Editing Tip of the Spear

{{Status|Gameplay}}

{{disambig header|the level|the soundtrack|Tip of the Spear (music)}}

{{Level infobox

|prev=''[[Nightfall]]''

|next=''[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]''

|name='''''Tip of the Spear'''''

|image=[[File:HR TipOfTheSpear Loadscreen.png|300px]]

|player=[[Spartan_(multiplayer)#Campaign_and_Firefight|Noble Six]]

|date=[[2552#August|August 12, 2552]]

|place=[[Szurdok Ridge]], [[Ütközet]], [[Reach]]

|objective=Neutralize [[Covenant]] [[Cheru-pattern Tyrant|AA cannons]] and disable [[Spire One]]'s [[Energy shielding|shield]].

{{Article quote|Two massive armies clash! Time to go to war against the Covenant.}}

"'''Tip of the Spear'''" is the fifth [[Campaign]] level in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/110/1109806p1.html|Site=IGN|Page=Deep Into the Halo: Reach Campaign}}{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/haloreach/video/6272121/halo-reach-interview--campaign|Site=Gamespot|Page=Halo: Reach}}

The level opens with [[Auntie Dot]] briefing [[Noble Team]] on the situation: A large Covenant invasion force has been discovered in the [[Viery Territory]], and a [[Order of battle (Viery, Reach)|joint UNSC military force]] has been mobilized to counter them across the continent. Noble Team's mission is to destroy [[Spire One]], one of many [[Deployment spire|large towers]] the Covenant have placed around their landing zone. [[SPARTAN-B312|Noble Six]] and [[Catherine-B320]] lead the charge at the Covenant positions, and destroy two [[Cheru-pattern Tyrant|Covenant anti-air guns]]. Noble Six, manning a Falcon's gunner seat, then joins [[Jorge-052]] as they make their way to the Spire. As their Falcon passes through the Spire's [[Energy shielding|energy shield]], the craft is disabled by an [[Electromagnetic pulse|EMP]] which sends it crashing to the ground, killing the crew and forcing the Spartans to continue on foot. Jorge and Six eventually make their way to the Spire, where the installation is revealed to be a [[Slipspace translocation|teleportation terminal]], used by the Covenant to transport troops to the ground from a yet-unknown source. After deactivating Spire One's energy shield, Six leaves the area on a Falcon accompanied by [[Carter-A259]] and Jorge-052 as the {{UNSCShip|Grafton}} destroys the Spire. Immediately after the tower collapses, the ''Grafton'' is destroyed by the previously cloaked [[Sh'wada-pattern supercarrier|Covenant ''CSO''-class supercarrier]] ''[[Long Night of Solace]]''.

''A convoy of more than thirty [[M12 Warthog|Warthogs]], a [[M274R Mongoose|Mongoose]], four [[M808C Scorpion|Scorpion]]s,  along with several [[UH-144 Falcon|Falcons]] and two [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelicans]] advance across a bare plain.''

''The Warthogs, led by Kat and Noble Six, charge towards the Covenant landing zone, followed by a group of Falcons. Carter is revealed to be on board a Falcon overlooking the Warthog driven by Kat. Noble Six rides shotgun in Kat's Warthog.''

'''''Note:''' At this point, the subtitles show Jun saying, "Time to bake that cake we made last night!" The dialogue was confirmed by Bungie to have been a last-minute change.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=CamPre|FTQwXVgNHLo|Bungie|Halo: Reach Campaign Preview}}''

''[[Banshees]] swoop down on the convoy and open fire, while Wraiths lob mortar rounds from a distance. The gunners on the Warthogs retaliate, firing at the Banshees. {{Pattern|Zurdo|Wraith}} mortar rounds tear into the convoy and destroy several of the advancing vehicles. Kat and Noble Six dodge the mortar fire, and turn towards a [[Bridge (structure)|bridge]] across a deep chasm, but as they prepare to cross, a plasma mortar destroys the bridge.''

*'''Kat-B320''': "Might want to hold onto something!"

''Fade back to Noble Six's point of view, which is hazy. The SPARTAN is lying facedown after the crash, with an [[M319 Individual Grenade Launcher]] lying several feet away. Vision clears, and Six glances towards the destroyed bridge. A second Warthog attempts to clear the gap in the bridge but fails, and the troopers inside fall screaming into the canyon below.''

*'''Kat-B320''': "Six! Can you hear me? Six, you alright? I could use some help!"

*'''Kat-B320''': "Pylons are down, we're pushing up the hill."

*'''Carter-A259 (COM)''': "Kat, be advised: [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] has ID'd two hostile [[Cheru-pattern Tyrant|anti-aircraft guns]] southwest of your location."

*'''Kat-B320''': "Copy, Commander. New targets, Six. Go shut down those AA guns."

*'''Kat-B320''': "Commandeer that Warthog, get us there in one piece."

*'''Kat-B320''': "Commandeer that Warthog, Six."

*'''Auntie Dot (COM)''': "Which would mean a strike by the [[UNSC frigate|frigate]] ''[[UNSC Grafton|Grafton]]'' is also out of the question."

''As they approach the gun, a furious battle can be seen in the valley below. Three [[Deutoros-pattern Scarab|Scarab]]s and multiple {{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}s, Wraiths, and Banshees are exchanging fire with a large group of Warthogs, Scorpions, and Falcons.''

*'''Carter-A259 (COM)''': "New intel, Six. Looks like normal weapons won't dent those AA guns."

''Kat and Noble Six eliminate the Covenant troops in the area.  Six then goes into the base of the AA gun and destroys its power core. They make a quick exit as the gun begins to overload.''

''After the AA cannon explodes, three [[Longsword]]s and two heavy frigates, the {{UNSCShip|Grafton}} and the {{UNSCShip|Saratoga}}, fly overhead.  A Covenant Phantom arrives but is quickly annihilated by the frigates' guns.''

*'''Kat-B320 (COM)''': "Commander, I'm going to set up a forward observation post here."

*'''Kat-B320''': "Six, take that south road and see if can you have a better view at the Spires. I'll be on [[COM]]s."  

*'''Kat-B320''': "Six, Pelican inbound with deployable bridge. Once the bridge is down, head over to the southwest side."

*'''Kat-B320''': "Bridge in position, Six, move on to the other side."

*'''Kat-B320''': "A Zealot? We're onto something big, Commander."

*'''Kat-B320''': "No visual on target."

''The Spartans move farther into the facility, eventually finding the Zealot - one of the [[Devoted Sentries]].''

*'''Kat-B320''': "High value target has been neutralized. Impressive, Six."

*'''Kat-B320''': "Mining facility secured, Six. Move on at your discretion."  

''Kat and Six move outside to find two [[Unggoy]], three Ghosts, and a [[Rizvum-pattern Revenant|Revenant]]. When Noble Six exits the mining facility, the two Grunts attempt to escape in the Ghosts but are quickly eliminated. Six and Kat commandeer the Revenant (or continue on foot) and proceed down the trail, encountering Covenant forces as they go.''

''Kat and Six arrive at the second AA cannon and engage a large amount of Covenant forces, including two Wraiths, a [[Mgalekgolo]] pair, and a swarm of [[Drones]]. A Falcon flies overhead and assists in clearing the area before suffering the same consequence the previous Falcon did near the first AA cannon; shot down by the AA cannon.''

*'''Kat-B320''': "Jorge has a Falcon inbound to your position, Lieutenant. Highlighting the LZ now."

*'''Kat-B320 (COM)''': "Commander, I'm going to set up a forward observation post here."

''Noble Six mans one of the Falcon's [[M460 automatic grenade launcher]]s.''

''Noble Six eventually makes it to one of the gravity lifts, sending them up to the top of the spire.''

''The Falcon flees the scene. As the shattered UNSC ''Grafton'' falls to the ground, a [[Covenant supercarrier]], the ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'', is revealed to be holding position over the destroyed Spire.''

*It is possible for the player to kill himself/herself during the [[cutscene]] after the Falcon goes through the Spire by continuously firing the grenade launcher at the shield. When the player goes through the shield, they will hear their shields collapse and will be brought back to the previous checkpoint. In Co-op, the player who shot the shield will die instantly once the gameplay starts again in the crash site.

*The "[[Tip of the Spear vacation]]" can be done on this level.

*When the Falcon loses power after going through the shield, it spirals out of control before crashing, like a modern-day helicopter would. It would likely not spin after losing power, as the Falcon does not have a tail rotor as most modern VTOL craft do. During gameplay, Falcons that are affected by an electromagnetic pulse simply drop straight down.

*During the final chapter ''The Spire'', if the player wields the left grenade launcher of the Falcon (opposite of an army trooper), the cutscene following will still show Six on the right side of the Falcon (opposite of Jorge-052).

*In the cutscene in which the Falcon crashed, Noble Six looks to their left, and sees the damaged rotor of the second crashed Falcon over the small hill to their left. When gameplay starts however, it cannot be seen. In fact, the second Falcon's crash site is too far to be seen from the first Falcon's crash site.

*After the Falcon crash, the player starts with two-thirds of their total health, reflecting injury from the crash. If the player had only one third of their health left before entering the Falcon, though, they will have two-thirds after the crash anyway, meaning the crash somehow increased their health.

*The famous "[[Wikipedia:Wilhelm scream|Wilhelm Scream]]" is featured in the opening cinematic of this level on the Normal difficulty. The screams of the falling troopers vary on each difficulty.

*The player must clear the top of the spire which is loaded with Grunts led by an Ultra Sangheili, resembling ''Halo 2''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> campaign level "[[Metropolis]]", where the inside of the Scarab is also led by an Ultra Sangheili.

*''Tip of the Spear'' was alluded to in a [[Bungie Weekly Update]] before the release of ''Halo: Reach''; Campaign Design Lead Chris Opdahl hinted at a level with the initials "TotS" likely becoming an instant favorite among fans.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=27328|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Bungie Weekly Update: 07.16.10|D=25|M=07|Y=2010}}

*This is the first level of ''Halo: Reach'' in which Yanme'e are encountered. They're found behind the second Tyrant gun.

*There was an early bug in development where the gunner of the Warthog that falls into the chasm in the beginning cutscene will fire at Kat's hips as the Warthogs crashes into the cliff.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=CamPre}}

*This is the third of four levels (the others being "[[Winter Contingency]]", "[[ONI: Sword Base]]", and "[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]") where the [[MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System|assault rifle]] has more than the usual 288 rounds; in this case, it carries 568 rounds on both solo and [[Cooperative Play]].

*The musical track that plays when the player travels to the first Tyrant is not present in the [[Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack]]. The track itself has the same percussion beat as the [[Halo Theme]], and [[Martin O'Donnell]] humorously called it the "Halo Driving Music".{{Ref/Reuse|Id=CamPre}}

*This level marks the first appearance of the [[Deutoros-pattern Scarab|Scarab]] in ''Halo: Reach'', although it is not fought by the player. The Scarabs in the distance have a single looping walking animation, but they do not move anywhere. When the Longswords bomb them, the Scarabs are destroyed but do not have a destruction animation.

*The Covenant Spire that Noble Six destroys is the central location for the multiplayer Invasion map ''[[Spire (map)|Spire]]''.

*In the final cutscene, all of the Falcons, with exception of the one NOBLE Team is riding on, are used with the rough models used in background battles.

*You are able to destroy all {{Pattern|Cheru|Tyrant}} Batteries without entering its lower level and destroying the core. With enough external damage using heavy firepower, such as the [[M12G1 Gauss Warthog]] or the {{Pattern|Rizvum|Revenant}}, the {{Pattern|Cheru|Tyrant}} will begin to leak plasma from its joints and explode, rendering the weapon useless. This method may be safer, although it has the drawback of taking longer periods of time.

File:HR_WarthogCharge_Concept_1.jpg|Early concept art of the level's opening scene.

File:HR_WarthogCharge_Concept_2.jpg|Finalized concept art of the level's opening scene.

File:HR_TipOfTheSpear_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the level's first playable area.

File:HR TotSSpireConcept.jpg|Concept art of the Spire at the end of the level, also used as the campaign menu background for the level in ''Halo: Reach''.

 

File:HR TotS CovDefenses.jpg|Banshees and a Spirit flying above Covenant ground forces.

File:HR TotS Uphill.jpg|A Falcon draws attention from Covenant ground forces.

File:HR TotS Uphill 2.jpg|Two Banshees flying overhead.

File:Reach TotS Env.jpg|The Tyrant, defended by Kig-Yar and Unggoy.

File:Reach TotS RocketHog.jpg|The Rocket Warthog's gunner firing at a Ghost.

File:Reach-Rocket Warthog.jpg|Front view of the Rocket Warthog.

File:HR TotS RocketHogVsRevenant.jpg|The Rocket Warthog faces off against a Revenant.

File:HR TotS TyrantDestruction.jpg|First-person view of the Tyrant's explosion.

File:Reach TotS FP02.jpg|First-person view while a Phantom arrives at the destroyed Tyrant.

File:HR BXRBridgeAssault.jpg|Covenant troops defending the bridge leading into the BXR mining facility.

File:HR BXRBattle.jpg|Kat and Six clearing the mining facility of Covenant troops.

File:HR SpireAssault1.jpg|Six fighting a Sangheili Minor at the base of the Spire.

File:HR SpireAssault3.jpg|Six clearing the top floor of the Spire.

File:Spire MAC'd.jpg|UNSC ''Grafton'' destroys the Spire with a MAC round.

File:ToTS_Ending.jpg|The decloaked ''Long Night of Solace'' reveals itself.

{{Ref/Sources}}

|after = ''[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]