After turning a corner, the canyon widens into a spacious ruin that’s crawling with Covenant foes. Two paths lead around the ruin’s perimeter: one to the left, and another to the right. It’s wise to split up Fireteam Osiris during this dangerous uphill climb; otherwise, you risk drawing heavy fire from the hostiles on the opposite path.
Recommended Loadout
A well-stocked Carbine continues to be an advantage in this battle; use it to quickly eliminate distant threats with headshots. If you grabbed the Plasma Caster beyond the weak wall back at 15, use it as your backup, charging up shots and sticking them to key targets such as Elites. A Plasma Pistol, Storm Rifle, or Needler will also help you quickly cut down any Elites you meet during your ascent.
Objective: Climb the Ruins
Pick off as many threats as possible with a Carbine as you enter the ruin, then go right to reach a weak wall 19 that resembles a cracked circular door. Smash through to discover a side passage that lets you flank the Covenant along the main trail.
Beware: Two shield-toting Jackals and an Energy Sword Zealot cloaked in Active Camouflage lurk in the passage beyond the weak wall. Annihilate them with the Plasma Caster if you still have ammo, or fall back and toss grenades. The Zealot is extremely dangerous; don’t let it close in and strike.
Legendary StrategyBefore rushing to smash through the cracked circular door at 19, work at neutralizing two distant Jackal Snipers that only appear on Legendary difficulty. They’re quite lethal, so pick them off first. Once both Snipers are down, charge forward and smash through the cracked circular door, but be ready to battle the Active Camouflage-cloaked Energy Sword Zealot that awaits beyond. A Storm Rifle, Needler, or charged-up Plasma Pistol would be effective at ending the Zealot’s rampage. |
Deeper into the side passage 20, a valuable Beam Rifle rests in a nook on the right. This powerful weapon helps you eliminate distant Elites, particularly those manning Plasma Cannon Turrets farther ahead. Maintain this advantageous position, neutralizing as many hostiles as possible before you advance.
Alternate ApproachThe ruin’s left path doesn’t feature any secret side passages, but it is significantly wider, especially in the middle. Sprint and leap across the gaps in the path, then put the path’s ample weaponry to use as you assault the enemies ahead. |
Legendary StrategyOn Legendary difficulty, two Zealots armed with Energy Swords emerge from the top of the ruin instead of one. They aren’t concealed by Active Camouflage, but they rush you nonetheless. Fall back and toss grenades or unload with a Plasma Pistol, Storm Rifle, or Needler to bring them down as quickly as possible. One clean strike from these Elites spells your end, so don’t hesitate to fall back as far as needed. |
When you’re ready to climb higher, grab a Plasma Pistol or Needler and duck out from the side passage. More Covenant forces emerge from the top of the ruin as you near the end of the climb, including two fearsome Elites: one armed with a Fuel Rod Cannon, and another with an Energy Sword 21. Fall back and wipe out the advancing Energy Sword Zealot before advancing on the Elite with the Fuel Rod Cannon. Neither foe features Active Camouflage, so mark both foes as priority targets for Osiris and bring them down with all speed.
Before entering the ruin that the Covies were so desperately protecting, take a moment to search the area for a few items of intel. The first lies atop the high, central rock spire 22. Use Artemis to spot it, then carefully climb the nearby fallen pillars on your way to the top of the rock.
The item turns out to be an ancient Sangheili blade. Scan it for some ancient Elite wisdom.
Mission 8 Intel Acquired (6/12) |
After scanning the sword for intel, look over at the left path, which you might have taken around the area. A ledge just below the path features a fallen Elite and a Covenant data pad 23.
You can’t reach the data pad’s ledge directly from the rock spire; carefully drop down and loop around the area, then drop to the low ledge and scan the data pad. Climb back up to the top of the area afterward and enter the ruin that the Covenant had been so desperately protecting.
Mission 8 Intel Acquired (7/12) |