Banished outpost

A Banished Outpost on Installation 00.

The Outpost is a type of Socket base employed by the Banished in their campaign on Installation 00. Like the UNSC Firebase or Covenant citadel, they can host up to seven buildings of various types alongside four Spike turrets.

Overview[edit]

Outposts are deployed via Eklon'Dal Workshop Lich dropships, with their modular buildings deployed via specially-modified Spirits.^[1] The Banished have perfected their strip-mining and rapid assault and extraction efforts over a decade of raiding Covenant and other targets. Each outpost is an invasive engine of exploitation, controlled by rapacious overseers who seek to siphon the riches of the Ark in pursuit of Atriox's grand plans for domination and glory. Though they lack the military efficiency of their UNSC counterparts, the Banished's outposts advance plans that extend far beyond the battlefield, and even beyond the Ark itself.^[2] The Banished additionally employ smaller buildings and camps separate from main Outpost buildings across the Ark.^[3]

Variants[edit]

A Banished stronghold.

Minibase[edit]

Banished minibases can be deployed as light forward bases capable of supporting one or two buildings. In a base type referred to as a "Stronghold", Banished minibases are the Stronghold, deploying automatically with a Foundry, Raid Camp and Banished Apex attached. Each Banished minibase is the shared command of two fallen Jiralhanae warlords who have failed Atriox in some major - but redeemable - way. Each competes to control the majority share of resources sent back to the Enduring Conviction. When their tally of contributions is totaled by the overseer, only the most competent is allowed to return to Atriox's Chieftain council, while the loser is condemned to serve as a Grunt supervisor. Alongside their building support, minibase outposts store a light armory for equipping infantry.^[4]

Stronghold[edit]

Atriox sees little value in simulation training, preferring to blood his warriors in actual combat, viewing pain and fear as better teachers than the sterile realm of simulations and shadow-enemies. However, there are occasions when monitoring and screening are useful in identifying recruits that have the talent needed to lead Banished forces, and what better test for a new Banished lieutenant than a Stronghold on a chaotic front line?<^[5]

Strongholds serve as the primary objective in the Strongholds gamemode in multiplayer, and can be encountered in the Halo Wars 2 campaign. When constructed in the Strongholds gamemode, the Stronghold will automatically drop a Foundry, Apex and Raid Camp into the base for the player to instantly begin building units.

In-game information[edit]

Halo Wars 2[edit]

"Produces vehicles and infantry, Can be upgraded to Combat Station"

— In-game description.

In Halo Wars 2 Outposts operate as the Banished equivalent to the UNSC Firebase. The default starting Outpost costs 500 and 200 to construct, though the supply cost is reduced by 50 for each level of the Fortify upgrade researched in the War Council (up to a maximum of 3 levels, or 150). The main structure is delivered to the battlefield via Lich dropship with the smaller buildings deployed via Spirit.

As with the Firebase, an Outpost can be Locked Down to prevent trained units from leaving the building until the player chooses.

The Stronghold upgrade will support 2 extra building slots, 4 turret emplacements and unlocks HQ Tech 1 for infantry and vehicular units. The initial base provided at the start of a match will be a Stronghold. It costs 400 energy and takes 50 seconds to complete.
The Citadel upgrade will add another 2 building slots and unlocks HQ Tech 2 for more infantry and vehicular units. It costs 1000 energy and takes 50 seconds to complete.
The Fortress upgrade will only unlock HQ Tech 3 for the remainder of the infantry and vehicular units, also enable to research level 3 upgrades. It costs 1500 energy and takes 50 seconds to complete.

Minibases are scattered around the map and cost less than standard Outposts. 1-slot minibases cost 200 resources while the 2-slot minibase costs around 300 resources. The 3-slot minibase is available in select campaign levels such as "Under the Dark" and "Fighting Retreat".

A major change from the first game is that firebases are now used to train a much larger number of units than before. In particular, Grunt Squads and the Chopper scout vehicle are now built at the Outpost for all commanders. Likewise, a select number of special units may be constructed at the Outpost HQ, contingent on having unlocked them in the leader power menu first.

Name	Type	Cost				Description
Name	Type	Population	Tech	Supplies	Power	Description
Stronghold	Upgrade	N/A	0	0	400	Produces vehicles and infantry, Unlocks HQ Tech 1
Citadel	Upgrade	N/A	1	0	1000	Produces vehicles and infantry, Unlocks HQ Tech 2
Fortress	Upgrade	N/A	2	0	1500	Produces vehicles and infantry, Unlocks HQ Tech 3
Grunt Squad^{[Note 1]}	Core Infantry	2	0	100	0	Cheap and expendable, Quick capture unit
Shrapnel Mines	New Ability (Grunt Squad)	N/A	1	0	300	Can throw grenades, Small Area Attack, Cannot target air
Pack Brother	Unit Upgrade (Grunt Squad)	N/A	2	0	550	Increases squad size
Active Camo (replaces Shrapnel Mines for Shipmaster and Arbiter)	New Ability (Grunt Squad)	N/A	1	0	300	Adds the ability to temporarily cloak, Detection units can reveal cloak
Squad Reserves (replaces Pack Brother for Shipmaster and Arbiter)	Unit Upgrade (Grunt Squad)	N/A	2	0	550	Increases squad size
Cannon Fodder (replaces Grunt Squad for Yapyap the DESTROYER)	Core Infantry	2	0	100	0	Light Infantry, Free and expendable, Weak but numerous, Quick capture unit
Anklebiters	Weapon Upgrade (Cannon Fodder)	N/A	2	0	400	Increased damage, Attacks slow enemies
Refer a Friend	Unit Upgrade (Cannon Fodder)	N/A	3	0	600	Allows the squad to passively heal itself.
Chopper	Light Infantry	2	0	0	0	Can de-capture, Very fast moving, Light armor
Shrapnel Rounds	Unit Upgrade (Chopper)	N/A	2	0	450	Adds explosive rounds, Detects cloaked units
Ghost (replaces Chopper for Shipmaster and Arbiter)	Scout Vehicle	3	1	230	15	Can ram enemies, Fast moving, Light armor
Vehicle Shielding	Unit Upgrade (Ghost)	N/A	1	0	450	Gains a shield, Detects cloaked units
Skitterer (Colony)	Scout Mech	2	1^{[Note 2]}	150	20	Light beam attack, Deals damage along trajectory, Can attach to units to boost health and damage, Fast moving, Very light armor
Focused Beams (Colony)	Weapon Upgrade (Skitterer)	N/A	2	0	400	Upgrades to focused beams, Increases damage and range
Phantom (The Arbiter)	Mobile Garrison	3	1^{[Note 3]}	225	90	Can transport infantry, Infantry can fire from within, Equipped with a light plasma cannon
Gunboat Capacity (The Arbiter)	Unit Upgrade (Phantom)	N/A	3	0	800	Increases infantry transport capacity from 2 to 3
Methane Wagon (Yapyap the DESTROYER)	Support Unit	4	1^{[Note 4]}	300	120	Generates a Methane aura around itself, Methane increases Grunt damage and armor, Methane reduces enemy damage and armor, Can fire Methane Shells that create Methane auras
The Good Stuff (Yapyap the DESTROYER)	Unit Upgrade (Methane Wagon)	N/A	2	0	500	Increases Methane radius range, Increases health, Increases damage of Methane shell
Wraith Invader (Pavium)	Mobile Garrison	5	1^{[Note 5]}	380	100	Can transport infantry, Infantry can fire from within, Equipped with a powerful leeching beam
Carrier Overdrive (Pavium)	Unit Upgrade (Wraith Invader)	N/A	3	0	600	Increased weapon range and damage, Increased shield capacity

^ If playing as Atriox, Decimus, or Colony, the Grunt Squad is led by a Brute. If playing as Shipmaster or The Arbiter, the Grunt Squad is instead led by an Elite and has a different series of upgrades.
^ Requires the Skitterer leader power to be purchased for 1.
^ Requires the Phantom leader power to be purchased for 1.
^ Requires the Methane Wagon leader power to be purchased for 1.
^ Requires the Wraith Invader leader power to be purchased for 1.

Gameplay[edit]

Upgrades[edit]

A Banished minibase.

Info: Forward Base. 3 building slots. No turret slots.
Tier: 0
Cost: 500, 200
Upgrades:
- Upgrade to Stronghold: Produces vehicles and infantry. Unlocks HQ Tech 1.
  - Tier: 0
  - Cost: 400
- Upgrade to Citadel: Produces vehicles and infantry. Unlocks HQ Tech 2.
  - Tier: 1
  - Cost: 1000
- Upgrade to Fortress: Produces vehicles and infantry. Unlocks HQ Tech 3. Top base structure.
  - Tier: 2
  - Cost: 1500

The base Outpost is the core base structure, supporting three build slots and no turrets. Outposts cost 500 supply and 200 power to build.

Buildings[edit]

The following buildings can be constructed on an Outpost.

Phoenix log[edit]

**Phoenix Log - Outpost**
Extraction and domination. Resource-gathering Outposts are deployed by Lich dropships. Once the Outpost's structures are assembled basic vehicles and infantry can be requisitioned. Four slots are available for building Turrets. Upgrading the Outpost to a Stronghold allows basic infantry to be deployed, While the Citadel and Fortress expansions make additional units available. Each upgrade opens additional build locations for support structures. The Banished have perfected their strip-mining and rapid assault and extraction efforts over a decade of raiding Covenant and other targets. Each outpost is an invasive engine of exploitation, controlled by rapacious overseers who seek to siphon the riches of the Ark in pursuit of Atriox's grand plans for domination and glory. Though they lack the military efficiency of their UNSC counterparts, the Banished's outposts advance plans that extend far beyond the battlefield, and even beyond the Ark itself.

**Phoenix Log - Minibase**
Expansion outposts. Minibase outposts have an armory for equipping basic infantry, and slots for one, two, or three additional support buildings. Each Banished minibase is the shared command of two fallen Jiralhanae warlords who have failed Atriox in some major - but redeemable - way. Each competes to control the majority share of resources sent back to the Enduring Conviction. When their tally of contributions is totaled by the overseer, only the most competent is allowed to return to Atriox's Chieftain council, while the loser is condemned to serve as a Grunt supervisor.

**Phoenix Log - Strongholds**
Multi-purpose staging area for Strongholds. These bases define the win conditions of the Strongholds mode. Each Stronghold has infantry, air, and vehicle support structures already attached. Capturing Strongholds increases population capacity. Atriox sees little value in simulation training, preferring to blood his warriors in actual combat. Pain and fear are the best teachers, for what price is there to failure in the sterile realm of simulations and shadow-enemies? However, there are occasions when monitoring and screening are useful in identifying recruits that have the talent needed to lead Banished forces, and what better test for a new Banished lieutenant than a Stronghold on a chaotic front line?