Sandtrap

Sandtrap is a multiplayer map featured in Halo 3.

Summary
Sandtrap is a vast desert with rolling sand dunes, the second largest multiplayer map in the Halo franchise, the biggest map being Infinity.

It features odd Forerunner buildings and is encircled with a minefield that features vertically-launching mines to prevent players from venturing beyond its boundaries. Six large towers surround the outer extremities of the map, all connected by a large wall. The purpose and origin of these structures is unknown. The September 07 EGM stated that this was the site of a Brute excavation and UNSC forces (deployed from the frigate Aegis Fate, which hovers in the sky above the map) came along and removed them. It has a heavy emphasis on vehicular combat. Every vehicle in the game is on this map - for example, the "bases" are a pair of UNSC Elephants at opposite ends of the recently unearthed Forerunner ruins.

History
It was first announced in the June 2007 issue of Gamepro. It may also be the "large map" Bungie sparsely talked about in one of their updates. This was not one of the three maps featured in the public Halo 3 Beta. This map was originally named Shrine, but was confirmed to have been renamed to Sandtrap in the July 13, 2007 Bungie Weekly Update.

Weapons

 * MA5C Assault Rifle
 * Brute Shot
 * Rocket Launcher
 * Spartan Laser
 * Missile Pod
 * AIE-486H Heavy Machinegun (on the elephant)
 * Gravity Hammer
 * SRS99D-S2 AM Sniper Rifle
 * Battle Rifle

Vehicles

 * Brute Chopper
 * Warthog
 * Ghost
 * UNSC Aegis Fate (non-drivable, background scenery)
 * Phantom (Not drivable, seen crashed in video at bungie.net)
 * Banshee
 * Albatross (Not drivable, seen crashed in video at bungie.net)
 * Elephant
 * Brute Prowler
 * Mongoose
 * Scorpion
 * Wraith
 * Hornet

Strategies & Miscellaneous

 * Bungie accelerated the respawn timer for vehicles to 15 seconds. Take advantage of that.
 * Avoid fighting on foot through this large level.
 * If stuck try heading for the ruins at the center of the map.
 * Make sure you have plenty of grenades and explosive weapons.
 * GamePro has stated that Sandtrap "...has few ties to older Halo 2 maps, but it's massive size recalls Relic."
 * At E3, a map was shown on video. It was said by viewers to be called "Sand Trap" — in contrast to having been called "Shrine" before that point — and was labeled "... the largest map ever to be in Halo." The new name of Sand Trap was confirmed in the July 12 Bungie podcast.
 * Note that fast vehicles (or players in custom matches where speed is increased), the mines in the out-of-bounds area can be outrun. This can be an advantage, catching pursuers unawares. Also remember, however, that aircraft are also unaffected by land mines, and so a Banshee or Hornet can be dangerous.

Related Links
Videos
 * Gameplay footage