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  • Poll [5672 votes]: *I3utteRzZ's Onyx-MAX Campaign Commendation Guide*
Subject: *I3utteRzZ's Onyx-MAX Campaign Commendation Guide*

Poll: *I3utteRzZ's Onyx-MAX Campaign Commendation Guide*  [closed]
Thanks!:  82%
(4643 Votes)
CHEATUR SOM1 BAN HIM@@:  18%
(1029 Votes)
Total Votes: 5672

This guide will show you some of the most efficient ways to advance your campaign commendations. The majority of these methods take place on either the fourth or ninth missions (Nightfall and The Package).

If a commendation has an (A) or (B) next to its name, it means there are multiple methods for it in this guide. (A) will be the faster method and (B) will be slower. They will both be in here because they overlap with other commendations (ie., you will get precision weapon kills while working on Pinpoint, but that will not be the fastest way to get precision weapon kills).

If the Difficulty: says Any, you might as well do it on Normal.

Nice Arm (Grenade Kills)
Weapon: Frag Grenade
Map: Nightfall, Mission Start
Difficulty: Any
Skulls: None
# Req'd for Onyx: MAX: 13,000

Sprint along the trail towards the elite. It's important to be fast or else Jun will be stupid and wake everything up. Kill the elite with a melee or assination, and kill the two sleeping grunts nearby. Run up further along the trail and look down at the three sleeping grunts below. Look *almost* straight up and throw a frag. Wait ~1/2 a second, then continue along the trail. A checkpoint triggers when you pass a certain rock. Ideally, you'll get the checkpoint right before your grenade lands and explodes, giving you a triple kill...revert to saved...and repeat.

>Nice Arm Video<

Thanks to whoever rendered this for me :-)

Support Role (Assists)
Weapon: Frag Grenade
Map: Nightfall, Mission Start...Co-op
Difficulty: Legendary
Skulls: Thunderstorm, Tilt, Mythic
# Req'd for Onyx: MAX: 6,000

This is the same concept as the Nice Arm commendation above, except with skulls and a higher difficulty so that the grunts will not die from just one grenade. Player A will get assists, and Player B will get grenade kills. Player B does exactly what is described above in the Nice Arm section. Player A stays behind, and throws a grenade down at the sleeping grunts so that RIGHT before Player B's grenade lands on them, Player A's will explode. Player A's grenade will do >40% of the damage, Player B's will kill them. Meanwhile, Player B has walked farther down the trail and triggered the checkpoint. Get your 2-3 assists...revert to saved...and repeat.

>Support Role Video<

This is probably the hardest method in this guide, if you can get even two assists with a good checkpoint, then good job. You cannot save and quit in a co-op game, so if you want to max assists, you should have ~3 hours to spend sitting and reverting.

Pinpoint and Precisely(B) (Headshots and Precision Weapon Kills)
Weapon: DMR
Map: The Package, Rally Point Bravo
Difficulty: Any
Skulls: Grunt Birthday Party
# Req'd for Onyx: MAX: 20,000...32,000

This method (and the next several) utilizes a pre-checkpoint phantom-load of grunts. There are probably many other places in the game that could work just like this, but this is the one I chose. From R.P. Bravo, run down across the bridge, past the rocks, and down to your right (towards the next bridge). A phantom is going to land across that bridge and drop off 8 grunts. Stand around, close enough to the grunts/phantom to not trigger the checkpoint. When all the grunts are running towards you, run back up the hill towards the lab doors you're supposed to be protecting. The checkpoint will trigger as soon as you're too far away for the grunts to shoot at you. You should be backing up with your reticle already aimed at the first one's head. When the checkpoint triggers, there you are, aimed and ready to headshot 5-8 grunts with your precision weapon...revert to saved...and repeat.

>Pinpoint AND Precisely(B) Video<


Small Arms (Small Arms Weapon Kills)
Weapon: Plasma Pistol
Map: The Package, Rally Point Alpha
Difficulty: Any
Skulls: Tilt
# Req'd for Onyx: MAX: 16,000

The same phantom-dropped grunts as my Pinpoint method, except this time you need to start from R.P. Alpha, so that you can pick up a plasma pistol. When you have your plasma pistol, run through the level until you get to the grunt drop-off bridge. Now, this part is a little tricky. The idea is to shoot each grunt with plasma pistol shots until it is the grunt-equivalent of "one-shot." On normal, two types of grunts will drop out of the phantom, Infantry and Specialist. You can shoot Infantry twice and Specialists three times. When you've shot them all, run back up the hill, and hide behind a rock. The checkpoint will trigger when (a) the grunts are far enough away, and (b) you're shields are recharged. Then you'll pop out and kill 5-8 grunts with a single plasma pistol shot each...revert to saved...and repeat.

>Small Arms Video<

The reason I was shooting the last two grunts like that was to slow them down, so I'd have enough time to get to my hiding spot, and also so they're be closer to the ones behind them, for faster killing.

Thanks to whoever rendered this for me :-)

Standard Issue (Automatic Weapon Kills)
Weapon: Plasma Repeater
Map: The Package, Rally Point Alpha
Difficulty: Any
Skulls: Tilt
# Req'd for Onyx: MAX: 15,000

Exactly like my Small Arms method, except you also pick up a plasma repeater during the level, and switch to it after you're done plasma-pistoling the grunts before the checkpoint. Plasma repeater your 5-8 grunts...revert to saved...and repeat.

>Standard Issue Video<


Precisely(A)
Weapon:
Map: The Package, Mission Start
Difficulty: Any
Skulls: Tilt
# Req'd for Onyx: MAX: 32,000

Once you finish Pinpoint, switch to this method for the rest of Precisely.

Same idea as Small Arms and Standard Issue...but faster ;-)

Check the game time

>Precisely(A) Video<


War Machine AND Right of Way (Vehicle Kills)
Weapon: Sabre
Map: Long Night of Solace, Rally Point Alpha
Difficulty: Any
Skulls: None
# Req'd for Onyx: MAX: 14,000...7,200

Load up R.P. Alpha, kill like three waves of banshees/seraphs/phantoms, then fly to the docking bay. Now an un-skippable cut-scene will play, after which you'll be back out in your sabre. You're now instructed to destroy a newly-arrived corevette's engines. When you hit one of the engines with your missiles, a checkpoint will trigger. Fly way underneath the corvette, and lock on to an engine. Right after you fire your missiles, boost towards the bottom middle of the corvette, and switch to your normal sabre gun (not missiles). If you do it right, you'll be aiming right at ten banshees when the checkpoint triggers. Kill 7-10 of them...revert to saved...and repeat.

>War Machine AND Right of Way Video<

I wasn't the first person to figure this out, but I haven't seen a video with a better way to get the checkpoint than mine :-)

Demon AND Flawless Cowboy (Complete a Mission, and Complete a Mission Without Dying)
Weapon: N/A
Map: Any, but Winter Contingency is popular
Difficulty: Any
Skulls: Any
# Req'd for Onyx: MAX: 540...300

The infamous cut-scene glitch. I didn't find this. THIS is the YouTube video I used.


Splash Damage, Super Soldier(A), Leadership Element (Heavy Weapon Kills, Sprees, Kill Leader-Class Enemy)
Weapon: Target Locator
Map: ONI: Sword Base
Difficulty: Any
Skulls: Catch ONLY(There are no Leaders if Thunderstorm is on, Cowbell doesn't do any extra damage, it just blasts them farther away if they don't die from the first missile, and I've had my best results with Tilt turned off)
# Req'd for Onyx: MAX: 6,000...9,000...10,000

I didn't come up with this one either, and just about everyone should already know about it. See post 2 for some discussion on Super Soldier.

>Target Locator<


Walking Tank, Cannon Fodder and SpecOps (Multi-Kills, Kill Infantry-Class, and Kill Specialist-Class)
# Req'd for Onyx: MAX: 9,000...20,000...14,000

Don't even worry about these, they will all be SO maxxed out after you've worked on any of the others.



And...Those are all 16 Campaign Commendations (Except for Super Soldier...see next post). I'll check on and update this guide pretty regularly, so feel free to ask questions.


[Edited on 11.07.2010 7:59 AM PST]

  • 10.13.2010 2:05 AM PDT

Super Soldier (Any Spree)
Weapon: Target Locator for (B) and (C). For (A)...any weapon with it's own type of spree (Sniper for Sharpshooter, etc...)
Map: ONI: Sword Base for (B) and (C)...
Difficulty: Any
Skulls: None
# Req'd for Onyx: MAX: 9,000

Super Soldier will be probably be one of the last commendations you max, and right now there aren't really any super-great spots to do it.
You have three options:

(A) is to kill 10 enemies with a weapon that has it's own type of spree, for example, if you used a sniper you would get Sniper Spree at 5 kills, then Sharpshooter AND Killing Spree at 10 kills. 3 sprees per revert. Unfortunately, I don't know of any good checkpoints for this. Most dropship/checkpoint spots leave you with ~8 enemies. (A) would (theoretically, with a good checkpoint) be the fastest.

(B) is to kill 20 enemies at once, netting you a Killing Spree at 10 and a Killing Frenzy at 20. The best, and maybe only spot for this is ONI, with the target locator. It's kind of tricky to get a good checkpoint AND 20 kills within 2-3 missiles. If it takes 6 or all 7 missiles to get Killing Frenzy, then method (C) is faster.

>VIDEO...Someday<

(C) is boring. Just revert to saved after the first missile.

>Super Soldier(C) Video<

I did 10% (A), 30%(B) and 60%(C). Honestly, if I had to do it all over again I would just do 100%(C). Just save yourself the headache of working on (A) or (B) and do (C)...you'll be done in 5 short hours.


TIPS Section

0. Multi-task. Don't be ONLY reverting to saved for 7 hours straight. Grab a laptop and watch Law and Order: SVU on Netflix.

1. If you screw up on a checkpoint in the middle of a level, quickly kill yourself five times in a row, this will put you backwards one extra checkpoint so you can try again without having to re-play through the whole level.

2. Crouching = Less Bloom. So for Pinpoint, when you're trying to get 5-8 DMR headshots in a row...Turn on toggle-crouch, and CROUCH right before you get the checkpoint (in my video, I knew I would get it as soon as the needles that hit me exploded). Now, when you revert to saved, you're already crouching, and stuck crouching. ***This undoes itself if you save and quit, you'll only stay crouched during the original game, so if you wan to try this, either spend as much time as you can before quitting, or leave your xbox on until next time.

...

[Edited on 10.28.2010 1:57 AM PDT]

  • 10.13.2010 2:06 AM PDT

yeah.. actually... yeah!

Hmm i don't care about these but: good job

Those who want these commendations will find a nice guide here :)

  • 10.13.2010 2:11 AM PDT

You're a legend.

Thread saved.

Btw, recently (like 20 mins ago) I uploaded to YouTube your Support Role + Nice Arm methods for my friends at the xbox360achievements.org community. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2Woabu_kGI)
I gave you credit of course.

Once they see this guide, they'll be blown away.

Also, are you going to upload those videos to YouTube? I'm happy to do it for you, but I'll wait for your permission first. It'd be useful for other non-Bungie forums for embedding.

  • 10.13.2010 2:16 AM PDT

Awesome, nice one I3utteRzZ :D

Edit: 54% Commendation Progress, and it's mainly thanks to your vids. I love you man.

[Edited on 10.13.2010 3:11 AM PDT]

  • 10.13.2010 2:16 AM PDT

Thanks for making this, its likely to become a hot topic if you update it a lot.
I will go and try this out now.
Added to my favourites. :P

  • 10.13.2010 2:16 AM PDT


Posted by: Xavygravy

Also, are you going to upload those videos to YouTube? I'm happy to do it for you, but I'll wait for your permission first. It'd be useful for other non-Bungie forums for embedding.


I wasn't planning on it, so YES, go ahead and upload them :-)

  • 10.13.2010 2:20 AM PDT

Free bump, we need this thread to be seen.

  • 10.13.2010 2:21 AM PDT

Posted by: Timtaztix
yeah this reminds me of the time i got sent to jail for stealing crocs from target becozs i wanted all of the colors because i only got the green wons for my birthday and i wanted more ;)

THREAD SAVED.

  • 10.13.2010 2:23 AM PDT

thread saved, you sir are a god amongst men

  • 10.13.2010 2:24 AM PDT


Posted by: I3utteRzZzZ

Posted by: Xavygravy

Also, are you going to upload those videos to YouTube? I'm happy to do it for you, but I'll wait for your permission first. It'd be useful for other non-Bungie forums for embedding.


I wasn't planning on it, so YES, go ahead and upload them :-)


Will do :D (bump btw)

  • 10.13.2010 2:31 AM PDT

I'm 23, I have a house, dog, girlfriend, job and I have no interest in any fanboyism so if you're thinking about sending me a childish PM, don't be surprised when I don't call back.

Posted by: xDooferoonyx
Awesome, nice one I3utteRzZ :D

  • 10.13.2010 2:32 AM PDT

<(-_-)> Teh mokey is not amused

Nice, thread saved.

  • 10.13.2010 2:38 AM PDT

I would like to be a Mythic Member, or a mod.

REALLY BAD. I believe I deserve it, I am very loyal to the dear Bungie forums and want to keep everything in tip-top shape. Its always a real pleasure to be on the forums and I want to be recognized here.

Very good post, will save this for later.

  • 10.13.2010 2:39 AM PDT

http://www.bungie.net/Stats/Halo3/PlayerModel.ashx?p1=0&p 2=6&p3=7&p4=7&p5=3&p6=18&p7=18&p8=18

Thanks, and if anyone out there wants to help me get the Support Role (assist) commendations send me a FR and a message thanks again

  • 10.13.2010 2:59 AM PDT

first person to get all campaign commendantions to onyx

very nice I3utteRzZzZ 2nd person i believe to get them all done i wish i found these methods before i did all mine quite a few were seeming alot quicker then how i did them

  • 10.13.2010 3:19 AM PDT

Wow, that's certainly efficient.

I noticed you're using the covenant weapons for small arms and standard issue. If you don't mind my asking, what are the advantages of the plasma pistol over the human pistol and the plasma repeater over the assault rifle for this task?

I would have thought conventional weapons would be better for unshielded enemies, and they can be taken from a weapon rack. But I'm guessing that's not the case?

[Edited on 10.13.2010 4:11 AM PDT]

  • 10.13.2010 4:09 AM PDT


Posted by: Mister Cairo
Wow, that's certainly efficient.

I noticed you're using the covenant weapons for small arms and standard issue. If you don't mind my asking, what are the advantages of the plasma pistol over the human pistol and the plasma repeater over the assault rifle for this task?

I would have thought conventional weapons would be better for unshielded enemies, and they can be taken from a weapon rack. But I'm guessing that's not the case?


With Tilt on, they're 2x as weak to plasma weapons, one shot that hits them anywhere will kill them. And the plasma weapons have a lot less bloom.

  • 10.13.2010 7:21 AM PDT

I'm so glad you posted this on my one day off work, I should be able to powerhouse out a solid amount of these. Great post man,

SAVED

  • 10.13.2010 7:32 AM PDT

Definitely saved.I won't be able to try any today,but I was looking for something like this yesterday and I couldn't find a good one.Thanks man.

  • 10.13.2010 7:39 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
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Is there a fast way to revert or do I have to keep pressing start every time?

  • 10.13.2010 8:10 AM PDT

thanks a lot dood, really

  • 10.13.2010 8:28 AM PDT

http://www.bungie.net/Stats/Halo3/PlayerModel.ashx?p1=0&p 2=6&p3=7&p4=7&p5=3&p6=18&p7=18&p8=18

I3utteRz, why do your stats suggest you have only ~4,000 small arms weapon kills for campaign yet you have onyx, MAX. Is that really all we need for max?

[Edited on 10.13.2010 12:33 PM PDT]

  • 10.13.2010 12:27 PM PDT
  •  | 
  • Senior Legendary Member
  • gamertag: CIappy
  • user homepage:

Signatures are for squares.


Posted by: I 4ToZeRo I
I3utteRz, why do your stats suggest you have only ~4,000 small arms weapon kills for campaign yet you have onyx, MAX. Is that really all we need for max?


GOOD POINT WTF

  • 10.13.2010 4:04 PM PDT


Posted by: I 4ToZeRo I
I3utteRz, why do your stats suggest you have only ~4,000 small arms weapon kills for campaign yet you have onyx, MAX. Is that really all we need for max?


Ah, thank you, I'll add this to my first post. The reason is that you can only get 1,023 kills with a single weapon in one game, or 1,023 of one type of medal in one game. When I did small arms I just did it in one game, so after 1,023 plasma pistol kills, it didn't record any more in my service record. You WILL still get kills toward your commendations, they just won't show up on bungie.net.

  • 10.13.2010 4:08 PM PDT