By 2026, Halo Infinite still pulls me into its ring-world with every season, and one of my most satisfying quests remains the skull hunt. These twelve collectible modifiers aren’t just trinkets – they twist the rules of combat in deliciously chaotic ways, from infinite ammo to confetti-fueled birthday parties for Grunts. Once you’ve snagged a skull, you can activate it from the campaign menu right after loading your save file; the options sit below the difficulty selector, ready to alter your sandbox.
My journey took me through intense firefights inside ancient Forerunner vessels and across the open-world Zeta Halo. I’ve organized the locations into two groups: the five mission-specific skulls you cannot revisit without replaying chapters, and the seven that wait in the open world after the main story. Grab your grappleshot and a Wasp – here’s how I found every one.
Mission Skulls – Sealed Inside the Campaign
These five modifiers hide within the linear story missions, and missing them means a level restart. I learned that the hard way on my first playthrough, so keep your flashlight handy and your Sentinel-killing instincts in check.
Boom Skull – Warship Gbraakon
The Boom skull doubles explosion radius, turning frag grenades into miniature suns. I found it early in the Warship Gbraakon mission. After clearing the first few jackals, I climbed to the second level via a sloped corridor. Following the walkway to the right, I reached a lift that ascended with an industrial grind. Riding it revealed the skull on a metallic ledge to my right – a simple hop and I had my first modifier. The increased blast range made every plasma coil a risky proposition.
Cowbell Skull – Foundations
Accelerated physics from explosions? That’s the Cowbell skull’s gift, launching enemies and objects with comical force. During the Foundations mission, I entered a Forerunner ship and climbed a series of ramps until I faced a massive window. Pivoting left, I cleared a pack of Grunts and followed the corridor into a wide-open industrial bay. The skull glowed at the top of a central spire. My grappleshot became essential – I rappelled up the pillar, shimmied along a narrow beam, and launched myself to the ledge where the Cowbell rested. The extra knockback turned every Mangler shot into a ragdoll generator.
Mythic Skull – The Command Spire
The Mythic skull cranks enemy health to absurd levels, transforming Elites into walking tanks. I encountered it in The Command Spire, a mission full of shifting geometry and orange energy portals. In a corridor where pillar-like structures phased through these gates, I sidestepped a portal and grappled to the top of one pillar as it passed. There, I spotted a dark ledge at the rear of the chamber. Grappling up, I switched on my flashlight, faced the portal, then turned right to see another ledge above. A second grapple took me through a Forerunner door and down a short corridor, where the Mythic skull sat on a pristine platform. Every battle afterward demanded perfection.
Grunt Birthday Party Skull – Repository
That classic “YAY!” and confetti explosion on a headshot – the Grunt Birthday Party skull is pure nostalgia. In the Repository mission, I crossed a transparent blue light bridge and interacted with a central pedestal to extend it fully. Backtracking to the entrance, I took the door on the right, then carefully hopped along tiny ledges to reach a secret passage. At the end waited a power cell. I tossed the cell back toward the entrance to avoid the void below, then carried it to the opposite side’s door. But the real puzzle was a cross-room throw: I lobbed the cell to the left-hand door from the center platform, grappled over, and plugged it into a small pedestal. Moments later, the mission sent me upward between two pillars I could grapple, then through an opened glass window. Five camouflaged sword Elites guarded the final room – once they fell, the skull sat ahead, ready to make every Grunt headshot a celebration.
Bandana Skull – Silent Auditorium
Unlimited ammo, infinite grenades, and no equipment cooldown – the Bandana skull is the ultimate power trip. It’s also the easiest to miss. In Silent Auditorium, the rule is absolute: do not kill any Sentinels. I zipped through three rooms using only my grappleshot, completely ignoring the floating blue guardians. Eventually I reached a console that extended a light bridge. Turning left led to progress, but because I had spared every Sentinel, a second light bridge appeared ahead, guiding me to an open Forerunner door. Inside, I grappled to a ledge on the right and grabbed the Bandana. The UNSC arsenal suddenly felt limitless.
Open World Skulls – Scattered Across Zeta Halo
After the credits rolled, a Wasp and the entire ring became my playground. These seven skulls dot the landscape, often near Forward Operating Bases or hidden in geological crevices.
Catch Skull – Northern Canyon
Catch makes enemies throw grenades like they’re going out of style. I flew a Banshee to the map’s northern edge above a deep canyon. Two red Banished hunters guarded the approach, but I bypassed them and spied a small lake. Beside the water, a gnarled tree stump held the skull atop a pile of helmets – a tiny memorial amid the chaos.
Fog Skull – Cliffs near FOB Alpha
This skull disables your motion tracker, pushing you to rely on audio cues. I started near FOB Alpha and approached a massive cliff face. Wandering beneath its overhang, I spotted a small plush toy – a cue that the skull was directly above. From there, a precise grapple-chain up three rock structures was required. I’d grapple, jump, then grapple again at the last moment to gain height. Reaching the highest point, I leapt into a dirt bowl surrounded by stones, where the Fog skull rested on a central pedestal.
I Would Have Been Your Daddy Skull (IWHBYD) – Tower Peak
Rare dialogue lines flourish with IWHBYD. The skull sits right at the pinnacle of a tall Banished tower in the open world. With a Wasp spawned from FOB Foxtrot, I simply flew straight to the top. While up there, I also noticed the Craig Brute chieftain Easter egg – a fun detour I hadn’t expected.
Blind Skull – Cliff Chasm
The Blind skull removes your HUD entirely, leaving only the world. I hugged the map’s perimeter and found two cliffs split by a massive chasm, connected midway by a rock bridge. Flying a Wasp close to the right cliff, I landed atop that linking rock. Peering over the edge, I noticed faint blue signal flares leading downward. I jumped toward the brightest glow, then carefully walked along the rock face to a final leap where the skull sat tucked in a corner.
Thunderstorm Skull – Beacon Pillar
Promotes most enemies to their highest rank – Brute Chieftains become red-armored monsters. Not far from FOB Juliet, near a beacon, I spotted a tall pillar. The skull sat at its center, reachable by a Wasp or a reckless cliff jump with a last-second clamber.
Black Eye Skull – Waterfall Cavern
Melee only recharges your shields with Black Eye. Just southeast of FOB Kilo, I walked behind a thundering waterfall. Despite blurry vision near the cascade, I grappled onto a slick ledge and crouched into a narrow red-lit cave. The skull was impaled on a rocky protrusion, its crimson glow almost inviting.
Famine Skull – Floating Island
Weapons carry half the ammo – a scarcity that demands precision. Near the map’s southeastern corner, I hijacked a Banshee and flew toward a beacon. To the right and below, a small floating island clung to the sky. I landed on its back edge where a fallen Banished soldier lay; beside a boulder, the Famine skull completed my collection.
Collecting all twelve skulls reshaped my Halo Infinite runs into wildly different experiences. Whether I’m raining infinite rockets with Bandana or watching Grunts pop like piñatas, each modifier is a fresh lens on Zeta Halo. Arm yourself with a Wasp and a sharp eye – these skulls are still waiting in 2026 for anyone willing to chase them.