Halo 3 Mini-Guide: Skull Locations & FAQ

c0mmand3r · 10-16-2007

Hey guys. You may or may not be aware of the return of skulls in Halo 3. In Halo 2 these were considered Easter Eggs and were basically not meant to be found in most cases to do the obsurd locations they could be found in. In Halo 3 it is more of a side quest to get the skulls. This mini-guide will help you all to find the skulls and will give you a little insight as to the purpose of the skulls in Halo 3.

There are a total of 13 skulls in Halo 3's single player campaign. 9 Gold skulls and 4 silver skulls make up this number. Gold skulls are skulls which will unluck achievements when you pick them up. Silver skulls are worthy of finding too, though. They also help you for the meta-game which I will explain later. In addition, finding all 13 skulls unlocks armor for online play.

So you may be asking what the purpose of the skulls is besides unlocking armor for online play. Well there are achievements known as "Meta-Game Achievements" which require you to earn a set amount of points on each level in single player. Each headshot, kill, medal, etc. earns you a set amount of points. Sometimes you just can't hit a certain number though. This is where skulls come into play. Activating a skull for the meta-game multiplies your score by a set amount according to how many you turn on. They also hinder your gameplay somewhat. I'll describe the effect each skull has when I describe where to get each one.

Sierra 117
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BLIND SKULL
Status: Silver
Description: "Shoot From The Hip..."
Location: This one is very close to the start of the level. After your first encounter with enemies you should come up to a waterfall/cliff. It is almost directly under where the dropship comes to bring more enemies. Go to the cliff and keep to the right. You will see a small ledge you can follow around to the right. The skull will be at the end of this little ledge.
Effect: Removes your HUD. (shield bar, grenades, weapons, ammo, etc.)

IRON SKULL
Status: Gold (Achievement Unlocked)
Description: "Death Carries A Heavy Price..."
Location: Found at the end of the level. Get to the clearing at the end of the level where Johnson is being held. Kill off all enemies in the area, but don't rescue Johnson and his team yet. Once it is cleared out head from the building Johnson is in and go back toward the bridge. You should see a box and few ledge you can hop on to get on the ledge overlooking the dock and the water on the side with Johnson. Follow this ledge to the end and you will see the skull.
Effect: If you are killed you will restart from the begining of the level.

Crows Nest
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BLACK EYE SKULL
Status: Gold (Achievement Unlocked)
Description: "Bash Your Way To Better Health..."
Location: aAt the start of the level look up and you will see piping suspended from the ceiling. There are various ways to get on top of the pipes, but the easiest way is to go to the other side of the room where the steps are and hop on up. The Skull is sitting up there waiting for you.
Effect: Shields will only recharge after depleted by meleeing enemies.

GRUNT'S BIRTHDAY PARTY SKULL
Status: Silver
Description: "Light A Match..."
Location: Continue through the level as you normally would. Once you fight through the barracks you will come to a hole you need to drop down into. When you drop down into the large pipe, you will notice the drones shooting in and out of smaller pipes, follow it to the end. Before you drop off the ledge, where you meet up with the Arbitor, slow down and look down over the ledge. There is a ledge with an arrow pointing inward. Fall slowly and try and move inward as you fall to hit the ledge. There is a secret room with the Skull in the center of it.
Effect: When you kill a Grunt with a headshot confetti will explode from his head and children will be heard cheering, "Hooray!"

Tsavo Highway
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TOUGH LUCK SKULL
Status: Gold (Achievement Unlocked)
Description: "Your Foes Always Make Every Saving Throw..."
Location: Play through the level as normal. Once you come to the first vehicle shield barrier you must shut down, be on the heads up. As soon as you leave the tunnel look to your immediate left and you will see a small building with a large pipe running through it alongside the bridge. Hop on the building and onto the pipe. Follow it down to the fist fence you must hop over. Just over the fence look down to the left and you will see a ledge. Hop down onto and follow it to the back by the cliffside. You will see another small ledge you can jump onto and you will see the Skull sitting there waiting for you.
Effect: All enemies will make their saving throws to dodge the grenade when you throw grenades at them.

The Storm
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CATCH SKULL
Status: Gold (Achievement Unlocked)
Description: "Pull The Pin. Count To Three. Throw."
Location: Once you leave the building you are guiding the caravan through and are in a clearing you must kill all the enemies in the clearing. Do not kill the tanks (this includes the wraith and the aa tank) or you won't be able to get this skull. Once every other enemy is taken out take your warthog and drive up alongside the silo that is nearby the aa tank. Hop out and ontop the warthog and grenade jump up onto the silo. An easier way to do this one is to do it on co-op and simply jump on your partner's head and have him jump then you crouch-jump right after to get up onto the silo. It is up there waiting for you.
Effect: Enemies have a much more plentiful amount of grenades and they use them, and quite often.

Floodgate
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FOG SKULL
Status: Gold (Achievement Unlocked)
Description: "You'll Miss Those Eyes In The Back Of Your Head..."
Location: Right at the start of the level as you are heading over the cliff bridge into the city look up to the right. A flood will emerge from the rooftop. Kill him before he jumps off the roof and the Skull will drop down into the road. It is close enough to the begining of the level that you can simply restart the level and keep trying to kill the flood.
Effect: Removes your radar from the HUD.

The Ark
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FAMINE SKULL
Status: Gold (Achievement Unlocked)
Description: "Trust Us. Bring A Magazine."
Location: Play through the level and take the path that leads up to the rally point with the frigate. You will pass under a grey structure with a bunch of beams. Pass under it and continue along slightly to the right. Stop and jump up on the rocks on the cliffside and climb your way up onto the structure. Follow the bridge of the structure to the last beam on your left. The Skull is waiting where the two girders meet on this beam. Grenade jump up onto the beam.
Effect: Enemies will drop guns with significantly less ammo in them.

COWBELL SKULL
Status: Silver
Description: "More Bang For Your Buck..."
Location: After defeating the Scarab later in the level you will need to climb up a building's side to the top and then go inside. Before you do that go to the small building outside in the clearing where the Scarab was. Pickup the Levatation Equipment inside the building. Now you can head up the sid eof the building. Fight your way through the building until you come to a large ramp heading down in an enclosed hall. There are several levels heading upward from the bottom of the ramp. The Skull is on the top level of these. Use the levatation beam to jump up onto the top level and the skull is waiting there for you.
Effect: Explosions will have a larger radius and be much larger in appearance.

The Covenant
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THUNDERSTORM SKULL
Status: Gold (Achievement Unlocked)
Description: "Field Promotions For Everyone..."
Location: As soon as you are given a Hornet to fly, head up and to the right towards the middle tower. Land up on the tower and head up to ramp heading upward and out towards the sea. The skull is on the top of the upward ramp.
Effect: All enemies will be a higher ranking, or veteran, and much tougher.

I WOULD HAVE BEEN YOUR DADDY SKULL
Status: Silver
Description: "But A Dog Beat Me Over The Fence..."
Location: Continue to the end of the level when you are heading down the huge hall with the 7 rings inside after the cutscene. Kill all the covenant and get the cutscene, then kill all the flood when heading back the other way. Once all enemies are killed head back into the hall. You need to jump through the rings in a specific order. The 1st ring is at the begining of the hall and the 7th ring is the last ring before the platform the cutscene takes place on. This is the order to jump through the rings in: 465453. Skull is waiting on the bridge to the platform by the 7th ring when you complete the pattern. You will tell you did it properly because the rings will light up and halo 3 theme will play loudly from each ring.
Effect: Extra dialogue will be heard throughout the games from random characters. (marines, elites, etc.)

Cortana
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TILT SKULL
Status: Gold (Achievement Unlocked)
Description: "What Was Once Resistance Is Now Immunity..."
Location: When Further into the level you will find a point where you drop down into a hole through the odd flood door. This happens a couple times, but this particular time you will see a floor which is pretty close and obviously part of the covenant ship it used to be. In this room you must kill all the flood. It is a large purple-ish room. You can tell you are in the right room because you will hear Cortana say, "I see you like to play games...so do I." To the left, there will be a small purple structure you can jump on. Look up and to the left and you will see a ledge you can jump to. Jump to it and turn around to see another ledge above that you can also jump to. You must stay on the far right side of the ledge you are on, otherwise you will not make the jump. After you reach the top ledge, follow the beam and the Skull be there waiting for you.
Effect: Enemy armor is increased and more effective. Try using plasma to soften the armor before using bullets to finish them off.

Halo
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MYTHIC SKULL
Status: Gold (Achievement Unlocked)
Description: "Coverage Under The Covenant Health Plan..."
Location: aAt the begining of the level keep to the right side of the cliffs. Keep on the right and stay closely to it. Follow it all the way around until you come to an end. The Skull will be waiting for you on the ground in the snow.
Effect: All enemies will have twice as much health.

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Congrats! You just got all the skulls and unlocked the Haybusa Armor for online play.

TixBomber · 10-19-2007

Terminal Locations... Finding all seven unlocks Marathon Man achievement...

Mission 6: The Ark
TERMINAL 1: Beyond the camp where the Hunters are fought, in the facility at the end of the tunnel. After stepping through the first door, turn left and go through the door there. Keep an eye on your right, the terminal is along that wall.

TERMINAL 2: In the large room, beyond the door that Guilty Spark opens. Approach the mechanism here and hold RB to extend the bridge, allowing your allies to cross. After activating the bridge, turn around and move towards the terminal. Hold RB to access the terminal.

TERMINAL 3: After fighting the Scarab, beyond the room with the sleeping Grunts. Go down the ramp leading to the lower level, at the very bottom, turn around and move towards the wall. Turn to your right, until you see a door. Step inside, approach the terminal, and hold RB to activate it.

Mission 7: The Covenant
TERMINAL 4: In the first tower. While facing the elevator controls, turn left and jump over to the walkway. The terminal is along the wall there. Approach the terminal, and hold RB to activate it.

TERMINAL 5: On the second tower, head up the ramp and make your way to the entrance. While facing the entrance, turn around. The terminal is on this wall. Approach the terminal, and hold RB to activate it.

TERMINAL 6: In the final tower. While facing the elevator controls, turn right and jump over to the walkway. The terminal is along the wall there. Approach the terminal, and hold RB to activate it.

Mission 9: Halo
TERMINAL 7: From the starting point, walk down the trail until you see the strange structure up above near the end of the path, turn right just before the drop and climb up the hill. Get onto the walkway, travel to the end, then turn left. The terminal is on the wall there. Approach the terminal, and hold RB to activate it.