ÜberCharge strategy

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I am fully charged!
The Medic

This page lists common strategies for using the Medic's ÜberCharge effectively.

Contents

Background

Main article: ÜberCharge

The ÜberCharge is an ability of the Medic that enables himself and his healing target to become fully invulnerable to damage. ÜberCharge is built up mainly by healing teammates with the Medi Gun and has the ability to turn the tide of the battle when used offensively, and lock down the enemy team when used defensively. In addition of the standard Medi Gun which gives invulnerability (or invuln), there are two other variations: the Kritzkrieg unlock gives the Kritzkrieg ÜberCharge (KritzCharge or Kritz for short) that enables the patient to deal guaranteed Critical hits for the duration of the charge while the Quick-Fix Medi Gun instead grants a MegaHeal effect granting tripled healing rate and immunity to movement impairing effects for both the Medic and his patient for the duration of the charge.

Strategy

ÜberCharge utilities

Medics have two tools at their disposal that can assist in building ÜberCharge, or mitigate the loss of ÜberCharge.

The Übersaw

The Übersaw is an unlockable melee weapon for the Medic that can add 25% to the Medic's ÜberCharge meter upon successfully hitting an enemy with it, grant 100% charge on a successful taunt kill, or provide 50% Übercharge if the taunt is used on an Ubercharged target. As such, it is an extremely powerful tool that can change the balance of ÜberCharge deployments on both sides depending on how it is used.

The Vita-Saw

The Vita-Saw is a melee weapon for the Medic that allows players to retain up to 20% of their ÜberCharge meter upon death. Using the Vita-Saw, like the Übersaw, can change the dynamics of ÜberCharge deployments on both sides.

Using the ÜberCharge

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Defense against ÜberCharge

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Using the Kritzkrieg

See also: Kritzkrieg
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Defending against Kritzkrieg

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Using the Quick-Fix

See also: Quick-Fix
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Defending against Quick-Fix

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Using the Vaccinator

See also: Vaccinator

Defending against Vaccinator

Chain ÜberCharge

Chain ÜberCharge, also known as an Überchain, is a tag team technique that allows two Medic players, both equipped with the Übersaw and Medi Gun, to maintain a constant state of invulnerability.

To successfully perform this technique, at least one player must have built up an ÜberCharge beforehand. The first player must then deploy his charge on the second, who in turn must use his Übersaw to attack enemy players and subsequently build up his own Übercharge meter. Once it is ready, the second player must then quickly deploy his ÜberCharge on the first Medic (usually before the first ÜberCharge is used up), who in turn switches to his Übersaw and attacks enemies to build up his ÜberCharge meter. If this chain can be repeated successfully, both Medics can remain invulnerable for extended periods of time whilst killing a multitude of enemies.

The technique requires good communication between the two Medics. Both should be aware of the status of both ÜberCharges in order to continue the chain uninterrupted, as well as knowing when to break off the chain should something go wrong.

Chain ÜberCharges can be an effective strategy for clearing a certain area of enemies, pushing through a strong defense or heading off an incoming attack. It is less effective, however, against buildings or for completing certain objectives such as capturing a point. The chain can be easily broken by Pyros utilizing the Compression Blast ability to separate the Medics, or with Scouts luring the chain into chasing them and wasting time. The attacking Medic, though, is not limited to using his Syringe Gun or Blutsauger to fend such classes off. Slower classes are a priority for the chain, as the Medics can easily reach and attack them.

Should the chain be broken, both Medics should escape the area and regroup later with another ÜberCharge ready.

When using the Überchain, different tactics should be used based on the classes you are facing:

Scout

Soldier

Pyro

Demoman

Heavy

Engineer

Medic

Sniper

Spy


Demonstration


Medics using the Chain Über tactic on Badwater Basin.

ÜberCharge combination strategies

Deploying multiple ÜberCharges on one patient can be very helpful. However, it can also be wasteful, depending on how it's done and what types of charges are used.

ÜberCharge + Kritzkrieg

This is the best type of combination ÜberCharge. A player who is completely invincible and can deal critical hits can be a dynamo of pain against the other team. However, the Medic deploying the Kritzkrieg should be cautious, as he is still vulnerable, and the entire assembly remains vulnerable to knockback. This combination is best used versus a large force of high-health players, as it can quickly take down even fully-overhealed Heavy-Medic pairs without trouble.

Kritzkrieg + Megaheal (Quick-Fix)

This combination is the second-best one. While it doesn't provide the invulnerability of the ÜberCharge, the patient is receiving an increased healing rate and the standard healing and overheal of the Kritzkrieg. The Kritzkrieg Medic should still hang back, as he is vulnerable. However, this combination can be built 25% faster than the first combination, allowing for more frequent use and easier coordination. This combination is best used versus a large force of Soldiers, Demomen, and Pyros, as it deals significant damage while preventing knockback which could separate the Medic and patient.

Kritzkrieg + Vaccinator

Similar to the previous combination, with the patient taking less damage from particular sources instead of being healed of damage quickly. The Vaccinator Medic is not as vulnerable as a Quick-Fix Medic would be, and the stream of critical hits erupting from the patient should deter the usage of unresisted melee attacks.

ÜberCharge + Megaheal

This combination is less effective than the previous ones, as the Megaheal's bonus healing is wasted on an invincible player. However, it will still provide knockback immunity, making this combination ideal for assaulting a large sentry nest, where the patient would be otherwise rendered useless by knockback. Although the Quick-Fix Medic has an increased heal rate, he should be cautious, as he is the most vulnerable.

Megaheal + Vaccinator

Strictly speaking, resisting damage of one type and quickly healing damage from other types is not much of an improvement over a single invulnerability ÜberCharge. That said, this combination has the Quick-Fix's immunity to knockback and can be built 25% quicker than a regular Über.

ÜberCharge + ÜberCharge / Kritzkrieg + Kritzkrieg

Deploying two charges one after another in order to double the length of the effect can be effective in heavily-fortified areas that a single Über cannot break through. However, unless the recipient is a Heavy or a Pyro, they will be forced to spend most of the second charge either reloading their main weapon or firing a secondary one, which lowers the effectiveness of this strategy. Often, a team may best effect such a push with two separately affected teammates.

Megaheal + Megaheal

The increased heal rate makes the target practically invulnerable to any damage which isn't instantly lethal. This pairing builds 25% faster than a standard Übercharge, but provides similar invulnerability.

Vaccinator + Vaccinator

If the two Vaccinator charges are on different resistances (bullet and explosive being the best choice for such a combo due to fire being comparatively rare), the patient becomes heavily resistant to the majority of weapons and so can wade through enemy fire without taking much damage. However, the overall effect is similar to a Megaheal without the knockback immunity.

ÜberCharge + Vaccinator

As the Vaccinator's sole purpose is to reduce incoming damage, combining it with an ÜberCharge is pointless.

More than two ÜberCharges

A skilled player with a triple Über can be very devastating indeed to the enemy team, being immune to everything thrown at them while blasting critical hits. However, putting all the Medics' eggs in one basket is more often than not a poor idea, and the high concentration of healing beams in one area makes the unprotected Medics an inviting target. Should a team have three or more ÜberCharges prepared at once, they would do better to charge multiple players for a multi-pronged assault.

See also

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