Halo Wars skulls and black boxes
Halo Wars Hub →One of each hidden in all 15 campaign missions, in Halo Wars and Definitive Edition. Skulls 11 to 15 help you and add up to +165% to your score.
"Score" is how much a skull adds to your mission complete score when it is turned on.
Look Daddy!
No bonus01 Alpha Base
Grunts' methane tanks always explode on death.
Just for funGrunt Birthday Party
No bonus02 Relic Approach
Grunts explode into confetti.
Just for funCowbell
No bonus03 Relic Interior
Destruction physics are magnified x2.
Just for funWuv Woo
No bonus04 Arcadia City
Scarabs shoot rainbow beams made of Pure Love.
Just for funFog
+10%05 Arcadia Outskirts
No minimap.
Makes it harderSickness
+10%06 Dome of Light
All player units explode into Flood units on death.
Makes it harderRebel Sympathizer
+20%07 Scarab
Enemy units get 25% more hit points.
Makes it harderRebel Supporter
+20%08 Anders' Signal
Enemy units deal 50% more damage.
Makes it harderRebel Leader
+20%09 The Flood
Enemy units start with extra veterancy.
Makes it harderCatch
+20%10 Shield World
Enemy units recharge abilities in half the normal time.
Makes it harderSugar Cookies
+50%11 Cleansing
All player units have 50% more hit points.
Helps youBoomstick
+10%12 Repairs
Enemy units have a 5% chance to blow up on death, with splash damage.
Helps youPain Train
+25%13 Beachhead
All player units train 50% faster.
Helps youBountiful Harvest
+30%14 Reactor
Supplies arrive 25% faster.
Helps youEmperor
+50%15 Escape
All player leader powers recharge in half the time.
Helps you
| Mission | Skull | Score | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01Alpha Base | Look Daddy!Just for fun | None | Grunts' methane tanks always explode on death. |
| 02Relic Approach | Grunt Birthday PartyJust for fun | None | Grunts explode into confetti. |
| 03Relic Interior | CowbellJust for fun | None | Destruction physics are magnified x2. |
| 04Arcadia City | Wuv WooJust for fun | None | Scarabs shoot rainbow beams made of Pure Love. |
| 05Arcadia Outskirts | FogMakes it harder | +10% | No minimap. |
| 06Dome of Light | SicknessMakes it harder | +10% | All player units explode into Flood units on death. |
| 07Scarab | Rebel SympathizerMakes it harder | +20% | Enemy units get 25% more hit points. |
| 08Anders' Signal | Rebel SupporterMakes it harder | +20% | Enemy units deal 50% more damage. |
| 09The Flood | Rebel LeaderMakes it harder | +20% | Enemy units start with extra veterancy. |
| 10Shield World | CatchMakes it harder | +20% | Enemy units recharge abilities in half the normal time. |
| 11Cleansing | Sugar CookiesHelps you | +50% | All player units have 50% more hit points. |
| 12Repairs | BoomstickHelps you | +10% | Enemy units have a 5% chance to blow up on death, with splash damage. |
| 13Beachhead | Pain TrainHelps you | +25% | All player units train 50% faster. |
| 14Reactor | Bountiful HarvestHelps you | +30% | Supplies arrive 25% faster. |
| 15Escape | EmperorHelps you | +50% | All player leader powers recharge in half the time. |
Each black box adds an entry to the in-game timeline. Air means you will want a flyer to reach it.
01 Alpha Base
Drive down the small ramp to the left, under the last bridge before the base gate, next to an overturned Warthog.
Timeline: The Spirit of Fire reaches Harvest.
02 Relic Approach
Northwest of the second base behind a shield. Knock out its power source with infantry.
Timeline: A service for the Prophecy’s crew.
03 Relic Interior
Head the opposite way from the objective at the start, northwest to a crashed Pelican guarded by Elites and Jackals.
Timeline: A Covenant order to keep humans away from the relic.
04 Arcadia City
North of the westernmost base, on stairs at the foot of a skyway column.
Timeline: Captain Alexander retires and the ship is requisitioned.
05 Arcadia Outskirts
Mid-map on the grass just west of the abandoned reactor, near some ferns.
Timeline: The ship’s refit ends and it is sent on ground support duty.
06 Dome of Light
Use the transport power to get the third Rhino over the broken bridge, then check the shadows to the west.
Timeline: A Covenant order to capture a human woman.
07 Scarab
Top of the map, as far east from the Scarab as you can go, in a cliff-ringed area with blue supplies.
Timeline: The Spirit of Fire arrives at Arcadia.
08 Anders' Signal
Southeast of your base on a plateau ringed by trees.
Timeline: Professor Anders is captured.
09 The Flood
West side of the map beside the Flood structure you land next to. Use the minimap to spot it.
Timeline: Anders sends her father a coded letter.
10 Shield World
AirBehind Team Bravo’s blockade. Rescue them, or fly a Hornet down to the crate.
Timeline: Serina sends the crew fake emails from home.
11 Cleansing
AirOn the western flank, on the slope past the fence and away from the skull. Bring a Hornet.
Timeline: A Covenant edict about studying the “Unclean”.
12 Repairs
AirOuter edge of the ship’s northern flank near the southern tip, by the outer fences. Needs an air unit.
Timeline: An excerpt about shield worlds.
13 Beachhead
AirNortheast edge of the map on a high, flower-covered cliff. Air units get there easiest.
Timeline: The ship reaches an alien planet and rescues Anders.
14 Reactor
AirSouthwest of the first Covenant base, in a raised grass rectangle edged with metal. Needs an air unit.
Timeline: The FTL reactor cannot be replaced.
15 Escape
Take a Warthog from your starting base and drive north across the blue ring structure. The crate sits out in the open.
Timeline: Forge’s sacrifice lets the ship escape.
| Mission | Where to find it | Timeline entry |
|---|---|---|
| 01Alpha Base | Drive down the small ramp to the left, under the last bridge before the base gate, next to an overturned Warthog. | The Spirit of Fire reaches Harvest. |
| 02Relic Approach | Northwest of the second base behind a shield. Knock out its power source with infantry. | A service for the Prophecy’s crew. |
| 03Relic Interior | Head the opposite way from the objective at the start, northwest to a crashed Pelican guarded by Elites and Jackals. | A Covenant order to keep humans away from the relic. |
| 04Arcadia City | North of the westernmost base, on stairs at the foot of a skyway column. | Captain Alexander retires and the ship is requisitioned. |
| 05Arcadia Outskirts | Mid-map on the grass just west of the abandoned reactor, near some ferns. | The ship’s refit ends and it is sent on ground support duty. |
| 06Dome of Light | Use the transport power to get the third Rhino over the broken bridge, then check the shadows to the west. | A Covenant order to capture a human woman. |
| 07Scarab | Top of the map, as far east from the Scarab as you can go, in a cliff-ringed area with blue supplies. | The Spirit of Fire arrives at Arcadia. |
| 08Anders' Signal | Southeast of your base on a plateau ringed by trees. | Professor Anders is captured. |
| 09The Flood | West side of the map beside the Flood structure you land next to. Use the minimap to spot it. | Anders sends her father a coded letter. |
| 10Shield WorldAir | Behind Team Bravo’s blockade. Rescue them, or fly a Hornet down to the crate. | Serina sends the crew fake emails from home. |
| 11CleansingAir | On the western flank, on the slope past the fence and away from the skull. Bring a Hornet. | A Covenant edict about studying the “Unclean”. |
| 12RepairsAir | Outer edge of the ship’s northern flank near the southern tip, by the outer fences. Needs an air unit. | An excerpt about shield worlds. |
| 13BeachheadAir | Northeast edge of the map on a high, flower-covered cliff. Air units get there easiest. | The ship reaches an alien planet and rescues Anders. |
| 14ReactorAir | Southwest of the first Covenant base, in a raised grass rectangle edged with metal. Needs an air unit. | The FTL reactor cannot be replaced. |
| 15Escape | Take a Warthog from your starting base and drive north across the blue ring structure. The crate sits out in the open. | Forge’s sacrifice lets the ship escape. |
Common questions
How many skulls are in Halo Wars?
There are 15 skulls in Halo Wars, one hidden in each of the 15 campaign missions. The same skulls are in Halo Wars: Definitive Edition.
Which Halo Wars skulls are the best?
Skulls 11 to 15 (Sugar Cookies, Boomstick, Pain Train, Bountiful Harvest, Emperor) are the most useful. They give you a bonus in the mission and also add to your score. Sugar Cookies and Emperor add the most, at 50% each.
Which skulls add to your score?
Skulls 5 to 15 all add a percentage to your mission complete score. Skulls 1 to 4 (Look Daddy!, Grunt Birthday Party, Cowbell and Wuv Woo) are just for fun and add nothing.
Which skulls make the game harder?
Fog and Sickness (skulls 5 and 6) take away your minimap or turn your dead units into Flood. Skulls 7 to 10 make enemy units tougher, stronger, more veteran or faster to use abilities. They all add to your score in return.
How many black boxes are in Halo Wars?
There are 15 black boxes, one in each campaign mission. Each one adds an entry to the in-game timeline.
Which black boxes need an air unit?
Missions 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 are the awkward ones: the box sits somewhere ground units reach slowly or not at all, so bring a Hornet or another flyer.
Do skulls and black boxes work in Halo Wars: Definitive Edition?
Yes. Both are in the original game and in Definitive Edition, in the same missions.
Our co-op Legendary campaign walkthrough covers several skulls mission by mission. Keeping track? Tick them off on the achievements page.