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Match alone or as a team against opponents of similar skill. Skill is tracked.

  • Lone Wolves
    • A mix of Slayer and other Free For All games. Here, you must stand on your own.

      Max Party Size: 1
      Updated 1/21/2009

      Gametypes

      • Slayer (44.2%) - First player to 25 kills wins. 10 minute match time limit.
      • Slayer BRs (27.4%) - First player to 25 kills wins. Players spawn with Battle Rifles and Assault Rifle secondary weapons. 10 minute match time limit.
      • Swords (3.5%) - First player to 25 kills wins. Players spawn with Energy Swords and no secondary weapon. Player traits: Infinite ammo, cannot drive/ride in vehicles, and do not spawn with grenades. Map traits: Grenades on map, but no weapons. 10 minute match time limit.
      • Oddball (15%) - Hold the skull to earn points. First player to 50 points wins. 10 minute match time limit.
      • Crazy King (9.7%) - Stand in the hill to earn points. First player to 100 points wins. Hill traits: Moves to a random location every 30 seconds. 10 minute match time limit.

      Maps

      • Construct (Default)
      • Epitaph (Default)
      • Epilogue (Epitaph) - Variant of Epitaph with no shield doors.
      • Guardian (Default)
      • High Ground (Default)
      • Isolation (Default)
      • Snowbound (FFA) - Variant of Snowbound tweaked for Free For All play.
      • Boundless (Snowbound) - Variant of Snowbound with many shield doors removed.
      • The Pit (Default)
      • Swat Pit (The Pit) - The Pit variant with no weapons on the map.
      • Foundry (Default) - Not required.  Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Anvil (Foundry) - Foundry variant for asymmetrical gameplay.
      • Blackout (Default) - Not required. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
  • Team Slayer
    • Straight up Team Slayer games on varied maps. Work with your team to outkill your opponents.

      3-4 Players Per Team.
      Max Party Size: 4
      Heroic Map Pack Required
      Updated 1/21/2009

      Gametypes

      • Team Slayer (81.1%) - First team to 50 kills wins. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Team BRs (18.9%) - First team to 50 kills wins. Players spawn with Battle Rifles and Assault Rifle secondary weapons. 12 minute match time limit.

      Maps

      • Construct (Default)
      • Guardian (Default)
      • High Ground (Default)
      • Isolation (Default)
      • Snowbound (HC)  - Shotgun and Spartan Laser removed. Sniper moved to lower caves.
      • Boundless (Snowbound) - Variant of Snowbound with many shield doors removed.
      • The Pit (Default)
      • Pit Stop (The Pit) - Variant of The Pit with inaccessible spawn hives.
      • Valhalla (Default)
      • Foundry (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Standoff (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Blackout (Default) - Not required. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
      • Ghost Town (Default) - Not required. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
  • Team Objective
    • Flag and Bomb based objective games. Steady strategy trumps steady aim here. Stick to the plan!

      3-4 Players Per Team.
      Max Party Size: 4
      Heroic Map Pack Required
      Updated 1/21/2009

      Gametypes

      • Multi Flag CTF (20.8%) - Players attempt to capture the opposing team's flag. First team to three captures wins. 15 minute match time limit.
      • Multi Flag BR (14.9%) - Players attempt to capture the opposing team's flag. First team to three captures wins. Players spawn with Battle Rifles and Assault Rifles. 15 minute match time limit.
      • One Flag (12.6%) - Round-based Capture the Flag, where one team attempts to capture a flag while the other team defends it. Most captures after four rounds wins. Four minute round time limit.
      • Assault (9.3%) - Teams score points by successfully detonating their bomb in the opposing team's base. First team to three successful detonations wins.  15 minute match time limit.
      • One Bomb (11.9%) - Round-based Assault where teams alternate attempting to detonate a bomb and defending the base. The team with the most detonations after four rounds wins. Four minute round time limit.
      • Neutral Bomb (5.6%) - Teams vie over a single bomb, scoring points by detonating the bomb in the opposing team's base. 15 minute match time limit.
      • Team Oddball (13.8%) - Hold the oddball for points. First team to 100 points wins. Players spawn with Assault Rifles. Ball Carrier Traits: 75% walking speed. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Team Crazy King (11.2%) - Stand in the hill for points.150 points to win. Hill moves randomly every minute. Players spawn with Assault Rifles. 12 minute match time limit.

      Maps

      • High Ground (Default)
      • Isolation (Default)
      • Last Resort (Default)
      • Narrows (Default)
      • Boundless (Snowbound) - Variant of Snowbound with many shield doors removed.
      • The Pit (Default)
      • Pit Stop (The Pit) - Variant of The Pit with inaccessible spawn hives.
      • Valhalla (Default)
      • Foundry (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Octoplex (Foundry) - Symmetrical Foundry CTF variant. Made by OctoDeath.
      • Smashed (Foundry) - Symmetrical Foundry variant for Slayer and CTF.
      • Standoff (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Blackout (Default) - Not required. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
      • Ghost Town (Default) - Not required. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
  • Team Doubles
    • Assorted games for teams of two. Work together or die alone, team work is critical here.

      2 Players Per Team
      Max Party Size: 2
      All Downloadable Content Required
      Updated October, 2008

      Gametypes

      • Team Slayer(40.9%) - First team to 25 kills wins. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Team BRs (22.5%) - First team to 25 kills wins. Players start with Battle Rifles and Assault Rifle secondary weapons. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Team Snipers (6.5%, Skipped after veto)  - First team to 25 kills wins. Players start with Sniper Rifles and Magnum secondary weapons. Player traits: Infinite ammo. Map traits: No weapons on map. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Team Oddball (13.8%) - Hold the oddball for points. First team to 150 points wins. Players spawn with Assault Rifles. Ball Carrier Traits: 75% walking speed, 50% damage. 10 minute match time limit.
      • Team Crazy King (10.5%) - Stand in the hill for points.100 points to win. Hill moves randomly every minute. Players spawn with Assault Rifles. 10 minute match time limit.
      • Multi Flag CTF (2.9%, Skipped after veto) - Players attempt to capture the opposing team's flag. First team to three captures wins. 10 minute match time limit.
      • One Flag (2.9%, Skipped after veto) - Round-based Capture the Flag, where one team attempts to capture a flag while the other team defends it. Most captures after four rounds wins. Four minute round time limit.

      Maps

      • Construct (Default)
      • Epitaph (Default)
      • Epilogue (Epitaph) - Variant of Epitaph with no shield doors.
      • Guardian (Default)
      • Isolation (Default)
      • Narrows (Default)
      • Snowbound (HC) - Shotgun and Spartan Laser are removed. The sniper has moved to the lower cave.
      • Boundless (Snowbound) - Variant of Snowbound with many shield doors removed.
      • The Pit (Default)
      • Pit Stop (The Pit) - Variant of The Pit with inaccessible spawn hives.
      • Foundry (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Blackout (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
      • Ghost Town (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
      • Cold Storage (Default) - REQUIRED. Downloadable from Marketplace.
  • Squad Battle
    • Two six-player teams square off in a mix of slayer and objective modes.

      5-6 Players Per Team
      Max Party Size: 6
      Heroic Map Pack Required
      Updated October, 2008

      Gametypes

      • Big Team Slayer (67%) - Score points by killing players on the opposing team. First team to 100 points wins. Players spawn with Battle Rifles and Assault Rifles. 15 minute match time limit.
      • Multi-Flag CTF (13.6%) - Players attempt to capture the opposing team's flag. First team to three captures wins. Players spawn with Battle Rifles and Assault Rifles. 20 minute match time limit.
      • One Flag CTF (13.6%) - Round-based Capture the Flag, where one team attempts to capture a flag while the other team defends it. Most captures after four rounds wins. Players spawn with Battle Rifles and Assault Rifles. Four minute match time limit.
      • Neutral Bomb Assault (5.8%) - Teams vie over a single bomb, scoring points by detonating the bomb in the opposing team's base. First team to three detonations wins. Players spawn with Battle Rifles and Assault Rifles. 20 minute match time limit.

      Maps

      • Construct (Default)
      • High Ground (Default)
      • Isolation (Default)
      • Last Resort (Default)
      • Sandtrap (Default)
      • Sandtrap Heavy -  Variant of Sandtrap with liberal use of heavy weapons and vehicles
      • SAND TARP (Sandtrap) - Variant of Sandtrap with Elephants removed and team spawns switched
      • Valhalla (Default)
      • Valhalla Covies - Item tweaks emphasize Covenant vehicles and weaponry. Skipped after veto.
      • Valhalla Heavy - Variant of Valhalla with liberal use of heavy weapons and vehicles.
      • Rat's Nest (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Standoff (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Standoff Heavy - Variant of Standoff with liberal use of heavy weapons and vehicles.
      • Avalanche (Default) - Not required. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
      • Avalanche Heavy - Liberal use of heavy weapons and vehicles.
      • Ghost Town (Default) - Not required. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
  • MLG
    • Play MLG's rules & variants in Slayer and Objective games. For details, see www.mlgpro.com/playlist.

      Category: Hardcore
      3-4 Players Per Team
      Max Party Size: 4
      Heroic Map Pack Required

      Gametypes

      • MLG Team Slayer (48%) - Score points by killing players on the opposing team. First team to 50 points wins. Players spawn with Battle Rifles. Player traits: 90% shield recharge rate, 110% movement speed, motion tracker turned off. 15 minute match time limit.
      • MLG Team King (16%) - Stand in the hill for points. 250 points to win. Hill lasts for two minutes before moving to the next location in sequence. Players spawn with Battle Rifles. Player traits: 90% shield recharge rate, 110% movement speed, motion tracker turned off. 15 minute match time limit.
      • MLG Team Ball (8%) - Hold the oddball for points. First team to 250 points wins. Players spawn with Battle Rifles. Player traits: 90% shield recharge rate, 110% movement speed, motion tracker turned off. 15 minute match time limit.
      • MLG Multi Flag (24%*) - Players attempt to capture the opposing team's flag. First team to three captures wins. Players spawn with Battle Rifles. Player traits: 90% shield recharge rate, 110% movement speed, motion tracker turned off. 15 minute match time limit.

      Maps

      • Construct (MLG) - Version 5 of MLG's Construct variant.
      • Guardian (MLG) - Version 5 of MLG's Guardian variant.
      • Narrows (MLG) - Version 5 of MLG's Narrows variant.
      • The Pit (MLG) - Version 5 of MLG's The Pit variant
      • Foundry (MLG Amplified) - MLG Orlando version of the "Amplified" Foundry layout. REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Foundry (MLG Onslaught) - v5 of MLG's "Onslaught" Foundry layout. REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      *MLG Multi-Flag varies for Narrows, The Pit and Onslaught. For more info, see www.mlgpro.com/playlist.
  • Team SWAT
    • No shields, no sensors. Just you, your BR, and a lot of headshots.

      Category: Hardcore
      3-4 Players Per Team.
      Max Party Size: 4
      All Downloadable Content Required.
      Updated October, 2008

      Gametypes

      • Team SWAT (74.7%) - Score points by killing players on the opposing team. First team to 50 points wins. Players start with Battle Rifles and Magnums. Player traits: 150% damage resistance, 0x shield multiplier, infinite ammo, motion tracker disabled, no spawning grenades. 12 minute match time limit.
      • SWAT Magnums (10.4%, Skipped after veto) - Score points by killing players on the opposing team. First team to 50 points wins. Players start with Magnums. Player traits: 150% damage resistance, 0x shield multiplier, infinite ammo, motion tracker disabled, no spawning grenades. Map Traits: No weapons on map. 12 minute match time limit.
      • ShWATguns (6.9%, Skipped after veto) - Score points by killing players on the opposing team. First team to 50 points wins. Players start with Shotguns. Player traits: 200% damage resistance, 0x shield multiplier, infinite ammo, motion tracker disabled, no spawning grenades. Map traits: No weapons on map. 12 minute match time limit.
      • SWATBall (4.6%, Skipped after veto) - Carry the skull for points. First pair to 200 points wins. Players start with Battle Rifles and Magnums. Player traits: 150% damage resistance, 0x shield multiplier, infinite ammo, motion tracker disabled, no spawning grenades. 12 minute match time limit.
      • SWAT 2 Flag (4.6%, Skipped after veto) - Players attempt to capture the opposing team's flag. First team to three captures wins. Players start with Battle Rifles and Magnums. Player traits: 150% damage resistance, 0x shield multiplier, infinite ammo, motion tracker disabled, no spawning grenades. 15 minute match time limit.

      Maps

      • Construct (SWAT) - Construct tweaked for SWAT game play.
      • SWAT Epilogue(SWAT) - Epitaph tweaked for SWAT game play. Based on "Epilogue"
      • Guardian (SWAT) - Guardian tweaked for SWAT game play.
      • High Ground (SWAT) - High Ground tweaked for SWAT game play.
      • Isolation (SWAT) - Isolation tweaked for SWAT game play.
      • Narrows (SWAT) - Narrows tweaked for SWAT game play.
      • SWATless (SWAT) - Snowbound tweaked for SWAT game play. Based on "Boundless"
      • SWAT Pit (SWAT) - The Pit tweaked for SWAT game play. Based on "Pit Stop."
      • Foundry (SWAT) - Foundry tweaked for SWAT game play. REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Rat's Nest (SWAT) - Rat's Nest tweaked for SWAT game play. REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Blackout (SWAT) - Blackout tweaked for SWAT gameplay. REQUIRED. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
      • Ghost Town (SWAT) - Ghost Town tweaked for SWAT gameplay. REQUIRED. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
      • Cold Storage (SWAT) - Cold Storage tweaked for SWAT game play. REQUIRED. Downloadable from Marketplace.
  • Team Snipers
    • Long sight lines and long rifles. Precision combat over great distance. This is a team-focused playlist.

      Category: Hardcore
      3-4 players per team
      Max Party Size: 4
      Heroic and Legendary Map Packs Required

      Gametypes

      • Team Snipers (79.3%) - Score points by killing players on the opposing team. First team to 50 points wins. Players start with Sniper Rifles. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Shotty Snipers (20.7%) - Score points by killing players on the opposing team. First team to 50 points wins. Players start with Sniper Rifles and Shotgun secondary weapons. 12 minute match time limit..

      Maps

      • Snipe Trap (Sand Trap) - Sand Trap variant made for Team Snipers.
      • Snipebound (Snowbound) - Snowbound variant made for Team Snipers. Based on Boundless.
      • Sniper Bridge (Narrows) - Narrows variant made for Team Snipers.
      • Sniper Canyon (Valhalla) - Valhalla variant made for Team Snipers.
      • Sniper Guardian (Guardian) - Guardian variant made for Team Snipers.
      • Sniper Ground (High Ground) - High Ground variant made for Team Snipers.
      • Sniper Stop (The Pit) - The Pit variant made for Team Snipers. Based on Pit Stop.
      • Sniperlation (Isolation) - Isolation variant made for Team Snipers.
      • Snipestruct (Construct) - Construct variant made for Team Snipers.
      • Snipeoff (Standoff) - Standoff variant made for Team Snipers. REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Sniper's Nest (Rat's Nest) - Rat's Nest variant made for Team Snipers. REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Sniper Town (Ghost Town) - Ghost Town variant made for Team Snipers. REQUIRED. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
      • Sniperlanche (Avalanche) - Avalanche variant made for Team Snipers. REQUIRED. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
      • Snipeout (Blackout) - Blackout variant made for Team Snipers. REQUIRED. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.

Parties with guests and large groups too large for a single team.

  • Basic Training
    • A place for players new to Halo 3 to learn the ropes and get up to speed. Start here!

      Unranked 4 Player FFA. Unavailable after 9 games or 4 EXP.

      Gametypes

      • Slayer (100%) - 25 Kills to win. Assault Rifle starts, no secondary weapon. Map traits: No power weapons, no vehicles. 15 minute match time limit.

      Maps

      • Guardian (Default)
      • Snowbound FFA - Default layout with equipment tweaks for FFA
  • Rumble Pit
    • A mix of Slayer and other Free For All Games. Go it alone, or join as a group and throw down against each other.

      Unranked 6 Player FFA.
      Max Party Size: 6
      Heroic, Legendary, and Cold Storage are required
      Updated October, 2008

      Gametypes

      • Slayer (29%) - 25 kills to win. Assault Rifle starts, no secondary weapons. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Slayer BRs (19.9%) - 25 kills to win. Battle Rifle starts, Magnum secondaries. 10 minute match time limit.
      • Hammerzeit (9.7%, Skipped after veto) - Slayer, 15 kills to win. Gravity Hammer spawns, no secondary weapons. Player traits: Cannot pick up weapons, cannot drive vehicles. Map traits: No vehicles or weapons on the map. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Swords (9.7%, Skipped after veto) - Slayer, 25 kills to win. Energy Sword spawns, no secondary weapons. Player traits: Cannot pick up weapons, cannot drive vehicles. Map traits: No vehicles or weapons on the map. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Juggernaut (8.9%) - Kill the Juggernaut to become the Juggernaut. Juggernaut earns points for kills (10 points to win). Juggernaut traits: 2x Overshield, 50% Shield Recharge Rate, 125% Damage. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Oddball (9.7%) - Hold the skull to earn points (50 points to win). 12 minute match time limit.
      • Crazy King (3.2%) - Stand in the hill to gain points (100 points to win). Hill traits: Moving Hill (30 second intervals), random moving order. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Ninjaball (3.2%, Skipped after veto)  Hold the skull to earn points (100 points to win). Ball carrier traits: 90% Damage Resistance, 50% Shield Recharge Rate, 150% Walking Speed, 50% Personal Gravity, Passenger only in vehicles. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Mosh Pit (3.2%, Skipped after veto) - Stand in the hill to gain points (100 points to win). Hill traits: Stationary Hill. Player in hill traits: 150% Damage Resistance, 200% Shield Recharge Rate, 25% Shield Vampirism. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Brains (8.1%) - Get points by killing survivors as a zombie, or by killing zombies as a Survivor. Survivors start with Shotguns and Magnums. Zombies have energy swords, are colored black, and have no energy shields. Player with the most points after 4 rounds wins. Three minute round time limit.

      Maps

      • Construct (Default)
      • Epitaph (Default)
      • Epilogue (Epitaph) - Variant of Epitaph with modified weapon layout and shield doors removed.
      • Guardian (Default) 
      • Isolation (Default) 
      • Narrows (Default) 
      • Snowbound (FFA) - Default layout tweaked for Free For All.
      • Boundless (Snowbound) - Variant of Snowbound with many shield doors removed.
      • The Pit (Default)
      • Pit Stop (The Pit) - Variant of The Pit with inaccessible spawn hives.
      • Foundry (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Infected Manor (Foundry) - A haunted house for Infection variants. Made by Sikamikanico.
      • Rat's Nest (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Bubonic (Rat's Nest) - Rat's Nest variant for Infection gametypes.
      • Standoff (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Blackout (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
      • Deadlock (Blackout) - Blackout variant for Infection gametypes.
      • Ghost Town (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
      • Ghoul Town (Ghost Town) - Ghost Town variant for Infection gametypes.
      • Cold Storage (Default) - REQUIRED. Available on Xbox Live Marketplace.
      • Rigor Mortis (Cold Storage) - Cold Storage variant for Infection gametypes.
  • Social Slayer
    • Assorted team Slayer games on varied maps. Work with your team to outkill your opponents.

      4-5 Players Per Team.
      Max Party Size: 10
      Updated 1/21/2009

      Gametypes

      • Team Slayer (58.4%) - 50 kills to win. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Team Rockets (9.1%, Skipped after veto) - 50 kills to win. Rocket launcher spawns, with no secondary weapon. Infinite ammo enabled. Map traits: No weapons. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Team Duals (9.1%, Skipped after veto) - 50 kills to win. SMG spawns with Magnum secondary weapon. Map traits: Dual-wield weapons only, light vehicles only. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Team BRs (23.4%) - 50 kills to win. Battle Rifle spawns with Assault Rifle secondary weapon. Map traits: Light vehicles only. 12 minute match time limit.

      Maps

      • Construct (Default)
      • Guardian (Default)
      • High Ground (Default)
      • Last Resort (Default)
      • Narrows (Default)
      • Snowbound (HC) - Shotgun and Spartan Laser removed. Sniper Rifle moved to lower caves.
      • Boundless (Snowbound) - Variant of Snowbound with many shield doors removed.
      • The Pit (Default)
      • Pit Stop (The Pit) - Variant of The Pit with inaccessible spawn hives.
      • Valhalla (Default)
      • Rat's Nest (Default) - Not required. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Standoff (Default) - Not required. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Ghost Town (Default) - Not required. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
  • Social Team DLC
    • Test your mettle on the maps you paid for. Flag and Assault gametypes on DLC Maps.

      4-5 Players Per Team
      Max Party Size: 10
      Heroic and Legendary Map Packs Required

      Gametypes

      • Team Slayer (26.2%) - First team to 50 kills wins. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Team Slayer BRs (26.2%) - First team to 50 kills wins. Players spawn with Battle Rifles and Assault Rifle secondary weapons. 12 minute match time limit.
      • One Flag (14.3%) - Round-based Capture the Flag, where one team attempts to capture a flag while the other team defends it. Most captures after four rounds wins. Four minute round time limit.
      • Multi-Flag CTF (17.9%) - Both teams battle to capture each other's flags. First team to three flags wins. Battle Rifle starts with Assault Rifle secondary wepaons. 20 minute match time.
      • One Bomb (4.8%) - Round-based Assault where teams alternate attempting to detonate a bomb and defending the base. The team with the most detonations after four rounds wins. Four minute round time limit.
      • Neutral Assault (10.7%) - Teams vie over a single bomb, scoring points by detonating the bomb in the opposing team's base. 15 minute match time limit.

      Maps

      • Foundry (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Smashed (Foundry) - Foundry variant made for symmetrical Slayer and Flag play.
      • Rat's Nest (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack. 
      • Standoff (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack. 
      • Avalanche (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
      • Blackout (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
      • Ghost Town (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
  • Social Skirmish
    • A wide assortment of non-Slayer objective games. Mix things up a bit, with a team or with an entire party.

      4-5 Players Per Team.
      Max Party Size: 10
      Updated 1/21/2009

      Gametypes

      • One Flag CTF (15.3%) - Round based Capture the Flag, one team has a flag while the other attempt to capture it. Most captures after four rounds wins. Four minute round time limit.
      • Multi-Flag CTF (18.7%) - Both teams are attempting to capture the other team's flag. First to three captures wins. 20 minute match time limit.
      • One Bomb Assault (12.4%) - Teams take turns attempting to plant a bomb in the opposing team's base. Most detonations after four rounds wins. Four minute round time limit.
      • Neutral Bomb Assault (14.4%) - Teams vie for a single bomb, attempting to plant it in the opposing team's base. First to three detonations wins. 20 minute match time limit.
      • VIP (2.9%, Skipped after veto) - One player on each team is designated "VIP." Killing this player earns points for the opposing team. 10 points to win. VIP traits: 90% damage resistance, 2x shield multiplier, 50% shield recharge, passenger only in vehicles, waypoint visible to everyone. 12 minute match time limit.
      • 1 Sided VIP (1.4%, Skipped after veto) - One player on one team is designated "VIP." The defending team must protect their VIP while the attacking team attempts to score points by killing the VIP. VIP traits: Magnum primary, cannot drive vehicles. Round ends after VIP is killed or after time limit is up. Highest score after 4 rounds wins. Three minute round time limit.
      • Territories (19.1%) - One team defends as the other team attempts to capture territories. Team with most territories captured after four rounds wins. Four minute round time limit.
      • Land Grab (15.8%) - Both teams must attempt to take as many territories they can. The team with the most territories captured after three rounds wins. Territories are locked upon capture and cannot be captured by the opposite team (locks reset at the end of each round). 30 uncontested seconds within a territory to capture. Three minute round time limit.

      Maps

      • High Ground (Default)
      • Isolation (Default)
      • Last Resort (Default)
      • Narrows (Default)
      • Snowbound (HC) - Shotgun and Spartan Laser removed. Sniper Rifle moved to lower caves.
      • Boundless (Snowbound) - Variant of Snowbound with many shield doors removed.
      • The Pit (Default)
      • Pit Stop (The Pit) - Variant of The Pit with inaccessible spawn hives.
      • Valhalla (Default)
      • Standoff (Default) - Not required. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Ghost Town (Default) - Not required. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
  • Multi Team
    • A mix of games for more than two teams. Like Free For All, but with a partner to work with.

      2 Players Per Team.
      Max Party Size: 8
      Updated October, 2008

      Gametypes

      • Team Slayer (37.8%) -  First pair to 50 kills wins. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Team Oddball (11.7%) - Carry the skull for points. First pair to 100 points wins. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Team Crazy King (16.7%) - Stand in the hill for points. 100 points to win. Hill lasts for one minute before moving to a random location. 12 minute time limit.
      • VIP (13.3%) - A player on each team is designated the "VIP." Score points by killing the other teams VIPs. 10 points to win. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Team Swords (9.4%, Skipped after veto) - First pair to 25 kills wins. Players spawn with Energy Swords. Player traits: Infinite ammo, cannot pick up weapons, cannot drive or ride in vehicles. Map traits: No weapons or vehicles on map. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Hammerzeit (7.8%, Skipped after veto) - First pair to 25 kills wins. Players spawn with Gravity Hammers. Player traits: Infinite ammo, cannot pick up weapons, cannot drive or ride in vehicles. Map traits: No weapons or vehicles on map. 12 minute match time limit.
      • Rocket Race (3.3%) - Players pair up, one VIP per team. Drive your VIP to goals before the other teams can reach them for points. Players spawn with Rocket Launchers and have infinite ammo. First team to 10 points wins. 10 minute match time limit.

      Maps

      • Construct (Default)
      • Epitaph (Default)
      • Guardian (Default)
      • High Ground (Default)
      • Isolation (Default)
      • Last Resort (Default)
      • Narrows (Default)
      • The Pit (Default)
      • Sandtrap Speed - Sandtrap variant with goal points for Rocket Race.
      • Valhalla Speed - Valhalla variant with goal points for Rocket Race.
      • Isolation Speed - Skipped after veto. Isolation variant with goal points for Rocket Race. Skipped after veto.
      • Standoff Speed - Standoff variant with goal points for Rocket Race. REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Rat's Nest Speed - Rat's Nest variant with goal points for Rocket Race. REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Avalanche Speed - Avalanche variant with goal points for Rocket Race. Not Required. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
      • Foundry (Default) - Not required. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Standoff (Default) - Not requried. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Blackout (Default) - Not required. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
      • Ghost Town (Default) - Not required. Part of the Legendary Map Pack.
  • Social Big Team
    • Assorted games for those who prefer big teams and full games.

      5-8 Players Per Team.
      Max Party Size: 16
      Heroic and Legendary Map Packs Required.
      Updated 1/21/2009

      Gametypes

      • Team Slayer (33.1%) - First team to 100 kills wins. Battle Rifle starts with Assault Rifle secondary weapons. 15 minute match time.
      • Multi-Flag CTF (20.3%) - Both teams battle to capture each other's flags. First team to three flags wins. Battle Rifle starts with Assault Rifle secondary wepaons. 20 minute match time.
      • One Bomb (12.2%, Skipped after veto) - Round-based Assault where teams alternate attempting to detonate a bomb and defending the base. Battle Rifle starts with Assault Rifle secondary weapons. The team with the most detonations after four rounds wins. Four minute round time limit.
      • Neutral Bomb Assault (8%) - Players vie over a single bomb, attempting to detonate the bomb in the opposing team's base. First team to three detonations wins. Battle Rifle starts with Assault Rifle secondary weapons. 20 minute match time.
      • VIP (2.8%, Skipped after veto) - One player on each team is designated "VIP." Score points by killing the opposing team's VIP. First team to 10 points wins. 15 minute match limit.
      • Territories (9.5%) - Teams take turns defending and claiming territories. The team with the most territories claimed after two rounds wins. Battle Rifle starts with Assault Rifle secondary weapons.  Five minute rounds.
      • Big Splockets (3.4%, Skipped after veto) - First team to 100 kills wins. Spartan Lasers starts with Rocket Launcher secondary weapons. 15 minute match time.
      • Land Grab (2.7%, Skipped after veto) - Both teams must attempt to take as many territories they can. The team with the most territories captured after three rounds wins. Territories are locked upon capture and cannot be captured by the opposite team (locks reset at the end of each round). 30 uncontested seconds within a territory to capture. Battle Rifle starts with Assault Rifle secondary weapons. Three minute round time limit.
      • 2 Flag Heavy (8.1%) - Multi Flag CTF with heavy vehicles and weapons. First team to three captures wins. Battle Rifle starts. Map traits: All vehicles on. 20 minute match time.

      Maps

      • Last Resort (Default)
      • Valhalla (Default)
      • Sandtrap (Default)
      • Sandtrap Heavy (Sandtrap) - Variant of Sandtrap with liberal use of heavy weapons and vehicles
      • SAND TARP (Sandtrap) - Variant of Sandtrap with Elephants removed and team spawns switched
      • Rat's Nest (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack. 
      • Standoff (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack. 
      • Standoff Heavy (Standoff) - Variant of Standoff with liberal use of heavy weapons and vehicles
      • Avalanche (Default) - REQUIRED. Part of the Legendary Map Pack. 
      • Avalanche Heavy (Avalanche) - Variant of Avalanche with liberal use of heavy weapons and vehicles
  • Living Dead (Double EXP Weekend)
    • Fleet feet flee creeping corpses in this Ranked flavor of Infection. It still tastes like brains.

      Category: Double EXP Weekend
      Ranked 13 player FFA
      Max Party Size: 13
      Heroic and Legendary Map Packs Required

      Gametypes

      • Save One Bullet (44%)  - Infection. Survivors start with Shotguns and Magnum secondaries. Infected start with Energy Swords, have 75% gravity, enhanced motion trackers and are colored black. Score points by killing Infected as Survivors or killing Survivors as Infected. Highest score after 4 rounds wins.  Top 25% of winners at the end of a round become zombies in the following round. 3 minute round time limit.
      • Creeping Death (8%) - Infection. Survivors start with Shotguns and Magnum secondaries. Infected start with Gravity Hammers, have 75% gravity, enhanced motion trackers, good active camo, and are colored black. Score points by killing Infected as Survivors or killing Survivors as Infected. Highest score after 4 rounds wins. Whoever has the highest score at the end of a round becomes the zombie at the beginning of the following round. 3 minute round time limit.
      • Creeping Rocket (9%, Skipped after Veto) - Infection. Survivors start with Rocket Launchers and Spartan Laser secondaries. Infected start with Gravity Hammers, have 75% gravity, 200% damage resistance, enhanced motion trackers, good active camo, and are colored black. Score points by killing Infected as Survivors or killing Survivors as Infected. Highest score after 4 rounds wins. Whoever has the highest score at the end of a round becomes the zombie at the beginning of the following round. 3 minute round time limit.
      • Braaaaains (33%) - Infection. Survivors start with Shotguns and Magnum secondaries. Infected start with Energy Swords, have 75% gravity, no energy shields, enhanced motion trackers and are colored black. Score points by killing Infected as Survivors or killing Survivors as Infected. Highest score after 4 rounds wins. 25% of players are randomly chosen to be zombies each round . 3 minute round time limit.
      • Speed Demons (6%) - Infection. Survivors start with Shotguns and Battle Rifle secondaries. Infected start with Gravity Hammers and Energy Sword secondaries, have 150% gravity, 200% movement speed, deal 150% damage, enhanced motion trackers and are colored black. Score points by killing Infected as Survivors or killing Survivors as Infected. Highest score after 4 rounds wins. 25% of players are randomly chosen to be zombies each round. 3 minute round time limit.

      Maps

      • Bubonic (Rat's Nest) - Rat's Nest variant designed for Infection gametypes
      • Charnel Pit (The Pit) - The Pit variant designed for Infection gametypes
      • Club Dead (High Ground) - High Ground variant designed for Infection gametypes
      • Death Valley (Valhalla) - Valhalla variant designed for Infection gametypes
      • Deadlock (Blackout) - Blackout variant designed for Infection gametypes. REQUIRED. Part of the Legendary Map Pack
      • Dish of Doom (Standoff) - Standoff variant designed for Infection gametypes. REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack
      • Ghoul Town (Ghost Town) - Ghost Town variant designed for Infection gametypes. REQUIRED. Part of the Legendary Map Pack
      • Growth Spurt (Isolation) -  Isolation variant designed for Infection gametypes.
      • Haunted Manor (Foundry) - Foundry variant designed for Infection gametypes. REQUIRED. Part of the Heroic Map Pack.
      • Tree Rot (Guardian)  -  Guardian variant designed for Infection gametypes.
      • ZOMBIES ON ICE (Avalanche) - Avalanche variant designed for Infection gametypes. REQUIRED. Part of the Legendary Map Pack
      • Zomboni (Last Resort) - Last Resort variant designed for Infection gametypes.

Related News

Viewing: Playlists
Social Living Dead Double EXP 

Posted by Shishka at 1/29/2009 11:00 AM PST

Braaaaaains...


Social Living Dead is this weekend's Double EXP weekend! Now you can get that burning hatred for the undead out of your system. Or, you can enjoy some delicious, delicious brains. If that's your thing. I'm not here to judge.*

Social Living Dead is available from 11am PDT on Thursday, Jan 29th until Monday 2am, February 2nd. All downloadable content required. Have fun!

*I'm totally judging you right now. Can you feel it?

3 Ball now available! 

Posted by Shishka at 1/22/2009 11:01 AM PST

If only you had three hands, right?


Starting 11am PDT, 3 Ball makes its belated appearance as a Double EXP weekend for Halo 3! For those of you new to this gem of a playlist, Oddball games based on the presence of -you guessed it- three oddballs make up the entirety of the playlist. The catch? There are four teams. That means someone's going to get left behind if they don't act fast.

3 Ball is available from January 22nd until 2am Monday, January 26th. Heroic and Legendary map packs are required.

January Matchmaking Update is (Finally) Up 

Posted by Shishka at 1/20/2009 7:44 PM PST

After a long wait, January finally is finally here.


Hooray! Testing is finally done and over with, and if you haven't  already noticed, the January Matchmaking Update has been applied.

If you missed the Weekly Update where we described the changes for you, here they are again:

General Changes

Playlist Clean Up, Mythic Prep
In preparation for the new maps coming later this year, some of the less popular map variants are going to be removed over time. Some of these removals are not listed below, but will be reflected in the Matchmaking Playlist page here on Bungie.net. This will be an ongoing process with maps and their variants being systematically removed as warranted.

Push to Talk Restriction Increased
Since Halo 3’s release, if a player were to join a Matchmaking playlist with a team size larger than four, he or she would have to push a button on the DPad to communicate directly to their team. After the January update, the PTT restriction is being increased to 6 players per team, meaning that players will not need to use the D-pad to communicate on any Matchmaking playlist but Social Big Team.

What does this mean for players? Well, for starters, it means communicating to teammates in 5v5 or 6v6 playlists will be trivial. However, this could mean an increase in bandwidth necessary for these larger format playlists, which means the potential for “laggy” games is increased. The best way to avoid lag in these games is to ensure that you are not constantly broadcasting to your teammates, and that your teammates are not constantly broadcasting to you. If you often play with strangers, be prepared to mute and report players that abuse their microphone. To mute a player quickly during a game, hold the back button to bring up the scoreboard and select their name with the left stick. Then press X. Muted! To report players, select their name in the post game carnage report and view their gamercard, then use the Report Player options listed therein.

DLC Category
In an effort to make the Matchmaking playlists easier to navigate and bring the populations together, the DLC category is being retired, and the playlists it contained are either being moved into Social or integrated into existing playlists.

Ranked Hopper Updates

  • Lone Wolves – No Changes
  • Team Slayer – No Changes
  • Team Objective
  • KOTH, Oddball, 1 and 2 Bomb assault set to skip after veto, and weighting on these gametypes will be reduced to refocus the hopper primarily on 1 Flag, 2 Flag, and Neutral Assault.
  • A couple community map variants for Foundry are being added to the CTF rotation.
  • Team Doubles – No Changes
  • Squad Battle – No Changes

Social Hopper Updates

Rumble Pit
  • DLC FFA and Rumble Pit will be merged. Rumble Pit will now require All DLC, and include gametypes such as Infection.
Social Slayer
  • Population increased back to 5v5
  • Isolation, Foundry removed.
Social Objective
  • Slightly reduce weighting on Land Grab, and increase weighting on multi flag to even distribution of these two gametypes out.
  • Reduce weighting of VIP. Set to skip after veto.
  • Territories variants set to skip after veto.
  • ADDED Social Team DLC
  • 5v5 Slayer and Objective strictly on DLC maps. Heroic and Legendary map packs required.
  • The most popular slayer and objective variants, strictly on DLC maps.
Multi Team
  • Reduce weighting of VIP, KOTH, and Oddball.
  • Some maps being removed from rotation.
ADDED Social Big Team
  • DLC Big Team will be moved and renamed. Weighting between DLC and non-DLC maps will be equalized. The hopper will continue to require DLC 1 and 2.

DLC Hopper Updates

REMOVED DLC FFA
  • DLC FFA and Rumble Pit will be merged. DLC FFA as a separate hopper is retired.
MIGRATED DLC Big Team
  • Being moved to Social and being renamed “Social Big Team.” Non-DLC maps are getting a weighting increase such that they are equal to DLC maps. Still requires DLC 1 and 2.

Hardcore Hopper Updates

Team SWAT – No Changes
Team Snipers
- Reduced weighting on Standoff.
MLG – No Changes

Double EXP Weekends (listed in order of appearance)

Grifball – Winter League (1/8-1/12)
3 Ball (1/22 -1/26)
Living Dead (Unranked) (1/29 – 2/2)

Seven on the Seventh

Avalanche 7v7

Bungie Single EXP Weekend Begins! 

Posted by Shishka at 1/15/2009 11:00 AM PST

All weekend long, earn ONE ENTIRE  POINT for winning games in any playlist you choose! Hey, wait a minute...


Due to some necessary processes taking longer than we had anticipated, we were unable to release the January update at the date we had scheduled internally. Unfortunately, that update included this weekend's Double EXP playlist (originally scheduled to be 3 Ball) and as a result no Double EXP weekend will be available.

Not to worry! The bright side of this little delay is that I can say with confidence that the January update (which includes Social Team DLC, Rumble Pit becoming Legendary-required, and DLC BTB transforming into Social BTB, among other changes) will go live next Tuesday. Further, we'll forego Legendary Brawl next week for 3 Ball.

We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Double EXP Grifball Live! 

Posted by Shishka at 1/8/2009 11:02 AM PST

Time to squash some dudes. Preferably the dudes on the other team, but I'm not here to judge.


Starting today at 11am PDT, Winter League Grifball returns as the Double EXP weekend of... Uh... The weekend. For those of you that haven't played Grifball, either because you just got your copy of Halo 3, or perhaps were born yesterday, Grifball is 4v4 Neutral Assault on a special made Grifball arena in Foundry. Players have Hammers and Swords, but no shields. The bomb detonates instantly when planted so you'll have to act fast!

Grifball Double EXP Weekend is available on Halo 3 Matchmaking from Thursday, January 8th at 11am PDT until Monday the 12th, at 2am. Heroic Map Pack is required to participate.

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