Team Fortress 2 Tips 'n Tricks?

[Shagz]

For those who are playing the beta, any tips 'n tricks you'd like to share?

Here's a couple I've picked up...


Medic: tell your soldiers to rocket jump during the "set up" phase and heal them; you'll get your Ubercharge closer to readines before the game even starts
Demoman: don't rocket jump too high when you're trying to get ahead; otherwise you'll hurt yourself again when you fall from too great a height

[[toj.cc]phantom]

Spie: You can cloak and disguise do so, right after you attack and undisguise your self.

[vibrokatana]

Don't commit suicide.

[Tek7]

Medic

Watch your back. Spies want to kill you. A lot.
When the round starts, pair up with a heavy, soldier, or pyro for maximum destruction.
Your flag-running and conc-jumping days are over; medics are a true support class in TF2, not an offense class like in TFC.
Time your Ubercharges carefully. If possible, give the player you're trailing some warning before activating the charge.
Healing isn't a spy check like it was in TFC. Infecting is gone from the game. In other words, just because you can heal a player doesn't mean he's not an enemy spy. Don't hesitate to whip out the syringe gun and shoot someone a few times to check (unless, of course, FF is turned on).

[Shagz]

In fact, you help that Spy unlock one of his achievements if you heal him/her!

[Tek7]

In fact, you help that Spy unlock one of his achievements if you heal him/her!Eh? What's that now?

[Exo-Slayer]

The game has Achievments like the 360 version you can access them from the main menu. Theres one for making an enemy medic heal you while disguised.

I managed to get a medic to heal me while I was disguised as a heavy, then the medic ubercharged me so I rewarded him with a backstab.

[Tek7]

The game has Achievments like the 360 version you can access them from the main menu. Theres one for making an enemy medic heal you while disguised. I personally don't like that medics can heal enemy players. It takes away from the sense of comradery when I have to question whether a person I'm healing is on my team or not. It's also a pain in the rear to have to switch weapons every time I want to spy-check a player.

An off-hand melee weapon would serve well as a spy check. Maybe it's possible to write a config file so you can hold down a certain key to attack with the saw? Then when you release the key, you're back to holding your healgun?

Of course, I say all this from a Medic perspective. I suppose I may feel differently if I ever start playing primarily as a Spy.

[kraniac]

Buried within the options menu is a "fast weapon switch" option. Use it! As any class, but especially the Scout, Medic, or Pyro, fast weapon switching combined with the "Last Weapon" button will greatly improve your ability to do damage quickly by selecting the proper weapon for the situation.

Many times I have won duels with enemy Scouts simply because, when we both deplete our shotguns, I immediately switch to my pistol, and they attempt to retreat and reload.

[kraniac]

on Gravelpit as a Scout, you can crouch-double-jump onto the raised tunnels that lead to the attacking team's spawn. There's one-way doors so you can't get inside, but when the shutters open at the beginning of the round, I've managed to surprise quite a few attackers by being riiight on the other side. :)

[Shagz]

You can also double jump-crouch on CP_Well to get up onto the landing of the train station. (double jump then hit crouch to get onto the window sill, then double jump crouch again to make it to the landing) Makes for fast caps of the center control point. Soldiers and demos have to rocket/grenade jump to get up there.

I also realized recently how important flanking is, especially with sentry guns. (Flanking is when your opponent is engaged with your team member(s) and you run down a side hall or just move into a position where you can approach the target from the side or back) If it's a two-on-one situation, don't make it easy for the enemy, spread out!

And for sentries, without off hand grenades, you can't really "solo" a sentry anymore, unless you can get a good rebound or right angle with the demoman. Instead, you'll need to team up with somebody. Have one of you draw the fire of the sentry gun in one entrance to a room while the other flanks the turret from the other entrance.

[vibrokatana]

-The medic's gun sucks
-Never try to melee a pyro
-Scout vs Heavy - you can kill a heavy with 2-3 shots in the back

[Whon]

*it is said in the tips but as pyro if you lite someone up and can't keep the flame on them bust out the shotgun for the final blow.
*on well a sniper can pick off the other team members rushing the middle with quick shot between the crack of the trains and the central building.
*as engineers, even if someone tells you other wise if you are going to protect you sentry build your dispenser right next to you so that it can heal you and supply you as rushes come... I've stopped many of uber doctors/heavy combos solo this way.
*engineers, teleporters-teleporters-teleporters heavys and soilders are slow get them to the front fast with well placed teleporters.
*as a sniper never keep you laser scope still and always keep it pointing short of your targets corner, or they will see the dot and know you are sniping the corner.
*snipers, head shots still count. just cuz you don't have a fully charged gun doesn't mean a well placed head shot won't bring them down fast.
*when covering long distances while not sniping, try your pistol if you have one, it's more accurate then the shotgun.
*medigun needles don't shot worth a trout. always aim higher then the crosshairs to arch the needles and you'll get a lot more kills as a medic

[Shagz]

Just remembered: Pyros are good spy scanners. Not sure if someone's a spy? Light 'em up. Suspect that a spy is invisible nearby? Carpet the area, you'll soon know.

[Tek7]

And for sentries, without off hand grenades, you can't really "solo" a sentry anymore, unless you can get a good rebound or right angle with the demoman. Instead, you'll need to team up with somebody.Medic + Heavy > level 2 sentry.

Level 3 sentry > Medic + Heavy.

Be careful.

The Scout's shotgun is in serious need of a nerf. You've been warned.

[Tek7]

*medigun needles don't shot worth a trout. always aim higher then the crosshairs to arch the needles and you'll get a lot more kills as a medicMedics: It's easy to forget you have a melee weapon. If you can get close enough and if your melee sk1llz are 1337, then break out the bonesaw and prepare for unnecessary surgery.

[kraniac]

Thing is, as a medic, if you're getting a lot of kills, you probably *aren't* playing it properly. You could kill 5 dudes with the needle gun and it would be pretty impressive, or you could get 5 kabillion assists by healing your team and watch your score rocket up the board.

As a medic you are more effective with a group of guys, switching your health beam among all of them to keep them buffed, than you are with just one heavy. Buffing fills the ubercharge as much as healing does, but holding the beam on one person does not. With the switch-between strategy, you give more overall health to your team and you charge faster. Just remember to prioritize correctly.

[vibrokatana]

- If you play sniper properly you will likely be the highest scored person in your team and likely the server
- If you are getting incredibly frustrated switch to spy and wreck havok, even if you suck you will gain experience
- When playing spy always mimic your impersonation, generally soldiers/demo/engineer/sniper is a pretty good bet depending on the situation because they are largely inactive until an enemy is found.

[Shagz]

Buffing fills the ubercharge as much as healing does, but holding the beam on one person does not.

Is that true? I thought buffing is slower to charge. Charges faster when you're healing a teammate up when they're below normal, but it slows when you go above that. Or is it just like you say, it just gets slower the more you heal just one person?

One thing I would add is that you shouldn't always stick with a heavy as your partner. On offense, ubercharging a soldier, demo or pyro is an excellent way to clear a room of bad guys and sentries. And yea, as a medic, you really shouldn't be getting any kills.

[kraniac]

I haven't measured it exactly, but subjectively I notice myself getting ubercharge faster when I buff multiple people. I think it's slower when you heal one person because you can only heal as fast as the buff ticks off, which is slow. I don't think it depends on whether they're above or below regular max health. I might be wrong but I'm fairly sure I'm right.

[Tek7]

Step 1: Find the Pyro with the highest score on your team.
Step 2: Build Ubercharge
Step 3: Activate Ubercharge
Step 4: Decimate enemy

As stated in other threads, my top class pick is Medic, but I've had a few killing streaks (one totaling 18 kills) as Pyro. I am well aware of the pwnination that is Medic X Pyro.

(Medic X Pyro is the same as Medic/Pyro or Medic+Pyro. I picked up the Character X Character thing on the AnimeSuki forums (http://forums.animesuki.com/).)

[Whon]

the whole part about how to use the needle gun right is based on the fact that may teammates you may hook up with don't know to always check their backs and you can find yourself being put in a pinch if they aren't protecting you. So, be ready to defend yourself cuz when your partner dies and they will at some point, you will find yourself deep in enemy territory and alone.

[Shagz]

re: Pyro ubercharge...pulled off one of those last night, very devastating. Teaming with a pyro before the uber is built, though, doesn't work as well due to Pyros' suicidal nature. :/

Another tip: when teaming with a medic to build an uber before a round starts, do your rocket or grenade jumps while standing in front of the supply cabinet. You'll never have to hit reload and you'll be able to build up the uber faster that way.

Also, soldiers seem to be able to build up ubers faster than demomen. A demo's pipe does more damage than a rocket, but you can fire rockets more often.

[Elihu]

Several Tips per map:

As an engi on any map check for ammo box respawn areas on the map...build your dispenser next to it and your sentry in front of you while standing on that respawn. This will allow you to regain ammo/metal for building even quicker than normal. If you happen to get a kill while building and are still in need of metal be sure to grab the weapon of the person you killed = easy +100 metal. Also, be sure to put a teleporter up ASAP for your teammates to spawn and get back into the action quickly. Build your porter near respawn areas (you need to learn these per map, and per cap point), and be sure to destroy\rebuild in new areas as your team progresses forwards.

As a soldier (or some other classes) on the new well map (it has the trains that go through the middle that can kill you if you aren't careful) watch for enemies dodging behind the non-moving train cars. You can rocket\grenade\shoot under the train at their feet and do some damage or even kill them. Engi's who are newer to playing tend to build behind these, hoping to catch their enemies off-guard coming around the train...blow their stuff up from under the train and watch as the engi's face grows really red.

When playing a soldier on a point capture map you don't have the luxury to sit at the start in front of a supply cabinet to help the medic build his ubercharge. Run out of the gates with the medic healing and rocket jump to your first destination...allow your rockets to propel you forward in the air though to keep in stride with your normal running speed and crouch jump when rocketing at your feet. The falling damage you take from jumping to a greater height increases the amount of healing taken and thus the Ubercharge is built faster.

Take special note that when teaming with a medic, it is YOUR responsibility to ensure that your medic is protected at all times!! Watch your flanks as much as you do in front of you. Keep track of what your medic is doing and where he\she is going. Communication is key during a medic + combo.

When facing an incoming UBERCHARGED combo, utilize your explosives (assuming you are demo or soldier) to try and seperate the medic from the charged person. If you can get the medic knocked far enough away from the charged person the charge will drop allowing you to take out that target. Also use this method to slow their progression if the are coming to take a point...(i.e. the bridge that leads to the last point in Dustbowl, knock them off of it with explosives)

[Elihu]

Wanna play a spy? Here's a great how to video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-qD30EOO-o) on that class.

[Shagz]

Annnnd...here's an excellent video on how to play The Pyro (http://youtube.com/watch?v=QGIISxhYRYE) from the same guy. Some cool Pyro decimation for all those who say the Pyro sucks. ;)

[Shagz]

Try and memorize your weapon rotation order. I'm still working on this, and it's annoying playing solly, emptying your clip of rockets, then trying to change to your shotgun but end up pulling our trench shovel instead. :P

Bind keys to your primary/secondary weapons near your regular keys or remember which direction you need to rotate on your mouse wheel.

[Keero]

(Since I play them the most...) Pyro tips:

When setting people on fire, blaze them, then run away while firing the shotty. This usually kills off spies and other weak classes easily.

Always fire at windows/at the CP from under it (Badlands) to hopefully set someone on fire.

You CAN take out a level 3 sentry if it doesn't have another one backing it up. (with Engi wrenching it) You press WA or WD to circle around it while firing beforehand, and since you're close to it, your flame does more damage + Engi will either run or die in flames. By the time you reach red HP, it should be down. Better though if you don't jump and have an uber. But I usually take them down 80% of the time by myself.

If you think it's a spy. It is.

Dodge diagonally when going head to head against a Soldier. (Not that you should.) You should be able to dodge his missiles since it's a small firing radius if your right against him.

Cut people off. If you see them going one way, they usually are. Hide behind the corner and when they run past, make sure you BBQ them. ;D

Use your shotgun. Really. It's a good weapon at mid-long ranges.

ALWAYS taunt over dead spies. It's the best. (Well, my custom anyways.)

With screwy hitboxes and both you and your target running diagonally, aim AHEAD (leading) of them by a little bit, it helps catch them on fire.

When facing another Pyro, ALWAYS backpedal with your flamer. By the time your at red HP, he should be dead since his flamer will have shorter range when running forward. And use your shotty when your too far apart for the flamer.

[BassMan449]

As a pyro if you see a soldier, and you aren't right on top of him, run away. Any decent soldier (like Elihu) will be able to juggle you till you die and never let you get within range of the flamethrower. It's quite easy to do if you know how to aim the rockets well.

[Glitch]

-Scout vs Heavy - you can kill a heavy with 2-3 shots in the back

Is that still true?

[Bakey]

And for sentries, without off hand grenades, you can't really "solo" a sentry anymore...

As a scout if the sentry's not up against a wall, you can circle-strafe it and take it down no problem, even with your bat. The sentry cannot track you because you move so fast. I've seen one of the guys on my current clan, [FDG]Sundae take down a level 3 sentry by himself with just a bat.

[Keero]

If you know Gerbil is on the opposing team, always go Pyro. Same for Tek. :P

As a Heavy, always aim for one target. If you aim for a crowd, you won't hit anything.

[Bakey]

And for the love of pete if you're aiming for one target, make it a MEDIC!


Speaking of medics, when you're ubering a heavy or solly to help take out a sentry, make sure YOU walk out first. That way the sentry fires at you and the soldier/heavy won't have to worry about knockback and they can take that sentry out much quicker.

[Tek7]

And for the love of pete if you're aiming for one target, make it a MEDIC!/me gives Bakey a fake forums infraction

[Whon]

"...be polite, be efficient. Have a plan to kill everyone you meet..."

and take note, the snipe shoots the medic first... sorry tek, but I'm aiming at you every time...

BOOM!!! Headshot...

[Tek7]

and take note, the snipe shoots the medic first... sorry tek, but I'm aiming at you every time...

BOOM!!! Headshot...We poor Medics get picked on so much. ;_;

[slalomdms]

This may seem obvious but it happens all the time when im playing demo. When you see a demo disappear around a corner....its not the best idea to follow him, most likely he has stickies setup.

As a demo you are kinda week against pyros and scouts because they can get close to you and it is hard to kill them. When ever I get chased by a pyro i shoot stickes straight down and then blow them up immediately. Kills them and usually you can find some health before you die.

Demomen are the best for taking out sentries solo IMO. If you put 3-4 stickes by an unguarded sentry you can kill it.

Also as a demo you can separate and uber if you put down a bunch of stickies and the medic walks over them as you are detonating them.

Thats all i have for now hope it helps some of you all.

[ppar3566]

If you are a demo or soldier and have a medic healing you as you attempt to take out multiple enemies, please, please, please do not rocket jump without letting the medic know. The last couple of times i have been on I have been healing a soldier only to have him rocket jump to a vantage point and leave me alone in a crowd full of opposing players.

Be nice to your medics and let them know you care by not leaving them to die after an uber charge.

Oh and second and an obvious one be careful about healing just anyone. You will be much more effective if you take a quick look at the team boards and find out is leading the score count and give them a hand and be purposeful in targeting your major healing efforts and ubers. i know this is harsh but the fact is that you will frequently be the only healer on your side and therefore the role you play has to be of the most benifit to your team.

And finally as a medic at the beginning of a round try to be the last to deploy your uber. Most medics hit the uber the moment that the count hits zero. If you delay for as long as possibe without you or your mark dying you will have the advantage in taking the other medic/other combos out. I know it is a simple one that everybody knows but hey if your new there it is.

Oh I just thought of another. On gravel pit, and others, be aware of where the opposing team is up to and change classes to match theirprogression. I know that I tend to change from medic and then to sniper as the opposing team reaches the last point, and then finally to heavy or soldier when all seems lost (generally at this point you have lost anyway and I just do it for the fun of it).

[Sarugon]

Heres a tip for medics, as Tek said earlier in the thread, as a medic you're a priority target for good spies, but heres something you may not know. If you have the medic milestone one achievement and have the Blutsager, shoot team mates with it from time to time, if you get healed from it and see littles green crosses coming out of them, they're a spy.

[Keero]

My updated Pyro tips:

A sweet little combo that I use against the lighter classes is a quick stream of flames, Compression Blast (only Flamethrower), quick switch to shotty and blast 2-3 times, that usually kills many classes. Doing this move will A) mess up their aim B) give you time to get some room, C) push Spies away from targets, D) look cool. So that's LeftClick > RightClick > Q > Leftclick x2-3. If that doesn't kill them, the afterburn will. When it comes to a Heavy, I do the same, but AS SOON as he spins up, I jump. Why? This will push me back when he fires, lessening the damage HE does, and gives you a chance to escape with his health ticking away. But about 60% of the time you will die if your too close, so be wary of that.

If you have the Flamethrower, stop what you're doing and push ubers that could wreck your defense. Don't worry about killing that one enemy, just push that Ubered-Pyro/Demo away, or even push his Medic. That gives your Sentries some nice room to knock them back further. And make sure to A) push stickies away from the Cart/CP's. This will help tons. You can also "juggle" folks in the air or push them infront of friendly Sentries. It's always fun to do that, but watch your ammo.

The Airblast can reflect every OTHER rocket, so time it right. The reflection area has plenty of reach, so you could still reflect plenty of rockets without getting in front of them. And make sure to always aim your cursor where you want the rocket to go. The rocket could come above you to your right, but you could shoot it back behind the soldier at his medic's feet, dealing some decent damage. Grenades from the Demo's primary are a bit trickier, so aim higher so it lobs it back. Stickies are 50-50 when in tthe air, so worry about pushing them on the ground. You can also reflect Flare gun shots and Sentry gun shots.

Use the Axt sparingly. It's very awesome, but you'll end up dieing a lot if you're not careful.

Heavy:

When you have that delicious Sandvich, you can hear the funny taunts by doing this--

Press G to taunt.
Immediately open your voice commands and say something. (Like Z+2 for "Thanks")
When done right, you'll here him talk to the Sandvich after he eats it. o_o

Soldier:

When firing, it's usually good to jump before you do. This will angle your rockets better at their feet, increasing your damage. Plus if you're facing off against another Soldier/Demo, you could propel yourself in the direction you want to go, throwing them off.

If you're past setup time, help build ubers for your medic by firing at walls next to you. But don't stand around doing it, make sure to be on the move. And save some ammo for later! :p