Capture the Flag: Difference between revisions

Flags are located at their spawn points, usually held in the teams' respective bases. Players need to defend their flags from the enemy team while trying to take the enemy's flag from their base. While carrying a flag, a player (becoming the "flag carrier") cannot fire their weapons, but they can melee using the flag. When a flag is dropped, either at the carrier's own volition or because they are killed, the flag enters a countdown. At the end of the countdown, the flag returns to the base, and the process could be accelerated by friendly players standing around it. The countdown can be reset by enemy players holding the flag again, even if briefly. Respawn timers are typically longer in CTF than in [[Slayer]], giving more time for players in the offense to capture the flag.

Upon returning the enemy team's flag to their own base (or the "flag return point"), a player scores a point for the team. The enemy team's flag automatically returns to the enemy base, and can be taken again. In certain variants of CTF, players cannot score if their own flag has been removed its spawn point.

By default, the team that first reaches the score limit (3 points by default) wins the game. If neither has reach the score limit at the end of the time limit, the team with the most points at the end wins. If there is a tie, the game may enter overtime, and the team that first scores the next point wins the game. Alternatively, if a team is holding the enemy team's flag at the end, the game may enter sudden death. During sudden death, the flag must be taken to its return point or its spawn point, the result of which decides the victor of the match.  

*Designate one player as be the flag carrier. This is the player who will capture the flag and return it to your team's base, and another would be the color guard (the person who guards the flag).

*Have every other teammate except for a few people defending your flag provide cover fire for the Flag Carrier. One person should (if it is available) grab a [[Sniper rifle]] and provide cover from a distance. Everyone else should have decent medium-range weapons, such as the [[battle rifle]] or [[Type-25 plasma rifle|plasma rifle]].

*Use vehicles like the Warthog, so that the flag carrier can make a speedy getaway. Deny the enemy team from pursuing in their own vehicles and destroy all of their vehicles.

*In Multi-Flag CTF, the strategy is a little different. Designate one defender in the base with the shotgun or a rocket launcher. The sniper should play from either backfield or midfield, and should have a defensive focus most of the time. A good team will be sufficiently defended using the single inside defender and the covering sniper. Remember respawning teammates can at times remain on defense to support. As long as every enemy on the board is accounted for and the inside defender is aware of enemies entering the base, any standard attack will be easily defeated. Any attacking players that enter the base should be easily killed by the shotgun/rocket defender. This defender must always crouch so as to avoid detection. Cover the entrances, not the flag. Other players must also listen to warnings from the sniper or defender, stating that they may soon be overwhelmed by the enemy attackers.

*Offense will require careful coordination to succeed in higher levels of gameplay. Assuming that a good enemy will kill on average 50% of your attackers, you will need to strike with enough manpower to fight a battle inside the enemy base with half of your team. One strong way to sneak attack your opponents is to skirmish attack your enemy base knowing you will lose the fight. Keep one or two of your teammates inside the enemy base hiding and waiting to attack in unison with the next wave of attack. The enemy will underestimate your attack strength. You should use the hiding players to attack the defense seconds before your teammates arrive in the second wave. This will allow them to enter the enemy base more easily. Without more than half of the team on offense, it is unlikely that you will ever score against a strong enemy. Offensive players must also be able to survive the trip downfield to the enemy base. To do this try to (I) sneak, (II) fight (III) speed your way past the enemy. Sneaking is straight forward; travel undetected. Fighting will require strong coordination of firepower. Battle rifles are great for offensive walks downfield. Make sure that each teammate shoots together at the same enemy, killing him before moving on to the next. Think about it: three shooting enemies half dead are more dangerous than two shooting enemies and one dead enemy. The idea is to minimize the firepower your enemy is using, if you all shoot at one enemy and kill them right away, you will eliminate 1/3 of their firepower (1 out of 3 battle rifles). Speeding will require the [[M12 Force Application Vehicle|Warthog]] or [[M274 Ultra-Light All-Terrain Vehicle|Mongoose]], and will require you to be prepared to fight an enemy that knows you are coming.

*In 1-Flag CTF, the attack forces are going to rush in full force to take the flag, you have to grab the best weapons you can manage and cover the entrances. It might be wise to have some units avoid the main fray and sneak around the enemy base to ambush them.

*It is advised not to attempt [[Flag dropping|flag running]] (dropping the flag while jumping) as it gives away your position for a barely noticeable speed boost.

*If you decide to leave one player behind to guard the flag, find out if there is any available vehicles and park them over the flag. Using this strategy, you can blow away anyone attempting to grab the flag, because they will try to grab it and instead hop into a vehicle.

== Built-in variants ==

===''Halo: Combat Evolved''===

 

===''Halo 2''===

 

===''Halo 3''===

 

===''Halo: Reach''===

 

===''Halo 4''===

 

===''Halo 2: Anniversary''===

 

===''Halo 5: Guardians''===

 

===''Halo Infinite''===

==Achievements==

The following [[achievement]]s can be unlocked in Capture the Flag gametypes.

! scope="col" style="width:135px;text-align:center;" |''''Icon''''

|<center>'''[[Rainman]]'''</center>

|<center>''[[Halo 2 (Windows Vista)]]''</center>

==Medals==

! scope="col" style="width:175px;height:20px;text-align:center;" |'''Title'''

! scope="col" style="width:350px;height:20px;text-align:center;" |'''Unlock requirement'''

 

==Commendations==

===''Halo 4''===

===''Halo 5: Guardians''===