The Burden a Pyro Must Carry
Everyone has a favourite class. Whether that’s because of the weapons they use, the fact you can get a sweet kill to death ratio with them or just because their vividly stereotypical personality gives you a chuckle, you’ll have a favourite. Sometimes your favourite isn’t as clear cut as just one class and that’s perfectly fine.
But, at the moment, everyone’s favourite class to hate seems to be the Pyro.
Now, I’ve noticed a large amount of people seem to have a burning desire for the class to be nerfed. Some people I’d even go as far to say are up in flames about his unlockables. Yet, at the same time, many others feel that the Pyro is one of the ‘best’ classes in the game, feeling a certain fiery warmth from playing the little fellow. All these contrasting feelings could summarise the Pyro quite suitably as being the ‘marmite‘ class of TF2 (arguably, of course). But, what started all this controversy in the first place? Why has the Pyro gained a reputation of being a terrible class? Why are people flaming about him?
The transition from ‘underpowered’ to ‘overpowered’
Back in the day, when Badlands was just a cloud on the horizon, Payload had never been heard of and Medics still carried around regular Bonesaws, the Pyro was thought to be a weak class. Horribly short ranged, mediocre health and often hard to get kills with for people just starting out. The Pyro was mocked, people saying his only use was to earn the ‘Flamethrower’ achievement and nothing more. Can’t take on a Solider one on one, is blasted to bits by the Demoman’s traps. At least, that’s what they believed. The truth was that Pyros are a devastating ambush class – if you’re ambushed or taken by surprise from a Pyro, chances are you’ll be dead. He’s a master of close quarters combat and that’s what people forgot.
The problem with the Pyro in the beginning was the sheer ignorance about him. I think it might be because the Pyro is rated as an ‘offensive’ class, sparking the thought that he’s meant to be up on the front lines fighting the enemy like a Soldier would. The key idea of a Pyro is that if the enemy sees you coming before you get a chance to get in close, you’ll probably be the one headed to the resupply room and not them. The Pyro shines most when using the element of surprise, which baffled many because of his offensive class status – I mean, the element of surprise seems more like something a Spy does, and he’s a support class.
This is really what made people think the Pyro was useless. He doesn’t have the same pick-up-and-play ability that classes like the Soldier has, nor the instant gratification one gets from blowing someone up into a pile of little body parts (or an assortment of unicycles and dentures, if party mode is enabled). Of course, whenever something isn’t instantly spontaneous for a large quantity of players, people are too quick to draw the ‘buff class plz’ card.
Now onto the Pyro as he is today. Since his class pack, the Pyro went from something like the second least played class to the second most played. Unlike the Heavy, who’s sadly gone all the way back down to where he started, the Pyro has firmly stayed high up in the most played. Why? What was it about his pack that made him more desirable to play as than the Heavy or the Medic?
The class packs don’t just satisfy some of the ‘veterans’ who use that class, but it gets others interested in trying out the class. This is when a sudden strike of realisation occured – players tried to use the Pyro for more than a few seconds and actually did pretty well with him. But I suppose that should be expected, especially with the changes to his flamethrower like the damage drop off being ‘tweaked’ and the new Backburner. And that brings us to the present, more or less.
So, what now?
I think the Pyro’s ‘marmite’ problem has been with him for longer than the update, but I’d say it’s the update that caused people to take notice of it. I guess you could say, his shiny new kit fuelled the flames a little. Phrases like the ‘W + M1′ were born really only after 5/8 people on a team played the class. What can we do about it? Should we even bother trying to extinguish the fire that has made people argue over the Pyro? To be honest, probably not; It’s the great diversity of each class, the different opinions of players, the fantastic variations and situations one can accomplish through each character we play – the wicked critrawket that flies into you, the multiple facestabs, the infinite uber. With such a wide variety of classes, it’s inevitable that not everyone is going to like every class. The Pyro isn’t a particularily badly balanced class in the first place, anyway… Okay, the balance is maybe just slightly out of kilter at the moment, due to most of the classes not having their unlocks yet, but patience is a virtue.
Now, we’ve got the Scout update in our sight… Let’s start thinking about that!
Stumble it!
Secret Agent Clank! responded on 14 Feb 2009 at 5:42 pm #
Dude. I play Pyro. I KNOW it is W + M1. XD
More accurately, it’s W + M1 at the point when you’ve already gotten within devastation range of the enemy. Otherwise, it doesn’t work. Setting people on fire often causes them to panic too. It’s a psychological thing. =P Like Spies.
I’m not particularly excited about the Scout update, though. All I’m looking forward to are maps, modes, and most of all, Meet the Team.
Jesse responded on 14 Feb 2009 at 5:48 pm #
^Agreed
(Expect for the scout update.)
Kollega responded on 14 Feb 2009 at 6:39 pm #
Well,most underplayed classes now is Heavy and Scout,because Sentry guns/Sticky bombs totally kill their effectiveness,and Engineers/Demomen is common defense on most played maps (Dustbowl & Goldrush). Meanwhile,Pyro seems completely balanced to me.
Psyduck responded on 14 Feb 2009 at 7:09 pm #
This is why I love W+M1 in combination with the new critical system.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuLy9PFvwnw&fmt=18
Robert64 responded on 14 Feb 2009 at 10:29 pm #
^ That was pretty amazing, bravo Psyduck!
Jakka responded on 14 Feb 2009 at 11:16 pm #
I disagree with the Pre-patch Pyro part. Most people knew he was an ambush class but simply avoided him because he was bloody useless. Seeing how back in the day when being burned a Soldier could turn around and still blast the Pyro to pieces, nobody bothered to play the class and the majority of the Pre-Pyro-Pro’s are simply a bunch of smug jerks who would run around showing off “Look, I can get kills with a broken class” rather than picking a useful class.
To illustrate with an analogy: You can use a revolver to play a straight-up offensive Spy and while you still get a couple of kills, you’re pretty worthless as a credit to the team and your revolver skills would be much rather appreciated if you went Sniper or Scout.
Slipstream responded on 14 Feb 2009 at 11:53 pm #
I salute you, Pyrit, for defending our brilliant and maniacal burning buddy.
Pyrit is credit to… credibility?
:/
Either way, wonderful article. Now less people can have a tantrum and learn to avoid my flares. >:3
Corodan responded on 15 Feb 2009 at 1:39 am #
Go pyro!
He’s my 3rd MPC.
kanodin responded on 15 Feb 2009 at 3:26 am #
I am always amused at people who shout w+m1 at pyros who kill them. I mean it’s basically calling them the worst type of player yet their beating you? I’d think you’d rather know you atleast lost to a skilled opponent then someone who just ran up to you.
Also anyone who yells that, I defy you to try using it as your only strategy and see how it works out.
spliff responded on 15 Feb 2009 at 3:43 am #
aww i hate pyros.
im scout and see a pyro so i keep the distance, circle around him and feed him with the scattergun but SOMEHOW that bastard sets me into flames. and even if i kill him, the afterburn kills me if theres no medpack around
aww i hate pyros so much
Galenor responded on 15 Feb 2009 at 5:24 am #
I agree that people knew he was an ambush class, but never used him like one because he was no good at it. In fact, someone even made a comic poking fun at this!
http://i32.tinypic.com/256tzmc.png
Of course, this was before the Pyro buff. Afterward, with the introduction of the backburner making him a fantastic ambush class, someone took the duty to edit the comic.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/h4r/1213845480051.jpg
Jerryboy1993 responded on 15 Feb 2009 at 6:22 am #
The only reason I don’t like pyros is the simple fact that my MPC is the spy…enough said.
Although when I play the pyro, I always end up shooting flare everywhere becuase I want to see what it feels like to set a cloaked spy on fire FOR ONCE…how do they make it look so easy?
=\
Hissanrach responded on 15 Feb 2009 at 8:54 am #
I personally think that Pyro is fine how it is. Although there is always an abundance of them, I’m never worried because I usually enjoy playing soldier if my team doesn’t need a medic. There are some pyros that actually use their airblast, and when they do I’m always surprised, but this is rare. Pyros really are soldier food.
Azul responded on 15 Feb 2009 at 10:35 am #
I think pyro is fine as it is right now too. The class actually has a purpose now that it can defend itself a little. Before, the only use a pyro had was when ubered or for killing spies. Demo, heavy, soldier, and even scout (out in the open) had a pretty easy time ripping the pyro a new one. A semi defended sniper also had an easy time. Pyro is also the best class to just sit back and let off a little steam on those nights when you just want to mess around a little. W+M1 for the relaxation… Anyhow, a good pyro is a very strong force, just like most classes, and a bad pyro tends to be the first thing on the field to die. I still get a kick out of pyros trying to ambush people… when their huge gun is sticking out around the corner.
Retro responded on 15 Feb 2009 at 10:59 am #
I like the pyro. I think he’s(/she’s) cheeky.
I enjoyed all the puns, nice job Pyrit!
Operational responded on 15 Feb 2009 at 2:12 pm #
“He’s a master of close quarters combat and that’s what people forgot.”
I disagree, even with a good ambush the pre-update Pyro was weak in CQC.
n00bie51 responded on 15 Feb 2009 at 3:48 pm #
Pyrit, you’re missing out on a crucial piece of information that might destroy your thesis here.
Galenor may have referenced it, but nobody has mentioned this:
http://store.steampowered.com/news/1635/
Look at the last bullet point for the Pyro. That removal of the fall off damage in conjunction with the class pack which included the Back Burner’s 50 HP boost and the back Crits (before people realized the value of the air blast) essentially had the majority of Pyros have an outright replacement for the default flame thrower, and it appeared that the majority of players were Pyros. This was one of the lowest points of TF2 for me and this is probably part of the reason why I have such disdain for unlockables.
But that’s for a different discussion, right now I’m talking about the fall off damage reduction. You were causing as much damage to opponents setting them on fire from the very end of the flames as you if you were firing point blank. This changed EVERYTHING. This meant a Pyro could bring a Scout’s HP down to half in about a second without being close to him and so then Scouts had a tighter rope around their neck in close quarters combat. This is important, because this encouraged the classic noob-style W+M1 because Pyros didn’t have to be close to an enemy to deal out the maximum damage possible.
Now, look at the second bullet in this later update:
http://store.steampowered.com/news/1668/
The Pyro had the fall off damage returned, but now it’s much more reduced as opposed to being removed outright, and that’s what Pyros have now. However, it still makes the Pyro significantly more powerful than what he was at launch, which is something very important you left out. The W+M1 tactic isn’t just something noobs do, it’s something that at one point has been made more effective through an update (although it’s still not a practical way to play the Pyro all the time). It truly WAS a weaker class back then and now it really IS stronger, it’s not just peoples’ “sheer ignorance.” This is the significant factor in what made Pyro go from “underpowered” to “overpowered,” not just the sheer number of players that used it or ignorance.
I liked the Pyro before his fall off damage was changed because it was more about ambushing instead of the raw damage output he could do in a short amount of time and skilled Pyros knew this. However, I don’t mind the Pyro now because I think he needed the buff, but I might consider that he requires less skill to perform well. Perhaps it’s just an inherent issue in the class’s design that can’t be fixed.
Bodjo responded on 15 Feb 2009 at 5:18 pm #
Heavy might have went back to where he started because one of the unlocks – one might say the most important – didn’t work the way it was supposed not. Now that Natascha does the correct amount of damage, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a spike in Heavy playtime. I’ve always loved playing Heavy–he’s my most played class narrowly over Medic–so if y’all want to keep not playing him…you’re missing out. He’s a death machine once you put in the time to get the mechanics.
As for the Pyro, people bash on him too much. I don’t think he’s OP at all…he’s balanced pretty darn well. I’m usually Heavy, Medic, Solder, or Scout, but I’ve got enough playtime as Pyro to say I think there’s a big diffference between n00bs who play as him and those who’ve put in the time to actually get good. He’s a good uber target, also.
I suppose the unlocks slightly unbalancing things is an argument with some merit, but we’ve got another update coming so I don’t see any big balance issues right now*.
*Except demomen**
**Just kidding. I hate people bitching about demomen, and I don’t even play him.
Anonymous responded on 15 Feb 2009 at 7:22 pm #
Pyro is an easy mode joke of a class.
MasterSref responded on 15 Feb 2009 at 11:15 pm #
All the complaining about Pyros honestly confuses me. I can understand spies being pissed but every class has its counter so this should surprise no one. The only time Pyro was overpowered was with the +50 HP Backburner. After the falloff nerf and the removal of the health bonus, I think they are right where they should be.
There is certainly skill in playing Pyro, it’s just the skill is not in shooting, it’s in movement and timing the reflector blast. I know I can tell the difference between a good and a bad pyro when I face one, I should think others do as well.
I’ll admit I am biased here, my primary class is Soldier and so I welcomed the Pyro pack simply because it made Pyros something more than a free kill.
Pyrit responded on 15 Feb 2009 at 11:46 pm #
n00bie: Of course, I think the classpacks have ‘buffed’ all the classes. That may have not been what Valve desired, but you must admit with the likes of the KGB, the Ubersaw and such, it seems almost like it (I can understand that for that reason, that’s why you don’t like them).
I know the Pyro was weaker before his update, but people would just scoff at him stating he was ‘completely useless’ with no real purpose. They wouldn’t even bother trying to use him because they thought he had no point to the game and wouldn’t care if he was just taken out altogether. That was the kind of ignorance I was talking about. He was effective if the player knew how to use him, just as much as a Spy or a Scout can be.
I honestly didn’t want this article to be really deep or full of analysis or be all that serious. I’m sorry if I missed out any important bits, but it was intended to just be a bit of a light read that hopefully people would enjoy reading without feeling that it was meant to be a serious argument. Hence all the terrible puns.
n00bie51 responded on 16 Feb 2009 at 1:21 am #
Yes, hence those terrible god-awful puns. I guess I can agree with you that many players didn’t know how to play him right as an ambush class so they dismissed the Pyro as weaker when they shouldn’t have.
A random person responded on 28 Nov 2009 at 7:25 am #
My problem with pyros is, that whenever I get flamed it looks so easy for the pyro. The range is just close enough, and it all works fantastically for the pyro. However, when I go pyro, everyone seems to be just out of reach. I can occasionally get that one guy standing with his back to me, but otherwise I have very little chance.
W+M1 doesn’t even work. It’s a lie, but on some maps you can sometimes get it to work. Not very well though. Technically this is the basic strategy for some other classes, with a few other tactics of course, so it’s not exactly stupid. You’re going to do that as a pyro, but some people go back and strafe a bit. But underlying, you will do exactly that. The other thing about pyros is how long the flame lasts. If you don’t have some water, jarate or a source of health around, you’re screwed to being very noisy, and generally pretty vulnerable. The amount of damage a pyro can do in so small a time is staggering, but not too bad when compared to a medium range Heavy. Or a demoman. It’s just very fast and easy to get to.