The first mission of Halo: Campaign Evolved throws you right into the action aboard the Pillar of Autumn, but if you want to grab all the collectibles, you’ll need to slow down and search every corner. There’s one Terminal and three Skulls hidden in this level, and missing them is easy if you’re just following the objective marker. Here’s exactly where to find everything before you hit the escape pod.
Terminal 1 is tucked away near the damaged control room
The single Terminal for Mission 1 appears late in the level, right after you pass through a control room with a shattered window. Go through the door on the far side, and instead of continuing straight as the game nudges you, turn left immediately. There’s an open doorway you might have missed. The Terminal sits at the back of that small room. Interact with it once, and you’re done for the mission.
This terminal offers a bit of lore context for the A Short Hike-style exploration you’ll need to adopt across the whole campaign. It’s a small reward, but completionists won’t want to skip it.
Skull 1 — Speed Limit is hiding in the starting room
You might think the tutorial area is safe, but the first Skull is actually perched above the starting point. Look for two sets of giant containers at one end of the room. Jump onto the pair that’s stacked only two high (not the three-high stack), and from there leap onto the overhead platform. Walk to the end of that platform to find Skull 1: Speed Limit. This Skull reduces movement speed, so it’s a challenge tool for players who want a harder run.
Finding it without a guide feels like stumbling onto a secret in Alien: Isolation — the game doesn’t hint at it at all. That’s the Campaign Evolved approach: treat every room as a potential hiding spot.
Skull 2 — Magnified sits in the B02L storage area
Progress through the linear path until you enter a large room labeled B02L. Inside, you’ll see several connected unit structures. Halfway down the first unit, a Skull sits on top of one of them. Jump up to claim Skull 2: Magnified. This one messes with your aim by adding a scope zoom you might not want, so it’s another self-imposed handicap.
The placement here is reminiscent of hidden collectibles in Ace Combat games, where you have to ignore the main path and look up. It’s easy to walk right past if you’re focused on the firefight ahead.
Skull 3 — Perspective is behind a ladder on the bridge
After the cutscene where you meet Captain Keyes on the bridge, move to the front of the room. Two pilots are seated side by side, and between them is a ladder. Climb down (or jump) and look behind the ladder at the bottom. There you’ll find Skull 3: Perspective, which changes the camera angle to third-person. This is arguably the most fun Skull because it transforms the game into an entirely different experience.
This final Skull is the hardest to spot because the bridge is busy and the ladder draws your attention upward, not downward. It’s the kind of hidden detail that rewards players who thoroughly check every nook, much like hunting for manuscripts in Alan Wake.
Why these collectibles matter more than you think
Halo: Campaign Evolved isn’t just a visual remaster — it’s a full gameplay overhaul that rebalances encounters, adjusts enemy AI, and repositions collectibles to force players to engage with the level design differently. The Skulls and Terminal on the Pillar of Autumn set the tone for the entire campaign: nothing is where you remember it from the original Combat Evolved. Even veteran players will need to search fresh.
The flip side? Some of these locations are borderline unfair. The first Skull in the starting room requires a series of jumps that aren’t obvious, and the Terminal room is easy to skip if you’re under fire. Newcomers to the mod might find the lack of visual hints frustrating. It’s a deliberate design choice to reward patience, but it can also feel like pixel-hunting in a first-person shooter.
What comes next in the campaign
Once you’ve cleared the Pillar of Autumn, you’ll move on to Halo, Truth and Reconciliation, and beyond. Each subsequent mission has its own set of Skulls and Terminals, and the difficulty ramps up. If you’re aiming for 100% completion, consider bookmarking a guide for each level. The Campaign Evolved mod is packed with secrets that reward the thorough player, but it doesn’t hold your hand.
For now, grab Speed Limit, Magnified, and Perspective, hit that Terminal, and prepare to drop onto the ring. The real hunt is just beginning.
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