearly functionally and visually identical to MJOLNIR Mk IV. My example from Reach is when Noble 6's shields are down. [quote]Chief was utilizing MJOLNIR Mark VI, along with an onboard "smart" AI, and possessed far more experience with Covenant tactics than Red Team would have had only 6 years into the war.[/quote]Chief wasn't dealing with tactical maneuvers, he was dealing with highly skilled Sangheili who were charging him with energy swords in CQC while under suppressive fire from surrounding infantry as well as Regret's gravity cannon. [quote]Gameplay =/= Canon.[/quote]That is correct, but in this instance you're contorting its meaning to apply to story elements. Enemy presence, location, and scripted sequences are canon. Gameplay refers to the mechanics, such as how the player moves, what the player can do, how much damage weapons do. Same goes for the enemies. [quote] But for a team of only three of them in Mark IV armor to survive against a massive number of Sangheili soldiers using melee weapons in a small area that early into the war is nothing short of complete bullshit.[/quote]Spartans were not created to be lone wolf soldiers. They were designed to function in tightly knit and cohesive teams capable of tackling objectives that are not normal. When Spartans are in a team, they're at they're best. You're also treating six years of experience that a Spartan has as if it's nothing. Even then, there isn't an infinite level prowess you can achieve there's going to be a limit.. We're talking about soldiers with reaction times so fast, they can't be measured using normal equipment. Meaning that limit is going to be reached incredibly fast by a Spartan. Previous combat encounters in Halo Wars are arguably more deadly than what was encountered on the Apex. After all this though, you proved my point anyway. If you claim a Spartan team shouldn't have survived the encounter at the Apex (even though they did it unscathed), what's a bunch of marines going to do in their place? If we go by your logic, the marines would fail even harder, meaning that Spartans would be needed to even have a chance at succeeding, therefore meaning that without Spartans, the Covenant war would have been significantly shorter.

Alright!!! You win! Happy? Frankly, I just wanted to prove that the Spartans are far from invincible. Especially in the early years of the war. Mark IV was designed specifically for fighting Insurrectionists, so it was ill-equipped to withstand Covenant weaponry. And your comment about how Mark IV could survive direct hits from the aforementioned weaponry is incorrect. Yes, the operator could potentially survive a hit or two, but the armor? Absolutely not. Structural integrity is completely ruined, EVA capabilities are eliminated, etc. If getting really horribly and irreparably damaged is your definition of surviving, then you may want to rethink it.

[quote]And your comment about how Mark IV could survive direct hits from the aforementioned weaponry is incorrect.[/quote]You have a source for this? Because right now the only one you've been citing, the instance with Sam contradicts this. [quote]"Sam dove forward and knocked John out of the blast's path; the energy burst caught Sam in the side. The reflective coating of his MJOLNIR armor flared. He fell, clutching his side, but managed to fire his weapon. John and Kelly rolled on their backs and sprayed gunfire at the creature. Bullets peppered the alien - each one bounced and ricocheted off the energy shield. John glanced at his ammo counter - half gone. 'Keep firing,' he ordered. The alien kept up a stream of answer fire - energy blasts hammered into Sam, who fell to the deck, his weapon empty." "'I'm okay,' Sam said, holding his side and grimacing. 'Just a little singed.' The reflective coating on his armor was blackened." "He turned and showed them the burn in the side of his suit. There was a hole the size of his fist, and beneath that, the skin was blackened and cracked."[/quote][i]-Pages 145-146, Chapter 14, Halo: The Fall of Reach (The Definitive Edition)[/i] After sustaining a direct hit to his side from the overcharged plasma pistol bolt, he later sustained more direct hits, all of which were absorbed by the reflective coating designed to disperse heat. Where he took those direct hits, the coating was charred, but did it's job. He survived multiple direct hits, none of which breached his suit, excluding the overcharged one.

Love how you continue to prove your point even after I've admitted defeat.