Halo Infinite guide: FOBs (Forward Operating Bases)

Halo Infinite’s Zeta Halo is dotted with UNSC Forward Operating Bases. They’ve been claimed by the Banished, and it’s Master Chief’s job to reclaim them.

In this Halo Infinite FOB guide, we’ll explain how to claim FOBs (spoiler: you shoot aliens) and what you’re able to do there.

Halo Infinite FOBs (Forward Operating Bases) basics

At their most basic, Halo Infinite FOBs are platforms where you can pick up weapons, vehicles, and Marine reinforcements. When you first find one, it’ll be populated with a bunch of Banished who don’t want you there.

Once you clear out the Banished, you’ll need to interact with the console in the middle of the platform to make the FOB controlled by you and the UNSC.

As soon as you (re)capture of FOB, your map will fill in with nearby items like Spartan Cores, Mjolnir Armories, UNSC Squad distress beacons, and Outposts. Controlled FOBs also become fast travel destinations (meaning you can fast travel to them) and places where you can resupply.

Or, as Halo Infinite says (briefly) when it introduces FOBs:

When controlled, Forward Operating Bases reveal Banished and UNSC activity in the surrounding region, serve as fast travel hubs and rally points for UNSC Marine fire support, and provide access to vehicle drops, weapons, and weapon variants. Gaining Valor unlocks available resources at all captured FOBs. Defeat the Banished and access the control terminal to claim this FOB.

Weapons, vehicles, and Marines

Image: 343 Industries/Microsoft Game Studios via Polygon

There are three things to do at a controlled FOB: call in a vehicle, pick up weapons, and meet up with Marine reinforcements.

FOB vehicles

To call in a vehicle, interact with the same console you used to capture the FOB, pick from any of the vehicles you've unlocked, and your pilot buddy will drop it off (usually right on top of one of your Marine buddies).

FOB weapons

Weapons are in and around the glowing crates across from the vehicle console. There will always be an MK50 Sidekick, an MA40 Assault Rifle, and a couple M9 Frag Grenades laying on the boxes there. The glowing boxes give you more options. Activate one of the crates with a holographic weapon above them (there are four of them, but they’re all the same), and you’ll get to cycle through the weapons you’ve unlocked by earning Valor and the unique weapons you’ve collected by killing Targets.

FOB Marines

Controlled FOBs also have Marine reinforcements hanging around. There are two kinds of Marines here — we’ll call them “guaranteed Marines” and “random Marines” (although Halo Infinite doesn’t).

• You unlock the guaranteed Marines by earning Valor — these are specialists like Assault, Breacher, and Scout Marines who come with a corresponding weapon. These specialists will be up on the FOB platform and immediately follow Master Chief around.
• Random Marines are soldiers armed with assault rifles who hang out on the FOB’s perimeter (the number of these Marines varies, and there might not even be any). These Marines won’t automatically follow you, but you can usually convince them to hop into a vehicle when you roll up.

Or, has Halo Infinite puts it:

Controlled FOBs reveal Banished and UNSC activity in the surrounding region, serve as fast travel hubs and rally points for UNSC Marine fire support, and provide access to vehicle drops, weapons, and weapon variants. Gain Valor to unlock available resources at all captured FOBs.

Unlocking new vehicles, weapons, and Marine reinforcements

There’s a lot to do as you explore Halo Infinite’s Zeta Halo. Two activities — responding UNSC Squad distress calls and liberating Banished Outposts — will earn you Valor. Think of Valor as Master Chief’s reputation.

Image: 343 Industries/Microsoft Game Studios via Polygon

As you earn Valor, you’ll automatically unlock new vehicles, weapons, and Marine reinforcements at FOBs. You can see what you’ve unlocked by checking the FOB tab in your menu. You’ll unlock something new every 100 or 200 Valor.