Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
80 Achievements
1,540
41-49h
Hard Headed
Collect 1000 helmets
20
0.88%
How to unlock the Hard Headed achievement in Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus - Definitive Guide
1. Load up the Penthouse district (in Manhattan) and make a save.
2. 5 or so steps in front of you on a shelf are are 2 (2/9) helmets, turn left and jump down past the stairs, next to the stairs on a green bag is helmet 3 (3/9). Just ahead of this bag on a crate are helmets 4 and 5 (5/9). Keep going forward some more to the back wall and you'll find 6 and 7 (7/9). Turn left and go past the tables and where the Commander is, turn right into the back "alcove" area and next to a chair are the last helmets (9/9).
3. Reload save and repeat.
For those that like videos, here you go. I first slowly show you the helmet locations then show how fast this can be done. Also, the load times are very short in this district (I'm sure on the Xbox One X the loading is almost non existent) so each run is very quick. Hope this helps!
There are several other wolfenstein 2 achievements with similar ratios.
On topic, great guide!
- I started this after getting all collectibles etc. Had no idea how many helmets I started with, and I didn't really make a point to look for helmets on initial run, I feared I did not have that many. I only had to do the following grind maybe 15 times?
- I was on easiest level.
- Method does not involve 'reloading a save'. You make one strategic save, collect helmets, die, and upon the 'auto restart' you repeat (helmets collected is remembered)
My method was similar to OP and comment above by Bonus Eruptus.
1) Penthouse level. Use pistol to head shot/pop off helmet of first guy on balcony and one of the other guys below. Look over gap in balcony area and head shot Commander.
2) Do something loud and start the storm of yellow guys coming
3) Run around and head shot each one so helmet pops off. Do not collect helmets, or health. Do stupid stuff so your shields and health are low. When you think you are down to two yellow guys still alive, get to a good spot for helmet collecting, I started in back downstairs corner where there are few helmets on a chair. Save here.
4) Jump out window and die
5) On reload, run around and get helmets. The two others left alive help in reducing your shields so you can pick up more when not maxed. If your shields keep pegging at 100 you can grenade yourself or shoot the tanks on the wall with windows. Pick up extra grenades or ammo if needed. (After replaying a few times, you'll know where everything is)
6) Head shot the last two and get their helmets. This might not be effective for time, but it reduces grind boredom.
7) Jump out window and die
8) On auto-reload you'll back to save point, back to step 5
My path wound up netting 17 helmets per run in about 30 seconds including loading time. Two in the cage, two off to the right by the 2nd floor chairs from slain enemies, one at base of stairs from slain enemy, one mid room from slain enemy, two in rear corner on shelf, two on shelf near 'kitchen' area, two on box by laser weapon ammo, one on green bag at just ahead of those, two off slain enemies by red propane tanks, and two by windows by the desk that I shot out as I approached the L-shaped stairs from the beginning of my run. Making this circuit had me finishing at the windows which were already shot out, allowing me to jump out to my death. Killing the last enemy wasnt worth the extra time for one more helmet per run, and having him alive to shoot me as I started the run (after 1st 4-5 helmets), saved me more time than his 1 helmet was worth.
I had to farm 532 helmets and it only took less than 30 minutes after about 3-5 minutes setting up my save.
Here is an example of setting this up I made on another gamertag.
Once in there, I made a save and begun to look for the 9 helmets on the upper section of the area.
Here's Their locations :
-The 2 1st helmets are on a shelf in front of you from the starting point.
Then go back to the stairs, jump down the ramp to your left and turn right to see helmet 3 on a green bagnext to the bottom on the stairs.
From the green bag, turn around and you should see helmet 4 and 5 on a crate next to a pillar.
From this point, go the end of the room in front of you to find helmet 6 and 7 on a small shelf.
Then turn left and go past the tables and the armchair where the Commander was, turn right into the back like you want to go to the elevator shaft. You'll find helmet 8 and 9 on your left, sitting on a chair next to a television.
Reload your save and repeat until you get the trophy.
This achievement will need to be mopped-up post-story.
After you have completed the game and unlocked the Nuclear Bunker District of Manhattan via the Enigma Machine, use the War Map in Eva's Hammer to return to said district. Once you arrive, make a manual save. You should notice right away that there are three helmets in the very room you spawn in (on the right) that can be collected. Each helmet will grant you 20 points of armor. If you move into the corridor straight ahead, there are another two helmets on the floor to the left. Pick up all five helmets (see the note below), reload your manual save, and then continue to grind this out for as long as necessary. You should be able to net fifteen helmets every sixty seconds, which comes out to 1,000 helmets in sixty-seven minutes.
It's going to take some time to amass 1,000 helmets, but this is by far the most efficient way to grind this out post-story. Hopefully, you have collected well over 250 helmets during your playthrough so that the grind doesn't take more than an hour.
NOTE: If you're already at full armor when going back to this district, allow the two Nazi soldiers in the room ahead to strip down your armor a significant amount. Once your armor hits under 20, kill the enemies, position yourself near the helmets, create that manual save, collect all five helmets, and then begin the grind.
on the 2nd floor there are 2 immediately on the right, then going down the stairs and at the beginning of it on the left there will be another 1. and moving along the right side you will find 6 more.