If you are like me, a newbie trying to have some fun with Halo 5 PvP, then chances are you’re being destroyed without mercy.
My experience in PvP is very limited (Quake 3 arena against bots back in the day and Titanfall more recently) so, as you can imagine, when I started to play Halo 5 Guardians PvP I got wrecked (and I am still being wrecked).
I felt like my opponents had better and stronger weapons, or maybe they had some dark magic to aim or… YES, that must be: The elite controller!..
No, no and no. They have something I don’t: Skill. It’s something I will slowly acquire but the road will be full of bumps and holes and here are some things that I hope help you not to crash on those bumps and holes
- Start by playing campaign (in heroic mode at least). It’s not the same because no matter how smart AI is… they are not going to ground pound you or spartan charge you, or whatever… but they will be accurate and this will help you to develop a sense of awareness and move (like the ZigZag strafe technique). - Related to campaign mode, do not rely on the “I’ll take cover and shot my enemies fro this safe position” because in PVP there is no safe position unless you have a sniper rifle (and even then, you can be spotted) So try to keep moving. - Get used to use grenades. Throw a grenade into a room before you enter… and remember that grenades leave a yellow trail so it could be a double edge weapon “oooh a grenade came from that door. I’ll aim there and kill whatever comes from there” - Start by getting used with your primary weapons. I like shotguns and as soon as I could I equipped one… man what a mistake. I was never ever able to be close enough to shotgun a guy (well, I’ve been lucky 4 times) - Learn and understand what Bullet Magnetism and AutoAim is. Here are two links:
Auto-Aim | Halo Alpha | Fandom
http://news.softpedia.com/news/halo-5-bullet-bending-auto-aim-shows-why-consoles-should-not-be-used-for-shooters-495645.shtml
Just remember one thing, AutoAim and Bullet Magnetism is intended to help players with accuracy due to the inacurate nature of the controller. Everyone has it so you’re not cheating nor having an unfair advantage. Try to aim, but do not try to accurately aim the way you do in other games. If your reticle is red you’re aiming right. - Do not play Warzone before any mode. In my experience, Warzone is a box of chocolates where every chocolate is far more skilled than you. Everyone in my first warzone had at least 40 levels more than me (probably I had the game on Expanded matching). - Also, Warzone maps are quite open and if you, like me, have no experience playing halo then you’re going to get shot from afar by at least 1 guy (it’s not rare to get sniped, burnt, grenaded, gunned and meleed all at the same time by different guys…) - Make sure the game is Balanced (Option when you’re joining a match). My first free for all (FFA) was “Expanded” and I fought against guys lvl 100. I killed 5 guys, but man… it was all luck. - Once you feel comfortable playing campaign, try to make FFA your first PvP experience. If your game is balanced, you will be matched with guys around your level. My second FFA was against guys lvl 6 to 15 and I did way better, finished second with 22 kills (still, more deaths than kills). The thing with FFA is that you find 1v1 encounters more often. This helps you practicing your skills with a live target that is near your level and you can be ALMOST sure that noone will shoot you while fighting… it still happens but you won’t be killed by 4 guys at the same time. - This is not mine, I saw it somewhere else but forgot where… sorry if you’re reading this and you discover you said this without me crediting you 
“Focus on your kill” This means that if you started a fight, don’t run! You’re only giving the other guy a free kill if you do so. Halo is not Quake 3 arena where maps had several ways to flee. In Halo, most of the times you won’t be able to get away from an encounter so you better try to kill the guy. - Once you feel comfortable with your standard weapons, get to know the map special weapons. This is very important because there are guns you can evade their shots with the dash (Button B) and others have to charge for 3 seconds or so (Railgun). Today, I gave a guy 2 free kills in the very same spot at different times because I was sure I was going to kill him before he could shot his railgun… I was mistaken. Had I knew how the railgun worked, I could have evaded the shot and kill him. - Learn to crouch and jump. This two are very interesting abilities that are overlooked by new guys. More than once I’ve been firing like crazy to a guy and just when I feel I did enough damage… he crouches/jumps, my shots miss him and BAM! I’m dead. - MELEE! This is very helpful because sometimes you’re very close to an enemy and you think “YOUSUCKEREATLEAD” and next thing you know is that you’re respawning… what happened? He shot at you a couple of times and then smashed his fist against your visor. BAM! You’re dead. Learn to melee, you will get many kills with this but remember: Never ever think you can 1-shot a front facing enemy with melee (at least in PVP) . If you’re going to hit the RB, be ready to fire right away. This is not Titanfall where you kill everything with a single kick, you need to lower his shield first. You can, however, execute someone if you melee from behind and you can kill someone with melee if you are lucky enough to get him right after he fought someone and his armor is down (happens to me frequently)So, this are the things that I’ve discovered so far.
This is by no means a “The Pro-Guide to kill everything that moves in Halo 5 PvP” it’s more like “How not to be dumb in Halo (with a pinch of salt) for dummies” This has been my experience so far and I want to share it with guys so that they do not get destroyed because they thought entering PvP would be easy. (Specially if youre like me and most of your games are 3rd person Fantasy RPGs)
Thanx for reading and good luck!
P.D. I still wish Halo had a Human vs AI a la Horde (No, campaign is not it)
Well thought-out and useful advice for new players. With the game getting a second-quarter push I’ve seen some new players around here asking questions so I hope they see this.
Aw shush… you’re making me blush 
Excellent tips. Thanks for taking the time to really flesh them out and explain them in detail. You’re doing new players a major solid here.
Kudos, love. 
Nice tips OP. Some great advice here.
Another tip I find useful because I would die all the time doing this: Resist the urge to chase. It usually doesn’t end well, because they turned around and have a grenade or shotgun ready, or they have reinforcements just waiting to mop you up.
Glad you gave up on trying warzone, definitely right about the longer distances.
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> Nice tips OP. Some great advice here.
> Another tip I find useful because I would die all the time doing this: Resist the urge to chase. It usually doesn’t end well, because they turned around and have a grenade or shotgun ready, or they have reinforcements just waiting to mop you up.
Even platinums chase.
Just to tack on to this…
Try to avoid 50/50 engagements as much as possible, but when you are in one - ignore incoming damage and put 100% of focus on your reticle and get your shots in.
Be stealthy, and/or try and play a support role for your team - grab a BR or DMR and stay close to your team, get shots in, make call-outs, finish people off. While doing this try to be aware of spawns and positioning, with your support role/position you should be able to tell easier from way you are.
Stop messing with your sensitivity, put it somewhere between 3-6, turn down the acceleration to 1 or 2 and leave it there, pretty much all pros play within in here, and it works fine, but you hindering ability to lock down that muscle memory/feel by changing it all the time.
Stay on higher ground when possible, and be aware of your cover, and use it to your advantage as much as possible. When you do have to move, think about your route and cover before-hand a bit - but don’t leave power positions because for some reason you feel like you have to move, lock it down and wait for the kills, you shouldn’t feel like you’re constantly searching for people (which can stem from starting slow and feeling like you have to catch up with kills).
When you inevitably die, like everyone does every game - try and take that time to not say “-Yoink-, -Yoink-, damn”… take a look at what happened and try to figure out why you died. “spammed my shot”, “dropped down to bottom mid to chase a kill, should have stayed high” etc.
Also, if you haven’t made a control switch to bumper jumper or hell jumper, you should consider making that switch sooner rather than later - and dealing with the pain of pressing the wrong buttons for few days; the payoff is worth it.
Awesome! I will add the additional tips to the list. (Should have added one or two blank posts in case this happened …)
Additional tips
- Be smart when chasing! As Vanguard425 pointed out, several times you’re running into a trap. Know when to chase! If the target is unaware then it is probably a good idea, but if you were fighting and you are left with low health… you have the disadvantage because he ran and most probably is waiting for you. Still, the premise is there: Be smart! As you can see in the video posted by Sevennn he did chase, but the blue Spartan was half unaware and in disadvantage because of that (even so, kudos to the Sevennn because he used the grenade in a impressive way).
Quoting PEi Luke - Try to avoid 50/50 engagements as much as possible, but when you are in one - ignore incoming damage and put 100% of focus on your reticle and get your shots in.
In other words, if your shield is down, let it recover itself. You’re vulnerable and you’re still learning… maybe the other player is learning too, maybe not. But the thing is you are in a very delicate situation so be careful, if the engagement is inevitable then don’t run and try your best! - Stop messing with your sensitivity, put it somewhere between 3-6, turn down the acceleration to 1 or 2. He said something VERY important: the more you change it, the more difficult will be for your muscles to develop that muscle memory.
My personal advise, test your changes in Campaign. In a way, Campaign is practice for PvP. (It should not be like that but I guess you can look at it that way) - I said to test your changes in Campaign. This also applies to PEi last advice (I have to try it myself): if you haven’t made a control switch to bumper jumper or hell jumper, you should consider making that switch sooner rather than later - and dealing with the pain of pressing the wrong buttons for few days; the payoff is worth it. - When you inevitably die, like everyone does every game - try and take that time to not say “-Yoink-, -Yoink-, damn”… take a look at what happened and try to figure out why you died. “spammed my shot”, “dropped down to bottom mid to chase a kill, should have stayed high” etc
When playing in teams: - Be stealthy, and/or try and play a support role for your team - grab a BR or DMR and stay close to your team, get shots in, make call-outs, finish people off. While doing this try to be aware of spawns and positioning, with your support role/position you should be able to tell easier from way you are.
My comment: He is right here. When you start playing on team matches, you are not alone anymore and chances are you will NOT fight 1v1. Stick with your teamates and remember, there is no I en team. An assist is better than a death because you were trying the lonewolf tactic when you were in truth a french puddle pup. Go lonewolf when you’re skilled, before that I recommend to help and learn.
-
ExplodedLamb* Also mentioned something important: - Use Focused search to get put with the newbiest people available.
By newbiest, he doesn’t mean you will have an easy time winning. He means people who is starting the PvP like you. In my opinion, you can try Balanced Search too. You might get paired with a level 100 and that’s ok… as long as you learn from your deaths.
> 2533274821773458;6:
> Glad you gave up on trying warzone, definitely right about the longer distances.
>
>
>
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> > 2533274961306591;5:
> > Nice tips OP. Some great advice here.
> > Another tip I find useful because I would die all the time doing this: Resist the urge to chase. It usually doesn’t end well, because they turned around and have a grenade or shotgun ready, or they have reinforcements just waiting to mop you up.
>
>
> Even platinums chase.
Chasing is still not generally a good idea. I do it alot, and I am Diamond 5, but I certainly get burned by it. Having people chase you usually works better as seen here.
BTW, saying ‘even platinums…’ Platinum isn’t really that high of rank. It’s average. Gold/Platinum is average, Diamond above averaged, and Onyx is actually ‘ranked’.
BTW, nice post OP. good insight from a noob to other noobs.
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> > 2533274821773458;6:
> > Glad you gave up on trying warzone, definitely right about the longer distances.
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> >
> >
> >
> > > 2533274961306591;5:
> > > Nice tips OP. Some great advice here.
> > > Another tip I find useful because I would die all the time doing this: Resist the urge to chase. It usually doesn’t end well, because they turned around and have a grenade or shotgun ready, or they have reinforcements just waiting to mop you up.
> >
> >
> > Even platinums chase.
>
>
> Chasing is still not generally a good idea. I do it alot, and I am Diamond 5, but I certainly get burned by it. Having people chase you usually works better as seen here.
>
> BTW, saying ‘even platinums…’ Platinum isn’t really that high of rank. It’s average. Gold/Platinum is average, Diamond above averaged, and Onyx is actually ‘ranked’.
I know, I’m Onyx in everything.
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> > 2533274902478287;9:
> > > 2533274821773458;6:
> > > Glad you gave up on trying warzone, definitely right about the longer distances.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > 2533274961306591;5:
> > > > Nice tips OP. Some great advice here.
> > > > Another tip I find useful because I would die all the time doing this: Resist the urge to chase. It usually doesn’t end well, because they turned around and have a grenade or shotgun ready, or they have reinforcements just waiting to mop you up.
> > >
> > >
> > > Even platinums chase.
> >
> >
> > Chasing is still not generally a good idea. I do it alot, and I am Diamond 5, but I certainly get burned by it. Having people chase you usually works better as seen here.
> >
> > BTW, saying ‘even platinums…’ Platinum isn’t really that high of rank. It’s average. Gold/Platinum is average, Diamond above averaged, and Onyx is actually ‘ranked’.
>
>
> I know, I’m Onyx in everything.
Good for you! So were you trying to make him feel better saying ‘hey, even platinums chase you’ll get better’. Or were you really just plugging your vid? 
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> > 2533274821773458;11:
> > > 2533274902478287;9:
> > > > 2533274821773458;6:
> > > > Glad you gave up on trying warzone, definitely right about the longer distances.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > 2533274961306591;5:
> > > > > Nice tips OP. Some great advice here.
> > > > > Another tip I find useful because I would die all the time doing this: Resist the urge to chase. It usually doesn’t end well, because they turned around and have a grenade or shotgun ready, or they have reinforcements just waiting to mop you up.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Even platinums chase.
> > >
> > >
> > > Chasing is still not generally a good idea. I do it alot, and I am Diamond 5, but I certainly get burned by it. Having people chase you usually works better as seen here.
> > >
> > > BTW, saying ‘even platinums…’ Platinum isn’t really that high of rank. It’s average. Gold/Platinum is average, Diamond above averaged, and Onyx is actually ‘ranked’.
> >
> >
> > I know, I’m Onyx in everything.
>
>
> Good for you! So were you trying to make him feel better saying ‘hey, even platinums chase you’ll get better’. Or were you really just plugging your vid?
Point was everyone chases, I get nothing from this game clip. Dunno why I matched with platinums that game tho.
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> BTW, nice post OP. good insight from a noob to other noobs.
Don’t call me noob that hurts my spartan heart. Call me newbie :3
When I originally saw the title of this forum I totally thought that it was going to be sarcastic. Nice job, and you gave some good tips
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> > 2533274902478287;10:
> > BTW, nice post OP. good insight from a noob to other noobs.
>
>
> Don’t call me noob that hurts my spartan heart. Call me newbie :3
Sounds like a plan noob
Thought this was gonna be a git good post, was pleasantly surprised, good tips all around
Pretty good tips for newbies. Couple things I’d change:
- Beat the campaign on Legendary before PvP. PvP is harder than Legendary.
- Don’t chase people who know what they’re doing.
- Most importantly- Use Focused search to get put with the newbiest people available.
Couple things I’ll second:
- Play cautiously until you’re comfortable, then become more aggressive.
- Learn from your deaths.
Oh also, OP, firefight is coming in June, that’s Halo’s PvE.
> 2533274795853970;18:
> Pretty good tips for newbies. Couple things I’d change:
> 1. Beat the campaign on Legendary before PvP. PvP is harder than Legendary.
> 2. Don’t chase people who know what they’re doing.
> 3. Most importantly- Use Focused search to get put with the newbiest people available.
>
> Couple things I’ll second:
> 1. Play cautiously until you’re comfortable, then become more aggressive.
> 2. Learn from your deaths.
>
> Oh also, OP, firefight is coming in June, that’s Halo’s PvE.
Awesome. I’ll Add that to the post that still has space.
Also
Firefights? Sounds like fun!