The rules contained on this page only cover this specific game, please review the HSEL General Competition Rules for information covering all official tournaments.
1. Anti-Cheat
No additional anti-cheat is required for official matches.
2. 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.
2.1. Series Lengths
Matches will be played in a best of 5 series for the regular season and playoffs and a best of 7 series in the finals.
2.2. Game Connections
Halo Infinite game names will be 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.
2.3. 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
- 343 Industries (Specific mode will depend on the current match round)
- Lobby settings
- Privacy Settings: Invite Only
- Observers: On
- Max Lobby Size: 10 Players
- Mode:
- Mode Editor
For a step by step guide on how to invite players and create a custom match lobby, please visit our Custom Match Guide Article
2.3.1. Game Order
Matches will be played in the following order
Best of 5
- Game 1: Strongholds
- Game 2: Slayer
- Game 3: Oddball
- Game 4: Capture the Flag
- Game 5: Slayer
Best of 7
- Game 1: Strongholds
- Game 2: Slayer
- Game 3: Oddball
- Game 4: Slayer
- Game 5: Capture the Flag
- Game 6: Slayer
- Game 7: Strongholds
2.4. Maps
The following maps will be available for selection
Capture the Flag
- Bazarar
- Aquarius
Slayer
- Live Fire
- Recharge
- Streets
- Bazaar
- Aquarius
Oddball
- Live Fire
- Recharge
- Streets
Strongholds
- Recharge
- Live Fire
- Streets
2.4.1. Map Selection
Game 1:
- The home team will ban a map
- The away team will ban a map
- The home team will choose the first map
Games 2 through 5 (7 in Finals):
- The winner of the previous game will ban a map
- The lose of the previous game will choose the next map
- Previously banned maps will be available for future games
- The previously played map cannot be selected for the next game
2.5. 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.
3. Tournament Rules
3.1. Game Connections
All players taking part in High School Esports League tournaments are required to have an active game account for the tournament they’re participating in connected to their Generations Esports account. All game connection information shown on a team’s roster must match with the accounts in game. Players using different accounts or those not officially on the roster are prohibited from playing in matches. Only one account connection is allowed per game, the use of alternate accounts is prohibited. All account connections are prohibited from being changed after the team has participated in its first match of a tournament’s regular season.
If a player’s name does not match what is shown on their roster, please reach out to a HSEL Administrator through the live chat service for assistance while the game is still being played. Name discrepancy reports will not be accepted after a match has been completed.
3.1.1. Account Ownership
Game accounts used in official tournaments must belong to the student participating using that game connection. At no point in time may players share accounts with each other or use an account of another person, regardless of if they are in the tournament or not.
3.1.2. School-Purchased Accounts
Schools may create accounts or purchase game licenses for their students participating in a tournament if they do not already have an active one. These accounts will be considered the students’ personal account and may only be used by one student each. These accounts and licenses may not be transferred to another student upon the previous student’s graduation or leaving the team, as this would be against any publisher’s Terms of Service or End User License Agreement.
3.2. Match Streaming
3.2.1. Spectators
Spectators are permitted in game lobbies for the sole purpose of streaming their team’s match to the School’s Twitch or Youtube channel or to record the match. Spectators may not have any communication with team members while the game is currently being played and must not be a member of the roster participating in the match. All spectator streams must be from the player point of view, or a 3rd person chase cam. The use of the skybox camera, director camera, or the point of view of another team’s player is prohibited. At the end of the match, the stream vod or an unedited copy of the recording must be shared with the other team. The use of the Generation Esports Wizard streaming service is prohibited for broadcasting spectating games.
3.2.2. Player Streaming
Players may stream to their personal twitch or youtube channel if they are participating in the match. The match may only be streamed from the player’s in-game point of view and should have at least a 3 minute delay set to prevent possible incidents of stream sniping.
Players may not at any time stream another player or roster’s match on their personal channel.
3.3. Playoff Qualification
Teams must compete in and complete 75% of their Regular Season matches in order to be considered for playoff qualification. Teams who do not meet this requirement will be removed from qualification consideration regardless of their final record.
3.3.1. Unplayed Matches
Any match or queue that a team misses or does not complete will result in the match being counted as a loss against the team's record at the end of the regular season.
3.4. Playoff Qualification Tiebreakers
The tie breaker system will be run as a tiered protocol that will be used if multiple teams finish the regular season with the same overall record.
- Wins. (Forfeit wins and bye wins are scored as a 0-0 win)
- Head-to-head record. (If the two tied teams have played each other, their match record against each other is compared)
- Overall game win percentage. (e.g. winning a match 3-0 is better than 3-2)
- Higher opponents’ game win percentage. (e.g. it is better to beat an opponent who consistently won 3-0 than 3-2)
- Fewer forfeit losses.
- Fewer bye wins.
- The team which had a higher number of wins before their first loss.
- If the first loss is received after the same number of wins, then the team which lost to the stronger opponent (as defined by game win percentage) will be ranked higher.
4. Restrictions
4.1. Use of other Maps or Game Modes
The use of other maps or game modes are prohibited from use in official tournament matches. If the incorrect map or game mode are loaded for any game, the match must be reset with the correct lobby and game settings.
5. Stoppage of Play
5.1. 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. The re-host may be called as long as the first round of the game has not been completed or first blood has not yet occurred. In the event that a match is rehosted, the same map must be selected. 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.
6. 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 game modes.