Halo Wars 2 skulls

15 campaign skulls across 11 missions. They have no score bonus: each one just changes how a mission plays.

Grunt Birthday Party
A New Enemy
Slain Grunts burst into confetti.
Just for fun
Paintball
Ascension
Marine grenades and Grunt mines also fire lethal shrapnel.
Helps you
Pain Train
Ascension
Your units are produced 50% faster.
Helps you
Bountiful Harvest
One Three Zero
Supply deliveries from supply buildings arrive 25% sooner.
Helps you
Emperor
The Cartographer
Your leader powers recharge in half the time.
Helps you
Pestilence
Lights Out
Your units lose health steadily from the moment they are built.
Makes it harder
Total Annihilation
From the Deep
Spartan special ability slams hit with a stronger explosion.
Helps you
Sickness
Hold the Line
Your units have 50% less hit points.
Makes it harder
Firestarter
Hold the Line
Dying Grunts and Marines explode, damaging enemy units.
Helps you
Things That Go Boom
Under the Dark
Hero units detonate in a huge blast when killed.
Just for fun
Wuv Woo
The Foundry
Scarab and Locust beam weapons become cosmetic rainbow hearts.
Just for fun
Sugar Cookies
The Foundry
Your units have 50% more hit points.
Helps you
After Party
The Halo
Whoever owns a destroyed base or minibase gets a free tank and infantry unit.
Helps you
Nightmare
Last Stand
Checkpoints and saves are disabled on every difficulty.
Makes it harder
Shadow
Last Stand
Your core infantry start cloaked.
Helps you

Mission	Skull	What it does
A New Enemy	Grunt Birthday PartyJust for fun	Slain Grunts burst into confetti.
Ascension	PaintballHelps you	Marine grenades and Grunt mines also fire lethal shrapnel.
Ascension	Pain TrainHelps you	Your units are produced 50% faster.
One Three Zero	Bountiful HarvestHelps you	Supply deliveries from supply buildings arrive 25% sooner.
The Cartographer	EmperorHelps you	Your leader powers recharge in half the time.
Lights Out	PestilenceMakes it harder	Your units lose health steadily from the moment they are built.
From the Deep	Total AnnihilationHelps you	Spartan special ability slams hit with a stronger explosion.
Hold the Line	SicknessMakes it harder	Your units have 50% less hit points.
Hold the Line	FirestarterHelps you	Dying Grunts and Marines explode, damaging enemy units.
Under the Dark	Things That Go BoomJust for fun	Hero units detonate in a huge blast when killed.
The Foundry	Wuv WooJust for fun	Scarab and Locust beam weapons become cosmetic rainbow hearts.
The Foundry	Sugar CookiesHelps you	Your units have 50% more hit points.
The Halo	After PartyHelps you	Whoever owns a destroyed base or minibase gets a free tank and infantry unit.
Last Stand	NightmareMakes it harder	Checkpoints and saves are disabled on every difficulty.
Last Stand	ShadowHelps you	Your core infantry start cloaked.

Common questions

How many skulls are in Halo Wars 2?

There are 15 campaign skulls in Halo Wars 2, spread across 11 missions. Eight more were cut from the game and cannot be collected.

Which Halo Wars 2 skulls make the game harder?

Pestilence, Sickness, Nightmare. Pestilence drains your units' health, Sickness cuts their hit points, and Nightmare disables checkpoints and saves.

Do Halo Wars 2 skulls add to your score?

No. Unlike Halo Wars, the Halo Wars 2 skulls do not carry a score bonus.

Is there an achievement for collecting every skull?

Yes. Our site achievement "Collecting a Dream" unlocks when you have collected all 15 campaign skulls on your linked Halo Wars 2 profile.