Oddball
This Halo Infinite multiplayer Oddball guide contains all the information you'll need to excel in the Oddball game mode and all its variations. Halo Infinite has two Oddball variations in total, playable on 3 playlist multiplayer maps.
Oddball is a returning game mode in Halo Infinite multiplayer which pits two teams against one another in a contest to gain control of a a piece of a human skull called "the ball," and keep it in their possession for as long as possible.
How to Play Oddball
Oddball is an objective game mode where your team scores points by having any player of your team hold onto the ball. Unlike other modes, you don't gain points for killing enemy players, although ridding the map of them can certainly help you clear the way to obtaining the skull and is often necessary to prevent the enemy team from scoring points.
The game mode is broken out into rounds where the first team to hold the ball for 200 seconds wins the round and the first team to win two rounds claims victory. If neither team holds the ball, no points are scored and if the ball falls off the map it respawns again in its original spawn point.
While holding the ball, you cannot use any of your weapons or equipment, but can use the ball as a melee weapon. It swings faster than ordinary melee attacks and can kill an enemy player in two hits, though you must be at extremely close range to do so. Alternatively, you can drop the ball by holding the Switch Weapon button, freeing yourself up to fight back at a distance before picking the ball up again.
Tips and Tricks for Oddball
- When holding the ball, look for places that take a long time to get to and have lots of exits. High up places work especially well, as you can buy yourself precious points jumping down to a lower level when cornered, and possibly even escape.
- If death is inevitable, jump off the cliff. If all else fails, it's better to deny the enemy the ball than to make a stand and let them take it from you.
- Protect the ball carrier. This may seem obvious, but far too many teams go out to kill enemies without properly guarding their carrier. Instead, stay close to the carrier, give callouts for where enemies are coming from, and be ready to scoop up the ball yourself if your ally dies.
- You can Grappleshot the ball. And pulling it off is a glorious way to snatch hope from your enemies.
Oddball Game Mode Variations
- Oddball: This is the standard mode that can be found in the Quick Play and Ranked Arena playlists. In this variation, two teams of four work to score 100 cumulative points. The first team to reach 100 wins the round and the game continues until one team wins two rounds.
- Oddball Free-for-All: This is a variation of Oddball that, as you might have guessed, does not make use of teams. Instead, all players score individually and the game ends once someone scores 100 points or the 12-minute timer runs out. This mode does not currently appear on any playlists, but can be accessed by creating a Custom Game and selecting "343 Industries" in the Mode Editor.