Halo 3: Improvement Techniques 9.) Cover

We're having a hard time finding a time to video some of the other techniques I'd like you new guys to learn, but to whet your appetites while you wait, the kitchen has decided to give you a small tidbit in advance. That tidbit is cover, finding it and using it effectively.

Finding cover may not seem too hard, and in fact it really isn't. anytime you run behind a wall, jump down a level, or go up a lift to avoid enemy fire, you're finding and using cover. What you might not be doing though, is using this cover to your advantage offensively.

What I mean is instead of running away pell mell and just surviving, you can often use cover to create a trap, or just make it plain harder to kill you and thus negating the one or two shot advantage the enemy has on you.

Let's use the map guardian as an example. Plenty of cover can be found on this small map, but we're only concerned with the sniper tower for this lesson. The sniper tower is named so because the bottom level of it is where the sniper spawns (remember this for when you play with a team and call out "1 person on sniper tower level 3, or snipe 3, if someone is indeed there). This place is by far the most defensible position on this map, and generally teams with the lead will try and foritfy their position there to maintain that lead. If you find yourself in this position, you must effectively use cover in order to keep your hold on this area. Running away will do no good because you'll leave an entry way for the enemy to push into, and eventually take this area.

Use your ability to crouch to cover your entire body behind rails. Your head will still be exposed, but less of you exposed means less of you to hit. Try going behind a wall on the second level for a one second count and then popping out again to maybe even the odds by getting the first shot in. If a barricade is in your way, like on the very bottom, middle of the map, try popping out from behind it on the left, then popping out on the right, or even just jumping above it for some quick shot(s). Do not continue to pop out on the same side over and over again. Twice in a row is ok, and sometimes even preferred because it tends to make your opponent believe you will continue to come out on that side. But the third time you pop out on the other side, you should have a split second of surprise and get a first shot off.

Don't fall in love with cover either though. Sometimes it is best to just retreat from your cover a few steps to allow the enemy to waste his grenades on that position. After you see a couple of explosions froma safe distance, you can reclaim your position safely assuming the enemy has no other means to kill you that his weapon.

Try using cover to throw your grenades around a corner. Bounce them off walls and find the angels that allow you to hurt your enemy without ever being seen, then popping out and charging for the kill. I hope to have some video examples of this on this blog shortly for your viewing pleasure, but until then.....

Your assignment for tonight is to try different greande throws behind cover without ever allowing yourself to be shot, and to try finding a rythym for popping out behind objects to shoot your opponents. Don't worry if you die a lot while trying this. It will take a day or so to get comfortable with this new style of play. The importance of learning how to do it far outweighs any immediate deaths and will greatly help improve your game for the future.