Salvation Lies Within

Objective: Eliminate Warden Eternal

A massive elevator lowers you down into the belly of a sweltering volcano, causing you to lose contact with Governor Sloan. There’s no turning back now; advance into the Forerunner structure ahead.

The facility is filled with unusual pods. One of them suddenly opens, releasing a towering construct that introduces itself as the Warden Eternal. The Warden states that it stands in service to Cortana, and that while the “other humans” were “approved for passage,” Fireteam Osiris is not. With a terrible blow, the Warden sends Osiris flying backward, insisting that they vacate the premises immediately.

Warden Eternal A towering Forerunner warrior, the Warden Eternal is an extremely dangerous adversary. It is heavily armored but features a glowing weak spot on its back. When battled at range, the Warden casts out large, slow-moving orbs that home in on their target. Should an orb find its mark, the target is quickly obliterated; the blast is so severe that it can even penetrate thin forms of cover. Battling the Warden up close is equally risky, for the construct wields a massive blade to great effect. Either keep distance from the Warden and remain near thick, effective cover as you pick shots at it from afar, or thrust to avoid its melee attacks as you look to counter with close-range blasts to the Warden’s vulnerable back.

The Warden summons several Crawlers at the battle’s onset. Pick off the Crawlers as you move around the outside edge of the area, flanking the Warden. Collect a Scattershot from one of the Forerunner weapon racks on either side of the area—you’ll find it very useful for battling the Warden up close.

After thinning out the Crawlers, mark the Warden as a priority target for Osiris. Aim to blast its vulnerable back with your newfound Scattershot at every opportunity. The Warden is briefly exposed after missing an attack or during moments when it’s charging up its energy orb projectile. Thrust to one side to make the Warden miss, then counter with a blast from your Scattershot.

Alternate Approach Don’t like fighting the Warden up close? Rather than grabbing a Scattershot, snatch a LightRifle from one of the Forerunner weapon racks near the entry point and then sprint up the outside ramps to reach an elevated position behind the Warden. Mark the Warden as a priority target and then blast its back each time your teammates manage to distract the monster. Beware of energy orbs that the Warden sends your way; the thin barricades up here won’t shield you from their full brunt, so fall back from the barricades to reduce the splash damage you suffer. If you’re feeling daring, leap out to the floating platforms to find valuable Scattershots and an Incineration Cannon.

Incineration Cannon An advanced Forerunner weapon, the Incineration Cannon is one of the most powerful portable weapon systems available. Although slow and somewhat easy to dodge, the Incineration Cannon’s explosive bombardments will decimate anything they strike. Tap the Fire button to unleash double shots that can be lobbed over cover, or hold the button to charge up a devastating volley that’s guaranteed to cripple or destroy anything struck. Very little can survive a direct hit from this weapon.

The Warden certainly is powerful, but several blasts to its back will eventually bring it down. Headshots are also effective, but the Warden’s back is by far its greatest weak point. Advance into the facility that the Warden had been guarding after it finally falls. Something vitally important must be behind those doors; could it be Cortana and Blue Team?