Anti-Soldier strategy

From Team Fortress Wiki
Revision as of 00:37, 12 January 2011 by The Neotank (talk | contribs) (RIP, adverbs.)
Jump to: navigation, search


Mmmmmmmrrrrrrrpppghhh!
The Pyro
Soldierhumiliation.png

The Soldier is a devastating, bulky predator who has an above average amount of health and is capable of effective attacks from any range. While slow on foot, the Soldier is known for his trademark rocket jumping ability which allows experienced players to quickly move around a map and reach high areas at a cost of self-inflicted damage. Generally, the best way to engage a Soldier is in an open area where you can avoid his rockets and counterattack. Keep in mind that the Soldier has a number of different loadout options which allows him to give offensive and defensive buffs to teammates, heal himself, and become very fast and dangerous when low on health, among other things.

General

Attributes Anti-Soldier Strategy
Soldier emblem RED.png Role
  • The Soldier is an all-around class with a dangerous primary weapon and few exploitable weaknesses. They are particularly strong when they take the high ground.
Leaderboard class medic.png Health
  • The Soldier has the second largest amount of default health of all classes, and when overhealed, can be very difficult to take down.
Leaderboard class scout.png Speed
  • The Soldier's base speed is low, but he is capable of quick bursts of speed with Rocket Jumping and the Equalizer.
Leaderboard class soldier.png Power
  • The rockets that Soldiers fire are highly damaging at close range, but are less powerful and can be dodged more easily at long range.

Weapon Specific

A list of useful tidbits about the Soldier's tools, and how to counter them.

Primary Weapons

Weapon Anti-Soldier Strategy
  • Rockets, with the exception of the Direct Hit's, move slowly. Try to dodge them by strafing and jumping.
Item icon Rocket Launcher.png
Rocket Launcher
  • The Rocket Launcher is very versatile and is a powerful weapon, but can only hold four loaded shots at a time. Watching the Soldier's actions and attacking when he has no rockets loaded can grant you an immense advantage.
Item icon Direct Hit.png
Direct Hit
  • The Direct Hit can one-hit-kill weaker classes at close range. Keep your distance, and try to fight at mid-to-long range, where the Direct Hit's low splash damage radius becomes readily apparent.
  • The Direct Hit's rockets are much faster than normal ones. Move quickly and take advantage of the minimized splash range.
Item icon Black Box.png
Black Box
  • Mobility is key, as the Black Box will grant the Soldier with more health each time he hits you.
  • The Soldier has less ammunition before he needs to reload, granting you an opening when he does.
Item icon Rocket Jumper.png
Rocket Jumper
  • Although there is practically no use for the Rocket Jumper in serious gameplay, the Soldier might use this to attack or secure higher positions easily, so tread carefully with a height advantage.

Secondary Weapons

Weapon Anti-Soldier Strategy
Item icon Shotgun.png
Shotgun
  • The Shotgun is usually used when a Soldier does not want to use the Rocket Launcher, either because he is out of loaded rockets, or because he wishes to conserve them. Either way, he is more vulnerable to attack with the Shotgun out than when he wields any of his primary weapons.
Item icon Gunboats.png


Gunboats

  • Soldiers using the Gunboats often take the high ground. Prevent this from happening, as on the ground, the Soldier is less effective without his Shotgun. Attack the Soldier vigorously, as he has no secondary weapon to aid him in combat.

Banners

Weapon Anti-Soldier Strategy
  • Killing the Soldier using a banner buff will end the effect immediately.
  • Soldiers will often make a quick retreat in search of their team when they have a full charge. If you see this happen, give chase!
  • Soldiers using a banner lack a mid-range weapon. Stay close enough to ensure that they will take self-damage from rockets but far away enough to avoid melee attacks.
Item icon Buff Banner.png


Buff Banner

  • The Mini-Crit buff has a short range, encouraging the enemy team to cluster. Use (critically-boosted) rockets, grenades, and stickies to quickly kill or break them up.
Item icon Battalion's Backup.png


Battalion's Backup

  • This weapon will make Critical hits useless. Quickly eliminate the Soldier to ensure your Critical hits register.

Melee Weapons

Weapon Anti Soldier Strategy
Item icon Shovel.pngItem icon Frying Pan.png


Shovel / Frying Pan

  • Due to the Soldier's slow movement speed, one can usually defeat a Soldier with the Shovel simply by moving backwards and attacking him. If you can't avoid the Soldier, fight him head-on, as you should have an advantage.
Item icon Equalizer.png


Equalizer

  • If an enemy Soldier is running quickly with the Equalizer out, it may be more useful to try and pick him off with a hitscan weapon such as the Shotgun or Pistol.
  • On the other hand, if he's slowly moving towards you, be careful to deal enough damage to kill him before he can catch up, as his speed and attack will greatly increase the more abuse he's taken.
Item icon Pain Train.png


Pain Train

  • If you see a Soldier with the Pain Train, take advantage of his susceptibility to bullets, and watch your control points more carefully, as the extra capture speed is significant.

Class Set

Set Anti-Soldier Strategy
The Tank Buster Set


The Tank Buster

  • A Soldier using the Tank Buster item set will be less vulnerable to Sentry Guns, but can only fire three rockets before a reload, and lacks a Shotgun. If you can catch the Soldier before he reloads, you will have a major advantage over him.

See also