Editing Cortana (level)/Walkthrough

==General Walkthrough==

The recommended active skulls on this mission are [[Halo 3 Skulls#Tough Luck|Tough Luck]] and [[Halo 3 Skulls#Catch|Catch]]. Tough Luck doesn't have much of an effect since the room for the Flood to evade your grenades is limited. As for Catch, the Flood don't use grenades, so it's a consequence-free multiplier.

Also note that the Flood-infested ''High Charity'' has changed a lot since [[Gravemind (Level)|you were teleported there by the Gravemind]] in ''Halo 2''. It is disturbingly easy to lose your way, so always pay attention. Beating this mission is a matter of measured progression, and the right weaponry is essential. The Brute Shot, Energy Sword, Shotgun, Plasma Rifle and Gravity Hammer are highly recommended weapons against the Flood here. The confined spaces make for several close-quarters battles, so good Melee weapons can always be useful. There are many irritating [[Flood Ranged Form|Ranged Forms]] that hang from the ceilings, so a medium to long-ranged firearm is also essential.

Shotguns are also very useful, but ammo is very limited. Use it until you make it to the crashed Pelican, get the ammo, and make sure you have an Assault Rifle, SMG, or Plasma Rifle to take care of swarming [[Flood Infection Form|Infection Forms]]. Make sure to pick up the Flamethrower to incinerate anything in your way.

===Search for Cortana===
Drop down and fire upon the Infection Forms. Unless you're actively seeking a higher score, make sure they do not re-animate any of the nearby corpses. Replace your [[Assault Rifle]] with a [[Plasma Rifle]] and collect some grenades before moving on. Plasma-based weaponry is more effective against shielded [[Flood Combat Form|Combat Forms]], should you encounter any. Throughout this mission, take care not to shoot the [[Flood Growth Pods]] on the walls; they will release many Infection Forms if hit with anything other than a direct [[Flamethrower]] burst.

As you round the corner, a few Flood Growth Pods will automatically explode. Eliminate them quickly so that they don't re-animate any bodies. Head up the sloped path to reach the chamber's upper level. Find some grenades and grab a second Plasma Rifle to dual-wield with the first. Also replace your Shotgun with an Energy Sword.

When you reach the [[Porta]] in the floor, drop through it and immediately take cover in the corner behind you. After a moment or two, Combat Forms will move into the open. Blast them one-by-one with your Plasma Rifle, ducking back into cover if your shields are down or if your weapons have overheated. After the Combat Forms withdraw, [[Flood Carrier Form|Carrier Forms]] will start waddling towards you. Destroy them with grenades - [[Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade|Plasma]] and [[Type-3 Antipersonnel/Antimatériel Incendiary Grenade|Incendiary Grenades]] work best. If you can find a Brute Shot around here, replace your Plasma Rifles with it.

Expect to find many [[Pure Form|Pure Forms]] and Combat Forms on top of the fleshy hill. The best tactic here is to dash over to the crashed Pelican straight away. The journey there could be a bit fraught, but you can find useful equipment there -- the Flamethrower in particular. Using the Flamethrower will make the battle much easier, especially on higher difficulties. If you're lucky, the Flood won't follow you as you flee to the Pelican. Camp there, luring Combat and Pure Forms towards you; the latter are easy prey for the Flamethrower.

Be cautious as you leave the Pelican -- Pure Forms and Combat Forms might be still lurking around. Run to the other side of the hill, and make your way to the chamber exit. Note that a slope to the left of the portal leads to an upper level where you can acquire two Plasma Grenades and an Incendiary Grenade. The next corridor is empty, and easy to find your way through.

The room after that contains a small slope and several Infection Forms. The chamber is filled with dead Elites and Brutes, as well as some grenades; replenish your grenade supply, but first use short bursts of flame from the Flamethrower to stop the Infection Forms from taking advantage of the corpses in the room. You can throw a grenade to set off a chain reaction and weaken or kill any corpses that do get re-animated. In the next tunnel, grab either a Gravity Hammer or Energy Sword (your choice), and then drop through the hole to continue.

After you pass through the entrance, head straight to the left. This area provides cover from a group of Ranged Forms as you dismember the first wave of Combat Forms in close combat. Operate from here, drawing the Flood to your position.

===Co-op Method===
Another way to beat this mission would be to use a better player to escort you in Co-op.  Follow them, and don't stop to kill anything -- just run to each checkpoint. Keep the [[Energy Sword]] handy if you run into some trouble but you can take whatever weapons you feel like (though you should probably let your more experienced friend have first pick). This only works on lower difficulty modes, though, and even then, you will still die a lot.

==Speed Run Walkthrough==

=== Introduction ===
Out of every campaign level in ''Halo 3'', Cortana is usually judged as the hardest. The endless amounts of Flood that attack you and the limited amount of ammo you have determine the difficulty of this level, and on Legendary, it will be nearly impossible to tackle this task.

Many people have attempted to beat this level by actually fighting their way through the level - and as some may have completed it this way - it will be a challenge that only the best of the best can complete. Many people take a strategy that some call cheating, being lazy, etc. but it is by far the strategy that will provide the best results in the end.

This is called the "Running Man" strategy, where instead of fighting the Flood, you simply run as fast as you can through the whole level, and with a little luck, your life will be a lot easier.

=== MISSION START ===
When the level starts, you will spawn with a shotgun. This will be useful for a short while, but we will swap it out later. Progress through the infection forms running, don't waste your ammo on them. Once you get to the point were the combat forms spawn, throw a frag grenade at them and they should all be dead. Continue running, and then you should get to the point were you drop through the hole in the floor.

Once you enter here, you will be bombarded by Flood. I would actually fight these, because normally there is one with an energy sword, which will definitely come into use later on in the level. When the carrier forms attack you, throw a firebomb grenade and you will be able to skip the infection forms. 

The next room is one of the most difficult places in the level, so be prepared to keep at it for awhile. First of all, when you get to the nav point a convoy of Flood will attempt to kill you. This is were the Running Man strategy comes into play. On the left wall, there is a Pelican on the ledge, and in this Pelican is both a Flamethrower and a Rocket Launcher. It is strongly recommended to swapp out your shotgun for your rocket launcher, because it will be vital for completing this level.

Once you get your weapons, run as fast as you can through this room, jumping at every second and avoiding the flood at all costs. It may take awhile, but eventually you should reach the end. Near the end door, there are a few carrier forms, so be aware of the fact that if your shields are down they will kill you fast.

Once you get to the end, you get to a room with a few regenerating Flood. In the room somewhere there is a Brute Shot, so swap out your energy sword for the Brute Shot.

Once you drop through the hole in the floor, you will enter another difficult point of the level. There are loads of flood, mostly pure forms that change into ranged and tank forms, that will all be trying to take you down. For the ranged forms that stick to the walls, I recommend taking them out with a shot of your rocket launcher, and try to kill the tank forms with your Brute Shot.

Once you are able to hopefully get to the center of the room where the Tank Form is, there is what makes the level a vacation for you. Near the center of the room, there is a cloaking device, that allows you to skip through a part of the level undetected. Get this now, because the next part is going to be determined by how you use you rocket launcher and your cloaking.

Once you reach the thin hallway that leads to the room with the 2 carrier forms, be sure to take them out with your Brute Shot and destroy whatever else enters the room. Then, instead of running through the bottom where the flood have an advantage on you, there is a small ledge before you enter the room where you can actually got through the room on the roof, which give you an advantage.

First off, I hope you still have the cloaking, because you definitely need to switch it on here. There are endless amounts of combat forms that come out of the exit, and unless you attempt to take them all out with your rocket launcher, which is very possible, you will need your cloaking to survive, because there about eight other pure forms in the room, and are normally transformed into ranged forms.

Once you exit this room, check your ammo to make sure you aren't out. By now, you are nearly done with your rocket launcher, so if needed you could swap it out if on low or no ammo. As far as your Brute Shot, keep it for sure.

The next room is another annoying part, so be patient and prepared to be at it for awhile. First off, it is the same story as the last room, cloaking is necessary. In one of the narrow hallways there are two cloaking devices. First off, get one and use it to progress to the end of the room. For the second one, keep it for later.

Once you get near the door, your cloaking will wear out, so if your shields get down, definitely use the second cloaking. Run to the next door, and pick up the Brute Shot ammo next to the door.

After the long path to the area were you get to save Cortana, there are plenty of Flood there, but it is not nearly as difficult as the first challenging room.

When you get there you should be on a ledge with a few pure and combat forms, so try to take them down with your brute shot. When you get to the middle of the room, try to take some of the Flood down from range. There are lots of places for cover here, so use them when you are close to death. Then on the opposite end of the center tile, there is another cloaking on the right end. There is also a ranged form here, so strafe and jump to avoid being killed. When you get the cloaking, hurry to the door were you save Cortana.

When you reach Cortana, simply melee the glass globe that she is in and watch the cutscene.

After the cutscene, you will find yourself back in the same area you where in before. Now you have to work your way to the center tile and press the button that will open a few things that you have to blow up. While fighting off the Flood, get out your Brute Shot and shoot at the nav points on your screen. One shot should do just fine. If you get down on health, activate your cloaking.

After this, you have to run out of the room and in to the same room you where in before. If you notice, you are going in the same path you were to get to this area, but backwards instead of forward.

Once you get to the hole in the floor, take out the combat forms with your brute shot and stay on the top always. Just keep running and running, and try to kill all of the Flood in your way.

Once you finally get to the room were you got your first cloaking, try to take it slow and kill the Flood one at a time, because a lot of them have brute shots and shotguns, and they could kill you quickly.

Once you break through the wall of Flood, keep running and running, and eventually you will reach the first room that all of the Flood have attacked you in. If you listen, Cortana will mention something about a "friendly contact" and you will notice that the Arbiter has joined you, with a flamethrower. Just simply let him do the killing, and run past all of the Flood to the Pelican where you got your rocket launcher at. Go in the Pelicans troop bay and the mission will end.

==Legendary Walkthrough==

Cortana is probably the hardest level in any Halo campaign game.  But it can be beaten by a good player.  The secret is to make the most of what you have.

*'''Know how to use every weapon to its greatest effect.'''
:Unless you have beaten the level on lower difficulties, keep your MA5C, no matter what.  You'll need its compass.  There really isn't any weapon that is weak in all situations.  The only exception is a Plasma Pistol overcharge—while it takes out Brute armor very effectively, it does little to the Flood.  If you get a Plasma Pistol, use normal shots.  The [[M7057 Defoliant Projector|Flamethrower]] uses approximately the same amount of fuel for killing a [[Combat Form]] as for killing a [[Pure Form]]; therefore, save it to kill Pure Forms.  Human weapons provide an advantage if you are using a [[Deployable Cover]] in that you can remain where you are--safe--and fire on the enemy.  [[Type-25 Carbine|Spikers]] are particularly effective against [[Flood Ranged Form|Ranged Forms]].  Don't hoard weapons continuously, despite how much you may think you need them--if you hoard too many, you will overload the map.  The most common result is that some weapons disappear or fall through the floor.  But if you are trying to beat the level with Iron or else with minimal death, hoarding weapons is your best bet, although it is time-consuming.

*'''Know how to use grenades.'''
:Try to use most of your grenades, but keep at least two stickies (anything that is not a Frag).  These are particularly effective against [[Carrier Forms]] because they kill not only the Carrier Forms themselves, but also the [[Infection Forms]] inside them.  If you are having trouble killing something, say, a Pure Form in the large room near the halfway point, go ahead and throw a grenade.

*'''Know how to use equipment.'''
:If you are a Halo 1/2 veteran, you probably made it this far, with difficulty, without using equipment.  But on Cortana, equipment becomes a necessity.  Deployable Covers are probably the best equipment; they do not self-destruct after a while, unlike any other equipment, and you can fire while protected if you are carrying a human weapon.  ''Note:  The Carbine cannot fire through Deployable Cover.''  If you cannot find Deployable Cover, use a Bubble Shield, as lesser forms enter your shield, you can kill them without worrying about exposing yourself to Ranged Forms.  But when the timer goes out, you will be exposed.  The Cloaking is only good for speedruns.

*'''Have good aim.'''
:Conserving ammo is of course an issue, and killing enemies quickly has always been an issue.  But there is now another penalty for missing:  you may hit a [[Flood Growth Pods|Flood Growth Pod]] and release Infection Forms as a result.  These can reanimate corpses that you have not yet destroyed, or they can finish you off after you take cover from several Ranged Forms.  Be sure all of your shots hit the enemies.

Skulls:

*'''Iron'''
:Not recommended due to the length and difficulty of this level.  If you do use it, hoarding weapons will work well, although it will extend the time required to complete the level to several hours.
*'''Black Eye'''
:There are no Regenerators and many Ranged Forms.  Not recommended.
*'''Tough Luck'''
:A consequence-free multiplier; the Flood don't dodge.
*'''Catch'''
:Activate this skull if you have it; the Flood don't use grenades, but they will drop more when they die, and will cause many deadly chain reactions if you throw a grenade near one.
*'''Fog'''
:You will be surrounded very easily.  The least recommended skull.
*'''Famine'''
:Low enough ammo as it is.  Not recommended.
*'''Thunderstorm'''
:Nearly consequence-free; a few more shielded Combat Forms are all that will result.
*'''Tilt'''
:Will decrease the damage Plasma Rifles, which are otherwise very useful.  Not recommended.
*'''Mythic'''
:Will result in consumption of more ammo.  Not recommended.

===Part 1: Rampant===

You start out with an Assault Rifle and a Shotgun.  Advance through the first room; you will encounter weak resistance.  Be sure to melee corpses when you have killed them, just in case you accidentally burst some Growth Pods.

The second room contains the first Pure Forms of the level, but not yet.  Kill the Combat Forms, then walk up the ramp.  At the top, you will aggro a CQB weapon Elite form and several [[Flood Stalker Form|Stalker Forms]].  Quickly kill the CQB-weapon wielding form and take its ammo if it does not involve taking chances.  The stalkers will transform into [[Tank Forms]] in most cases; retreat to the ramp and pump rounds into them until they die.  Sometimes they will convert into Ranged Forms--a few melees often will kill them.  If it is unsafe to melee, a Plasma Rifle works well because it will kill a Ranged Form before it overheats as long as every shot fired hits and the rifle was not recently used.  Stick the Carrier Forms (it is best if you use a different grenade type for each).  Then deal with the rest of the Flood in this area.  You will need most of the weapons you obtained and several grenades.  Pick up the Deployable Cover, but keep it.  The rest of this section is easy until the one-way drop.  “Walk” all of the weapons in the area into the drop, then drop down.  To walk weapons, continuously run and hold <span style="font-family:courier">RB</span>, momentarily releasing the button whenever you pick up one of your weapons.  This takes some finesse, but you will quickly get used to it.  But before you do this throughout the level, please read what I said about hoarding weapons.

Deal with the immediate Flood threat, then rush forward and set up your Deployable Cover.  The best place for it is to the left of the weapon drop pod, angled 45 degrees to the left.  Alternatively, fire from the intersection-room if you have gathered weapons from the previous section.  Use your MA5C or another human weapon to take out the Pure Forms (you can shoot through the cover itself from your side).  If the Flood gather into a tight group, save some ammo and throw a grenade.  Run past the cover to the back; it is safe and has a few Plasma Rifles as well as another Deployable Cover.  Pick off the Ranged Forms (use your binoculars to track them down).  When they are all wasted, take note of the weapon cache below you because you will return to it several times.  Run off the center of the cache; the path ahead leads off of this room slightly to the right of the wall you face.  But before you do so, get the Tilt Skull if you would like.

Stick the Carrier Forms and the Ranged Form.  Be careful with the Growth Pods.  The next room is quite elongated and contains several Ranged Forms as well as Combat Forms.  Look up and to the left—the arch is a good place to deploy your Cover.  Pick off the Ranged Forms.  When the Combat Forms show up, retreat while pumping rounds into them.  Throughout your progress through this room, you will probably make several trips back to the cache in the last large room.  You will also find two Deployable Covers there.  Use grenades as necessary.  After the room is clear, look to the right of the entrance; you will see a destroyed hallway with a panel blown off.  Enter the service corridor and you will find an M7057 Flamethrower.  For as long as you have it, save it for Pure Forms.

After this, go through the Porta into the next room.  Burn any Stalker Forms you find, but when the Combat Forms show up, switch to your small arms.  There is a tunnel structure to the right where you can take cover.  Using a Carbine and a Spiker, kill all Flood in the room.  First worry about immediate threats, then Stalker Forms, then Ranged Forms, and finally Combat Forms.  There are three levels to this room, and you will have to make two jumps.  Fortunately, you can make both with your Flamethrower.  Continue through the next room with the bones (surprising, considering the fact that the Flood need calcium); there will be no resistance.

Enter the reactor room.  Turn right and advance, burning any Pure Forms in your way.  Kill all of them.  If you were frugal with your Flamethrower, it should burn out sometime around now.  Cross the reactor core, then go through the doors.  You should see that the Flood infestation is quite limited in this area.  Cortana will turn green and say, “This is UNSC AI Serial Number CTN 0452-9. I am a monument to all your sins.”  Enter the Sanctum.  Cortana is in the center—beat the barrier surrounding her until it fails (2 swings of an Energy Sword or 1 hit of a Grav Hammer).

===Part 2: Nor Hell A Fury===

Watch the cutscene, then return to the reactor room.  A Bubble Shield will be useful here; kill the Tank Form to the left and the Ranged Forms to the right.  If, instead, you have a Deployable Cover, place it so that it shields you against the Ranged Forms.  A Tank Form's hit can quickly destroy Cover, but the Cover is immune to the Ranged Forms' projectiles.  Similarly kill all of the other Flood in the area.  Prioritize:  first anything nearby using an Energy Sword, then any Pure Forms, and finally Combat Forms.  Destroy the pylons (the nav points will help you).

Drop down into the earlier part of the level and kill any Flood you see while retreating.  Continue through the level, generally the reverse of how you entered.  You will encounter minor Flood resistance.  When you get to the room where you first fought Pure Forms, look out and you will see a damaged Pelican.  Run to the cockpit of the Pelican to complete the mission.
[[Category:Halo 3]]
[[Category:Halo 3 Campaign]]
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Status|Gameplay}}
+==General Walkthrough==
-{{Walkthrough infobox
-||era=[[Halo 3]]
-|prev=[[The Covenant (level)/Walkthrough|The Covenant]]
-|next=[[Halo (Halo 3 level)/Walkthrough|Halo]]
-|name=[[Cortana (level)|Cortana]]
-|image=[[File:High Charity Infested.jpg|300px]]
-|player=[[John-117]]
-|objective=Rescue Cortana and destroy ''High Charity''
-|location=''[[High Charity]]''
-|starting weapons=[[M90 shotgun]]
-<br>[[MA5C assault rifle]]
-|new weapons=
-|enemies=[[Flood]]
-|skulls=
-|pagegamelabel=H3
-}}
-{{Article quote|Cleanse High Charity. Save Cortana.}}
-This is a walkthrough for the level [[Cortana (level)|Cortana]], structured for play on [[Legendary]] difficulty with notes for lower difficulty levels. Cortana is the penultimate level of ''[[Halo 3]]'', and arguably one of the most difficult of the franchise. Your mission as stated is to find [[Cortana]] on the [[High Charity]], free her from the [[Gravemind]] and eliminate the [[The Flood|Flood]].
+The recommended active skulls on this mission are [[Halo 3 Skulls#Tough Luck|Tough Luck]] and [[Halo 3 Skulls#Catch|Catch]]. Tough Luck doesn't have much of an effect since the room for the Flood to evade your grenades is limited. As for Catch, the Flood don't use grenades, so it's a consequence-free multiplier.
-Your most valuable pieces of [[equipment]] in this level are [[Deployable Cover]]s and [[Bubble Shield]]s. [[Cloaking]] is also handy but extremely rare. It is recommended that you always have a Deployable Cover with you. [[Grenade]]s are also your friends here; [[Anskum-pattern plasma grenade|Plasma Grenades]] are very effective against [[Flood ranged form|Flood Ranged Forms]] and [[Flood carrier form|Flood Carrier Forms]], and [[M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade|Fragmentation Grenades]] will thin out large groups of Flood and bring down shields on any shielded [[Flood combat form|Flood Combat Forms]]. Beware, though: if you have bad aim, you will be penalized in this level. [[Flood blister|Flood Blisters]] line High Charity's walls and if you are inaccurate you will unleash torrents of [[Pod infector]]s that will make you waste valuable ammunition and probably kill you. Once you've killed all the Flood in a room, melee their corpses to prevent re-animation of them.
+Also note that the Flood-infested ''High Charity'' has changed a lot since [[Gravemind (Level)|you were teleported there by the Gravemind]] in ''Halo 2''. It is disturbingly easy to lose your way, so always pay attention. Beating this mission is a matter of measured progression, and the right weaponry is essential. The Brute Shot, Energy Sword, Shotgun, Plasma Rifle and Gravity Hammer are highly recommended weapons against the Flood here. The confined spaces make for several close-quarters battles, so good Melee weapons can always be useful. There are many irritating [[Flood Ranged Form|Ranged Forms]] that hang from the ceilings, so a medium to long-ranged firearm is also essential.
-Using [[Halo 3 skulls|Skulls]] on this level is not a good idea for inexperienced players, but using the Catch skull provides you with a distinct advantage, as the Flood do not use grenades, but upon death, they will almost always provide them with this skull active.
+Shotguns are also very useful, but ammo is very limited. Use it until you make it to the crashed Pelican, get the ammo, and make sure you have an Assault Rifle, SMG, or Plasma Rifle to take care of swarming [[Flood Infection Form|Infection Forms]]. Make sure to pick up the Flamethrower to incinerate anything in your way.
-== Starting Weapons ==
+===Search for Cortana===
-{|class="wikitable" border="1"
+Drop down and fire upon the Infection Forms. Unless you're actively seeking a higher score, make sure they do not re-animate any of the nearby corpses. Replace your [[Assault Rifle]] with a [[Plasma Rifle]] and collect some grenades before moving on. Plasma-based weaponry is more effective against shielded [[Flood Combat Form|Combat Forms]], should you encounter any. Throughout this mission, take care not to shoot the [[Flood Growth Pods]] on the walls; they will release many Infection Forms if hit with anything other than a direct [[Flamethrower]] burst.
-|colspan=1|'''Player V<br />Starting Point >'''
-|colspan=1|'''Mission Start'''
-|colspan=1|'''Rally Point Alpha'''
-|colspan=1|'''Mission Start<br />Respawn'''
-|colspan=1|'''Rally Point Alpha<br />Respawn'''
-|-
-|colspan=1|'''[[John-117|Master Chief]] Primary Weapon<br />Solo'''
-|colspan=1| [[M90 Close Assault Weapon System#Halo 3 and Halo 3.3A ODST|M90A Close Assault Weapon System]]
-|colspan=1| M90A Close Assault Weapon System
-|colspan=1| N/A
-|colspan=1| N/A
-|-
-|colspan=1|'''Master Chief Secondary Weapon<br />Solo'''
-|colspan=1| [[MA5C Individual Combat Weapon System|MA5C Assault Rifle]]
-|colspan=1| MA5C Assault Rifle
-|colspan=1| N/A
-|colspan=1| N/A
-|-
-|colspan=1|'''Master Chief Grenades<br />Solo'''
-|colspan=1|
-|colspan=1|
-|colspan=1| N/A
-|colspan=1| N/A
-|-
-|colspan=1|'''Master Chief Primary Weapon<br />Co-op'''
-|colspan=1| M90A Close Assault Weapon System
-|colspan=1| M90A Close Assault Weapon System
-|colspan=1| M90A Close Assault Weapon System
-|colspan=1| M90A Close Assault Weapon System
-|-
-|colspan=1|'''Master Chief Secondary Weapon<br />Co-op'''
-|colspan=1| MA5C Assault Rifle
-|colspan=1| MA5C Assault Rifle
-|colspan=1| MA5C Assault Rifle
-|colspan=1| MA5C Assault Rifle
-|-
-|colspan=1|'''Master Chief Grenades<br />Co-op'''
-|colspan=1| 2 [[M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade]]
-|colspan=1| 2 [[M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade]]
-|colspan=1| N/A
-|colspan=1| N/A
-|-
-|colspan=1|'''Thel 'Vadam Primary Weapon<br />N'tho 'Sraom Primary Weapon<br />Usze 'Taham Primary Weapon'''
-|colspan=1|
-[[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword]]
+As you round the corner, a few Flood Growth Pods will automatically explode. Eliminate them quickly so that they don't re-animate any bodies. Head up the sloped path to reach the chamber's upper level. Find some grenades and grab a second Plasma Rifle to dual-wield with the first. Also replace your Shotgun with an Energy Sword.
-|colspan=1|Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword
-|colspan=1|Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword
-|colspan=1|Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword
-|-
-|colspan=1|'''Thel 'Vadam Secondary Weapon<br />N'tho 'Sraom Secondary Weapon<br />Usze 'Taham Secondary Weapon'''
-|colspan=1|{{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}
-|colspan=1|Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle
-|colspan=1|Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle
-|colspan=1|Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle
-|-
-|colspan=1|'''Thel 'Vadam Grenades<br />N'tho 'Sraom Grenades<br />Usze 'Taham Grenades'''
-|colspan=1| 2 {{Pattern|Anskum|plasma grenade}}
-|colspan=1| 2 {{Pattern|Anskum|plasma grenade}}
-|colspan=1| N/A
-|colspan=1| N/A
-|}
-==Part 1: Rampant==
+When you reach the [[Porta]] in the floor, drop through it and immediately take cover in the corner behind you. After a moment or two, Combat Forms will move into the open. Blast them one-by-one with your Plasma Rifle, ducking back into cover if your shields are down or if your weapons have overheated. After the Combat Forms withdraw, [[Flood Carrier Form|Carrier Forms]] will start waddling towards you. Destroy them with grenades - [[Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade|Plasma]] and [[Type-3 Antipersonnel/Antimatériel Incendiary Grenade|Incendiary Grenades]] work best. If you can find a Brute Shot around here, replace your Plasma Rifles with it.
-===I'd Say Wipe Your Feet, But... You Know.===
-You will start this mission with the [[M90 Close Assault Weapon System|M90 Shotgun]] and the [[MA5C Individual Combat Weapon System|MA5C Assault Rifle]]. At the mission start, use your Assault Rifle to clean out the Infection Forms. Make sure they do not re-animate any of the nearby corpses. Collect some grenades before moving on. Plasma-based weaponry is more effective against shielded Flood, should you encounter any, but for now stick to your current weapons.
-As you round the corner, a few Flood Blisters will automatically explode. Eliminate them quickly so that the infection Forms don't re-animate any bodies. Head up the sloped path to reach the chamber's upper level. Find some grenades and replace your Shotgun with an [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|Energy Sword]].
+Expect to find many [[Pure Form|Pure Forms]] and Combat Forms on top of the fleshy hill. The best tactic here is to dash over to the crashed Pelican straight away. The journey there could be a bit fraught, but you can find useful equipment there -- the Flamethrower in particular. Using the Flamethrower will make the battle much easier, especially on higher difficulties. If you're lucky, the Flood won't follow you as you flee to the Pelican. Camp there, luring Combat and Pure Forms towards you; the latter are easy prey for the Flamethrower.
-When you reach the [[porta]] in the floor, drop through it and immediately take cover in the corner behind you. Stay sharp because combat forms with human weapons will appear. Take them down with quick bursts from your Assault Rifle, then close in on them and finish them off with the Energy Sword. Back away slowly and look out for the Carrier Forms that will appear. Use a grenade that sticks (Plasma, [[Type-2 Antipersonnel Fragmentation Grenade|Spike]] or [[Orgudam Workshop firebomb|Incendiary]]) to kill them. When killed with a grenade, Carrier Forms won't unleash Infection Forms.
+Be cautious as you leave the Pelican -- Pure Forms and Combat Forms might be still lurking around. Run to the other side of the hill, and make your way to the chamber exit. Note that a slope to the left of the portal leads to an upper level where you can acquire two Plasma Grenades and an Incendiary Grenade. The next corridor is empty, and easy to find your way through.
-===Where The Hell Did This Come From?===
+The room after that contains a small slope and several Infection Forms. The chamber is filled with dead Elites and Brutes, as well as some grenades; replenish your grenade supply, but first use short bursts of flame from the Flamethrower to stop the Infection Forms from taking advantage of the corpses in the room. You can throw a grenade to set off a chain reaction and weaken or kill any corpses that do get re-animated. In the next tunnel, grab either a Gravity Hammer or Energy Sword (your choice), and then drop through the hole to continue.
-For the next area you'll want to be quick. Follow the path up and around. You should see a couple of Deployable Covers here. Grab one and make your way to the large opening in the wall, leading outside the High Charity. There are many Combat Forms here as well as [[Flood stalker form|Stalker Forms]] that like to become Ranged Forms. Load up on ammunition here at the [[D77H-TCI Pelican|Pelican]] and get ready to move. You can grab the [[M7057/Defoliant Projector|Flamethrower]] here. It can be a great help on lower difficulties, but on Legendary difficulty it is best to leave it: you will probably end up getting killed by burning Flood forms. If you choose to leave it here, it will greatly help at the end of the level (which is at the Pelican). From here you have a choice, you can set up your Deployable Cover and shoot out the Combat and Ranged forms, or you can run past them. You're going to need as much ammunition as possible, so while you could clean out this area (and if you're playing the [[Campaign Scoring|Meta-Game]] for points you should) you're much better off just running back inside, going to the left, and making your way to the porta and to the next area. The Flood will not follow you once the porta closes.
-The room behind the porta contains a small slope and several Infection Forms. The chamber is filled with dead [[Sangheili|Elites]] and [[Jiralhanae|Brutes]], as well as some grenades. You can throw a grenade to set off a chain reaction and weaken or kill any Flood that re-animates. Finish the Flood off with the Energy Sword. In the next tunnel, grab either a [[Gravity hammer (fiction)|Gravity Hammer]] (good for clearing away Flood if you get surrounded) or a new Energy Sword (usually the best choice), and then drop through the hole in the floor to continue.
+After you pass through the entrance, head straight to the left. This area provides cover from a group of Ranged Forms as you dismember the first wave of Combat Forms in close combat. Operate from here, drawing the Flood to your position.
-===The Control Room. To Your Left, Right, Up And Down, You'll See A Good Chance Of Death===
+===Co-op Method===
-Once you're through the hole, run forward and set up your Deployable Cover. You can shoot through it with your Assault Rifle, and it will provide you with excellent cover from the Ranged Forms. Draw in the Combat and [[Flood tank form|Tank Forms]] and finish them off with the Energy Sword (remember to lunge at their "mouths"). Once you're down to just Ranged Forms use your Assault Rifle to clear out a path. Run to the right side of the room. From there you should have a good cover and a perch from which you can finish off any remaining Ranged Forms on the ceiling. Switch to your Energy Sword and finish off any remaining Ranged or Tank Forms that may be present on the ground. Now go back to your Deployable Cover at the entrance of the room. When you look to the left of the place where you dropped the cover you will see a Covenant weapons case with a [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]] inside. Swap your Assault Rifle for the Needler, then head underneath the platform. Here you can grab a couple Incendiary Grenades, another Deployable Cover, and load up your Needler. The Cortana [[Terminal (Halo 3)|Terminal]] is also located here.
+Another way to beat this mission would be to use a better player to escort you in Co-op.  Follow them, and don't stop to kill anything -- just run to each checkpoint. Keep the [[Energy Sword]] handy if you run into some trouble but you can take whatever weapons you feel like (though you should probably let your more experienced friend have first pick). This only works on lower difficulty modes, though, and even then, you will still die a lot.
-Go forward again, around the corner. You will run into two Carrier Forms. Stick the first one with a grenade and let it explode. Don't stick the second Form right away. If you do you will probably end up popping some Growth Pods. Lure the Carrier Form forward and stick a grenade on it at the place where you did so with the first Carrier Form. Take out your Needler and edge forward. Use the Needler in the next long corridor to take out the Ranged Forms. It takes the better part of a caddy to kill them, but it's incredibly fast and effective so it's worth the waste. Run back to the room where the Cortana terminal is to reload the Needler if you need, then head forward again. You will trigger several Combat Forms including several shielded ones. Use what's left of your Needler to take down their shields and finish them off with the Energy Sword. A Bubble Shield is extraordinarily effective here because the Combat Forms won't be able to fire at you, forcing them to move into melee range. Once they're in range of your Energy Sword, they're dead. Once you've cleared the area head back to the Cortana terminal room again and grab a [[Type-51 Carbine|Carbine]], a new Energy Sword and the Cloaking equipment. Head forward to the next porta and get ready for another long fight.
+==Speed Run Walkthrough==
+=== Introduction ===
+Out of every campaign level in ''Halo 3'', Cortana is usually judged as the hardest. The endless amounts of Flood that attack you and the limited amount of ammo you have determine the difficulty of this level, and on Legendary, it will be nearly impossible to tackle this task.
+Many people have attempted to beat this level by actually fighting their way through the level - and as some may have completed it this way - it will be a challenge that only the best of the best can complete. Many people take a strategy that some call cheating, being lazy, etc. but it is by far the strategy that will provide the best results in the end.
+This is called the "Running Man" strategy, where instead of fighting the Flood, you simply run as fast as you can through the whole level, and with a little luck, your life will be a lot easier.
+=== MISSION START ===
+When the level starts, you will spawn with a shotgun. This will be useful for a short while, but we will swap it out later. Progress through the infection forms running, don't waste your ammo on them. Once you get to the point were the combat forms spawn, throw a frag grenade at them and they should all be dead. Continue running, and then you should get to the point were you drop through the hole in the floor.
+Once you enter here, you will be bombarded by Flood. I would actually fight these, because normally there is one with an energy sword, which will definitely come into use later on in the level. When the carrier forms attack you, throw a firebomb grenade and you will be able to skip the infection forms.
+The next room is one of the most difficult places in the level, so be prepared to keep at it for awhile. First of all, when you get to the nav point a convoy of Flood will attempt to kill you. This is were the Running Man strategy comes into play. On the left wall, there is a Pelican on the ledge, and in this Pelican is both a Flamethrower and a Rocket Launcher. It is strongly recommended to swapp out your shotgun for your rocket launcher, because it will be vital for completing this level.
+Once you get your weapons, run as fast as you can through this room, jumping at every second and avoiding the flood at all costs. It may take awhile, but eventually you should reach the end. Near the end door, there are a few carrier forms, so be aware of the fact that if your shields are down they will kill you fast.
-===Where's A Lift When You Need One?===
+Once you get to the end, you get to a room with a few regenerating Flood. In the room somewhere there is a Brute Shot, so swap out your energy sword for the Brute Shot.
-Once you're through the porta, have your Carbine ready. Zoom in and you should be able to take down many Combat Forms with but one or two shots each. Stalker Forms will attack you here, but you can melee them with a few hits. Once you've cleared as many of them as you can see, reload your Carbine if you wish. Bring up your Energy Sword and activate your Cloaking. Run forward and up the path (it runs counterclockwise for the first part). Eventually you'll run into a few Combat Forms and a Tank Form. Kill them with the Energy Sword and swap your Carbine for a [[Paegaas Workshop Spiker|Brute Spiker]] and {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}} combo. This combo will last for a while. Using the cover the first ramp provides you, edge out and use the Plasma Rifle and Brute Spiker to kill the Ranged Forms. You should be able to dispatch most of them from this position before advancing. Once you're fairly certain you're clear, proceed up. It may take a few tries to get the directions and jumps right. On your way up you will run into a few more Combat and Ranged Forms. They will fall quickly under the combined onslaught of the Brute Spiker/Plasma Rifle combo. Grab one of the Cloaking equipments in the room. Once you're through the porta at the top of this room get ready for a run.
-===Don't Look Down===
+Once you drop through the hole in the floor, you will enter another difficult point of the level. There are loads of flood, mostly pure forms that change into ranged and tank forms, that will all be trying to take you down. For the ranged forms that stick to the walls, I recommend taking them out with a shot of your rocket launcher, and try to kill the tank forms with your Brute Shot.
-When the door to the reactor room opens run forward towards the center of the room. You may need to jump over some enemies or crates but go straight to the center. Turn right and run to the wall across the flood grown floor. Turn left and run to the door. Grab a Deployable Cover as you pass through the door. If you got Cloaking, you should be able to cross the reactor room without being seen. If you don't, make a run for it anyway - there's no use fighting the Flood in this room, as more will come in when you kill them. Once the door to the reactor room closes behind you, you won't encounter any more Flood. Run forward to the [[Sanctum of the Hierarchs|Sanctum]]. In the center there will be some sort of podium: Cortana's stasis field. Go to the stasis field and bash on it until it breaks to free Cortana and start a cutscene.
-==Part 2: Nor Hell a Fury==
+Once you are able to hopefully get to the center of the room where the Tank Form is, there is what makes the level a vacation for you. Near the center of the room, there is a cloaking device, that allows you to skip through a part of the level undetected. Get this now, because the next part is going to be determined by how you use you rocket launcher and your cloaking.
-=== The Reactor Room, Again ===
+Once you reach the thin hallway that leads to the room with the 2 carrier forms, be sure to take them out with your Brute Shot and destroy whatever else enters the room. Then, instead of running through the bottom where the flood have an advantage on you, there is a small ledge before you enter the room where you can actually got through the room on the roof, which give you an advantage.
-Now you've got Cortana, it's time to get out. You must make your way back to the Pelican. Fortunately, several new areas open up, making the route much shorter. Head back up the long corridor leading to the reactor room. After the cutscene, you only have your Spiker and Energy Sword but no worries, there's plenty of ammunition in the reactor room. Head out and quickly throw your Deployable Cover forward so it's near the edge of the balcony. Back up and use your Spiker to finish off the Combat Forms. This will draw in the Tank Form, which you can finish with one swipe of the Energy Sword. Move forward again and swap the Energy Sword for the Carbine. Take down all the Combat Forms you can see, and then take dual-wield a Plasma rifle with your Spiker. You can take out nearly all the Ranged Forms here quickly with this combo. Load up your Carbine and drop it in the center of the room. Pick up a [[Type-25 Grenade Launcher|Brute Shot]] and a full Energy Sword. Shoot on the four reactors with the Brute Shot to destroy them (or throw grenades to destroy the reactors), and then swap it for the Carbine. Bring up your Energy Sword and run back towards your original entrance.
-=== The Terminal Room ===
+First off, I hope you still have the cloaking, because you definitely need to switch it on here. There are endless amounts of combat forms that come out of the exit, and unless you attempt to take them all out with your rocket launcher, which is very possible, you will need your cloaking to survive, because there about eight other pure forms in the room, and are normally transformed into ranged forms.
-You'll drop back into the long hallway where all the Ranged Forms were. Now there are just a lot of Combat Forms eager to kill you. Use the Carbine until your magazine runs dry, then switch to your Energy Sword to finish them off. Advance cautiously as there are a few Carrier Forms here that will just ruin your day. Stick them with grenades and don't worry about refilling. Once you're back in the terminal room bring up the Carbine. There's not really one good way to pull this off, so use your best judgment for cover and take out all the Flood in this area. Don't try to run through them. There are only about eight or ten Combat Forms here so killing them shouldn't take too long.
-=== The Pelican ===
+Once you exit this room, check your ammo to make sure you aren't out. By now, you are nearly done with your rocket launcher, so if needed you could swap it out if on low or no ammo. As far as your Brute Shot, keep it for sure.
-After you make your way through this area you'll run into the first large room again. You'll find the [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter]] who will be cleaning out the Flood. If you left the Flamethrower when you first reached the Pelican, the Arbiter will be using it. Run past him and straight to the Pelican. Hop on board and...
-==Speed Run Walkthrough==
+The next room is another annoying part, so be patient and prepared to be at it for awhile. First off, it is the same story as the last room, cloaking is necessary. In one of the narrow hallways there are two cloaking devices. First off, get one and use it to progress to the end of the room. For the second one, keep it for later.
-If you're having difficulties beating this level the traditional way, you can attempt to adopt a speed run strategy. On Legendary this method is suicide and you won't advance much beyond the Pelican, but on lower difficulties you can make it through nearly every area without a prolonged engagement with the Flood.
-=== Part 1: Rampant===
+Once you get near the door, your cloaking will wear out, so if your shields get down, definitely use the second cloaking. Run to the next door, and pick up the Brute Shot ammo next to the door.
-When the level starts, you will drop in with an Assault Rifle and a Shotgun. These will be useful for a short while, but you'll need to switch to other weapons sooner rather than later. Progress through the Infection Forms running, don't waste your ammunition on them. Once you get to the point were the Combat Forms spawn, throw a Frag grenade at them and they should all be dead. Continue running. You should soon get to the point were you drop through the hole in the floor.
-When you drop through the first porta you will be assaulted by several Combat Forms. You need to fight these. There is one Combat Form with an Energy Sword, which will definitely come into use a bit later on in the level. When the Carrier Forms attack you, throw a Firebomb grenade to prevent Infection Forms from spawning.
+After the long path to the area were you get to save Cortana, there are plenty of Flood there, but it is not nearly as difficult as the first challenging room.
-The next room is going to be your fastest skip of the level. There are a few things to note though. To the left side is the opening with the Pelican. There is a Flamethrower and some weapons and ammunition out there, but unless you're already really low on ammo, don't go near it. You should run straight forward, using your Assault Rifle to clear a path to the porta. Once the porta closes the Flood won't follow you.
+When you get there you should be on a ledge with a few pure and combat forms, so try to take them down with your brute shot. When you get to the middle of the room, try to take some of the Flood down from range. There are lots of places for cover here, so use them when you are close to death. Then on the opposite end of the center tile, there is another cloaking on the right end. There is also a ranged form here, so strafe and jump to avoid being killed. When you get the cloaking, hurry to the door were you save Cortana.
-In the next area there will be several regenerating Combat Forms. Use a grenade and your Energy Sword to make short work of them, then swap your Energy Sword for the Brute Shot (which provides strong melee plus heavy projectile damage). Your weapons should now be an Assault Rifle with about 1/4 of the ammo left and a Brute Shot.
+When you reach Cortana, simply melee the glass globe that she is in and watch the cutscene.
-Drop through the hole in the floor. There are loads of Flood here, mostly Stalker Forms that will change into Ranged and Tank Forms, that will all be trying to take you down. Run forward with your Brute Shot out, shooting Ranged forms and meleeing the Tank Forms. Once you reach the center of the room you should get a Cloaking device. Don't activate it yet. Run straight forward out of this room, into the next area. Once you see the Carrier Forms, stick them with grenades. Advance. When you reach the left turn bring up your Assault Rifle and activate your Cloaking. You should be able to make it to the end of the hall without needing to engage, but if your Cloaking fails, the Assault Rifle will make short work of the Combat Forms.
+After the cutscene, you will find yourself back in the same area you where in before. Now you have to work your way to the center tile and press the button that will open a few things that you have to blow up. While fighting off the Flood, get out your Brute Shot and shoot at the nav points on your screen. One shot should do just fine. If you get down on health, activate your cloaking.
-When you go through the porta into the next area, swap your Assault Rifle for a Carbine in the weapons case. Keep the Brute Shot, even if it's out of ammo its melee is worth keeping it for now until you can get more ammo.
+After this, you have to run out of the room and in to the same room you where in before. If you notice, you are going in the same path you were to get to this area, but backwards instead of forward.
-Kill the Combat Forms you can see, and melee any Stalker Forms that get close to you. Then run. The path on the far side of the room runs up and counterclockwise. If you have ammo left for your Brute Shot, you are much better off, because you can melee any Combat Form that gets close and a single grenade will kill a Ranged Form with an accurate hit. Grab a Cloaking but don't activate it yet. Just keep running and gunning with the Brute Shot, as it is most effective in this room. There will be a Brute Shot reload at the top of the room just before the porta.
+Once you get to the hole in the floor, take out the combat forms with your brute shot and stay on the top always. Just keep running and running, and try to kill all of the Flood in your way.
-The reactor room is your last challenge here, but just activate your Cloaking at the end of the long empty corridor before the reactor room and run straight forward to the center of the room. Turn right and run to the wall, then turn left and run to the door. You should be able to accomplish this without becoming visible again. Head through the door and down the hallway. Bash the stasis field to free Cortana.
+Once you finally get to the room were you got your first cloaking, try to take it slow and kill the Flood one at a time, because a lot of them have brute shots and shotguns, and they could kill you quickly.
-=== Part 2: Nor Hell a Fury ===
+Once you break through the wall of Flood, keep running and running, and eventually you will reach the first room that all of the Flood have attacked you in. If you listen, Cortana will mention something about a "friendly contact" and you will notice that the Arbiter has joined you, with a flamethrower. Just simply let him do the killing, and run past all of the Flood to the Pelican where you got your rocket launcher at. Go in the Pelicans troop bay and the mission will end.
-After the cutscene, head back the way you came. In the reactor room you have no choice but to fight the Flood. Use your Energy Sword to clear out the room. You'll have to be quick, as there are a number of foes here and if you aren't swift you'll be sent back to your checkpoint. Once you've cleared your balcony, swap your Energy sword for a Carbine and snipe any Combat Forms across the room. Then swap the Carbine for a Brute Spiker and finish off any Ranged Forms that remain. Load up your Brute Shot, and grab a Carbine. Use the Brute Shot to blow up the reactors, and run. Fall through the hole in the floor and run down the narrow hallway from earlier using your Carbine and grenades to take out the Flood.
-Once you return to the terminal room bring up your Brute Shot and run forward. Toss Frags and use your Brute Shot to clear the area in front of you, and ''only'' in front of you. Keep moving forward and don't look back. The Flood will not follow you from one rea to another, so move quickly and you won't need to fight as much.
+==Legendary Walkthrough==
-Eventually you will reach the room where the Pelican is found. You will find that the Arbiter has joined you, with a Flamethrower. Just let him do the killing, and run past all of the Flood to the Pelican. Go into the Pelican and escape.
+Cortana is probably the hardest level in any Halo campaign game.  But it can be beaten by a good player.  The secret is to make the most of what you have.
-==Notes for Legendary Play==
-===Tips & Tricks===
 *'''Know how to use every weapon to its greatest effect.'''
-:There really isn't any weapon that is weak in all situations. The only exception is a Plasma Pistol overcharge—while it takes out Brute armor very effectively, it does little to the Flood. If you get a Plasma Pistol, use normal shots. The [[M7057/Defoliant Projector|Flamethrower]] uses approximately the same amount of fuel for killing a [[Flood combat form|Combat Form]] as for killing a [[Flood pure form|Pure Form]]; therefore, save it to kill Pure Forms. Don't hoard weapons continuously, despite how much you may think you need them--if you hoard too many, you will overload the map. The most common result is that some weapons disappear or fall through the floor. But if you are trying to beat the level with Iron or else with minimal death, hoarding weapons is your best bet, although it is time-consuming.:*It is highly recommended that you find a replacement for your shotgun at the earliest opportunity. While the shotgun is an excellent in close anti-Flood weapon, there is limited ammo and are several weapons that can deal more in close damage more quickly without a need to reload. An [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|Energy Sword]] is far more effective, and a Brute Shot provides both the melee damage and a ranged attack.:*Your MA5C is extraordinarily effective in short controlled bursts and accurate aim. It's ability to kill ranged forms is not as effective as a [[Paegaas Workshop Spiker|Spiker]] or [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]], but until you can find them, its high rate of fire and relative accuracy at close-to-medium range is superior to a {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}.
+:Unless you have beaten the level on lower difficulties, keep your MA5C, no matter what.  You'll need its compass.  There really isn't any weapon that is weak in all situations.  The only exception is a Plasma Pistol overcharge—while it takes out Brute armor very effectively, it does little to the Flood.  If you get a Plasma Pistol, use normal shots.  The [[M7057 Defoliant Projector|Flamethrower]] uses approximately the same amount of fuel for killing a [[Combat Form]] as for killing a [[Pure Form]]; therefore, save it to kill Pure Forms.  Human weapons provide an advantage if you are using a [[Deployable Cover]] in that you can remain where you are--safe--and fire on the enemy.  [[Type-25 Carbine|Spikers]] are particularly effective against [[Flood Ranged Form|Ranged Forms]].  Don't hoard weapons continuously, despite how much you may think you need them--if you hoard too many, you will overload the map.  The most common result is that some weapons disappear or fall through the floor.  But if you are trying to beat the level with Iron or else with minimal death, hoarding weapons is your best bet, although it is time-consuming.
 *'''Know how to use grenades.'''
-:Get the most out of your grenades, use them on clusters of flood, but keep at least two stickies (anything that is not a Frag). These are particularly effective against [[Flood carrier form|Carrier Forms]] because they kill not only the Carrier Forms themselves, but also the [[Pod infector|Infection Forms]] inside them. If you are having trouble killing something, say, a Pure Form in the large room near the halfway point, go ahead and throw a grenade.
+:Try to use most of your grenades, but keep at least two stickies (anything that is not a Frag).  These are particularly effective against [[Carrier Forms]] because they kill not only the Carrier Forms themselves, but also the [[Infection Forms]] inside them.  If you are having trouble killing something, say, a Pure Form in the large room near the halfway point, go ahead and throw a grenade.
 *'''Know how to use equipment.'''
-:If you are a Halo 1/2 veteran, you probably made it this far, with difficulty, without using equipment. But on Cortana, equipment becomes a necessity. Deployable Covers are probably the best equipment; they do not self-destruct after a while, unlike any other equipment, and you can fire while protected if you are carrying a human weapon. ''Note: The Carbine cannot fire through Deployable Cover.'' If you cannot find Deployable Cover, use a Bubble Shield, as lesser forms enter your shield, you can kill them without worrying about exposing yourself to Ranged Forms. But when the timer goes out, you will be exposed. Cloaking is good for speedruns, it is also effective for crossing the larger open spaces without detection.
+:If you are a Halo 1/2 veteran, you probably made it this far, with difficulty, without using equipment.  But on Cortana, equipment becomes a necessity.  Deployable Covers are probably the best equipment; they do not self-destruct after a while, unlike any other equipment, and you can fire while protected if you are carrying a human weapon.  ''Note:  The Carbine cannot fire through Deployable Cover.''  If you cannot find Deployable Cover, use a Bubble Shield, as lesser forms enter your shield, you can kill them without worrying about exposing yourself to Ranged Forms.  But when the timer goes out, you will be exposed.  The Cloaking is only good for speedruns.
-* '''Pay attention to your surroundings.'''
+*'''Have good aim.'''
-:It sounds ridiculously obvious, but more so than any other level it is true here. The Flood blend with the background and often times your radar will not detect the enemy because they are stationary. Always check behind you and be methodical when clearing areas.
+:Conserving ammo is of course an issue, and killing enemies quickly has always been an issue.  But there is now another penalty for missing:  you may hit a [[Flood Growth Pods|Flood Growth Pod]] and release Infection Forms as a result.  These can reanimate corpses that you have not yet destroyed, or they can finish you off after you take cover from several Ranged Forms.  Be sure all of your shots hit the enemies.
-*'''Know your Flood.'''
+Skulls:
-:Each variety of Flood has a specific weakness. No one weapon will be effective against all (for example; The Energy Sword is excellent at killing flood, but its range makes it unsuitable against Ranged Forms). Understand that your best chance of survival is knowing what combination of weapons will provide you with quick short range attacks and excellent range, to maximize your overall damage.
-===Skulls===
-Activating Skulls on this level is at your own Peril, but here is a breakdown of skull use on this level and how it will affect your gameplay.
-====Gold====
 *'''Iron'''
-:Due to the difficulty of this level using Iron is not recommended unless you are a skillful player and if you do use it, be utterly methodical in clearing areas. Leave no enemy intact.
+:Not recommended due to the length and difficulty of this level.  If you do use it, hoarding weapons will work well, although it will extend the time required to complete the level to several hours.
 *'''Black Eye'''
-:There are no Regenerators and many Ranged and Infection Forms. Not recommended despite the vast amount of close melee situations you will be involved in.
+:There are no Regenerators and many Ranged Forms.  Not recommended.
 *'''Tough Luck'''
-:The Flood often don't have anywhere to dodge to, and they usually forget to dodge anyway. Also, they are too bulky to dodge.
+:A consequence-free multiplier; the Flood don't dodge.
 *'''Catch'''
-:{{Quote|It’s a consequence-free multiplier. Activate it.|Prima Games guide}}
+:Activate this skull if you have it; the Flood don't use grenades, but they will drop more when they die, and will cause many deadly chain reactions if you throw a grenade near one.
-:Activate this skull if you have it; the Flood don't use grenades, but they will drop more when they die, and will cause many deadly chain reactions if you throw a grenade near one, the only detraction here is large chain reactions can also burst blisters and may kill you too.
 *'''Fog'''
-:You will be surrounded very easily. However as your radar can often be deceptive on this level, if you do use it you're really not losing all that much of an advantage. Use it if you are going for the Meta-Game achievement.
+:You will be surrounded very easily.  The least recommended skull.
 *'''Famine'''
-:Ammunition is scarce on this level, therefore this skull is highly unrecommended. Conversely there are a number of Weapon cases with fully charged items, so if you are an accurate shooter, and with all the meleeing you should be doing, you can succeed with this skull on, but with difficulty.
+:Low enough ammo as it is.  Not recommended.
 *'''Thunderstorm'''
-:Nearly consequence-free; a few more shielded Combat Forms are all that will result, though bare in mind they can be hard to kill on higher difficulties.
+:Nearly consequence-free; a few more shielded Combat Forms are all that will result.
 *'''Tilt'''
-:This skull is probably the most annoying, but also the easiest to get around. Your plasma weapons will become very ineffective, but projectile weapons like the Spiker and Human weapons are twice as deadly. Being able to aim properly is key here as headshots with the Carbine aren't affected.
+:Will decrease the damage Plasma Rifles, which are otherwise very useful.  Not recommended.
 *'''Mythic'''
-:Much like the "Tilt" skull, for experienced players it's going to be more annoying than anything else. Accurate fire and knowing your weapons will effectively negate the consequences of activating this Skull. For inexperienced players, and those with difficulty aiming, this skull can be a death sentence.
+:Will result in consumption of more ammo.  Not recommended.
+===Part 1: Rampant===
+You start out with an Assault Rifle and a Shotgun.  Advance through the first room; you will encounter weak resistance.  Be sure to melee corpses when you have killed them, just in case you accidentally burst some Growth Pods.
+The second room contains the first Pure Forms of the level, but not yet.  Kill the Combat Forms, then walk up the ramp.  At the top, you will aggro a CQB weapon Elite form and several [[Flood Stalker Form|Stalker Forms]].  Quickly kill the CQB-weapon wielding form and take its ammo if it does not involve taking chances.  The stalkers will transform into [[Tank Forms]] in most cases; retreat to the ramp and pump rounds into them until they die.  Sometimes they will convert into Ranged Forms--a few melees often will kill them.  If it is unsafe to melee, a Plasma Rifle works well because it will kill a Ranged Form before it overheats as long as every shot fired hits and the rifle was not recently used.  Stick the Carrier Forms (it is best if you use a different grenade type for each).  Then deal with the rest of the Flood in this area.  You will need most of the weapons you obtained and several grenades.  Pick up the Deployable Cover, but keep it.  The rest of this section is easy until the one-way drop.  “Walk” all of the weapons in the area into the drop, then drop down.  To walk weapons, continuously run and hold <span style="font-family:courier">RB</span>, momentarily releasing the button whenever you pick up one of your weapons.  This takes some finesse, but you will quickly get used to it.  But before you do this throughout the level, please read what I said about hoarding weapons.
+Deal with the immediate Flood threat, then rush forward and set up your Deployable Cover.  The best place for it is to the left of the weapon drop pod, angled 45 degrees to the left.  Alternatively, fire from the intersection-room if you have gathered weapons from the previous section.  Use your MA5C or another human weapon to take out the Pure Forms (you can shoot through the cover itself from your side).  If the Flood gather into a tight group, save some ammo and throw a grenade.  Run past the cover to the back; it is safe and has a few Plasma Rifles as well as another Deployable Cover.  Pick off the Ranged Forms (use your binoculars to track them down).  When they are all wasted, take note of the weapon cache below you because you will return to it several times.  Run off the center of the cache; the path ahead leads off of this room slightly to the right of the wall you face.  But before you do so, get the Tilt Skull if you would like.
+Stick the Carrier Forms and the Ranged Form.  Be careful with the Growth Pods.  The next room is quite elongated and contains several Ranged Forms as well as Combat Forms.  Look up and to the left—the arch is a good place to deploy your Cover.  Pick off the Ranged Forms.  When the Combat Forms show up, retreat while pumping rounds into them.  Throughout your progress through this room, you will probably make several trips back to the cache in the last large room.  You will also find two Deployable Covers there.  Use grenades as necessary.  After the room is clear, look to the right of the entrance; you will see a destroyed hallway with a panel blown off.  Enter the service corridor and you will find an M7057 Flamethrower.  For as long as you have it, save it for Pure Forms.
-====Silver====
+After this, go through the Porta into the next room.  Burn any Stalker Forms you find, but when the Combat Forms show up, switch to your small arms.  There is a tunnel structure to the right where you can take cover.  Using a Carbine and a Spiker, kill all Flood in the room.  First worry about immediate threats, then Stalker Forms, then Ranged Forms, and finally Combat Forms.  There are three levels to this room, and you will have to make two jumps.  Fortunately, you can make both with your Flamethrower.  Continue through the next room with the bones (surprising, considering the fact that the Flood need calcium); there will be no resistance.
-*'''Blind'''
-No HUD, you cannot see ammo, grenades crosshairs or guns and no score addition. Not suggested.
-*'''Cowbell'''
-Bigger explosions. Stay away from grenades you toss, carrier forms, and any other explosions. Useful.
-*'''IWHBYD'''
-No effect on this level. Use anyway.
-*'''Grunt Birthday Party'''
-No Grunts on this level. Useless.
-==Not Legendary notes==
+Enter the reactor room.  Turn right and advance, burning any Pure Forms in your way.  Kill all of them.  If you were frugal with your Flamethrower, it should burn out sometime around now.  Cross the reactor core, then go through the doors.  You should see that the Flood infestation is quite limited in this area.  Cortana will turn green and say, “This is UNSC AI Serial Number CTN 0452-9. I am a monument to all your sins.”  Enter the Sanctum.  Cortana is in the center—beat the barrier surrounding her until it fails (2 swings of an Energy Sword or 1 hit of a Grav Hammer).
-*There is no difference in how you should approach this mission whether it's on Easy or Legendary. The only difference is in the overall numbers of Flood (on Legendary they can seem unending) and in how difficult it is to kill them (headshots, not withstanding) If you can beat this mission on Normal without getting killed, it's a fair bet that you should be able to complete it on Legendary. Remember to take it slow, no battle has respawning flood.
-{{succession box | before = ''[[The Covenant (level)/Walkthrough|The Covenant]]'' <br />| title =Halo 3 Campaign Walkthrough for: | years = '''''Cortana''''' |after = ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)/Walkthrough|Halo]]''}}
+===Part 2: Nor Hell A Fury===
-[[Category:Halo 3 walkthroughs]]
+Watch the cutscene, then return to the reactor room.  A Bubble Shield will be useful here; kill the Tank Form to the left and the Ranged Forms to the right.  If, instead, you have a Deployable Cover, place it so that it shields you against the Ranged Forms.  A Tank Form's hit can quickly destroy Cover, but the Cover is immune to the Ranged Forms' projectiles.  Similarly kill all of the other Flood in the area.  Prioritize:  first anything nearby using an Energy Sword, then any Pure Forms, and finally Combat Forms.  Destroy the pylons (the nav points will help you).
-==Video Walkthrough==
+Drop down into the earlier part of the level and kill any Flood you see while retreating.  Continue through the level, generally the reverse of how you entered.  You will encounter minor Flood resistance.  When you get to the room where you first fought Pure Forms, look out and you will see a damaged Pelican.  Run to the cockpit of the Pelican to complete the mission.
-<div class="floatleft">{{#widget:YouTube|id=H_sKM-8J3L8|width=300|height=200}}</div>
+[[Category:Halo 3]]
+[[Category:Halo 3 Campaign]]