A Beginner's Guide to Halo 5: Guardians' Requisition System

Although many aspects of Halo 5: Guardians stick to series tradition, others depart from the past on a variety of levels. Chief among them is Warzone, developer 343 Industries' new multiplayer mode. It combines player vs. player combat, AI boss battles, zone control, and vehicle combat to form skirmishes across sprawling maps, lending dynamism to the classic Halo formula.

Fueling this mode is the requisition system. It's 343's new progression economy, and it affects Warzone in a huge way: you can call in power weapons, character upgrades, and game-changing vehicles, provided you have enough points to spend. Learning how best to use this system can help you shift the tide of future matches.

But it can be a little confusing at first, both in terms of acquiring new requisition cards and spending them on the battlefield. So, we've compiled a guide for anyone diving into Halo 5's multiplayer.

What Are Requisition Cards?

As Warzone matches develop, new approaches become essential to victory. By ordering better weapons or deploying powerful vehicles, teams can finally bring down that legendary AI boss, or capture the last neutral zone on the way to the enemy's core.

To acquire new items, abilities, and vehicles, you'll have to collect requisition cards. There are two types: certifications and one-time use orders. The former increase the chance of getting an item in future packs. The latter are limited, but allow you to actually order the item during a fight.

So say you get the permanent certification for the powerful Spartan Laser. This means you'll better chances at one-time use cards in future packs, but it doesn't guarantee you'll have it in the next match. Getting a one-time use card for the Spartan Laser, however, will add to your spendable deck. Say you have three one-time use cards, for example. This means you can call in that weapon three times in one match, one time in each of three matches, and so on. When you burn through all of them, you'll still have the chance of acquiring more in the future, but you won't be able to use them until you collect more one-time use cards.

That's where requisition packs come in.

What Are Requisition Packs?

Much like real-world trading cards, requisition cards come in random packs. You can unlock them in a variety of ways, feeding a continual stream of new items into your requisition bank.

The first and most obvious way to earn new packs is by spending requisition points. You gather these by finishing matches, completing commendation challenges, or finishing higher in the overall standings of a match. Once you have enough, you can spend them on three tiers of random requisition packs: bronze, silver, or gold. They're priced at 1,250, 5,000, and 10,000 points, respectively. As the names and prices imply, the better packs grant higher chances at rare gear. Silver and gold packs also guarantee two permanent unlocks--such as weapon skins and cosmetic armor--in addition to the various burner cards.

It's also worth noting that Halo 5 gives you the option to spend real money on packs if your patience wears thin. The inclusion of these microtransactions hasn't affected my experience with the requisition economy in any way, but they are an alternative option.

Outside of spending any real or fictional money on requisitions, you'll be unlocking new packs through other avenues as well. Completing weapon and vehicle-based challenges, winning a certain number of matches in each game mode, and performing well in general are all grounds for possible new packs, each with their own chances at rare loot. I rarely pursue these on purpose, but they're welcome surprises when my requisition points are running low.

How Do I Spend Requisition Cards?

There are two opportunities to spend cards in Warzone: during your respawn and at Req consoles in each capture zone your team controls.

Throughout each match, you'll increase your req level, up to a maximum of nine tiers. The better the weapon or vehicle you want to deploy with burner cards, the higher requisition level you'll need.

To increase your req level, simply kill enemy Spartans, eliminate AI minions, or take over the capture zones themselves. Every action that awards you points will contribute to your req level. By staying mobile, attacking AI bosses when they appear, and helping your team take neutral zones, you can increase your chances of deploying your most powerful burn cards.

Calling in a Scorpion tank, for instance, is going to cost you more req points than a needler. Ordering a legendary weapon, on the other hand, will cost even more. It's rare that you'll achieve the maximum level before the halfway point of a match. But every once in a while, points pile up quickly, and you'll have the chance to take over a match with the highest tier cards.

So that's the req system. Although there's a learning curve with Halo 5's new progression economy, it's an effective way to bring you back to multiplayer. Developer 343 Industries plans on releasing free new maps throughout the year, so keeping your inventory stocked could give you an edge in future Warzone matches.

Until then, be sure to read our in-depth guide to Warzone, watch a four-player cooperative campaign mission, or join us as we compare Halo 5 and Destiny.