As a franchise that is held near and dear to many gamers' hearts, the newest installment in the Halo series has been met with much praise. The multiplayer rapidly grew in popularity, reaching heights that even Microsoft might not have anticipated.

Related:Halo Infinite: Beginner's Guide To Multiplayer

Stockpile is one of the most popular game modes. Similar to Capture the Flag, players must steal power seeds and bring them back to their base to score. And, like any good mode, you can coast by OK without much research, but you'll want to read up on tips and tricks to perform to your optimal potential.

Updated on May 24 by Quinton O'Connor: While it might not have the incredibly high number of concurrent players it boasted at launch, Halo Infinite's nevertheless seen a noteworthy resurgence with the arrival of Season 2: Lone Wolves. New modes have attracted all sorts of notice, but old favorites like Stockpile remain popular for a reason.

8 Familiarize Yourself With The Game

Firefight Halo With A Pistol

Although often overlooked as an obvious route to take when researching how to up your gameplay, familiarizing yourself with the game mode you're tackling is an invaluable asset. Thanks to the inclusion of the 'Spartan Academy,' there are more than enough tutorials and practice modes for you to perfect even the most basic of mechanical skills.

With a Tutorial, Weapon Drills, and a Training Mode to choose from, the Academy is an invaluable way for returning players to come to grips with the new features that have been introduced — and for players new to Halo (or the genre in general), it makes your first few games far less daunting.

7 Fully Explore the Maps

Map Halo Infinite

Now that Halo Infinite's initial batch of maps has been around for a while, many of the players you'll be up against will be intimately familiar with the layouts. That's daunting, but in a weird way, you can use it to your own advantage. Find someone on your squad who clearly knows what they're doing and follow them around like a lovesick puppy as they inevitably guide you through the best spots to turn the tables against your common foe. Although part of the fun of any Halo game is charging headfirst into battle, learning the maps will be worthwhile.

There are some fantastic additions to the Halo franchise, giving returning players a sense of nostalgia as well as catering to the need for improved graphics and layout. With many hidden areas, easter eggs, and details that are scattered throughout, exploring is not only fun but will be tactful in the Stockpile game mode. Knowing shortcuts and easy ways to make it across the map is invaluable when transporting the power seeds back to your base.

6 Learn The Objective

Map Objective For Stockpile Halo Infinite

br /> There is no worse feeling than loading into a game, not having a clue what is going on, and ultimately costing your team invaluable time and effort spent trying to understand what is happening. Although Stockpile is a twist on the Capture-the-Flag genre, it requires an entirely different tactic when playing. When learning what the objective requires of you, you can play in a variety of ways that will assist your team.

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When you're just starting out, however, you can leverage any potential familiarity with flag-capture modes by playing defensively. Consider this: the closer your team gets to hitting five stocked power seeds for a score, the more tantalizing your base will be for thieves who wish to pilfer a seed for themselves. It takes several seconds for a successful theft — and believe us, those seconds feel like an eternity when you've committed yourself to the attempt — but it's still ample time to get away if no one's around to stop them. Even if the only thing you're doing is sticking around to offset would-be burglary, you're still contributing.

5 Find Out What Weapons Work Best For Your Playstyle

Holding A Sniper Halo Infinite

The Stockpile game mode will have combatants playing in a variety of ways, and this can range anywhere from defensive to offensive. However, the weapons you come into contact with will undoubtedly shape how exactly you can play at that moment. With many weapons requiring you to be on either the front or backline, it is vital you learn what weapons suit your particular style best.

For the keen-eyed shooter, taking a sniper rifle and going to a vantage point will be crucial to take out any enemy Spartans carrying power seeds, making sure that no others can get close. You could also take a Ravager and set up a brilliant trap for any enemies trying to get ahold of any loose power seeds. There's also the old adage that heavy weaponry wrecks enemies heavily. If something like a SPANKR is in your arsenal, wait until multiple foes are in the process of grabbing a fresh seed and then fire away.

4 Throw, Run, and Gun

Throwing Objective Stockpile Halo Infinite

Although this method may be challenging to new players due to the high level of multitasking involved, it's a great strategy to employ when you're in a tight situation. It may be tempting to just grab a power seed and run — however, a more effective way of transporting them back to your base on foot is by throwing the power seed, running to it, picking it up, and repeating the process.

As you are unable to use your weapons while holding the power seed, you are automatically at the mercy of the enemy team and unable to efficiently retaliate. By throwing the power seed, you are able to use your weapons again, which is perfect for when you're in a tight spot and need to defend your position quickly. Throw the seed and shoot at enemies while you run toward it.

The ability to throw a power seed also means that you're able to chuck it ahead to teammates who can run ahead while you defend them. Sometimes, this can be the thin line between victory and defeat. If several enemy players remain convinced in those pivotal milliseconds post-throw that you're still public enemy number one, yes, you'll likely drop to the ground. But that might just be enough time for the teammate who intercepted your seed to get out of the line of fire.

3 Catch A Ride

Razorback Halo Infinite

With a large number of popular vehicles from the Halo franchise making a reappearance, as well as a new one, many players are keen to utilize their abilities on the battlefield. Being able to quickly speed across the map while mowing down any enemies that get in your way will always be fun. From Ghosts to Wasps, making use of the vehicles available is often a key deciding factor in the game.

Related:Halo Infinite: Every Multiplayer Map, Ranked

In Stockpile, you're able to hold onto power seeds as a passenger in vehicles, offering a high-speed escape for those looking to score points. This method works especially well if you coordinate with your team, designating one person as the getaway driver, and the others as collectors of power seeds.

While that may sound daunting, it can be surprisingly easy to vibe with complete strangers in this fashion even if you aren't plugged in via headsets. The driver will honk, signaling free spots. Oftentimes, multiple people will attempt to usurp the coveted turret spot, but someone will still "settle" for the passenger seat. Or, in the case of a Razorback, with its reinforced armor plating at the cost of any offensive capability, then everyone is just going to mash the 'X' button (or its keyboard-based counterpart) and grab a seat wherever there's room.

2 Use the (Repulsor) Force

Halo Infinite Obtaining The Repulsor Multiplayer

Of all the devilish twists we've seen players make on Halo Infinite's Stockpile, clever usage of the Repulsor power-up takes the cake. Line up your shot with one in front of a group of newly-dropped power seeds and steadily blast them toward your team's side of the map. You'll have enough "ammo" for your Repulsor to pull this off several times, so long as you aren't shot down from behind before it's been depleted.

In wider areas, this may sound like nonsense to you. With Deadlock, for example, the only way this will work is if the power seeds are in the cavernous area. Otherwise, you're just too exposed, and you'd likely have better luck scooping up a seed and blitzing.

But wherever there is a relatively narrow seed drop, your Repulsor can make a huge difference. There is perhaps no more noticeable example of this than on the Breaker map, introduced with the launch of Season 2. At one point, power seeds will appear at the center of that frighteningly narrow tunnel that ties the two sides of the map together like a scary two-way killzone. If you can reach the center of the tunnel by going around down near the magma, then repulse the seeds a full five times, you will have done your team great service.

1 The Right Tools For The Job

halo infinite wraith

Lastly, here are some broad-reaching tips for the loadouts and paths that we have found tend to work best on every Stockpile map. Of course, unless players are partaking in a custom game, they will be limited to a degree of randomization on what they can equip themselves with. But at the very least, be on thel ookout for these weapons and power-ups.

For Fragmentation, it's well worth sneaking around the map in a bid to steal enemy power seeds. Players are generally funneled down the map's narrower passageways when seeds drop, except when the drop occurs at the center of that wide-open three-way road. On both sides of the map, there is a cliff that can be traversed in order to reach the opposing platforms housing the teams' stocked seeds. Your best bet for weaponry here is a Sniper Rifle, since it can help in your theft mission as well as come in handy for defenders who elect to stick near base to rid their teams of dangers like you. Energy Swords are a great way to get the jump on enemies tunneling toward stockpiles.

Deadlock and Highpower don't have a lot in common, but their recommended loadouts are oddly similar. Have an automatic rifle of some kind for the inevitable mid-range skirmishes. Get ready to swap to a pistol for a quick headshot once the enemy is weakened. Vehicles are going to rule the day on these maps, especially Highpower, which means vehicle ambushers can stick behind a rock and unleash a Gravity Hammer upon them. Sniper Rifles come in handy again on Highpower. Players will launch themselves up to that small cliff overlooking the central area with sniping in mind, so counter them by finding a prime spot to snipe the snipers, taking the pressure off your team.

Breaker is, as of this writing, the newest Stockpile map. It's made of mayhem. From the dusty atmosphere and molten innards to the somewhat challenging lighting, Breaker lives up to its reputation as a Brute shipbreaking facility. Our advice is to hang as high up as possible if you're planning on picking off enemy heads. There's almost always a Sniper Rifle spawn on the far left side, the side without the tunnel; it's closer to one team than the other, however, but the Covenant-made Stalker Rifle can be found on the other side. If power seeds drop inside the tunnel, you can score lots of kills with our Repulsor advice.

Next:Halo Infinite: Tips For Playing Capture The Flag