How to Use It Effectively - The Banshee

The Banshee was given it's name by the shrill shrieking noise it makes during flight. So when you hear it coming you need to deal with it fast. The reason why a Banshee is such a potent killing machine is because the gunner and the pilot are one. The pilot is always pointing at where he intends to shoot. Add to that the very agile nature of the craft, it being relatively small and able to perform flips, makes this vehicle a very evasive and effective killing machine.

A banshee needs to watch out for other aircraft and in particular scorpion tanks, which could blow them up in one direct hit.

Being agile mean that the Banshee is fairly weak, only able to withstand so much small arms fire. High velocity bullets like sniper rifles will rip the craft apart in a few shots.

When piloting a Banshee your key objective is to stay on the move and avoid lots of attention. Not easy when you are flying high in the air with no cover, right? The Banshee's greatest strength is it's ability to quickly kill enemies using the fuel rod gun (secondary fire weapon). Infantry, and light vehicles get one-shotted with ease.

Try to focus your fire on infantry, who make easy prey. However if an enemy is virtually underneath the Banshee don't circle around to the ground in an attempt to desperately get a difficult kill as this will make you an easier target for grenade sticks, plasma pistol and grenade EMP effects and sky-jacking attempts. Instead break off and find a new target.

Spotting infantry is easy from your vantage point in the sky. You need to get a feel for how to set up for an attack. To set up effectively you need to bear in mind where your target is, could he run for cover? does he have teammate support who may attack you? are there any enemy vehicles nearby? If using the fuel rod gun, ensure you get within range to allow for travel time of the projectile to hit the target accurately.

The same applies for attacking ground vehicles. The only big difference is when taking on an enemy tank. Depending on it's strength the tank will require two shots from the fuel rod gun to destroy it. From the front tanks have stronger armour. Try to get behind the tank and attack from the rear, this will prove deadly to them, and will ensure that you don't get fired upon, putting you under less pressure at least initially.

When attacking another Banshee you need to be aware of a few things. An important point is to keep at a range that allows you to fire with the standard canons, but allowing you some time to evade (roll or somersault) to avoid a fuel rod gun shot. You can also use somersaults to get above and behind an enemy to get the advantage over them. Another good tactic is to bring the battle down to the ground, luring an enemy Banshee nearer your allies who can then fire or sky-jack the enemy vehicle and claiming it for your team.

Notice in this video that the Banshee pilot always keeps moving, performing somersaults and boosting around. This makes him virtually unable to be hit or attacked, which is exactly what a Banshee pilot should be doing.

One thing not to forget is that all covenant vehicles possess a boost ability that allows for quick movement, but at the cost of being unable to fire whilst boosting. A Banshee can use this ability to snap around the map very quickly and instantly rain death on unsuspecting victims, in a lot of cases for the entire length of a match.


A Banshee can control the map, control the players on both teams and can ultimately decide the game, if used effectively!

Try to take out a Banshee wherever possible, as you will find it much easier when one is not threatening you and your team throughout the course of a match.

How to Use It Effectively - The Revenant

Quite simply the Revenant is the illegitimate love child of the ghost and wraith tank. It has similar style to the ghost, being able to hop around fairly quickly, whilst having, effectively, a large version of the concussion rifle as it's primary weapon that arcs similar to the Wraith tank.

As such, the same strategy as the ghost applies when using the Revenant: circle infantry opponents and attack from range. However because each shot arcs and is more powerful (shot per shot) than a ghost plasma shot, the Revenant is capable of engaging other vehicles like Ghosts and Warthogs much more freely. The explosive nature of the main canon can flip vehicles, which is particularly handy to wipe out a Warthog full of opponents.

Revenants are still inferior when fighting tanks. Avoid going toe to toe with a tank, rather focus on keeping out of their way and pay attention to Warthogs, other Revenants, Ghosts and of course infantry.

In this video the revenant does get used, and when it does you will see that it acts just like a ghost. Generally you will find Revenants in larger battles involving objective based games. Always keep on the move, as mobility is always important.

Just practice with the Revenant and get a feel for what it's good and and what it's not so good at. Try to lead targets when shooting at long range. And if you feel like a battle is too overwhelming keep you distance and wait for team support.

Covenant Vehicle Basics

So here is the covenant section of vehicles. Although they are similar in types like support and attack, they use of each vehicle is unique from each, so you will need to practice a bit to get used to how each one works. To use vehicles effectively against smarter human opponents, look out for our upcoming series of video article that will show you the best way to use these vehicles to devastating effect.


Covenant Vehicles



Ghost

The ghost is a quick response ground support unit. It sports a boost function which redirects steering and canon power to speed around the battle field quickly. The driver is somewhat protected from the front, but the back and the sides leave a driver exposed.

Role: Support (and attack)
Driver: 1 (driver operates canons)
Passenger: 0
Armaments: Dual plasma canons.
Durability/Strength: Light: average vs light arms, weak vs anti vehicle weapons.
Weaknesses: Less effective versus tanks and aircraft. Armour lock.


Many operators use the superior agility and speed of the ghost to circle and strafe targets on foot. Even the boost function can be used aggressively to charge through and splatter victims who stray into open ground.
This tactic is now countered by armour lock, so be cautious. Ghosts are very quick when boosting, and can cover the length of a map in little time, much like a mongoose.


Revenant

A Revenant is more of a hybrid between a ghost and a wraith, having the agility and speed of a ghost with it's main weapon being a larger version of the concussion rifle round having the arcing trajectory of a wraith tank shot.

Role: Support (and Attack)
Driver: 1 (driver operates canon)
Passenger: 1 (can shoot hand weapons)
Armaments: Plasma Caster
Durability/Strength: Moderate: average vs light arms, weak vs anti vehicle weapons.
Weaknesses: Less effective versus tanks and aircraft. Armour lock.

The Revenant is used similarly to the way a ghost is used. You can circle and strafe ground infantry. However the main canon will not go toe to toe with heavy tanks and airborne opponents simply because the main weapon is easily dodged.
The Revenant can be used as an objective transporter carrying a passenger in the side seat.


Wraith (Tank)


The Wraith is one of two tanks in the halo reach vehicle pool, and possesses a destructive plasma canon. As it can deal out and take a lot of punishment it's primary role is that of attacking the enemy.

Role: Attack (and support)
Driver: 1 (operated the main canon)
Passenger: 0
Gunner: 1 (plasma repeater canon, can not be used by driver)
Armaments: 1x main canon 1x repeater canon
Durability/Strength: Heavy/Strong vs vehicles, light arms and anti vehicle weapons.
Weaknesses: Large target for anti-vehicle weaponry and easily  Hi-Jacked infantry. Weak versus banshees.


The Wraith Tank is the the Covenant heavy attacker on the battlefield. Its main purpose is to attack and hurt the enemy very quickly. Although the tank is slow and clumsy, not being anywhere near as agile as a ghost or revenant, it's arcing trajectory plasma bombs can be launched mortar style over obstacles and still batter opponents with deadly barrage of plasma. As with the Scorpion tank, a priority is keeping enemy infantry at distance. Another teammate can operate the plasma repeater canon for extra close quarter protection. The wraith does have a limited boost function to allow quick escape from attacks.



Banshee

The Banshee is the quintessential covenant aerial flier. It can boost for a long time and can strafe all targets with ease. Also expect to see operators doing fancy aerial flips to avoid attacks, even the dodging the lock-on of a homing rocket.

Role: Attack (and support)
Pilot: 1 (operates all weapons)
Passenger: 0
Armaments: Dual plasma repeater canons, 1x fuel rod gun.
Durability/Strength: Average/Moderate vs light arms
Weaknesses: Weak strength compared to Falcon, can't shoot directly underneath itself. (blindspot)

Banshees are very deadly in the right hands. They can quickly pick off individuals or groups of enemy infantry. Even ground based tanks can be threatened by a skilled Banshee pilot.