Skulls
Skulls aren't collected in Halo: Reach, but you can turn them on before starting a campaign session for the following effects.
Primary Skulls
- Iron Skull - Co-Op reverts to previous checkpoint on player death. Single player death restarts entire mission. (Restart at checkpoints with all of your weapons and ammo in co-op, but you'll restart the mission on single player)
- Black Eye Skull - Shields don’t recharge except from melee attacking enemies. (Your shield won't recharge unless you perform a melee)
- Tough Luck Skull - Enemies always make every saving throw, always berserk, always dive, never flee. (Every enemy will dodge slower attacks, like needles and grenades. Grunts will suicide attack and Brutes will charge)
- Catch Skull - Enemies are grenade happy -- 2x as often and 2x as fast. (Lots of grenades)
- Cloud Skull - Motion sensor disabled with this setting. (No "radar")
- Famine Skull - Weapons drop 50% less ammo. (Less ammo from picked up weapons)
- Thunderstorm Skull - Major upgrade to all enemies. (All enemies have more life)
- Tilt Skull - Damage tables are modified. (Enemy weaknesses and strengths are increased -- Elite shields are susceptible to nothing but Plasma Pistols)
- Mythic Skull - Double enemy health. (More health for all enemies)
Secondary Skulls
- Blind Skull - HUD and first person arms and weapon are hidden. (Clears the screen but won't affect gameplay)
- Cowbell Skull - Acceleration scale from explosions is 3x. (Things fly further)
- Grunt Birthday Skull - Grunts explode as if they were plasma grenades when they are killed with a headshot. (More explosions = more fun)
- IWHBYD Skull - Common combat dialog becomes less common, and vice versa. (Hear rare dialog from computer-controlled players)
Achievement Hint: Easy Custom Firefight Achievements
To make certain Achievements very, very easy, set up a Firefight match with the exact settings below.
You can use this method for:
- Heat in the Pipe
- Game Set Match
- Crowd Control
- Blaze of Glory
- Firestarter
- Lucky Me
Set your Mission (Map) to Beachhead (you can do this anywhere but we found Beachhead to be the easiest to hit large packs of enemies)
Set your Difficulty to Legendary (for a score multiplier)
Under Game Options, choose Firefight Settings and Wave Properties and change these settings for Round 1, 2 AND 3 Round Properties. You have to change the settings for EACH ROUND.
- Turn on these skulls: Mythic, Catch, Tough Luck, Famine, Tilt, Black Eye, Grunt Birthday, Cowbell, IWHBYD. These skulls will increase your multiplier. Note: You can turn on Cloud if you want, but having radar helps you anticipate enemy drops and score more points.
- Now, for each Wave, Initial, Main and Boss, change these settings:
- Uses Dropship: Enabled (You will be able to hit clumps of enemies dropping from Phantoms for high scores)
- Squad Selection Order: Ordered
- All Squads 1-5: Elites (Elites are worth more points than Grunts and you can kill them in one missile hit, unlike Brutes)
After adjusting the settings and Skulls for ALL 3 ROUNDS, enter the Bonus Wave settings and make these changes.
- Bonus Wave Duration: 2 Minutes
- Uses Dropship: Enabled
- Turn on these skulls: Mythic, Catch, Tough Luck, Famine, Cloud, Tilt, Black Eye, Grunt Birthday, Cowbell, IWHBYD.
- Squad Selection Order: Random
- All Squads: Elites
Back out of the Wave Properties menu and make these settings in the Game Options/Firefight Settings menu.
- Wave Limit: No Limit
- Turn Count: No Turns
- Time Limit: No Limit
Enter the Generator Properties menu and make the following changes.
- Generator Count: Disabled
- Spawn Order: Sequence
- Loss Condition: Lose All
Enter the Scenario Settings Menu and make the following changes.
- Hazards: Disabled
- Weapon Drops: Enabled
- Ammo Crates: Enabled
You do not need to adjust the Custom Skull Settings. Back out to the Game Options Menu and choose Spartan Settings. Ignore the options here -- they won't matter -- and choose the Base Traits Menu.
- Choose Shields and Health and makes the following changes:
- Damage Resistance: Invulnerable
- Immune to Headshots: Enabled
- Immune to Assassination: Enabled (This is important -- even if you are invulnerable you can still be killed unless you enable this option)
Back out to the Spartan Settings / Base Traits Menu and choose Weapons and Damage and make the following changes.
- Damage Modifier: 300%
- Melee Modifier: 300%
- Primary Weapon: Rocket Launcher
- Secondary Weapon: DMR
- Starting Equipment: Jet Pack
- Infinite Ammo: Bottomless Clip (Crucial: No reloading!)
- Equipment Usage: Unlimited
Back out to the Spartan Settings / Base Traits Menu and choose Movement and make the following changes.
- Player Speed: 200% (You may go higher but it gets a bit difficult to control)
Back out to the Spartan Settings / Base Traits Menu and choose Sensors and make the following changes.
- Motion Tracker Mode: Enhanced Mode
- Motion Tracker Range: 150 Meters (This will allow you to spot dropships from afar)
Back out to the Spartan Settings Menu and choose Loadouts and make the following changes:
- For Loadouts 1-6, change Hide Loadout to Hidden (this will ensure that you have the Rocket Launcher you set for your primary weapon above for the entire match)
Back out to the Firefight Menu -- you can ignore the Elite Settings and General Settings menus.
Now, begin your game.
Heat in the Pipe:
Since you are invulnerable and your rocket launcher will take out Elites in one hit, this just takes time. Your ultimate goal is to just hit clumps of Elites for high scores. After playing for a bit you'll learn the locations of Elite drops. Watch for the drop near the center of the map on the cement platform -- 8 Elites drop here at once! It took about 30 minutes and 750 kills for us to get 1,000,000 points.
Game Set Match:
Invulnerability helps with this a bit! Basically, kill every enemy in every round and wave until the rounds start over. This takes about 30 minutes. With the ultimate settings outlined above, you won't have any trouble with this -- but you'll have to have some patience!
Crowd Control:
The Killionaire medal can be won be killing 10 enemies within 4 seconds of each other. The easiest time to get this is during the Bonus round, where dozens of Elites will swarm around you. Just aim for the Elites -- or your feet -- and send rocket after rocket at them. Kill ten quickly and you'll get the Achievement.
Blaze of Glory:
Since you are invulnerable and your rocket launcher will take out Elites in one hit, this just takes time. Your ultimate goal is to just hit clumps of Elites for high scores. After playing for a bit you'll learn the locations of Elite drops. Watch for the drop near the center of the map on the cement platform -- 8 Elites drop here at once! It took about 10 minutes for us to get 200,000 points.
Firestarter:
Since you are invulnerable and your rocket launcher will take out Elites in one hit, this just takes time. Your ultimate goal is to just hit clumps of Elites for high scores. After playing for a bit you'll learn the locations of Elite drops. Watch for the drop near the center of the map on the cement platform -- 8 Elites drop here at once! It took about 3 minutes for us to get 50,000 points.
Lucky Me:
With your jetpack set to run infinitely, you should have no problem sending missiles at clumps of Elites. They usually exit the Dropships in packs of four, so watch for that.
Easy, Hands-Off Credits
Cheat: Free (Slow) Credit Farming
Begin Firefight Mode and enter the Game Options Menu and choose Spartan Settings. Choose the Base Traits Menu. Choose Shields and Health and makes the following changes:
- Damage Resistance: Invulnerable
Set the difficulty to Legendary and begin a match. Stand near enemies and let them attack you. You'll rack up Credits to spend on equipment without lifting a finger! You should get credits about 10 Credits per minute -- sometimes more. It is unclear how Credits are earned. Set your controller down and go to school or something, jeez.
(Beta) Unlockable: Halo: Reach Avatar Hoodie
Anyone who logs in and plays at least one full game of any type in the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta will receive a Halo: Reach Avatar hoodie via the Halo Waypoint portal on Xbox LIVE. Players must access Halo Waypoint and browse their "Halo" Career statistics after completing a match.
Multiplayer Nameplates
Nameplates are image bars that behind your name in matchmaking.
Perform the following actions to unlock Multiplayer Nameplates. You can activate the Nameplates on Bungie.net by entering yout Account Settings, and then navigating to your Game Settings. Choose Nameplates and you'll be able to activate one so that it appears in the game.
- Assault Rifle - Unlocked for playing the Halo Reach Beta (closed in May, 2010)
- DMR - Subscribe to Bungie Pro hosting service
- HALO - Unlock the Halo, Halo 2 and Halo 3 nameplates
- Halo 2 logo - Unlocked for playing Halo 2 on Xbox Live (closed April 15, 2010)
- Halo 3 logo - Play the Halo 3 Campaign while connected to Xbox Live
- Marathon Durandal logo - Log in at Bungie.net with Marathon Durandal on your recently played games list
- MJOLNIR Mk VI (Master Chief) helmet - Unlock any 4 of the Halo (PC), Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST or Halo Reach Beta nameplates
- ODST logo - Play the Halo 3:ODST Campaign while connected to Xbox Live
- Halo: CE logo - Register your Halo (PC) product code at Bungie.net
- 7th Column symbol/Septagon - Log in to Bungie.net with your Gamertag/email address
Avatar Awards
Complete the following requirements to unlock items for your Xbox Live Avatar.
- Carter's Helmet - Clear a Campaign mission on Legendary without dying (Note: To get this easily, play through an entire level on Legendary and die as much as you want. At the end of the level, savea nd quit. Choose "Resume Campaign" and then finish the level without dying to get the Avatar.)
- Emile's Helmet - Earn a Bulltrue medal in either multiplayer or Firefight Matchmaking (Kill someone while they're lunging with an Energy Sword attack)
- Jorge's Helmet - Earn a Killtacular in multiplayer Matchmaking (Kill 5 enemies within 4 seconds of eachother)
- Jun's Helmet - Kill 100 enemies in a row without dying in either the Campaign or Firefight (set your shields/life to infinite in a Firefight match)
- Kat's Helmet - Avenge a teammate's death in multiplayer Matchmaking (Kill someone who killed your teammate)
Credit Farming Made Extremely Easy
While there are many ways to earn Credits, or Credits, in Halo: Reach, this is the easiest strategy we've discovered so far. Choose the Mission Start ONI: Sword Base and turn on the "Free For All" option under scoring options. You can set any Skulls you want but you probably want your difficulty to be Normal -- it's hard to do this on Legendary. Basically, you want to skip the first fight entirely. Run up the ramp to the west and jump onto the little wall to the north that wraps around to the road leading south. Sprint to the gate and grab the Target Locator from the suitcase along the western wall. Next, you'll want to set a Checkpoint -- this matters quite a bit, so don't ignore this step. Move to the south end of the gate and aim your locator north as the enemies approach. As you tool around by the closed southern door, you should get a Checkpoint. Now, aim the Target Locator at the street to the north and pull the trigger. Try to catch as many enemies as possible in your blast. This will earn you Credits -- probably about 100, based on your Commendations and Medals from the blast. Now, revert to the last Checkpoint and repeat the Target Locator blast infinitely. You get Credits for earning Medals Commendations, so the exact amount will vary for each blast depending on your Commendation progress. You should be able to work towards Commendations like Leadership Element and Splash Damage, while also gaining a set number of Credits for the Medals you win in each Target Locator strike. Using this method you can safely rack up Credits at the rate of several thousand each few minutes!
Halo: Reach Ranks
Earning Credits is the only way to increase your rank in Halo: Reach, but there are many, many ways to do this. One of the most reliable ways to earn Credits is to just play online matchmaking games as much as possible. You will be awarded for all sorts of things in matchmaking, from kills to medals. Another great way to earn Credits is to complete daily and weekly challenges. You'll can even see how many Credits you'll earn for each in the challenge menu. Finally, commendations are another great way to earn Credits and rank up. Check out your commendations menu and work towards the goals in all your campaign and matchmaking sessions. Earning a silver rank lands you a few thousand Credits!
Here are the Credit amounts you need to attain for each rank in Halo: Reach
- Recruit - 0 cR
- Private - 7,500 cR
- Corporal - 10,000 cR
- Corporal Grade 1 - 15,000 cR
- Sergeant - 20,000 cR
- Sergeant Grade 1 - 26,250 cR
- Sergeant Grade 2 - 32,500 cR
- Warrant Officer - 45,000 cR
- Warrant Officer Grade 1 - 78,000 cR
- Warrant Officer Grade 2 - 111,000 cR
- Warrant Officer Grade 3 - 144,000 cR
- Captain - 210,000 cR
- Captain Grade 1 - 233,000 cR
- Captain Grade 2 - 256,000 cR
- Captain Grade 3 - 279,000 cR
- Major - 325,000 cR
- Major Grade 1 - 350,000 cR
- Major Grade 2 - 375,000 cR
- Major Grade 3 - 400,000 cR
- Lt. Colonel - 450,000 cR
- Lt. Colonel Grade 1 - 480,000 cR
- Lt. Colonel Grade 2 - 510,000 cR
- Lt. Colonel Grade 3 - 540,000 cR
- Brigadier - 1,400,000 cR
- Brigadier Grade 1 - 1,520,000 cR
- Brigadier Grade 2 - 1,640,000 cR
- Brigadier Grade 3 - 1,760,000 cR
- General - 2,000,000 cR
- General Grade 1 - 2,200,000 cR
- General Grade 2 - 2,350,000 cR
- General Grade 3 - 2,500,000 cR
- General Grade 4 - 2,650,000 cR
- Field Marshall - 3,000,000 cR
- Hero - 3,700,000 cR
- Legend - 4,600,000 cR
- Mythic - 5,650,000 cR
- Noble - 7,000,000 cR
- Eclipse - 8,500,000 cR
- Nova - 11,000,000 cR
- Forerunner - 13,000,000 cR
- Reclaimer - 16,500,000 cR
- Inheritor - 20,000,000 cR
Hands-Off Fast Forward in Theater Mode
Annoyingly, fast-forwarding your replays can be slow and hard on your trigger finger. To make getting to the end of an hour long film easier, hold RIGHT TRIGGER, press START and then let go of the RIGHT TRIGGER and press START again. Your game will fast-forward automatically until you pause it or hit the trigger again. Smoothie time!
Easier Achievement -- If They Came to Hear Me Beg
For the achievement where you need to "perform an assassination against an Elite to survive a fall that would've been fatal," here are some things to keep in mind.
The single thing I've noticed from all the videos of people making it, including my own, is that you actually [b]make contact with your beat-down at the exact frame you hit the ground[/b]. When I got it, I actually took fall damage and dropped to five bars of health, and I also pretty much dropped on top of the Elite and slid down his back.
It's much easier just using a jetpack while you are defending the door to the Research Facility. Elites love to stand still on easier modes, just firing at your squad, jet pack up high, land on dumb elite target. Best part is that you can jet pack to save yourself if your target moves and try again in the next few seconds.
Lower Your Weapon
Note: This can only be done offline. This works on any button layout, not just the default settings. Lower your weapon by by holding down "Grenade Switch" + "Reload" + Click the Right Stick + Down on the D-Pad. That would be B + X + CLICK RIGHT STICK + DOWN (D-Pad) on the default controls.
Jack a Wraith
This is a tough maneuver and you should be packing a Plasma Pistol before attempting it and some sort of scoped weapon -- and a Sprint armor ability if possible. First, find some cover near the Wraith and use a scoped weapon to eliminate the gunner behind the Wraith's turret. Now, shoot the Wraith with a charged Plasma Pistol shot and approach it as it becomes temporarily disabled. You may want to use Sprint to do this! Jump onto the front of the downed tank and you will see the turret area open. Press X when you see the prompt to operate the turret. As you take over the turret, the Elite piloting the Wraith will hop out. Shoot him and the Wraith is yours! Exit the turret and jump onto the top of the Wraith and enter the pilot's seat.
Data Pad Locations
Below is a quick-reference list for all of the Data Pads in Halo: Reach. Pictures, videos and more for the Data Pads are on the way!
Datapads are not collectibles, but read-able iPads/Kindles that shed light about the Halo universe.
Winter Contingency. Any difficulty. After driving across the first river, stay right and you will approach a group of buildings with Convenant in them. The datapad is hidden amongst those structures.
Winter Contingency (Legendary). Found only on Legendary difficulty. At the very start of the level, a cloaked Covenant Elite will run, from left to right, across your field of fire. To intercept the enemy, you need to move quickly downhill and shoot/kill the enemy before it flees the field. You can restart the mission if you miss it.
ONI Sword Base. Any difficulty. This pad is inside Sword Base, near the end of the level. Go into the big room with the walkways connecting its opposite sides. The pad is under the stairs on the third level.
ONI Sword Base (Legendary). Found only on Legendary difficulty. You head up a multi-tiered base (or tower) next to a comms antennae (this is outside). At the top of the base, go over the railing facing the surrounding cliffs; jump across a broken bridge between the base and rocky surroundings (it's at the top of the ramp to the top level), and explore the rocky plateau beyond for this datapad.
Nightfall. Any difficulty. At the start of the level, in the cave to your right.
Nightfall (Legendary). Found only on Legendary difficulty. After you regroup with the troops, head for the riverbed and follow the green beacon/lights; make a count. At the 5th beacon, get on top of the rock ledge above you, and follow the cliffside path (hop across the river to the other side). You cross back over a low stone overpass; continue following the cliffside trail back (upriver) after the overpass and you will locate the pad.
Tip of the Spear. Any difficulty. This pad is located after your first encounter the Zealot. Drop in the ruined facility and navigate a path to the room adjacent to the one you dropped into (before heading back outside). The pad is in there.
Tip of the Spear (Legendary). Found only on Legendary difficulty. You may want to take a vehicle along, to serve as a jump-pad (like the deployable shield in Halo 3). Locate the second Covenant anti-air gun emplacement and locate the drop off where the bridge was. Use your vehicle to get onto the broken bridge supports, and jump to the bridge section with the datapad.
Long Night of Solace. Any difficulty. This pad is found just before you lift off the planet. When you go into the launch facility, go to the room with the holo-display. Check behind the consoles for this item.
Long Night of Solace (Legendary). Found only on Legendary difficulty. This pad is found before entering the Saber. As you approach the ship, go up one flight of stairs, then turn left and jump to the nearby ledge. From that ledge, get to the next ledge up using a "grenade jump" (timing a jump so a grenade explosion boosts the height of your jump) or use a nearby environmental element to increase your jump height. The pad is at the second platform.
Exodus. Any difficulty. After meeting the soldiers with the jetpacks, jump across the broken gap and engage the enemies. There will be a green arrow sign (on a support pillar). Past this sign, immediately jumpjet yourself to the upper gantry to locate this pad.
Exodus (Legendary). Found only on Legendary difficulty. You will need a jetpack (like before). The pad is in the section of the stage just before Rally Point B, and after the large gap. Take out all enemies in the area (so no one kills you) and go to the area just before the painted "New Alexandria" sign on the building. There are two "vent" things high up on the face of the building; the pad is on the right vent. Use the jetpack to assist your jumps on the crossbeams on the building's side to reach yoru destination.
New Alexandria. Any difficulty. At the start of the level, fly your vehicle towards the red glow in the horizon and locate a shark-finned skyscraper with lateral black bands (windows) on its spine. The pad is on the roof of this building.
New Alexandria (Legendary). Found only on Legendary difficulty. The pad is located "behind" the starting point of the mission. Fly the vehicle to the building directly opposite the landing pad, and descend into the fog. The pad is on a fairly low ledge on the building's side.
The Package. Any difficulty. This item is found right before you trigger the elevator cut-scene that takes you to the excavation site. Stand directly before the green panel in the room with the lift, turn around 180° and look down to see what you were looking for.
The Package (Legendary). Found only on Legendary difficulty. The pad is in the area where you defend the scientist's lab, and you need a jet-pack (for the easiest time). Locate the bridge you need to cross to get to the lab, and jumpjet across the chasm to the left of the broken bridge. Go around corner of the base of the fortification/wall (it will be on your right) and you can find this pad.
Pillar of Autumn. Any difficulty. Just after "rally point A", you will be near a glass window in a long hallway. The pad is past the window.
Pillar of Autumn (Legendary). Found only on Legendary difficulty. Go across a work bridge to the "Sinoviet"; cross over and locate the pad on the building's roof (it's in a corner to the right of the bridgehead).
Lone Wolf (Legendary). Found only on Legendary difficulty. Let the credits finish, and you will be fighting in a sequence where your shields do not regenerate. This pad is found inside an elevated pipe near the a sniper rifle on a platform. Note that while reading this log entry, enemies can shoot (and kill) you.
Jun's Secret Message
If you play through any mission with Jun with you he may say "What, you don't like my cooking?" But if you play with subtitles and watch the opening cutscene for Tip of the Spear he will say "Time to bake that cake we made last night." It is odd. This may only work if you have the IWHBYD Skull on.
The Face on the Halo Returns
On Forgeworld (doesn't matter which map), walk out to the edge of the hangar and use your weapon to zoom in on the background where you see Halo making its huge loop around. At the base of the ring, you will see the face of Chris Carney among the clouds of the Halo. This can be seen in Halo 2 as well.
Fly a Pelican or Covenant Drop Ship
Note: You'll need a second cooperative player for this Easter egg. On New Alexandria, complete at least 3 objectives from the mission and you should be directed to the ONI building. A secret switch will now be available in the level. At this point, head back to Club Errera with the glowing red neon facade. If you are looking directly at the club from the front landing pad, the switch you need to hit is located on the building directly to the west (left).
Move to the northwest corner of the building at an altitude of about 850 ft. there is a nook here. Look on the underside of the overhang -- the "ceiling" -- in the nook and you should find a little green switch. The easiest way to hit this switch is to have one player stand on top of the aircraft while it hovers under the switch.
Once this switch is activated, fly directly south and through the large building with the giant, oblong gap near its apex. It is one of the taller buildings in that direction.
Fly through the gap in the building and your falcon will suddenly turn into a Pelican. If you are flying a Banshee (you'll need to sky jack it elsewhere in the level), you will turn into a covey dropship.
Wolf Picture
If you go into the armory and you angle the camera correctly you can see in the reflection of the helmet a picture of a wolf (easiest helmet to see the reflection is with the EVA helmet with the silver visor on).
Countdown Chatter
When playing on the map countdown in multiplayer go to the ramp between the two energy shafts were the Energy Sword is. Face towards the rest of the map and then head towards your right. After exiting the room with the energy shaft head towards the corner to your right -- basically, walk across the bridge to the east past the sword. If you stand there for a little bit you should start to hear radio transmissions which include ones between control and a commander of a squadron who reminds control his men aren't Spartans. The radio can be seen in the eastern corner.
Elite Rangers, Golden Elites
The "Golden Elites" or Elite Rangers (all named "Bob") are Elites with yellow armor and blue helmet visors. They appear in some levels and then quickly vanish into thin air if you don't kill them. It is unknown how difficulty level effects their appearances. You will get a medal for killing these called "Seek and Destroy." Nothing else is known about them. Here are some of the locations where you'll find these strange fellows:
Winter Contingency: On the Campaign level Winter Contingency, quickly make your way through the level and you will randomly encounter the "Elite Ranger". His armor is bright yellow and his helmet has a blue visor that shields his entire face. (He appears on both Legendary and Normal difficulty, but he seems to show up in different areas). Usually he appears during the part of the mission where you're driving Carter and Jorge around looking for the stranded marines. Kill him and you'll be rewarded with a special medal in your medal chest on Bungie.net. He will show up in your statistics as one of the types of enemies you've killed. In the stats section, it lists him as an Elite Ranger, and actually says his name is "Bob". -- Shamrock20
Nightfall: In the area where you meet up with the colonists fighting a pack of Covenant, this Elite appears -- and quickly dissapears -- amongst the buildings.
Tip of the Spear: On normal difficulty, when you arive at the Spire area with Jorge the Gold Ranger Elite (aka "Bob") will suddenly appear at the first "Bravo" capture point, in the game type Invasion, which would be on the left hand side of the multiplayer map: The Spire.
The Package: On the Package, once you enter the gate to Oni Sword Base (Rally Point Alpha), quickly head up the ramp and look to the left to spot the Elite. It's in the courtyard area where you meet up with Noble Team before heading into Sword Base.
The Pillar of Autumn: After the Bugger cave you'll come across two massive buildings in a valley. The second building you come to -- the one with both Data Pads -- has a a garage at one end (to the right when facing it). Inside the garage you'll find this Elite.
The Free Banshee Buttons on the Package
There are two switches that can be activated by two different players at the beginning of The Package -- this Easter Egg is different from the two panels that open Dr. Halsey's lab at the end of the level. You can do this on Normal; no need to start a Legendary game. Before you begin your switch hunting, eliminate all the enemies in the first area. Try to grab a Ghost as well. At the southern end of the lake is a shack. On the north side of the shack, look for a large crate against the wall. Use the Ghost or a melee attack to move this crate.
One person should stay right here. The other person should continue south and get in the Scorpion tank. Use it to destroy the sniper roosts and the turrets just to the south. Now, walk off the edge of the short cliff due south of where you picked up the Scorpion. Turn east and look for a glowing green panel on the cliff side where its meets the water. As soon as you hit this switch, a second switch will appear only very briefly on the wall in the lake, so coordinate this with your partner. When the second switch is activated in the lake, four Banshees will appear on the roof of the nearby building to the north.
Climb up and hop into a Banshee. You can freely explore the massive level, even the dogfight to the south. If you take out the AA cannons BEFORE you hit the switches (the AA guns seem to become invincible if you get the Banshees first) with the Scorpion, you can fly the Banshees through Sword Base's entrance gate and explore even more of the level.
You can even land on the mountains all around the area and get out without dying. Enjoy!
Access Dr. Halsey's Office
You'll need two players for this and you MUST play on Legendary. Skip to Rally Point Bravo on The Package. Play the level until Dr. Halsey announces her lab is open. Do not enter the lab or access the panel on the door to end the mission. If you don't have a Jet Pack, grab one from the northern side of the lab entrance area. They are on the wall without any flashy Armor Ability holograms so they are a bit hard to spot.
One player must stay in a safe spot while the other accesses a secret panel. Fly to the far eastern line of buildings. Run up the ramp and turn left, or north. A fenced off area on the upper level lines the out-of-bounds region to the northeast. Drop off the northeastern corner and ease your way towards the rocky out-of-bounds area below but do not touch it! Hover above it and look for a panel with a green light you can access on a girder. Hit X to activate it.
This will open a door on the north side of the Halsey's lab entrance. A half dozen Elites will stream out of here with Energy Swords. Fly over them or run a Ghost through them and enter the open door. You will then be transported to a hallway. Follow the hallway to the lab area where you can view a number of Easter Eggs, from readable data panels with inside jokes to old Halo art. Enjoy!
Reach Racer
On Mission 03, Oni: Sword Base, there are two hidden switches, marked as "doors" that you can open only with two players in a co-op match. Both switches can be found after Rally Point Alpha, where you must destroy the Wraiths. Switch A is found on the coast of the water just southeast of the buildings with a pair switches you must activate. It's on a pile of rocks near the frozen waterfall. You'll know you are standing in the right place when you get a message saying "Hold X to Open Door." Note: You must reload your weapon before getting this. Switch B is just past the AA cannon in the next area. A pile of rocks with some trees on it overlooks the vast, walled complex on the ice below the area. With both people standing in these places, press X simultaneously and a message will appear on screen saying "REACH RACER." You will then be warped to the Oni: Sword Base with two Gauss Cannon Wart Hogs ready for racing. You can race your friend through a course marked by red waypoints (you don't need to touch the waypoints, you just need to cruise past them). At the end of the race, the loser's Wart Hog explodes and you'll both be warped back to race anew.
Change Club Errera's Music and Brute Dance Party
In Mission 7, you can change the music to the tracks "Never Surrender" and "Siege of Madrigal" in Club Errera. During Mission 7, once you get to the Club Errera part of the mission, head back to the hospital. Fly to a ledge below the usual entrance. If you chose the right one, when you get out you should see a green light. Once found, activate it and go back to Club Errera. Land and when you walk in the song "Never Surrender" will be playing. If you want to change the music again, go back to your Falcon and fly to the roof of Club Errera. Guess what, there's another switch. Activate it and the song "Siege of Madrigal" will now be playing.
If you return to the dance club after you clear it out (Hunters included) then a Brute DJ will be spinning records, a Brute tends the bar and Grunts get freaky.
