Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo CE, also known as Halo 1, has a few major skips, but most of the tricks are smaller and involve manipulating spawns and optimizing combat. The AotCR bridge drop and the Keyes shield bump are the most essential tricks to learn, as they both skip major parts of levels. Otherwise, learn the route by watching the WR video and using goatrope's tutorial.
While Easy has a greater focus on efficient tricks, Legendary is heavily combat-intensive. You should start with Easy, and switch to Legendary if you want more emphasis on fighting.
Halo Runs record page: http://www.haloruns.com/records?lb=100 (click the timestamps for video links)
Contents
Level Strategies
- The Pillar of Autumn (Halo CE)
- Halo (Halo CE)
- The Truth and Reconciliation
- The Silent Cartographer
- Assault on the Control Room
- 343 Guilty Spark
- The Library
- Two Betrayals
- Keyes
- The Maw
Version Differences
Halo PC is the most commonly used version for speedrunning. It has greatly reduced loading time between levels (although these loads are not counted in the time anyway). More importantly, it has no lag during in-level loadzones. The aiming is more precise due to the mouse, although there is significantly less autoaim on PC.
Halo CE on console is timed by RTA minus loading screens. This means that most of the disparity between console and PC is accounted for, although PC is still slightly faster due to less lag. If running on console, you should run the NTSC disk on an Xbox 360 to minimize lag. Do not run PAL, as walking speed is ~17.5% slower. The Anniversary edition is the same as PC, although some cutscene skips may be slightly slower. The Marketplace version is identical to NTSC.
Movement Techniques
Vehicle Flinging
Turn the Warthog from left to right and exiting. If you time it properly, the rear-left tire of the Warthog should hit you, launching you into the air. It is used on Halo, where you can fling into the Forerunner complex much faster than walking into the tunnels.
You can also fling using a Ghost. Since Master Chief exits the Ghost on the right side in Halo CE, you have to turn from right to left.
Combat Techniques
Backpack Reloading
By pressing Reload-Reload-Switch Weapon (XXY on console), you can have your secondary weapon out while your primary weapon reloads itself. You should hear the reloading noise while your secondary weapon is equipped. You should pretty much always be backpack reloading.
Double Melee
To double-melee in Halo CE, press Melee-Grenade-Melee (BLB on console). You will be able to cancel the melee animation by throwing a grenade and melee again.
Enemies
The main enemies in Halo CE are the Covenant and the Flood. Special care should be taken for the following:
Elites
Red Elites are stronger and more accurate than Blue Elites. Stealth Elites are completely unshielded and easy to detect when they wield a sword. Gold Elites (Zealots) wield Plasma Rifles or Energy Swords and they have much stronger shields than normal Elites. Their tenacity is unmatched.
Fuel Rod Grunts
In Halo CE, Spec Ops Grunts have a kill switch on their Fuel Rod Guns - it will blow up shortly after they die. Be careful of possible grenade chain reactions.
Rocket Flood
Nasty buggers. Stay away from them. They will snipe you from long range, especially on Two Betrayals.
