Dome of Light (Level)
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Dome of Light is the sixth level of the real-time strategy game, Halo Wars. The level involves breaking through a giant, dome-shaped Covenant Energy Shield to discover what lies within. The main objective of the mission is to escort the Rhino tanks to the marked points around the map, defended by the Covenant, after which Serina will fire all tanks on the same point of the energy shield to break through it. The mission initially involves placing three Rhinos at the marked points but after a failed attack on the shield two more points are selected for Rhinos to be placed at. After the energy shield is broken through, the player is then given 40 MAC shots to destroy the Covenant base within and complete the mission. This is another level in which you don't control the ODSTs.
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[edit] Mission Objectives
- Kill approaching Covenant Infantry.
- Request a Rhino at the Landing Pad.
- Get the Rhino to the First Position.
- Place a Rhino at the Marked 2nd Position.
- Transport a Rhino to the Marked 3rd Position.
- Get Rhinos to the last two Marked Positions.
[edit] Optional Objectives
- Destroy 50 Banshees (this will unlock the level's skull).
- Claim 2 ONI Reactors.
- Destroy the Dome Generators and Air Defenses.
[edit] Black Box
The black box is on the platform that is detached from the main airfield, where everything else is. When you move to airlift the 3rd Rhino there via Pelican, send some units to take our any resistance and then proceed to the rear of the platform. It will be waiting for you near some debris in front of a tunnel.
[edit] Sickness Skull
The Sickness skull spawns when you destroy 50 Banshees. It appears in the hangar near the back of your base
Also, an easy way to get the requirements for the skull is to get a few wolverines and just order them to stay at your starting base and so they will kill the attacking banshees or you could just make all of the base turrets missile turrets. In short, just set up one of the defenses mentioned above and wait.
[edit] Walkthrough
The sixth level of Halo Wars involves attempting to break down a Covenant energy shield deployed on the surface of Arcadia, protecting the site the Covenant were trying to find. You have to use five Rhinos to break the shield down.
You begin at a base being attacked by a few Covenant forces. Take them out quickly with the units you start with. Build up your base and army, upgrading your units and making sure you are ready for a large battle ahead. It is strongly recommended to build all four turrets and upgrade them as much as you can (Including the Field Armory upgrades.) There will be plenty of Banshees attacking your base, as well as ground units, so you better be prepared to defend your base while you aren't there.
Once you build a suitable army, immediately call in a Rhino from the landing pad next to your base. Then lead all of your units toward Rhino point one. Keep in mind that there are plenty of covenant patrols on the path, and there are numerous Covenant Dropships refreshing the infantry count, giving you a constant wave of enemies.
Once you lead the first Rhino to it's position, refresh all of your lost units at the base, and call in another Rhino when you are ready. (Tip, place wolverines next to the marked locations as it helps knock out any incoming banshee's).
Prepare all of your units and proceed towards the second point. Keep in mind that there is a small covenant outpost on the position, as well as numerous guards. Take out the guards first, and then place your Rhino on the position.
Unless you are going for the Rhino Hugger achievement, you shouldn't worry about keeping a certain amount of units on each Rhino. You could even do this by leaving the Rhinos alone and using the Heal and Repair to heal them.
Once you are ready to prepare your third Rhino, keep in mind that you have to use the transport ability to take it to its position, as it is not reachable by normal walking. You should also bring a few units with it, as there are a few covenant guards.
After the third Rhino is placed, the trio will attempt to break the barrier. It will fail, so you will have to prepare more Rhinos.
take the time to heal and repair all of the Rhinos if they are near death. Also note that there are Locusts near your base, so be sure to kill them and their guards. Note also that they will return over and over again until the level ends.
Rebuild your army once again and request a Rhino to your base. Proceed all of your units towards the next Rhino point, shredding all of the Covenant in your way. There is another outpost in your way so take it down before you place your Rhino.
After the fourth Rhino is placed, Repair any Rhinos if necessary, and if they are destroyed just replace them. For the last Rhino point you will have to once again transport it there. Keep in mind that there once again guards there, but this time you will not have to worry about killing them. As soon as you place the Rhino on the spot, the cutscene will begin.
Once the Rhinos begin to fire, a portion of the shield begins to fade, giving you open access into the center. You then get to fire your MAC Rounds at the contents inside. You get 40 attempts, so hopefully you won't miss.
Just fire at all of the buildings inside. There is a base and a smaller base, so shoot at every structure until they fall. Once all of the buildings are down, Serina will do the rest.
After the shield is down, the UNSC forces will enter the core of the shield and scout the area.
[edit] Transcript
[edit] Cutscene
A view of the outside of the Spirit of Fire, Cutter, starts talking, in the middle of a discussion already.
Captain Cutter: So...it's an energy shield that they can deploy on the planet.
Anders: Yes Captain, we can't see through it, but the Covenant are up to something.
Captain Cutter: Agreed, we need to find out what that is, can we use the ships cannons and take it out directly?
Anders: We may destroy whatever's under there, Covenant shield technology is susceptible to super-heated plasma. Aren't we field testing some plasma based Rhinos?
Serina: Pillar of Autumn inventory shows they have some prototypes.
Anders: It might take some time to get the right power settings. I'll need to be on the ground to do that.
Captain Cutter: Professor, Sergeant Forge, let's get that shield down!
Forge: Ugh, babysitting again?
Anders gives Forge a quick smile, scene fades to gameplay, Level starts
[edit] Gameplay
Forge: Well, this little field trip is a bust! Anders, is there anything out here except for that big alien dome thing?
Anders: Scans seem clear, shall we see what's inside?
Rhino approaches firing position and opens fire, impacting on the dome shield, Covenant air units begin to appear attacking the Rhinos.
Forge: Looks like we only shook the beehive, we got multiple bogeys inbound.
The Banshees destroy the Rhino on screen.
Forge: Any more bright ideas, Anders?
Anders: Data from the shelling proved we're on the right track, but we'll need to simultaneously launch from multiple Rhinos.
Response to Rhino request
Pillar of Autumn: Harvest Surface Command, Pillar of Autumn, request for plasma Rhino is approved! Rhino is inbound.
Anders: The Rhino has arrived get it to Position One.
The Rhino gets to its position.
Anders: I'll take control of that Rhino to calibrate the shots.
Forge: Rhinos are expensive, I've called for some ODSTs to protect this one.
Anders: I've marked Second Position, request another Rhino and get it to that site.
The mark appears on map
Forge: Ooh, perfect! There's a stinkin' Covenant outpost right where you marked! We'd better take that out first.
Response to Rhino request
Pillar of Autumn: Rhino LRA Plasma augment on its way.
Forge: We should take out those Covenant buildings that are reinforcing their position.
Forge: The area's secure, get a Rhino in place!
Anders: Rhinos are in position and ready to fire, firing Rhinos in 3...2..1...
Forge: Not much effect but it looks like we're makin' some progress.
Anders: I've marked the third position.
Response to Rhino request
Pillar of Autumn: Request for plasma Rhino received, it's en route
Forge: We're gonna need a transport to get the Rhino to that position.
Response to Rhino request
PoA: We'll have that Rhino on the ground in no time.
With the combined fire from all three plasma Rhinos the shield begins to falter, when multiple Locust show up
Forge: Holy hell, they have Locusts!
Anders: Hmm, my calculations show that two more Rhinos will be necessary to open up a hole big enough, the final two positions have been marked.
Forge: The Covenant must have figured out what we're doing, we're going to need a larger force to take those locations.
Rhino gets to position
Anders: Only one more Rhino to get into position.
Anders: Cross your fingers! Firing all Rhinos in, 3...2..1...
A section of the dome shield falters and opens up
Anders: The dome power supply is overloaded, we got it!
Gameplay changes to MAC crossairs
Serina: MAC is coming online, single turret available.
Forge: Alright, the dome generators and the air defenses are the main targets, light em up!
MAC opens up after a few rounds Serina takes charge
Serina: MAC fully online, all rounds loaded, I'll take out the remaining structures.
Forge: Nice work, let's get down there and see what the Covenant found so damn interesting.
Level ends.
[edit] Trivia
- This is the first of only two levels in Halo Wars to see and use the Rhino tanks.
- This is the only mission that gives you over four Mac Blasts, with a total of forty.
- Note that if you send a captured Banshee towards the giant energy shield, the Banshee will immediately self-destruct and send the Spartan towards the ground. The Spartan will re-spawn by your base after the Banshee is destroyed.
