Halo Campaign Evolved Guide: All Skull Locations and Effects in 'A Heavy Burden'

Mastering the Remake: The Return of the Skulls

Halo Campaign Evolved, the stunning Unreal Engine 5 remake of the legendary Combat Evolved, stays true to the franchise's roots by incorporating one of its most beloved features: Skulls. These collectibles are scattered across the campaign, and once collected, they can be activated in subsequent playthroughs to modify gameplay. Some skulls provide a humorous twist, while others significantly ramp up the difficulty or change the tactical approach to combat.

The bonus missions added to this remake offer fresh challenges and new opportunities to expand your collection. One of the most demanding of these is the mission titled 'A Heavy Burden.' To help you achieve 100% completion, we have detailed exactly where to find the three hidden skulls in this level and what they do to your game experience.

Detailed Skull Locations in 'A Heavy Burden'

Finding these collectibles requires a mix of exploration, combat prowess, and quick reflexes. Here is the step-by-step guide to locating all three.

1. The 'One-Eyed' Skull (Borgne)

To find this first collectible, it is recommended to start a new game of the mission and proceed directly to Rally Point Bravo. As you approach the early section of the level, you will encounter a bridge guarded by several enemies. Instead of crossing the main bridge immediately, look to your left where a smaller bridge is located. Pass through the door and follow the path until you hit a dead end. Tucked away at the end of this path, you will find the One-Eyed Skull.

2. 'Grunt Birthday Party' Skull (La fête aux Grognards)

Continuing past Rally Point Bravo, you will enter a sprawling, three-tiered golden area filled with Covenant forces. Your primary objective here is to clear out all enemies in the vicinity. Once the area is secure, scan the environment for the towering rock pillars. The Grunt Birthday Party Skull is perched precariously at the very top of one of these pillars. Ensure you have a clear line of sight and the mobility to reach the peak.

3. 'Health and Wealth' Skull (Quand la santé va)

The final skull is the most challenging to obtain, requiring precise timing and speed. This collectible is located after Rally Point Charlie on the moving platform sequence leading toward the end of the level. After the platform makes its first stop and you reactivate it, four doors will open. You must quickly jump into the second area to the left. You will have a strict 10-second window to sprint to the back of the platform and grab the Health and Wealth Skull before the environment triggers an automatic death. Speed is essential here!

Gameplay Effects: What Do These Skulls Do?

Once you have unlocked these skulls, you can activate them to change the rules of engagement. Here is a breakdown of the effects for the skulls found in 'A Heavy Burden':

• One-Eyed: This skull disables auto-aim for all weapons. This significantly increases the difficulty, forcing you to rely entirely on your manual aiming skills.
• Grunt Birthday Party: A fan-favorite effect. Whenever you land a headshot on a Grunt, they will explode into a shower of colorful confetti instead of the usual defeat animation.
• Health and Wealth: This provides a tactical advantage. When you eliminate enemies while your health is completely full, they will drop additional ammunition, helping you stay stocked during intense firefights.