The folks at MEGA Brands gave Halo collectors a special treat today–the first look at a major 2013 Halo Mega Bloks set: the UNSC Mantis 97115! The UNSC Mantis exoskeleton debuts in Halo 4 this winter as an all-new addition to the UNSC Armory, but fans will have to wait until next year to add this formidable exo-suit to their Halo toy collections. The Halo Mega Bloks UNSC Mantis set will contain 443 pieces and likely retail for $29.99- $34.99 when it is released in early 2013.

While it may look totally unique to many players, the UNSC Mantis isn’t actually the first exo-suit in the Halo universe, as astute Halo veterans will remember. Halo Wars fans had been hoping to get a Halo Mega Bloks set of the exeskeleton from Halo Wars–the UNSC Cyclops–for years. While fans never got a Halo Cyclops Mega Bloks set, the Halo UNSC Mantis really looks to be its evolution and spiritual successor, and a superb choice for a Halo 4 Mega Bloks set.

Not only will Halo Mega Bloks 97115 give fans their first taste of a Halo exoskeleton toy ever, but it will also include the first-ever Spartan Warrior Mega Bloks figure! Sweetening the deal even more, the Warrior Spartan figure will be in the popular but unusual black stealth armor. In addition, the set will include a substantially large docking bay, allowing UNSC forces to easily board the exo-suit or make repairs to the Mantis.

These features combine to make the UNSC Mantis one of the freshest and most interesting sets to come along in the Halo Mega Bloks line in quite some time! If you’re looking to get the UNSC Mantis 97115 as soon as it’s released, there’s no better retailer than BA Toys, which is taking pre-orders for this and all of the other early 2013 Halo Mega Bloks sets right now!

You can check out the full blog entry and details about the UNSC Mantis over on the official Mega Bloks Blog.