Strategy

From TF2 Wiki

For class-specific strategies, please see the individual pages for each class. For map-specific strategies, please see the pages for each map. Other pages on strategy can be found in Category:Strategy.

• The best teams are ones that are balanced. We all have our favorite classes, but before choosing one when you join on a server, it's best to check what your team is missing. Adding a fifth Engineer is usually less helpful than becoming the team's first Medic.

• If you want to switch classes while alive, go into your respawn room to switch without the death penalty. (Note! You can even do this on the Sudden death rounds right at the beginning.)

• Don't pick up fallen weapons unless you are running out of ammunition. The Engineer on your team can pick it up and retrieve metal from it. The primary attacking classes, i.e. the Soldier, Pyro, Demoman, and the Heavy often run out of ammo quickly, so leave some for them to pick up.

• Soldiers and Demomen can use rockets and Sticky bombs, respectively, to injure themselves during matches help Medics to fill their ÜberCharge meter more quickly. Take care to not run out of ammunition while doing this. This isn't necessary during setup, as ÜberCharge fills at the fastest rate regardless.

• Avoid using a Teleporter when it's more helpful to other classes. It's considered bad form for quicker classes (especially the Scout) to take the Teleporter when slower classes, like the Heavy and Soldier, take much longer to get back to the front lines. Additionally, Engineers should be given preference because they may need to repair their items on the other side. When exiting from a Teleporter (if there are no immediate threats or objectives) pause to allow the 'sparkly Teleporter trail' to disappear, so you don't give the Teleporter's location away. Medics may also need to use the Teleporter more than anyone else in case someone is injured on the other side. Additionally, if you are being healed by a medic and they do not wish to use the teleporter themselves, help them charge their über by running the distance between the entrance and exit, do not leave them stranded without a chance to charge.

• Use voice chat and the voice commands to keep close communication with your team! It's a team-based game and without good co-operation, it's not as much fun (and you have a better shot at losing the match).

• Use all the space available while you are capturing a point. This space is not necessarily limited to the circle. The edge of the Capture zone is defined by a black/yellow dashed line. If your teammates stay close together, it will be easier for a Soldier or a Demoman to kill you and prevent the point capture. It may also be possibly to stand at the edge of a capture zone and capture it while out of view of enemies or enemy sentry guns.

• Communicate with your Medic regarding his ÜberCharge, otherwise the Medic will use his personal judgment. Your assumptions about what he plans to do might be wrong (for example, he might ÜberCharge the nearest Heavy instead of you). And sometimes you won't want it, such as when you're out of ammo.

• Demoman sticky bombs can be shot out of the way with a Shotgun or Sniper rifle blast, the Minigun, the Rocket launcher, Pyro's Flamethrower's air blast or the Demoman's Grenade launcher/Sticky bombs.

• Learn how to check for enemy Spies. It is also recommended to learn how to identify who isn't a Spy to avoid wasting time trying to kill your teammates.

• Thank Engineers and with the sometimes very boring job of defending your Intel room by dropping the Intel in front of them and allow them to cap to gain points. (The default key to drop the Intel is "L") (idea by arredondo source)

• If your character has slow speed (like Heavy) and you have spotted a level-1 Sentry gun, you can run away faster by jumping while it shoots you, because the Sentry's pushback is strong enough to affect your body's in-air velocity. This will not work well with higher level Sentries, however.

• Leave Health packs for wounded Medics traveling with you. Then the medic is healed, and can still heal you.

• Shoot at friendly Spies who are disguised as members of the enemy team. While that may seem stupid, any enemy people that see him getting shot at may think that he is one of them, allowing the Spy an extra few seconds to Backstab before they realize he is not shooting back. This obviously only makes sense in situations where the enemy might be tricked.

• If a friendly spy is cloaked, try not to draw attention to them. Avoid standing somewhere where enemies shooting at you will accidentally hit them and make them visible. For example, in certain doorways and chokepoints, avoid starting a crossfire until the cloaked friendly spy is past or in a position where they won't be hit by the enemy.