Major Firefight: Forerunner Facility Approach

Blue Team is drawing close to another Forerunner facility, but this one’s crawling with Covenant forces. It’s an uphill battle most of the way, but clever Spartans can find ways of reaching higher ground and turning the situation to their favor. The twin Shade Turrets stationed near the facility are most problematic; don’t linger in their sights for long.

Recommended Loadout

The Plasma Cannon Turret that you recently neutralized is a fun weapon to carry into this battle, as is a Fuel Rod Cannon, Beam Rifle, or the Rocket Launcher or Railgun found in the cave 7. A Carbine is your next best bet, and it serves as an excellent weapon for scoring headshots on Grunts and Jackals.

You get the drop on the first few Grunts and Jackals. Wipe them all out, then press onward, blasting your way through several more Covies guarding the hill ahead. Prioritize the Jackal Ranger on the perch to the right 14 and the Grunt Heavy that’s mobile with a Fuel Rod Cannon. Beware of incoming fire from the Phantom that lifts off in the distance.

For your next trick, jump up the rocks on the left 16 to reach higher ground. This places you in fantastic position to pick off the Jackals and Grunts guarding the Forerunner facility on the hilltop. You can even pick off a very distant Jackal Ranger perched above the right Shade Turret from here. Drop from the ledge if you become the focus of heavy return fire; otherwise, remain there and cut down unprotected threats with the Carbine.

Drop from the ledge and notice a weak section of wall behind you. Perform a Spartan Charge and smash through this rock to access a short side trail 17. A Grunt has met its end here, perhaps while testing out the deadly Plasma Caster that rests on the ground nearby. The Grunt’s loss is now your gain; grab the Plasma Caster and then advance on the Forerunner facility.

Advance up the hill with your newfound Plasma Caster. Climb the rocks on the right to reach another advantageous position 18, then start picking off Covies with the Carbine, starting with the Jackal Ranger on the opposite ledge.

Obliterate the left Shade Turret with the Plasma Caster, holding the Fire button to charge up lethal adhesive shots. Advance along the ledge after it’s destroyed and get an angle on the other Shade Turret on the right—but beware of inbound fire from an Elite that also wields a Plasma Caster. Try to stick this Elite with a charged shot of your own, and decimate the rest of the Covies with your Plasma Caster and Carbine from this superior vantage.

Plasma Caster New to the Halo franchise, the Plasma Caster is a powerful Covenant weapon that launches up to five Plasma Grenades in rapid succession. Unlike normal Plasma Grenades, the Plasma Caster’s kind bounce around a bit more before exploding, and they don’t adhere to enemies—unless you charge up a shot by holding down the Fire button. This preps a larger plasma blast that sticks to the first object or enemy struck, erupting seconds later into a shower of Plasma Grenades that decimates anything unfortunate enough to be caught nearby.

Alternate Approach Instead of climbing the rocks on the right to reach higher ground, consider smashing through the nearby weak rock on the right 19. This leads to a side passage, where you’ll find a mighty Fuel Rod Cannon and a Storm Rifle stocked with ammo. These will help you wipe out the Covenant forces here, particularly if you double back and then climb to the high ground at 18.

When the smoke clears, drop from the ledge and check the nook beneath the Shade Turrets to discover a Forerunner console. Inspect the console to unlock new intel, then search the nearby ground for a Plasma Caster dropped by one of the Elites. Restock your ammo or give the weapon to a teammate before advancing into the Forerunner facility.

Grab some Splinter Grenades from the Forerunner weapon rack you discover inside the structure, and trade your Carbine for a Suppressor. Move up the nearby ramp afterward and activate another mysterious Forerunner console that reacts to your approach 20. Like the console you activated when you first arrived on this mysterious world, this one seems to have an effect on the large Forerunner structure that dominates the horizon. It also starts an elevator that delivers you to a short passage leading back outside.

Turn left as you return outdoors and leap up the rocks on your left 21. Move past a giant plant and carefully climb up the tiny outcroppings until you reach a high ledge with a custom Fuel Rod Cannon called Pool of Radiance.

There it is! Keep your Suppressor but trade your other weapon for this mighty firearm.

Pool of Radiance Both the Swords of Sanghelios and Covenant forces use once-forbidden armaments in their bloody civil war. This advanced Fuel Rod Cannon fires unstable projectiles that leave a dangerous residue in their impact area.

Advance until another enormous Guardian suddenly appears via slipspace. Perhaps this is how the Covenant got here: by being pulled into slipspace along with the Guardians, just like Blue Team. Keep going until you reach a Light Bridge that automatically activates as you approach. You’re definitely being led somewhere—but could Cortana really be guiding you? There’s only one way to find out.

The gory remnants of slaughtered Covenant troops greet Blue Team beyond the Light Bridge. Searching ahead, they encounter a towering Promethean who introduces itself as the Warden Eternal. The Warden claims to stand in defense of Cortana, but bids the Blue Team advance to discuss matters further. Having come too far to turn back, the Chief leads his fearless Spartans onward.