Halo Wars Hub
Halo Wars skulls
All 15 campaign skulls in Halo Wars and Halo Wars: Definitive Edition. Skulls 11 to 15 are the ones to turn on: they help you and add up to +165% to your score.
Every skull
Each mission hides one skull. "Score" is how much the skull adds to your mission complete score when it is turned on.
Look Daddy!
No bonus01 Alpha Base
Grunts' methane tanks always explode on death.
Just for funGrunt Birthday Party
No bonus02 Relic Approach
Grunts explode into confetti.
Just for funCowbell
No bonus03 Relic Interior
Destruction physics are magnified x2.
Just for funWuv Woo
No bonus04 Arcadia City
Scarabs shoot rainbow beams made of Pure Love.
Just for funFog
+10%05 Arcadia Outskirts
No minimap.
Makes it harderSickness
+10%06 Dome of Light
All player units explode into Flood units on death.
Makes it harderRebel Sympathizer
+20%07 Scarab
Enemy units get 25% more hit points.
Makes it harderRebel Supporter
+20%08 Anders' Signal
Enemy units deal 50% more damage.
Makes it harderRebel Leader
+20%09 The Flood
Enemy units start with extra veterancy.
Makes it harderCatch
+20%10 Shield World
Enemy units recharge abilities in half the normal time.
Makes it harderSugar Cookies
+50%11 Cleansing
All player units have 50% more hit points.
Helps youBoomstick
+10%12 Repairs
Enemy units have a 5% chance to blow up on death, with splash damage.
Helps youPain Train
+25%13 Beachhead
All player units train 50% faster.
Helps youBountiful Harvest
+30%14 Reactor
Supplies arrive 25% faster.
Helps youEmperor
+50%15 Escape
All player leader powers recharge in half the time.
Helps you
Best skulls to use
Skulls 11 to 15 give you an in-game bonus and add to your score, so there is no downside to turning them on.
Sugar Cookies
+50%Mission 11: Cleansing
All player units have 50% more hit points.
Boomstick
+10%Mission 12: Repairs
Enemy units have a 5% chance to blow up on death, with splash damage.
Pain Train
+25%Mission 13: Beachhead
All player units train 50% faster.
Bountiful Harvest
+30%Mission 14: Reactor
Supplies arrive 25% faster.
Emperor
+50%Mission 15: Escape
All player leader powers recharge in half the time.
Common questions
How many skulls are in Halo Wars?
- There are 15 skulls in Halo Wars, one hidden in each of the 15 campaign missions. The same skulls are in Halo Wars: Definitive Edition.
Which Halo Wars skulls are the best?
- Skulls 11 to 15 (Sugar Cookies, Boomstick, Pain Train, Bountiful Harvest, Emperor) are the most useful. They give you a bonus in the mission and also add to your score. Sugar Cookies and Emperor add the most, at 50% each.
Which skulls add to your score?
- Skulls 5 to 15 all add a percentage to your mission complete score. Skulls 1 to 4 (Look Daddy!, Grunt Birthday Party, Cowbell and Wuv Woo) are just for fun and add nothing.
Which skulls make the game harder?
- Fog and Sickness (skulls 5 and 6) take away your minimap or turn your dead units into Flood. Skulls 7 to 10 make enemy units tougher, stronger, more veteran or faster to use abilities. They all add to your score in return.
Looking for where each skull spawns? Our co-op Legendary campaign walkthrough covers several of them mission by mission.