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Subject: Halfway through my first Legendary run, about to fight the Flood...
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I'm currently on the mission 343 Guilty Spark. I just finished watching the cutscene with Jenkins' video. I haven't had too many problems on my Legendary run, with a few exceptions, like the beginning of Into the Belly of the Beast on the level Truth and Reconciliation.

I'm about to face the Flood for the first time on Legendary on Halo: CE. You know, the part where the Infection Forms come pouring through the doors, followed by some Combat Forms.

The two weapons I have right now are a Pistol and an Assault Rifle, and I believe I have some Plasma Grenades as well. Obviously I know to use the Assault Rifle to take out the Infection Forms, but the Combat Forms are my main concern. Should I use the Pistol or the Assault Rifle? Where should I aim on the Combat Forms, for their "head" (the location where a head would be regularly be on an enemy) or their chest cavity? Also, should I replace the Assault Rifle or Pistol with the Shotgun for when I find one later on?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

  • 11.02.2011 4:20 PM PDT
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Sometimes, I dream about cheese.

Posted by: funkymonkey506
Also, should I replace the Assault Rifle or Pistol with the Shotgun for when I find one later on?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
swap the AR for the shotgun. dont worry the flood may look intimidating but they're easy to manipulate: shoot of both arms on each combat form when engaging at long range then let the armless combat form live.

at close range shoot them with the shotgun JUST before they're within a melee range of you - as you know closer range = more damage.

[Edited on 11.02.2011 4:53 PM PDT]

  • 11.02.2011 4:53 PM PDT

For the combat forms I would use the pistol over the AR. As for where to aim on them, that's actually a good question. I would take a guess as to aim for the chest but I really don't know. You could always pull a couple of combat forms off to the side (figuratively speaking that is...) and see which works better for you.

I believe when I did my play on Legendary I kept with my AR/pistol combo when I could. The pistol will come in handy for those that stay at a distance (namely the annoying ones with rockets) on The Library.
Also, I'm sure you know this already, but try to avoid directly sticking one with a plasma...the results can be interesting. Hope this helps you a little bit even, best of luck on the rest of your journey!

Edit: Or like path1k said, you can just turn them all into Flood Buddies. <3 those guys!

[Edited on 11.02.2011 5:02 PM PDT]

  • 11.02.2011 5:01 PM PDT

Should I use the Pistol or the Assault Rifle?
Pistol. The AR is pretty bad against combat forms.

Where should I aim on the Combat Forms, for their "head" (the location where a head would be regularly be on an enemy) or their chest cavity?
Probably the chest; not specifically because it's a "head", because it isn't, but because it's easy to hit. I don't know if the Flood in Halo 1 even have variations in damage amounts for hitting different areas.

Also, should I replace the Assault Rifle or Pistol with the Shotgun for when I find one later on?
Personally, I would swap out the AR and go shotgun+pistol, since that medium range power is nice in a lot of places, but just about anything aside from a needler could work as a secondary on 343GS.

That said, I strongly recommend keeping that pistol around on The Library as much as practical.

  • 11.02.2011 7:22 PM PDT
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Thanks for the feedback everyone! I will definitely use your advice, and I will probably play this weekend. I'm currently in the infamous junior year of high school, so the amount of time I play on my Xbox 360 has greatly decreased during this school year :(

  • 11.02.2011 9:58 PM PDT

"We live in a special time; the only time where we can observationally verify that we live in a very special time" - Lawrence Krauss.

I was a finalist :P

Remember that they drop grenades far more often. Be sure that when you throw one to kill a group, you stand clear, to prevent yourself being part of the chain reaction.

  • 11.02.2011 10:03 PM PDT

Scandinavian Master Race!

Remember the shotgun in CE has an incredible amount of range(compared to the other Halos).

  • 11.03.2011 8:26 AM PDT

Your best bet is to crouch-jump onto the ledges above the room. That way you can shoot down but the combat forms can't usually jump up.

Oh, and use your pistol at long-medium range and switch to AR at close. Aim centre mass.

  • 11.03.2011 4:01 PM PDT
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As you are still playing previous to the spot where you can actually get a shotty, use the AR for the initial spurts of infection forms, then go with Pistol for combat forms (just keep firing into any part you can hit, WHILE YOU BACK UP and circle around that initial room to keep them off you). The AR is weak at range, and not enough of the rounds hit them to keep them from ruining your day. Also helps to toss a nade at the door the forms come through, just after it opens, that tends to take out at least a few.

Have Fun!

  • 11.04.2011 2:12 PM PDT

We have been raised for combat...
We carry our banner to our fights...
Alone we are a menace, together we are a threat...
Born to raise hell, live to drop back in it...
Never retreat, never surrender... we are spartans.

If you are fast enough in the game:

Here's what I usually do when fighting the Flood: Swap the magnum for the shotgun (yes magnum is good but against individual opponents, several infection forms... not much).

Use the shotgun STRICKLY on the combat forms and the AR on the infection forms.

You will save some ammo.

If not as fast:

Swap the AR for the shotgun and use it on the infection forms (when CLUSTERED!!!) and the magnum on the combat forms. (remember to take out ONLY the limbs that can give you damage, if the arm that carries weapons has nothing then it's a waste of ammo and focuss only on the melee one)

Here's a fun tip: if you procede to the Library level, try using the carrier forms as make shift explosives (they will give a mean kick to any nearby combat forms) but ONLY when you have to fight. If you can get passed the Flood then go for it and save ammo.

[Edited on 11.04.2011 3:15 PM PDT]

  • 11.04.2011 3:12 PM PDT
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Shotty for everything. And I mean everything, including the Banshee, the Wraith, the Zealots, the trees, the snow, the walls... 200 years later... the dinos, the Jackals, and the Mgalekgolo. Why use that slow piece of crap rocket launcher or waste a rocket when you can kill with the God Shotty which has plenty of bullets?

Pistol for stopping Flood in their tracks (it has stopping power and can temporarily immobilize them. Shooting them in the legs produces the best results).

Finally, throw grenades. Use frags on groups and to weed out the weak. Use plasmas for pincer movement on Elites and for taking out groups of Elites. Sticking a minor enemy might make them run to their leader.

And remember, Flood are drawn to your firing. Go to higher ground where there is the ground floor beneath you, fire your gun, and watch the Flood gather below you on your motion tracker. Throw grenades. This works on any level with a ledge and ground beneath it.

  • 11.04.2011 3:25 PM PDT

Use the pistol on them. If you shoot them in the "head" its a one hit kill. For the elite flood forms its like the darkish circle with the antenae things sticking out of it, for the human flood forms its the bulbus thing sticking out of their shoulder (no its not their actual head)

Edit: Until you pick up a shotgun, it is much easier to kill them. But I would keep the pistol rather than the assault rifle, usually you can manage to kill the infection forms with only one or two shots with the shotgun.

[Edited on 11.05.2011 6:10 AM PDT]

  • 11.05.2011 6:08 AM PDT
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Thanks for the advice everyone! It was really helpful, so helpful that I didn't die once in the mission. I decided to take it slowly, since I figured rushing straight into a swarm of Flood Combat Forms isn't something you can get away with on Legendary.

Onto The Library...

[Edited on 11.05.2011 11:38 PM PDT]

  • 11.05.2011 11:37 PM PDT
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:)

Posted by: funkymonkey506
Thanks for the advice everyone! It was really helpful, so helpful that I didn't die once in the mission. I decided to take it slowly, since I figured rushing straight into a swarm of Flood Combat Forms isn't something you can get away with on Legendary.

Onto The Library...

Single most annoying level in the entire game on Legendary.

Only ever completed it once. The atmosphere freaks me out - though I haven't tried in a few years.

[Edited on 11.06.2011 9:37 AM PST]

  • 11.06.2011 9:36 AM PDT

The Flood only section of the game are relatively easy, although they may be frustrating. Two Betrayals and Keyes are gonna be a -blam!-.

  • 11.06.2011 12:03 PM PDT

For an extra challenge, try to get through the Flood areas using only the Needler and AR.

  • 11.06.2011 3:44 PM PDT
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Posted by: chickenlittle
For an extra challenge, try to get through the Flood areas using only the Needler and AR.

Eh, I didn't see this in time, but I'd probably pass anyways...

I was expecting The Library to be incredibly difficult, but it was surprisingly easier than I thought it would be on Legendary. I think too many people try to rush through it. My main strategy was to trigger the next wave of Flood and then retreat. I found that if you can find some decent cover, it's actually relatively easy to take out the waves of Flood.

I played through a bit of Two Betrayals as well, which is definitely one of my favorite missions in the whole Halo series. So far I haven't run into too much trouble, and I'm a little past the first Pulse Generator. I believe that I just stopped in front of a room full of Flood Combat Forms.

I figured that one of the most effective strategies will be to let Covenant vs. Flood vs. Sentinel battles play out, and then come out to do the mop-up duty. Any other helpful tips?

  • 11.06.2011 6:23 PM PDT
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Posted by: funkymonkey506

Posted by: chickenlittle
For an extra challenge, try to get through the Flood areas using only the Needler and AR.

Eh, I didn't see this in time, but I'd probably pass anyways...

I was expecting The Library to be incredibly difficult, but it was surprisingly easier than I thought it would be on Legendary. I think too many people try to rush through it. My main strategy was to trigger the next wave of Flood and then retreat. I found that if you can find some decent cover, it's actually relatively easy to take out the waves of Flood.

I played through a bit of Two Betrayals as well, which is definitely one of my favorite missions in the whole Halo series. So far I haven't run into too much trouble, and I'm a little past the first Pulse Generator. I believe that I just stopped in front of a room full of Flood Combat Forms.

I figured that one of the most effective strategies will be to let Covenant vs. Flood vs. Sentinel battles play out, and then come out to do the mop-up duty. Any other helpful tips?
That is the #1 reason. You can't rush armed Flood without taking damage.

There's a room in Two Betrayals that is just suicide to rush. It has like 3-4 plasma rifle Flood, 3-4 assault rifle Flood, and 10-14 shotgun Flood. Even if you take out 2/4 of the group while rushing, there's just too many to handle. You'll barely survive if you make it out alive. And following that are 2 Elite majors, another group of Flood, and a rocket launcher wielder but that's not a problem if you take your time with the first area and take out the Elites as soon as they spawn (with a plasma grenade).

The Flood in this area are in about 4 groups: AR flood with some infection forms on the left side, 3 shotgun flood near the ar flood, plasma rifle flood with some infection forms on the right side, and a bunch of Shotgun Flood in the "lookout tower".

There are several ways to get past this part:

1. Take out the 3 splinter groups first (but don't shoot unless you want to alert the others to your position. Use grenades and melee the infection forms) then get the big group by going on the ledge that leads to the "lookout tower" and firing your gun. They should all be assembling right below you. Toss a plasma grenade below. If they don't, you don't even have to fire. You can just barge in through the window, toss a grenade and shotgun them.

Alternatively, you can just take out the plasma rifle Flood and infection forms and then go on the ledge and lure all the Flood below you and take them out with a grenade.

2. Bring a Zealot. As crazy as this sounds, this makes this part very easy (unless the shotgun Flood get to him). On the other hand, bringing a Zealot is very difficult. But you could send him in to deal with the rocket launcher Flood after dealing with the 2 Elites and Flood. I imagine you could fire your weapon and then hide and they would run into each other.

It's also possible to unleash the Zealot on the rocket launcher Flood on the bridge but most of the time he will die from a rocket. It's also difficult to assist him because of the Banshees and the other Flood attracting him.

What I did for this part was simple:

Go onto the other bridge, take out the Banshees, then use plasma rifles dropped by the combat forms on this side or Banshee pilots to disarm or shoot down the rocket launcher Flood as well as any Flood on that side. Plasma pistol might be a better choice because of the firing rate, lethality, and accuracy and it seems to stun Flood better.

[Edited on 11.06.2011 10:56 PM PST]

  • 11.06.2011 10:48 PM PDT

The second pulse generator is a tough nut to crack. I found that, as soon as you jump into the pulse stream, you head for the main entry, which will be swarming with flood, and fire two rockets, then switch to shotgun and retreat counter clockwise around the outer ring tossing frags and shotgunning the major flood forms the only way to survive. Even then, the stray rocket can ruin your day.

  • 11.07.2011 6:43 AM PDT
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Posted by: Sliding Ghost

Posted by: funkymonkey506

Posted by: chickenlittle
For an extra challenge, try to get through the Flood areas using only the Needler and AR.

Eh, I didn't see this in time, but I'd probably pass anyways...

I was expecting The Library to be incredibly difficult, but it was surprisingly easier than I thought it would be on Legendary. I think too many people try to rush through it. My main strategy was to trigger the next wave of Flood and then retreat. I found that if you can find some decent cover, it's actually relatively easy to take out the waves of Flood.

I played through a bit of Two Betrayals as well, which is definitely one of my favorite missions in the whole Halo series. So far I haven't run into too much trouble, and I'm a little past the first Pulse Generator. I believe that I just stopped in front of a room full of Flood Combat Forms.

I figured that one of the most effective strategies will be to let Covenant vs. Flood vs. Sentinel battles play out, and then come out to do the mop-up duty. Any other helpful tips?
That is the #1 reason. You can't rush armed Flood without taking damage.

There's a room in Two Betrayals that is just suicide to rush. It has like 3-4 plasma rifle Flood, 3-4 assault rifle Flood, and 10-14 shotgun Flood. Even if you take out 2/4 of the group while rushing, there's just too many to handle. You'll barely survive if you make it out alive. And following that are 2 Elite majors, another group of Flood, and a rocket launcher wielder but that's not a problem if you take your time with the first area and take out the Elites as soon as they spawn (with a plasma grenade).

The Flood in this area are in about 4 groups: AR flood with some infection forms on the left side, 3 shotgun flood near the ar flood, plasma rifle flood with some infection forms on the right side, and a bunch of Shotgun Flood in the "lookout tower".

There are several ways to get past this part:

1. Take out the 3 splinter groups first (but don't shoot unless you want to alert the others to your position. Use grenades and melee the infection forms) then get the big group by going on the ledge that leads to the "lookout tower" and firing your gun. They should all be assembling right below you. Toss a plasma grenade below. If they don't, you don't even have to fire. You can just barge in through the window, toss a grenade and shotgun them.

Alternatively, you can just take out the plasma rifle Flood and infection forms and then go on the ledge and lure all the Flood below you and take them out with a grenade.

2. Bring a Zealot. As crazy as this sounds, this makes this part very easy (unless the shotgun Flood get to him). On the other hand, bringing a Zealot is very difficult. But you could send him in to deal with the rocket launcher Flood after dealing with the 2 Elites and Flood. I imagine you could fire your weapon and then hide and they would run into each other.

It's also possible to unleash the Zealot on the rocket launcher Flood on the bridge but most of the time he will die from a rocket. It's also difficult to assist him because of the Banshees and the other Flood attracting him.

What I did for this part was simple:

Go onto the other bridge, take out the Banshees, then use plasma rifles dropped by the combat forms on this side or Banshee pilots to disarm or shoot down the rocket launcher Flood as well as any Flood on that side. Plasma pistol might be a better choice because of the firing rate, lethality, and accuracy and it seems to stun Flood better.

I actually didn't have too much difficulty getting past this part, but thanks for the advice anyways. Your video was awesome, by the way. I really liked the part where you dragged the Zealot into one of the rooms and then you jumped up and he forgot about you as soon as he saw the Combat Forms. Haha not like he would be able to reach you anyways. I can definitely see how the Zealot would be really helpful to you by distracting your enemies, but I'd imagine that it's probably a pain to lure him into one of the rooms.
Posted by: KamelToad
The second pulse generator is a tough nut to crack. I found that, as soon as you jump into the pulse stream, you head for the main entry, which will be swarming with flood, and fire two rockets, then switch to shotgun and retreat counter clockwise around the outer ring tossing frags and shotgunning the major flood forms the only way to survive. Even then, the stray rocket can ruin your day.

Coincidentally, I'm actually in the room with the second pulse generator, and indeed I am having troubles with the Flood that rush through the door once you go into the pulse generator. I tried spamming the door with grenades, but I kept dying, and now I probably realize that it was because I didn't use the Rocket Launcher and I didn't retreat. Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely try this now.

  • 11.07.2011 3:19 PM PDT

Get ready for the big Covie-Flood battle. Hardest section of that level and one of the hardest sections in the whole series.

  • 11.07.2011 3:29 PM PDT
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Posted by: KamelToad
The second pulse generator is a tough nut to crack. I found that, as soon as you jump into the pulse stream, you head for the main entry, which will be swarming with flood, and fire two rockets, then switch to shotgun and retreat counter clockwise around the outer ring tossing frags and shotgunning the major flood forms the only way to survive. Even then, the stray rocket can ruin your day.
It's a walk in the park. The part where the doors are jammed is the hard part.

Special option 1: Bring a Banshee if you dare
Leave it stuck in the hall after the loading point (blocking the Flood that spawn later in the hall from going into the room), then deal with all the Flood and make contact with the shield drainer thing, and then take your time shotgunning the Flood in the room, then run towards the door, throw a grenade next to the Banshee to move it towards the hallway Flood and splatter them. Or just throw a grenade towards them.

Special option 2: Calling all Flood... from a safe distance
You know those structures with that small opening? You can fit in them. After which you can lure the Flood and shotgun and grenade them. You're basically safe as long as you don't show yourself to the rocket launcher Flood for too long. They need to see you for at least 3 seconds to fire at you.

Finally, my speedrunning way (untested):

Do the 2nd strategy until you've taken out the unarmed Flood prowling the area (there's about 3-4). Then get the weapon Flood (the ones that come out of the door) in one big group (they should be if you used the strategy), go to them from the right side, throw grenades, blow them up with the launcher, or just run past them.

  • 11.07.2011 4:12 PM PDT
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Posted by: funkymonkey506
I actually didn't have too much difficulty getting past this part, but thanks for the advice anyways. Your video was awesome, by the way. I really liked the part where you dragged the Zealot into one of the rooms and then you jumped up and he forgot about you as soon as he saw the Combat Forms. Haha not like he would be able to reach you anyways. I can definitely see how the Zealot would be really helpful to you by distracting your enemies, but I'd imagine that it's probably a pain to lure him into one of the rooms.
Oh well. Thanks! I found it very early, way before I started bringing the Zealot. Actually he can reach me. If he doesn't run into the room, it becomes a very terrifying experience. He pops out on the left side, then the right, then the left, then the right, etc. Indeed, he is useful. Not really a pain to lure him. More of a pain to deal with 2 enemies at once. Especially on that bridge fight with the 2 Banshees. You should see how I dealt with the rocket launcher Flood so I could retrieve their ammo.

Posted by: funkymonkey506
Coincidentally, I'm actually in the room with the second pulse generator, and indeed I am having troubles with the Flood that rush through the door once you go into the pulse generator. I tried spamming the door with grenades, but I kept dying, and now I probably realize that it was because I didn't use the Rocket Launcher and I didn't retreat. Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely try this now.
I just uploaded 2 videos that make the battle very, very easy.

  • 11.07.2011 4:18 PM PDT
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Posted by: Sliding Ghost

Posted by: funkymonkey506
I actually didn't have too much difficulty getting past this part, but thanks for the advice anyways. Your video was awesome, by the way. I really liked the part where you dragged the Zealot into one of the rooms and then you jumped up and he forgot about you as soon as he saw the Combat Forms. Haha not like he would be able to reach you anyways. I can definitely see how the Zealot would be really helpful to you by distracting your enemies, but I'd imagine that it's probably a pain to lure him into one of the rooms.
Oh well. Thanks! I found it very early, way before I started bringing the Zealot. Actually he can reach me. If he doesn't run into the room, it becomes a very terrifying experience. He pops out on the left side, then the right, then the left, then the right, etc. Indeed, he is useful. Not really a pain to lure him. More of a pain to deal with 2 enemies at once. Especially on that bridge fight with the 2 Banshees. You should see how I dealt with the rocket launcher Flood so I could retrieve their ammo.

Posted by: funkymonkey506
Coincidentally, I'm actually in the room with the second pulse generator, and indeed I am having troubles with the Flood that rush through the door once you go into the pulse generator. I tried spamming the door with grenades, but I kept dying, and now I probably realize that it was because I didn't use the Rocket Launcher and I didn't retreat. Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely try this now.
I just uploaded 2 videos that make the battle very, very easy.

Damn, your videos make the second pulse generator way easier to get through. You're really a pro at finding the most effective strategies to take on a challenge. I feel bad though because you put up these videos and I don't see them in time :(. I ended up spamming the door with rockets and grenades and retreating, and it was way more difficult. This time, though, I will make sure to wait for a longer time to play the next mission in case anyone wants to give me advice before I begin.

During the last battle of The Flood vs. Covenant, that was incredibly difficult. I was very close to killing all of the enemies a couple of times, but then I would die towards the end. I actually ended up sneaking past everyone on a Ghost and flying away on a Banshee. Skipping large battles isn't something I like to do, but it still gets the job done.

Well, onto Keyes...not looking forward to the part where you fall off the ship and fight your way through the near pitch-black atmosphere during some sections. Or the part after the cutscene where you collect Keyes' neural implants (or whatever they're called) and the enemies come pouring through the door.

I am aware that there is a glitch where you can jump out of the map and skip over half of the mission, but I have no intentions to do so.

  • 11.07.2011 6:08 PM PDT


Posted by: funkymonkey506
During the last battle of The Flood vs. Covenant, that was incredibly difficult. I was very close to killing all of the enemies a couple of times, but then I would die towards the end. I actually ended up sneaking past everyone on a Ghost and flying away on a Banshee. Skipping large battles isn't something I like to do, but it still gets the job done.

Yeah, that's mostly a tough battle of attrition. Last time I played, the elites weren't fast to show themselves, and I used a lot of heavy ammunition getting past everything else. My ghosts were almost toast and all I had left was the pistol and spare ammo to use against the two hunters and what was most of the non-cloaked elite contingent. I still had a fair amount of ammo left and the end, but relative to what I started with, I was absolutely on my last legs.

Well, onto Keyes...not looking forward to the part where you fall off the ship and fight your way through the near pitch-black atmosphere during some sections. Or the part after the cutscene where you collect Keyes' neural implants (or whatever they're called) and the enemies come pouring through the door.
Yeah, Keyes is tough. After the Keyes blob cutscene, it can help to quickly head for the exit and alert the Covenant before running to the back of the room; if the Flood and Covenant sufficiently tear each other to pieces, the fight can actually sometimes wind up being fairly easy.

  • 11.07.2011 7:58 PM PDT

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