Avalanche

Freezing winds scour blasted terrain, and ancient battle scars are a grim reminder that this is a precious prize.

DATA STREAM

Recommended Game Variants:

• BTB CTF
• One Flag
• Neutral Assault
• One Bomb
• BTB Slayer
• Team Snipers
• Avalanche Heavy
• Splockets
• Two Flag Heavy

Number of Players:

• Recommended: 6-16
• Maximum: 16

Advantageous Equipment:

• Hornet
• Tank
• Wraith
• Ghost
• Laser
• Sniper
• Power Drain
• Active Camo
• Overshield
• Brute Shot

Available Equipment & Gear Respawn Times

Weapons

Vehicles

*Available only in one-sided matches.

Equipment

Topographical Overview

Avalanche is a symmetrical map featuring two bases separated by a middle forerunner cave. This creates a U-shaped battlefield. If the Matchmaking is one-sided (One Bomb, One CTF), the attacking team has UNSC vehicles, and the defending team has Covenant vehicles and Warthogs. See the “Zone Knowledge” section for locations of primary weapons and vehicles. I n addition, call-outs consist of “their side” and “our side”; for example, “Their Teleport,” or “Our Sniper.”

Call-out Locations

Light Base

Other names: Blue Base

There are three levels in the base. The first, upper level has a flag spawn and a Man Cannon. The second level has the teleporter and a ramp that takes you to the base’s lower level. This level also contains two Battle Rifles, up against the walls, one on each side. In addition, you will capture the flag on the second level. The third, lower level of the base is where you’ll find a Needler, Frag Grenades, and a Regenerator. The outside part of the base has an upper ledge, which will take you to either cliff side or Keyhole.

Dark Base

Other Names: Dark Base

There are three levels in the base. The first, upper level has a flag spawn and a Man Cannon. The second level has the teleporter and a ramp that takes you to the base’s lower level. This level also contains two Battle Rifles, up against the walls, one on each side. In addition, you will capture the flag on the second level. The third, lower level of the base is where you’ll find a Needler, Frag Grenades, and a Regenerator. The outside part of the base has an upper ledge, which will take you to either cliff side or Keyhole.

Blue Base 2

Other Names: Blue Turret, Light Base Turret, Blue Rocjkets, Light Base Rockets, Rocket Spawn

On this side, there is a bridge connecting two rocks. The Turret is located on the ledge, allowing you to see vehicles/ players who will come around the “U” to your side. You can also watch people going into Laser spawn. Located here is a Rocket Launcher, a Battle Rifle, and a Bubble Shield, right outside the teleporter door. There is also a Man Cannon that will launch you toward Ghost spawn; this vehicle allows you to quickly travel across the map.

Red Base 2

Other Names : Red Turret, Dark Turret, Red Rockets, Dark Base Rockets, Rocket Spawn

The Turret is located on the ledge, allowing you to see vehicles/ players who will come around the “U” to your side. You can also watch people going into Laser spawn. Located here is a Rocket Launcher, a Battle Rifle, and a Bubble Shield, right outside the teleporter door. There is also a Man Cannon that will launch you toward Ghost spawn; this vehicle allows you to quickly travel across the map.

Blue Teleporter

Other Names: N/A

The teleporter links you between your base and your Turret

Red Teleporter

Other Names: N/A

Using the Teleporter allows you to advance unseen upon your foes

Keyhole

Other Names: Shotgun Spawn, Shotty, Top Mid

Keyhole is located at the map’s center. It is a heated spot for battles. The Shotgun is located here, as is the Man Cannon, which will take you over the Center Pit to Laser spawn. The Middle Corridor between the two sides separates the base.

Dark Sniper

Other Names: Red Sniper

Dark Sniper is located outside Keyhole. Here you’ll find the Overshield, a Battle Rifle, two Plasma Grenades, and a pair of Spikers.

Light Sniper

Other Names: Blue Sniper

Like Dark Sniper, only Lighter.

Vehicle Pit

Other Names: N/A

Each base has a Vehicle Pit, where the vehicles spawn. The pit is located between the base’s two Man Cannons

Blue Camo

Other Names: N/A

This is located next to the tree on the Light side. Here you'll find a Brute shot and Bubble Shield.

Red Camo

Other Names: N/A

This is locate next to the rock on Dark Side. Here you'll find Brute shot and Bubble Shield.

Blue Man Cannon

Other Names: N/A

This is the big man cannon on the ground that will lead you into the base. A Power drain is also located here.

Red Man Cannon

Other Names: N/A

This is the big man cannon on the ground that will lead you into the base. A Power drain is also located here.

Center Pit

Other Names: N/A

Center Pit is located in the middle of the map and connects Keyhole to Laser spawn. It allows quick travel from one end of the map to the other.

Laser Spawn

Other Names: Laser

This is located in the middle of the map, on the back side near Ghost spawn. Located on each side of the Laser are Plasma Grenades.

Ghost Spawn

Other Names: Back Mid, Back U

This is where both Turret Man Cannons land players. It is also a heated spot for battles. Next to the door leading you to the Laser is a Battle Rifle and a Trip Mine.

Tactical Knowledge

• At the start of the game, depending on which side of the map you are on, you should look either left or right to see which side of the landing has the upward ramp. Go that way to find a portal that leads directly to the Rocket spawn and Turret emplacement. From there, you can jump into the large Man Cannon and fly to the Spartan Laser spawn point. You are likely to meet heavy resistance here, so going in alone will pretty much guarantee that you will not secure it, unless you get very lucky or are very good in close combat.

• After acquiring the Laser, you should secure the Sniper Rifle early in the match to act as first alert if enemies are rushing the base. It can also serve as an anti–Spartan Laser/Turret weapon.

• Next is the Brute Shot. Since this level is heavy on vehicular attacks, you should secure the Brute Shot to assist in stopping the inevitable Warthog, Wraith, Ghost, and Hornet rush that will attack your troops.

• Last is the Shotgun. There is only one of these on the map, and it is positioned where most of the close-quarter fighting takes place— Keyhole.

• Sniper Rifles are located next to the main cave in the middle of the map, on both sides. The easiest way to reach them is to go out of your lower base, hop on a Mongoose, and drive there. This is also a way to reach the Spartan Laser if you need to, as the cannons in the cave will transport you from the upper part of the cave to the lower part.

• The Brute Shot is right next to the Active Camo. The easiest way to get there is by taking the front Man Cannon out of the top of your base and running to it.

• Warthogs are located to the left and right of the base’s front door if you spawn on the UNSC side of the map. The Wraith is positioned to either the left or the right, farthest away from the map’s center, depending on which side of the map you’re on. Hornets are directly in front of the front door. Choppers will occupy the Warthog locations if you are on the Covenant side.

Enhanced Knowledge

Due to the abundance of vehicles on the map, every team’s primary goal is acquiring the Spartan Laser and the Rocket Launchers. Holding these items will greatly increase your chances of keeping the enemy team immobile while keeping your team highly mobile. Significant effort should be made to secure the Spartan Laser, as it is the most effective way to knock the enemy Hornets out of the sky and destroy enemy Wraiths and other vehicles. Try to limit yourself on single-player shots. Controlling the Laser will determine if you will have vehicle control over the map.

One Bomb, One Flag, and Capture-the-Flag Tactics

• Turret spawn provides a great vantage point for a sniper to scan the map for enemies. Pair the sniper with another player (preferably a
strong BR shooter) who can provide backup and protection. Also, this player has quick access to the base via teleporter if the opposing
team enters the base and teammates need help.
• Have two players watching Keyhole and grabbing Custom Power-ups during a heated battle, because this makes you invincible for three seconds.
• Try not to abandon all positions unless necessary.
• Don’t go alone into the opponent’s base.
• Have more than one person protecting your flag and watching for the opposing team approaching the base to plant the bomb.
• When planting the bomb, have a Warthog, Hornet, or Wraith distract the players while your team sneaks in with the bomb via teleporter.
• Have a person at Turret spawn watching for incoming vehicles to notify your team so that they are prepared with a Power Drain and/
or Rockets.
• Crouch-walking on the base’s outer ledge can give you a sneaky entry to grab the opponent’s flag or plant your bomb.
• Don’t send all vehicles to the opposing side; try to leave a Warthog and the Wraith to protect your base from incoming enemies.
• Using Camo allows you to remain unseen (except by radar); if you use this wisely, you can sneak into the opposing base via teleporter. You can also flank the opposing team on their side of Keyhole.
• If someone is exiting or entering your base via front Man Cannon, throw Plasma or Frag Grenades and simply use you BR to finish them off. This tactic will also work with the Center Pit cannons.
• If the opposing team is going to grab the flag, throw a Plasma Grenade at the flag so it weakens the foe as they try picking it up.
• When in Keyhole, have a Shotgun and stand up on the slanted ledge near the opposing team’s entrance. This allows for surprise kills.
• If your sniper is in Keyhole, look down at the Laser spawn for approaching attackers.
• The Ghost is a great tool for splattering anyone who dares walk on the ground alone and in the open.
• Good Laser spots include the down side of Sniper spawn, Turret spawn, Base Platform, and Keyhole. Use the Laser more for vehicles
than for a single opponent.
• Trip Mines are tricky. Place them safely away from your team;however, you can place the Trip Mine over Flag spawn or where the opponent will plant the bomb. Also place the Trip Mine around corners that vehicles would turn from. Sometimes throwing the Trip Mine into the Keyhole during a heated battle will lower opponents’ shields, whereupon you can take them out with one shot.
• Blocking teleporters with a Mongoose inside your base will keep opponents from entering. Also, placing a Mongoose over the flag will keep your foes from grabbing the flag (they will get on the Mongoose instead), or you can place it over the area where they will plant the bomb, hindering them from planting the bomb quickly.

Offense

• Never try to take the flag or plant the bomb by yourself. Coordinate an attack with your teammates. Have a team member or two attempt to take control of the defending team and use the Spartan Laser effectively. Make sure to take down your foe’s air support and tanks.

• Using the teleporter is great for stealing the flag and escaping the base quickly; however, when you first go through the teleporter, turn and wait to see if anyone is following you. As your opponent comes out of the teleporter, you can get easy flag-carrier kills.

• The Hornet is good for air support and for dropping and picking up players at the bases or teleporters. Try not to hover with the Hornet; continuously move so that you are not a sitting duck for a Wraith or Rocket Launcher. Sometimes if you are low enough, and with the Man Cannons allowing people to be high in the air, the Hornet becomes an easy target for Plasma Grenades.

• Driving the Warthog or Mongoose with the Flag or Bomb in the passenger seat is the best strategy. If done right, the Warthog and Mongoose can get your team into the base, capture or plant the flag or bomb, and get out within minutes. All three seats in the Warthog should be full—a driver, a Turret operator, and a footman to plant or capture the bomb or flag.

• After you pick up Active Camo, check to see if the enemy’s Active Camo has been taken; if it hasn’t, pick it up and just run or hop through their Mid Pit to the middle Man Cannon, which can launch you into your opponent’s base unnoticed.

Defense

Place your players wisely on the map. Do not completely desert the base to capture the power weapons, but do not have everybody hide in the base waiting for the eventual attack from the bomb carrier or flag bandit. Get the Spartan Laser to take out incoming vehicles, and use the Machinegun Turret to take out footmen before they get into your base. Leave a few teammates inside the base to protect the exits.

• Taking the Machinegun Turret to your base, along with someone with Rockets, is a great ploy for defense. But remember: one man alone cannot defend the base.

• If your opponent steals your flag, consider taking a Mongoose to cut off the other team before they make with the flag.

• Remember, you will not be able to see the enemy’s bomb or your stolen flag when the other team has possession of them.

• In One Flag CTF, the Scorpion is on your side and can dominate a team by itself with minimal cover from the rest of your team. It will take out the Wraith and the Ghosts with ease. But if it falls into enemy hands, it must become your primary target.

• Crouching inside Keyhole with the Shotgun or outside the door on your side will stop ambushes through the middle. Also having the Turret here could do some damage.

• Sniping from the base will also give you an advantage. There is a ledge outside the bases that offers different areas for cover and different vantage points. You will be able to watch Keyhole and your teleporter
from here.

Sniping

There is a lot of landscape on this map for sniping positions. The following are a few popular snipe positions.

Turret From the Turret ledge, you have a great view of approaching enemies and vehicles

Base

The base area provides cover and weapons for sniping

Keyhole

This spot is in the center of the map, with lots of available weapons

Underpass

This sniping spot is in the back of the map, near the edge in the shadows under the underpass

Cliff side

Snipe from cliff side by the man cannon facing keyhole.

Ambush Sites

• Ambush teleporters, bases, and front Man Cannons. Doing all three at once can
give you a great advantage during CTF and Assault.
• During heated battles at Keyhole, take the Man Cannon from the Turret/Rocket Launcher spawn, go through the Laser with other team members, and take the Man Cannon from the Center Pit. Attack from there, helping your team. You can also go through Keyhole, take the cannon over to the Laser, and help out.