Halo: Flashpoint Detachments and Big Team Battles
19th Mar 2026
Cleric
In the coming weeks our Index will be getting an update, alongside the release of Noble Team and their rules, and we will also be releasing our first digital expansion for the game – Detachments. Today I wanted to talk a little more about Big Team Battle ("BTB") and the new Detachments expansion.
First Off, Let's Talk BIG!
The Noble Team boxed set includes an expansion book with rules for playing bigger games of Halo: Flashpoint, alongside the fantastic MasterCraft Resin figures for Noble Team, and the UNSC Man Cannons. Fireteams in these bigger games will be 400-500 points each (so the perfect way to use all of Noble Team!), rather than the current standard size of 200 points, and you'll play on a much larger battlefield - 8 x 16 cubes!
As part of this expansion booklet, you will see 4 new scenarios for use with the BTB game mode (one of which we've already teased here).
There are a few differences to how BTB is played compared to regular games of Halo: Flashpoint. Without revealing everything here on the blog, a couple of the changes are:
- 3 choices of Respawns - Regular, None, or my personal favourite, Single Use!
- The normal limit of picking only 2 of any type of item is doubled for BTB, to 4 of any single type of item.
In the future, more scenarios will appear in large expansions and on the Index. We very much feel that this mode of play is here to stay and will continue to get better and better - especially as we release more models for each faction.
I Want to Run Big Team Events - Are They Supported?
We've designed the Index and its Ranking/Organised Play section to actually work with this in mind! There will be a slight update to how we score tournaments too at this time, meaning that a larger Big Team Battle event can still be ranked and rewarding for all players involved. The current tournament organiser will still work with Big Team battles - the validation methods will be updated to allow for more items.
I Want to Play Co-Op - Can I?
Part of the new ruleset is actually how to do just that - so if you wanted to play with a friend and each of you had 250 points, there are now rules that support that method of play in BTB.
What If I Want to Play Against Waves of Enemies?
Well...come back in the summer for that one...
The Detachments Digital Expansion
Shortly after we first drafted rules for the ODST as a main release, we really wanted to drill down into that theme more. Over the last year we've been testing a new way to use the ODST models, and decided we could do the same for the Jiralhanae too – thus Detachments were born!
Functionally, these lists are like new factions for Halo: Flashpoint; using existing Unit Profiles from the parent list to create a separate and distinct force for you to create new Fireteams with. Within these Detachments, units may have different costs, and in some instances can buy upgrades to add Keywords to unit profiles too.
The First Two Detachments
ODST Corps
Elite humans trained to drop into any theatre of war - this Detachment represents the ODST Corps without Spartan allies. This rapid reaction force is usually deployed to small scale and high-risk operations.
Jiralhanae Hunting Party
This Detachment represents the Jiralhanae Packs or Tribes that are fundamental to Jiralhanae society. Led by the dominant alpha male, Hunting Packs are well trained, fiercely loyal to each other, and operate under Atriox’s banner to further the goals of the Banished.
Fireteam Upgrades
A key part of these Detachment Fireteams are the upgrades you can purchase for them, ranging from extra Keywords to placeable terrain (UNSC Defence shields, anyone?). This expansion also introduces Fireteam Upgrades, which may be purchased for your Fireteam and will often contain additional keywords or changes to rules that impact how your Fireteam operates. The Upgrades listed are only available to purchase for that Detachment. For example:
Special Orders
This also meant we could refresh what Special Orders we assigned to each Detachment – giving each a new set of Special Orders to choose from which helped delve into that flavour even more. Some you will recognise, a few have had a polish and rewording, but most will be entirely new.
That’s Great, But How Do I Get Them?
The Detachments digital expansion is coming soon! It will be available to purchase as a PDF from the Mantic Webstore, and the rules will also be added for all paid subscribers on the Halo: Flashpoint Index.
With the Noble Team expansion available for pre-order now and adding a swathe of great new content including rules for larger battles, plus the new Detachments digital expansion that is also releasing soon, it's an exciting time to be a Halo: Flashpoint player.
And if you're not playing Halo: Flashpoint yet? Now is the perfect time to jump in!
