Halo: Combat Evolved
The legendary first-person shooter that launched the Xbox franchise, featuring numerous physics exploits, grenade jumps, and sequence breaks that have been refined by speedrunners for over two decades.
The legendary first-person shooter that launched the Xbox franchise, featuring numerous physics exploits, grenade jumps, and sequence breaks that have been refined by speedrunners for over two decades.
The Pillar of Autumn
The Pillar of Autumn is the first campaign level in Halo: Combat Evolved. Despite being a relatively linear introduction, it contains several interesting glitches and speedrun tricks.
Three Guns Glitch
Bypass the normal two-weapon limit and carry three weapons simultaneously.
Requirements
- Must be done at the very start of the level
- Precise timing required
How to Perform
- After the cryo-chamber sequence, follow Captain Keyes to the bridge
- Before the checkpoint triggers, quickly exit the bridge
- Run to the mess hall and grab an Assault Rifle
- Pick up a second weapon from the mess hall
- Return to the bridge to trigger the checkpoint
- The Pistol will be given to you, and you'll now have three weapons
Why It Works
The game gives you a Pistol during the bridge sequence, but doesn't check if you already have two weapons. By grabbing weapons before this scripted moment, you bypass the normal inventory limit.
Space Travel
Access areas outside the playable level boundaries for exploration.
Requirements
- Full health recommended
- Precise crouch-jump timing
How to Perform
- Progress through the level until Cortana says "The Covenant are destroying the lifepods"
- Locate one of the three doors before the dark tunnel section
- Look at the top window pane of the door
- Perform a crouch-jump through the top window
- With full health, you can fall off the level geometry and walk on invisible collision
Notes
This glitch allows you to explore "outside" the Pillar of Autumn, walking on invisible surfaces in the void.
Stair Skip
A speedrun trick that saves a few seconds by bypassing a staircase section.
How to Perform
- At the staircase section early in the level
- Use precise movement to skip around the intended path
- Saves approximately 2-3 seconds in speedruns
Maintenance Skip
Another speedrun optimization that bypasses a section of the level.
This skip requires precise movement and positioning to bypass the normal route through the maintenance areas.
Tips
- The Three Guns glitch is mostly for fun—it doesn't carry over to other levels
- Space Travel is primarily useful for exploration and screenshots
- For speedruns, focus on the Stair Skip and Maintenance Skip
See Also
- General Techniques — Universal tricks
- Halo (Level) — Next level