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{{Status|Gameplay}}
{{Era|RW}}
{{Quote|Play ball!|[[Jeff Steitzer|The announcer]]}}
{{Quote|Play ball!|[[Jeff Steitzer|The Announcer]]}}
[[File:Oddball Icon.jpg|thumb|200px|The Oddball icon.]]
[[File:Oddball Icon.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The Oddball icon.]]


'''Oddball''' is a [[multiplayer]] gametype featured in the [[Halo series|''Halo'' series]]. It has been featured in every ''Halo'' multiplayer to date.
'''Oddball''' is a [[multiplayer]] gametype featured in the [[Halo series|''Halo'' series]]. It has been featured in every ''Halo'' multiplayer to date.


==Description==
==Description==
[[File:Oddball.jpg|thumb|300px|A game of Oddball on [[Sidewinder]] in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.]]
[[File:Oddball.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A game of Oddball on [[Sidewinder]] in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.]]
The objective is to locate the [[skull]](s) on the map and to maintain possession of it for the longest period of time possible. The default settings allow the game to be a free for all with one skull on the map, which players need to have possession of for two minutes in order to win. This game can be played as a Rumble Game or a Team Game where the highest score of the lone player (Free-For-All), or on a team's accumulative score, chooses the victor(s). Normally, a player who has the Oddball is the immediate target for the other players, which is what makes Oddball an extremely fast-paced gametype.
The objective is to locate the Skull(s) on the map and to maintain possession of it for the longest period of time possible. The default settings allow the game to be a free for all with one Skull on the map, which you need to have possession of for two minutes in order to win. This game can be played as a Rumble Game or a Team Game where the highest score of the lone player (Free-For-All), or on a team's accumulative score, chooses the victor(s). Normally, a player who has the Oddball is the immediate target for the other players, which is what makes Oddball an extremely fast paced and fun game-type.


While a player has possession of the Oddball, they cannot wield their weapons or throw [[grenade]]s. However, they can still [[melee]] opponents with the skull, which normally inflicts massive damage. In ''Halo 3'', ''Halo Reach'' and ''Halo 4'' multiplayer, if a player melee an enemy with the Oddball, it is an instant kill, but this can be tweaked via the game setting. The settings for the game can also be altered to make it more interesting. For example, the player with the Oddball can go invisible or can be slowed down. The number of Oddballs on the map can also be changed.  
While a player has possession of the Oddball, they cannot wield their weapons or throw [[grenade]]s. However, they can still [[melee]] opponents with the Skull, which normally inflicts massive damage. The settings for the game can also be altered to make it more interesting. For example, the player with the Oddball can go invisible or can be slowed down. The number of Oddballs on the map can also be changed.  


The Oddball's appearance is nearly identical through the original trilogy; the ball is a plain human skull. They are also identical to the skulls found in campaign in ''[[Halo 2]]'' and ''[[Halo 3]]''. In ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' the Oddball is on fire much like the [[Headhunter]] skulls. If the skull is dropped in water the flames are extinguished, though it will relight when it is picked up again. In ''[[Halo 4]]'', the Oddball is a spherical container containing a light blue holographic skull. The "ball" part consists of black metal brackets that surround the skull. The brackets are positioned to emerge from the back of the skull and leave the 'face" area open. It also serves as the Grifball.
The Oddball's appearance is nearly identical through the original trilogy; the ball is a plain human skull. They are also identical to the skulls found in campaign in ''[[Halo 2]]'' and ''[[Halo 3]]''. In ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' the Oddball is on fire much like the [[Headhunter]] skulls. If the skull is dropped in water the flames are extinguished, though it will relight when it is picked up again. In ''[[Halo 4]]'' the Oddball is a crystal skull in a metal frame.  


''Halo 4'' features the first noticeable gameplay changes since Oddball's inception in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. Players can now throw the Oddball using the grenade throw button (left trigger in default controls). Catching or intercepting a thrown skull awards medals. The skulls are also more noticeably affected by physics, bouncing off the surfaces and getting knocked around by explosions and Gravity Hammer strikes. Additionally, plays can perform [[Ballsassination]] — [[assassination]]s the skull — which vaporize the target like Forerunner weaponry.  
''Halo 4'' features the first noticeable gameplay changes since Oddball's inception in ''Combat Evolved''. Players can now throw the Oddball using the grenade throw button (default left trigger). Catching or intercepting a thrown skull awards medals. The skulls are also more noticeably affected by physics, bouncing off the surfaces and getting knocked around by explosions and Gravity Hammer strikes.


== Built-in variants ==
== Built-in variants ==
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|Hold the Skull for 2 minutes to win.
|Hold the Skull for 2 minutes to win.
|-
|-
!Classic Reverse Tag
![[Reverse Tag|Classic Reverse Tag]]
|When you're "it", you run slowly but you score time.  Accumulate 2 minutes to win.
|When you're "it", you run slowly but you score time.  Accumulate 2 minutes to win.
|-
|-
!Classic Accumulate
![[Accumulate|Classic Accumulate]]
|Score 5 minutes to win.  Kills speed up your time, but you lose your time bonus if you die.
|Score 5 minutes to win.  Kills speed up your time, but you lose your time bonus if you die.
|-
|-
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|The Juggernaut does extra damage. Kill the Juggernaut to steal his powers. Score 15 kills to win the game.
|The Juggernaut does extra damage. Kill the Juggernaut to steal his powers. Score 15 kills to win the game.
|-
|-
!Classic Stalker
![[Stalker (Gametype)|Classic Stalker]]
|One sneaky player is [[Active camouflage|invisible]]. Find him and kill him to gain his sneaky powers.  Score 10 kills to win the game.
|One sneaky player is [[Active camouflage|invisible]]. Find him and kill him to gain his sneaky powers.  Score 10 kills to win the game.
|}
|}
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|Get ready for a classic game of free-for-all Oddball. Hold the ball for 2 minutes to win.
|Get ready for a classic game of free-for-all Oddball. Hold the ball for 2 minutes to win.
|-
|-
!Rocketball
![[Rocketball]]
|This game of Oddball with nothing but [[M41 SPNKR|rocket launchers]] is a real blast. Control the ball for 1 minute to win.
|This game of Oddball with nothing but [[M41 SPNKR|rocket launchers]] is a real blast. Control the ball for 1 minute to win.
|-
|-
!Swordball
![[Swordball]]
|Tense rounds with [[Type-1 energy sword|swords]] and no [[Motion tracker|motion sensor]]. Own the ball for 30 seconds to win a round. First to 3 wins.
|Tense rounds with [[Type-1 energy sword|swords]] and no [[Motion tracker|motion sensor]]. Own the ball for 30 seconds to win a round. First to 3 wins.
|-
|-
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|Up to [[Multi-Team|8 teams]] can go head to head in this game of team Oddball. First team with 2 minutes ball control wins.
|Up to [[Multi-Team|8 teams]] can go head to head in this game of team Oddball. First team with 2 minutes ball control wins.
|-
|-
!Low Ball
![[Low Ball]]
|Team Oddball with a twist. Everyone on your team must hold the ball for at least 30 seconds to win.
|Team Oddball with a twist. Everyone on your team must hold the ball for at least 30 seconds to win.
|-
|-
!Fiesta Oddball
![[Fiesta Oddball|Fiesta]]
|An odd game of ball with [[fiesta|random weapons]]. Earn 2 minutes ball control time to win.
|An odd game of ball with [[fiesta|random weapons]]. Earn 2 minutes ball control time to win.
|}
|}
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|Form teams, protect your carrier. 100 points to win.
|Form teams, protect your carrier. 100 points to win.
|-
|-
!Low Ball
![[Low Ball|Lowball]]
|Teamwork counts! Every member of your team must earn 25 points to win.
|Teamwork counts! Every member of your team must earn 25 points to win.
|-
|-
!Ninjaball
![[Ninjaball]]
|The ball carrier is fast and agile, but vulnerable. 100 points to win.
|The ball carrier is fast and agile, but vulnerable. 100 points to win.
|-
|-
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|Free-for-all rounds with swords and no motion sensor. Own the ball and earn points to win a round. Top scorer wins.
|Free-for-all rounds with swords and no motion sensor. Own the ball and earn points to win a round. Top scorer wins.
|-
|-
!|Team Swordball
![[Swordball|Team Swordball]]
|Team game with swords and no motion sensor. Own the ball for points to win a round. Best of 3 rounds wins.
|Team game with swords and no motion sensor. Own the ball for points to win a round. Best of 3 rounds wins.
|-
|-
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|-
|-
!Oddball
!Oddball
|Hold the Oddball to score points!
|-
!Classic Team Oddball
|Hold the Oddball to score points!
|Hold the Oddball to score points!
|-
|-
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|Hold the Oddball to score points!
|Hold the Oddball to score points!
|-
|-
!Oddball HCS
![[Oddball HCS]]
|Hold the Oddball to score points!
|Hold the Oddball to score points!
|}
|}


===''Halo Infinite''===
===''Halo Infinite''===
Oddball in ''Halo Infinite'' features two major differences from prior versions of the mode. Oddball is now round-based; teams win a round by scoring 100 points, and the game is played with a best-of-three format. In addition, the mode now also features an 'objective clock', in which the round's time limit will only count down when the ball is not being held by a player.
{{Expand-section}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:2px auto; vertical-align:top;"
! style="width:20%;" |Title
! style="width:80%;" |Description
|-
!Arena:Oddball
|Hold the flaming skull.
|-
!Arena:FFA Oddball
|Hold the flaming skull.
|-
!Arena:FFA Rocket Oddball
|Every Spartan for themselves! M41 SPNKR loadouts. Hold the flaming skull.
|-
!Ranked:Oddball
|Bandit Evo loadouts, Friendly-Fire enabled, Motion Tracker disabled. Hold the flaming skull.
|-
!Ranked:Doubles Oddball
|Bandit Evo loadouts, Friendly-Fire enabled, Motion Tracker disabled. Hold the flaming skull.
|-
!Fiesta:Oddball
|Spawn with random loadouts. Hold the flaming skull.
|}
 
==Achievements==
The following [[achievement]]s can be unlocked in Oddball gametypes.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:135px;text-align:center;" |''''Icon''''
! scope="col" style="width:175px;height:20px;text-align:center;" |'''Title'''
! scope="col" style="width:350px;height:20px;text-align:center;" |'''Unlock requirement'''
! scope="col" style="width:200px;height:20px;text-align:center;" |'''Games'''
|-
|[[File:H3 Achievement Alas, Poor Yorick.png|center|64px]]
|<center>'''[[Alas, Poor Yorick]]'''</center>
|Earn 3 Oddball melee kills in a ranked or social match on a map from the [[Legendary Map Pack]].
|<center>''[[Halo 3]]''</center>
|-
|[[File:HR Achievement Crackin' Skulls.png|center|64px]]
|<center>'''[[Crackin' Skulls]]'''</center>
|Earn 3 Oddball melee kills in any map after having downloaded the [[Defiant Map Pack]].
|<center>''[[Halo: Reach]]''</center>
|-
|
|<center>'''[[A Fellow of Infinite Jest]]'''</center>
|Kill three enemies with the ball in an Oddball game in a matchmade game.
|<center>''[[Halo Infinite]]''</center>
|-
|}


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*Oddball is derived from ''[[Marathon]]''{{'}}s "Kill the Man With the Ball" game mode.
[[File:Marathon Kill The Man With The Ball.jpeg|thumb|right|The "Kill The Man With The Ball" Game mode from Marathon.]]
* In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', when editing the number of Oddballs in the game settings, a joke will appear in the bottom of the screen, depending on the number of balls.
*Oddball is derived from [[Marathon]]'s "Kill the Man With the Ball".
* In ''Halo: CE,'' [[Juggernaut]] is an Oddball game type.
* In ''Halo: CE,'' in the oddball section, if you go to the edit section to change the number of balls, a joke will appear in the bottom of the screen, depending on the number of balls.
* On the base of the Oddball is a [[Neural Interface|Neural Interface implant]] seen in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.
*In ''Halo 3'', ''Halo Reach'' and ''Halo 4'' multiplayer, if you melee an enemy with the Oddball it is an instant kill, however, this can be tweaked via the game setting in all of the ''Halo'' games.
*Getting three Oddball kills on a Legendary Map in ''Halo 3'' matchmaking unlocks the [[Alas, Poor Yorick]] achievement.
*In ''Halo 3'', if you go to the game settings in the Custom Games lobby, go to Oddball Settings and change the ball number to two, a little notice appears at the bottom saying, "Players fight over two objectives. Ha, thought I'd make a ball joke, didn't you?"{{Citation needed}}
*In ''Halo 3'', if you go to the game settings in the Custom Games lobby, go to Oddball Settings and change the ball number to two, a little notice appears at the bottom saying, "Players fight over two objectives. Ha, thought I'd make a ball joke, didn't you?"{{Citation needed}}
{{clear}}
*Earning three Oddball kills on any map after having downloaded ''Halo: Reach'''s [[Noble Map Pack]] unlocks the [[Crackin' Skulls]] achievement.
* In ''Halo: Reach'', the Oddball is on fire, much like the [[Headhunter (game variant)|Headhunter]] skulls.
* In ''Halo 4'', assassinations are possible with the skull which vaporize the target like Forerunner weaponry, as well as the ability to wield a pistol with a flag. These were first shown at SDCC 2012.
* In ''Halo 4'', the Oddball is a spherical container containing a light blue holographic skull. The "ball" part consists of black metal brackets that surround the skull. The brackets are positioned to emerge from the back of the skull and leave the 'face" area open. It also serves as the Grifball.
* In ''Halo 4'', the ability to throw the Oddball was added. It has resulted in the gametype being much faster paced.
* In ''Halo 4'', the skull seems [[Forerunner]] rather than [[Human]], as it is blue, holographic, has a faintly visible Promethean Knight-like skull in the center, and disintegrates with [[Assassination]]s.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<GALLERY>
File:Marathon Kill The Man With The Ball.jpeg|The "Kill The Man With The Ball" game mode from ''Marathon''.
File:Marathon 2 Durandal HD Ball.png|Sprite of the "Ball" in the [[Xbox LIVE|XBLA]] port of ''Marathon 2: Durandal''.
File:Marathon 2 Durandal HD Ball.png|Sprite of the "Ball" in the [[Xbox LIVE|XBLA]] port of ''Marathon 2: Durandal''.
File:Marathon 2 Durandal HD Ball in Hand.png|Sprite of the player holding the "Ball" in ''Marathon 2: Durandal'' [[Xbox LIVE|XBLA]].
File:Marathon 2 Durandal HD Ball in Hand.png|Sprite of the player holding the "Ball" in ''Marathon 2: Durandal'' [[Xbox LIVE|XBLA]].
File:HCE Team Oddball Game.jpg|A player holding the ball in a Team Oddball game in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:HCE Team Oddball Game.jpg|A player holding the ball in a Team Oddball game in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:HTMCC-H2 Oddball Carrier.jpg|A Spartan holding the Oddball in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2 Oddball Size Comparison.jpg|Two Spartans in an Oddball game with multiple Oddballs in ''Halo 2''.
File:HTMCC-H3 Oddball Melee.jpg|A Spartan melees another with the Oddball in ''Halo 3''.
File:HR Oddball HUD.jpg|The Oddball being held in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:HR Oddball Carrier.jpg|A player holding the Oddball in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:HR Oddball Fight.jpg|A game of Oddball in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:HTMCC-H4 Oddball Carrier.jpg|A Spartan holding the Oddball in ''Halo 4''.
File:HTMCC-H4 Oddball Fight.jpg|A Spartan attacks the Oddball carrier in ''Halo 4''.
File:H4 Oddball Close-up.jpg|A Spartan chases down the Oddball in ''Halo 4''.
File:H4 Oddball Ballsassination.jpg|A Spartan performs a Ballsassination in ''Halo 4''.
File:H4 Oddball Throw.jpg|A Spartan prepares to throw the Oddball in ''Halo 4''.
File:H2A Oddball Carrier.jpg|A Spartan holding the Oddball in ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' multiplayer.
File:H2A Oddball Fight.jpg|A Spartan chases after the Oddball carrier in ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' multiplayer.
File:H5G - Overtime update - Banner.png|A Team Oddball game in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:H5G - Overtime update - Banner.png|A Team Oddball game in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:HINF Concept Oddskull.jpg|Concept art of the ball for ''[[Halo Infinite]]''.
File:HINF AlasPoorYorick.png|A [[Spartan-IV]] holding the ball in ''[[Halo Infinite]]'', in a pose likely referencing the play ''[[Wikipedia:Hamlet|Hamlet]]'' by [[Wikipedia:William Shakespeare|William Shakespeare]].  
File:HINF-Oddball1.jpg|Oddball in ''Halo Infinite''.
</GALLERY>
File:HINF AlasPoorYorick.png|A [[Spartan-IV]] holding the ball in ''Halo Infinite'', in a pose likely referencing the play ''[[Wikipedia:Hamlet|Hamlet]]'' by [[Wikipedia:William Shakespeare|William Shakespeare]].
File:HINF Pre-Release Oddball Escort.png|Three Spartans escorting the ball carrier in ''Halo Infinite''.
File:HINF-Oddball.png|First-person view of the skull.
File:HINF MultiTeam Promo.jpg|Two Spartans in an Oddball game in ''Halo Infinite''.
</gallery>


{{Gametype}}
{{Games}}
[[Category:Multiplayer gametypes]]
[[Category:Multiplayer gametypes]]
[[Category:Halo: Combat Evolved gametypes]]
[[Category:Halo: Combat Evolved gametypes]]
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[[Category:Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer gametypes]]
[[Category:Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer gametypes]]
[[Category:Halo 5: Guardians gametypes]]
[[Category:Halo 5: Guardians gametypes]]
[[Category:Halo Infinite gametypes]]

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