Capture the Flag

Description
Capture the flag, or CTF, is a set of multiplayer rules in Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 and Halo 3 where teams compete to bring a flag, often taken from the opposing teams base, to a pre-determined area, often your team's flag, or base. Many variants of this game type exist, including One Flag CTF, where teams fight for control of one flag, usually centred equidistantly from both teams bases, and attempt to move the flag to one base or the other. More variants can be created using either game's gametype creation system.

Halo Variants
The following variants are built within Halo:
 * CTF
 * Invasion
 * Iron CTF
 * CTF Pro

Halo 2 Variants
The variants included with Multi Flag CTF are:
 * CTF Classic
 * One Flag CTF
 * One Flag CTF Fast

Certain game types from Halo, like Invasion that used Capture the Flag rules now have their own rules sub-set in Halo 2 via the Assault rules.

Halo 3 Variants
The Variants built into Halo 3 are:
 * Multi Flag CTF
 * One Flag CTF
 * Tank Flag
 * Attrition Flag

Team Strategy
When playing with a Team of at least 4 people, a bit more strategy is required to play the game effectively.

First off, one player should be the Flag Carrier. This is the player who will capture the flag and return it to your team's base.

Now in CTF Classic, it is easy. Have every other teammate provide cover fire for the Flag Carrier. One person should (if it is available) grab a Sniper Rifle and provide cover from a distance. Every one else should have decent medium-range weapons, such as the Battle Rifle or Plasma Rifle. Also if there is a vehicle such as a Warthog, cram your team into it so that the Flag Carrier can make a speedy getaway. But to make sure the enemy doesn't come speeding after you in their own 'Hog, you should destroy all their vehicles.

In Multi-Flag CTF, the strategy is a little different, you want an equal balance of offense and defence. Your defensive party should have short-range high power weapons such as the Shotgun or dual-wielded SMGs. Your offensive party requires a bit more breathing room, weapon wise. The Battle Rifle is recommended. The defensive team should keep an eye on the flag, but should not remain in the same room, because an offensive party will likely toss a grenade or use a rocket on the room holding the flag before attempting to capture it. Ideally you let the enemy enter the flag room and then form a pincer, surrounding them. It is also recommended to find a choke point. It is imperative that both parties keep an eye on their teammates' Waypoints. If one party suddenly has massive losses, then you may need a new strategy. However, never forsake your defensive post to take up offense.

In 1-Flag CTF all bets are off. Since you can guarantee that both forces are going to rush in full force to take the flag, you have to grab the best weapons you can manage and just go for it. It might be wise to have some units avoid the main fray and sneak around the enemy base to ambush them.

When not in a vehicle, you can perform a tactic called "Flag Running". Keep dropping the flag and picking it up repeatedly to move faster.(RxRxRxRx) This can be very helpful on CTF on smaller maps. This works for all Flag variations. Beware: This also gives away your position to the enemy.

Many Capture the Flag variants are made by MLG

If you decide to leave one player behind to guard the flag, find out if there is any available vehicles and park them over the flag. Using this strategy, you can blow away anyone attempting to grab the flag, becuase they will try to grab it and instead hop into a vehicle.

Not Listing
Most of the time, players do not use tactics but just use whatever they have, but sometimes organized Warthog crews, Hog for short, usually assault the enemy base and are decimated or succeed, or their Hog is blown and the crew is scattered.

Trivia

 * The Flag's melee animation is similar to the Gravity Hammer's melee animation.
 * When you hit someone with the flag they will die instantly, unless the MLG variant is played, where it will take two strikes to down your opponent.
 * In Red vs. Blue, there is a group of religious fanatics who worship the flag.
 * On Bungie.net, under kill variations made during matchmaking, if you scroll over kills made by flags the caption will read "It's next to the headlight fluid" this is a reference to Red vs. Blue

Related Pages

 * Team Objective