Halo Reach: LASO Weekly Challenge Guide: Part 9 – The Pillar of Autumn: I

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Just like we all knew it would, it seems as though the curtain is coming to a close on these LASO challenges, though I would not be surprised to see the survival level Lone Wolf pop up for some sort of LASO challenge in the coming weeks.  Regardless, you still have to get through the Pillar of Autumn first.

This mission is no breeze by a long shot, but it is actually easier than you might think.  It just requires, like all LASO runs, patience and strategy.  There are some very trying parts near the end, but nothing that cannot be easily overcome.  Video of the run can be seen here and here.  If you need to review LASO strategies and tips, look here and here.

(Quick Note:  Many of the strategies here are from the fantastic Reach Mythic guides of Tyrant over at Halo.bungie.org.  All credit for these strategies goes to him or RC Master, who I believe found some of these tricks.  These guys are Mythic Gurus and if you ever have a chance, tell them "Thank you!")

The Pillar of Autumn Walkthrough:

The goal of this entire level is to get the package, the fragment of Cortana's memory, to the Pillar of Autumn in Azod.  You start out on a doomed Pelican piloted by Carter and you eventually jump out with Emile.

Now start sprinting through the small canyon ahead of you until you get to a large clearing with loads of Covenant below you.  Keep heading to the right and jump down once you can do so without getting hurt.

At this point, we will not be fighting any of these enemies, but simply running through them.  Run to this trailer and pick up a DMR, Rockets if you want them, and some health.  Do not loiter in here for too long, however, since grenades will eventually find their way in.

Run out the side opposite of which you came in and keep running past the two Mongooses out there.  Instead there is one other that we will go for which is located right here.  Do not wait up for Emile since he really does nothing when in the passenger's seat and will spawn to you when you finally arrive at your destination.

You will drive below some Banshees which rarely attack you and through another canyon until you come to a very wide open area where two Scarabs are advancing and multiple drop-pods are slamming down.  Stop before the first drop-pod and eliminate the three Grunt Specialists which come out with plasma pistols.

Once they have been eliminated, I simply keep driving through everything but take a short-cut here.  You will have to pass under a Scarab and it's small turrets will probably give you issues, but as long as you do not stop, getting through alive will not be an issue.

Follow the road through a tunnel and slow down as you pass through it to avoid the Phantom advancing on the other side.  Once you see its shadow pass, gun it through the two rock formations/caves and jump the gap in the road.

Your mongoose will land right in front of this pretty much obliterated building and it will be time to get off.  Grab the health pack if you need it and note the location the ammo crate with tons of DMR ammo.  You will need plenty for the next part.

Now, we have to kill two Jackals and a Wraith.  Yes, a Wraith. If you happened to bring the rockets with you, simply fire one at the sniper tower and the Jackals are eliminated.  If you did not bring the rockets, simply headshot them with the DMR.  Either way, they are eliminated quite easily.

After the Jackals are downed, you need to take out the Brute turret gunner for the Wraith from distance.  He will take a larger number of hits since he is a step up from the regular Brutes but will only be able to sit there as you shoot him.

Once the gunner is dropped, move along the right side of the wall towards the Wraith.  Board the vehicle and either a single grenade or six melees will finish the Covenant tank off.  Ignore the rest of the enemies and advance toward the small hill to yet another canyon.

Before you can make it to that canyon, however, four suicide Grunts and three Needle Rifle wielding Jackals will pop out.  End them all with quick headshots and stay back to avoid any blasts from the left-over Plasma Grenades.

Make sure you pick up a Needle Rifle and all the ammo you can find.  Throughout this run, you will be collecting and saving Needle Rifle ammo for the almost end of the level.  There will be a quick cutscene where you will be ambushed by a Scarab, but Carter will end that threat with a Pelican.  Wave good-bye to Carter and advance on.

Now you have to fight drones.  They are not particularly difficult to kill, but they just move around way to damn much.  A single headshot will make the Drones explode and that is what you will be going for.  As you advance through the chasm, use the wall and corners to your advantage.  And do not expect Emile to be any help here.

Eventually, you will come to an area with a pond and Skirmishers, armed with Needle Rifles, in addition to the Drones.  Kill them the same way by using the corners and headshotting them at any available opportunity.  Once the area is cleared out, make sure you pick up all the Needle Rifle ammo on the ground for later in the level.

Advance through till you see a health pack, a Drop Shield, and a Spartan Laser.  I pick up the Spartan Laser and the Drop Shield and typically need the health pack.  When picking up the Spartan Laser, drop the DMR and make sure you keep the Needle Rifle.

Now you have arrived at another really big fight.  Guess what?  We are going to skip this one as well. Stay to the far right and then use a frag grenade to grenade jump right here.  This will allow you to continue forward and skip this insanely hard fight with several Elites. 

There may be a BoB up here, but if there is, simply stay away from him till he disappears.  I believe the credit for this trick goes to RC Master as reported via Tyrant.

Use the laser you brought with you and kill these three turrets. 

There is also a Laser on the ground that you can use up, but the only actual threats to you are the turrets.  I would also take out a Ghost or two just because their range in accuracy is way to overpowered.

Go to the far left of the area after everything has been cleared and make sure that you pick up a fully loaded DMR.  Cross the bridge ahead of you and take out the Grunts on the left if you feel like it.  Watch out for all the enemies on the right though because they will drop your shields very easily.

Once you are across, you need to drop through the open panel but look before you leap.  There will most likely be an Elite down there who will smack you to death very quickly.  If he is actively in your way, take him out with a Beat Down or an assassination.  Do not worry about anything else in the room.

Drop down in front of the doorway and get through without turning back.  Use the Drop Shield to block any incoming fire and get your health back to full.  Continue through the hallways and exit through the furthest door.

Now we are in what most people simply call Smelting Room number one.  This is another annoyingly difficult fight so we are going to skip it.  Take out the two Grunts blocking your way but do not worry about anything else in the room.

Come down to this barrel and jump atop it. 

Next, you want to jump onto the slanted beams so you can then jump onto these large pipes.

Once you are on them, go to the far left.  From here, crouch jump up onto the ledge.  Most of these jumps will take a few tries, so use the Drop Shield to block incoming fire when possible.
 

Now jump across to the catwalk in front of you and creep through to the end.  If the Phantom is still there, wait for it to leave. 

Once it is gone, quickly jump to the ledge to your right, then to the ground, and then haul ass out the door.  The best part about this?  The Hunters will not spawn.

Now stroll through this area and approach the doorway ahead, but stay away from it.  Going near the doorway will spawn all the enemies in the next room.  Instead, jump using the small crate under the platform, shoot out a window, and step into the area.

Now we have to set up the doorway to make this fight a lot easier.  We are going to use the crating methods that Tyrant suggests.  Go up the catwalks and go to the door on the far end.  Push the two crates side-by-side immediately in front of the doorway.  Once those are in place, slowly push the three barrels into place so there are two on each side and one in front.  This will prevent the Elite that comes out from getting through and allow you to kill him very easily.

Once everything is set up and you have grabbed some DMR ammo and health from the locations around the room, go up to the door to get everything to spawn.  Now there will be a lot of Jackals and an invisible Elite with a Sword.  The Elite will stay back, however, so use this time to take out all of the Jackals from a distance since you are out of their range.

Once you have dropped all the Jackals, move up some to entice the invisible Elite at your right to come and play.  Once you catch a glimpse of him, run back behind Emile.  Instead of coming after you, he will attack Emile.  Let Emile drop his shields and you just follow up with a single headshot.

Now make you way up to the catwalks and trade out your Needle Rifle for a Plasma Pistol but remember where you put your Needle Rifle since you will need it later.  The Elite should be stuck in the doorway (Thanks, Tyrant!) and you can simply use the Plasma Pistol to drop his shields and then give him a very quick death via headshot with the DMR.

Mop up the remaining three Grunts and then retrieve your Needle Rifle, stock up on DMR ammo and get some health.  Before walking through the doorway, which will seal shut behind you, make sure you find a highly charged Plasma Pistol and weapon juggle it through the doorway.  You need access to all three weapons for the big fight.

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Part II is now up.