[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.