Difference between revisions of "Community Projectile Shield strategy"

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[[File:Projectile Shield Example.png|right|400px]]
 
[[File:Projectile Shield Example.png|right|400px]]
This article is about '''Community [[Projectile Shield]] strategy'''.
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This article is about '''Community [[Projectile Shield]] strategy'''.  
  
== Medic ==
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== General Strategy (as Medic) ==
* Be wary of your surroundings; You cannot check or attack robots behind your back, so pay attention to alternate routes robots can possibly take to either be able to prepare for it or inform teammates of their presence.
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=== General Projectile Shield usage ===
** Changing your Projectile Shield to a unconventional angle may help on some areas in some maps, such as making use of both its sides with a nearby wall to cover both you and your patient from threats from multiple sides.
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* A Friendly Engineer's Wrench hits that are aimed towards his buildings can be nullified by the Projectile Shield, exercise caution when trying to defend your [[Engineer]] and his [[Sentry Gun]].
** Extra things to take note off when fending off robots with your Projectile Shield:
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* [[Medic Robot]]s cannot heal their patient if your Projectile Shield is between them. This can be exploited to temporarily force their patient to lose the [[ÜberCharge]]'s effects.
*** Rockets hitting walls and props behind you or your back sides can splash you.
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** Note that friendly Medics cannot start healing through your Projectile Shield, it also blocks your teammates from seeing the health of Robots.
*** Grenades can bounce back from surrounding areas towards you.
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* Since the Projectile Shield charges based on healing, the [[Quick-Fix]] has an advantage over other Medi Guns as it charges the Projectile Shield quickly, especially when using its ÜberCharge.
*** Splashes from explosions cannot be blocked on non-flat surfaces.
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* Standing on slanted areas allows [[splash damage]] to go under your Projectile Shield and damage you and your teammates. Aiming down can help reduce the possibility of this happening.
*** Flames will pass through the shield, including [[Dragon's Fury]]'s fireballs.
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* While using your Projectile Shield, your teammates will most likely be behind you. Make sure you are healing a patient before using the Shield, as switching patients while using the Shield can be quite dangerous.
*** [[Righteous Bison]]'s lasers penetrates the shield.
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* The effectiveness of the [[Kritzkrieg]] is enhanced when your teammates have nigh invulnerability from your blocking of the damage.
*** [[Rescue Ranger]], [[Huntsman]], [[Crusader's Crossbow]] and [[Pomson 6000]]'s projectiles bypass the Projectile Shield when upgraded by [[Upgrades#Primary|Projectile Penetration]].
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** The [[Medi Gun]]'s ÜberCharge is usually redundant behind the Projectile Shield, pop it before or after you use your Projectile Shield.
 
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* The Projectile Shield is a superb [[Spy checking|Spy checker]], as it can reliably damage enemy Spies whilst you can keep a safe distance.
* Doorways can be effective places to defend with the Projectile Shield, since you can have an easier time preventing Robots getting past you and be safer from splash damage.
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* If a [[Scout Robot#Super Scout|Super Scout]] is running past the team's defenses, slow it down with the Projectile Shield whenever possible.
 
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* Be wary of your surroundings; you cannot check or attack Robots behind your back, so pay attention to alternate routes Robots can possibly take to either be able to prepare for it or inform teammates of their presence.
* Blocking [[Critical hits|critical-boosted]] Robots, most notably Soldier or Demoman Robots, especially spamming giants, is essential to your team's survival.
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* Changing your Projectile Shield to an unconventional angle may help on some areas in some maps, such as making use of both its sides with a nearby wall to cover both you and your patient from threats from multiple sides.
** Pay attention to when these spawn and have a Projectile Shield ready, you may need more than one charge to take down the really big ones.
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* Your Shield charges faster when your teammates do damage, make sure you take advantage of those opportunities when a teammate is likely to deal large amounts of damage to charge your Shield in a quicker manner.
** If caught without a charge, hold back as those Robots advance while you find a teammate in a safe location, possibly run back towards Spawn, especially if you know your Pockets are coming from there.
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* Reviving dead teammates with their [[reanimator]]s will help you gain Projectile Shield charge, even if you do not gain ÜberCharge for doing so. Alternatively, the Projectile Shield can be used as protection while reviving a dead teammate.
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** Using the [[Vaccinator]]'s ÜberCharges will instantly add a huge amount of charge for your Projectile Shield if used on a [[reanimator]]; the amount of charge gained depends on the health required for the reanimator to fully revive the dead class.
  
* The Projectile Shield can be used as a fall-back option if your team cannot handle the robots, or if most of your team is down, use it to save your [[ÜberCharge]].
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=== Using the Projectile Shield defensively ===
** Or use your Invuln ÜberCharge to save your Energy charge, often your well-timed Projectile Shield can contribute much more than an ÜberCharge.
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* Doorways can be effective places to defend with the Projectile Shield, since you can have an easier time preventing Robots getting past you and you are safer from splash damage.
 
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* Blocking [[Critical hits|critical-boosted]] Robots, most notably Soldier or Demoman Robots (especially the spamming variants) is essential to your team's survival.
* As patient damage can charge the Projectile Shield, heal classes in situations where they would either deal more damage or hit more enemies at once.
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** Pay attention to when these spawn and have a Projectile Shield ready, you may need more than one charge to take down the giants.
** All hits of Heavy's Minigun and Pyro's Flamethrower are individual hits, meaning it is less likely to hit the charge damage cap when they are fighting against a single target.
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** If caught without a charge, try to stay out of the line-of-fire. If your teammates die, you can always revive them, but if you die your team will be at a significant diadvantage.
** The charge damage cap is for damage done on each damaged targets instead of all hit targets, so a class that can deal AoE damage will charge the Projectile Shield faster when damaging crowds of enemies.
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* The Projectile Shield can be used as a fall-back option if your team cannot handle the Robots, or if most of your team is down. If it comes to that, use it to save your ÜberCharge.
*** Don't get too heavily invested on charging the Projectile Shield however, you may lose focus on other things to take note of and may cause chances for the robots to strengthen their pushes against the team's defenses.
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** Alternatively, you can use the stock ÜberCharge to save your Energy charge. Well-timed Projectile Shield usage can contribute much more than an ÜberCharge.
 
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* Keep in mind that you are '''not''' invincible from all types of damage when your shield is active. Below are the exceptions to your Projectile Shield's protection:
* Be wary of temptations to charge Robots just to kill them with your Projectile Shield, you risk being too far forward without support and often flanked when the charge is exhausted.  
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** Rockets hitting walls and props behind you or your back sides can splash you.
* Lighting up a [[Vaccinator]] resistance when you charge Robots with the Projectile Shield can protect you and your Pocket if they can fire through.
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** Grenades can bounce back from surrounding areas towards you.
 
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** Splashes from explosions cannot be blocked on non-flat surfaces.
* Reviving dead teammates's [[reanimator]]s will help you gain Projectile Shield charge, despite not able to gain [[Übercharge]] while doing the same.
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** The explosion of the [[Sentry Buster]] will still kill you when in range, so remember to back up when one is about to detonate.
 
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** Flames will pass through the shield.
* Using [[Übercharge]] on a dead ally's [[reanimator]]s speeds up reviving immensely, which also charges Projectile Shield quickly at the same time.
 
** Deploying Vaccinator's resistance bubbles will instead instantly add a huge amount of charge for your Projectile Shield; The amount of charge depends on the health required for a reanimator.
 
*** With these in mind, you can potentially have infinite Projectile Shields if you have allies who die often. It can also provide the benefit of them having instant respawns or infinite ammo. <ref name= subsimple>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSTUDg-dEfE "constant shield vax exploit"], ''YouTube'', Jan 27, 2019.</ref>
 
  
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=== Using the Projectile Shield offensively ===
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* Be wary of the temptation to blindly charge at Robots, hoping to vaporise them with your Projectile Shield. You risk overextending without support, and are generally in a weak position when your Energy expires.
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** If you are using the Shield to damage Robots, make sure to keep an eye on your Energy meter and start retreating once it runs low.
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* If you are using the Vaccinator, popping a resistance when you charge Robots with the Projectile Shield can protect you and your patient if they can fire through, and allows you to get large amounts of damage in.
 
* The Projectile Shield moves closer to you if you look up or look down. You can exploit this to bodyblock giant robots without any threat of them firing back.
 
* The Projectile Shield moves closer to you if you look up or look down. You can exploit this to bodyblock giant robots without any threat of them firing back.
 
** Closing the Projectile Shield towards yourself while moving forward can also stop projectiles from passing through the Shield.
 
** Closing the Projectile Shield towards yourself while moving forward can also stop projectiles from passing through the Shield.
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* Projectile Shield is incapable of destroying buildings; you will need help from your teammates to take Engineer bots out. Engineer bots will always try to hide exactly behind their Sentry Guns, meaning you cannot reliably take Engineer Robots out solo.
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** However, you can use the Shield to protect your teammates from the Engineer Robot's Sentry Gun while they destroy it
  
* Projectile Shield is incapable of destroying buildings; You will need help from your teammates to take Engineer bots out.
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== General Strategy (as other classes) ==
** Engineer bots will always try to hide exactly behind their Sentry Guns, meaning you cannot reliably take Engineer bots out solo. However, this can be abused to help teammates take out Engineer bots more easily.
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* Try to stay behind the Projectile Shield whenever it is active, it blocks most forms of damage and allows you to be more aggressive.
 +
* Understand what your Medic needs to build Energy; keep a safe, yet practical distance whilst building your Medic's Energy.
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* With a good Projectile Shield Medic, you can go head-on with the Robots and not fear taking damage. Keep in mind that if your Medic's Energy runs out when you don't expect it, you will likely be overrun. Plan ahead.
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* The Medic's Projectile Shield is charged faster when you damage Robots; classes like the [[Soldier]] can comfortably assist a Medic in building their Energy this way.
  
* A Friendly Engineer's Wrench hits that are aimed towards his buildings can be nullified by the Projectile Shield, exercise caution when trying to defend your Engineer and his Sentry Gun.
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== Class Specific Strategy ==
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=== {{class link|Scout}} ===
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* Due to the Scout gaining overheal from any collected credits, the Projectile Shield is not very useful to you unless credits are scarce.
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** However, if you notice your teammates are low on health and the Medic is using the Shield, use the [[Mad Milk]] to get your teammates back to full health as the Medic has a harder time healing the entire team.
  
* Medic Robots cannot heal their patient if the human Projectile Shield is between them: this may be useful to temporarily make their patient lose an Übercharge's effects or grant vulnerability to a [[Medic Robots#Giant Medic .28Type 1.29|Giant Medic]]'s patient.
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=== {{class link|Soldier}} ===
** Note this also affects other Medics on your own team and also cause teammates being unable to check the health of either giant robots or robots with passive health regeneration.
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* The Projectile Shield allows you to safely use one of your [[Banner]]s. Try timing the [[Battalion's Backup]] or the [[Concheror]] to when the Shield is about to run out, as the Shield already protects your teammates, using either of these banners when it is still active will not have much effect.
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** The [[Buff Banner]] can be used at any point to increase the amount of damage your team does, including the Projectile Shield.
  
* Since the Projectile Shield charges based on healing, the Quick-Fix will help you in charging the Projectile Shield quickly.
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=== {{class link|Pyro}} ===
** Using the Quick-Fix's [[Übercharge#Quick-Fix|Megaheal]] will refill your Projectile Shield's charge even quicker.
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* When trying to airblast critical projectiles, try to stay close to the edge of the Projectile Shield to make sure you can properly airblast them back.
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** If the Medic or another class is very close to the Robot, avoid airblasting entirely. The Shield damage on contact is much more valuable than the airblast projectiles. Additionally, the potential knockback can mess up the your teammates' aim, placement of Sticky traps, or generally reduce the damage of classes due to damage fall-off.
  
* Standing on slanted areas allow [[splash damage]] to go under your Projectile Shield and damage you and your teammates. A form of rapid communication  like [[voice chat]] or [[bind]]s can help in letting them know to get away from the slope.
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=== {{class link|Demoman}} ===
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* When facing [[Heavy Robot]]s equipped with the [[Deflector]], ask your Medic if he can use the Projectile Shield to take the attention of the Heavy Robots away from you so you can use your primary to deal damage. <!--Excluded from Soldier's section due to Soldier being able to shoot the ground and still deal damage. -->
  
* Because teammates play nearer to you as a Projectile Shield Medic, practice Überring two or three teammates simultaneously.
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=== {{class link|Heavy}} ===
** Effectiveness of the Kritzkrieg charge is enhanced by Crit-boosted teammates shooting from safety behind the Projectile Shield.
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* Don't be afraid to bodyblock Giant Robots while the Projectile Shield is up, but try to communicate this with your Medic first.
** The Medi Gun's Invuln ÜberCharge is usually redundant behind the Projectile Shield, pop it before or after you use your Projectile Shield.
 
  
* After the Pybro, the Projectile Shield is your best [[Spy checking|Spy checker]].
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=== {{class link|Engineer}} ===
  
* If a [[Scout Robot#Super Scout|Super Scout]] is running past the team's defenses, slow it down with the Projectile Shield whenever possible.
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=== {{class link|Medic}} ===
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{{Hatnote|See: [[#General Strategy (as Medic)|General Strategy (as Medic)]]}}<!--
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Do not add any strategy here, please add it to the general strategy section instead. -->
  
== Other classes ==
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=== {{class link|Sniper}} ===
* Understand what your Medic needs to build Energy; keep a practical safe distance while building, but close to striking range for the activation.
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* The Projectile Shield poses no real benefit to you as a Sniper, due to you staying in the backlines. It is however helpful in times when you are overrun by robots, providing protection for your escape to a better vantage point.
  
* With a good Projectile Shield Medic, the Heavy's position is in the direct path of the Robots; pick a place to stand where you would not be overrun before the charge runs out.
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=== {{class link|Spy}} ===
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* The damage from the Projectile Shield may be able to distract Giant Robots, allowing for easy backstabs. Be careful of any smaller Robots that may spawn after the Giant, however.
  
* Soldier's splash damage hitting multiple robots recharges the Projectile Shield ''much'' faster than any direct rocket hit on a single robot.
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{{Two Cities Update Nav}}
 
 
* Understand what you need to do for both you and the Medic to survive the expiration.
 
** Watch out for the expiration, be in reach of cover.
 
* If a Medic is attempting to revive you and is using a Vaccinator, consider letting him revive you before you decline a revive, as he could be wanting to use an Übercharge on you in order to recharge his Projectile Shield.
 
 
 
* Standing on slopes does not let the Projectile Shield entirely shield you and your Medic from damage as it leaves an opening below which invites [[splash damage]]. Getting closer to your Medic or using a form of rapid communication such as [[voice chat]] or [[bind]]s can draw him away from the slope.
 
  
== Reference ==
 
<references/>
 
 
{{Two Cities Update Nav}}
 
 
[[Category:Mann vs. Machine]]
 
[[Category:Mann vs. Machine]]
 
[[Category:Projectile Shield]]
 
[[Category:Projectile Shield]]

Latest revision as of 23:30, 18 February 2024

Projectile Shield Example.png

This article is about Community Projectile Shield strategy.

General Strategy (as Medic)

General Projectile Shield usage

  • A Friendly Engineer's Wrench hits that are aimed towards his buildings can be nullified by the Projectile Shield, exercise caution when trying to defend your Engineer and his Sentry Gun.
  • Medic Robots cannot heal their patient if your Projectile Shield is between them. This can be exploited to temporarily force their patient to lose the ÜberCharge's effects.
    • Note that friendly Medics cannot start healing through your Projectile Shield, it also blocks your teammates from seeing the health of Robots.
  • Since the Projectile Shield charges based on healing, the Quick-Fix has an advantage over other Medi Guns as it charges the Projectile Shield quickly, especially when using its ÜberCharge.
  • Standing on slanted areas allows splash damage to go under your Projectile Shield and damage you and your teammates. Aiming down can help reduce the possibility of this happening.
  • While using your Projectile Shield, your teammates will most likely be behind you. Make sure you are healing a patient before using the Shield, as switching patients while using the Shield can be quite dangerous.
  • The effectiveness of the Kritzkrieg is enhanced when your teammates have nigh invulnerability from your blocking of the damage.
    • The Medi Gun's ÜberCharge is usually redundant behind the Projectile Shield, pop it before or after you use your Projectile Shield.
  • The Projectile Shield is a superb Spy checker, as it can reliably damage enemy Spies whilst you can keep a safe distance.
  • If a Super Scout is running past the team's defenses, slow it down with the Projectile Shield whenever possible.
  • Be wary of your surroundings; you cannot check or attack Robots behind your back, so pay attention to alternate routes Robots can possibly take to either be able to prepare for it or inform teammates of their presence.
  • Changing your Projectile Shield to an unconventional angle may help on some areas in some maps, such as making use of both its sides with a nearby wall to cover both you and your patient from threats from multiple sides.
  • Your Shield charges faster when your teammates do damage, make sure you take advantage of those opportunities when a teammate is likely to deal large amounts of damage to charge your Shield in a quicker manner.
  • Reviving dead teammates with their reanimators will help you gain Projectile Shield charge, even if you do not gain ÜberCharge for doing so. Alternatively, the Projectile Shield can be used as protection while reviving a dead teammate.
    • Using the Vaccinator's ÜberCharges will instantly add a huge amount of charge for your Projectile Shield if used on a reanimator; the amount of charge gained depends on the health required for the reanimator to fully revive the dead class.

Using the Projectile Shield defensively

  • Doorways can be effective places to defend with the Projectile Shield, since you can have an easier time preventing Robots getting past you and you are safer from splash damage.
  • Blocking critical-boosted Robots, most notably Soldier or Demoman Robots (especially the spamming variants) is essential to your team's survival.
    • Pay attention to when these spawn and have a Projectile Shield ready, you may need more than one charge to take down the giants.
    • If caught without a charge, try to stay out of the line-of-fire. If your teammates die, you can always revive them, but if you die your team will be at a significant diadvantage.
  • The Projectile Shield can be used as a fall-back option if your team cannot handle the Robots, or if most of your team is down. If it comes to that, use it to save your ÜberCharge.
    • Alternatively, you can use the stock ÜberCharge to save your Energy charge. Well-timed Projectile Shield usage can contribute much more than an ÜberCharge.
  • Keep in mind that you are not invincible from all types of damage when your shield is active. Below are the exceptions to your Projectile Shield's protection:
    • Rockets hitting walls and props behind you or your back sides can splash you.
    • Grenades can bounce back from surrounding areas towards you.
    • Splashes from explosions cannot be blocked on non-flat surfaces.
    • The explosion of the Sentry Buster will still kill you when in range, so remember to back up when one is about to detonate.
    • Flames will pass through the shield.

Using the Projectile Shield offensively

  • Be wary of the temptation to blindly charge at Robots, hoping to vaporise them with your Projectile Shield. You risk overextending without support, and are generally in a weak position when your Energy expires.
    • If you are using the Shield to damage Robots, make sure to keep an eye on your Energy meter and start retreating once it runs low.
  • If you are using the Vaccinator, popping a resistance when you charge Robots with the Projectile Shield can protect you and your patient if they can fire through, and allows you to get large amounts of damage in.
  • The Projectile Shield moves closer to you if you look up or look down. You can exploit this to bodyblock giant robots without any threat of them firing back.
    • Closing the Projectile Shield towards yourself while moving forward can also stop projectiles from passing through the Shield.
  • Projectile Shield is incapable of destroying buildings; you will need help from your teammates to take Engineer bots out. Engineer bots will always try to hide exactly behind their Sentry Guns, meaning you cannot reliably take Engineer Robots out solo.
    • However, you can use the Shield to protect your teammates from the Engineer Robot's Sentry Gun while they destroy it

General Strategy (as other classes)

  • Try to stay behind the Projectile Shield whenever it is active, it blocks most forms of damage and allows you to be more aggressive.
  • Understand what your Medic needs to build Energy; keep a safe, yet practical distance whilst building your Medic's Energy.
  • With a good Projectile Shield Medic, you can go head-on with the Robots and not fear taking damage. Keep in mind that if your Medic's Energy runs out when you don't expect it, you will likely be overrun. Plan ahead.
  • The Medic's Projectile Shield is charged faster when you damage Robots; classes like the Soldier can comfortably assist a Medic in building their Energy this way.

Class Specific Strategy

Leaderboard class scout.png Scout

  • Due to the Scout gaining overheal from any collected credits, the Projectile Shield is not very useful to you unless credits are scarce.
    • However, if you notice your teammates are low on health and the Medic is using the Shield, use the Mad Milk to get your teammates back to full health as the Medic has a harder time healing the entire team.

Leaderboard class soldier.png Soldier

  • The Projectile Shield allows you to safely use one of your Banners. Try timing the Battalion's Backup or the Concheror to when the Shield is about to run out, as the Shield already protects your teammates, using either of these banners when it is still active will not have much effect.
    • The Buff Banner can be used at any point to increase the amount of damage your team does, including the Projectile Shield.

Leaderboard class pyro.png Pyro

  • When trying to airblast critical projectiles, try to stay close to the edge of the Projectile Shield to make sure you can properly airblast them back.
    • If the Medic or another class is very close to the Robot, avoid airblasting entirely. The Shield damage on contact is much more valuable than the airblast projectiles. Additionally, the potential knockback can mess up the your teammates' aim, placement of Sticky traps, or generally reduce the damage of classes due to damage fall-off.

Leaderboard class demoman.png Demoman

  • When facing Heavy Robots equipped with the Deflector, ask your Medic if he can use the Projectile Shield to take the attention of the Heavy Robots away from you so you can use your primary to deal damage.

Leaderboard class heavy.png Heavy

  • Don't be afraid to bodyblock Giant Robots while the Projectile Shield is up, but try to communicate this with your Medic first.

Leaderboard class engineer.png Engineer

Leaderboard class medic.png Medic

See: General Strategy (as Medic)

Leaderboard class sniper.png Sniper

  • The Projectile Shield poses no real benefit to you as a Sniper, due to you staying in the backlines. It is however helpful in times when you are overrun by robots, providing protection for your escape to a better vantage point.

Leaderboard class spy.png Spy

  • The damage from the Projectile Shield may be able to distract Giant Robots, allowing for easy backstabs. Be careful of any smaller Robots that may spawn after the Giant, however.