Halo Campaign Evolved Assault on the Control Room Skulls & Terminal Locations are spread across one of the longest and most vehicle-heavy missions in the game. This is Mission 5, and it covers massive icy outdoor sections, underground caves, and a towering Forerunner structure at the end. The good news: all four collectibles sit directly on your natural path through the level. No huge detours, no grenade jumps, no co-op tricks required. But you do need to keep your Scorpion tank alive long enough to use it as a platform for the first Skull.
- TL;DR
- Assault on the Control Room has 3 Skulls and 1 Terminal to collect.
- The three Skulls are: IWHBYD, Angry, and Cowbell.
- The Terminal is called Tangent I — found inside a side building after the ice cave.
- You need the Scorpion tank to reach the IWHBYD Skull — do not destroy it early.
- IWHBYD is a LASO-required Skull — one of 17 needed to unlock that difficulty.
- The Angry Skull is on top of a ramp-like arch structure — no vehicle or special jump needed.
- The Cowbell Skull is underneath the bridge near the Banshees at the end of the mission.
- Collect in this order: IWHBYD → Tangent I Terminal → Angry → Cowbell.
- Once grabbed, all Skulls are permanently unlocked even if you die right after collecting them.
This guide walks you through every collectible in the order you will encounter them naturally. Pick up the game on Xbox, PlayStation, or Steam. If you just wrapped up Mission 6, our 343 Guilty Spark Skulls & Terminal Locations guide covers that mission’s collectibles in full.
Before You Start: Keep the Scorpion Tank Alive
The single most important thing to know going into this mission is to protect your Scorpion tank. The IWHBYD Skull — the first collectible in the mission — requires you to use the tank as a platform to reach a ledge that Master Chief cannot jump to on his own.
If your Scorpion gets destroyed before you reach the bridge area, you have two options: reload from your last checkpoint, or use a Wraith tank as a substitute platform instead. The Wraith works, but it takes more effort to position correctly. Keep the Scorpion in good shape and the first Skull becomes straightforward.
Collect in this order: IWHBYD Skull → Tangent I Terminal → Angry Skull → Cowbell Skull. That is the sequence they appear as you push through the mission.
For a full overview of every mission’s collectibles, see our Halo Campaign Evolved all missions list.
Skull #1: IWHBYD — Location and Effect
Where to Find the IWHBYD Skull
This Skull does not appear until you have the Scorpion tank. Push through the opening sections of the mission with your Marine squad until the tank is made available. Once you have it, drive through the underground cave section and emerge into the snowy outdoor area with a bridge spanning a large chasm in the mountain range.
Drive the Scorpion across the bridge to the far side. As soon as you cross, turn left immediately and hug the cliff wall. Park the tank as close as possible to the snowy ledge or rock face on your left. You are looking for a small gap or crevice partway up the snow bank on your left — it is not reachable with a normal jump from the ground.
Get out of the Scorpion. Climb up onto the hull of the tank, then onto the turret. From the turret, jump across to the snowy ledge or into the gap in the cliff wall. The IWHBYD Skull is sitting inside that crevice. Interact with it to collect it.
If the Acrophobia Skull is already in your collection (earned from The Silent Cartographer), you can simply fly up to the ledge and skip the vehicle platform entirely.
IWHBYD Skull Effect
- Short for “I Would Have Been Your Daddy” — a classic Halo franchise Skull dating back to Halo 2 in 2004.
- Dramatically increases the chance of hearing rare, alternate voice lines from Marines, Covenant enemies, and other NPCs.
- Makes repeat playthroughs noticeably more entertaining and gives combat encounters a lot of personality.
- This is also one of the 17 Skulls required to unlock LASO difficulty. Do not skip it.
IWHBYD is one of the best-loved Skulls in Halo history. For players chasing 100% completion or LASO, it is essential. For anyone who just wants to enjoy the game more on repeat runs, it is worth having active regardless. See our Halo Campaign Evolved achievement and trophy list for what unlocks when you collect it.
Terminal: Tangent I — Location and Lore
Where to Find the Tangent I Terminal
After collecting the IWHBYD Skull, get back in the Scorpion and continue driving. Push through the next outdoor section and then into the steep incline that leads into an ice cave. Drive through the cave and follow it up the slope until you exit on the other side.
When you emerge from the ice cave, you will see a Covenant dropship and a road that splits into two paths — left and right. Take the left path, but keep your eyes on the right wall as you go. There is a door in that right wall that you can enter.
Head through the door. Clear out the Covenant enemies inside. Once the area is clean, head up the stairs and take an immediate right at the top. The Tangent I Terminal is sitting right there on the ledge edge. Interact with it to unlock the lore entry.
What Does the Tangent I Terminal Contain?
Tangent I is the first in a three-part lore series — followed by Tangent II in 343 Guilty Spark and Tangent III in The Library. It contains classified Forerunner intel that expands on the story happening behind the scenes of the main campaign. Once collected, it is readable at any time in the Collectibles section of the main menu.
For more on the story and lore context across the whole game, our Halo Campaign Evolved review guide covers the broader narrative in detail.
Skull #2: Angry — Location and Effect
Where to Find the Angry Skull
After grabbing the Terminal, continue through the mission. At some point you will be forced to abandon the Scorpion tank because the objective path goes through a small cave entrance the tank cannot fit through. Go on foot from here.
Exit the cave on the other side and you will enter a new outdoor area filled with enemies. Keep pushing forward with the objective. Eventually, during the “Head for the Control Center Ziggurat” objective, you will reach a set of bridge-like ramp arch structures leading toward the facility entrance.
Look for the third ramp structure — the one closest to the canyon wall on the outer side. The Angry Skull is sitting on top of that arch, right in the middle. You do not need a vehicle, a grenade jump, or any special trick. The sides of the arch act like a ramp — simply jump up the side and walk up it until you reach the top. The Skull is there waiting.
Angry Skull Effect
- All enemies fire their weapons faster and more frequently.
- Combat becomes more intense and punishing — enemies give you much less time to find cover.
Angry is one of the more straightforward challenge Skulls. It does not change enemy health or movement — it purely cranks up their rate of fire. On higher difficulties, the combination of Angry with already-aggressive Covenant AI gets very hectic. For tips on how difficulty settings stack with Skull modifiers, see our Halo Campaign Evolved difficulty differences guide.
Skull #3: Cowbell — Location and Effect
Where to Find the Cowbell Skull
The Cowbell Skull is the final collectible in the mission and it comes right at the very end — just before you leave the level completely.
Progress through the Forerunner structure until you reach the end of the mission interior. You will exit through a green door and step out onto a bridge-like outdoor area. Two Banshee ships will be parked nearby, and the objective will point you toward the Halo’s Control Room. Ignore the Banshees for now.
Walk forward along the bridge, staying on foot. As you reach roughly the middle of the bridge, look over the railing or edge and spot the large central structure below and ahead of you. You can drop down onto a ledge that runs underneath the bridge from the middle structure. Jump down onto it.
Once underneath the bridge on that lower ledge, the Cowbell Skull is sitting on a rock right there. Pick it up. To get back on course and progress through the mission, drop down further and use the stairs to climb back up to the main level.
Cowbell Skull Effect
- Reduces the weight of objects, making the game’s physics engine launch things much further when hit by explosions or melee.
- Bodies, weapons, and objects fly dramatically across the screen when impacted.
- One of the most entertaining visual Skulls in the game — beloved by the Halo community for years.
Cowbell is a fan-favourite going back through Halo history. It does not make the game harder — it just makes explosions and physics interactions wildly exaggerated. Pair it with Grunt Funeral from the Halo mission and Grunt kills become spectacular. For co-op runs where the chaos gets genuinely funny, check out our Halo Campaign Evolved co-op players guide.
LASO Note: IWHBYD is Required
Of the three Skulls in this mission, IWHBYD is required for LASO difficulty. LASO (Legendary All Skulls On) requires 17 specific Skulls to be collected before it unlocks as a playable difficulty option. IWHBYD from Assault on the Control Room is one of those 17.
Angry and Cowbell are not on the LASO-required list, but both contribute to the Headhunter achievement for finding all 39 hidden Skulls. If you are going for 100% completion, all three need to be in your collection.
Tips for Getting All Collectibles in Assault on the Control Room
- Keep the Scorpion tank intact. You need it as a platform to reach the IWHBYD Skull. If it gets destroyed, use a Wraith as a substitute or reload the last checkpoint.
- Cross the bridge fully before turning left. The IWHBYD crevice is on the left side after the bridge, not before it. A lot of players turn too early and miss it.
- The Terminal is in a side room — don’t rush past it. After the ice cave, watch the right wall for a door as you head left. It is easy to drive straight past in the Scorpion.
- You don’t need anything special for the Angry Skull. No vehicle, no grenade jump. Just climb the ramp arch and walk to the top. It is the most straightforward of the three.
- Save the Banshees for after Cowbell. The Banshee is useful for the Control Room approach, but grab Cowbell on foot first before flying anywhere. The Skull is underneath the bridge, not up high.
- Listen for the audio cue. All Skulls emit a faint hissing or whispering sound as you get closer. If you hear it, you are near one — stop and look around carefully.
- Once a Skull is grabbed, it is permanently yours. Die immediately after collecting it and it still counts toward your total. Do not panic if you fall off the bridge ledge after getting Cowbell.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Skulls Are in Assault on the Control Room?
There are three Skulls in Assault on the Control Room: IWHBYD, Angry, and Cowbell. Every main mission in Halo Campaign Evolved contains exactly three hidden Skulls.
How Many Terminals Are in Assault on the Control Room?
There is one Terminal, called Tangent I. It is located inside a side building that you access after exiting the ice cave — head through the door in the right wall, clear the enemies, go upstairs, and turn right.
What Does IWHBYD Stand For?
IWHBYD stands for “I Would Have Been Your Daddy” — a phrase with roots going back to Halo 2 in 2004. With the Skull active, rare and alternate voice lines from Marines, Covenant, and other characters play far more frequently. It makes every run feel more alive.
Do I Need a Vehicle to Get the IWHBYD Skull?
Yes, on a standard run you need the Scorpion tank (or a Wraith as an alternative) to reach the ledge. Park the tank directly against the snow bank on the left side after crossing the bridge, climb up onto the turret, then jump across to the crevice. If you already have the Acrophobia Skull from The Silent Cartographer, you can fly up to the ledge instead — no vehicle needed.
Is IWHBYD Required for LASO?
Yes. IWHBYD is one of the 17 specific Skulls required to unlock LASO difficulty. Do not skip it if you are working toward that unlock. Angry and Cowbell are not part of the LASO requirement but are needed for the full Headhunter achievement.
What Does Cowbell Do in Halo Campaign Evolved?
With Cowbell active, the physics weight of objects is greatly reduced. Explosions and melee strikes send bodies, weapons, and loose objects flying dramatically across the screen. It does not change enemy health or difficulty — it is a purely visual and physics-based modifier that makes the game chaotic and entertaining.
Other Halo Campaign Evolved Guides
Looking for help across the full game? These guides cover everything you need:
- Halo Campaign Evolved: 343 Guilty Spark Skulls & Terminal Locations
- Halo Campaign Evolved: Truth and Reconciliation Skulls & Terminal Locations
- Halo Campaign Evolved: Halo Skulls & Terminal Locations
- Halo Campaign Evolved Achievement & Trophy List
- Halo Campaign Evolved Third Person Guide
- Halo Campaign Evolved Machinima Mode
- Halo Campaign Evolved Pre-Order Bonuses
- Halo Campaign Evolved Beginner’s Guide
Assault on the Control Room is a highlight of the campaign — big tanks, huge snow-covered environments, and some of the most iconic Covenant battles in the game. With this guide, you can grab all three Skulls and the Tangent I Terminal in a single clean run without missing a single collectible.
