Halo Championship Series



The Halo Championship Series (HCS) is the official Halo eSports league created and maintained by 343 Industries. The league establishes a standard for tournament rules and gametype settings for use in official tournaments. 343 Industries originally teamed up with Electronic Sports League (ESL) to host tournaments. However, 343 eventually shifted over to Major League Gaming to host tournaments.

The official game of the HCS was Halo 2: Anniversary during the 2014 to 2015 season. Halo 5: Guardians replaced it for the 2016 to 2018 season, and Halo 3 made a return to the circuit for the 2019 season.

Tournament rules
The HCS operates on a points system.

Halo 2: Anniversary
The following maps and gametypes were approved for use in HCS tournaments: As the tournaments progressed, alterations were made to the games, including changes to map pools, gametypes, and weapon layouts.
 * Team Slayer
 * Shrine
 * Lockdown
 * Warlord
 * Capture the Flag
 * Shrine (3 Flag)
 * Warlord (5 Flag)
 * King of the Hill
 * Lockdown
 * Warlord
 * Neutral Bomb Assault
 * Shrine (3 Bomb)
 * Warlord (5 Bomb)

Halo 5: Guardians

 * Team Slayer
 * Capture the Flag
 * Strongholds
 * Breakout

Halo 3

 * Team Slayer
 * Capture the Flag
 * Oddball

Halo 2: Anniversary
HCS uses the following gametype settings:

Global

 * Primary weapon: Battle Rifle
 * Secondary weapon: None
 * Motion sensor: Off
 * Death cam: Off
 * Map loadouts: Off
 * Weapons on map: Default

Team Slayer

 * Time limit: 15 minutes
 * Score to win: 50

3 Flag CTF

 * Score to win: 3
 * Time limit: 30 minutes
 * Flag at home to score: No
 * Flag return: Disabled
 * Flag reset time: 15 seconds

5 Flag CTF Classic settings

 * Score to win: 5
 * Time limit: 30 minutes
 * Flag at home to score: Yes
 * Flag return: Instant
 * Flag reset time: 15 seconds

Team Crazy King

 * Score to win: 250 seconds
 * Time limit: 12 minutes
 * Hill movement: Progressive
 * Hill duration: 1 minute

Neutral Bomb Assault (3 Bomb)

 * Score to win: 3
 * Time limit: 30 minutes
 * Bomb Arm time: 5 seconds
 * Bomb Fuse Time: 3 seconds
 * Bomb reset: 30

Neutral Bomb Assault (5 Bomb)

 * Score to win: 5
 * Time limit: 30 minutes
 * Bomb Arm time: 5 seconds
 * Bomb Fuse Time: 3 seconds
 * Bomb reset: 30

Global

 * Primary weapon: Assault rifle (2016-2017), Magnum (2017-2018)
 * Secondary weapon: Magnum (2016-2017), None (2017-2018)
 * Motion sensor: On (2016-2017), Off (2017-2018)
 * Death cam: Off
 * Weapons on map: Default

Team Slayer

 * Time limit: 15 minutes
 * Score to win: 50