Tips for Beginners

[IN10SS]

You can read all the stategys you want, but the simple truth is Halo 2 is a fluid game...meaning things are constantly changing. The best H2 players constantly are changing tactics to suit there surroundings and counter there enemy's. What works for one person in a certain map or against certain people may totally bomb in other maps or against other opponents.There are, however, certain things one can do to get a "jump" on the learning curve.
First off... LEARN THE MAPS!! To control the game, unless up against inexperienced players, you must control the weapons that give you the best advantage on map. Spend time in custom games learning the location of sniper,sword,rockets,etc. so you can immediately go to your closest weapon of choice upon the start of the game. This way you can also look for shortcuts to and from certain locations. "Can I make that jump?" is not something you want to be asking yourself in a matchmaking game. Have a buddy join you in a custom game and have him hide in various corners. Learn where you can throw a greneade to bounce off the wall and cause damage.
Weapons...Every weapon or combo has advantages and disadvantages. In order to use these to your best ability you must know the limitations of each. Example; if you know your opponent has the sword, it would be foolish to charge him with a smg. A quick ambush with the shotgun would be a better choice. Or maybe you could catch him in the open with a sniper or battle rifle. The point is, you must know what the killing range of each is. Also..IMPORTANT-get used to always reloading!!! Nothing will get you killed quicker, or make you look more noobish than charging someone and suddenly realizing your out of ammo.
SMG- short to semi-medium range. Some people use duel SMGS but a smg+magnum or smg+plasma rifle/pistol is better choice. A trick that may help you with smgs is to pump the trigger as fast as you can while ALWAYS aiming for the head. This reduces recoil which makes it easier for a newer player to keep recticle on there opponents head.
Battle rifle- Alot of people that are new to H2 initially hate this weapon, but as you gain experience you will find that this is often the weapon of choice for the better players. Why? because it will kill consistantly out to meduim range with 3-4 bursts (depending on if you have host or not) also that is assuming head shots. A good tactic for BR is to lob a grenade at your opponent, then finish him off the the br.
Sword- close range, make sure that you keep your recticle on your opponent. In game its best to keep sword as your secondary.Why? A couple reasons. First if people see you with the sword, that makes you a bigger target because they want it for themselves. Second, if they think you just have a single smg many will charge you thinking your an easy kill, making it easy to kill them.
Shotgun-short range,one of the best defenses against the sword. Tip; Get used to hitting B immediately after shooting. One shot with shotty + a melee attack =instant death.
Sniper- any range, although will be difficult at close range for the newer player. At first just aim for the body, it will take 2 shots to kill (unless they have overshield). But as you get more comfortable get used to automatically aiming for the head. This is a 1 shot kill. A good combo is sniper + BR..one shot to the body with snipe and finish him off with a burst from the BR. Snipers take practice. Dont expect to be an expert sniper in a week.
Rockets- any range, although more effective at close to meduim. A couple tips with rockets..1. Get used to always jumping before you shoot. This accomplishes 2 things. One, it helps you avoid any "splash" damage resulting from a close shot, and two, it helps you avoid a shot from your enemy(in the case that he has rockets also).2. Aim the the ground at your opponents feet, rather than at his body. It will kill him just as quick and is much more of a higher percentage shot than trying to hit there body.
Brute shot-any rang, although more effective at close to medium. As in rockets, its easier to aim at the ground at your opponents feet than hit his body. A nice advantage to Brutes is the ability to bounce them off walls or around corners.
Carbine- close to meduim range.Fast firing rate..quick kills with headshots but takes more skill to use. Better off for the more exp players.
I'm not going to go into every weapon, but just wanted to give a brief desc of the basics.
Watch the more experienced players. How do they move? Where were they hiding when they ambushed you? What weapons were they using? You will learn alot this way if you pay attention. Get used to lobbing a grenade into rooms or around corners before running in. Even if it doesnt kill them, it will weaken them, making them easier to kill. Pay attention to what weapon your opponent has. If he has sniper, for example, dont expose yourself by running across open terrain and making yourself an easy target.
Tips for team games- COMMUNICATE!!!!!!!! Nothing will get your team killed quicker then everyone running off and doing there own thing,(at least when up against a team working as a unit). Is your teamate a better sniper than you? Then have HIM get the sniper or GIVE it to him.Are you the weakest link on your team? Then maybe you should hang at the base and camp for easy kills. The point is, you have to work as a team. This means staying in constant INTELIGENT communication with your teamates. Saying "Theres one coming", doesnt help your teamates out much....better off saying something like "one coming up ramp from elbow, has sword". Try to identify for your teamates exactly where they are and what weapon they're using. This way they can react accordingly. Only talk when you have something important to tell your teamates. Why? Because if you are close to an enemy they will hear you and KNOW that you are close. Dont work alone, you should always have a teamate with you. If you run into a pair of enemies and your alone, your chances of surviving are not nearly as good.
Well, i'm tired of typin. Hope this helps.

[Jackal]

nice job
good for noobs and idiots alike
communication is the key

[exyBoxy]

damn, dats big, i didint read it, i already know errything about erry tactic. glitches? i kno even how to get into yo mommas ***** via halo, jk. good job dude, glad u made it urself

[EmbraceSin]

exyboxy i hate you die

[mischifous]

lol, you crack me up stone.lmfao, your ver very sraight forward, but really, exy, that is what we call SPAM.

[EmbraceSin]

oh and on this post. in one setence i can give you the greatest tip ever. Learn to make your own strats. That will make you good! thinking about how to handle a sword noob with only a pistol *sidestep your right crouch BxB or BxR* lol im pro i know

[mischifous]

Lol, the only time i ever manage to bxr is when i clik random buttons on my controller. So ill have to practice that, but my favorite combo is plasma rifle and smg. You guys?

[hello11]

i like that combo and smg and pistol

[cruelkracker]

yea thats a nice duel combo.
my fav combo without duels is sword and sniper.

[mischifous]

na, i dont like to have sword and sniper, b/c im not good at medium range w/ sniper, and they would most likly have a br so that means i would have to run, and in halo2 if you run, you usually dont live. So i like the br and sniper or br and sword. Guys i kinda went off topic, so lets start talking about stones tut. again.

[cruelkracker]

yea but i can usualy noscope prety well like if they are 10 15ft infront of me.

[Steggy]

I kind of dont use strategies at all...I just call them preferences. I like certain weapons for certain maps and just center my playing around that...unless it doesnt work, then i do other stuff. I also have favorite spots. That guy who said it was fluid had it right. Heres my tips.
Whatever weapon you feel most comfortable/most skilled in, go for it. if a teammate goes for it...well then you punch them in the head.
never dual wield. ever
Higher ground always gives an edge. unless your facing me. where nothing works. cuz i will kill you. im basically chuck norris. you will die.