Custom powerup

A custom powerup on Guardian in Halo 3.

The custom powerup is a map power-up that can be used in Halo 3, Halo: Reach and Halo Infinite. As its name suggests, the custom powerup is designed to be a custom player-modifiable powerup which does not have any inherent traits; what effects the powerup confers can be modified in the custom game settings menu on a per-gametype basis.

Halo 3 and Halo: Reach

In Halo 3 and Reach, the custom powerup resembles the active camouflage and overshield, consisting of a floating sphere of energy, though is differentiated from the other two by its yellow colouration. The default settings for the custom powerup have it act as a Speed Boost of sorts, though these effects can be completely disabled should the player wish it. In custom properties, the player can use the custom powerup to change all traits that can be applied to the player through normal custom game settings. These include player health, damage resistance, active camouflage, shield strength and recharge, movement speed, jump height, ammunition, colour, and motion tracker properties. These can be applied in both positive and negative manners, and could be used to make a player stronger or weaker.

The custom powerup is primarily intended to be placed by players in Forge and used for custom gametypes, and as such very rarely appears on developer-made maps. Where it does feature in official matchmaking is generally restricted to MLG and other similarly-competitive orientated playlists.

Default settings

While the custom powerup is intended to be used by the player to change any traits they like, in default gametypes the powerup has a number of preset traits applied. These traits can be changed and/or turned off.

Halo 3 default custom powerup settings

• Duration: 10 seconds
• Player Speed: 150%

All other settings remain unchanged

Halo 3 Hardcore gametype custom powerup settings

• Duration: 3 seconds
• Damage Resistance: Invulnerable
• Shield Multiplier: 3x Overshields
• Shield Recharge Rate: 200% (Faster)
• Player Speed: 150%

All other settings remain unchanged

Halo: Reach default custom powerup settings

• Duration: 10 seconds
• Player Speed: 120%

All other settings remain unchanged

Halo Infinite

Spawning a custom powerup in Halo Infinite Forge.

In Halo Infinite, the custom powerup returns in a radically different form to its predecessors. The custom powerup in Infinite can be used alongside the game's improved Forge mode to trigger events on the map via custom scripting. As such, while the powerup can be used in the same way it was in prior games (to change player traits), it can also trigger other events such as fusion coils spawning and falling from the sky. These effects can be determined with the "On Custom Equipment Used" node.

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  An example of using the custom powerup in Forge nodegraph.

Production notes

The custom powerup's default speed boost effect is similar to the cut speed boost from Halo: Combat Evolved, the Adrenaline and Haste equipment cut from Halo 2. Halo 4 and subsequent titles would later introduce a dedicated speed boost powerup for use in multiplayer, alongside replacing custom powerups with Trait Zones; preset volumes on the map that can confer traits to players inside them.

Gallery

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  A custom powerup on Orbital in Halo 3.

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  A custom powerup on Ridgeline in Halo: Reach.