At this time there is no way to choose a host in an online match; Bungie’s system does it automatically while the match is launching, sometimes with undesirable results. The best thing to do if you start a custom game and it’s choppy is to restart the game, switching the person who starts the room.

In LAN the person who starts the room will be given host. Top teams have different philosophies about choosing host but typically ask yourself which teammate fires the most shots? Many teams base who will get host on who’s the most active with the Battle Rifle. The logic behind this notion is that whoever has the host shot will hit more reliably and so the teammate firing the most will do even more damage if they have host.

Another element that goes into choosing host is who has the best shot? If one of your teammates reliably gets accurate crossfire and insane cross-map shots, giving him host may make it very difficult for the other team to stand up against him or her in a BR battle. It’s best to experiment with all members of your team being host and see who has the most success. In the end, you’ll find a system that works.