Headhunter (game variant)

Headhunter is a gametype in Halo: Reach.

Overview
Headhunter is a free-for-all gametype in Halo: Reach, where players fight for flaming skulls and return the collected skulls to their designated (but mobile) deposit zone.

To collect skulls, players can either grab the ones that spawn at the start or kill a player. A player with no skulls still drops one at death. When collecting the skulls, players are tagged with a navpoint indicator above their multiplayer models which reveals the amount of skulls collected, even if they are in active camouflage. The more skulls the players collect, the bigger a target they are. If a player is killed, all of the skulls will be dropped and opposing players will be able to collect the skulls. In addition, players will not be penalized for carrying the skulls and will be able to access all his/her weapons and abilities. The default game-winning score is 25, though if the player manages to deposit 10 skulls at once, they would obtain a Skullamanjaro. It is important to note that the player will not receive any points until they deposit their skulls into a territory. After a few seconds pass, the deposit zone will start flashing. This indicates that the zone will move in about three seconds, so waste no time depositing your skulls.

Medals and awards
The Skullamanjaro medal can be achieved in the Headhunter mode by scoring ten skulls at once. Scoring a Skullamanjaro on an Anniversary map in Halo: Reach unlocks the Bounty Hunter achievement, while scoring a Skullamajaro in the Halo: Reach component of Halo: The Master Chief Collection unlocks the Negative, Ghostrider achievement and the Headhunter nameplate.

Achievements
The following achievements can be unlocked in the Headhunter gamemode.

Production notes
"Collect the heads of the fallen. The more you save, the more points you score bringing them to your home base."

- The original Halo 2 gametype description.

Headhunter was one of several cut gametypes initially planned for inclusion in Halo 2, and can be found referenced in the final game files by using the Halo 2 Map Editor Tool. The mode existed in alpha and beta builds of Halo 2, and functions similarly as it does in Reach. Players drop skulls upon death but unlike Reach, skulls are not scored until the end of the round.

The Headhunter mode was ultimately cut from Halo 2 not due to issues with development, but instead because of bottlenecks with user interface design for the game.

Headhunter was later one of the modes featured in the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta.