Coagulation

Coagulation is a multiplayer map in Halo 2. A remake of the Halo: Combat Evolved multiplayer map Blood Gulch, it features a large valley with identical bunkers at both ends. It is ideal for Capture the Flag games due to its wide open spaces and having one base at either end of the map. This map is suited for matches between 6 and 16 players due to its size, but however 4 players can still dish out lots of fun.

Layout
The Red and Blue bases are both identical in layout and the weapons that they contain. Each has a single main room which contains the flag in CTF matches and bomb in assault matches respectively as well as a newly added cellar level containing a Banshee and a Gravity Lift to the main room. The roof is also useful with a hole to drop into the main room, a teleporter, and a Sniper Rifle.

Territories

 * Hill
 * Red Base
 * Blue Base
 * Rocky Area
 * Cave
 * Forest Area

Tactics

 * 1) The most popular feature of this map is the sniper alcove above the blue base, informally called the Sniper Ledge. It's reachable by a Banshee or by glitching the wall of the map with a Spectre, Ghost; Wraith, or, less common, Scorpion Tank. Also you can get there by a really lucky chain superjump that consists of: the Blue Base superjump, then the teleporter superjump, and then the hard one, a superjump in the middle of the way between the sniping spot and the teleporter. This is a very predictable spot for snipers to run to though, and as such it is often avoided.
 * 2) The hills (near the Overshield; the middle of the map) are another popular sniper spot, as the rocks offer a surplus of cover.
 * 3) Close range is rarely an option. There is a Shotgun that spawns, but most players avoid it as it is unnecessary in the mostly distance based game. The few close range encounters you will have usually involve preoccupied snipers, which can be assassinated or stuck.
 * 4) Good weapons to get as soon as the game starts: Rocket Launcher, Brute Shot, Sniper Rifle, and Battle Rifle.
 * 5) Another good, and well-known sniper spot is only accessible via Banshee, Ghost or Spectre. If you are looking towards the red base, fly to the left until you hit the valley wall. Then, follow the wall until you get to a distinctive ledge. Climb out of the Banshee and there you go. In the Ghost or Spectre just go over to the corner with all the rocks and boost aiming for the darker spot in the wall.

Sniping Spots
The first sniping spot is a small outcrop near the blue base, informally called the Sniper Ledge. The easiest way to get there is by using a Banshee to fly up there and then drop out onto the outcrop, you can also use a Ghost's or a Spectre's speed boost to climb up the wall and on to the ledge. The ledge has a pillar on it so it is protected from the front but is open to fire from the sides. There is another sniping spot on the wall left of the Red Base that you can also reach by a Banshee, Spectre or a Ghost but this is unprotected and is on a very steep angle. You can notice it because it is on a flatter angle then the wall surrounding it. There are some more good sniping spots in a bunch of rocks where an Active Camouflage is and around some trees where you are very well camouflaged (near the rockets ammo). A good game winning tactic is to use the Ghost to get to the Rocket Launcher, pick it up, and then use the Ghost so that nobody can use the rocket against you.

Trivia

 * If you go into the tunnel where the Overshield power-up is held, there is a message by the drop off into the water that says, "Not sid was here Not".
 * There is a McDonald's symbol outside of the map behind the red base. It can also be interpreted as the Megg symbol.

Glitches

 * To get out of Coagulation, you need to have a Spectre. Drive the Spectre to Blue Base where you will see a slanted wall. Boost up the side, then drive left pass two sections until you reach one tall point. Spin the Spectre around so that it is facing right. When you are ready, lodge the Spectre up against the top of the wall and get out. It is easier with an Elite player model.
 * You can drive a Scorpion almost all the way up the wall next to the Blue Team base.
 * To make a tank flip, set heavy vehicles to random and keep on restarting the match until you get a Scorpion and a Wraith. Have one person get in the Wraith and another get in the Scorpion. Then, the Wraith has to rear-end the Scorpion and boost right when they touch. If done correctly, the Scorpion will be thrown very high in the air, spinning violently with much force. The Scorpion and the driver will most likely smash into a wall with considerable force and explode. And on very rare occasions the Wraith flies into the air too.

Miscellaneous

 * Coagulation has been the setting for most episodes of the popular award-winning Machinima series, Red vs Blue following the release of Halo 2.
 * Coagulation is a term used for the clotting of blood, obviously giving homage to Blood Gulch.
 * This was one of the most demanded maps to be remade in Halo 3, along with Midship and before the Legendary map pack, Lockout. In Q&A sessions it was consistently stated that there will not be a remake of Blood Gulch/Coagulation. The reason for this is because Valhalla and Standoff (although debated by some) are very similar to Blood Gulch/Coagulation and it would not fit in well. It was, however, integrated into Halo: Reach due to popular demand in the form of Hemorrhage.
 * It is argued and disputed amongst players that the cliff "Sniper Hot Spot" is often cheap for the easy pick offs, notably shoddy kills. It is advised that, if faced with a skilled sniper on the cliff edge to take a Banshee up, shoot at the cliff's visage with random weaponry (Rocket Launchers and Sniper Rifles are well-advised) or just wait until the player runs out of ammo and is forced to come down, overwhelming him entirely.
 * As a remake of Blood Gulch, Coagulation is the only Halo Array-based map in Halo 2 that takes place on the original Halo as opposed to Delta Halo; this is evidenced by the fact that Threshold is visible in the sky.

Related Links

 * Blood Gulch, the Halo: Combat Evolved level that inspired Coagulation
 * Valhalla, the Halo 3 "spiritual sequel" to the box canyon line of levels
 * Hemorrhage, the Halo: Reach version of Blood Gulch
 * Ragnarok, the Halo 4 "spiritual sequel"
 * Bloodline, the Halo 2 Anniversary version of Blood Gulch.