Map file

For more technical information on map files, see the relevant page on the c20 Reclaimers Library modding wiki, here.

Map files, .map files or map cache files, are a file type employed within the Blam engine used by all first-person shooter Halo games. As their name suggests, they are the files which store data for campaign levels and maps for multiplayer, Firefight and Spartan Ops. Due to the uncertainty of game development, map names change frequently during production and may not be finalised until relatively close to release. As such, a map's display name in the in-game user interface is often completely different to the actual .map filename inside the game directory. This information is primarily used in modding.

This page intends to serve as a general overview of the .map file type; for in-depth technical information, see this page on the c20 Reclaimers Halo modding wiki.

Overview

For more technical information on scenario tags, see the relevant page on the c20 Reclaimers Library modding wiki, here.

Within the Blam engine, tags serve as containers which store data about a given subject. These can range from characters, weapons, and vehicles to projectiles, props or whole maps. Map files serve as tag collections, containing all of the data needed to load and run a given map or level.

Within the map structure, the primary component that dictates the actual level itself is the scenario tag. Scenario tags contain information about the actual level data such as player and enemy spawns, weapons and vehicles, objectives, and so forth. Scenario tags share the same name as the map file, and are compiled using the Tool component of the Halo Editing Kit alongside the various tags loaded by the scenario tag to form the map file.

List of map file names

Halo: Combat Evolved

Map	.map filename	Notes
Campaign
The Pillar of Autumn	A10
Halo	A30
The Truth and Reconciliation	A50
The Silent Cartographer	B30
Assault on the Control Room	B40
343 Guilty Spark	C10
The Library	C20
Two Betrayals	C40
Keyes	D20
The Maw	D40
Multiplayer
Battle Creek	beavercreek
Blood Gulch	bloodgulch
Boarding Action	boardingaction
Chill Out	chillout
Chiron TL-34	putput
Damnation	damnation
Danger Canyon	dangercanyon	PC Port and MCC-exclusive
Death Island	deathisland	PC Port and MCC-exclusive
Derelict	carousel
Gephyrophobia	gephyrophobia	PC Port and MCC-exclusive
Hang 'Em High	hangemhigh
Ice Fields	icefields	PC Port and MCC-exclusive
Infinity	infinity	PC Port and MCC-exclusive
Longest	longest
Prisoner	prisoner
Rat Race	ratrace
Sidewinder	sidewinder
Timberland	timberland	PC Port and MCC-exclusive
Wizard	wizard

Halo 2

Map	.map filename	Notes
Campaign
The Heretic	00a_introduction
The Armory	01a_tutorial
Cairo Station	01b_spacestation
Outskirts	03a_oldmombasa
Metropolis	03b_newmombasa
The Arbiter	04a_gasgiant
The Oracle	04b_floodlab
Delta Halo	05a_deltaapproach
Regret	05b_deltatowers
Sacred Icon	06a_sentinelwalls
Quarantine Zone	06b_floodzone
Gravemind	07a_highcharity
Uprising	08a_deltacliffs
High Charity	07b_forerunnership
The Great Journey	08b_deltacontrol
Cut levels
"alphamoon"	alphamoon
"Earth Ark"	Earth_Ark_09
deltatemple	deltatemple
Multiplayer
Ascension	ascension
Backwash	backwash	Maptacular Pack and MCC-exclusive
Beaver Creek	beaver_creek
Burial Mounds	burial_mounds
Coagulation	coagulation
Colossus	colossus
Containment	containment	Bonus Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Desolation	derelict	Blastacular Pack and MCC-exclusive
District	street_sweeper	Vista and MCC-exclusive
Elongation	elongation	Maptacular Pack and MCC-exclusive
Foundation	foundation
Gemini	gemini	Maptacular Pack and MCC-exclusive
Headlong	headlong
Ivory Tower	cyclotron
Lockout	lockout
Midship	midship
Relic	dune	Maptacular Pack and MCC-exclusive
Sanctuary	deltatap	Killtacular Pack and MCC-exclusive
Tombstone	highplains	Blastacular Pack and MCC-exclusive
Terminal	triplicate	Maptacular Pack and MCC-exclusive
Turf	turf	Killtacular Pack and MCC-exclusive
Uplift	needle	Vista and MCC-exclusive
Waterworks	waterworks
Warlock	warlock	Bonus Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Zanzibar	zanzibar

Halo 2: Anniversary

Map	.map filename	Notes
Multiplayer
Awash	ca_forge_skybox01
Bloodline	ca_coagulation
Lockdown	ca_lockout
Nebula	ca_forge_skybox02
Shrine	ca_sanctuary
Skyward	ca_forge_skybox03
Stonetown	ca_zanzibar
Warlord	ca_warlock
Zenith	ca_ascension
Remnant	ca_relic

Halo 3

Released Halo 3 .map files can be found in the solo, multi, and dlc folders.

Map	.map filename	Notes
Campaign
Arrival	005_intro
Sierra 117	010_jungle
Crow's Nest	020_base
Tsavo Highway	030_outskirts
The Storm	040_voi
Floodgate	050_floodvoi
The Ark	070_waste
The Covenant	100_citadel
Cortana	110_hc
Halo	120_halo
Epilogue	130_epilogue	MCC-exclusive; combined with 120_halo in the original Xbox 360 release.
Cut levels
"Flood Ship"	060_floodship	Cut level; incomplete files available via the Halo 3 Editing Kit.
Guardian Forest	080_forest	Cut level; incomplete files available via the Halo 3 Editing Kit.
"alpine"	090_alpine	Cut level; incomplete files available via the Halo 3 Editing Kit.
High Charity	110_hc_old	Cut level; incomplete files available via the Halo 3 Editing Kit.
"Forerunner City"	100_forecity	Cut level; incomplete files available via the Halo 3 Editing Kit.
Multiplayer
Assembly	descent	Mythic Map Pack, Mythic disc and MCC-exclusive
Avalanche	sidewinder	Legendary Map Pack, Mythic disc and MCC-exclusive
Blackout	lockout	Legendary Map Pack, Mythic disc and MCC-exclusive
Citadel	citadel	Mythic II Map Pack, Mythic disc and MCC-exclusive
Cold Storage	chillout	Cold Storage DLC, Mythic disc and MCC-exclusive
Construct	construct
Longshore	docks	Mythic II Map Pack, Mythic disc and MCC-exclusive
Edge	s3d_edge	MCC-exclusive, originally created for Halo Online. s3d denotes Saber3D engine used by Saber Interactive.
Epitaph	salvation
Foundry	warehouse	Heroic Map Pack, Mythic disc and MCC-exclusive
Ghost Town	ghosttown	Legendary Map Pack, Mythic disc and MCC-exclusive
Guardian	guardian
Heretic	midship	Mythic II Map Pack, Mythic disc and MCC-exclusive
High Ground	deadlock
Icebox	s3d_turf	MCC-exclusive, originally created for Halo Online. s3d denotes Saber3D engine used by Saber Interactive.
Isolation	isolation
Last Resort	zanzibar
Narrows	chill
Orbital	spacecamp	Mythic Map Pack, Mythic disc and MCC-exclusive
Rat's Nest	armory	Heroic Map Pack, Mythic disc and MCC-exclusive
Sandbox	sandbox	Mythic Map Pack, Mythic disc and MCC-exclusive
Sandtrap	shrine
Snowbound	snowbound
Standoff	bunkerworld	Heroic Map Pack, Mythic disc and MCC-exclusive
The Pit	cyberdyne
Valhalla	riverworld
Waterfall	s3d_waterfall	MCC-exclusive, originally created for Halo Online. s3d denotes Saber3D engine used by Saber Interactive.

Halo 3: ODST

All Halo 3: ODST campaign .map files are in the atlas folder.

Map	.map filename	Notes
Campaign
Prepare To Drop	c100
Mombasa Streets	h100
Tayari Plaza	sc100
Uplift Reserve	sc110
Kizingo Boulevard	sc120
ONI Alpha Site	sc130
NMPD HQ	sc140
Kikowani Station	sc150
Data Hive	l200

Halo: Reach

All Halo: Reach .map files are in the maps folder.

Map	.map filename	Notes
Campaign
Noble Actual	m05
Winter Contingency	m0510
ONI: Sword Base	m20
Nightfall	m30
Tip of the Spear	m35
Long Night of Solace	m45
Exodus	m50
New Alexandria	m52
The Package	m60
The Pillar of Autumn	m70
Epilogue	m70_a	MCC-exclusive; combined with m70 in the original Xbox 360 release.
Lone Wolf	m70_bonus
Multiplayer
Anchor 9	dlc_slayer	Noble Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Battle Canyon	cex_beavercreek	Anniversary Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Boardwalk	50_panopticon
Boneyard	70_boneyard
Breakneck	cex_headlong	Anniversary Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Breakpoint	dlc_invasion	Noble Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Condemned	condemned	Defiant Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Countdown	45_launch_station
Forge World	forge_halo
Highlands	trainingpreserve	Defiant Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
High Noon	cex_hangemhigh	Anniversary Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Penance	cex_damnation	Anniversary Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Powerhouse	30_settlement
Reflection	52_ivory_tower
Ridgeline	cex_timberland	Anniversary Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Spire	35_island
Solitary	cex_prisoner	Anniversary Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Sword Base	20_sword_slayer
Tempest	dlc_medium	Noble Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Zealot	45_aftship
Firefight
Beachhead	ff50_park
Corvette	ff45_corvette
Courtyard	ff20_cortyard
Glacier	ff60_icecave
Holdout	ff70_holdout
Installation 04	cex_ff_halo	Anniversary Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Outpost	ff60_airview
Overlook	ff10_prototype
Unearthed	ff_unearthed	Defiant Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Waterfront	ff50_park

Halo 4

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Map	.map filename	Notes
Campaign
Prologue	m05_prologue
Dawn	m10_crash
Requiem	m020
Forerunner	m30_cryptum
Infinity	m40_invasion
Reclaimer	m60_rescue
Shutdown	m70_liftoff
Composer	m80_delta
Midnight	m90_sacrifice
Epilogue	m95_epilogue
Multiplayer
Abandon	ca_blood_cavern
Adrift	ca_warhouse
Complex	z05_cliffside
Daybreak	ca_spiderweb	Castle Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Erosion	ca_forge_erosion
Exile	ca_blood_crash
Forge Island	dlc_forge_island	Forge Island and MCC-exclusive
Harvest	zd_02_grind	Crimson Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Haven	wraparound
Impact	ca_forge_bonanza
Landfall	ca_port	Majestic Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Longbow	ca_gore_valley
Meltdown	ca_canyon
Monolith	ca_deadlycrossing	Majestic Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Outcast	ca_basin	Castle Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Perdition	ca_highrise	Castle Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Pitfall	ca_creeper	Bullseye Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Ragnarok	z11_valhalla
Ravine	ca_forge_ravine
Shatter	dlc_dejewel	Crimson Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Skyline	ca_rattler	Majestic Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Solace	ca_tower
Vertigo	ca_dropoff	Bullseye Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Vortex	ca_redoubt
Wreckage	dlc_dejunkyard	Crimson Map Pack and MCC-exclusive
Spartan Ops
Infinity	dlc01_engine	Shared map with all missions at same location
Lockup	dlc01_factory	Shared map with all missions at same location
The Gate	ff81_courtyard	Shared map with all missions at same location
The Cauldron	ff81_scurve	Shared map with all missions at same location
The Refuge	ff84_temple	Shared map with all missions at same location
Sniper Alley	ff86_sniperally	Shared map with all missions at same location
Quarry	ff87_chopperbowl	Shared map with all missions at same location
Fortress	ff90_fortsw	Shared map with all missions at same location
Galileo Base	ff91_complex	Shared map with all missions at same location
Two Giants	ff92_valhalla	Shared map with all missions at same location
Control	ff151_mezzanine	Shared map with all missions at same location
Cyclone	ff152_vortex	Shared map with all missions at same location
Warrens	ff153_caverns	Shared map with all missions at same location
Apex	ff154_hillside	Shared map with all missions at same location
Harvester	ff155_breach	Shared map with all missions at same location

Halo 5: Guardians

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Halo 5: Guardians never saw a full PC release and as such, the full index of map names for the game is unknown. A limited component of the game was released on Windows Store as Halo 5: Forge, allowing most of the game's multiplayer maps to have known names.

Halo Infinite

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Sources

https://neperos.com/article/qburtd3677148217