War update: A Pyro’s Reflection
So the new update has been live for a couple of days now. It brought us some cool and highly annoying unlocks (especially the Eyelander – I hate that frickin’ thing) but it also changed the normal TF life for us. And here I want to tell you what has changed for the fire–loving maniac – the Pyro – and some tips on how to better survive in this explosive madness.
Chapter 1: The Black Scotsmen
Well, most importantly, you still have to dodge Grenades and watch out for Sticky carpets. But besides that, the ways of fighting melee Demomen has changed; wild Scotsmen are charging around with their swords and it’s easier to survive the new Sticky Launcher. So let’s get straight to the point.
Eyelander + Chargin’ Targe combo
For some odd reason a WOODEN targe gives the Demoman protection against flames, so forget about using your Flamethrower (but not entirely). First things first: throw away the Flare Gun if you’re using it. Sure, sniping people from far away and pissing off those damned Snipers sure is fun, but it won’t help you defeat the Scotsmen. So instead equip the old but reliable Shotgun and listen to this. When you see a Demoman dumb enough to charge you, let him taste your Shotty. By the time he’s halfway to you he should be pretty much dead. Although if he isn’t, don’t go for a fair melee fight. Step aside and when he flies past you, puff him with your Flamethrower, airblast him, and as he tries to kill some air swinging his sword wildly, run up to him and greet him with your Axtinguisher. Congratulations! You achieved your objective of killing him without him even touching you, and also caused some MASSIVE rage from his side. Even if he has only either the Eyelander or the Chargin’ Targe, the same advice applies.
- You wanted a melee fight? You got it
The Scottish Resistance
Now this one is fun to fight against. You see, the Demoman can’t randomly detonate his Stickies when he has this unlock equipped. He has to actually aim at them. So this gives us a perfect opportunity to pass the field without much fighting. Just check your surroundings and if you don’t see any Demomen staring at the Stickies you’re about to cross, you’re pretty much free to go. If, however, you spot a Demoman who’s seen you there are two ways of dealing with it. First option – find an alternate route. Second option – if he’s close enough, you should try to scare him off with your Shotgun. If he’s within medium range, he’ll retreat after three or four hits screaming for a Medic, and you’ll be free to pass.
- Run home to mama!
Chapter 2: The American Civilian Soldier
Yeah, this fellah here will actually change your play style a little, mainly due to one of his new unlocks – the Direct Hit. This will force you to be a little bit more stealthy than you were before, because you won’t be able to charge around as freely as you could before the update. But… that’s pretty much it. Anyway:
The Direct Hit
As I mentioned before, you will be forced to be more aware of the enemy Soldiers. This is because of the speed at which the missile from this weapon travels and the damage it deals when you’re hit. Sure, it’s still possible to reflect these rockets, but it’s really hard. Think of airblasting a Hunstman arrow. It’s really similar in this case. Second thing – damage. Even when you’ve lost just 30 HP you can be one shotted by the Soldier. Moreover, if you even just jump and the rocket hits you, it will count as an airshot and will give the Soldier a minicrit which will instagib you- even at full health. So pretty much the only semi–safe way of fighting this weapon is by catching Soldiers off guard from a place where they can’t see you or ambushing them. Also, when doing so try to not jump if it’s not necessary. That random rocket may hit you and kill you. You can also try to fight him with your Shotgun at medium range, but it isn’t really effective. So be aware of these enemies, as they’re one of the toughest foes you will run into (for now – until a possible update to the unlocks comes out).
- He’ll never even know what hit him
The Equalizer a.k.a. the Imbalizer
Well this one is one hell of a overpowered unlock here. When you’re below 40 HP you instakill every class that has 150 HP and less AND on top of that your speed is raised to that of a Scout. But despite all of that it is pretty easy to fight simply because when you see a Soldier dashing at you with his Equalizer out, you just know that he’s really low on health. So again you pull out your old, reliable Shotgun and load him full of buckshot when he comes into medium range. Usually one shot is more than enough to kill such a threat. However if he catches you off guard at close range you’re pretty much dead unless you have catlike reflexes and you can turn around and kill him in the very second he hits you.
- Definitely not a fair fight
Now before you complain about it in the comments, I didn’t cover the Buff Banner or the Gunboats because they aren’t really weapons. The Buff Banner is a “weapon” that affects teammates so think of it as a glorified Jarate. Fight it the same ways you fight when you’re covered in piss – just hide and wait till the effect wears off and then go and kill ‘em.
So good luck, fellow Pyros, and kill as many of those damned explosive using classes as you can.
Oh, and Merry Christmas from Central Europe to all you Uberchargers out there!
Thanks to Tesla Tank for the title as I couldn’t come up with anything good.
Tygrys on December 24th 2009 in game classes, how to, pyro, tactics, team fortress 2
Stumble it!
DrManette responded on 24 Dec 2009 at 4:43 pm #
I love how both melee weapons require the player to CHARGE right at the enemy. Bang. Bang. Bang. Dead.
Tonight, Pyros dine in hell. See ya in there, you bloody Scotsman! Oh, and you too Mr. Soldier!
Feralt responded on 24 Dec 2009 at 5:17 pm #
So much Solly/Demo Hate.
It’s funny to me.
Mr. Noobinator responded on 24 Dec 2009 at 5:27 pm #
i suppose the unlocks do give demo and soldier a new playstyle (and a new way for other classes to kill them, if you may), since both tend to stay back at safe distance and spammy spammy.
phpirate responded on 24 Dec 2009 at 6:17 pm #
Why is it that pyros somehow make every update about them?
Really. Crying about dead ringer, jarate, fan, etc.
Seriously, play another class for a change, there’s 9 of them. You don’t need to write a 3 page article every time the only class you play faces any adversity.
FlyingHat responded on 24 Dec 2009 at 6:26 pm #
The demoman can just spam more stickies/pipes at you while you’re annoying him with the shotgun.
Minicrit DH rockets won’t instagib a full health pyro.
The equalizer at most will make you slightly faster than a medic, but slower than a scout.
RealLifePudding responded on 24 Dec 2009 at 8:50 pm #
the medic cries in vein
he needs a sticky launching demoman,
but he wont find one around
for they are swinging the eyelander with proud
so now all the sentrys shall stay
and the attacking team is slain.
TMP responded on 24 Dec 2009 at 9:36 pm #
Sorry dude, gonna have to disagree with the flare argument. Flarepopping soldiers in this update is far more useful than is expected out of the soldier. On a team vs demomen mostly, though, you may want to do shotty.
Also, as I said on a server (which I then got laughed at for saying), “Direct hit isn’t hard to reflect; all you have to do is get the timing down perfectly”. Seriously, though, when you get down the universal timing (About half a second faster than the universal timing of the rocket), you got it and taking them head on is a smart idea.
n00bie51 responded on 24 Dec 2009 at 9:45 pm #
RealLifePudding, that brought tears to my eye. )’:
Hey, phpirate, does this article seem three pages to you?
I don't hear voices I hear God responded on 24 Dec 2009 at 10:22 pm #
TRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYGVE
Tygrys responded on 24 Dec 2009 at 10:44 pm #
@TMP
Well if you prefer using the Flare Gun – your choice. I just find the Shotgun much more reliable nowadays but I MAY be wrong. As for the DH rockets airblasting everyone knows I suck at deflecting rockets and it’s kinda hard for me to get the universal timing for deflection. I guess there are more Pyros like me so I decided to write it this way.
qeex responded on 24 Dec 2009 at 11:16 pm #
A superior way to deal with Targelanders:
Airblast that mofo as he charges and THEN use the shotty to ruin his day- he’s almost completely helpless.
Never failed using that method.
Monchberter responded on 25 Dec 2009 at 12:47 am #
Sorry, but Pyro’s DO deserve the attention, especially when they can reflect projectiles from at least three classes, are the only almost wholly dedicated close combat class (until the Eyelander), and can counter any rushes / ubers / kritz soliders with airblast etc.
Why this update NEEDS Pyro comment as because of what i’ve said above; the Pyro has more methods of interaction with other classes than any other. Plus you try playing close combat when you’re being spammed by Direct Hit’s and achievement grasping Demo’s.
orange!Gamer responded on 25 Dec 2009 at 1:57 am #
@phpirate: There’s a difference between crying and learning new strategies, I don’t see Tygris complaining about anything in this article, he’s giving new strategies to help againts Demos and Sollys, Not every pyro wants to be a W+M1. And belive me when I say that to be a good pyro you need to know pretty much every strategie against every class and every weapon.
@TMP: Not all of us are Don Newman, ya’ know? A lot of DEDICATED Pyros are still getting the grasp of airblast, and this update is not really helping.
Great article Tygris, thanks for the tips, I was getting owned out there.
orange!Gamer responded on 25 Dec 2009 at 1:59 am #
@TMP: I almost forgot, some of us also have 250 ping…
tribestone responded on 25 Dec 2009 at 2:59 am #
I like this article. Instead of moaning about the unlocks you find away to beat them. I have had a lot more success against sword and board/targelander/demoknight/whatever we are calling them demos with the axestiguisher than any time I remember. And how come no one has commented on the sweet axestingusher vs. demo G-moded picture? That somes up my feelings exactly.
anoncat responded on 25 Dec 2009 at 3:24 am #
Juggling is the most effective thing I’ve encountered with the demo man. If one charges at me, I usually airblast him and most of the time the player gets confused and slightly annoyed. Then you pop them in the face.
HelisPoe responded on 25 Dec 2009 at 3:29 am #
The Eyelander +Targe combo is the only one that I see that needs a nerf. Why? Because I freaking used it for 3 days straight. (After the update fix).
It’s absolutely ridiculous, I don’t care who you are or what class you play, no game should reward a player to CHARGE IN BLINDLY AND MASH M1 REPEATEDLY .
I’ve tried it, seriously. It’s way to effective at its current state.
Or, you know. This is due to the abnormal amount of explosive classes. So as of right now it’s to early to point the OP or UP marker at any one specific unlock.
Sous Chef responded on 25 Dec 2009 at 6:33 am #
Heh. Don Newman.
Truly, nothing has changed for the M2s in terms of pyro v solly/demo.
M2ing the DH is, obviously, hard as hell – but it comes back down to what Don Newman said about one versus one close quarters combat compression blasting on a solly: intuition. There is absolutely no way in hell you could forsee the DH shot from so close.
Charging Targe + Eyelander is a joke. Do with them the same way you would any class if they tried to melee. Sure the Targe does [50%?] less burn damage – but it ain’t got jack against the axetinguisher. Even when you M2 a charging Demo he goes straight up as opposed to stopping (physics glitch – same principal as super FAN jump). Put out some flame, let the demo catch fire, M2, ???, _profit_. Chainsawing is the _best_ skill for a M2er to master [Puff + Sting, M2 + Axetinguish, etc.].
Samoridon responded on 25 Dec 2009 at 7:40 am #
Great Tygrys even MORE pyros that can kill me now!
Tygrys responded on 25 Dec 2009 at 8:25 am #
Mah pleasure Sam :3
Nik responded on 25 Dec 2009 at 8:30 am #
Well, if you flare a demo they’re gonna go “LOLOLOL FIRE DOES NOTHING NAO” and give you an easy axtinguisher target.
Jammers responded on 25 Dec 2009 at 8:32 am #
Oh man, those pictures are freakin sweeeet.
Also, most soldiers that i’ve fought against suck at aiming. Just run and duck in random directions as if somebody’s sniping you.
Tygrys responded on 25 Dec 2009 at 8:53 am #
If anyone’s interested here are high res images from the article:
http://img44.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=kothviaduct0020.jpg
Coming Second responded on 25 Dec 2009 at 12:20 pm #
“This update is great for Pyros!”
“This update is great for Scouts!”
“This update is great for everyone that isn’t Demo/Soldier!”
So they numbly write, trying to make themselves feel good about their latest decapitation/atomisation and the fact their favourite classes respectively received a can of pop and a plastic tampon gun, whilst others received a MOTHERLOVING BROADSWORD and a SUPER FAST ROCKET LAUNCHER.
Play whatever you like kids, you’re all so many bouncing heads to me.
himmelstoss responded on 25 Dec 2009 at 1:24 pm #
@Coming Second:
Plastic Tampon Gun. I will never refer to it as the flare gun again.
And this is from a guy who plays flare-exclusive pyro.
cloudbreath9 responded on 25 Dec 2009 at 2:19 pm #
haha, good article. Like the title
phpirate responded on 25 Dec 2009 at 6:39 pm #
@orange!Gamer:
I’ll admit, my response was somewhat over the top due to all the steam forums I’ve been reading. Lately there’s been quite a few cries for some pretty stupid buffs on there all because some other classes that weren’t pyro got some new toys.
The pyro community for this game tends to be one of the more annoying, most of the changes they demand are from their very limited perspective of playing only one class and treating it like a combat class instead of the utility class that it is (then claiming the pyro class is underpowered, which in actuality the pyro class was never meant to be a direct combat class).
For some reason I read this and my I got irritated when there was no need to be.
BluElement responded on 26 Dec 2009 at 3:08 pm #
Wait, so you say the equalizer is overpowered… but it’s easy to fight… That makes absolutely no sense. yeah, he can one hit kill you if he’s at or below 40 hp, but he’s at or below 40hp. It’s not overpowered when it only takes 1 or 2 distant shots to kill him anyway. And if you get caught off guard and he kills you? Is that any different from anything else catching you off guard and killing you? So he kills enemies half a second faster than others would kill an unsuspecting enemy. That’s not overpowered.
Zindaras responded on 30 Dec 2009 at 10:08 am #
Actually, I think the Direct Hit has made airblasting somewhat easier. Yes, the timing has become trickier, but it’s a lot easier to effectively reflect a rocket that’s aimed at you rather than aimed at the ground in front of you, a tactic Soldiers tended to pick up on rather quickly.
tribestone responded on 03 Jan 2010 at 4:56 pm #
Isn’t it ironic? The new exsplosive weapons are actually harder to spam with, but now we have a bunch of solly/demos running around with melee weapons with increased speed.