Halo Infinite stands firm in the face of its competition with a mixture of classic competitive multiplayer modes as well as some fresh twists on old formulas. Those twists can be found in activities such as Vampire Ball, which not only removes Oddball's penalties for the carrier but even buffs them considerably.

RELATED: Halo Infinite: Beginner's Guide To Multiplayer

Capture the Flag, on the other hand, sticks to its roots with good old-fashioned... well, flag-capturing. Many of today's online gaming fans may be less accustomed to its easy-to-grasp, difficult-to-master mechanics — Capture the Flag is deceptively straightforward, with a blatant goal but plenty of subtle approaches to victory. Here are some tips and tricks to turn the tables on enemy flag carriers and sneakily pilfer your rivals' post for your own.

Updated on May 29, 2022 by Quinton O'Connor: New to Halo Infinite? Or perhaps you're returning for Season 2: Lone Wolves? Either way, we've gone ahead and enhanced this guide as thoroughly as possible, offering in-depth advice for every map (including Breaker!) and revamping any outdated tips along the way.

7/7 A Good Defense Is A Good Offense

Halo Infinite does not have instant respawns, and it is easy to overlook this vital piece of information. Getting caught up in the heat of the moment isn't inherently a bad thing — it's half the reason folks love these sorts of games — but try to remember before swinging that grappling hook all willy-nilly that you'll be out of the action for a full ten seconds (plus however long it takes you to get back to where you were headed thereafter).

In Capture The Flag, setting up a strong defensive line in your base to ensure the safety of your flag is vital. This means several players opting to stay behind entirely rather than risking life and limb in the middle of the action. Rest assured, that action will come to you eventually, and you'll be in far better standing when you're prepared to pin down incoming would-be flag thieves before they make off like bandits and score.

6/7 Be A Team Player

Although the toxic player in everyone occasionally comes out, it is vital in Capture The Flag that you work as a team. It can feel tempting to let the flag carrier die so that you can steal all the glory (and points), however, this hubris can often lead to your team being robbed of a free point.

RELATED: Halo Infinite: Best Vehicles

Consider Halo Infinite's wide array of vehicles. Between the Warthog, the Rocket Hog, the Razorback, and even the Mongoose and Gungoose, players have up to five potential multi-seat getaway vehicles in a given map. You don't have to be the one holding the flag to be a deciding factor. Your team's carrier will be grateful that someone was nearby to steer the wheel and shorten their dangerous trek considerably.

If all else fails, be a meat shield. If your carrier is running ahead, and you're running directly behind them, lots of shots intended for their helmet will hit you instead. It's not the most glorious role, but oftentimes someone will, indeed, have to do it.

5/7 Familiarize Yourself With The Maps

Not only is this enjoyable due to the gorgeous graphics, but this will also help players remain a step ahead of any enemies. With many maps having various ways of getting from location to location, it is vital in Capture The Flag that you familiarise yourself with each area that enemies can take in order to get to your base.

With many areas being chokes that are certain death traps if you walk into them or hidden areas that are only accessible through hacking the terminals outside the doors. It is vital to know what route the enemy flag carrier is on or will be on. This will also greatly help out if you ever get ahold of the flag, as you will know both the safest and fastest options for you to get back.

4/7 Key Tactics For Every Big Team Battle Map

Many rounds of Capture the Flag will be played in eight-player maps that force everyone to get up close and personal on a frequent basis. But many more will occur on the massive battlefields of Fragmentation, Highpower, Deadlock, and the recently-added Breaker. These four maps hold a whopping 24 players, and with the arguable exception of Deadlock, rarely feel cluttered for it. They require some preemptive advice if you're hoping to get ahead from the get-go, so we've provided it here.

Map Primary Considerations Common Mistakes
Fragmentation
  • The first map for each team is set at the center of a clearing surrounded on all sides by defensible high ground, including artillery guns. There are prime sniping spots from far across the map to rid the enemy team of whomever they've got manning their artillery, making it easier for your outfielders to snag their flag.
  • Keep the enemy on their toes by driving a vehicle (preferably not something as tame as the Mongoose) around their base. Especially during the second and third flags, which are set downstairs and upstairs respectively, such drives are often prelude to invasion. This makes for a great distraction.
  • If you're on artillery duty, sneak behind the conveyor belt that launches players up to the second floor of their base rather than standing defenselessly at the helm. The belts are behind the artillery, and you'll be cleverly tucked away until needed. Use AI Scan to keep tabs on the situation.
  • Don't ignore the hackable door. The treasures that await are certainly worth your time, and unlike other modes, many of your opponents will be spending less time looking for you. Stay alert for incoming foes, of course, but know that you'll often have ample opportunity to hack.
Highpower
  • On the far side of one of the team bases, there is a somewhat narrow natural cliff side ledge that can be climbed surprisingly far, concealing players from enemy sight (unless the enemy is in a Wasp, of course). If you can grab a Sniper Rifle or Stalker Rifle and train it on your flag, this is an excellent defensive spot.
  • If you're looking to pilot a Wasp, consider being slow about it in Capture the Flag. You can hide below ground level on the edges of the battlefield and surprise the heck out of players who are about to get your flag. You can use the same strategy to ambush enemy carriers when needed.
  • Don't let the opposition get the upper hand in vehicular warfare. It's inevitable that folks on both sides of the conflict will rush to Warthogs and (over time) even nightmares like the Scorpion and Wraith. Broadly, one of two things will happen: a two-side blockade will help to trap many opposing vehicles near the center of the map or one side will take advantage of the lack of onslaught to easily break past your defenses and score.
  • Unless piloting the Wasp is the one thing you live for in life, don't be one of those players who stick back staring at the landing pad for minutes on-end until it spawns. Accept that someone else will likely be that player instead and grab your ride when it's genuinely convenient to do so. We've seen as many as five or six people at once mock-fighting over who gets the Wasp spawn. It's a recipe for disaster when the enemy casually waltzes up to your flag.
Deadlock
  • Embrace chaos. Deadlock does, technically, afford a number of stealth routes. But it's far fewer than other Big Team Battle maps, and this means a lot particularly in Capture the Flag. The enemy will be coming in hard and fast for most of the match. It's generally best to join your allies in doing the same.
  • That said, there's a notable exception. If it feels like the other side is winning the battle of attrition and proving the more aggressive force, nestle between the crates on either side of the ramp to your base. This spot is frequently overlooked and works oddly well for keeping tabs on both the third flag (at the top of the base) and even the first (further out, up a tower).
  • There are few surviving loners in Deadlock: Capture the Flag. Stick with your team unless you're a bona fide pro. It's just too easy to get caught in the line of fire otherwise.
  • Don't overuse the turrets. They're awesome, but that makes them public enemy number one. The match will go much more smoothly if yours remains intact for the long run as an available option when necessary. Of course, some players will make it a point to blow up the rival turret from square one, but many more will neglect to do so.
  • If the Active Camo powerup is on the map, its main spot will always be near your side's tower close to the cave. Don't trigger its effects unless you've made it through (or above) the cave, or it will run out of juice before you reach the flag. This can be especially useful during the second flag round, when they're located inside small utility shacks.
Breaker
  • You can use Breaker's Ghosts one of three ways. Provide covering fire for a squad of friends riding in a Warthog en route to the enemy flag, circle your side of the map as a patrol, or most surprisingly, hide just out of sight near your flag ready to pounce on incoming players. Ghosts are eerily quiet and very good at blasting opponents to smithereens at close ranges.
  • If you find that the narrow tunnel on the east side of the map is continuously in use, jump down to the catwalks surrounding the magma pit and head to the enemy base this way instead. You'll still encounter foes at times, but they'll usually be somewhat less common. Basically, the below-ground route is the road less taken, so it's the road most worthy of consideration.
  • Never slow down in the open areas. While this is an elementary piece of advice at best, it's especially important on Breaker. There are so many good sniping spots that you can safely expect these central areas to be a nonstop bloodbath. Oftentimes, multiple players on both teams will spend the entirety of a Capture the Flag match hidden behind obstacles and peering out to shoot whenever the opportunity presents itself.

3/7 Keep An Eye On The Prize

Grappling into fights, trying to splatter any enemies while in a vehicle, or just charging into a group of low-health enemies is part of what makes Halo Infinite so great. However, it is vital for even the hardest of players to make sure they are consistently checking their base and their flag's location.

It can be incredibly easy to get caught up in the fantastic gameplay, but even easier to forget to look at the map objectives and markers, especially if you're dodging Ghosts and Grenades. Although you may be racking up points and kills with ease, it is whoever focuses on the objective more that will be the winner at the end. Therefore, it is crucial that you are consistently checking both your team and the enemy team.

2/7 Make The Most Out Of The Weaponry

Halo Infinite's huge arsenal of weapons is especially great for both casual and competitive players. From classics like the Carbine and the Needler to the new fantastic weaponry like the Skewer, Halo Infinite has introduced many ways for players to adapt to gameplay through their weaponry.

With heavy-hitting, low ammo, splash damage weapons (like the Rocket Launcher) perfect for targeting clusters of groups of people trying to defend the flag carrier or weapons perfect for taking out vehicles carrying the front line of attack (like the Ravager), it is vital for players to familiarize themselves with the wide array of weapons, what they do, and what their ideal use is.

1/7 Don't Be Afraid To Go For Glory (And Die)

Sometimes taking the gamble pays off. Ultimately, Halo Infinite is a fantastic multiplayer experience that enables players to have fun in a variety of ways, and one of the most uniquely wonderful ways this is possible is by being that player. Although when possible it is important to try and avoid mistakes in order to seize a win, sometimes you just have to go in guns-blazing.

Although the odds are that you will die in a spectacular fashion, and not make it at all close to the flag, those occasional times you make it all the way back with explosions ringing in the background, on one health and immediately dying after scoring a point, are undeniably some of the most unforgettable moments any player will have across any Halo game.

NEXT: Best Weapons In Halo Infinite