ghost strategy

Games Other Halo
1

The ghost is a very deadly vehicle when used properly. In this thread lets discuss strategy that you should keep in mind while using the ghost.

First off DON’T engage heavier vehicles with the ghost, save if they are clearly on fire and about to explode. This includes warthogs, scorpions, wraiths, banshees, etc. Just don’t do it. The ghost is not very effective against them, does little damage to them, and in the end the only thing you will succeed in is beating up your ghost badly before being forced to retreat. Avoid these fights and only use the ghost for what it’s good at: anti-personnel combat.

So what are a few useful tricks to keep in mind while using the ghost? Well notice the third person view. This can be very advantageous. You are able to spot enemies around corners of walls, rocks, trees, whatever it may be without exposing yourself.

Park your ghost here for a moment and watch enemy movements from your hiding spot. Once a foe moves sufficiently out in the open and you think there is a strong chance you will be able to kill him, spring the trap and swoop in.

Lets talk a little about positioning while you are actually shooting. DON’T get too close. This leaves you venerable to being shot with a plasma pistol overcharge and/or stuck with plasma grenades. The ghost’s twin plasma guns actually have decent range; use it. Constantly be readjusting the ghost too while shooting. If an enemy is sprinting for cover and might get away, reposition yourself in anticipation and get a better angle so he doesn’t escape.

When should you go for a splatter? Good question, never do it when a person is facing you. 9/10 times they will just jump over you, planting a plasma grenade on your ghost in the process. Only go for a splatter when someone is not paying attention to you and looking the other way. That, or if you are in a hurry boosting off to escape a warthog or something and encounter a foe, try to quickly splatter him before continuing your flight.

Now a bit on what some good armor mods while using the ghost. Wheelman and survivor are obvious choices, but consider sensor as well. Sensor extends your motion tracker, and while ghosting this can be extremely useful. It will alert you to opponents further away, allowing you the choice of quickly swooping in and surprising them before they even know you are there. It also makes avoiding heavier vehicles considerably easier, as you will see them faster from further away and can react better. It’s just really good overall having the extra information sensor can give you while using the ghost.

Mobility is another good choice, because on the larger maps you typically find ghost on it will let you traverse long distances much easier and get to a ghost considerably faster.

Thanks for reading I hope this helps you become more deadly behind a ghost, please feel free to add to the discussion if you have ghost strategy of your own.

2

All good points. I would add that on Ragnarok for instance, use it to quickly get to the other side, assuming the enemy Mantis is down as well as Spartan Laser (which is tricky) but this is an obvious one.

3

The only thing I would add is to keep moving, and move side to side when engaging an enemy.

4

Since Reach, splattering enemies with the Ghost has become a kind of inconsistent tactic for me.
It has happened really often that I hit people directly and with full speed but instead of killing them instantly I just shove them around the map but then again when I simply (unintentionally) nodged someone with a part of it he/she died.

5

The best time to splatter is when you see someone jump, you know where they are going to land and they can’t strafe in the air.

Sometimes when you try to go for a splatter they will jump too early. You can slow down and hit them on their way down.

6

I see that alot of people don’t remember that the Ghost can go backwards. Don’t forget that.

7

> T<mark>he best time to splatter is when you see someone jump, you know where they are going to land and they can’t strafe in the air</mark>.
>
> Sometimes when you try to go for a splatter they will jump too early. You can slow down and hit them on their way down.

Bingo. I love when this happens.

8

Nice tips!

I’ll try to implement a few of them in future games.

Thanks :smiley:

9

I personally just keep moving. I find that any time I sit still I get either jacked or wacked.

If I find myself in a stationary position to gun people down I try to be mindful of my radar to make sure someone doesn’t sneak up on me.

And I only boost as needed. I’ll run and gun in a ghost and just boost to either escape, or mow someone down.

10

Pressing and holding the A button Right Bumper (RB) while boosting will rise the front of the ghost higher off the ground, this is useful when splattering, as it increases your surface area, and is also useful for making jumps, as it acts as an Air-Brake to prevent the ghost from flying too far

If you attempt to splatter an opponent, but fail, but you haven’t been killed, Do not try to splatter your target again, they will see it coming, switch to guns if you fail a splatter

if you encounter an enemy rocket or other projectile, try your best to strafe sideways while boosting if you can’t outright dodge it, doing this will cause the rocket to flip you over 360 degrees, and won’t damage you as much, so you can keep going.

if an enemy is jetpacking to attack you, do not try to back-pedal while shooting at him, this will make it easier for the jetpacker to kill you the best tactic is to boost under him while he is flying, and attack him with guns from his rear.

also, it’s important to know how ghost projectiles work, so you can lead them over long distances. a Long-range ghost is no good if none of its shots hit.

11

> <mark>Pressing and holding the A button while boosting will rise the front of the ghost higher off the ground, this is useful when splattering, as it increases your surface area, and is also useful for making jumps, as it acts as an Air-Brake to prevent the ghost from flying too far</mark>
>
>
> If you attempt to splatter an opponent, but fail, but you haven’t been killed, Do not try to splatter your target again, they will see it coming, switch to guns if you fail a splatter
>
>
> if you encounter an enemy rocket or other projectile, try your best to strafe sideways while boosting if you can’t outright dodge it, doing this will cause the rocket to flip you over 360 degrees, and won’t damage you as much, so you can keep going.
>
>
> if an enemy is jetpacking to attack you, do not try to back-pedal while shooting at him, this will make it easier for the jetpacker to kill you the best tactic is to boost under him while he is flying, and attack him with guns from his rear.
>
>
> also, it’s important to know how ghost projectiles work, so you can lead them over long distances. a Long-range ghost is no good if none of its shots hit.

Does this apply to Halo 4? Think I’ve heard of something like this before.

12

> Does this apply to Halo 4? Think I’ve heard of something like this before.

yes it does

it’s not as prominent as it was in past Halo games, but the ability still exists

i do it every time i make jumps/attempt to splatter, and the few times i time the boost well, i always hit the target dead-on

without the raise-up, enemies have a better margin to jump over you, as you’re closer to the ground

13

> > Does this apply to Halo 4? Think I’ve heard of something like this before.
>
> yes it does
>
> it’s not as prominent as it was in past Halo games, but the ability still exists
>
> i do it every time i make jumps/attempt to splatter, and the few times i time the boost well, i always hit the target dead-on
>
> without the raise-up, enemies have a better margin to jump over you, as you’re closer to the ground

Completely forgot about this ability… -_-

14

> > Does this apply to Halo 4? Think I’ve heard of something like this before.
>
> yes it does
>
> it’s not as prominent as it was in past Halo games, but the ability still exists
>
> i do it every time i make jumps/attempt to splatter, and the few times i time the boost well, i always hit the target dead-on
>
> without the raise-up, enemies have a better margin to jump over you, as you’re closer to the ground

I had no idea you could do that, good to know.

15

> > > Does this apply to Halo 4? Think I’ve heard of something like this before.
> >
> > yes it does
> >
> > it’s not as prominent as it was in past Halo games, but the ability still exists
> >
> > i do it every time i make jumps/attempt to splatter, and the few times i time the boost well, i always hit the target dead-on
> >
> > without the raise-up, enemies have a better margin to jump over you, as you’re closer to the ground
>
> I had no idea you could do that, good to know.

Yeah, it has potential to be a nice little trick.

16

> > > > Does this apply to Halo 4? Think I’ve heard of something like this before.
> > >
> > > yes it does
> > >
> > > it’s not as prominent as it was in past Halo games, but the ability still exists
> > >
> > > i do it every time i make jumps/attempt to splatter, and the few times i time the boost well, i always hit the target dead-on
> > >
> > > without the raise-up, enemies have a better margin to jump over you, as you’re closer to the ground
> >
> > I had no idea you could do that, good to know.
>
> Yeah, it has potential to be a nice little trick.

I’ll have to give this a shot if I get on tonight.

17

> > > > > Does this apply to Halo 4? Think I’ve heard of something like this before.
> > > >
> > > > yes it does
> > > >
> > > > it’s not as prominent as it was in past Halo games, but the ability still exists
> > > >
> > > > i do it every time i make jumps/attempt to splatter, and the few times i time the boost well, i always hit the target dead-on
> > > >
> > > > without the raise-up, enemies have a better margin to jump over you, as you’re closer to the ground
> > >
> > > I had no idea you could do that, good to know.
> >
> > Yeah, it has potential to be a nice little trick.
>
> I’ll have to give this a shot if I get on tonight.

Works with Wraiths also.
Though at the lower CSR levels, I’ve taken down a Mantis with one Ghost(both were full health). Since most vehicles are slower than you, use the terrain to your advantage, try to lead them around an object which is too wide for them to shoot through, then if they follow you, try to back up to the corner or turning point of the object, effectively having a clear corner get-away. In this case, I used the ghost around Alpha base in Vortex and led a Mantis around the rock, seeing as how the player wasn’t so competent with the mantis, he followed me the whole way until he died. At higher levels you shouldn’t expect a kill, but you should be able to dish out an effective amount of damage to the other vehicles.
*Make sure you look at the radar for any disturbances which may damage or disrupt you or you path. When you notice them, boost away and stay at a reasonable distance. However don’t try to engage heavy vehicles so often.

18

Another thing, if that ghost is on fire, ditch it! don’t try to be a hero and end up dying in the explosion.

This is what I do when my ghost is on fire ready to blow. I will drive back to the spawn spot then get out and blow it up myself with a few shots and then waah laah! a fresh ghost spawns instantly. (assuming enough time has elapsed, pay attention to this)

HARVEST
Ghost Spawn Time: 45 seconds
Warthog Spawn Time: 60 seconds
Mongoose Spawn Time: 45 seconds

SHATTER
Ghost Spawn Time: 60 seconds
Mantis Spawn Time: 180 seconds

COMPLEX
Ghost Spawn Time: 120 seconds
Mongoose Spawn Time: 30 seconds

EXILE
Ghost Spawn Time: 60 seconds
Mongoose Spawn Time: 60 seconds
Warthog Spawn Time: 90 seconds
Gauss Hog Spawn Time: 120 seconds*
Banshee Spawn Time: 180 seconds
Scorpion Spawn Time: 180 seconds

LONGBOW:
Ghost Spawn Time: 60 seconds
Mongoose Spawn Time: 60 seconds
Warthog Spawn Time: 60 seconds

MELTDOWN
Ghost (in garage) Spawn Time: 45 seconds
Ghost Spawn Time: 60 seconds
Mongoose Spawn Time: 45 seconds
Warthog Spawn Time: 60 seconds

RAGNAROCK
Ghost Spawn Time: 90 seconds
Mongoose Spawn Time: 45 seconds
Warthog Spawn Time: 60 seconds
Banshee Spawn Time: 180 seconds
Mantis Spawn Time: 180 seconds

VORTEX
Ghost: Spawn Time: 60 seconds
Mongoose Spawn Time: 45 seconds
Warthog Spawn Time: 45 seconds
Rocket Hog Spawn Time: 120 seconds
Wraith Spawn Time: 180 seconds

WRECKAGE:
Ghost Spawn Time: 100 seconds
Warthog Spawn Time: 100 seconds

19

> > > > > Does this apply to Halo 4? Think I’ve heard of something like this before.
> > > >
> > > > yes it does
> > > >
> > > > it’s not as prominent as it was in past Halo games, but the ability still exists
> > > >
> > > > i do it every time i make jumps/attempt to splatter, and the few times i time the boost well, i always hit the target dead-on
> > > >
> > > > without the raise-up, enemies have a better margin to jump over you, as you’re closer to the ground
> > >
> > > I had no idea you could do that, good to know.
> >
> > Yeah, it has potential to be a nice little trick.
>
> I’ll have to give this a shot if I get on tonight.

Dang. Now EVERYBODY knows!

20

> Pressing and holding the A button while boosting will rise the front of the ghost higher off the ground, this is useful when splattering, as it increases your surface area, and is also useful for making jumps, as it acts as an Air-Brake to prevent the ghost from flying too far

i’d like to correct myself here,

in Halo 4, pressing the A button while in a ghost does not do anything
the button i’m referring to is actually Right Bumper (RB)

this also applies to the Wraith as well