Greetings!
The Team Throwdown playlist comes out tomorrow, and we’re here to share some details with you. Grab a beverage and get comfy - this comprehensive update will tell you all about this new playlist.
Overall Settings
The following will be applied to the entire playlist and all game types.
Friendly Fire: Enabled
Game Length: 15 minutes
Custom Loadouts: Disabled
Death Cam: Disabled
Initial Ordnance: Enabled
Random Ordnance: Enabled - Used to create static weapon spawns
Personal Ordnance: Enabled in BR start / v2 settings:
- Left: Thruster Pack
- Down: Hologram
- Right: Hardlight Shield
Personal Ordnance: Disabled in “Deluxe” settings
Split-Screen: Enabled
Guests: Disabled
Sensor Mode: Allied movement - 25 meters
Player Speed: 110%
Overshield: 200%
Power Weapon / Powerup Spawns: - Railgun: 2:00
- Sticky Detonator: 2:00
- Energy Sword: 2:00
- Sniper Rifle: 2:00
- Incineration Cannon: 3:00
- Rockets: 3:00
- Overshield: 2:00
The playlist will launch with two different variants in the voting options:
BR Start Settings:
These variants are the “v2” settings that have become popular within the competitive community. In the playlist voting options, they will appear as “Slayer BRs,” Extraction BRs,” etc. These settings will only feature one loadout:
**v2 Game Loadout **
Starting Weapon Battle Rifle
Secondary None
Grenades 2x Frags
Armor Abilities None
Tactical Mod Resupply
Support Mod Explosives
These settings will be available in the first and second voting slot at launch. Now, onto the new settings that we’ll be testing out in the Team Throwdown playlist.
“Deluxe” settings:
These variants were developed with help from veteran competitive players Walshy, StrongSide, and Ghostayame. We will be testing these variants in the Team Throwdown playlist, and they will only be available in the third voting option at time of launch. The goal of these settings is to offer a very different option from the BR start / v2 settings - Deluxe will feature 3 different starting rifles: the DMR, Battle Rifle, and Light Rifle - all mixed across 5 different loadouts. Additionally, to balance these rifles, we’ve added select armor abilities, tactical packages, and support upgrades to the loadout options. Here they are:
Deluxe Game Loadouts
Loadout 1
Primary Weapon – DMR
Secondary Weapon – None
Grenades – 2x Plasma
Armor Ability – None
Tactical Package – Shielding
Support Upgrade – None
Loadout 2
Primary Weapon – Battle Rifle
Secondary Weapon – None
Grenades – 2x Frag
Armor Ability – Hologram
Tactical Package – Resupply
Support Upgrade – Dexterity
Loadout 3
Primary Weapon – Battle Rifle
Secondary Weapon – None
Grenades – 2x Pulse
Armor Ability – Hardlight Shield
Tactical Package – Mobility
Support Upgrade – Sensor
Loadout 4
Primary Weapon – Battle Rifle
Secondary Weapon – None
Grenades – 2x Frag
Armor Ability – Thruster Pack
Tactical Package – Grenadier
Support Upgrade – Awareness
Loadout 5
Primary Weapon – LightRifle
Secondary Weapon – None
Grenades – 2x Frag
Armor Ability – Regeneration Field
Tactical Package – AA Efficiency
Support Upgrade – Ammo
These loadout options were the result of extensive brainstorming, testing, and modifying with professional players, and we look forward to hearing your feedback. In the Deluxe settings, you’ll notice that each loadout can play a distinct role, and it is our hope that these loadouts are not only balanced, but allow for interesting and evolving strategy. For consistency and comparison purposes, the Deluxe settings will feature the same overall game and map settings as the BR start / v2 game types, but personal ordnance will be disabled entirely, as discussed earlier.
Here are the game types and maps that will be featured for both variants:
Team Slayer
50 points to win, kill point = 1 point
Maps: Abandon, Haven, Shutout, Simplex, Solace
Extraction
5 points to win, 1 active site, sequential site movement, 5 second arm and conversion time, total extraction time = 1 minute per location, conversion timer pause enabled
Maps: Dispatch, Haven
King of the Hill
250 points to win, progressive hill movement, hill move: 2 minutes, hill spawn penalty disabled
Maps: Shutout
CTF
Adrift - 5 flags to win, 15 second flag reset, 3 second flag return, flag at home
Simplex -5 flags to win, 15 second flag reset, 3 second flag return, flag at home
Solace - 3 flags to win, 15 second flag reset, no flag return, flag does NOT need to be at home
Here’s what some of the players we’re working with have to say about the Team Throwdown playlist:
“Saying that I’m extremely excited about the Team Throwdown playlist would be an understatement. I can personally attest to how much time, work and effort were put into these settings by the entire team, as well as the whole Halo community. These maps, game types and settings bring out a classic, competitive feel, and even provide room for the evolution of a strategic skill gap.” - Eric “Ghostayame” Hewitt
“I am excited to have a playlist that has the most competitive weapons, settings and maps that Halo 4 has to offer!” - David “Walshy” Walsh
“The first time I played these settings, I hit a quick scope to win a 49-49 standoff – what else can you ask for in a competitive playlist? You may not be able to get the rush of a tournament every day, but with this new playlist, you can experience the best competitive settings Halo 4 offers. I like the Battle Rifle start, which adds a definitive skill gap. I personally can’t wait to start dominating in Team Throwdown and get my level 50!" - Michael “StrongSide” Cavanaugh
To close, we hope that you enjoy the Team Throwdown playlist, and after you play, we encourage you to leave your feedback in this thread , which will be unlocked on Monday morning. We realize that the Deluxe settings are new to the majority of you, and we will monitor feedback in this thread when considering any updates, changes, or additions to Team Throwdown. Your feedback will greatly impact how this playlist improves and evolves over time.
See you in the playlist tomorrow!