What are /r/CompetitiveHalo's favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Here is the Halo Championship Series Handbook that explains the league and set-up.

Here are the gametypes and settings that are used.

The series are normally best of 5, however in earlier rounds of the tournaments they will sometimes be best of 3 for scheduling purposes.

I would say a big difference between Comp Halo/CoD is that Comp CoD has a large emphasis on choke points, where as Comp Halo has a large emphasis on power positions. If you have a sniper in a power position in Halo, you can control so much of the enemies' spawns and movement, but in CoD you can only really hold down one "lane" of the map as an individual. Halo maps are smaller and have less "rooms" in them so they are generally more open and easier to control and "go off" on as a single player, whereas CoD maps are large and have many different rooms and turns so you really can't single-handedly lock down as much.

CoD is also a lot faster, you can move from one room to the next incredibly quickly, and you can win gun fights much faster as well. This means that you don't necessarily have to think as much before challenging in CoD (if you know you will win the fight) because you can generally get in an out of an area so quickly, whereas if you make your presence known in Halo, the enemies can often punish you before you can get out of the situation.

Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, and Team Slayer have been the staple gametypes of competitive Halo. Assault is currently part of the rotation and has made its appearances over the years, as have others (including one-flag ctf), but it's mostly been those main three as far as I can remember!

Seems like the competitive scene will be much stronger than the past few Halos.

HCS will be supporting a $1,000,000+ prize pool and there are several online cups/tournys being held through Pro Gaming League, Gamebattles, Team Beyond, Gfinity, ESL (Go4Halo) and much more.

Take the time to learn all callouts and get a solid grip on having steady aim/basic positioning/weapon + power spawn times before much else. If you don't have the competitive basics down very well, the good players won't want to team up with you.

To contradict what I just said, the sooner you start competing in free tournaments, leagues, ladders and other events the better. Throwing yourself into the hardest scenarios possible off the bat will help you adapt to high-skill, high-pressure play in a short amount of time.

Try to always play people better than you, but not so much better that you can't even get a chance to practice. Playing a ton of matchmaking is good for this.

Hope this helps.

EG is the power house.

This is the tournament going on right now

If you don't have it already, download the app Halo Channel and watch all the breaking down the map.

Yes, i got this recently:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01H5KKRLO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Would highly recommend it, its the screen all the pros use (or some of them Ninja, heinz ect)

changes the way the game plays and feels 100%.

its the cdn amazon as im in Toronto.

a stopwatch glued to the front of your Duke is what people used "back in the day". MCC has on-screen timers in all games now, even H1. If you want one that tells you weapon spawns and talks and shit, Halo 1 MCC timer works well.

You get tiers in ranked now. Bronze, silver, gold, platinum, diamond, onyx and champion. Bronze through diamong have 6 sub-tiers (so you start at, say, diamond 1 and work up to diamond 6 before progressing to onyx). Onyx and champion don't have tiers, but number ratings within their tier.

Here's an article explaining it in more detail:

https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/enter-the-arena

Hello.
I am Conor.
18 Years of Age.
Rank = 126 ( 29/03/2016)
Competitive Rank for Arena = Onyx 1801+ ( Can't remember figures off top of head )
United Kingdom
Link to Service Record = Here!

I would keep a look out for Destiny, its bungie's next big title who have had amazing multiplayer in the pass

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-competitive-multiplayer-is-more-lethal-than-halo-voice-chat-limited-to-eliminate-trolling/1100-6416638/

Ah, well it works fairly well. I would obviously like a little more than a web wrapper, but it seems responsive enough. It is one of the better done web wrappers for sure!

If you are looking for a WP to test on, you can get Lumia 650 Unlocked from amazon for about $150 USD. It is Win 10 ready and is a pretty good phone for the price. My father has one and loves it, no complaints.

I play somewhat similar and I usually get a lot of shit for these bindings but it works really well for me (mid 1700):

LT: crouch/slide
LB: jump
RT: shoot (obvi)
RB: melee
Y: switch weapon
X: reload
B: nade
A: equipment
L stick: sprint
R stick: zoom (I've experimented with changing this with LT and will likely do it when I have like a week off work and can acclimate myself outside of MM and scrims)
D up: ping
D left: switch nade
D down: drop weapon (I don't bc I'm afraid of Sparty)
D right: AI scan

fwiw, I use two paddles (this controller and I love it more than any other controller I've ever used, and I was a big stock controller guy for quite some time) and have the left mapped to B (nade) and the right mapped to A (equipment)

Buy a soldering iron and get this. Genuinely works great and I prefer it to the scuf instinct pro and Elite Series 2. While you're at it, might as well put this in too, gets you clicky triggers. I did something funky with buttons (i.e. "paddles") on the bottom that I can show you if you think you might want to try this.

I had almost no soldering experience before this, but I moved slowly and carefully and the thing works surprisingly great.

This question has been asked a bunch here. Remember to Google.

Here’s what I got. Also play on series x

ASUS TUF Gaming 27" 2K Monitor... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088MLC8PH?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I’ve been rocking the DT770s forever. They’re so comfortable and are built like a tank.

I recently bought these in-ears for my drum streams since over-war headphones are a bit clunky.

For the price, they sound and feel amazing. Once you get the proper fit, it’s a very solid sound. If you’re worried about fit and comfort, especially with glasses, then in-ears might be your best bet.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/06/09/e3-2014-halo-the-master-chief-collection-halo-5-beta-announced-for-xbox-one

:D !!!! Should feel like XBC offhost for all players!

> What you can expect, however – and this is huge news for fellow old-school Xbox gamers – is that Combat Evolved’s multiplayer will be playable, online, in its original form. No more Halo: Reach map packs or excuses about CE multiplayer not “feeling” right online because it never had net code to begin with (let’s leave Gearbox’s Halo PC port out of this). This will be the OG Halo 1 three-shot death pistol, the OG “Blood Gulch,” etc. I politely brought up with 343 Franchise Director Frank O’Connor, and he didn’t shy away when presented with his own previous comments. “It was [a] peer-to-peer [networking setup],” he said of the previous games. “[Master Chief Collection’s] dedicated servers fix that,” leaving 343 comfortable with replicating the offline System Link experience in an online environment. This is what many players wanted in the 2011 Anniversary game, and we’re finally getting it.

Don't get an elite get an Eswap pro S. I promise you I've owned a like 4 elite controllers over the years and the Eswap pro is better in every way.

Not sure if its been mention before but the I looooove the power a fusion pro 2 controller. Its wired but I went through multiple elite and elite 2 controllers. But these fusions are built great, feel great and do everything well. And for just 60 bucks which is a fraction of what other controllers cost. Heres a link in case your interested.

https://www.amazon.com/PowerA-FUSION-Controller-gamepad-gaming-x/dp/B08XXWJ787/ref=sr\_1\_1?crid=3136CH6M42H7G&keywords=power+a+fusion+pro+2+xbox&qid=1657312472&sprefix=power+a+f%2Caps%2C261&sr=8-1

I do use this one https://www.amazon.com/BenQ-EX2780Q-Monitor-Channel-Metallic/dp/B07X51X3CB/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=24DGI5B6SY8MY&keywords=ex2780q&qid=1657284368&sprefix=ex2780q%2Caps%2C648&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/eXtremeRate-Programable-Controller-Upgrade-Redesigned/dp/B09CGYN21Y

You can add them to your controller if you're handy and don't wanna buy a third party controller.

They also sell trigger lock side rails for the stock controller.

Cheaper than an elite 2 but you don't get as much customization.

Plus i'm pretty sure some of the pros play with normal stock controllers, none of them play with MnK...

Probs 1080p 120, 1440p if you don't care about messing around with FOV sliders. 1080p will probably get you a consistently locked 120 fps, while 1440p may dip occasionally, especially if you up the FOV (changes how much of the game needs to be processed at once).

I'm not really sure, though--you'd want to do some research about how consistently MCC holds frame rates at different resolutions on Series X. If you absolutely don't care about visuals, go 1080p for sure. I like to think about higher resolutions 'cause 1080 can hurt my eyes after awhile if I'm looking closely.

I believe Ben-Q is the official monitor of Halo, so you'll want to look for a Ben-Q 120hz at 1080p or 1440. The pros usually play at 24 inches, I believe, so that's your size. I go a little higher at 27 'cause I also like to play story games.

This is what you're lookin' for:

At amazon

At Best Buy

Just google "Ben-Q 120hz 1440p xbox series x" if you want a higher resolution one

would this PC be capable of 240 frames?

https://www.amazon.com/Alienware-Aurora-R14-Gaming-Desktop/dp/B09NLDMKVR/ref=sr\_1\_3?crid=37UPXKWWIUVUX&keywords=alienware%2BR14&qid=1650299192&sprefix=alienware%2Br14%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-3&th=1

ASUS TUF Gaming VG27WQ1B 27”... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088MKHW7M?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

My only critique is a lack of usb outputs, but has basic speakers, 1440p, 120fps, and vrr. Right now is $310

And is it also this?

GIGABYTE G32QC A (32" 165Hz 1440P Curved Gaming Monitor, 2560 x 1440 VA 1500R Display, 1ms (MPRT) Response Time, 93% DCI-P3, VESA Display HDR400, FreeSync Premium Pro https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0926ZVM75/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_40C2R3953SKBQPEMTR8H

TP-Link Powerline Ethernet Adapter Starter Kit - AV1000 Gigabit Port, Plug&Play, Ethernet Over Power, Nano Size, Ideal for Smart TV, Online Gaming, Wired Connection Only (TL-PA7017 KIT) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084CZMYNM/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_086VTNVDDK2K472QKBK7

Acer Predator XB273 — Amazon link

It’s 0.1ms too :)

Just bought this monitor to try out infinite on series X because the PC version hasn't been patched to address the crashes. Works pretty well, but doesn't have speakers built in.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JWCHR5N?ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details&th=1

As for resolution, the series X performance modes seem to be running closer to 1080p anyways so I wouldn't worry about 2.1

https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/summer-2016-last-chance-qualifier-recap

Edit: Scroll down to the bottom to see NA Pro League schedule. This will be the first week of matches, so you haven't missed it.

Dude I love H2, it's the only game I still keep up with and play competitively, but it will not last on pc. It's got some serious issues, both fundamentally and on the networking side that modern gamers just won't deal with. For instance, random spawns on slayers are some shit people will bitch non stop about if they're not expecting it. Then, on the networking side, well I guess it's networking, is the shot registration. It's complete ass. The project cartographer increased the bullet velocity I think to help with some of those issues, but even on there, on the like 80 ping servers it feels like 1/3 of my shots don't count. That's not something people who aren't enslaved to competitive halo are gonna deal with, sadly.

Edit: Just want to add, my perspective is playing from the west coast (Oregon) with a pretty solid connection. Could be better, but is certainty good enough.

https://www.speedtest.net/result/9362398896.png

Never been competitive in Halo, but I competed at the highest level in the old Call of Duty’s as well as other shooters. Switching between Xbox and PS4 made me realize I prefer a rounded stick on the right stick. For my Xbox controller I still to this day use these on the right stick only: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X6XH6K0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_CEFMRQ6NQBWS9F26N9PG

The rubbery feel is nice. On my PS4 controllers I used to use a little rubber cap over the sticks.

Thank you Salzman! I use sensitivity 4.5 on horizontal and vertical with acceleration 4. Look stick threshold is set to 1, deadzones 3.5.

I use a small control freak CQC toggle on my aim stick, link here: (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MMN7W9A/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_QE0P2F9E4Y2EEW90QTRQ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CK1BKZQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They can be had for around $60, you just wouldn't be getting the "top of the line" model like an Elite series 2 or thrustmaster, and instead would be picking up a turtle beach recon or Power Fusion A or whatever it's called.

You could also just buy the paddle add on that snaps into the battery pack for an even cheaper option.

If you wrist-aim now and it's not working out for you, you need to learn how to arm aim. I made the switch playing Counter-Strike many years ago from wrist to arm aim and it's made my aiming so much more consistent. For reference, I play 0.8 @ 800 DPI. I use a Logitech large mouse pad.

It will take you a week or so to get used to it, but it'll be well worth it. Stick with it.

I have no idea why no one has mentioned the actual monitor the HCS uses

https://www.amazon.com/BenQ-XL2540K-Flexible-Adjustment-Customizable/dp/B08JHGH42Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=S5DYVT405MTW&keywords=xl2540k&qid=1642295226&sprefix=xl2540k%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-3

ASUS TUF Gaming 27" 2K HDR Monitor (VG27AQ1A)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CZ8QJTX

OP, you should be aware that not all 144hz monitors will support the 120hz signal sent from the Xbox. The one I linked above does and may other 2021 models will (like the newer Dell) but you’ll want to check the manual and look for a timings table to see if it supports 120hz at a given resolution. Otherwise look for an actual video on YouTube with somebody confirming the settings apply.

I had to sell a brand new 144hz monitor that didn’t support the Xbox timings.

Samsung G9

https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-49-inch-Odyssey-FreeSync-LC49G95TSSNXZA/dp/B088HH6LW5

I picked it up on the black Friday/new version release sale for around 900. I wouldn't pay current prices for it but super ultra wide is amazing.

Average fps is 120-150 depending on what else I have running. Most settings on low/110-120 fov

I’ve been rocking an LG 27GL850 for the last almost 2 years and I love it. It’s a bit out of your range though at $376.

If you just want to pick up a higher refresh rate 1080p 24” monitor this is one of the most recommended ones I’ve seen

I think most 144hz 1080p IPS screens are all manufactured by the same vendor, but some companies add some extra software features or a nicer more adjustable stand than others and the AOC is a nice mix of budget to features. I also have an Asus Tuf 24” that I’m almost positive has the same panel the AOC uses and it looks great but 24” is too small for my old eyes lol.

ASUS TUF Gaming VG279Q1A 27” Gaming Monitor, 1080P Full HD, 165Hz (Supports 144Hz), IPS, 1ms, Adaptive-sync/FreeSync Premium, Extreme Low Motion Blur, Eye Care, HDMI DisplayPort https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B08LCPKS6G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_5SA8C00476A48VQ55F08

Get a monitor

AOC CQ27G2 27" Super Curved Frameless Gaming Monitor QHD 2K, 1500R Curved VA, 1ms, 144Hz, FreeSync, Height adjustable, 3-Yr Zero Dead Pixel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0862YHJ56/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_07YW5D4VFN714J3NSKT5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Something like this is pretty “optimal” right?

Really cool option for PlayStation people. I love the PlayStation controller and use it as well.

Sony Dualshock 4 Back Button Attachment for Playstation 4 https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B082VX16VJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_DPK3H3ARWMWHP6JYA79X?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Super cheap option and give you paddles!

https://www.amazon.ca/PowerA-Enhanced-Wired-Controller-Black/dp/B08F454ZK5/ref=sr_1_4?crid=20WF5E9K0HB0D&keywords=powera+controller+xbox&qid=1640326734&sprefix=powera+controller+xbox%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-4

If you want something budget with paddles/ buttons.

I'm currently an upper plat, lower diamond player (though I feel I fit more as a mid/upper diamond) looking for fellow Halo 5 (or even Halo 2) players in central Ohio to join my spartan company and practice/improve with. Must average at least Platinum.

My tag: MiracSpectac Spartan Company

Pretty good in Diamond means you're an above average Halo player.

Gamebattles is a great place to get a team going and put scrim's together.

The Halo Waypoint HCS forum is a good spot to advertise for teams as well.

The way I got most of the players that I play with is by sending people msgs after having a good game together. Its amazing how flaky most people are, and often times you'll msg a person from a forum or something like that and never play with them. I'd just invite people I play with and bam, gaming together in like 2 minutes.

GT: Electrikshot

Gametypes: Slayer & SWAT

https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/players/electrikshot

I used to play with a good group of guys who have become sick of the game. I still love it and I want to run with another group instead of being paired with AFK's and more casual players with no mics. I play most nights and every weekend.

The problem using the hdmi adapter or just using USB is you don't get the EQ functions that the mix amp pro/a50 have built in.. Unless you plug the amp to you TV via optical and trust me there is a HUGE difference in sound quality you definitely want optical with some good eqs like Zeference https://www.thezeference.com/astro-eq/game-specific-presets/halo-infinite also if you need a toslink/optical splitter I use J-Tech Digital Premium Quality... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HQ2R314?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share and works great with my A50 and sound bar hooked up to it

Why the 15 on the center deadzone for the right stick? Seems to me like a waste of potential skill development to reduce that artificially considering that your not doing it due to stick drift.

I know someone else suggested it but that having that setting that high just removes the subtle inputs of the right stick which to me seems like something of a skill to develop.

Another option for you would be to throw some kontrol freeks on your sticks. If you aren’t familiar, these extend the stick height and thus the amount of variation available for aiming.

I use these

For what it’s worth, the rest of your settings seem good. I do the lowest amount of deadzone on the left stick to remove drift, 15 for left stick max input to make full strafing happen quicker and the last setting for the x and y thing just reduces the amount of variation between vertical movement when going horizontally and horizontal movement when moving vertically. Lots of people seem to misunderstand this setting.

Thus for the right stick I do zero for deadzone since the stick drifts but not enough to matter plus I’m constantly aiming at something and zero for input sensitivity to give my aim a ton of variability and zero for the last setting (although again this is somewhat irrelevant in my mind).

I also do 4 accel, 6 horizontal, 6.5 vert for sens settings.

A good middle ground is 24" 1080p/144hz. They can be picked up relatively cheap. I use this one as a secondary monitor and it's been great. I think all the 23.8" 1080p/144hz IPS panels are manufactured by the same vendor so all of those should be comparable as far as looks. Some come with better/adjustable stands and others come with basic ones with no adjustments and can affect the price.

On a 24" monitor, 1080p is still going to look really good, and playing in 1080p makes hitting those higher FPS easier.

I will add my caveat here that even though I have the above monitor and really enjoy it as a secondary, I actually game on an LG 27GL850. It's a 27" 1440p 144hz monitor. It's almost twice the cost, but my 3070 can hit 144 fps at 1440p, and I'm getting older so I like the bigger screen lol

I play on LG c9 Xbox series x but use 120 fps mode for multiplayer. Just hard for me to game on monitors anymore and be super engaged lol. C9 response rate is on par with monitors so I'm not losing anything performance wise. Also I have astro a50s and Microsoft official headset which I feel perform better than them. I use the power a wired controller which feels better than the elite at the fraction of the price seriously check this controller out if you want paddles

https://www.amazon.com/PowerA-FUSION-Controller-gamepad-gaming-x/dp/B08XXWJ787

IMHO it's really not necessary to spend $150+ on a luxury controller to do well at halo. These controllers are excellent, come with 4 rear paddles (the most important feature of expensive controllers), and are only going for around $60. I spent $150 on an elite series 1, and it was pretty disappointing all around. It came with stick drift out of the box and has pretty much fallen apart over the past few years, despite treating it gently.

Regarding your settings, if you found something that works for you then stick to it, but acceleration isn't a bad thing with controllers. Acceleration allows you to start at a slower speed, like what you would want for mid-range BR fights, but still execute 180 degree turns quickly as you accelerate to a faster rotation.

OK this is gonna seem too good to be true, but this...

https://www.amazon.com/PowerA-Enhanced-Wired-Controller-Xbox-x/dp/B08F454ZK5/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=1WF8GC9VKARMX&keywords=powera+xbox+one+controller&qid=1640241697&sprefix=powera+%2Caps%2C69&sr=8-3

I know...$30 for a Xbox controller? Its probably super shitty an will break quick? Nope.. this controller has the same durability and feel as any $200 competitor. The only downside are only 2 buttons on the back, no rubberized grips, and no wireless functionality. IT IS A WIRED ONLY CONTROLLER. The USB has a cable shroud, which makes it all the better... no more broken usb ports. Myself and my buddies a have all gotten one, and are all shocked by the quality and feel. I have had scuf, Xbox elite, and custom controllers... and this is a true competitor! Triggers feel good, joysticks have a nice stiffness. For $30 you owe it to yourself to give it a try. The reviews speak for them selves, but I've been playing halo competitively since Halo 2, and I can't recommend it enough. I don't know of where this company came from, but they have support 100%

www.LegionGamingHQ.com

To find other competitive gamers to run games with so you dont have to play alone, join our spartan company!

https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/spartan-companies/l%20e%20g%20i%20o%20n

This is one I've picked up, while not Microsoft is an extremely good 3rd party manufacturer in my experience

VOYEE 360 Wired Controller

I think you are confusing a 1ms monitor with 144hz, here is a ZOWIE 1ms response with ultra low input lag this is more of a ZOWIE for console players specifically

https://www.amazon.com/BenQ-ZOWIE-inch-Gaming-Monitor/dp/B01H5KKRLO/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1526957378&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=benq+zowie&psc=1