Epitaph

Epitaph

Some believe the Forerunners preferred desolate places. Others suggest that few other sites survived the Flood.

DATA STREAM

Recommended Game Variants:

• Slayer
• Team Slayer
• Oddball
• King of the Hill

Number of Players:

• Recommended: 2
• Maximum: 8

Advantageous Equipment:

• Rocket Launcher
• Gravity Hammer
• Shotgun

Available Equipment & Gear Respawn Times

Weapons

Equipment

Topographical Overview

• Set in the middle of a vast sand dune, Epitaph is a massive cathedral-like structure rising high to the sky, reaching to the Halo Heavens.
• With its interior structure similar to that of great European cathedrals, it’s thought to be a former Forerunner structure from ages ago, possibly a tomb or a cathedral.
• While at first glance the structure appears symmetrical, it is anything but. Looking at the overhead and outside views of Epitaph, one can see that with its exterior ramps and internal hiding places, Epitaph is a complex and challenging map.
• This map is great for Slayer, Team Slayer, Swat, and Oddball games. If you want to play in Matchmaking mode, you’re more likely to see the Epilogue variant of the Epitaph map.. The Epilogue variant of the map has no shield doors, and there are some differences in weapon availability and placement.
• On this map, there is great opportunity to surprise your opponent. You can perform a variety of jumps off Epitaph’s many halls and corridors; these will throw off any adversary trying to chase you down.
• Epitaph is laid out in the shape of a cross. Two wings extend off the main corridor and meet at the crossing, or “the court.”
• Epitaph, like many of Bungie’s maps, has a light side and a dark side.
• Like a cathedral, there is a Choir, a Court, and a Nave. The area with the Forerunner Structure is the Choir and contains a Gold Gravity Lift that will take you to the second-level platform. The Choir contains two levels: Top Choir and Bottom Choir. The area opposite this has a similar Gold Gravity Lift; however, this lift takes you to the center of the crossing, on a platform containing the Rocket Launcher. The Transepts cross the Nave and Choir in the middle and contain elevated structures that are akin to flying buttresses; we call these “ribs.”

Call-out Locations

Court

Other names: N/A
The Court is the center of the Nave and Choir, and the two halls that extend out from it in either direction are Light Side Court and Dark Side Court. . This is the meeting place, the central heart of the map. During games such as King of the Hill or Slayer, you’ll often find many players passing through.

Center Court

Other names: N/A
Center Court consists of two areas—Top Court and Bottom Court.

Top Court

Other names: N/A
Top Court is a floating platform on which rests the Rocket Launcher. When standing on the platform, make sure you or a teammate possess the Rocket Launcher, as the platform will sway if shot with a Rocket, knocking you off to your opponents below. Access Top Court via the Gold Nave Lift or via the runways on either side of Light Court and Dark Court.

Bottom Court

Other names: N/A
Bottom Court is the very heart of Epitaph. Located at ground level below the Rocket Platform, Bottom Court houses a fierce weapon—the Gravity Hammer. This area is very dangerous, as it can be seen from anywhere on the map’s interior, and any player standing within it can easily be picked off with a Grenade or long-range weapon.

Dark Side Court

Other names: N/A
The Dark Side Court has two ribs—great columns that attach to the building and extend to the exterior—and two doorways. Against the first rib, on the bottom back side, you’ll find the Covenant Carbine. There is one Runway in Dark Side Court; this leads to the only doorway on Dark Side Nave and to Dark Side Choir walkway.

Light Side Court

Other names: N/A
The Light Side Court has two ribs—great columns that attach to the building and extend to the exterior—and two doorways. Against the first rib, on the bottom back side, you’ll find the Battle Rifle. There is one runway in Light Side Court, which leads to the only doorway on Light Side Nave and Light Side Choir walkway. This runway connects the various sides of the map without making the player walk on Bottom Court, and it allows the player access to the Rocket Platform. This runway in the Court is the connection between both the Choir and Nave.

Choir

Other names: N/A
The Choir is easily recognized by the relic Forerunner statue looming above it. This area of the map contains several halls and doorways and a center battle arena. These areas are named as to where they are located; for example, Top Choir is the second level of the Choir, and Bottom Choir is the first level of the Choir.

Top Choir Platform

Other names: N/A
Choir Platform is located directly in front of the Choir Top Gold Lift, on Top Choir. When you take the Choir Gold Lift to the Platform, you’ll immediately see the Bubble Shield on the floor in front of you. On either side of Choir Gold Lift are two alcoves. You can drop down these to Bottom Choir if an enemy is coming your way.

Light Choir Runway

Other names: N/A
If you’re facing the Center Court on Top Choir Platform, to your left is Light Side. Here you’ll find three doorways, all without shield doors, as the map’s Light Side does not contain these. Door 1 of Light Choir Runway is closest to Gold Lift and houses one weapon, the Plasma Rifle. Continuing on, you’ll follow this runway down to the Light Choir Ramp and then to the Lower Light Court, passing the Active Camo along the way. Door 2 of Light Choir Runway leads to the Light Side Walkway; then you can head to the Light Side Court Platform. As you enter Door 2, you’ll see the Brute Shot. Door 3 of Light Choir Runway is another avenue you can take to escape your enemies; it leads to the same area as Door 2 and is the farthest door available on this runway.

Dark Choir Runway

Other names: N/A
Dark Choir Runway is located on the Choir’s second level and is on the right side of Gold Choir Lift Platform if you are facing the Center Court. This area contains three doorways, all with shield doors. Door 1 is the closest to Choir Lift and contains one weapon, the Plasma Rifle. Door 2 leads to the Dark Side Top Walkway. Door 3 also leads to the Dark Side Top Walkway; there is an exploding barrel as you pass by this door—so don’t let your opponent easily kill you with one shot to the barrel!

Bottom Choir

Other names: N/A
Bottom Choir contains an open area for gameplay; multiple columns, doorways, and aisles; and the base of Gold Lift, where you’ll find two Spike Grenades and two Frag Grenades. On either side of the bottom area of the Choir are aisles, under the Top Choir Runways. These are great locations to fool your opponent as you pass back and forth between them, shielding yourself from gunfire. There are two sides to this area: the Bottom Choir Light Side Aisle, which contains one doorway (no shield) and leads to the Bottom Choir Ramp. Here you’ll find one power-up, the Active Camo, and the Bottom Choir Dark Side Aisle, which contains one doorway (with shield) and leads to the Dark Side Bottom Court. This aisle also leads to the back of Choir Lift.

Nave

Other names: N/A
The Nave is located on the opposite side of the map from Choir; it is the bottom of Epitaph’s “cross.” Here you have Top Nave and Bottom Nave, with weapons, runways, and aisles similar to that of Choir. In front of Gold Lift is the top nave platform, where you’ll find one weapon, the Needler. This area is usually a pass-through from Light Side doorways to Dark Side doorways. The Gold Lift here will also elevate a player to the Rocket Platform. On either side of the Nave are runways that lead to the outside walkways on both Light Side and Dark Side.
Bottom Nave Gold Lift will catapult you to the Central Court, where you’ll land on the Rocket Platform. In front of the Gold Lift, at its base, you’ll find two Frag Grenades. Hidden from view and unknown to amateur players, Back Gold Lift is a great place to hide from your opponents, whether you’re attempting a sneak attack or allowing your shields to recharge. Here you’ll find one piece of equipment, the Power Drain. You can also jump from Back Gold Lift to the Top Nave Platform if you carefully jump at its sides. This area also leads to the Dark Side Nave Runway and the Light Side Nave Aisles.

Top Nave Light Side Runway

Other names: N/A
On the Light Side, the inside runway leads through the unshielded Light Side door to the outside walkways of Epitaph. There is only one doorway on this side of the upper runway.

Top Nave Dark Side Runway

Other names: N/A
Taking the inside runway to the outside walkway leads you through a shield door. There is only one door on this upper runway. Here you’ll find a Mauler as well.

Nave Aisles

Other names: N/A
If you’re standing in front of the Nave Gold Lift, you’ll see the aisles on either side of the playing arena. There are also hidden areas behind columns, as well as a light side and a dark side. These are differentiated by unshielded and shielded doors, respectively. Passing through Light Side Nave Aisle, you’ll find the SMG. Passing through the Dark Side Nave Aisle, you will find the Spiker and the Overshield, a valuable tool in anyone’s arsenal.

Tactical Knowledge

Offense

On Epitaph, the key is staying out of the Center Court and finding a place to perch and take out the enemy below. If you’re in a battle during Team Slayer, placement is key. Have teammates in all four major areas of the map so you can shoot “team BR” style across the playing field. Also, if your teammates are within view of one another, you can let each other know if someone is trying to sneak up behind you.

Advanced Tactics

Jumping

Window-Ledge Jumping

You can jump from the Nave Ramps to the ribs and then to the window ledges. This gives you an overhead advantage against your opponent. Also, you can use a Brute Shot to catapult to the window’s upper ledge. Having a sniper at this location? is ideal, as you can pick off your opponents down below without them knowing where you are!

Slide Jumping

In the transept area, just below the walkway, you can jump onto the wall grates and slide-jump to the upper walkway. This enables you to quickly jump out of harm’s way as the fight gets lethal on the ground. Quickly jump against the wall grate, slide your analog stick over, and jump again. You now have the advantage of using your Battle Rifle or other weapon of choice to take out your adversary below.

Walkway Jumps

There are several locations on Epitaph’s outside walkways where you can jump up or down to another walkway. Use this technique to quickly attack your opponent from above or below. Epitaph is open to your imagination, as the entire map is full of walkways and runways, perfect for quickly ducking in and out of sight.

Sniping

Light and Dark Court Hidden Doorways

On the Light Side of the Court, find your way up to the Rocket Platform and jump to the first rib on either Light Side or Dark Side Court. Here you’ll find a doorway. You can tuck yourself back into the shadows of the doorway, making this an excellent spot from which to snipe. If you’re being shot at from this position, quickly duck back, drop to the floor, and go through the door and out of harm’s way. The unknowing opponent won’t know where you went. Also, you can balance yourself on the edge of the doorway and look down below; your unsuspecting prey will come along as you drop down to take them out!

Shotgun Ledge

Just on the other side of the outside walkway railing, by the Shotgun, there is a ledge known as the Shotgun Ledge. You can crouch and take cover here, then pounce on your opponent as they unknowingly pass by on their way to Back Gold Lift. Then, after you take out your opponent, you can quickly escape from anyone who heard the shot—just rush up the back door of Choir Gold Lift!

Court Corner Ledges

In the Court’s upper corners are ledges that you can use to keep yourself out of sight. While your opponents are looking in the obvious places on the map, you’ll be lurking above them, poised and ready to take them out.