Basic Demoman strategy
| “ | Ohh, I'm gonna beat ya so hard, you'll have a twitch!
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— The Demoman
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The Demoman is a well-rounded artillery class that excels at indirect combat, crowd control, and area denial. Both his Grenade Launcher and Stickybomb Launcher are versatile weapons that can be aimed over obstacles while staying out of sight. Additionally, the Stickybomb Launcher can be used to set traps or Sticky jump. Due to his immense damage output, the Demoman is fantastic at fighting multiple opponents and demolishing Engineer buildings. However, the Demoman is most vulnerable at close range, where his weapons are more difficult to aim, take time to arm, and can inflict self-damage; this makes him weaker to classes such as the Scout or Pyro.
Unlike the other classes, the Demoman has the option to cover this weakness by equipping a Shield and Sword for an alternate playstyle. By doing so, he trades his area explosives for extra defense and the ability to charge, allowing him to pick off single targets. Thus, the Demoman can choose to dominate at long or close range, but not both. A team should arguably always have at least one Demoman for his sheer versatility.
Primary weapons
Grenade Launcher + reskins
The Grenade Launcher fires powerful projectiles that deal explosive damage. Grenades travel in a heavy, arced trajectory and can be fired from behind cover, especially over terrain or around corners. The Grenade Launcher is your main weapon in direct combat, especially if your opponent can avoid Stickybombs or if you are using a shield. Although direct hits deal the most damage, grenades that don't immediately hit enemies will still bounce and explode after a short time. Thus, you can fire at a general area to herd enemies, stop escapes, or downright kill foes at extreme range. If you want to conserve health for a smaller explosive jump, fire a grenade into a corner, then jump on top of it to propel yourself upwards.
Loch-n-Load
The Loch-n-Load is particularly useful against the Engineer's buildings, which it deals increased damage to. Its projectiles travel 25% faster than those of the Grenade Launcher, making it easier to land strong direct hits, even against airborne targets. This speed results in increased range, which can be useful when taking out an Engineer's buildings. However, the Loch-n-Load's clip size and blast radius are both reduced by 25%, making it weaker at crowd control. In particular, its grenades shatter on surfaces, meaning that it cannot be fired in a general direction to suppress enemy movement or used to perform grenade jumps.
Ali Baba's Wee Booties + reskins
Ali Baba's Wee Booties focus on mobility, granting extra health at the cost of your Grenade Launcher. If you equip a shield and commit to melee combat, you also gain bonus movement speed. When using a shield, the Booties grant you increased charge control and charge restore on kill, allowing frequent, precise melee movement. In particular, the increased movement speed allows you to outrun any class aside from the Scout, even without charging. If you want ranged combat with the Booties, the standard Stickybomb Launcher or Quickiebomb Launcher work best.
Loose Cannon
The Loose Cannon fires cannonballs that always explode 1 second after the fire button is pressed, rather than 2 seconds after being fired. Thus, hold the fire button to delay the projectile and control the explosion. Direct hits do not immediately cause an explosion and inflict knock back. Timing a shot to inflict both impact and explosive damage in quick succession will reward you with a guaranteed "Double Donk" mini-crit. Explosions after a cannonball touches a surface will only deal 50% damage; ideally, fight at the range where stock Stickybombs can be immediately detonated. Overloading the fuse results in significant self-damage but a strong explosive jump; this is the one weapon that lets you reliably get airborne, then charge with a shield.
B.A.S.E. Jumper
The B.A.S.E. Jumper allows you to deploy a parachute while in midair, slowing your descent. For general purposes, you can combine this with Sticky jumping to maintain a vertical advantage over opponents or travel further horizontally. Should you use a Stickybomb Launcher alongside the B.A.S.E. Jumper, you can freely plant a carpet of Stickybombs over a wide area as you float down. If you favor melee combat and use a shield, charging in midair lets you approach enemies from varying vertical angles. Although it keeps you in midair and attacking longer, try not to linger in the sights of enemies who appreciate slow targets, like the Heavy or Sniper. As with other utility items, taking the B.A.S.E. Jumper means having no Grenade Launcher, leaving you less effective at medium range.
Iron Bomber
The Iron Bomber can be used similarly to the Grenade Launcher in direct combat. Its grenades remain close to the landing site and explode 30% faster, useful for creating temporary traps that your opponents will not want to pass over. Grenades have a 15% smaller blast radius if they explode on timer, so precision with your traps is rewarded. Because the Iron Bomber's grenades have little bounce and roll, it has a less effective maximum range than the Grenade Launcher for indirect combat. However, since grenades do move around less, it also allows you to execute grenade jumps with much more ease and consistency when compared to the default Grenade Launcher. This opens up more opportunities the Demoman can exploit. For instance, grenade jumping successfully can allow you to retain Stickybomb traps for longer, which in turn deny chokes and large spaces more effectively, and increase the chance you have to catch out enemy players. Grenade jumping also becomes a more viable alternative, should you run out Stickybombs, to escape dangerous situations.
Secondary weapons
Stickybomb Launcher + reskins
Stickybombs have a very large splash radius and deal excellent explosive damage, making it the perfect weapon for area denial. Stickybombs can be either fired and detonated in rapid succession from medium range, or placed as traps to instantly take out an unlucky enemy. If using the Stickybomb Launcher to lay traps, place the explosives in unexpected locations, such as around corners, above doorways, or even on ceilings. The Stickybomb Launcher is one of the best weapons for dealing with Sentry Guns, as detonating multiple Stickybombs at one time will prevent the Engineer from performing any repairs. Additionally, you can use Stickybombs to Sticky Jump around the battlefield swiftly at the cost of health. As planting more than eight Stickybombs destroys those that were planted earlier, firing more can allow you to strategically detonate individual ones.
Scottish Resistance
The Scottish Resistance can place up to 14 Stickybombs that can each be manually detonated. However, the weapon's slower bomb arm time makes it less effective in direct combat. Thus, it is best suited to defensive gameplay, where there are multiple possible entrances to defend. Its ability to eliminate enemy Stickybombs and place several traps at once make it useful for controlling key areas. You can detonate your Stickybombs in rapid succession by holding down the detonate key and swinging your view across all of your Stickybombs.
Chargin' Targe + reskins
The Chargin' Targe replaces the Demoman's trademark Stickybomb Launcher, turning him into a more melee-oriented class. It grants him the ability to charge forward while removing debuffs such as afterburn and Jarate, shield bashing the first enemy in the way. Melee attacks performed while charging cancel the charge and deal increased damage based on distance traveled. With good timing, you can follow up a successful shield bash with a melee attack for heavy damage. Because it is difficult to maneuver during a charge, predict where your target will be at the end and line yourself up accordingly. The Chargin' Targe offers some defensive bonuses against explosives and fire, giving you protection against the Soldier and Pyro, classes that traditionally hold an advantage at close range, as well as other Demomen, who can deal a large amount of damage with their explosives. The Chargin' Targe does not offer bullet resistance, so you gain no advantage over the Scout or Heavy.
Sticky Jumper
While the Sticky Jumper is intended for harmless Sticky jumping practice, one of the main factors that restricts your Sticky jumping when using the standard Stickybomb Launcher is the high self-damage. While the Sticky Jumper is equipped, all self-damage that would be taken from your own Stickybombs is nullified. Without healing, you can make multiple Sticky jumps to rapidly cover massive distances for a particularly reckless playstyle. While your Stickybombs are harmless, you still have your Grenade Launcher and wide selection of melee weapons for reliable damage. Given the immense damage of standard Stickybombs, the Sticky Jumper is generally not as useful in serious combat.
Splendid Screen
The Splendid Screen is a more offensive version of the Chargin' Targe. It deals greater shield bash damage and lets you charge twice as often, but offers less defensive bonuses. The Splendid Screen's increased shield bash damage lets you to use your charge as a consistent, significant source of damage. You are encouraged to use the Eyelander alongside this shield, as gathering heads increases the damage of the shield bash; collecting five heads will boost the full-range shield bash to 127 damage, which is enough to instantly kill the fragile classes. Like with the Chargin' Targe, combo your shield bash immediately into a critical melee hit to deal massive damage. Use the frequent charges to quickly dart in and out of combat - high risk, high reward.
Tide Turner
The Tide Turner grants you full turning control during your charge, but only deals mini-crits on a fully expended charge. It sacrifices melee power for unparalleled melee mobility. Melee kills while charging will refill your charge meter by 75%, allowing you to rampage from enemy to enemy with well-timed attacks. The Tide Turner has less resistances than your other shields and taking damage reduces the overall charge time, so utilize the Tide Turner's maneuverability to charge in from unexpected angles. The Tide Turner synergizes well with the Claidheamh Mòr and Persian Persuader, as both swords refill charge for successful melee combat.
Quickiebomb Launcher
The Quickiebomb Launcher arms and charges its Stickybombs much faster than the standard Stickybomb Launcher. Rapidly firing and detonating Stickybombs is a standard fighting style that this weapon amplifies, especially since charged shots deal up to 35% extra damage. Pelt opponents at medium range with rapid detonations, or charge individual Stickybombs from afar. This weapon can destroy enemy Stickybombs, allowing you to disarm Stickybomb traps when on the offensive. However, the Quickiebomb Launcher suffers a 50% smaller clip size and 15% reduced base damage, making it far less suitable for deploying full Stickybomb traps, especially against Engineer buildings.
Melee weapons
Bottle + reskins
At close range, you'll probably damage yourself if you use explosive weaponry. Thus, the Bottle is particularly useful when enemies are too close to reliably kill with the Grenade Launcher. Unlike your other melee weapons, the Bottle has no drawbacks, so equip it if you don't plan on engaging in melee combat often and wish to prioritize survivability.
Eyelander + reskins
As a sword, the Eyelander draws and holsters slower, but comes with an extended attack range that outranges most opponents in melee combat. It reduces your maximum health but accumulates heads upon melee kills, which each slightly increase your maximum health, movement speed, and shield bash damage. Take full advantage of its traits by pairing it with the Chargin' Targe or another shield, and charge in and out of battle. As you accumulate heads, your bonus health and shield's defenses turns you into a very resistant foe. Because dying makes you lose all your heads, play carefully; if your charge misses, the Eyelander's long holster time leaves you vulnerable if your foe backpedals and draws a ranged weapon. Until you have a clear opportunity to decapitate an enemy, attack from range using your Grenade Launcher.
Pain Train
The Pain Train gives you an increased capture rate of two players, equal to the Scout. You can combine this with Sticky jumping to quickly seize control points. The Pain Train comes with a 10% increased vulnerability to bullets, making you a bit more fragile against the Scout and Heavy, classes which tend to be found attacking or holding control points. Only use the Pain Train when actively capturing control points or pushing Payload carts; the increased capture rate is useless in other game modes or when defending.
Scotsman's Skullcutter
The Scotsman's Skullcutter shares the same properties as other swords: slow weapon switching and increased attack range. It reduces your movement speed while wielded, but does significantly more damage than your other melee weapons. The speed reduction affects your shield's charge as well, so the Skullcutter is best used in confined areas where enemies can't easily run away. Overall, this weapon increases the risk and reward of melee combat; while a well-placed charge can kill nearly any enemy, you are more vulnerable to tactics such as hit-and-run or weapon heckling.
Claidheamh Mòr
The Claidheamh Mòr shares the Eyelander's extended melee range and slow weapon switch speed. Instead of the ability to collect heads, the Claidheamh Mòr gives 0.5 second increase in charge duration, and restores 25% of your charge meter upon a kill. In particular, the Claidheamh Mòr pairs well with the Tide Turner, as the combined bonuses from the two weapons will give you a full recharge upon a kill. You take increased damage while this sword is out, so stow it away if you can't charge at anyone.
Ullapool Caber
The Ullapool Caber explodes on first impact, dealing massive damage to you and everything near your victim. It takes a large amount of time to switch to this weapon, giving your opponents ample time to create some distance. Your other explosive weaponry deal great area damage and yield less risk to yourself, so only use the Ullapool Caber as a last resort against close foes. Using it alongside one of your shields and charging can turn you into a human missile.
Half-Zatoichi
The Half-Zatoichi is a sword that heals 50% of your health upon a kill, with the potential to overheal. Combine this blade with a shield to chain together melee kills and stay healthy. Compared to when using the Eyelander, it is easier to stay healthy without relying on pickups or a friendly Medic, but you forgo the speed bonus from accumulating heads. When you deploy the Half-Zatoichi, make sure you can obtain a kill, as switching weapons otherwise results in you taking 50 damage.
Persian Persuader
The Persian Persuader converts ammo pickups to charge and replenishes charge with each successful melee hit, but significantly reduces the maximum ammunition for your ranged weapons. Use it alongside a shield and focus on melee combat. Keep your momentum up by stringing together melee attacks and securing ammo pickups.
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