Sandtrap

Sandtrap is a multiplayer map featured in Halo 3.

Summary
Sandtrap is a vast desert with rolling sand dunes, it is the largest multiplayer map in the Halo franchise, the second biggest map is Infinity from Halo: Combat Evolved.

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. Most of the vehicles in the game are 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
 * Shotgun

Equipment

 * Regenerator
 * Trip Mine
 * Bubble Shield (3 near Rockets)

Vehicles

 * Brute Chopper
 * Warthog
 * UNSC Aegis Fate (Unusable, in the background)
 * Phantom (Unusable, crashed near the Banshee spawn)
 * Banshee
 * Albatross Crate (Unusable, crashed near one of the Elephants)
 * Elephant
 * Mongoose

Strategies & Miscellaneous

 * 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 all vehicles at full speed (or players in custom matches where player speed is increased) can outrun the land mines surrounding the shrines. Note that land mines will attack the player even if in a low-flying Banshee. Driving into the minefield might be effective for losing pursuers.(Also note that there is NO safe place in the minefield, not even places where mines have already gone off, they will quickly respawn)
 * If the player manages to flip the Elephant, when approached, instead of the "Hold RB to flip [vehicle name]" message, the player will receive "Hold RB to flip... wait, what? How did you do that?"
 * A UNSC Frigate hovers over the map
 * Another glitch it is possible to escape the map and go on the outside and then on theater explore the ship above the map
 * Due to a little investigation. It looks like the spires are actually in control of when the Mines spawn. To best see this drive a Banshee along the bottom of the floor on the outside, when you see an orange-ish laser cross over your vehicle, quit and go to Theatre. When in theatre follow the laser to both ends. At one you'll see the Mine spawn, the other end will lead to a spire at the other end of the map.
 * On several dunes to the side of the map where the sun is you can easily see the whole area of the map. Set up here and you can dominate. A common tactic is to take the sniper and use a Mongoose to drive over to the area and snipe.  Good secondary weapons are BRs and Spartan Lasers, so any incoming threats can be eliminated, and the sniper can continue wreaking havoc from afar.

Related Links

 * Gameplay footage