Editing Tip of the Spear

|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.}}

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]]''.

''[[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.''

*'''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."

*'''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.''

''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.''

''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.''

*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.

*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.

*''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}}

*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:Fall of Reach Ground Battle.jpg|The Warthogs firing at Banshees.

File:reach_5016770_Full.jpg|The {{UNSCShip|Grafton}} and {{UNSCShip|Saratoga}} firing their point defense guns.