Halo 3 Banshee Tips

The banshee is a powerful covenant vehicle and the only aircraft available in halo 3 matchmaking except the modified Hornet in avalanche. It has twin plasma cannons attached and in addition a fuel rod cannon ( Banshee bomb ). You can find it on both Valhalla and Sandtrap. Like the ghost, it also has unlimited boost. You cannot fire while boosting, however.

The best way to use the banshee in my opinion is to locate an opponent, begin firing at him, and then fire your banshee bomb at the nearest cover INSTEAD of at your opponent. Unless they have rockets or laser, most players will run right for cover when confronted by the banshee and they will effectively run right into your bomb. If however they don't take cover, you can easily finish them off with your cannons.

When confronting enemy banshees, I like to open fire on them, flying towards them in a back-and-forth circular motion in hopes of making them miss a few shots, banshee bomb them when you are close enough and continue firing afterwards until they are taken care of. If your shields are already low when you are confronted by an enemy banshee, take advantage of the fact that they cannot shoot while boosting. Hit the boost and get out of there, and take cover on the other side of the map. Then engage when your shields are back up.

Although the banshee is very powerful you must be careful of several things while flying it. First off, you cannot fly to low. If you swoop in too low eager to make a kill then you will almost always be skyjacked. However, if you do accidentally get down to low, hit the boost and travel straight for the enemy and then straight forward on the ground, and then when there are no enemies near fly back up into the air. Although your shields will likely be harmed by doing this it is much better then just trying to fly straight back up and being interrupted by a skyjacker.

They are also extremely easily taken out by the spartan laser. In Valhalla, A good strategy is to take the mongoose or warthog out first, secure the laser, and THEN have a team mate operate the banshee. You should never attempt to fly the banshee when the other team has the laser. If you are flying and you notice an opponent charging up the laser at you, wait until he is JUST about to shoot and then press A to perform a corkscrew or a barrel roll, it is your best chance at avoiding it. If you are successful, IMMEDIATELY take cover before he can shoot at you again and do not come back out until your team has taken control of the laser.

The missile pod also poses a threat to the banshee, but if you know what you are doing it can be easily avoided. On Valhalla, when you hear the sound of missiles tracking you, get behind the wall directly above where your banshee spawns and they will hit that instead of you. Large cliffs also on Valhalla and Sandtrap can be used in this way as well. If however there is no available cover, bail out of the banshee and take cover on the ground. Your banshee will not always be destroyed, but if it is, its better it than you.

If you are attempting to skyjack an enemy banshee, take cover around a corner and wait for him to swoop in close. Then, hold RB down the whole time while jumping at THE SIDE or BEHIND of the banshee. DO NOT jump in front of the banshee or you will be splattered.

When facing an enemy warthog, always aim your cannon at the gunner itself and not the actual vehicle. This way, you can take out its only offense much faster and then the driver will be an easy kill afterwards. Don't forget to lead your banshee bomb in the direction they are heading. Even if they don't get hit directly they can still be nailed with some splash damage which can flip their vehicle.

Wraiths are ridiculously easy to take out in the banshee. You can either make him miss a shot and then press into the side/back of the vehicle and continue shooting like you would in a ghost, or you can simply strafe around in the air dodging shots and shooting bombs until he is taken out.

Although you need to take care and be sneaky while operating the banshee, it is extremly powerful against land infrantry and most vehicles.