Climbing the ranked ladder in any competitive video game is difficult and requires dedication. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you cannot seem to rank up and become hard stuck in your current ranking. Halo Infinite’s ranking system has had some improvements since its launch. Moreover, players have found some tips to help newer players climb up to Onyx rank in Halo Infinite.
Today we will give you a few tricks that may help you out in your ranked climb. These tips are meant to help any player, new or old.
It’s also worth pointing out the different ranked queues for Halo Infinite. There is a solo/duo queue for controller and keyboard separately. Playing with three or an entire squad will change your ranked play to having cross-play enabled. It’s also highly likely that you will run into other entire teams that are likely to communicate with one another if you are playing open cross-play.
1. Great Communication is Essential to Obtaining Onyx Rank in Halo Infinite
Callouts and communication are critical factors in winning any competitive mode or game. If you only play ranked with more than three friends, you need to keep consistent communication. As we previously stated, in Open cross-play, an entire squad of players queuing together will likely have constant communication.
Learn the names of high trafficked areas on different maps to quickly get callouts. A name is displayed underneath the mini-map for wherever your Spartan is currently standing. The ping system also highlights named areas.
If you are playing solo or duo, the enemy team and your team might not be as coordinated. The ping system can assist with communication gaps, allowing you to mark where enemies are, where weapons or equipment have dropped, or give out warnings. These quick communications will help you rise up to obtain the onyx rank in Halo Infinite.
One extra tip for solo players is since the team is likely not to have constant communication, it’s more likely you can disengage from fights. Often, in Open cross-play, someone will make a callout to keep the pressure on low-health Spartans to score kills.
With this lack of communication, the only Spartan likely that will pursue you if your health is low is the opponent you had a gunfight with. Of course, this isn’t always the case, but it’s common enough to point out, especially in lower rankings.
Related Article: 5 Tips to Improve Your Gameplay in Halo Infinite
2. Mix up Your Movement
Landing one or even two extra shots over your opponent decides whether the fight is won or lost. Mixing up your movements during a gunfight can throw off a few extra shots from your opponent, thus giving you the upper hand or the ability to make a comeback.
Many veteran Halo players have a habit of jumping to throw off their opponent’s aim. Whenever you jump, your motion is predetermined, making it easier for you to be tracked. Sadly, this tactic doesn’t work as well anymore, and the skill ceiling has gotten higher in recent years.
Mix an occasional crouch in the middle of your duels in combination with strafing. Even if one crouch makes you dodge a few bullets, it’s still less damage you would have taken from regular strafing.
3. Slide Canceling
We have talked about this tip before, but we still find that slide canceling is one of the newer core features that every player should learn about in Halo Infinite. Whenever you sprint and crouch, your Spartan performs a slide. You can shift your movement backward to cancel the slide during a slide.
The importance of slide canceling is to retreat from a bad position or catch an opponent off guard when rounding a corner. Additionally, you can jump at the end of the slide to continue your forward momentum.
If done right, performing a slide of a downward slope or off a ledge makes your Spartan fly forward. Utilizing slide canceling helps your rotations around the map, engages, and retreats become much faster. Improved mobility will be an asset as you try to get to Onyx rank in Halo Infinite. However, note there is a small-time frame where it’s difficult to react or disengage from longer slides.
Slide canceling can also be used effectively when learning how to lunge with the energy sword in Halo Infinite.
4. Proper Positioning Will Help You get Onyx Rank in Halo Infinite
One of the main factors in winning any engagement is your positioning. Your aim can be fantastic or bad some days, but you’re positioning you can always reliably control. Fighting out in the open makes for less cover, nowhere to retreat, and can result in death.
Knowing chokepoints, entrances, exits, and what spots on the map cover what sightlines make the difference in a fight. If you obtain the high ground over a control point, it’s harder for the enemy to react to long-distance fights against you or from their flank.
High traffic spots often have corners and hallways that every player will walk through. Knowing the proper positions to enable your advantage to pre-fire or get the first few shots off will win you a lot of fights. A better position can also give you a better spot to fall back on or push an advantage.
The high ground often leads to better sightline advantages and coverage over an area but is difficult to retreat from depending on the map. Every map is different, and map knowledge will make you a better player overall. It does take a bit of time to learn everything about every map properly, but that knowledge will play to your advantage in the future.
Related Article: How to Earn All of the Mythic Medals in Halo Infinite
5. Know the Difference between Ranked and Normal Arena
This last tip is for newer players who want to start playing ranked Halo Infinite multiplayer. A few major things are different between the standard area modes and any ranked match.
First, there is no mini-map. There’s no way to tell if enemies are approaching other than listening, gunshots, and pings. This makes the ping system all the move valuable. You will want to learn to quickly make and respond to pings if you have any hope of obtaining onyx rank in Halo Infinite.
Next, everyone starts with only the Battle Rifle and no secondary. If you are uncomfortable with the Battle Rifle, this will be the first significant hurdle into playing ranked arena. The Battle Rifle is a fan favorite, but if you find yourself lacking with this gun, you must improve with it. You will always start with the Battle Rifle in every match, and every respawn.
Next is, there are no grenade hit markers. There is no HUD feedback on whether one of your grenades did damage. Again, this makes listening for enemy Spartan’s pain grunts or shields breaking even more critical before pushing into a room.
These are the same settings that professional Esport players play on. If you have difficulties learning these new systems or even knowing what positions to hold, we recommend watching some Halo Esports matches.
Wrap Up
That’s our tips and tricks guide to help you get to Onyx rank in Halo Infinite. The ranking system so far isn’t perfect and is stressful. Remember to play to improve yourself above all else and do your best to avoid getting tilted. Somedays, it’s impossible, but all Onyx players push through these difficulties to get to where they are. As always, good hunting, Spartans!
