Release

Release is a multi-player map for Halo Wars, most likely set on Shield 0459.

Description
The Containment Facility has failed, allowing the Flood to infest the facility for "thousands of years" before the events of Halo Wars. The environment is described as Flood-dominated, and undefended scouting parties will quickly be infected. The map has two "control panels" that players can use as biological weapons, unleashing hordes of captive Flood on the enemy for 600 resources. This is an extremely risky move, as the Flood can turn against the player as well,so make sure you have enough troops to manage such a large infestation.

Tactics

 * The control panel to release the Flood is on the same side as the doorway they will exit from. If you want the Flood to attack the enemy, activate the control panel closest to your opponent's base.


 * Controlling the facility is difficult because in order to use the panel you must use infantry to occupy the controls but along the way a unique flood form launches a green cloud that quickly infects most infantry so vehicles and infantry are normally needed to wield this technique.


 * Activating the controls takes increasing amounts of resources and can be used as many times as desired but with a short wait time between each wave.


 * The first three times it is activated the swarm has more forms and the preexisting forms in greater numbers. The first swarm has infected marines and carrier forms, the second has the same along with thrasher forms, and the third has the same along with many flood swarm forms. Continued releases result in a repeat of the third wave.


 * It is very possible to destroy an enemy base without ever attacking it yourself as the flood often prove difficult for bases to fend off.


 * The most opportune time to use them is early in a battle as infantry are easily infected but vehicles easily combat most flood forms.


 * If your leader is the Arbiter, and you have purchased the Ghastly Vision upgrade, you can use him to sneak past Flood Colonies to the other containment panel, then teleport an infantry unit to him to occupy the unit.

Trivia

 * A crashed Covenant agricultural support ship can be found in the southwest corner of the map.
 * This is the only map that features a Forerunner relic, which is capable of releasing Flood upon the enemy when it is garrisoned with troops.

List of appearances

 * Halo Wars