Overview
- Estimated achievement difficulty: 8/10 or 4/10 for Halo veterans.
- Offline: 31/57 (615)
- Online: 26/57 (385)
- Approximate amount of time to 1000: 30+ hours
- Minimum number of playthroughs needed: 2 and 5 Spartain Ops Episodes (25 Chapters)
- Number of missable achievements: None (Mission Select)
- Do cheat codes disable achievements?: No Cheats
- Does difficulty affect achievements?: Yes (See descriptions for minimum settings)
- Glitchy achievements: Chief, Smash!, A Legendary Episode, Digging up the Past, The Challenger, DLC: Special Delivery and ODST
- Unobtainable achievements: None
- Extra equipment needed?: 4GB Free, A second controller (optional)
- Is there DLC? Yes
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Crimson Map Pack
- Number of achievements: 8 achievements (250)
- Estimated difficulty: 4/10
- Time to 250: 2 hours
- Glitchy/Missable/Unobtainable: None
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Majestic Map Pack
- Number of achievements: 10 achievements (250)
- Estimated Difficulty: 4/10
- Time to 250: 1 hours
- Glitchy/Missable/Unobtainable: Birds of Prey (G)
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Castle Map Pack
- Number of achievements: 9 achievements (250)
- Estimated difficulty: 3/10
- Time to 250: 3+ Hour(s) OR 40 Minutes Boosting
- Glitchy/Missable/Unobtainable: None
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Champions Bundle
- Number of achievements: 10 achievements (250)
- Estimated difficulty: 3/10
- Time to 250: 1+ Hour(s)
- Glitchy/Missable/Unobtainable: Pitchin' a Tent - Check Guide Below
Introduction
Halo 4 is the eighth installment of the Halo franchise and is the first of the new "Reclaimer Trilogy" created by 343 Industries. It has been four years since John went into cryosleep (Halo 3). Awoken and ready to fight, John and Cortana must uncover the many secrets & technology the ancient forerunner planet "Requiem" holds. The Campaign achievements are straight forward and as always, Mission Select is available. There are 7 Terminals you must find and access and skulls are available for use right from the start. A Xbox LIVE Gold Account is required for the Multiplayer and the new gametypes Spartan Ops and War Games. Each week a new Chapter/Episode for Spartan Ops will be available to download.
Installation
Halo 4 is shipped with 2 discs. The second disc must be installed (4GB) in order to play the Multiplayer. Insert Disc 2, launch the game and follow the instructions. Upon completion, eject the disc and insert Disc 1. You no longer have need for Disc 2.
Campaign Co-op Playthrough on Heroic (12 for 190)
This playthrough will be done Cooperatively with another player (Online or Local) on Heroic to specifically unlock Bromageddon and Bropocalypse. You may choose to play on Legendary to also unlock The Legend of 117 but you will naturally unlock this during your Solo Legendary Playthrough. See The Legend of 117 for tips if you choose Legendary for this playthrough. Halo 4 allows up to 4 players playing Co-op at a time. Find partners/buddies in the Achievement Trading Thread.
Campaign Terminals, Skulls, & Mission Specifics 11 for 235
Upon completion of the Campaign you are able to replay every Mission on any Difficulty. Choose a Mission and set the difficulty to Easy unless specified otherwise.
• Terminals - There are a total of 7 Terminals you must find/access. Please see Terminus for Terminal locations. Find one for Contact the Domain, and find all for Terminus.
• Skulls - Skulls are available and unlocked right from the start. You do not have to seek them out in Halo 4. Silver Skulls are recommended to activate because you must complete a level on Heroic whilst 3 are activated for Skullduggery. This can be done Cooperatively.
• Mission Specifics - There are 8 Mission Specifics to unlock (ie Digging up the Past, Midnight Launch...) These can be missed during your first playthrough. After you've completed your initial playthrough, load up each Mission and achieve the required Mission Specific task then Save and quit.
Campaign Solo Playthrough on Legendary 2 for 160
This playthrough will be done Solo on Legendary. You cannot do any part of this playthrough with another player either Online or Locally. Sucessful completion of this difficult playthough unlocks Lone Wolf Legend and The Legend of 117.
See the Roadmap item Difficulties for extra info. See the Guide achievement description for Lone Wolf Legendfor tips.
Infinity (Multiplayer) 15 for 160
The Infinity consists of Spartan Ops and War Games. You will have the option to customize your Spartan IV within the Infinity. Your Spartan IV Ranks up from the points you earn in both game modes.
• War Games - Competitive Halo Multiplayer gameplay.
• Spartan Ops - New Co-op Multiplayer Episodic game mode.
Infinity :: Spartan Ops 9 for 255
This is a 10 week long Episodic game mode that takes place chronologically 6 months after the events of Halo 4. Spartan Ops allows up to 4 player co-op & you have the option of matchmaking if you are solo. The first 5 Episodes have achievements.
Every Monday at 6 am (Eastern US, GMT -5) there will be a FREE streaming Spartan Ops Episode available to watch, followed by 5 Chapters of gameplay. Please see the Infinity :: Spartan Ops Info and Discussion thread for more info as to when new Episodes are available and which achievements are currently obtainable.
Difficulties
The difficulties are Easy, Normal, Heroic, Legendary and the achievements are stackable, meaning unlocking The Legend of 117 unlocks Wake up John and I Need a Hero. On Easy difficulty, it is possible to unlock the 'Completed Mission...' achievements (Dawn, Requiem,Forerunner, ...) but you will not unlock a 'Completed the Campaign...' achievement on Easy. In order to unlock all the campaign's 'Difficulty' achievements you must complete 2 playthroughs. One Cooperatively on Heroic, and one Solo on Legendary.
All eight achievements are tied to the WarGames matchmaking of Halo 4 and cannot be obtained through Custom Games or Spartan Ops. You can boost these achievements if you have a full party of 12 players. If any players have multiple controllers, make sure they plug them in for the use of a guest account. It is important to understand where certain weapons and vehicles are located in the three new maps: Man Cannons can be located only on Wreckage, Warthogs can be found on Harvest and Wreckage, Mantis Mechs are exclusive to Shatter, and Machine Gun Turrets can be found on Shatter.
With this said, take note that Bigfoot, David & Goliath, and Pump Yer Breaks can only be obtained on Shatter. Now They Fly can be obtained on both Harvest and Wreckage, depending on which method you prefer using (both methods can be found below). Clay Pigeon and Special Delivery can only be obtained on Wreckage, although it has been said that Gravity Lifts will act as the Man Cannon requirement for these two achievements. Lastly, ODST can be obtained on any map, despite its description saying a Man Cannon is required.
A word about playing Co-op and Solo playthroughs at the same time.
Both solo and co-op playthroughs have their own save data. As long as you reach a checkpoint in solo, making sure to save and quit after, it'll stamp that progress. Start a lobby with a friend, and you'll see 'Start Co-op Campaign'. Modify the options to your liking, start the game then back out. Return to the Campaign menu with no other players, and everything should be as it was on your solo playthrough.
Majestic Map Pack
It is important to understand where certain weapons are located in the three new maps, and what playlists and maps will be best for obtaining all ten achievements. Three achievements are best obtained on the larger maps, another three are easier done in the new Free-For-All playlist, and the last four can be obtained on any maps, but will require the use of specific Armor Abilities during combat.
- Didn't See It Comin' and Bullet Sponge are best obtained on one of the bigger maps, such as Landfall or Monolith, due to their long sightlines and open exteriors.
- Bird of Prey can be easily obtained on Landfall or Skyline, since they have multiple leveled structures/areas around the map.
- I See You! and Clever Girl will have you utilizing the Promethean Vision and Active Camo Armor abilities and obtaining a total of five kills while the abilities are active.
- Flash of Light is obtained by earning a double kill with a single Pulse. Grenade and should be done in the Free-For-All playlist.
- Last Man Grinning and Calling in the Big Guns should also be done in the Free-For-All playlist with the Ordinance Priority mod equip.
- Pigs Can Fly and I Thrust at Thee require specific combat kills on the enemy team in terms of JetPacks and Thruster Packs, and can be obtained on any map or playlist.
Castle Map Pack
We meet for the last time, Spartans. The Castle Map Pack is the last Multiplayer Map Pack available to download for Halo 4. Like the previous DLC Packs, Castle will offer players 3 new War Game maps and 9 new achievements that can only be obtained online. The achievements will task you with performing specific actions during the Multiplayer which range from using power weapons such as the Spartan Laser, to splattering and beating down 5 enemies in a single match.
All nine achievements are tied to the WarGames matchmaking of Halo 4 and cannot be obtained through Custom Games or Spartan Ops. You can boost these achievements if you have a full party of 12 players. If any players have multiple controllers, make sure they plug them in for the use of a guest account.
It is important to know beforehand which maps will offer the best strategy and vehicles, which armor abilities will be required, and what weapons will be necessary in obtaining all nine achievements. Three achievements are tied to vehicle usage, while another five will require weapon-specified kills and armor ability utilization. Lastly, there is a single achievement for completing a match on every Castle map.
- What is Yours is Also Mine, Scrapyard, and Outta My Way! can be done on any map as they task you with hijacking enemy vehicles, destroying enemy-occupied vehicles, and splattering a number of enemies.
- Dodge This! and Ashes to Ashes require the use of Spartan Lasers and Forerunner weaponry and can be done on any map or playlist.
- Hello Nurse! requires you to heal a number of teammates using the Health Regeneration Field armor ability but you can heal yourself too.
- That Won't Save You is best done in a boosting party, as not many people use the Hardlight Shield.
- Beating up the Beat has you beating down enemies, and can be done on any map and game type.
- Sight Seeing is unlocked once you have finished a full match on Perdition, Outcast, and Daybreak.
Champions Bundle
Introduction
Welcome back, Spartans! It’s a huge surprise to see everyone again. Why’s that? Just when we thought 343 Industries had finished their run of DLC for Halo 4, they pleasantly offer us once last chuck of reasonably priced content. Right from the start, three of the new achievements can be obtained without any of the DLC Packs. The Bullseye DLC Pack (480MSP) brings a new game type – Ricochet - and two new maps: Vertigo and Pitfall. This pack is essential for obtaining five of the ten new achievements. The Steel Skin Pack (240MSP) brings ten gold steam-punk weapon skins for select weapons, while the Infinity Armor Pack (240MSP) brings three new armor sets.
The entire Champions Bundle DLC (800MSP) includes all three of these packs. Through purchasing the Bundle, the Infinity Armor Pack will also bring exclusive content: five weapon skins, five armor skins, and eight new stances. It also grants early access to the Resistor armor mod which is essential for the last two achievements. This armor mod will become available at a later date for free however, so you can opt to wait it out and obtain eight of the ten achievements for now with just the Bullseye DLC Pack, thus saving money.
Multiplayer
All ten achievements must be obtained through the War Games matchmaking and are best done if boosted with a full 8-12 player lobby. Make sure to use any extra controllers for guest accounts if you don’t have a full boosting party! Protect This House!, Hat Trick and From Downtown can all be done in the new Ricochet game type. These achievements will require you to assassinate the ball carrier right outside their goal zone, score three times in a single round, and score a goal from very, very far away. Repeat Survivor tasks you with surviving three vehicular explosions in a row while using the new Survivor mod – which is free as of 8/19's Title Update. Can’t Catch Me and Just a Scratch will have you utilizing the new Resistor and Recharge mods. Again, Recharge is free as of 8/19's Title Update. One of the most odd achievements we’ve seen in any Halo game to date is Pitchin’ a Tent, which makes you camp a single location for a full minute. How this is even considered an achievement is beyond me. With just three achievements left, One Man Army requires you to obtain four consecutive Rocket Launcher kills on any map, while Shocking and Got It! will test your speed and map geography as you race to turn on both electrical power systems on the new Vertigo map and obtain the Rocket Launcher on the new Pitfall map.
Conclusion
It’s safe to say most of the community isn’t too thrilled with this last batch of DLC, even if it does offer a nice amount of content. With two brand new maps, three unique armor mods, a very interesting game type, and much more, the Champions Bundle adds a little more life to Halo 4’s online multiplayer. With that said, the achievements should not take too long to obtain granted you boost them with a full 8 player lobby. Despite our lack of interest in this DLC, at least it’ll look great on our gamercards with 2000!