HALO 3 TERMINALS

2009-03-05T10:13:00.002-08:00

In Halo 3, there are several “Terminals” scattered throughout the levels that hold information about the Forerunners and their battle to survive before firing the Halo rings for the first time. If you access all of the terminals, you unlock the achievement “Marathon Man” for 40G. These are the locations of all the terminals in the game.

TERMINALS 1-3 ON 'THE ARK'

Terminals 1-3

Terminals 1-3 are all found on the level, “The Ark”. The first terminal is found the first time you walk inside (in a small hallway). The second is located right next to the control panel that lets the Scorpion tanks across the bridge. The third is located under a set of stairs after the room with the sleeping Grunts.

Terminal 1

The first time you go inside, you will see a door almost immediately on the left. Simply enter this area of the level to find the first of the seven terminals.

Terminal 2

When you go inside the structure to let the tanks across the bridge of light, there will be a Terminal almost directly behind the controls for the bridge. It’s an easy find!

Terminal 3

You’ll miss this terminal if you are not careful. After defeating the scarab, you will head into a large structure. There will be a room with several sleeping grunts. Nearly directly following this room is another room in which you can take two different directions. There is a door, and a staircase (both eventually lead to the next room).
Underneath the staircase is an additional door that leads to the 3rd terminal.

TERMINALS 4-6 ON 'THE COVENANT'

Terminals 4-6

Terminals 4, 5, and 6 can all be found on the level, “The Covenant” on Halo 3. Each of the three shield generator towers has a terminal in it. Tower 1 and 3 both have the terminal near the elevator leading up to the shield controls. Tower 2 has the terminal just near the top of the ramp (on the opposite side of the Thunderstorm Skull Location).

Terminal 4

When you access the first Elevator leading to the tower controls, jump from the elevator platform to the platform on the opposite side from where you accessed the elevator from. The terminal is dead ahead.

Terminal 5

After getting a Hornet vehicle, fly towards tower 2 (the one that the Arbiter has already disabled). A voice will remind you that Tower 2 is already clear, just to confirm you are at the right place. The Terminal is just inside of the structure.

Terminal 6

Terminal 6 is identical to Terminal 4, only in the 3rd tower. Just jump to the platform, and there it is!

1 TERMINAL ON THE FINAL LEVEL

Terminal 7 is found at the beginning of the final level in Halo 3. To find it, simply head forward from the start of the level, until you encounter the area with a few structural beams going from one wall into another. At this point, turn right, and look for beam separate from the rest (as highlighted below):
Follow this beam into a doorway. Cortana will ask you, “Where are you going?”. Turn left once inside, and the Terminal should be in view.

TERMINAL 8 - CORTANA TERMINAL

8th Terminal (Cortana Terminal)

I’m not sure who the first to discover this terminal was. The first time someone suggested that there was an eighth terminal in Halo 3, I simply brushed it off as a filthy rumor.
Turns out, there really is an eighth “terminal”. However, it’s not really the same as the others, and does not go towards the “Marathon Man” achievement.
Terminal 8 - The Cortana Terminal
The Eighth Terminal can be found on the level, “Cortana”, and is located on the basement floor of the room with the “Tilt Skull” in it. At the very bottom of this room, there is a Gravity Hammer leaning against a stand. This stand is a Terminal (although it does not look like the other terminals in the game, it simply looks like a pedestal of light).
Upon accessing it, Cortana will take over your HUD with a brief message, which is a reference to the Novel “The Fall of Reach”, according to Avateur over at ABO.

HALO 3 SKULLS

2009-03-04T08:47:00.000-08:00

GOLD SKULLS

IRON SKULL

If you die, you restart from the beginning of the level.

Iron Skull Location

The “Iron Skull” is located at the very end of the first level, “Sierra 117″. It is located behind the building where Sgt. Johnson is being held captive, up on the roof. You can gain access to the roof on the far right side of the building. Travel all the way over to the left side of the roof, and the Skull will be concealed in the corner.

BLACK EYE SKULL

Black Eye Skull Effect:

When you lose shield, the only way to get it back it to melee an enemy.

Black Eye Skull Location:

This Skull is located in the beginning of the second level “Crow’s Nest”, the very room you start in. Hanging down from the ceiling is some piping. On top of this piping, on the side nearest to the large display (the one that Hood appears on) lies the “Black Eye Skull”.

TOUGH LUCK SKULL

Tough Luck Skull Effect:

Your enemies never back down, always make their saving throws, and always charge you.

Tough Luck Skull Location:

The “Catch Skull” is found on the third level, at the point in the level when the huge covenant cruiser flies overhead. On your left is some large piping following the road you are walking on. Underneath this piping are some support beams that extend out over a cliff. Jump onto the first of these beams, and travel to the end of it. Look to your left, and the Tough Luck Skull will be sitting on a rock extending from a cliff edge.

CATCH SKULL

Catch Skull Effect:

Your Enemies throw LOTS of grenades.

Catch Skull Location:

The “Catch Skull” can be found on the fourth level, in the first area where you need to destroy the Wraith Tanks. When you enter this area, do not eliminate the Wraith Tanks (The skull appears when the tanks appear, and disappears when the tanks are destroyed). The Skull is located on top of the circular building next to the Anti-Air Tank. You can access the roof using a grenade jump, or jumping on the back of a hog.

FOG SKULL

Fog Skull Effect:

“You’ll miss those eyes in the back of your head.” You lose your motion sensor.

Fog Skull Location:

The Fog Skull is found on the level “Floodgate“, at the very beginning of the level. As you are walking down from the anti-air gun you destroyed in the previous mission, you encounter a ramp (next to a missile launcher). Around this ramp, you hit a checkpoint. At this point, you should also hear a marine yelling, “There! Over There!”.
You have a small window of opportunity at this point, but it is fairly easy to get the Fog Skull. Look up, and to the right, directly at the roof of the building next to the missle launcher. There is a single flood form (not to be mistaken with the two other flood forms jumping in front of you) which is holding the skull. Kill him before he jumps, and he will drop the skull down to the ground where you can retrieve it. Too early, and the skull will get stuck on the roof though, so just time it carefully.

FAMINE SKULL

Famine Skull Effect:

Enemies drop 50% of the ammo they usually drop.

Famine Skull Location:

This skull requires a bit of grenade jumping skill/luck.
You can find the “Famine Skull” on the sixth level, near the point where the path you follow branches off into two sections (one leading to the area where you need to let the tanks across the bridge, and the other leading towards the area where you meet up with the frigate). Take the right path, as you would if you were completing the mission, and you’ll notice a structure above you / to the left of you (near the area where you encounter a few ghosts).
You need to scale the rocks to the right of the structure, and then travel across it so that you pass 3 of the large support beams extending into the cliffs. Inside of the fourth support beam, lies the Famine Skull. A well placed grenade should have you up there in no time!
Another Way of getting the skull according to Kaboodle is to Hijack a Brute Chopper (there are plenty in the level that you can take), and then drive it up the rocks to the right of the structure, and jump the ledge onto the structure. Once on top, simply park the Chopper on the slant leading to the skull, and jump on top of the chopper, and then jump to the skull.

THUNDERSTORM

Thunderstorm Skull Effect:

All enemies are given a field promotion, and ranked up to their next available level.

Thunderstorm Skull Location:

The “Thunderstorm Skull” can be found on the level, “The Covenant”, after you take command of one of the Hornet vehicles. Fly towards the second force field generator (the one the Arbiter disabled), and land. The skull is waiting at the very top, at the end of the ramp extending over the sea.

TILT SKULL

Tilt Skull Effect:

Makes enemy resistance much greater. For example, Brute power armor becomes nearly impossible to take out with nearly anything except for plasma bursts.

Tilt Skull Location:

The “Tilt Skull” is found on the level “Cortana”, in the circular room where Cortana mentions that she “Likes to play games too…”.
It’s a bit difficult to get to, as it requires getting on top of the ceiling of the room. Upon entering the room, head towards the left side where you will see some mushroom shaped extrusions along the wall. Get on top of these, and then look up and towards the right for another set of extrusions. Jump to these. From here, you should be able to jump on top of the ceiling of the room, where the Tilt Skull lies in the center.

MYTHIC SKULL

Mythic Skull Effect:

All enemies have double their usual health.

Mythic Skull Location:

This is probably the easiest Golden skull in the game to get. It is located in the very beginning of the final level in Halo 3. Begin by heading into the canyon, but hug the right wall. Very soon, you will notice that there is a turn to the right that is off the normal trail. Head a bit down this path, and the “Mythic Skull” will be sitting there.

SILVER SKULLS

BLIND SKULL

Blind Skull Effect:

You lose your HUD when this skull is turned on. You won’t see your weapons, shield, radar, etc.

Blind Skull Location:

The “Blind Skull” is the first of the Silver Skulls in Halo 3, and can be found in the first mission, “Sierra 117″. It is located relatively close to the beginning of the mission.
After your first encounter with the Gold Armor Brute, Two enemy dropships will appear a bit further down the stream. Go towards the dropship that is furthest away, and stay on the right side of the stream. Continue along the right (towards the cliff edge), and a rock will jut out a bit over the large lake. The Blind Skull is located on this rock.

GRUNT BIRTHDAY PARTY SKULL

Grunt Birthday Party Skull Effect:

When you get a headshot on an enemy Grunt, they will explode into confetti, and you’ll hear children cheer, “Yay!” in excitement.

Grunt Birthday Party Skull Location:

This is one of the more fun Silver Skulls in Halo 3. The “Grunt Birthday Party Skull” is located on the second mission, “Crow’s Nest”, just before the area where you team up with the Arbiter (it’s the piping area where you see Drones buzzing in and out of an array of pipes). Just before you jump down the pipe to meet up with the Arbiter, stop at the ledge, and look directly below you. Along the wall that you drop down, there is a small ledge with a green arrow pointing backwards. Jump onto this ledge (rather than all the way down), and go inside this secret room. The skull is in the dead center of the room.

COWBELL SKULL

Cowbell Skull Effect:

Explosions become much bigger in the game.

Cowbell Skull Location:

The “Cowbell Skull” is found on the level “The Ark”, and marks the third Silver Skull found in the game. It’s fairly far into the level, so it takes a bit of time to find it.
Begin by heading all the way to the part of the level where you battle the Scarab. After defeating it, look in the middle of the desert area which you battled it in for a fairly large structure (it’s the building you see if you are at the bottom of the ramp you are supposed to go up, and turn to look in the opposite direction). Inside of this structure are several Gravity Lifts (shown below). Take one of these for later.
Next, head up the huge ramp, and head inside of the building (the one with the cartographer inside). Pass through a few of the rooms in this building, and you’ll eventually come to a room with a whole lot of Explosive crates. Right after this room is a Staircase/Hallway that leads to the level below. The Skull is located at the top of the room, at the point where you turn on the staircase to head for the next part of the slope. There are four platforms above you, the Skull is on the uppermost of these platforms. Use the Gravity Lift to jump up to it, and there you have it!

MYTHIC MAP PACK SKULLS

ASSEMBLY SKULL

Assembly Skull Effect:

The Effect of the Assembly Skull is unknown. There may be no effect whatsoever.

Assembly Skull Location:

The Assembly Skull can be found on the Mythic map, “Assembly”. Load up Assembly in forge. using the monitor controls, simply fly up into one of the two large arms extending from the center piece in the map and drop down into it to find the Assembly skull. (It’s in one of the arms, being a symmetric map, it’s hard to describe which one. Fly around a bit, it’s very easy to find).

SANDBOX SKULL

Sandbox Skull Effect:

The Effect of the Sandbox Skull is unknown. There may be no effect whatsoever. Finding the Sandbox Skull will unlock an achievement worth 25GS.

Sandbox Skull Location:

The Sandbox Skull can be found on the Mythic map, “Sandbox”. This skull is a bit tricky, because it’s location is outside of the safety perimeter. Getting to the skull means avoiding death.
a teleporter node somewhere in the main area of the map. Fly upwards using the monitor and look in the direction of the sun. Turn to the right, past the first pillar, and in between the first and second pillars. The Skull is in this direction at the edge of the map. Create an exit teleporter node, and fly in this direction avoiding fire from the pillars as best as possible, dropping the node directly onto or nearby the skull. You can now teleport directly to the skull giving you enough time to pick it up before being killed by the guardians.

ORBITAL SKULL

Orbital Skull Effect:

The Effect of the Orbital Skull is unknown. There may be no effect whatsoever.

Orbital Skull Location:

The Orbital Skull can be found on the Mythic map, “Orbital”. Open Orbital in forge walk down the blue corridor towards the red door and into the next room (there are two safety cones in this room next to a railing). Face the red door you just entered and switch to the monitor controls. Fly towards the top of the room facing this direction, and the skull will be in the right corner on a small ledge.

MORE SKULLS

These skulls will likely be released when Halo ODST is released. I'll post their locations at a later date.

HERITIC SKULL

Heretic Skull Effect:

The Effect of the Heretic Skull is unknown. There may be no effect whatsoever.

Heretic Skull Location:

The Heretic Skull can be found on the Mythic map, “Heretic”. It’s precise location remains unknown. If you know of it’s whereabouts, please Contact Me!

LONGSHORE SKULL

Longshore Skull Effect:

The Effect of the Longshore Skull is unknown. There may be no effect whatsoever.

Longshore Skull Location:

The Longshore Skull can be found on the Mythic map, “Longshore”. It’s precise location remains unknown. If you know of it’s whereabouts, please Contact Me!

CITIDEL SKULL

Citadel Skull Effect:

The Effect of the Citadel Skull is unknown. There may be no effect whatsoever.

Citadel Skull Location:

The Citadel Skull can be found on the Mythic map, “Citadel”. It’s precise location remains unknown. If you know of it’s whereabouts, please Contact Me!

ABOUT SKULLS IN HALO 3

Skulls were first introduced in Halo 2, where picking up a hidden skull in the “Legendary” game difficulty would create an undesirable effect against the player (such as not being able to see anything on their HUD). In Halo 3, skulls can be found scattered throughout the levels on Normal, Heroic, and Legendary difficulty settings. Picking up “Golden” skulls will also unlock an achievement on the Xbox 360. After picking up a skull in the game, you can enable the skull’s effects in Meta Games, which will in turn multiply your meta game score.
Overall, Skulls can make for a very interesting play experience, and really help to show who is the Master of the game through meta game scores.

HALO 3 INFO

HALO 3 TERMINALS

HALO 3 SKULLS