When it comes to Halo games, Halo 4 is considered one of the worst ones in the series. It certainly wasn’t a bad game, but it was also the first Halo game that Bungie didn’t create. Halo 4 was developed by 343 Industries and introduced new enemies and weapons to the Halo universe, but the reception was lukewarm. Players weren’t particularly fond of the Forerunner weapons.
Forerunner weapons aren’t new to the series, as the Sentinel Beam weapon was first seen in Halo (original) and is usable in Halo 2. However, Halo Infinite has a few hardlight weapons that people love. Some weapons take time to get used to as they have some unique properties. One weapon, in particular, has players trying to master it.
The Cindershot is a unique hardlight power weapon in Halo Infinite that has a lot of properties similar to a grenade launcher. It does have some unique quirks that players need to know to utilize this extraordinary weapon fully.
Cindershot General Information
- Weapon Type: Grenade Launcher/Power Weapon
- Manufacturer: Forerunner
- Ammunition Type: Hardlight
- Magazine Size: 6
- Rate of Fire: Semi-Automatic
- Time To Kill (Multiplayer): 2 Close Proximity Hits
The Cindershot is new to the Halo series, making its first appearance in Halo Infinite. This weapon is a hardlight weapon, and like most hardlight weapons in Halo Infinite, they are developed by the Forerunners. If you are looking for a weapon that has some similarities to the Brute Shot and Grenade Launcher from previous games, then you should feel right at home with this weapon. However, the Cindershot is more powerful than both of those weapons.
You can fire six hardlight grenades before it has to be recharged (reloaded), and this recharge time can be very long if emptied. The Cindershot has a moderate blast radius in Halo Infinite, yet not as much as the Rocket Launcher. But what makes this weapon fun to use is the weird properties that it has.
For example, when zoomed in, you can control the trajectory of the hard light grenade—essentially allowing you to curve around corners or chase vehicles. It takes some time to get used to.
The Cindershot also has a slight suction effect when a grenade explodes. At the location, the hardlight grenade explodes, and any nearby players hit by the blast will move slightly towards the center of that location.
Related Article: How to Fix Input Delay in Halo Infinite
Best Maps to Use the Cindershot On in Halo Infinite
If you play Ranked, you won’t see this weapon as it only appears in Quickplay and other social game modes. The Cindershot will take the place of the Rocket Launcher on specific maps. The best maps to use the Cindershot are maps with corridors and structures. Big Team Battle maps aren’t great unless you play an objective game mode where players are grouped. The Rumble Pit set of games in Halo Infinite meant for the Cindershot.
Bazaar
The Cindershot spawn in the middle-side area where the Rocket Launcher usually spawns. On the ledge overlooking the middle area. This map is great for the Cindershot. Bazaar has plenty of small rooms you can easily fire into to kill players hiding.
With its moderate blast radius, you are sure to hit someone easily hiding in these rooms. Some great spots to catch people hiding are in the corner rooms near the Overshield and the bar area that leads to the catwalk to their spawn.
Streets
It is easy to find the Cindershot on Halo Infinite’s Streets map. It appears right in the middle of the map. Both teams will have to fight for it. Much like Bazaar, Streets have small areas and many closed-in spaces, making this weapon dangerous. The side arcade area where Objective B usually is a great spot. Most players will be trying to control this spot the most, don’t be afraid to fire off a few grenades in this area.
Related Article: How to Find and Use the Pulse Carbine in Halo Infinite
Cindershot Tips and Tricks for Halo Infinite Multiplayer Arena
As I said earlier, the Cindershot can take some time to get used to. Playing around in the weapon drills will help you learn more about this weapon and get a feel for it. But there are also some tips to know so you can get easy kills with it.
Use Alt-Fire Mode with the Cindershot to Chase Down Enemies in Halo Infinite
Using the alt-fire mode is a great way to chase down opponents. This mode only allows you to control the trajectory; it will continue to move forward. If you go past your target, there is no way to bring it back.
Bank Around Corners
This weapon is great for bouncing off walls and other services to catch players trying to escape around corners. Use this to kill players that are out of your sight. This method also works to start a fight. Bounce a grenade off the wall before charging in to finish them with something else.
Bounce-Off The Ground First
Much like grenades in Halo Infinite, the hardlight shots fired won’t explode unless they hit someone directly, bounce off the ground, or hit two surfaces. If you want to kill an opponent quickly, try shooting at the ground to have the hardlight grenade bounce and explode almost immediately around your target.
Cancel Reload
This is a simple but essential tip. You can cancel the reload at any time. If you only reloaded two shots into the clip, you can press the fire button to stop and begin firing again. Great for intense firefights.
Watch Out for Friendly Fire with the Cindershot in Halo Infinite
When it comes to anything with explosions, you always have to be careful. The splash damage can damage your teammates and yourself. Nothing is more embarrassing than giving your opponent a kill because you misjudged your aim, and it bounced back and blew up in your face.
Conclusion
The Cindershot is a fantastic addition to the Halo series. It takes the best of multiple weapons in past games and then adds its unique flavor to it. Considering this weapon has a fast fire rate and kills players in 2 hits if they are close enough, it makes for an extraordinary power weapon. In fact, we consider Cindershot to be one of the best weapons in Halo Infinite!
It has impressive versatility compared to other power weapons that focus more on raw damage output. Picking up this weapon is sure to get you some kills pretty quickly. Yet, watch out for damaging teammates and yourself.
What are your thoughts on the Cindershot introduced in Halo Infinite? Would you prefer the Brute Shot instead? Feel free to let us know in the comment section below.
For more great multiplayer weapons advice, check out our guide to finding and using the Ravager in Halo Infinite.
