Release

Release is a multi-player map for Halo Wars, most likely set on the Flood-controlled Shield World.

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

 * Crashed on the southwest side of the map there is a never-before seen Flood-infested Covenant ship. It bears a striking resemblance to the Infinite Succor from the Halo Graphic Novel. It is possible that they are the same type of ship.
 * This is the only map that features a Relic, capable of releasing Flood upon the enemy when it is garrisoned with troops.
 * Instead of the presence of Rebel bases and Forerunner forts, Flood Colonies take their place, with the tentacles instead of turrets and Combat Forms on guard.
 * There are various forms of flood that can be released in this map, allowing the player to approach them before the campaign levels containing the Flood.
 * New players might be confused when releasing the Flood, as they might go to the one closest to their base, causing them to attack their own base.

List of appearances

 * Halo Wars