How to Find Every Missable and Open World Skull in Halo Infinite

Skulls have been a staple of the Halo franchise since the early days of Combat Evolved and Halo 2, serving as hidden collectibles that radically alter gameplay. In Halo Infinite, these 12 skulls range from hilarious cosmetic changes, like the iconic Grunt Birthday Party, to punishing difficulty modifiers that test even the most seasoned Spartans.

Because Halo Infinite features a semi-open world structure combined with linear campaign missions, finding every skull requires a mix of exploration and precision. Some are hidden in plain sight across the sprawling Zeta Halo, while others are tucked away in campaign missions that, depending on your game version, might not allow immediate replay. This guide provides the exact steps to locate every skull and the tactical details of their effects.

Quick Reference of All 12 Skulls and Effects

For those looking for a rapid checklist, here is the complete list of skulls available in the Halo Infinite campaign:

How to Activate Skulls in Your Campaign

Unlike some previous titles where skulls were toggled in the pause menu, Halo Infinite requires a specific process to turn them on.

Once you have collected a skull, it is tied to your account permanently. To activate it, you must quit to the Main Menu, select Load Game, and choose your specific save file. Before launching the session, you will see a Skulls option. Here, you can toggle any found skulls on or off. Keep in mind that activating certain "cheat-like" skulls (such as Bandana) may disable certain time-based achievements or specific scoring systems, though they are generally fair game for casual exploration.

Detailed Guide to Mission-Specific Skulls (Missable)

These skulls are located within linear story missions. In the initial launch version of the game, these were easily missed as missions could not be replayed without starting a new save. While mission replay has since been added, it is still highly efficient to grab these during your first run.

1. Boom Skull (Warship Gbraakon)

The very first skull is found in the opening mission. After fighting through the initial corridors and taking an elevator up, you will enter a large, two-story cargo bay filled with moving containers.

• Location Detail: Look to the right side of the room where three automated lifts are moving crates vertically.
• How to Get It: Step onto the middle lift as it rises. As you reach the top, do not get off on the upper floor immediately. Instead, look for a small opening in the wall near the ceiling. The Boom skull is sitting on a crate in this alcove. In my experience, it’s easy to get crushed by the crates if you don't time your jump correctly, so use the Grappleshot to stabilize yourself.

2. Cowbell Skull (Foundation)

Found in the second mission, Foundation, this skull requires some "out-of-the-box" thinking with the Grappleshot.

• Location Detail: After you meet The Weapon and experience the flashback sequences, you will enter a massive, vaulted blue room with high pillars stretching toward the ceiling. Your objective will say "Follow the signal."
• How to Get It: Look up toward the ceiling. High above the central pillars is a small angular platform. You cannot reach this with a single jump. You need to use your Grappleshot to scale the side of the pillars and then "fling" yourself upward using the physics of the rope. Once you reach the very top rafter, the Cowbell skull is waiting. I recommend upgrading your Grappleshot’s cooldown before attempting this to make the climb less punishing.

3. Mythic Skull (The Command Spire)

This skull is located deep within the Forerunner processing plant during the Command Spire mission.

• Location Detail: You will reach a section where large hexagonal pillars are being transported through orange energy gates. These pillars eventually turn a 90-degree corner and move upward.
• How to Get It: Just before the pillars make that turn, look up. There is a hole in the ceiling where the pillars are coming from. Grapple onto one of the pillars as it moves, then immediately grapple into the dark opening above. Follow the hidden hallway behind the processing machinery to find a room with the Mythic skull.

4. Grunt Birthday Party Skull (Repository)

This is arguably the most complex skull to obtain, involving a multi-step "Power Seed" puzzle.

• Location Detail: In the Repository mission, you will enter a large room with a central terminal and four doors leading to separate wings.
• How to Get It: After the cutscene at the terminal, look for a Power Seed sitting in a room to the right (you'll need to grapple across the gap to reach it). Take the seed and throw it across to the opposite side (the left wing). Carry the seed through the left wing and place it into a receiver hidden in a small room there. Later in the mission, you will enter a hall flanked by two large light-bridge structures. Because you placed the seed, a window high up will now be open. Grapple into that window. Beware: there are four cloaked Elites guarding the skull inside.

5. Bandana Skull (Silent Auditorium)

This is the most powerful skull in the game and requires a specific playstyle to unlock.

• Location Detail: The final mission, Silent Auditorium.
• The Challenge: You must complete the mission without killing a single Sentinel. The robotic flying Sentinels that usually harass you must be left alive. You can kill Banished forces (Brutes, Elites, Grunts), but do not let your grenades or stray bullets hit a Sentinel.
• How to Get It: Near the end of the level, after you activate a light bridge, a door will open that is normally locked. If you haven't killed any Sentinels, this door (directly across from the bridge) will lead to a room containing the Bandana skull. If the door is locked, you accidentally destroyed a Sentinel earlier.

Detailed Guide to Open World Skulls (Zeta Halo)

These skulls can be collected at any time once you have access to the open-world map of Zeta Halo. I highly recommend unlocking the Wasp (by earning 2,600 Valor) before hunting these down, as it makes reaching the high peaks and isolated islands much easier.

6. IWHBYD Skull (The Tower)

This classic skull is located at the very top of The Tower, the massive Banished structure in the first region.

• Location Detail: The very roof of the structure.
• How to Get It: While you can technically scale the side of the building using a fully upgraded Grappleshot (by grappling the exterior supports and flinging yourself upward), it is significantly easier to fly a Wasp or a hijacked Banshee to the top. The skull is sitting on a crate under the central antenna. It’s a great spot to take in the view of the entire first island.

7. Blind Skull (Southwest Canyon)

The Blind skull is tucked away in a deep fissure in the southwestern part of the map.

• Location Detail: Look for a massive canyon that splits the landmass south of The Tower.
• How to Get It: Look for a natural rock bridge spanning the gap. Down in the shadows of the canyon, you will see blue glow sticks. Follow these sticks onto the narrow hexagonal ledges along the canyon wall. You'll find a small cave where a dead marine and the Blind skull are located. Using your scanner (D-pad down) is essential here, as the cave is very dark.

8. Catch Skull (Northern Island)

This skull is located on the isolated island to the far north, past Outpost Tremonius.

• Location Detail: A small canyon at the northern tip of this island.
• How to Get It: This skull is guarded by two Hunters. If you are early in the game, this can be a tough fight. I found that you can "cheese" the encounter by using the Grappleshot to snag the skull from a tree stump behind the Hunters and then quickly grappling away before they can smash you. The skull is inside a hollowed-out tree stump filled with helmets.

9. Fog Skull (West of FOB Alpha)

The Fog skull is hidden among the hexagonal pillars on the edge of the map.

• Location Detail: Follow the cliffside west of FOB Alpha.
• How to Get It: You are looking for a small opening in the ceiling of the hexagonal structures along the ring's edge. This is another one that is much easier with a Wasp. If you are on foot, look for a small doll (an easter egg) sitting on a ledge; the skull is directly above that area. Use your scanner to find the yellow outline through the metal structures.

10. Famine Skull (Eastern Island)

This is perhaps the most isolated skull in the game.

• Location Detail: On a tiny, floating island at the far eastern edge of the map, south of the easternmost Beacon.
• How to Get It: You must have a flight-capable vehicle (Wasp or Banshee) to reach this island. There is no way to grapple or jump across the void. Once you land on the small island, look for a dead Elite in gold armor (a Zealot) holding the skull.

11. Black Eye Skull (Waterfall Cave)

Hidden behind a waterfall—a classic trope that Halo Infinite leans into perfectly.

• Location Detail: On the southern island (Reformation region), there is a waterfall located between FOB Kilo and the Riven Gate outpost.
• How to Get It: The entrance to the cave is halfway up the waterfall. It is a very small, square opening that is hard to see through the cascading water. Grapple into the opening and crouch-walk through the tunnel. You will enter a red-lit cavern filled with creepy trophies, and the Black Eye skull is perched on a wooden post.

12. Thunderstorm Skull (Near the AA Guns)

This skull is located on a lone, tall pillar in the middle of a valley.

• Location Detail: In the Reformation region (south island), near the Banished AA guns.
• How to Get It: Look for a single, exceptionally tall hexagonal pillar that stands apart from the cliffside. The skull is right on top. Again, a Wasp is the easiest solution, but a skilled player can grapple up the side of the nearby cliff and make a long-distance jump-grapple to the top.

Tactical Analysis: How Skulls Change the Game

Collecting the skulls is only half the fun; the real challenge begins when you turn them on. In our testing of various combinations, we found that certain skulls completely redefine the Halo combat loop.

The Difficulty Modifiers

• Mythic & Thunderstorm: When combined, these turn standard Elites and Brutes into absolute tanks. You will find yourself running out of ammo constantly because enemies simply refuse to die. This forces a shift toward "power weapon" management rather than relying on the Assault Rifle.
• Black Eye: This is the most punishing skull for defensive players. Since your shields only recharge on melee hits, you can no longer "hide behind a rock" to recover. You have to be aggressive. I found that pairing this with the Grappleshot's 1st-tier stun upgrade is essential, as it allows you to close the gap safely for a shield-restoring punch.
• Famine: This skull makes the open world much more dangerous. You can't rely on picking up weapons from fallen enemies. You’ll need to frequently visit FOBs to restock your favorite loadouts.

The "Cheat" Skulls

• Bandana: This is the "fun" skull. Unlimited ammo and no cooldowns mean you can use the Grappleshot like Spider-Man and spam Rocket Launcher shots indefinitely. It’s perfect for cleaning up remaining achievements or just causing chaos. Note that using this will usually prevent you from earning "Par Times" if those were ever a factor in your goals.

The Cosmetic/Flavor Skulls

• IWHBYD (I Would Have Been Your Daddy): This is a must-have for every playthrough. The Banished have some of the funniest dialogue in the series, and this skull ensures you hear the rarest lines.
• Cowbell & Boom: These two together turn the physics engine into a circus. Grenades will send enemies flying across the map, often into the abyss of the ring. It makes the game feel much more like an arcade shooter.

Expert Tips for Skull Hunting

1. Upgrade the Sensor First: The "Threat Sensor" upgrade that increases its radius is helpful, but the basic AI Scan (D-pad down) is your best friend. It highlights skulls through walls and floors with a distinct yellow pulse.
2. The Wasp is Mandatory for Sanity: While 80% of the skulls can be reached with the Grappleshot, the Famine and IWHBYD skulls are frustratingly difficult without a Wasp. Focus on capturing FOBs and rescuing marines to build up your Valor score early.
3. Check Your Checklist: Before finishing a story mission, pause and check your collectibles menu. If the "Skulls" icon isn't filled for that mission, don't proceed to the next area, as you might cross a "point of no return."
4. LASO Preparation: If you are planning a LASO run (Legendary All Skulls On), practice with the Black Eye and Blind skulls active first. Playing without a HUD is a jarring experience that requires you to memorize weapon sounds and ammo counts.

Summary

Finding all 12 skulls in Halo Infinite is a rewarding journey that takes you from the highest peaks of the Tower to the darkest caves of Zeta Halo. Whether you want the infinite power of the Bandana skull or the festive cheers of the Grunt Birthday Party, these collectibles offer a way to customize your Halo experience like never before. Remember to be especially careful during the Repository and Silent Auditorium missions, as those are the most common places where players miss their chance for a 100% collection run.

FAQ

Can I get skulls on Easy difficulty? Yes, skulls can be collected on any difficulty setting. Many players choose to find them on Easy to avoid the stress of fighting Hunters or Elites while trying to perform difficult Grappleshot maneuvers.

Do skulls disable achievements? Most skulls do not disable achievements. In fact, some achievements require you to have skulls active (like the "Headmaster" achievement for completing LASO). However, using the Bandana skull might make certain combat-specific challenges too easy to track properly.

What happens if I miss a mission skull? You can now use the "Mission Replay" feature from the Tac-Map. Simply select the mission icon on the map and choose "Replay" to go back and grab any missed collectibles.

Are there skulls in multiplayer? No, skulls are strictly a feature of the Halo Infinite Campaign. Multiplayer modifiers are handled through custom game settings.

Which skull is the hardest to find? The Grunt Birthday Party skull is generally considered the hardest due to the Power Seed puzzle and the cloaked Elite guards. The Bandana skull is also tricky because it requires you to change your behavior (not killing Sentinels) throughout the entire final level.