17 Great Ways to Have Fun in Halo Custom Games

By Laurence Gardner /

4. Troy

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Team Slayer, 6-16 Players, 1 Life, Several Rounds

There are so many different variants of this that it€™s hard to know where to begin. My favourite takes place on Blood Gulch, with a primary heavy weapon (such as Rocket Launchers, Brute Shots or Fuel Rod Cannons, etc) and a sword secondary. Players spawn on the bases and immediately fire off all their ammunition towards the opponent€™s base. In order to fire you must be standing on the roof of your base, and you also have to unload all your ammunition as quickly as possible €“ no hoarding. If you€™re playing it right, a huge volley of rockets and brute shot shells should sail out towards the enemy base from your own, supposedly representing the arrows of the battle of Troy. Once you€™re out of ammo, and if you survive the bombardment on your base, it€™s time to run into the middle and use your sword€™s melee attack on any survivors from the enemy team. Once again, this game relies upon people respecting the €˜only shoot from the base€™ rule, but it€™s tremendous fun if everyone does (and occasionally hilarious if they don€™t). If you€™re still holding onto your ammo while people are in the middle with their swords, you€™ve kept it too long.

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3. Rugby (Griffball)

Assault, 6-16 Players, 2/4 Rounds

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This can be played on any small symmetrical map, such as Battle Creek or Foundation. Both teams try to transport the bomb to the enemy base (where there€™s an instant arm time), and no shooting is allowed €“ it€™s melee only. This is one of the most popular variants on the list, and that€™s thoroughly deserved. Some players play with hammers, swords or speed boosts €“ personally I prefer a plasma pistol or magnum (no shooting) and perhaps 110/120% player speed. This can be a surprisingly tactical game, and teamwork is rewarded €“ I remember throwing the bomb through the tiny bunker window in Battle Creek to my waiting teammate, who was then able to instantly score. You can set a time limit for the rounds, or put a score limit of 3 or 5. If you€™ve never played Rugby, I highly recommend it €“ you€™ll see it pop up in a lot of custom playlists, as well.

2. Zombies

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Zombie, 2/16 Players

Call me a purist, but I don€™t think Halo has ever managed to replicate the experience of a custom zombie game on Foundation in Halo 2, with the survivors huddled inside one of the spawn rooms and a stack of crates barricading the door. Having said that, they€™ve done all they can, with an advanced zombie mode feature now letting players customise their very own apocalyptic scenario. Depending on how you design your map, you€™ll either end up with your survivors crowded inside a safe room (peppering the door with bullets whenever a zombie shuffles into view), or with every player out for themselves, constantly on the move. Shotguns and Magnums work best for the survivors, and of course the zombies should use melee attacks. Finally, turn the page to see our favourite way to spend time in Halo custom games.

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