Cortana (level)/Walkthrough

''Cleanse High Charity. Save Cortana.''

Overview
This is a walkthrough for the level, Cortana. It is the penultimate level of Halo 3, and arguably one of the most difficult of the franchise. This walkthrough is structured for play on Legendary difficulty with notes for lower difficulties. Your mission as stated is to find Cortana and free her from The Gravemind and to eliminate The Flood. For this mission, you will start out with the M90 and the MA5C.

Your most valuable items here are Deployable Covers and Bubble Shields, although Cloaking is also handy but extremely rare. It is recommended that you always have a Deployable Cover with you even if you need to backtrack to grab it. Grenades are also your friends here; plasmas are very effective against Ranged Forms and Carriers, and Frags will thin out the herd and bring down shields on any shielded Combat Forms. Beware though, in this level, if you have bad aim here, you will be penalized. Flood Growth Pods line High Charity's walls and if you are inaccurate you will unleash torrents of Infection Forms that will waste valuable ammunition and kill you.

Skulls on this level are not the best idea for inexperienced players, but by adding Catch, it will provide you with a distinct advantage as the Flood do not use grenades, but upon death, they will almost always provide them.

Entering High Charity
Drop in and use your Assault Rifle to clean out the Infection Forms. Make sure they do not re-animate any of the nearby corpses. Collect some grenades before moving on. Plasma-based weaponry is more effective against shielded Flood, should you encounter any but for now stick to your current weapons.

As you round the corner, a few Flood Growth Pods will automatically explode. Eliminate them quickly so that they don't re-animate any bodies. Head up the sloped path to reach the chamber's upper level. Find some grenades and replace your Shotgun with an Energy Sword.

When you reach the Porta in the floor, drop through it and immediately take cover in the corner behind you. Stay Frosty because combat forms with human weapons will appear. Take them down with quick bursts from your MA5C, then close and finish them off with the Energy Sword. Back away slowly watching for the Carrier forms that will appear. Use grenade sticks (Plasma, Spike or Incendiary) to kill them without unleashing infection forms.

The Pelican
For the next area you're going to want to be quick follow the path up and around, you should see a couple of Deployable Covers here. Grab one and make your way to the large opening to the outside. There are many Combat Forms here as well as Stalker Forms that like to become Ranged Forms. Load up on ammo here at the Pelican and get ready to move. You can grab the Flamethrower here, but on Legendary difficulty you have a better chance of barbecuing yourself than the flood so leave it (Also if you leave it there now it will help you out later, seriously). From here you have a choice, you can set up your Deployable Cover and shoot out the Combat and Ranged forms, or you can run. Your going to need as much ammo as possible so while you could clean out this area (and if you're playing the Meta-Game for points you should) you're much better off just running back in to the left and making your way to the porta and to the next area. The Flood will not follow you once the porta closes.

The room after that contains a small slope and several Infection Forms. The chamber is filled with dead Elites and Brutes, as well as some grenades. You can throw a grenade to set off a chain reaction and weaken or kill any flood that do get re-animated. Finish them off with the Energy Sword then swap out for a new one before you drop through the hole. In the next tunnel, grab either a Gravity Hammer or new Energy Sword (your choice), and then drop through the hole to continue.

The Terminal Room
Once you're through the hole run forward and set up your Deployable Cover, you can shoot through it with your assault rifle and it will provide you with excellent cover from the ranged floods. Draw in the combat and tank forms and finish them with the energy sword. Once you're down to just ranged forms use your assault rifle to clear out a path. run to the right side of the room, from there you should have good cover and a perch from which you can finish off any remaining Ranged flood on the ceiling. Swap to your Energy Sword and finish off and remaining ground level Ranged and Tank Forms that may be present. Then stop. back to your Deployable Cover when you look to the left of where you dropped the cover you will see a Covenant Weapons Case with a Needler inside. Swap your MA5C for the Needler then head underneath the platform again. Here you can grab a couple Incendiary Grenades another Deployable Cover and load up your Needler. The Cortana terminal is also located here.

Go forward again around the corner you will run into two Carrier forms. Stick the first one and let it blow, don't stick the second one right away. If you do you will probably end up popping some growth pods. draw the carrier forward and stick it at the location of the first carrier form to prevent any unnecessary   infection form release. Bring up your Needler and edge forward. Use the Needler on the next long corridor to take out the ranged forms. It doesn't take quite an entire clip to kill but it's incredibly fast and effective so it's worth the waste. Run back to where the Cortana terminal was to reload if you need it, then head forward again. You will trigger several combat forms including several shielded ones. Use what's left of your Needler to take down their shields and finish off with the Energy Sword. A bubble shield is extraordinarily effective here because the Combat forms can't shoot at you and once they're in range of your energy sword, they're dead. Once you've cleared the area head back to the Cortana terminal and grab a Carbine, new energy sword and the cloaking equipment. Head forward again to the next porta and get ready for another long fight.

The Spiral Room
Once your through the porta bring up your carbine. Zoom in and you should be able to take down many combat forms with but one or two shots. Stalker forms will attack you here, but you can melee them with one or two hits. Once you've cleared as many as you can see reload your carbine if you want then bring up your energy sword and activate your cloaking. Run forward and up the path (it runs counterclockwise for the first part), eventually you'll run into a few combat forms and a Tank form. Kill them with the energy sword then swap in your carbine. Drop the carbine for a Brute Spiker and Plasma rifle Combo. This Combo is going to last you for a while. Using the cover the first ramp provides for you edge out and use the Plasma Rifle and Spiker to dispatch Ranged forms. You should be able to kill most of them from this position before advancing. Once you're fairly certain you're clear proceed up. It may take a few tries to get the directions and jumps right but On your way up you will run into a few more combat and ranged forms. They will fall quickly under the combined onslaught of the Spiker/Plasma Rifle combo. Once you're through the Porta at the top of this room get ready for a run.

The Reactor Room
Hopefully you grabbed one of the cloaking equipments in the big room prior to the Reactor room. If you did then great you just need to follow the path laid out. You should be able to do it without being seen so you won't die. If you didn't well it's tougher but it doesn't change the fact that there's no use fighting anything in this room, it will just be repopulated in a little bit and there won't be double the number if you don't kill anything so skip it. When the Door to Reactor Room opens run forward towards the center. You may need to jump over some enemies or crates but go straight to the center. Turn right and run to the wall across the flood grown floor. Turn Left and run to the door. Grab a deployable cover as you pass through the door. Once the door closes no more flood. Run forward to the Sanctum, and in the center will be a podium. Go to it and bash on the stasis field until it breaks. You've freed Cortana.

The Reactor Room, Again.
You've got the girl. Now to get out. head back up the path After the cutscene, you only have your Spiker and energy sword but no worries, there's plenty of ammo in the reactor room. Head out a quickly throw your deployable cover forward so it's near the edge of the balcony. back up and use your Spiker to finish of the combat forms. This will draw in the tank form which you can finish with one swipe of the energy sword. move forward again and drop the Energy Sword for the Carbine and shoot out all the combat forms you can see before swapping your Spiker in and grabbing a Plasma rifle. You can take out nearly all the ranged forms here quickly with the combo. Load up your Carbine and drop it in the center. Pick up a Brute Shot and a full Energy Sword. Shoot out the four reactors with the Brute shot and then drop it for the carbine. Bring up your Energy sword and run back towards your original entrance.

The Terminal Room
You're going to drop back into the long hallway from before with all the ranged forms. Now there are just a lot of combat forms eager to kill you. Use the Carbine until your clip runs dry then switch in your Energy sword to finish them off. Advance cautiously as there are a few carrier forms here that will just ruin your day. Use your stickies here and don't worry about refilling. Once you're back in the terminal room bring up the Carbine. There's no good way to really pull this off, so use your best judgment for cover and take out all the flood in this area. You really can't run through it so just take a second and finish off the flood here. There are only about eight or ten combat forms here so it shouldn't take too long.

The Pelican
After you drop through this area you'll run into your first large room again. And you'll run into The Arbiter who will be cleaning out The Flood with the Flamethrower you left earlier. Run past him and straight to the Pelican. Hop on board and...

Speed Run Walkthrough
If you're having difficulties beating this level the traditional way, you can attempt to adopt a Speed Run strategy. On Legendary this method is suicide and you won't advance much beyond the Pelican, but on lower difficulties you can make it through nearly every area without a prolonged engagement with The Flood.

Part 1:Rampant.
When the level starts, you will drop in with the shotgun and the MA5C. These will be useful for a short while, but you're going to need to swap out sooner rather than later. Progress through the infection forms running, don't waste your ammo on them. Once you get to the point were the combat forms spawn, throw a frag grenade at them and they should all be dead. Continue running, and then you should get to the point were you drop through the hole in the floor.

When you drop through the first Porta you will be assaulted by several Combat Forms. You need to fight these, and there is one with an energy sword, which will definitely come into use a bit later on in the level. When the carrier forms attack you, throw a firebomb grenade and you will be able to skip the infection forms.

The next room is going to be your fastest skip of the level. There are a few things to note though. To the left side is an opening through which is a Pelican. There is a flamethrower and some weapons and ammo out there, but unless you're already really low on ammo, don't go near it. You should run straight forward using your MA5C to clear a path straight through the porta. Once it closes the Flood won't follow you.

In the next area there will be several regenerating combat forms, use a grenade and your Energy Sword to make short work of them then swap out your Energy Sword for the Brute Shot (high Melee plus heavy projectile damage). Your Weapons should now be an MA5C with about 3/4 combat load out and a Brute Shot.

Drop through the hole in the floor. There are loads of flood here, mostly stalker forms that change into ranged and tank forms, that will all be trying to take you down. Run forward with your Brute Shot out, shooting Ranged forms and meleeing the Tank Forms. Once you reach the center of the room you should get a cloaking device. Don't activate it yet. Run straight forward out of this room, into the next area. Once you see the Carrier forms stick them with grenades. Advance. When you reach the left turn bring up your MA5C and activate your cloak. You should be able to make it to the end of the hall without needing to engage, but if you do, the assault Rifle will make short work of the Combat Forms.

When you go through the porta into the next area swap out your assault rifle for a carbine in the case. As far as your Brute Shot, even if it's out of ammo it's melee is worth keeping it until you can get more ammo for now.

Shoot out the combat forms you can see, and melee any stalkers that get close to you. Then Run. The path on the far side of the room runs up and counter clockwise. If you have ammo left for your Brute Shot, you are much better off, because you can melee any combat form that gets close and a single grenade will kill a ranged form, with an accurate hit. Grab a cloaking but don't activate it yet. Just keep running and gunning with the Brute Shot, as it is most effective in this room. There will be a reload for out at the top of the room just before the porta.

The reactor room is your last challenge here, but just activate your cloak and run straight forward to the center turn right and run to the wall then turn left and run to the door. You should be able to accomplish this without losing your invisibility. Head through the door and down the hall and bash the stasis field to free Cortana.

Part 2: Nor Hell a Fury
After the cut scene, Head back the way you came. Here you have no choice but to fight the flood. Use your energy sword to clear out the first area. You have to be quick about it, as there are a number of foes here and if you aren't swift you'll be back to your checkpoint. Once you've cleared your balcony swap your Energy sword for a carbine and snipe any Combat forms that are across form you. Then drop the carbine for a Spiker and finish off any Ranged forms that remain. Load up your Brute Shot, and grab a Carbine. Use the Brute Shot to blow up the Reactors. Then run.

Fall through the hole in the floor and run down the thin hallway from earlier using your Carbine and grenades to take out the Flood.

Once you return to the Terminal Room bring up your Brute Shot and run forward. Toss frags and use your Brute Shot to clear in front of you, and only in front of you. Keep moving forward and don't look back. The flood will not follow you from area to area, so move quickly and you won't need to fight as much.

Eventually you will reach the room where the Pelican is found. You will find that the Arbiter has joined you, with a flamethrower. Just simply let him do the killing, and run past all of the Flood to the Pelican. Go into the Pelican and escape.

Tips & Tricks

 * Know how to use every weapon to its greatest effect.
 * There really isn't any weapon that is weak in all situations. The only exception is a Plasma Pistol overcharge—while it takes out Brute armor very effectively, it does little to the Flood.  If you get a Plasma Pistol, use normal shots.  The Flamethrower uses approximately the same amount of fuel for killing a Combat Form as for killing a Pure Form; therefore, save it to kill Pure Forms.  Don't hoard weapons continuously, despite how much you may think you need them--if you hoard too many, you will overload the map.  The most common result is that some weapons disappear or fall through the floor.  But if you are trying to beat the level with Iron or else with minimal death, hoarding weapons is your best bet, although it is time-consuming.
 * It is highly recommended that you find a replacement for your shotgun at the earliest opportunity. While the shotgun is an excellent in close anti-Flood weapon, there is limited ammo and are several weapons that can deal more in close damage more quickly without a need to reload.  An Energy Sword is far more effective, and a Brute Shot provides both the melee damage and a ranged attack.
 * Your MA5C is extraordinarily effective in short controlled bursts and accurate aim. It's ability to kill ranged forms is not as effective as a Spiker or Needler, but until you can find them, its high rate of fire and relative accuracy at close-to-medium range is superior to a Plasma Rifle.


 * Know how to use grenades.
 * Get the most out of your grenades, use them on clusters of flood, but keep at least two stickies (anything that is not a Frag). These are particularly effective against Carrier Forms because they kill not only the Carrier Forms themselves, but also the Infection Forms inside them.  If you are having trouble killing something, say, a Pure Form in the large room near the halfway point, go ahead and throw a grenade.


 * Know how to use equipment.
 * If you are a Halo 1/2 veteran, you probably made it this far, with difficulty, without using equipment. But on Cortana, equipment becomes a necessity.  Deployable Covers are probably the best equipment; they do not self-destruct after a while, unlike any other equipment, and you can fire while protected if you are carrying a human weapon.  Note:  The Carbine cannot fire through Deployable Cover.  If you cannot find Deployable Cover, use a Bubble Shield, as lesser forms enter your shield, you can kill them without worrying about exposing yourself to Ranged Forms.  But when the timer goes out, you will be exposed.  Cloaking is good for speedruns, it is also effective for crossing the larger open spaces without detection.


 * Pay attention to your surroundings.
 * It sounds ridiculously obvious, but more so than any other level it is true here. The Flood blend with the background and often times your radar will not detect the enemy because they are stationary.  Always check behind you and be methodical when clearing areas.


 * Know your Flood.
 * Each variety of Flood has a specific weakness. No one weapon will be effective against all (for example; The Energy Sword is excellent at killing flood, but its range makes it unsuitable against Ranged Forms).  Understand that your best chance of survival is knowing what combination of weapons will provide you with quick short range attacks and excellent range, to maximize your overall damage.

Skulls
Activating Skulls on this level is at your own Peril, but here is a breakdown of skull use on this level and how it will affect your gameplay.


 * Iron
 * Due to the difficulty of this level using Iron is not recommended. If you do use it, be utterly methodical in clearing areas.  Leave no enemy intact.


 * Black Eye
 * There are no Regenerators and many Ranged and Infection Forms. Not recommended despite the vast amount of close melee situations you will be involved in.


 * Tough Luck
 * A consequence-free multiplier; the Flood don't dodge.


 * Catch
 * Activate this skull if you have it; the Flood don't use grenades, but they will drop more when they die, and will cause many deadly chain reactions if you throw a grenade near one, the only detraction here is large chain reactions can also burst growth pods.


 * Fog
 * You will be surrounded very easily. However as your radar can often be deceptive on this level, if you do use it you're really not losing all that much of an advantage.


 * Famine
 * Ammunition is scarce on this level, and why make it more difficult. Conversely there are a number of Weapon cases with fully charged items, so if you are an accurate shooter, and with all the meleeing you should be doing you can succeed with this skull on.


 * Thunderstorm
 * Nearly consequence-free; a few more shielded Combat Forms are all that will result.


 * Tilt
 * This skull is probably the most annoying, but also the easiest to get around. Your Plama weapons will become very ineffective, but projectile weapons like the Spiker and Human weapons are twice as deadly.  Being able to aim properly is key here as headshots with the Carbine aren't affected.


 * Mythic
 * Much like the "Tilt" skull, for experienced players it's going to be more annoying than anything else. Accurate fire and knowing your weapons will effectively negate the consequences of activating this Skull.  For inexperienced players, and those with difficulty aiming, this skull can be a death sentence.

Not Legendary Notes

 * There is no difference in how you should approach this mission whether it's on Easy or Legendary. The only difference is in the overall numbers of Flood (on Legendary they can seem unending) and in how difficult it is to kill them (headshots, not withstanding)  If you can beat this mission on Normal without getting killed, it's a fair bet that you should be able to complete it on Legendary.