Halo Campaign Evolved: Halo Skulls & Terminal Locations

Q: How Many Skulls Are in the Halo Mission?

There are three Skulls in the Halo mission: Give & Take, Floor is Lava, and Grunt Funeral. Every main mission in the game has exactly three hidden Skulls.

Q: How Many Terminals Are in the Halo Mission?

There is one Terminal in the Halo mission, called Forgotten. It is found early — inside the underground cave tunnel during the Warthog driving section, before the lifeboat objectives begin.

Q: What Does the Floor is Lava Skull Do?

With Floor is Lava active, you take continuous damage whenever you are touching the ground . You need to stay on vehicles, rocks, and elevated platforms to avoid constant health drain. It is one of the more punishing modifiers in the game.

Q: Where Are the Skulls Stored After I Collect Them?

All collected Skulls can be viewed and activated from the Collectibles section of the main menu . You activate them when starting a new mission, and they modify gameplay for that run. Some Skulls also unlock Campaign Remix — a mode that randomizes gameplay features mid-mission.

Halo Campaign Evolved Halo Skulls & Terminal Locations are spread across one of the most open missions in the entire game. The Halo mission is the second main mission, and it plays out very differently from the first. You are outside on a massive ring world, driving a Warthog between lifeboat crash sites, and the collectibles are scattered across this open landscape. Miss one and you could end up finishing the mission before you grab it — because the Halo mission ends the moment all enemies are eliminated.

TL;DR
The Halo mission has 3 Skulls and 1 Terminal to collect.
The three Skulls are: Give & Take, Floor is Lava, and Grunt Funeral.
The Terminal is called Forgotten and is found early — inside an underground tunnel.
The Terminal comes before the Skulls — grab it first while driving through the caves.
All three Skulls are found during the “Secure lifeboat crash sites” objective.
The Grunt Funeral Skull requires a grenade jump to reach the top of a tall structure.
The mission ends when all enemies are dead — do not finish the fight before collecting everything.
Once grabbed, Skulls are permanently unlocked even if you die right after.

This guide covers each collectible in the order you will naturally encounter them, so you will not need to backtrack or replay the mission. Grab the game on Xbox, PlayStation, or Steam. And if you just finished the previous mission, our Truth and Reconciliation Skulls & Terminal guide has everything you need for Mission 3.

Table of Contents

A Quick Note Before You Start

The Halo mission is unique. It is one of the most open missions in the game, set across a wide outdoor environment. That is great for exploration, but it also means collectibles are not tucked into corridors — they are hidden in the landscape itself.

The biggest risk is finishing the mission too early. Because the Halo mission ends when all enemies are eliminated, you could accidentally trigger the end before grabbing every Skull. Do not clear out the final enemies until you have confirmed every collectible is in your hands.

Collect in this order: Forgotten Terminal → Give & Take Skull → Floor is Lava Skull → Grunt Funeral Skull. That is the natural flow of the mission, and following it means you will not have to replay anything.

For a full overview of how Skulls and Terminals work across every mission, see our Halo Campaign Evolved all missions list.

Terminal: Forgotten — Location and Lore

Where to Find the Forgotten Terminal

This Terminal comes before any of the three Skulls, and it is the easiest collectible in the mission if you know to look for it.

You will not get access to the Warthog immediately. First, fight through the opening area with the Marines and Sgt. Johnson to clear out the Covenant. Once those waves are done, you will receive the Warthog.

With the Warthog, drive down the hill and into the large tunnel structure below. Cortana will mistake it for a cave — that is how you know you are in the right place. Drive through the tunnel and keep your eyes on the right side of the wall. You are looking for an open window or gap in the wall.

When you spot it, stop the Warthog and enter through the opening. Drop down to the platform below, then turn around and look into the dark area on the opposite side of the ledge. The Forgotten Terminal is there waiting for you. Interact with it to unlock the lore entry.

What Does the Forgotten Terminal Contain?

Like all Terminals in the game, Forgotten contains classified intel and lore that deepens the story of the Halo universe. It expands on events the main campaign only hints at. Once collected, you can read it at any time from the Collectibles section of the main menu.

If you want to go deeper into the story and lore this game offers, our Halo Campaign Evolved review guide covers what the game does for the overall Halo narrative.

Skull #1: Give & Take — Location and Effect

Where to Find the Give & Take Skull

After you exit the underground area through the tunnels, the objective will update to “Eliminate hostiles and secure lifeboat crash sites”. You need to find and secure three crash sites, and the Skulls are tied to specific ones.

Follow the road from the tunnel exit. Three objective markers will appear on screen. Head toward the right marker, which points to the rock slide lifeboat area. As you approach it, look to the right side of the path and you will see a stream of water.

Do not ignore the stream. Follow it upstream away from the objective until you reach a cluster of fireflies. To the left of the fireflies, there is a large rock. The Give & Take Skull is floating in the air just beside that rock. Walk up to it and press interact to collect it.

After grabbing it, simply head back to the main path and continue to the rock slide lifeboat objective.

Give & Take Skull Effect

Firing your weapon drains your shields.
Dealing damage to enemies recharges your shields.

This one completely changes how you think about combat. You are constantly trading offense for defense, which makes every fight a balancing act. It is one of the more creative Skull modifiers in the game.

Skull #2: Floor is Lava — Location and Effect

Where to Find the Floor is Lava Skull

This Skull is found right near the rock slide lifeboat crash site — the same area you were just in for the Give & Take Skull.

Clear out all the Covenant enemies at the rock slide lifeboat. Once the area is secure, head up toward the evacuation shuttle at the top of the rocks. When you reach it, look for a large rock to the right of the shuttle.

Jump across to that rock. From there, look diagonally ahead of you. The Floor is Lava Skull is sitting on the rock surface in that direction. You should hear a faint sound when you are close — that is the audio cue the game gives whenever a Skull is nearby. Drop down onto it and interact to collect.

Floor is Lava Skull Effect

You take continuous damage any time you are touching the ground.

This is a brutal modifier for a full playthrough. It forces you to stay on vehicles, rocks, ledges, and elevated surfaces constantly. Running across open ground becomes a real risk. Fun in theory, genuinely punishing in practice.

For difficulty tips and how different modifiers stack together, take a look at our Halo Campaign Evolved difficulty differences guide.

Skull #3: Grunt Funeral — Location and Effect

Where to Find the Grunt Funeral Skull

This is the most technically demanding Skull in the mission. It requires a grenade jump to reach the top of a tall structure — and if you are playing on higher difficulties, that means carefully timing a grenade blast at your own feet.

Head to the river lifeboat crash site — the third and final lifeboat location. At the head of that area, you will find a large, tall structure. Cortana will speak up and mention she has located survivors beneath the tower, telling you to go underground.

Ignore her. Do not head underground yet. Instead, look at the tall central structure above you. Your goal is to get to the very top of it.

Look for diagonal ramps on the side of the structure that you can jump onto and climb. Get as high as you can using those ramps. When you reach the highest point your normal jump allows, you need to use a grenade jump to reach the top platform.

To do a grenade jump: throw a grenade (either frag or plasma) directly at your feet. Count to about two seconds, then jump at the moment of the explosion. The blast will launch you upward, giving you the extra height to land on the top platform. The Grunt Funeral Skull is sitting right there at the top.

If grenade jumping is not working for you, there is an easier method: unlock the Acrophobia Skull from The Silent Cartographer mission (Mission 4). That Skull lets you fly, which makes reaching high collectibles like this much simpler. Come back once you have it.

Some guides also mention bringing a co-op partner and using their head as a step to reach the higher ledge — a classic Halo trick that still works here. For full co-op details, see our Halo Campaign Evolved co-op players guide.

Grunt Funeral Skull Effect

When you kill Grunts, they explode in a blaze of plasma.

This one is pure fun. Every Grunt kill turns into a fireworks show. It can actually become a combat tool in tight corridors, since the explosion can damage nearby enemies too. One of the most satisfying Skull modifiers in the whole game.

Important: Do Not End the Mission Early

This cannot be stressed enough. The Halo mission ends automatically once all enemies are eliminated. There is no going back after that.

Before you finish clearing the river lifeboat area (where the Grunt Funeral Skull is), make absolutely sure you have already grabbed:

The Forgotten Terminal (underground tunnel, early in the mission)
The Give & Take Skull (near the stream by the rock slide lifeboat)
The Floor is Lava Skull (on the rocks near the rock slide evacuation shuttle)

If you are missing any of those, stop fighting and go back for them before killing the last enemies at the river lifeboat.

Tips for Getting All Collectibles in the Halo Mission

Grab the Terminal first. It is inside the underground tunnel during the Warthog section, before the crash site objectives even begin. Easy to miss if you are driving fast.
Follow the stream. The Give & Take Skull is off the beaten path. The stream is your visual guide — follow it upstream and you will find the fireflies and then the Skull.
Clear enemies before platforming. For the Floor is Lava and Grunt Funeral Skulls, clear the combat first so you can focus on the jump puzzles without getting shot.
Listen for the audio cue. Each Skull emits a faint whispering or hissing sound that gets louder the closer you get. Use that to confirm you are in the right area.
Do not kill the last enemies until you have everything. This is the number one mistake players make on this mission. Hold your fire until all collectibles are confirmed.
Once a Skull is grabbed, it is permanently yours. Even if you die right after picking it up, it still counts. Do not panic if you fall off a rock immediately after getting a Skull.

If you need a refresher on the full flow of the game, the Halo Campaign Evolved beginner’s guide is worth reading before diving deep into collectible hunting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Skulls Are in the Halo Mission?

There are three Skulls in the Halo mission: Give & Take, Floor is Lava, and Grunt Funeral. Every main mission in the game has exactly three hidden Skulls.

How Many Terminals Are in the Halo Mission?

There is one Terminal in the Halo mission, called Forgotten. It is found early — inside the underground cave tunnel during the Warthog driving section, before the lifeboat objectives begin.

Can I Miss the Skulls If I Finish the Mission?

Yes. The Halo mission ends automatically once all enemies are eliminated. If you finish the fight before grabbing all three Skulls and the Terminal, you will have to replay the mission from the start or from a checkpoint. Always confirm all collectibles are collected before killing the final enemies.

Do I Need to Do a Grenade Jump for the Grunt Funeral Skull?

Yes, a grenade jump is the standard method for reaching the top of the tall structure where the Grunt Funeral Skull sits. Throw a grenade at your feet, count two seconds, then jump at the moment of the blast to get the extra height. Alternatively, unlock the Acrophobia Skull from Mission 4 (The Silent Cartographer) to fly up to it instead.

What Does the Floor is Lava Skull Do?

With Floor is Lava active, you take continuous damage whenever you are touching the ground. You need to stay on vehicles, rocks, and elevated platforms to avoid constant health drain. It is one of the more punishing modifiers in the game.

Where Are the Skulls Stored After I Collect Them?

All collected Skulls can be viewed and activated from the Collectibles section of the main menu. You activate them when starting a new mission, and they modify gameplay for that run. Some Skulls also unlock Campaign Remix — a mode that randomizes gameplay features mid-mission.

Other Halo Campaign Evolved Guides

Looking for more help across the game? These guides cover everything from collectibles to builds:

The Halo mission is a highlight of the game — wide open, atmospheric, and full of secrets. With this guide, you should be able to collect all three Skulls and the Forgotten Terminal in a single clean run without missing anything or triggering the mission end early.