Battle Creek

2-8 players

Battle Creek is a multiplayer level in Halo: Combat Evolved. It is well suited for skirmish game types with two to eight players and is one of the smallest multiplayer maps in the game.

Battle Creek was remade as Beaver Creek for Halo 2.

Layout


Battle Creek is a small, mostly symmetrical map with two nearly identical bases located on either side. The map is split transversely by a creek that drains into small caves on either side, the south side containing Active Camouflage (left when exiting Red Base, right when exiting Blue Base). Each base has a 2-way teleporter connecting red base to blue base, and vice versa. These teleporters go both ways and are on the back of both bases. Both bases have small ledges where Sniper Rifles spawn and are accessible by ladder on the north and south end of the map. Without any custom weapon sets, both bases contain an Assault Rifle, both kinds of grenades, a Needler and a Plasma Rifle can be found outside the base on either side. A large natural stone arch stands in the middle where the Rocket Launcher spawns. Using that area, you can also access the Sniper Rifle area nearest the Red Base.

The map also has an Overshield, which spawns behind the Red Base, and a Health Pack, which spawns behind the Blue Base.

Hints

 * To access the roofs of either base, a player can jump onto small ledges located on one side of the base (a boulder at red base) and a wedge of concrete debris at blue base. Once there, a player will have a commanding view of the map, but is exposed to enemy fire.


 * It is possible to stand in some of the trees located around the map by jumping down into them from the two sniper ledges located at each base.


 * If you pick up the Active Camouflage, go to the other side, crouch, and walk in. You will be in a small cave under the water. Players will barely be able to see you, so you can throw grenades and give them a nasty surprise. When it wears off, they can see you only a little bit, but they'd have to be looking straight down into the cave.


 * If you are being chased, run into one of the bases entrances and lob a grenade at the walls. The enemy will lose their shields, and give you a chance to finish them off or run away.


 * The Rocket Launcher and Sniper Rifle are key weapons on this map. The Needler is considered to be rather useless, and this map is no exception.


 * Plasma Rifles spawn on the "rocks" side of each base. Use the Plasma Rifle near the teleporters to keep opponents stunned and finish them off with a quick melee.


 * If your opponents are holding position on top of the bases, find other ways to get up there. Stand on a teammate's head and jump on top of the base from the Teleporter, or, throw a grenade down and jump up to boost you that little bit extra (remember, on this one, TIMING IS KEY!).


 * On the farther back sides of the bases high up there are little holes (one on each side) which goes to the main flag room. If shields are not in the game, simply throwing grenades through these holes can lead to several kills, especially if friendly fire is off and a teammate is getting the flag in CTF.

Things to avoid

 * Do not walk through a teleporter and then back up. You will not go through the teleporter you backed into, and will be telefragged if someone else enters the teleporter.
 * During a CTF Game, with teams of four or more, beware of opponents throwing grenades through the small windows at the sides of the base. They can make short work of defenders, and give their teammates an easier chance of stealing the flag.
 * Try to stay away from the natural bridge formation in the middle: you are an easy target from all angles

Trivia

 * The Rocket Launcher was easier to acquire in the Halo 2 remake map, Beaver Creek. This is due to the fact that there is a Sniper Tower nearer to it and the terrain on the slope structure is smoother for players to climb to the caverns.
 * This is one of the smallest maps in Halo, and is 3rd smallest overall.
 * This is the map in which Sarge and Caboose (of Red vs. Blue) meet the religious fanatics (who worship their flag. It pokes fun at the reactions players will have when their team loses possession of the flag parallel to their color). It was necessary for it to be Sarge and Caboose, as they are the only characters to have plain blue or red all of the time, and they needed to hold the other team's flag to progress the storyline. It has been mistakenly listed that 'Beaver Creek' (the Halo 2 remake of this map) is the locale for this Red vs. Blue episode. This is not true as Rooster Teeth was still using  the first Halo game at the time.
 * The bases in Battle Creek and Beaver Creek were flipped.

Related Links

 * Beaver Creek