The Heatwave has been making quite a bit of noise since players got a chance to use it during the early Halo Infinite flights and beta. And rightfully so, this weapon packs quite a punch from close to medium range and offers a lot more. The Heatwave works very well as a shotgun because it fires multiple projectiles per shot. But it also has a better range compared to the Bulldog. This weapon is great for many situations, but it loses some of its bang in open firefights and larger maps.
This weapon has unique properties that stand out from the other guns. Let’s dive into what makes this weapon worth using in Halo Infinite, go over some tips and tricks, and what maps this weapon dominates on.
Heatwave General Information
- Manufacturer: Forerunners/Prometheans
- Ammunition Type: Hardlight
- Magazine Size: 8
- Rate of Fire: Semi-Automatic
- Time To Kill (Multiplayer): 2 Full Shots
The Heatwave is a new shotgun-type weapon in Halo Infinite. This weapon is a hardlight weapon meaning it comes with some interesting quirks and mechanics to be aware of. However, before we get into that, this weapon works similar to a shotgun. It fires six projectiles with one shot. If you want to do the most damage, you want to hit all six shells. But what makes this weapon different than a shotgun is that it has a very tight spread and good range. The spread depends on the firing mode selected.
To switch firing modes, press your zoom/aim button. Pressing this will change the weapon from two firing modes. You can choose from horizontal or vertical firing modes. Horizontal makes the gun have a wide horizontal spread, and the six hardlight projectiles will fire evenly across. Vertical is suited for more accuracy and hitting all shots on one target. This firing mode will have three pellets close together at the top and the same at the bottom.
But another feature of this weapon is that the hardlight projectiles bounce off surfaces. This makes it worthwhile to hit multiple enemies or bank shots around corners to secure a kill. These projectiles also pass through players and vehicles, again allowing you to hit multiple enemies at a time. The Heatwave has some fantastic utility.
Related Article: How to Use the Skewer Anti-Vehicle Spike Weapon in Halo Infinite
Best Halo Infinite Maps to Use Heatwave On
The Heatwave is exceptional on close to medium-range maps. Maps should also have many corridors and hallways to bounce the projectiles off. Because of this, the Heatwave is not the best choice in Big Team Battle. It can do damage, but you lose the ability to bounce off multiple surfaces due to being in a big open area most of the time.
Aquarius
The Heatwave can be found on one of the side hallways of the map. Aquarius is easily the most miniature map in Halo Infinite, and because of this, most players usually go for the Heatwave or Active Camo. This map has plenty of small spaces where the Heatwave can obliterate opponents. If you have this weapon, it is best to play on the outside of the map where all the closed-in areas are.
Bazaar
Bazaar is a good map for the Heatwave as well. While it does feature an open area, this map also features a lot of buildings and small alleys where this gun excels at. The spawn location for this weapon is in the middle-side area of the map in a tiny bunker. This place is surrounded by four walls, making it easy to get kills here.
Live Fire
This map is decent as well. The best spot to secure with the Heatwave is in the tight tunnel where it spawns. The projectiles will bounce multiple times here because of how small it is. Also, this map is excellent for medium-range combat; the Heatwave is helpful at this distance if you are using the vertical firing mode.
Tips and Tricks on How to Use Heatwave in Halo Infinite Effectively
Try To Double Dip
The Heatwave can pass through enemies and bounce off surfaces in Halo Infinite, as stated earlier. If you got the skills, you could try to get your opponent at the perfect angle to double dip your damage. For example, if you can get you and your opponent directly in front of each other with a wall, your shot will pass through doing damage, bounce off the wall, and come back to do more damage. Why hit your opponent with six projectiles when you could shoot more in one shot?
Bounce Around Corners
Sometimes you will damage another player, and they will try to run and find cover, usually through a corridor or hallway. You won’t be able to catch them, so this is the perfect time in Halo Infinite to pull out the Heatwave. Start firing in the halls and hope one of the projectiles that bounced off the surface finishes them off. It is an excellent strategy to ensure your opponent doesn’t have time to gain their shields and rejoin the fight.
Switch Firing Modes on Heatwave During Halo Infinite Matches
Try switching fire modes that suit you or the situation best. If you feel that your aim isn’t the best, switch to the horizontal firing mode. You are sure to hit something. This mode is also best when you want to bank shots off surfaces. You can’t go wrong with vertical firing mode if you find yourself in more close-quarter situations. Either mode is great for doing damage.
Try Not To Hurt Yourself when Firing the Heatwave towards a Wall in Halo Infinite
It is essential to know that you are also susceptible to that damage once you fire that weapon and the projectiles bounce off the walls. Be careful not to damage yourself after a firefight because if you were damaged within the less few seconds, the kill would be awarded to the last player that hurt you.
Conclusion
In short, the Heatwave in Halo Infinite is like a shotgun but more fun and with a lot more utility. It is powerful, has a good range, and has a decent firing rate. This weapon is also easy to use as well. You don’t need to be a pro to get the hang of this weapon reasonably quickly. While this weapon is extraordinary on smaller maps, it loses a lot of its bang on big open maps like the ones in Big Team Battle. With that said, Heatwave is one of the stronger guns in Halo Infinite, and players should try to grab it if they want control over an area.
Do you think the Heatwave “shotgun” is one of the top weapons in Halo Infinite, other than power weapons? Share your opinion in the comments below.
