Blitz is an all-new gametype featured in the real-time strategy game Halo Wars 2. Instead of base building and resource management, Blitz focuses on faster paced card-based strategy. It can be played in teams of one, two and three.[1]
Description[]
Mechanics[]
Unlike the rest of Halo Wars 2, the player is not given command over a base. Instead, they will be required to select one of their decks of cards, which they can customise from the Blitz menu. Each leader can have a maximum of three decks saved at once, and each deck supports 12 cards. Cards represent units and leader powers and each card consumes a different amount of energy when deployed. Some cards have prefixes denoting special attributes such as the "Terror Chopper" which has the Shock attribute. These attributes change how the unit performs in battle. The starting army of any given deck can be altered, changing which units the player spawns with at the start of the game.[1]
Once a deck has been created and a match started, the player's starting army will be at their home base, a Forerunner structure that heals any friendly units that are placed on it. Four random cards will be drawn from the player's deck and placed in their hand, which is visible at the bottom of their screen. These can be deployed, provided the player has enough energy, by (on Xbox One) holding LT, selecting a card and pressing A. The required energy will be subtracted from the player's total, the unit will spawn wherever the crosshairs are pointing and the card in the hand will be swapped for another. If a unit is not spawned at home base (excluding units with the Rush attribute), it will spawn at half health and deal half damage in what is known as deployment fatigue. After a few seconds, these debuffs will deactivate, provided the unit does not get damaged by the enemy. If a player does not like a card in their hand, they can swap it out for another random card at the cost of 5 energy points.[1]
Energy is required to deploy units and use leader powers. In normal Blitz, energy is accumulated passively at a slow rate. Periodically, energy pickups will be dropped onto the map. Destroying these pods and collecting the energy that spills out of them will increase the rate at which energy is accumulated. Units experiencing deployment fatigue will be unable to pick up the energy from such pods.[1]
Objective[]
The objective of Blitz is to hold more of the three control points than the enemy team. Control points can be captured simply by placing units upon them, however there must be no enemy units on the plate at the same time, else it will be contested. Whenever a team holds more control points than their enemy, they will begin to slowly earn points. Once a team reaches 200 points, they will win the match. If neither team manages to accumulate 200 points, then the winner will be decided by whichever team has the most points when the time limit is up.[1]
Variants[]
Below are a list of variants of the Blitz gametype:
- Blitz Firefight: Blitz Firefight player(s) to survive for as long as possible against unlimited waves of enemies controlled by the AI. As with normal Blitz, the AI wins if it accumulates 200 points by owning more control points than its enemy. Players cannot win in this manner. They must simply defend these points for as long as they are capable. Otherwise, Blitz Firefight functions identically to normal Blitz, except that energy isn't earned passively - it can only be replenished by destroying and collecting energy drops.[1]
Supported Maps[]
Currently, Blitz can only be played on The Proving Grounds.[1]
Earning Blitz cards[]
Blitz cards can be found in Blitz packs. Such packs reward the player with 6 Blitz cards each. Packs can be earned in a variety of ways. Completing challenges will award the player with packs, as will earning enough XP to rank up. Also, completing the three tutorials and each campaign mission for the first time will award Blitz packs.[1] Additionally, certain actions such as earning the Playin' the Field and Adjudicate the Arbiter achievements in Halo Wars and Halo Wars: Definitive Edition will earn the player one and three Blitz packs respectively (if the player owns both games, they can earn these packs twice by earning the achievements in both games). Participants in the Blitz Beta will have earned at least one pack, possibly two if they completed a match in it.[2] Finally, Blitz packs can be purchased for real money from the Microsoft store.[1]
List of Blitz cards[]
- Main article: List of Blitz cards
This section requires expansion. |
Below is a list of all Blitz cards in Halo Wars 2. A more detailed list can be found here.
Image | Name | Energy Cost | Rarity | Keywords | Faction | Leader Restriction |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grunts | 10 | Common | N/A | The Banished | None | |
Marines | 10 | Common | N/A | UNSC | None | |
Aggressor Sentinel | 20 | Common | N/A | UNSC | Professor Anders | |
Chopper | 20 | Common | N/A | The Banished | None | |
Hellbringers | 20 | Common | N/A | UNSC | None | |
Jackrabbit | 20 | Common | N/A | UNSC | None | |
Jump Pack Brute | 20 | Common | N/A | The Banished | None | |
Cyclops | 30 | Common | N/A | UNSC | None | |
Elite Rangers | 30 | Common |
|
The Banished | None | |
Ghost | 30 | Uncommon |
|
The Banished | Shipmaster | |
Holo-Decoy | 30 | Uncommon | N/A | UNSC | Isabel | |
Living Barrier | 30 | Rare | N/A | The Banished | Colony | |
Pelican Transport | 30 | Uncommon | N/A | UNSC | Sergeant Forge | |
Veteran Hellbringers | 30 | Rare | N/A | UNSC | Kinsano | |
Watchtower | 30 | Uncommon |
|
UNSC | Professor Anders | |
Banshee | 40 | Common | N/A | The Banished | None | |
Cryo Troopers | 40 | Common |
|
UNSC | Serina | |
Elite Enforcers | 40 | Common |
|
The Banished | The Arbiter | |
Goliath | 40 | Common | N/A | The Banished | Colony | |
Grunt Riders | 40 | Common | N/A | The Banished | Yapyap THE DESTROYER | |
Heavy Grunt | 40 | Common | N/A | The Banished | Yapyap THE DESTROYER | |
Helldrop | 40 | Uncommon | N/A | UNSC | Kinsano | |
Hunters | 40 | common | N/A | The Banished | None | |
Prowling Grunts | 40 | Uncommon |
|
The Banished | The Arbiter | |
Scarred Grenadiers | 40 | Common | N/A | The Banished | Voridus | |
Scorch Mines | 40 | Unommon |
|
The Banished | Atriox | |
Shrapnel Mines | 40 | Uncommon |
|
UNSC | Isabel | |
Veteran Jackrabbit | 40 | Uncommon |
|
UNSC | None | |
Warthog | 40 | Common | N/A | UNSC | None | |
Wild Hellbringers | 40 | Uncommon |
|
UNSC | Captain Cutter | |
Wolverine | 40 | Common |
|
UNSC | None | |
Assault Elite | 50 | Uncommon |
|
The Banished | None | |
Bloodfuel Grunts | 50 | Uncommon |
|
The Banished | Decimus | |
Bunker Drop | 50 | Uncommon | N/A | UNSC | Sergeant Johnson | |
Cryogenic Detonantor | 50 | Uncommon |
|
UNSC | Serina | |
Extractor Marines | 50 | Uncommon |
|
UNSC | None | |
Flame Warthog | 50 | Common |
|
UNSC | Kinsano | |
Hornet | 50 | Common | N/A | UNSC | None | |
Ice Barrier | 50 | Rare | N/A | UNSC | Serina | |
Infused Engineer | 50 | Common |
|
The Banished | Voridus | |
Infused Mines | 50 | Uncommon |
|
The Banished | Voridus | |
Marauder | 50 | Common | N/A | The Banished | None | |
Protector Sentinel | 50 | Uncommon | N/A | UNSC | Professor Anders | |
Reactive Cyclops | 50 | Rare |
|
UNSC | None | |
Reactive Marines | 50 | Rare |
|
UNSC | Sergeant Forge | |
Reaver | 50 | Common |
|
The Banished | None | |
Seismic Blast | 50 | Uncommon | N/A | UNSC | Serina | |
Spartan Morale | 50 | Uncommon |
|
UNSC | Commander Jerome | |
Spike Turret | 50 | Uncommon |
|
Banished | Atriox | |
Terror Chopper | 50 | Rare |
|
The Banished | Decimus | |
Ultra Mines | 50 | Uncommon |
|
The Banished | Pavium | |
Vehicle Symbiotes | 50 | Uncommon | N/A | The Banished | Colony | |
Advanced Optics | 60 | Rare | N/A | UNSC | Professor Anders | |
Armored Marines | 60 | Rare |
|
UNSC | Professor Anders | |
Armored Warthog | 60 | Rare |
|
UNSC | Isabel | |
Blast Hammer | 60 | Uncommon | N/A | The Banished | Decimus | |
Cloaking Field | 60 | Rare |
|
The Banished | Shipmaster | |
Double Time | 60 | Rare | N/A | UNSC | Captain Cutter | |
Engineer | 60 | Common |
|
The Banished | None | |
Frostraven | 60 | Common | N/A | UNSC | Serina | |
Grunt Mob | 60 | Rare |
|
The Banished | None | |
Heavy Metal | 60 | Uncommon | N/A | UNSC | Sergeant Forge | |
Hellcharge | 60 | Uncommon | N/A | UNSC | Kinsano | |
Invigorating Frenzy | 60 | Uncommon | N/A | The Banished | Voridus | |
Ironclad Hunters | 60 | Uncommon |
|
Banished | Atriox | |
Locust | 60 | Common |
|
The Banished | None | |
Mantis | 60 | Common | N/A | UNSC | Sergeant Johnson | |
Mastodon | 60 | Common | N/A | UNSC | Commander Jerome | |
Sniper | 60 | Common |
|
UNSC | None | |
Stasis | 60 | Rare | N/A | The Banished | The Arbiter | |
Suicide Grunts | 60 | Common |
|
The Banished | None | |
Teleport | 60 | Uncommon | N/A | The Banished | Shipmaster | |
Unstable Jump Brutes | 60 | Uncommon |
|
The Banished | Yapyap THE DESTROYER | |
Wild Jackrabbit | 60 | Rare |
|
UNSC | Isabel | |
Conduit of Rage | 70 | Uncommon | The Banished | The Arbiter | ||
Enduring Will | 70 | Common | N/A | The Banished | Pavium | |
Engineer Swarm | 70 | Uncommon | N/A | The Banished | Colony | |
Mech Overcharge | 70 | Rare | N/A | UNSC | Sergeant Johnson | |
Methane Wagon | 70 | Common | N/A | The Banished | Yapyap THE DESTROYER | |
Nightingale | 70 | Common |
|
UNSC | None | |
Prowling Marauder | 70 | Uncommon |
|
The Banished | Shipmaster | |
Restoration Drones | 70 | Uncommon | N/A | UNSC | Anders | |
Shade Drop Drones | 70 | Uncommon | N/A | The Banished | Yapyap THE DESTROYER | |
Unstable Banshee | 70 | Rare |
|
The Banished | Shipmaster | |
Vanguard Wolverine | 70 | Uncommon |
|
UNSC | None | |
Vanguard Cyclops | 70 | Uncommon | N/A | UNSC | None | |
Vanguard Flame 'Hog | 70 | Common | N/A | UNSC | Kinsano | |
Bloodfuel Locust | 80 | Uncommon |
|
The Banished | None | |
Cataclysm | 80 | Rare | N/A | The Banished | Voridus | |
Enduring Salvo | 80 | Uncommon | N/A | UNSC | Commander Jerome | |
ODST Drop | 80 | Uncommon | N/A | UNSC | Captain Cutter | |
Phantom | 80 | Common | N/A | The Banished | The Arbiter | |
Plasma Bolt | 80 | Uncommon | N/A | The Banished | The Arbiter | |
Prowling Reaver | 80 | Rare |
|
The Banished | None | |
Scarred Hunters | 80 | Common | N/A | The Banished | Colony | |
Scatter Bomb | 80 | Uncommon | N/A | UNSC | Sergeant Forge | |
Cryo Bomb | 90 | Uncommon | N/A | UNSC | Serina | |
Enduring Locust | 90 | Rare |
|
The Banished | Colony | |
Napalm Missiles | 90 | Uncommon | N/A | UNSC | Kinsano | |
Siege Turret | 90 | Rare | N/A | UNSC | Sergeant Johnson | |
Siphon Field | 90 | Uncommon | N/A | The Banished | Decimus | |
Skitterer Mob | 90 | Uncommon | N/A | The Banished | Colony | |
Trooper Hornet | 90 | Uncommon |
|
UNSC | Captain Cutter | |
Trooper Nightingale | 90 | Rare |
|
UNSC | Commander Jerome | |
Veteran Mantis | 90 | Uncommon |
|
UNSC | Sergeant Johnson | |
Wraith | 90 | Common |
|
The Banished | None | |
Wraith Invader | 90 | Common |
|
The Banished | Pavium | |
Archer Missiles | 100 | Uncommon | N/A | UNSC | Captain Cutter | |
Ark Defense | 100 | Rare | N/A | UNSC | Professor Anders | |
Combat Salvage | 100 | Rare | N/A | UNSC | Sergeant Forge | |
EMP MAC Blast | 100 | Uncommon | N/A | UNSC | Sergeant Johnson | |
Gruntdome | 100 | Rare | N/A | The Banished | Yapyap THE DESTROYER | |
Infusion Wake | 100 | Uncommon | N/A | The Banished | Voridus | |
Kodiak | 100 | Common | N/A | UNSC | None | |
Scorpion | 100 | Common | N/A | UNSC | None | |
Shockwave | 100 | Uncommon | N/A | The Banished | Atriox | |
Trooper Warthog | 100 | Rare |
|
UNSC | None | |
Veteran Sniper | 100 | Common |
|
UNSC | Commander Jerome | |
Vortex | 100 | Rare | N/A | The Banished | Decimus | |
Atriox's Bulwark | 110 | Rare | N/A | The Banished | Atriox | |
Vanguard Kodiak | 110 | Common |
|
UNSC | Sergeant Forge | |
Blisterback | 120 | Common | N/A | The Banished | None | |
Ghost in the Machine | 120 | Rare | N/A | UNSC | Isabel | |
MAC Blast | 120 | Rare | N/A | UNSC | Isabel | |
Marauder Warchief | 120 | Rare |
|
The Banished | Decimus | |
Mega Turret | 120 | Rare | N/A | The Banished | Pavium | |
Methane Party | 120 | Rare | N/A | The Banished | Yapyap THE DESTROYER | |
Rain of Fire | 120 | Uncommon | N/A | The Banished | Pavium | |
Stealth Kodiak | 120 | Rare |
|
UNSC | Captain Cutter | |
Victory Turret | 120 | Rare | N/A | UNSC | Commander Jerome | |
Colossus | 130 | Common | N/A | UNSC | Sergeant Johnson | |
Glacial Storm | 130 | Rare | N/A | UNSC | Serina | |
Ironclad Blisterback | 130 | Uncommon |
|
The Banished | Pavium | |
Boundless Fury | 140 | Rare | N/A | The Banished | Decimus | |
Glassing Beam | 140 | Uncommon | N/A | The Banished | Shipmaster | |
Ironclad Wraith | 140 | Rare |
|
The Banished | None | |
Lockdown Scorpion | 140 | Rare |
|
UNSC | Isabel | |
Terror Wraith | 140 | Rare |
|
The Banished | Voridus | |
Vulture | 140 | Common | N/A | UNSC | None | |
Enduring Blisterback | 150 | Rare |
|
The Banished | Atriox | |
Grizzly | 150 | Common | N/A | UNSC | Sergeant Forge | |
Spirit Assault | 150 | Rare | N/A | The Banished | Shipmaster | |
Close Air Support | 160 | Rare | N/A | UNSC | Captain Cutter | |
Grunt Goblins | 160 | Legendary |
|
The Banished | Yapyap THE DESTROYER | |
Inferno | 160 | Rare | N/A | UNSC | Kinsano | |
Omega Team | 170 | Legendary | N/A | UNSC | Commander Jerome | |
Warlord | 170 | Legendary |
|
The Banished | Decimus | |
Alice-130 | 180 | Legendary |
|
UNSC | Isabel | |
Atriox's Chosen | 180 | Legendary |
|
The Banished | Atriox | |
Eradication | 180 | Rare | N/A | The Banished | Atriox | |
Forge's Warthog | 180 | Legendary |
|
UNSC | Sergeant Forge | |
Honor Guard | 180 | Legendary |
|
The Banished | Shipmaster | |
Jerome-092 | 180 | Legendary |
|
UNSC | Captain Cutter | |
Kinsano's Cyclops | 180 | Legendary |
|
UNSC | Kinsano | |
Lich Vanguard | 180 | Rare | N/A | The Banished | Pavium | |
Mass Cloaking | 180 | Rare | N/A | The Banished | The Arbiter | |
Sergeant Johnson | 180 | Legendary |
|
UNSC | Sergeant Johnson | |
Hunter Captain | 190 | Legendary |
|
The Banished | Colony | |
Pavium | 190 | Legendary |
|
The Banished | Pavium | |
Voridus | 190 | Legendary |
|
The Banished | Voridus | |
Commander Jerome | 200 | Legendary |
|
UNSC | Commander Jerome | |
Douglas-042 | 200 | Legendary |
|
UNSC | Professor Anders | |
The Arbiter | 200 | Legendary |
|
The Banished | The Arbiter | |
Bison | 220 | Legendary |
|
UNSC | Serina | |
Condor Strike | 270 | Legendary | N/A | UNSC | None | |
Scarab Assault | 270 | Legendary | N/A | The Banished | None |
Trivia[]
- Blitz is the only gametype in Halo Wars 2 to feature Jeff Steitzer as the Announcer.[1]
- Aggressor Sentinels, Ghost, Cryo Troopers, Elite Enforcers, Goliath, Grunt Riders, Heavy Grunts, Scarred Grenadiers, Protector Sentinels, Frostraven, Mastodon, Suicide Grunts, Methane Wagon, Phantom, Wraith Invader, Colossus, Vulture and Grizzles lack a variant.
- Shroud, Retriever, Volatile Scarab, Cannon Fodder Grunts and Decimus are absent from the card library.
- The Extractor Marines are seen holding a Railgun in the render but they're not holding it in-game.
- Enduring Locusts are seen in the loading screen in Terminus Firefight but they're never accessible there!
Sources[]
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