HSEL Halo Infinite Rules

The rules contained on this page only cover this specific game, please review the HSEL General Competition Rules for information covering all official tournaments. 

UPDATE 8/9/23: The Map ban/mode rotation and spectator procedures have seen a significant overhaul. All participants are encouraged to review the following ruleset before registration. 

1. Match Procedure

Supported Platforms

• PC
• XB1
• XBS X/S

This game supports crossplay. All teams competing in this tournament will face each other, regardless of what console they play on.

1.1. Series Lengths

Preseason, Regular Season, Playoffs - Best of 5

Finals - Best of 7

1.2. Game Connections

Halo Infinite game names may appear as the user's Microsoft/Xbox account name, regardless of platform. Halo games connections must be set as the name that appears in the game. Please be sure that your game connection matches your in-game name before the match begins.

1.3. Game Lobby

The home team will create a custom game lobby and invite the away team to their fireteam. In order for invites to be sent out, players must be on each other’s friends list. Every game will use the default settings for the game mode in play. The following lobby settings will need to be edited for each game. 

• Quickplay
• Game Mode: CTF, Slayer, Strongholds, or Oddball
• Custom Game
  • Mode Editor --> Mode: 
    • 343 Industries (Specific mode will depend on the current match round)
      • Ranked CTF
      • Ranked: Slayer
      • Ranked: Strongholds
      • Ranked: Oddball
      • Ranked: King of the Hill 
    • Lobby settings 
      • Privacy Settings: Invite Only
      • Observers: On
      • Max Lobby Size: 10 Players

For a step-by-step guide on how to invite players and create a custom match lobby, please visit our Custom Match Guide Article

1.4. Maps

The following maps will be available for selection: 

1.4.1. Map & Mode Selection

BEST OF 5 

Games 1, 3, & 4 (non-Slayer objective modes):

• The home team will pick Map 1's objective mode
  • Away team bans a map
  • Home team picks a map from the remaining pool 
• The away team will pick Map 3's objective mode (may not repeat a mode) 
  • Home team bans a map 
  • Away team picks a map from the remaining pool 
• (If necessary) The team currently ahead in the series (2-1) will pick Map 4's objective mode from the remaining 2 unplayed objective modes
  •  The team behind bans a map 
  • The team ahead picks a map from the remaining pool 

Games 2 & 5 (Slayer):

• The winner of the previous game bans a map
• The loser of the previous games bans a 2nd map
• The winner of the previous game bans a 3rd map
• The loser of the previous game bans a 4th map
• The remaining map will be played

The game 2 Slayer map may be the same as the game 5 Slayer map.

BEST OF 7 (Finals only) 

Mode Rotation

• Game 1 - Strongholds
• Game 2 - Slayer
• Game 3 - King of the Hill 
• Game 4 - Oddball 
• Game 5 - Slayer 
• Game 6 - Capture the Flag 
• Game 7 - Slayer 

Games 1, 3, 4, & 6 (Objective Modes)

• The home team/winning team will ban a map
• The away team/losing team will ban a map
• The remaining map will be played for that game
  • Maps can be repeated in a match series 

Games 2, 5, & 7 (Slayer)

• The winner of the previous game bans a map
• The loser of the previous games bans a 2nd map
• The winner of the previous game bans a 3rd map
• The loser of the previous game bans a 4th map
• The remaining map will be played
  • Maps can be repeated in a match series

1.5. Game Ties

Slayer

In the event a Slayer game ends in a tie, the game will be replayed in its entirety for one (1) game. If the second game ends in a tie, the game will be replayed with a 25-point limit. The 25-point limit will be used indefinitely if the games continue to end in a tie. The replayed game(s) will utilize the same side selection for both Teams.

Capture the Flag (CTF)

In the event a CTF game ends in a tie, a new game will be played with a sudden death rule, where the first team to capture a flag will be declared the winner. The replayed game(s) will utilize the same side selection for both Teams.

Strongholds

In the event a Strongholds game ends in a tie, the game will be replayed in its entirety for one (1) game. If the second game also ends in a tie, the game will be replayed with a 100-point score limit. The 100-point score limit will be used indefinitely if the games continue to end in a tie. The replayed game(s) will utilize the same side selection for both Teams.

King of the Hill 

In the event a King of the Hill game ends in a tie, the game will be replayed with a 2-point to-win
limit. The 2-point-to-win limit will be used indefinitely if the games continue to end in a tie. The
replayed game(s) will utilize the same side selection for both Teams.

2. Tournament Rules 

2.1. Match Streaming

2.1.1. Spectators

Schools wishing to use the spectator slot must apply for and receive explicit approval from HSEL to be a "Verified Broadcaster". Click here to apply for approval to be a "Verified Broadcaster".

If approved, all broadcast personnel listed on the application will receive the "Verified Broadcaster" trophy to feature on their Generation Esports profile. The following steps must be taken prior to the first stream by any verified broadcaster:

• The team admin/captain must add the verified broadcaster(s) to any VALORANT game roster that will have a match streamed by the verified broadcaster(s).
  Verified broadcasters must feature their trophy on their GenE profile page. This will ensure that it appears on a match page, for the opposing team's visibility.
• Personnel in the spectator slot may not have any communication with team members while the game is currently being played and must not be a competitor in the match. An esports coach or other adult sponsor must be onsite to monitor the broadcast and respond to any inquiries from HSEL.

Verified broadcasters may utilize any camera option available in the game (all players’ points of view, skybox cameras, etc.)

Verified Broadcasters will be held to a strict standard on these rules. If HSEL determines that these rules have been violated, the offending team will have all streaming privileges revoked and may face other consequences such as game or match forfeiture, up to and including removal from the tournament.

Concerns about non-verified broadcasters utilizing the spectator slot must be reported immediately while the match is ongoing.

If any spectator rules are broken, HSEL admins will remove all permissions for streaming. Further infractions will result in removal from the tournament entirely. 

3. Restrictions

3.1. Use of other Maps or Game Modes

The use of other maps or game modes is prohibited from use in official tournament matches. If the incorrect map or game mode is loaded for any game, the match must be reset with the correct lobby and game settings. 

4. Stoppage of Play

4.1 Disconnects

Should a player unintentionally disconnect from the game "early" in a map (as defined below), the rest of their roster should (1) stop playing the game (moving, shooting, etc.), (2) end the game, and (3) notify their opponents of the situation immediately via match chat. In this case, the map will be restarted. Points, captures, progress, and kills refer to both teams' summed total.

• Capture the Flag: 30 seconds or 1 capture
• King of the Hill: 30 seconds or a total of 50% progress on the first point
• Oddball: 30 seconds or 10 total points scored
• Slayer: 30 seconds or 5 total kills
• Strongholds: 30 seconds or 10 total points scored

If the specified time has been reached or the total scored by both teams has reached the threshold indicated above, play should be suspended by following the above procedure, then the match should be brought to the attention of the support team.

Note: The purpose of all players stopping their play for a moment before ending the game is to clearly demonstrate in the replay when fair play stopped during the match.

Both rosters should be prepared to load the replay in theater mode (inside the community tab) and present a screenshot, photo, or video of the game and scoreboard at the point at which they feel the game should be resumed. HSEL administration has sole authority to determine the point at which play may be "resumed" by determining a new threshold for victory.

For example, if a game of Strongholds is suspended with Team A at 100 points and Team B at 150 points with two minutes remaining, then the "resumed" game may be declared ended after two minutes of game-time have passed using the teams' summed scores OR Team A scores 150 points OR Team B scores 100 points, whichever comes first.

4.2. Game Rehosting

Each team may request the game be re-hosted once per match if they’re experiencing connection issues or other issues that prevent them from playing. Rehosts can only be requested if the game time/point thresholds (see below) have not been met. In the event that a match is rehosted, the same map must be selected.

• Capture the Flag: 30 seconds or 1 capture
• King of the Hill: 30 seconds or a total of 50% progress on the first point
• Oddball: 30 seconds or 10 total points scored
• Slayer: 30 seconds or 5 kills
• Strongholds: 30 seconds or 10 total points scored

If problems persist with regards to a player disconnecting after the server has already been re-hosted or the rehosting requirements are unable to be met, the game will continue with the remaining players. 

5. Team Rosters

Halo Infinite team rosters require a minimum of 4 players and are limited to a maximum of 8 players (4 starting players and 4 substitute players). Rosters that do not meet the minimum or exceed the maximum number of players will not be allowed to participate in official matches until their roster size meets the set requirements. Player Substitutions may be made between games (i.e. after game 1 and before game 2).