{"id":23701,"date":"2015-10-17T03:07:25","date_gmt":"2015-10-17T08:07:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/?p=23701"},"modified":"2015-10-17T03:07:25","modified_gmt":"2015-10-17T08:07:25","slug":"halo-community-update-multiplayer-merits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/?p=23701","title":{"rendered":"Halo Community Update: Multiplayer Merits"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a reblog from Halo Waypoint: <\/strong>(Before you go any further, be forewarned that there may be minor spoilers below. If you don’t want to know anything of Halo 5, I suggest you skip this article until after the game comes out officially on the 27th.)<\/span><\/p>\n

BY\u00a0B IS FOR BRAVO\u00a0–\u00a0

Over the past week, you\u2019ve gotten your eyes on the\u00a0launch trailer\u00a0for Halo 5: Guardians, learned about\u00a0playlists\u00a0and\u00a0API support, received\u00a0orders\u00a0for launch night, and perhaps started to create a digital to-do list with the reveal of\u00a0upcoming achievements. But, with just 11 days until launch, that\u2019s not all.<\/p>\n

Earlier today, Josh Holmes, with the help of the multiplayer team, detailed new info about Halo 5\u2019s Competitive Skill Rating (CSR), Seasons, matchmaking, and the almighty banhammer. Below, we\u2019ll showcase each of the ranking levels within CSR, which has been updated and overhauled since the beta. For the full breakdown and dev commentary, head\u00a0here.<\/p>\n

COMPETITIVE SKILL RATING<\/h2>\n

\"new_csr_banner-21d1ec83eb334e92a372c921f0f4ecf8\"<\/a>
\nIf you\u2019re excited about jumping into Arena, you\u2019re likely also looking forward to climbing the ranks and proving your skills against friends and opponents from around the globe. In prior ranking and progression systems, the iconography of the ranks, levels, and variants of each has become engrained into our memories as legendary titles to be earned; status to be achieved. You may remember getting your first (pre-patch!) level 16 in Halo 2, when the icons begin to look significantly different from that of ranks 4-15. Or perhaps you\u2019re instead reminded of the rarity distinctiveness of levels 44-50. Or maybe the look and meaning of Halo 3\u2019s 5-star general icon, which let you know that you were dealing with one serious Spartan. Or the comet and stars of Reach\u2019s Inheritor icon. We remember these images so well \u2013 the amazing matches and friends we associate with them, the desire to acquire them when you stumbled upon them in a post-game lobby, and the effort required to earn them and proudly see them next to your gamertag in a pre-game lobby. Today, we\u2019re presenting you with the ranks, tiers, and imagery for Halo 5: Guardians\u2019 Competitive Skill Rating, and hope that the experiences that you associate with these images are added to your memory of amazing Halo moments and gameplay.<\/p>\n

BRONZE<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"set-bronze-a11380ab57424847ac779db438bbd714\"<\/a><\/p>\n

SILVER<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"set-silver-1f48f47e76134d309b500343e7a9772b\"<\/a><\/p>\n

GOLD<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"set-gold-b3be77f4edc0456daeee8d26acd65f72\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PLATINUM<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"set-platinum-41afae951a6a4db184b8500314a23746\"<\/a><\/p>\n

DIAMOND<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"set-diamond-fc7813bce14140e190441620c6f1546c\"<\/a><\/p>\n

ONYX\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"set-onyx-caeb0351c7984910895be47542924588\"<\/a><\/p>\n

CHAMPION<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"set-champion-331f82b6e874487c85f2d38c9f39d213\"<\/a><\/p>\n

COMMENDATIONS<\/h2>\n

\"banner3-7cd39e3520a64a0ab4bb74344c301bfd\"<\/a>
\nEarlier this week, we revealed the\u00a0achievement list for Halo 5: Guardians, which gave you a new set of tasks to review while we wait for the game\u2019s release. Knowing you, though, you\u2019re looking for even more to do, more to explore, and more to master. You\u2019ve come to the right place. This week, we\u2019re also revealing intel on Halo 5 Commendations. To give you the scoop, here\u2019s Investment Lead Chris Blohm.<\/p>\n

CHRIS BLOHM, INVESTMENT LEAD<\/strong><\/p>\n

Commendations, our old friends introduced in Halo: Reach, are returning for Halo 5: Guardians. You\u2019re likely familiar with them – a reward system where various tasks are presented that need to be incremented via gameplay. When building Halo 5\u2019s commendations, we kept the basic structure intact, but we simplified to all commendations having five tiers. One of the reasons you\u2019re probably reading this, besides getting a view at the full launch list, is to learn about what you\u2019ll be rewarded with. We can\u2019t really blame you. Every tier of a commendation rewards XP. Completing tier 3 of a commendation rewards a bonus REQ Pack with boosts and other single-use REQs. The 5th<\/sup>\u00a0tier of every commendation unlocks a pack containing a specific emblem. This allows a player to flaunt their reward and let everyone know via that emblem and the corresponding back plate that they have put the time in and had the skill required to finish the commendation.Commendations overall are a valuable system for us at 343. First, it allows us a vector to get more rewards and more REQ packs into your hands. It also allows us to enable that player pride moment. We intend to add more commendations in the months ahead and we will watch the current ones close to make sure that they are fun and balanced.Below, you\u2019ll find a look at the commendations list for day 1:<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/header>\n

Commendation
\n<\/strong><\/span>Description<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Warzone Mastery<\/span> <\/strong>
\nMaster All Warzone Commendations
\nScorpion Gunner<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill enemy Spartans with a Scorpion
\nAssistant<\/span> <\/strong>
\nEarn any Assist medal in Warzone
\nCarbine<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill an enemy Spartan with the Carbine
\nUNSC Power Weapon Mastery<\/span> <\/strong>
\nMaster all UNSC power weapons
\nMantis Destroyer<\/span> <\/strong>
\nDestroy enemy occupied Mantises
\nLoadout Assault Rifle<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill an enemy Spartan with the Assault Rifle
\nMantis Gunner<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill enemy Spartans with a Mantis
\nWraith Gunner<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill enemy Spartans with a Wraith
\nPhaeton Gunship Gunner<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill enemy Spartans with a Phaeton Gunship
\nGhost Gunner<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill enemy Spartans with a Ghost
\nRockethog Gunner<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill enemy Spartans with a Rockethog
\nGausshog Gunner<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill enemy Spartans with a Gausshog
\nBanshee Gunner<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill enemy Spartans with a Banshee
\nWarthog Gunner<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill enemy Spartans with a Warthog
\nSplinter Grenade<\/span>\u00a0*Hmm, a new grenade???<\/strong>
\nKill an enemy Spartan with the Splinter Grenade
\nPlasma Caster<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill an enemy Spartan with the Plasma Caster
\nAggressive Expansion<\/span> <\/strong>
\nTake over 3 bases without dying in any Stronghold gametype in matchmaking
\nUnstoppable<\/span> <\/strong>
\nSurvive a full match of Breakout
\nSmash<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill an enemy Spartan with melee
\nScorpion Destroyer<\/span> <\/strong>
\nDestroy enemy occupied Scorpions
\nHunter<\/span> Slayer<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill Hunters
\nKnight<\/span> Slayer<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill Knights
\nSoldier<\/span> Slayer<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill Soldiers
\nMarine Replicant Slayer<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill Enemy Marines
\nElite Slayer<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill Elites
\nWatcher Slayer<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill Watchers
\nJackal Slayer<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill Jackals
\nCrawler Slayer<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill Crawlers
\nWeapon Mastery<\/span> <\/strong>
\nMaster all weapon commendations
\nGrunt Slayer<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill Grunts
\nGrenade Mastery<\/span> <\/strong>
\nMaster all grenade commendations
\nForerunner Power Weapon Mastery<\/span> <\/strong>
\nMaster all Forerunner power weapons
\nCovenant Power Weapon Mastery<\/span> <\/strong>
\nMaster all Covenant power weapons
\nPlasma Grenade<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill an enemy Spartan with the Plasma Grenade
\nFrag Grenade<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill an enemy Spartan with the Frag Grenade
\nBinary Rifle<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill an enemy Spartan with the Binary Rifle
\nIncineration Cannon<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill an enemy Spartan with the Incineration Cannon
\nScattershot<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill an enemy Spartan with the Scattershot
\nBoltshot<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill an enemy Spartan with the Boltshot
\nFuel Rod Cannon<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill an enemy Spartan with the Fuel Rod
\nLoadout Weapon Mastery<\/span> <\/strong>
\nComplete all loadout weapon commendations
\nBringing Down the House<\/span> <\/strong>
\nDestroy the core of an Enemy Base
\nBig Game Hunter<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill an ultra boss or assist on the kill of an ultra boss
\nin Warzone
\nConqueror<\/span> <\/strong>
\nCapture a base
\nHunter<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill a boss or assist on the kill of a boss in Warzone
\nExplorer<\/span> <\/strong>
\nComplete an exploration quest
\nStronghold Mastery<\/span> <\/strong>
\nMaster all Stronghold commendations
\nHead in the Game<\/span> <\/strong>
\nDefend a team base in any Stronghold gametype in matchmaking
\nBeam Rifle<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill an enemy Spartan with the Beam Rifle
\nNeedler<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill an enemy Spartan with the Needler
\nHydra Launcher<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill an enemy Spartan with the Hydra Launcher
\nEnergy Sword<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill an enemy Spartan with an Energy Sword
\nSpartan Laser<\/span> <\/strong>
\nKill an enemy Spartan with the Spartan Laser<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"warzone_banner-6bfa25727fb243619c2da534ba0ea85c\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n
Commendation<\/span> Description<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/header>\n
\n
\n
Rocket Launcher
\n<\/strong><\/span>Kill an enemy Spartan with the Rocket Launcher<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Shotgun<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill an enemy Spartan with the Shotgun<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Railgun<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill an enemy Spartan with the Rail Gun<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
SAW<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill an enemy Spartan with the SAW<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Magnum<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill an enemy Spartan with the Magnum<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Stronghold Victory<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Win a match in any Stronghold gametype in matchmaking<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Storm the Walls<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Take over any base in any Stronghold gametype in matchmaking<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Slayer Mastery<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Master all Slayer commendations<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Playing Favorites<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill the same opponent three times without them killing you in any Slayer gametype in matchmaking<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Wonderful Toys<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Pick up three or more weapons or powers during a single match in any Slayer gametype in matchmaking<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Bulldozer<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Finish with KDA over eight in any Slayer gametype in matchmaking<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Slayer Victory<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Be on the winning team of a Slayer match<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Flag Mastery<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Master all Capture the Flag commendations<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Mine!<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Return your team’s flag in any Capture the Flag gametype in matchmaking<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Defender of the Flag<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Protect your team’s flag in any Capture the Flag gametype in matchmaking<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Sniper Rifle<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill an enemy Spartan with the Sniper Rifle<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Light Rifle<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill an enemy Spartan with the Light Rifle<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Suppressor<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill an enemy Spartan with the Suppressor<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Storm Rifle<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill an enemy Spartan with the Storm Rifle<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Loadout SMG<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill an enemy Spartan with the SMG<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Loadout DMR<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill an enemy Spartan with the DMR<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Loadout Battle Rifle<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill an enemy Spartan with the Battle Rifle<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Spartan Spree<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill multiple enemy Spartans without dying<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Geronimo<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill an enemy Spartan with ground pound<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Multikill<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Quickly kill multiple enemy Spartans<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Flag Victory<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Win a match in any Capture the Flag gametype in matchmaking<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Carrier Takedown<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill an enemy flag carrier in any Capture the Flag gametype in matchmaking<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Breakout Mastery<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Master all Breakout commendations<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Against All Odds<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Win a round of any Breakout gametype while outnumbered in matchmaking<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Breakout Victory<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Win a match in any Breakout gametype in matchmaking<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Eye of the Tiger<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Survive three rounds in a Breakout gametype in matchmaking<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Arena Mastery<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Master all Arena commendations<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Vehicle Mastery<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Master all vehicle commendations<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Wargoose Gunner<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Destroy enemy Spartans with a Wargoose<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Phaeton Gunship Destroyer<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Destroy enemy occupied Phaeton Gunships<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Juggernaut<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill an enemy Spartan with shoulder bash<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Assassin<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Assassinate enemy Spartans<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Spartan Slayer<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Take out enemy Spartans<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
And Stay Off<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill an enemy Spartan that is clambering<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Protector<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Protect a teammate<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Combat Opportunist<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Earn any combat skill medal<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Payback<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill the enemy Spartan that just killed you<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Avenger<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill an enemy Spartan that just killed a teammate<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Close Quarters<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Earn any CQC medal<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Whites of Their Eyes<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill a full health Enemy Spartan with a precision weapon without missing any shots<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Banshee Destroyer<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Destroy enemy occupied Banshees<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Wraith Destroyer<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Destroy enemy occupied Wraiths<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Warthog Destroyer<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Destroy enemy occupied Warthogs<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Ghost Destroyer<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Destroy enemy occupied Ghosts<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Mongoose Destroyer<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Destroy enemy occupied Mongooses<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Splatter<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Splatter an enemy Spartan with a vehicle<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Wheelman<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Earn Vehicle Skill medals<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Forerunner Destroyer<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Master all Forerunner kill commendations<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Warden Slayer<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Kill Wardens<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Covenant Destroyer<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Master all Covenant kill commendations<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

MEDALS<\/h2>\n

\"banner-medals-7d0f3eb72267429baabcd7c8b52e6135\"<\/a>
\nSince Halo 2, medals have celebrated our moment-to-moment multiplayer merits. Medals on our screen bring smiles to our faces, and give montages a certain look and feel that makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Well, as warm and fuzzy as they can while Spartans are being taken down with face-ripping headshots left, right, and center.<\/p>\n

Halo 5 brings with it brand new multiplayer medals \u2013 some have brand-new art, while others are brand new to the franchise, and will celebrate epic moments and plays in new ways.<\/p>\n

To get the lowdown on these medals, I sat down with MP designer Max Grossman who provided some insight into the different types of hardware you\u2019ll be earning in multiplayer. Luckily, he also bothered the UI team to get a sneak peek at some of the final medal art. Dig in below!<\/p>\n

MAX GROSSMAN, MULTIPLAYER DESIGNER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every Medal in Halo 5 exists for one of three reasons: to reward objective play, to earn REQ points, or to highlight incredible feats.\u00a0Boss Takedown and Flag capture are great examples of objective based Medals that help reinforce important actions critical to victory.\u00a0When playing Warzone, every Medal you earn increases your level, allowing you to redeem increasingly powerful REQs.\u00a0Medals allow us to clearly show players when their actions have a positive effect on their level. Kill type medals are the most common manifestation of this Medal.\u00a0The final (and most exciting) reason we create a medal is to highlight awesome moments: Bulltrue, Alley-Oop, and Killing Spree, to name a few.<\/p>\n

When we look at creating a new Medal, we have to make sure it satisfies a few rules.\u00a0A Medal needs to be an explicit action that a player can perform; rather than something that can \u201cjust happen.\u201d\u00a0Players should have a clear idea of what it is that they did to earn the Medal.\u00a0For example, we removed the\u00a0Reload This<\/em>\u00a0Medal because it didn\u2019t satisfy this criterion.\u00a0Second, a Medal needs to promote good behavior and should never reinforce a negative action.\u00a0You won\u2019t see the\u00a0Comeback Kill\u00a0<\/em>Medal in Halo 5 because it reminded players that they had died 3 times in a row without getting a kill.\u00a0When a player is playing poorly, they already know; they don\u2019t need the reminder.\u00a0Lastly, a Medal has to have a\u00a0killer\u00a0<\/em>name.\u00a0\u201cBulltrue.\u201d \u201cOverkill.\u201d \u201cReversal.\u201d\u00a0 I always like to imagine Jeff Steitzer\u2019s (the infamous multiplayer Announcer) voice in my head whenever trying to come up with Medal names. For as many new Medals that appear in Halo 5, there are just as many that we tinkered with during development that didn\u2019t make the cut.<\/p>\n

The visual design of our Medals is something we focused on in Halo 5.\u00a0Chad Pfarr, our Lead UI Designer, has spent a lot of time refining the visual design of our Medals.\u00a0We wanted to preserve the classic feel of the legacy medals while giving all of our Medals a fresh new look.\u00a0Even since the Beta, Chad has redesigned almost all of our Medals.\u00a0What we have now is a visual language that groups similar medals together, helping to reinforce what caused a player to earn a medal.\u00a0For instance, each game mode has its own unique visual style to help players identify them. Here are some of the other families of Medals that show up in Halo 5:<\/p>\n