Ghost jump onto the Scarab
Posted March 4th 2008
Here's another fast Scarab boarding method. Not as fast as the grav lift jump, but it's likewise fun to do and should give the covies a nasty surprise.
Be over on the Scarab's left side in a Ghost as it starts to move over the lake bed. Just as it's stepping past the central obstructions (pipes and stuff), boost diagonally up the ramp on the end to jump onto the lower rear deck. It'll take some experimentation and practice to get the knack, but the jump can become quite reliable; my success rate was eventually about 80%.
Here's a tip on the timing. The Scarab plonks its front left leg down very near the base of the ramp, and if you're waiting quite close to it (you don't need much of a run-up), you should start boosting when the front left leg next touches down - or thereabouts.
On board
At its best, your Ghost glides neatly into the right-hand side of the deck and you can immediately dismount to run up the central ramp. You'll often have a nasty Brute in your face or blocking the way, so it's good to be ready for him with appropriate close-quarter weaponry. A spike grenade can take him out fast without much risk to yourself. Actually, sometimes you're lined up just right to blast him with Ghost fire after landing, but he'll kick you off it if you dawdle too long, so watch out. If you get up the central ramp and he's still down below, you may like to briefly turn at the top to lob a frag or plasma grenade back down, to discourage him from following.
On the higher difficulty levels especially, you'll often arrive on the Scarab in pretty poor shape due to the plasma cannon fire you took from a grunty gunner - and occasionally due to incoming friendly rockets and whatnot! There's cover at the back of the lower deck if you desperately need to recharge.