The Library Walkthrough
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
| Halo: Combat Evolved | ||
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| The Library | ||
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| Level overview | ||
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Player(s): |
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Objective(s): |
Retrieve the Index | |
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Location(s): |
Inside the Library of Installation 04 | |
| Gameplay overview | ||
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Default weapons: |
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Enemies: |
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This is the only all-Flood level in Halo: Combat Evolved, and one of the most difficult in the entire game.
Weapons[edit]
Usable[edit]
- Pistol
- Assault Rifle
- Shotgun
- Rocket Launcher
- Plasma Pistol
- Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifle
- Needler
- Plasma Grenade
- Fragmentation Grenade
Non-usable[edit]
Equipment[edit]
Summary[edit]
This walkthrough is for the Normal difficulty, and will also work on Easy. The Library is a unique level in the fact that both the environment and enemies encountered are incredibly repetitive. For this reason, many players hate this level.
You start out with the assault rifle and a pistol, both are effective weapons for dealing with the flood. The Halo: CE pistol is a wonderful tool thanks to its high accuracy, high rate of fire, and high damage. It's best for thinning out the advancing waves of flood before they get too close, then switching to the assault rifle once they are close.
People have a tendency to burn pistol ammo very quickly, and there aren't too many enemies that are going to drop extra ammo. It is advisable to switch out the pistol for the weapon most effective against the flood; the shotgun. Once acquiring these two weapons, it might just be all you'll ever need.
The best strategy when using an assault rifle and shotgun is to use the assault rifle as your primary weapon, and using the shotgun more as a backup or emergency weapon. The last thing you want to do is get trigger happy with the shotgun, and run out of ammo for the time you really need it. The assault rifle can be fired in bursts of two to four rounds, and these bursts will maintain a decent level of accuracy over relatively long range. However beware that if a flood drops as a result of one of these long range bursts, chances are it will stand back up soon to attack. If a group of enemies get too close, pull out the shotgun, and blast away.
Often there are gently sloping platforms coming off the wall one one side of the area. You can get on top of these with a crouch-jump, and it you become mostly safe from flood melee attacks. However you are completely exposed to any weapon fire, so be careful.
Use of frag grenades is heavily advised. However beware of flood carrier forms being blasted in your direction by a frag grenade. Using plasma grenades can go either way. Sticking a flood combatant whilst it runs in a group ensures a large number of kills. But if it gets too close, you might find yourself down quite a bit of health.
Part 01: The Library[edit]
You will be teleported to a somewhat safe location at the back end of a large room. As 343 Guilty Spark moves forward, follow him with extreme caution. As you pass the first outcropping on your left, you’ll notice a puffy, inflated Flood form. This is the Flood carrier: an impregnated Flood form that releases Infection Forms by detonating. If you're close enough, you will sustain damage when it explodes. Whip out your pistol and concentrate your fire on the carrier. However, if you've are a reasonably seasoned fighter, then you can destroy these Flood forms via melee with the Assault Rifle, and then jumping back. When he pops, any infection forms surrounding him will follow suit and likewise explode. Quickly pull out your assault rifle and spray the ground with bullets to take out any remaining spores. Looking ahead, four carriers will begin charging your position.
Swap back to your pistol and take out the front most carrier. Popping the carrier in the front will cause an explosion that will send the other carriers flying from the point of detonation. Killing a carrier at the rear of the pack will send the rest flying towards you. That would be bad. The thing to keep in mind when fighting the Flood is to always concentrate your fire on a carrier when other forms are near him. As in the Myth games, where seasoned players jump at the chance to take out a Wight in a cluster of troops, you can damage several enemies at once without using much ammo. If your energy level is adequate, you can allow the remaining spores to burst on your shields, or just melee attack them. Note that if you miss a carrier form in Legendary or Heroic, it will take out your shields, leading to massive problems: Infection forms can now jump out on you and not explode. Rather, they will continue to take one health bar at a time. You may wish to revert to last checkpoint if you've been hit, as you will need all the health you can.
Follow the Monitor forward cautiously until you see red blips appear on your motion tracker again. Immediately backpedal to avoid getting flanked on both sides. Using your pistol, take out any immediate threats first, concentrating on the combat forms, as they will be the closest to you. Remember that Carrier Forms are only a threat when at close range. Also, destroying a Carrier Form may decimate an entire group of Flood (including use of grenades). After that wave, turn on your flashlight, scan the floor for ammo and move forward with caution. The moment you find a shotgun, swap it for your rifle. At the end of the room, a couple of carriers will be standing still. Use your pistol to pop them and back up right away. A group of well-armed Flood will charge from the outcroppings ahead. Toss a frag grenade just in front of them. Keep your pistol trained on them and don’t let yourself get surrounded. Pummel away and creep forward when the fighting stops. Another small wave may come forward; repeat the procedure until the room clears and you checkpoint. Allow your shields to recharge and follow the Monitor out the doorway to the right.
You will enter the vast central room of the Library. Quickly turn to your left and take out the armed Flood Fighters to your left. Immediately whip around and open fire on the Fighters to your right. Often the Flood carriers will try to surprise you by hiding in a nice ambush spot. When you are preoccupied in battle, they will emerge. Try to take them out at a distance with your pistol before they go back into hiding. Keep a close eye on your shields. If you have to, run back into the doorway to avoid being surrounded by Flood spores while your shields recharge. Once all the large forms are gone (infection forms will keep appearing sporadically) follow the Monitor to the doorway on the left.
Once you walk into the entry hall to the next room, a group of Flood will literally come flying toward you. The second you see a Flood fighter jump from behind the unit ahead, throw a plasma grenade on the floor in front of you and back up. As soon as it goes off, toss another one in the doorway. Several more Combat Forms will appear and fly forward from the explosion. If any survive, mop them up with the shotgun. If you accidentally tag a fighter with a plasma grenade, blast him with your shotgun to stun him long enough for the grenade to go off; if he charges you, all bets are off. Step into the next room. Your presence will trigger a few small groups of Flood to jump from two ducts directly ahead. Back up into the central room and use grenades and the shotgun to clear them out, using the entryway as a choke point. Repeat this procedure until the ducts stop spewing Flood.
When you emerge into the next room, you’ll find it very similar to the first one you were in. Pull your pistol out and take out as many enemies as you can from a distance. Use a grenade or two. If you start to get swarmed, back up to the entry hall again, forcing the Flood into a single file line as you blast away at them. Watch your shields. If they gets low, back out and run around to avoid spores until your shields recharge. When the Fighters stop coming, go back in the room and scrounge around the floor for goodies. Switch to your pistol and move forward. When you reach the Monitor, a fighter on the outcropping to your right will open fire on you. Snipe him with your pistol before he gets a chance. Stand under the Monitor and wait for the large set of doors to open. Move through the doorway into the next room.
There is nothing but a cluster of spore forms waiting to the left, so take a right into the spacious hallway. On the floor ahead there will be three glass panes. Inevitably, the carriers will swarm the glass, shattering when they pop. Don’t forget about these three nasty holes, as you will be fighting around them soon. A group of Flood will appear around the glass. Shoot with your pistol and grenade them from a distance. Switch to shotgun when they get close. Always look for cover. There’s going to be a lot of shooting going on, so you aren’t going to want to be out in the open. The last thing you want to do is charge ahead full bore. Trigger one small group, back up, and destroy them. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. If you run out of shotgun shells, swap your gun for an assault rifle. It’s better than plasma and definitely better than nothing. When the large hall comes to a “T”, you will go left. A small group will come for you. Use grenades and pistols from a distance, shotgun at close range. Duck and cover.
Follow the large hall around until you see Guilty Spark again. A small group of Flood will pour from the duct ahead. Use grenades and back-pedal around the corner to take cover while shooting. Around the corner to the right will be a health pack. A slot in the floor will have a super shield. Be advised that as soon as you round the corner a group will jump from the slot. Toss a grenade in front of the short ramp and trigger the Fighters right before it explodes to watch them soar. A few more Flood Fighters will appear before you can pick up the overshield but they shouldn’t give you too much grief. When the coast is clear, go down the short ramp and pick up the power up. Overshields are a lifesaver when fighting the Flood. Since they are scarcer than bullets, you will want to open fire on the spores rather than letting them whittle down your overshield.
Moving forward, you will trigger an ambush that will approach from in front and behind. Immediately back up to avoid getting swarmed and open fire on the Flood carrier closest to you. Take cover and fire at the Fighters as they come. Concentrate your efforts on the Carriers. Scoot forward slowly. Blips will appear ahead by another group of three glass panes on the floor. You can pretty much take out that group from a distance with your pistol. Once the coast is clear, creep past the fresh holes in the floor until you come to another bend in the hall. Turn right. Ahead another group of Flood will appear. However, there are enough walking pus pouches that you shouldn’t have much trouble eliminating them. Take the jog to the right past the library’s AV department and keep moving forward. Another group of Flood will appear, but this time a group of Sentinels will come to join the fight. Don’t feel too obligated to save them since they won’t follow you up the nearby elevator. Give them a hand, neutralize the threat, scavenge around for ammo and hop on the massive elevator platform at the far end of the hallway.
Part 02: Wait, it gets worse![edit]
Step off the elevator and head toward the doorway. To your right, a cluster of Carriers will drop. Blast them with your shotgun and step back to avoid their explosion. Head back in and go to the right. Sentinels will emerge from the alcove to your left. Move forward past the bank of 200” Jumbo-Tron screens and take the jog to the left. The Monitor will leave you and the sentinels to take out another small group of Carriers. Directly in front of you is another slot in the floor. This one has two health packs, so use one if you need it. Keep moving forward until you checkpoint. You will then get the infamous message: ”Hold your position until the Monitor returns.” Here’s where we have fun.
Go to the far end of the room next to another health pack on the floor. Toss a grenade into the nearest duct on your right. The Flood will begin pouring out of the ducts, so stay in that little alcove and let them come to you. Cream them with a little shotgun and grenade. When you get down to your last grenade, toss it in the middle of the room and run through to the opposite side of the room. You should pick up a few goodies along your way. Continue doing what you’ve been doing until the Monitor returns. Grab a health pack and follow him through the big doors.
This next room is the large circular room directly above the index. Whip out your pistol and follow 343 Guilty Spark. A large group of Flood will show up ahead. Toss grenades ahead of them and open fire on the Carriers behind. See how high you can make the Fighters fly. Repeat with the next group. Repeat with the third group, keeping an eye out for rockets. When the coast is clear, scan the floor for ammo. Resist the urge to pick up the rocket launcher; it will just mess you up due to the time it takes to line up a shot and switch back to a close range weapon. At the end of the room there will be another set of doors. You’ll also get another message to hold your position. Relax. This one’s easy. Go grab a rifle behind you and mop up the waves of spores as they come toward you. Shortly the Monitor will return and the doors will open. Clear away the Carrier forms, swap your weapon back and move through the doorway.
Follow 343 Guilty Spark to the