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All Game Modes in Halo Infinite Explained

While Halo Infinite had a disappointing amount of content at launch, the game is in a much better place after a few updates. With more game modes available to choose from, there’s never been a better time than now to hop in and play some Halo Infinite multiplayer.

Although not every game mode returned (at least, not yet), there are still plenty of different options available. Classic modes like Team Slayer and Capture the Flag are just as fun as they’ve always been. In this guide, we’re going to explain all the game modes in Halo Infinite and talk about which are the most fun to play.

Let’s begin!

Slayer

What better way to kick off this article than with a classic? Slayer is essentially Team Deathmatch. You start out the mode with an AR, a Sidekick pistol, and two frag grenades. From there, your only objective is to kill your opponents. This game mode is available in both Arenas and Big Team Battle, but I personally find Team Slayer more fun in BTB.

Team Slayer Game Mode
Image: 343 Industries via HGG

Free-for-All Slayer

Fun Rating: 🎢🎢🎢🎢

Free-for-All Slayer is exactly what it sounds like. You’re on your own with no team to assist you, and will compete with five other players who share the same objective — kill, and don’t be killed. You all spawn in with the same weapons, but in different parts of the map.

This game mode can be more intense. as you have to rely solely on yourself to win. This is great if you’re tired of playing with randoms who can’t kill to save their lives. On the other hand, the match can feel slower with only six players on the map instead of the usual eight.

Team Slayer

Fun Rating: 🎢🎢🎢🎢🎢

Team Slayer doesn’t require all that much coordination between you and your squad (unless you’re playing ranked), and is probably the most casual mode in the game. It’s a great way to kick back and unwind after a long day.

The objective is the same: kill your opponents and don’t die. But this time, every kill from you and your squadmates is collectively combined to form a single score. There are only two teams in this game mode, with each team having four players in Arenas and twelve players in BTB.

The first of these two teams to reach fifty total kills wins the match! The only thing that sucks about this game mode is getting your kills stolen. Still, as long as you win the match, it’s not that big a deal.

Escalation Slayer

Fun Rating: 🎢🎢🎢🎢

A new game mode added in Season 3 of Halo Infinite is Escalation Slayer! This is a loadout-based game mode that works similarly to team slayer. There are two teams, each consisting of four players, and everyone starts off with the same weapon loadout. For every kill that you or a teammate gets, your team will earn 100 XP. This XP will fill up a meter shown on your screen. Once your team gets 500 XP, your loadouts will be upgraded to another tier, giving you access to better weapons.

Once your team upgrades to the next tier, repeat the process to unlock another tier with better weapons. This will continue until you reach the final tier. At that point, once your team reaches five kills you will win the game! It is a refreshing game mode that is enjoyable to play. I personally prefer regular slayer still, but it’s nice to play something different.

Tactical Slayer (SWAT)

Tactical Slayer – Standard

Fun Rating: 🎢🎢🎢🎢

Returning from past Halo games, SWAT (or Tactical Slayer, as it’s known in Infinite) is an intense and very skill-based variant of the traditional Slayer. You still spawn on a team, but with battle rifle instead of an assault rifle. This is crucial, as shields are disabled for this match, and one shot to the head is an instant kill!

Tactical Slayer Game Mode
Image: 343 Industries via HGG

On top of that, your motion sensor is disabled, meaning you have to keep your eyes in front of you to spot enemies. Matches can get very intense, and not having shields forces you to be much more careful as you traverse the map. Get too careless and you’ll find yourself dead on the ground before you even know what hit you!

Tactical SlayerBandit

Fun Rating: 🎢🎢🎢🎢

Added alongside Season 3 of Halo Infinite, we now have a new variation of SWAT which starts off every player with a Bandit rifle. This is a brand-new weapon that was also added alongside the Season 3 update. It acts as a spiritual successor to the popular DMR. Because this weapon is hip-fire only, it makes for an interesting–but still very familiar–twist on the regular SWAT game mode.

Attrition

Fun Rating: 🎢🎢🎢🎢

Attrition is a brand new mode introduced in Halo Infinite. It’s another variant of Team Slayer, but with an interesting twist. Both teams have a limited number of lives at the start of a round. This number is set to eight by default.

Attrition Game Mode in Halo Infinite
Image: 343 Industries via HGG

Don’t worry — if a player dies when their team is out of lives, they can still be respawned. After dying, they leave behind their AI, which can be interacted with by a teammate. All the teammate needs to do is hold down the reload button for a short amount of time, and their squadmate will be back in the fight.

There can be up to three rounds of a single match. Whoever wins best two out of three will leave with the gold medal. This game mode is more intense than regular Slayer, and requires you to pay very close attention to your surroundings for the best chance of staying alive and winning the game.

Fiesta

Fun Rating: 🎢🎢🎢🎢🎢

Now for a personal favorite of mine! Fiesta is another variant of Team Slayer. The twist this time around is that instead of spawning in with an assault rifle and a Sidekick pistol, you spawn in with two completely random weapons and a random equipment item!

It’s an incredibly chaotic and fun game mode that leads to some interesting scenarios depending on what you spawn in with. Maybe you’ll get lucky and spawn with an energy sword and a grappling hook? Or maybe you’ll get a rocket launcher and a sniper rifle?

Fiesta Game Mode in Halo Infinite
Image: 343 Industries via HGG

You could always get the short end of the stick and spawn in with a Plasma Pistol and a Disruptor, of course. But what’s life without a little adversity? The game mode can be very fun when the RNG is in your favor.

Every now and then, you may find yourself getting absolutely dominated by the other team. I can’t tell you how many games I’ve had where everyone on the other team gets a power weapon while I and my squad are stuck with pistols. Oh well. You win some, you lose some.

Capture The Flag

Fun Rating: 🎢🎢🎢🎢

Another classic returning from previous Halo games, Capture The Flag is a team-based objective mode. Your task is to grab a flag and haul ass back to base while your teammates cover you. At the same time, you need to make sure your opponents don’t get the flag first! There are a few different variants when it comes to Capture The Flag, so let’s go over each of them.

Capture the Flag Game Mode in Halo Infinite
Image: 343 Industries via HGG

Standard Flag

Standard Flag is the most basic variant of CTF. In this mode, each team has their own respective flag that spawns on their side of the map. You’ll need to balance protecting your own flag from the enemy team while also finding time to steal the enemy’s flag so you can bring it back to base and score. First to three points wins the game!

One Flag

In this version, each match is divided up into several rounds. In one round, you need to play offensively and take the enemy’s flag to score before the time limit. Scoring a point automatically ends the match. You won’t need to worry about defending, as your flag won’t spawn in this round!

Next round, however, you’ll need to be doing the defending while the other team attacks you. This is a more straightforward variant of Capture The Flag that is less chaotic but still just as enjoyable to play.

Neutral Flag

In this last variant, the flag will spawn in the center of the map equally far away from each team’s spawn point. Much like One Flag, this allows for battles that are more concentrated together instead of being spread over the whole map. You’ll clash with the other side right in the center over the objective.

Personally, I find the other two versions more enjoyable. But this one is still loads of fun and easier to play, as you don’t need to coordinate with your teammates as much as in the other versions.

Stockpile

Fun Rating: 🎢🎢🎢

Now for another brand new game mode released with Halo Infinite! Stockpile involves the use of a new objective — power seeds. These power seeds are essentially oversized batteries that spawn on the map away from your base. You and your team will need to rush over to them, carry them back to base, and place them into a storage device.

Stockpile Game Mode in Halo Infinite
Image: 343 Industries via HGG / Koby Gibson Ross

Power seeds can be transported more easily than flags. You can pick them up and throw them, just like fusion coils (except these won’t explode). This makes it easy to move several at once.

If you don’t want to scavenge them from around the map, you can also just steal them from the enemy team! This is tricky to do, as pulling out a power seed that’s already been put in storage by the enemy team takes several seconds of holding down the interact button. This leaves you open to being shot and killed.

Unlike Capture The Flag, you need to store five of them at your base before you can score a point. The first team to reach three points wins the match.

Oddball

Fun Rating: 🎢🎢🎢🎢

Oddball is another classic game mode that you can’t imagine not having in a Halo game. It’s a team-based objective mode where the goal is to acquire a flaming skull (the “Oddball”) and hold onto it to score points. While a player is holding it, they cannot use their weapons or equipment. They do gain a slight increase to their melee attack speed, however.

Oddball Game Mode in Halo Infinite
Image: 343 Industries via HGG / Koby Gibson Ross

This is a great game mode that requires you to stick with your team to win. It doesn’t matter who holds the ball, or if they hold it for the entire match. Your team simply needs to collectively hold onto it for 200 seconds in order to win the round. You must win two rounds in order to win the whole match.

Strongholds

Fun Rating: 🎢🎢🎢🎢

Strongholds is another team-based mode where you and your squad need to capture various zones scattered around the map to score points. There are three total zones, but you only need to capture at least two of them to start scoring points. If you manage to control all three, you earn more points faster!

Stronghold Game Mode in Halo Infinite
Image: 343 Industries via HGG

To start winning points, simply run up to a zone that isn’t currently controlled by your team. Stand on it for several seconds while keeping out enemy players. The zone will turn the color of your team and your AI companion will notify you that you’ve captured a zone!

There is no time limit in this game mode. Your team just needs to earn 200 points in order to win the game and bring home the gold.

Total Control

Fun Rating: 🎢🎢🎢

Total Control is similar to Strongholds in many ways. You and your team need to capture three different zones that spawn randomly around the map. Unlike Strongholds, you need to capture all three zones and hold them at the same time in order to win a round!

Total Control Game Mode in Halo Infinite
Image: 343 Industries via HGG / Koby Gibson Ross

You can only play Total Control in Big Team Battle. This is important to note, as you can use the various different vehicles that spawn to your advantage. A common tactic I’ve seen is grabbing a warthog, getting a gunner and a passenger, and driving around to each of the three zones to capture them. If I can’t get a gunner, I like to park on a zone my team already controls and climb into the gunner seat to defend it.

I would argue that Total Control is where Big Team Battle is at its best. It encourages you to work with your team, and it gives the vehicles more use in the sandbox. The mode itself is also very intense, and I’ve had some very clutch moments where I’ve had to rush the final zone while it was being captured by the enemy.

Join the High Ground

Image: 343 Industries via HGG / Koby Gibson Ross

We hope you enjoyed reading this article for all game modes in Halo Infinite explained! Did we leave something out? Or did you have more questions? Let us know, and don’t forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletter! We offer regular content on all the best games, including Halo Infinite.

Happy gaming!

 

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