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in: Articles for clean up, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Easter eggs, 
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Garden Gnome
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+  This article is part of the Alyx Project.

+  This article has yet to be cleaned up to a higher standard of quality.
 Garden Gnome
General information
Type
Garden feature
Usage
Used by
Gordon Freeman
Alyx Vance
Game information
Entity name
prop_physics
Spawn code
prop_physics_create props_junk/gnome.mdl
The Garden Gnome, also known as Gnome Chompski,[1] is an object from Half-Life
2: Episode Two and Half-Life: Alyx. While seeming insignificant at first, it is in fact
part of a popular achievement that requires the player to carry the gnome to the final
location of the game.

Contents
 1Tactics
o 1.1Half-Life 2: Episode Two
 1.1.1To The White Forest
 1.1.2This Vortal Coil
 1.1.3Freeman Pontifex
 1.1.4Riding Shotgun
 1.1.5Under the Radar

1.1.6Our Mutual Fiend

o 1.2Half-Life: Alyx
 1.2.1Entanglement
 1.2.2The Quarantine Zone
 1.2.3Is Or Will Be
 1.2.4Superweapon
 1.2.5The Northern Star
 1.2.6Arms Race
 1.2.7Jeff
 1.2.8Captivity and Revelations
 1.2.9Breaking and Entering
 1.2.10Point Extraction
 2Related achievements
o 2.1Half-Life 2: Episode Two
o 2.2Half-Life: Alyx
 3Trivia
 4List of appearances
 5References

Tactics
Half-Life 2: Episode Two
To The White Forest

The Garden Gnome located under a wooden panel with some glass bottles before exiting the communications
building.
The Garden Gnome can be found inside the communications building, next to the
exit door under a wooden panel with some glass bottles .

This Vortal Coil

The Gnome can be left in the chamber with Alyx and the Vortigaunts.
Freeman Pontifex
Leaving the Gnome in the room overlooking the settlement with the monitor and
sniper rifle will interrupt the player's progress, as this room cannot be returned to
after descending into the settlement. However, if the gnome is placed leaning against
the door facing the bridge, it will fall through once the door is opened from the far
side. Alternatively, rather than carrying the Gnome through the infested settlement, it
is possible to pick it up and throw it with the Use key onto the near side of the bridge
and retrieve it once the Muscle Car is reached.
Riding Shotgun
The Garden Gnome is difficult to transport in the Muscle Car, so the player will have
to drive slowly. The player should not leave the gnome in the car when entering the
barn, as the Muscle Car may be moved to make room for the Combine APC that
arrives after the barn encounter, and the gnome may be lost. Instead, it is possible to
leave the gnome on the ground at the barn when escaping the Hunter-Chopper,
proceeding to the next loading point in the train tunnel, then reversing to the previous
stage and driving back to the barn to pick up the gnome. The Chopper will not be
present, making it easier to transport the gnome through this section.

A possible way to carry the gnome is to shove it under the back covers of the car.
Putting the gnome there will prove to be a small challenge, but once in, the gnome
will not be easily removed by sudden jerks and braking. The gravity gun is required to
shove the gnome in as well as extract it. Alternatively, placing the gnome behind the
passenger seat so that it will only drop out of the car if the brakes are slammed hard
enough.

Under the Radar

The gnome can be left in the garage with Alyx and the rebels; it will be there after
destroying the Autogun and returning for the repaired Muscle Car. The gnome
should not be placed on the long wooden table in the center of the garage floor,
however, as the Muscle Car will spawn in this position, deleting both the table and
the gnome atop it. During the Combine ambush at the White Forest Inn, the gnome
can be left in the house while disabling the shields. The player may also drop the
gnome down the hill before driving down it, once this is all done, they can drive
further and leave the gnome near the start of the race against DØG to the base and
then come back and retrieve it.
Our Mutual Fiend

The Garden Gnome inside the rocket, along with Lamarr.

The achievement can only be earned by placing the Gnome inside the rocket and
closing the hatch door.
Half-Life: Alyx
There are two objects with the gnome's design in the game: a bottle opener in its
shape that is stuck on Russell's fridge, or Gnome Chompski himself, which can be
found sitting on a couch in the junkyard outside Russell's lab. Carrying either of these
objects through the entire game right up until Alyx Vance enters the Vault earns the
achievement Gnome Vault of My Own.

It is imperative that the player hold onto the gnome during all loading screens, as it
will disappear otherwise.

Entanglement
The player can pick up either the gnome or the bottle opener from its starting location
before boarding the train.

The Quarantine Zone

After disembarking from the train, the player can throw the gnome down into the
trainyard near the Quarantine Zone entrance: it will be there when Alyx emerges later
on. It can be left while Alyx unlocks the massive door, but if left in the wrong place it
will be punted away when the door is opened.

Make sure to have the gnome before jumping down through the hole in the subway
roof for the first major zombie fight, as it will be inaccessible if it was left anywhere
else previously. During the encounter, the player can put the gnome down on a
subway seat, and if so desired it can remain there until the player has cleared the
zombie hordes and upgraded their gun, whereupon they can go back and retrieve it.

During the scene with Gary, the player can drop the gnome down into the pit from
where Gary is summoning garbage, as they will go down there anyway on their way
out.
Is Or Will Be
The player can put the gnome down next to the tunnel that is too dark for them to
enter without the flashlight: it will be there once they have equipped the flashlight
later on. It can be left on the table at the front of the dark room full of zombies and
retrieved once the room is cleared. It can be left next to the door that is missing its
turning wheel and picked up once Alyx has the wheel.

It is not recommended to throw the gnome down into the trainyards at Fairview
Junction while on the bridge, as it may disappear when the map reloads. However, it
can be left at the lever for the train switch while Alyx tries to hack the train, and will be
there when Alyx throws the switch to crash the train.

Superweapon
There are not many opportunities to put the gnome down to free up the player's
hand, though it can be left at the orange keycard door while the player retrieves it
from upstairs and gets their first glimpse of the Vault. Upon reaching the catwalks
above a room after the grenade introduction, the gnome can be dropped down and
picked up when the player goes down there later. It can also be left there while the
player clears out the various Combine soldiers in the subway, and picked up as they
head for the Northern Star.

It may be tempting to leave the gnome in the courtyard outside the Northern Star, but
because of various map reloads it will not be there when they return at the end of the
chapter.

The Northern Star

There are a number of loading screens in this chapter, so it is imperative to know
when to be carrying the gnome. Generally, sections with door or elevator puzzles
where the player has to travel to find a power source or other means to unlock it
provide opportunities for the player to leave the gnome behind while performing said
tasks – just remember to pick it up before going through these entrances. During
the Poison Headcrab pit section, first head up to the door blocked by the energy field
and leave it there – it will be there after disabling the field.
Arms Race
The gnome can be dropped to the floor in the tall scissor lift puzzle room and picked
up once the player reaches the floor. The gnome can also be left on the platform
before the crane puzzle needed to enter the distillery, and picked up once the player
has finished the puzzle and killed the Combine soldiers in the courtyard.

Jeff
The gnome may seem to pose a problem during this chapter due to a combination of
the player having to cover their mouth near Jeff and needing a free hand to throw
bottles to distract the monster, but there are several opportunities to leave it in places
while the player deals with various puzzles. It can also be left on the floor of the room
with the locked door while the player locks Jeff in the freezer. Upon first seeing Jeff
from above while talking with Larry, feel free to drop the gnome down into the
hallway, as the player will travel there later. Be sure to pick it up before going through
the window as it is not possible to get back to this area. The gnome can then be left
near the door to the elevator while the player deals with the power, and picked up
and brought inside for the elevator ride with Jeff.

Upon getting to the massive door leading out of the distillery, the player will need to
pick up three power cells. The gnome can be left in this area, freeing up the player's
hands for the more forced Jeff encounter while searching for the power cells. It can
be picked up once Jeff has finally been disposed of and brought into Antlion tunnels.

Captivity and Revelations
There are not many opportunities to leave the gnome behind for extended periods: in
general, the best strategy in each section is for the player to put the gnome down,
clear out enemies, and pick it up again before moving on.

Breaking and Entering

Once again, there are few opportunities to leave the gnome behind. There is,
however, one loading screen in particular where it is imperative that the player is
holding on to the gnome: the scene where the Vault comes crashing down,
destroying buildings in its path. It may be helpful to quicksave during this sequence,
as if the gnome disappears the last autosave will be overwritten to after the Vault's
destruction.

In order to fulfill the physical requirements of the achievement, Alyx must continue to
hold the gnome until she enters the Vault, all the way up through the tractor beam
ride.

Point Extraction
The achievement will be granted upon completion of the game.

Related achievements
Half-Life 2: Episode Two

Little Rocket Man

 Send the garden gnome into
space.

Half-Life: Alyx

Gnome Vault of My Own

Earned by carrying the gnome to the

Vault.

Trivia
 The gnome motif is based on a famed prank in which a real
gnome statue is stolen from a house's yard and then returned
sometime later with photographs showing it in front of various
tourist landmarks.
 The gnome can also be seen in ApertureScience.com on top of
the mantelpiece and it may move randomly on its own.
 The gnome also makes an appearance in Left 4 Dead 2, known
as Gnome Chompski. An achievement requires the Gnome, like
in Episode Two, to be carried all the way to the rescue vehicle
in the Dark Carnival campaign. Doing so gives the player the
achievement "Guardin' Gnome" and unlocks the Rochelle's
Depeche Mode t-shirt for the player's avatar on the Xbox 360
version.
 Using cheats will not prevent the player from earning the
achievement as long as the sv_cheats command is set to 0
before dropping the gnome into the rocket. The Xbox 360
version can be achieved with cheats turned on or off.
 Another way of getting the Episode Two achievement is by
using "ent_setname gnome" on any pickable entity (e.g. a
bucket).
 Hunter-Choppers, Hunters and Combine Soldiers will
sometimes target the gnome if the player is carrying it with the
gravity gun. They act as if the player is carrying a Manhack or
a Magnusson Device.
 The gnome can be grabbed out of the rocket through the door
and carried the rest of the game, the player will still get the
achievement.
List of appearances
 ApertureScience.com (Not before Christmas 2007)
 Half-Life 2: Episode Two (First appearance)
 The Final Hours of Portal 2
 Half-Life: Alyx
References
1. ↑ Left 4 Dead 2

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