Difference between revisions of "Anti-Spy strategy"
m (There is no need to re-describe weapon functions. Razorback info is covered in "Basic Sniper strategy" and the class match-up pages, but we can generalize the idea into this.) |
(things about kunai!!!) |
||
(12 intermediate revisions by 8 users not shown) | |||
Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
{{Quotation|'''The Engineer'''|That's what my daddy taught me to do to backstabbers.|sound=Engineer_dominationspy08.wav}} | {{Quotation|'''The Engineer'''|That's what my daddy taught me to do to backstabbers.|sound=Engineer_dominationspy08.wav}} | ||
− | The '''[[Spy]]''' is a cunning espionage agent bent on deceiving and frustrating your team. He will use his Cloak and | + | The '''[[Spy]]''' is a cunning espionage agent bent on deceiving and frustrating your team. He will use his [[Cloak]] and [[disguise]]s to maneuver behind friendly lines, then use his signature [[backstab]] technique to instantly kill any target in one strike. Be wary of his other methods of deception, including acting like a teammate or the ability to [[Dead Ringer|fake his own death]]. |
+ | |||
+ | The best defense against a Spy is keen observation; he only has so many ways to infiltrate your team, so a team that regularly performs [[Spy-check]] measures renders him far less of a threat. If you catch the Spy, his direct combat is weak, so expect him to look for an escape. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The [[Pyro]], with their wide-fanning flames that nullify Cloak and disguise, is one of the best defenses against the Spy. | ||
== General == | == General == | ||
Line 11: | Line 15: | ||
| align="center" valign="center" style="padding:0.5em" |[[File:Spy_emblem_RED.png|40px]] '''[[Classes|Role]]''' | | align="center" valign="center" style="padding:0.5em" |[[File:Spy_emblem_RED.png|40px]] '''[[Classes|Role]]''' | ||
| | | | ||
− | * The Spy will try to sneak behind your team using his various disguises and his Invis Watch. It's best to | + | * The Spy will try to sneak behind your team using his various disguises and his Invis Watch. It's best to Spy check often. |
− | * A disguised Spy can't perfectly act like your teammate. For example, he can't attack without losing his disguise | + | * A disguised Spy can't perfectly act like your teammate. For example, he can't attack without losing his disguise nor walk through enemies. |
− | * The Spy excels against an uncoordinated team. Your team should | + | * The Spy excels against an uncoordinated team. Your team should report his existence and location to one another. |
* Take note of the Spy's loadout to predict his general playstyle. | * Take note of the Spy's loadout to predict his general playstyle. | ||
* Certain weapons, including the Pyro's [[Homewrecker]] and Sniper's [[Razorback]], have specific anti-Spy qualities. | * Certain weapons, including the Pyro's [[Homewrecker]] and Sniper's [[Razorback]], have specific anti-Spy qualities. | ||
Line 19: | Line 23: | ||
| align="center" valign="center" style="padding:0.5em" |[[File:Leaderboard_class_medic.png|40px]] '''[[Health]]''' | | align="center" valign="center" style="padding:0.5em" |[[File:Leaderboard_class_medic.png|40px]] '''[[Health]]''' | ||
| | | | ||
− | * The Spy is quite frail, with only 125 health | + | * The Spy is quite frail, with only 125 maximum health at best. Once he is spotted, he should not be difficult to kill. However, he takes reduced damage while cloaked and may fake his death using the [[Dead Ringer]]. |
|- | |- | ||
| align="center" valign="center" style="padding:0.5em" |[[File:Leaderboard_class_scout.png|40px]] '''[[Speed]]''' | | align="center" valign="center" style="padding:0.5em" |[[File:Leaderboard_class_scout.png|40px]] '''[[Speed]]''' | ||
| | | | ||
* By default, the Spy moves at slightly above average speed. When disguised, the Spy moves at the speed of the disguise's class, with the exception of the Scout. | * By default, the Spy moves at slightly above average speed. When disguised, the Spy moves at the speed of the disguise's class, with the exception of the Scout. | ||
− | ** A Scout moving abnormally | + | ** A Scout moving abnormally slow is a good sign of an enemy Spy, however, keep in mind that the [[Baby Face's Blaster]] can slow a Scout down. |
|- | |- | ||
| align="center" valign="center" style="padding:0.5em" |[[File:Leaderboard_class_soldier.png|40px]] '''[[Weapons|Power]]''' | | align="center" valign="center" style="padding:0.5em" |[[File:Leaderboard_class_soldier.png|40px]] '''[[Weapons|Power]]''' | ||
Line 30: | Line 34: | ||
* In direct combat, the Spy's weapons are weak. | * In direct combat, the Spy's weapons are weak. | ||
* The Spy can see the health of enemy players, allowing him to see if a teammate is weak enough to be picked off. | * The Spy can see the health of enemy players, allowing him to see if a teammate is weak enough to be picked off. | ||
− | * If the Spy passes by undetected and gets behind a foe, he can kill them instantly with a [[backstab]]. | + | * If the Spy passes by undetected and gets behind a foe, he can kill them instantly with a [[backstab]]. |
+ | ** Experienced Spies can utilise trickstabs to deal with almost any foe, which can cause extra chaos for your team. | ||
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
Line 96: | Line 101: | ||
* The Conniver's Kunai reduces the Spy's base health to 70 HP. If he has not backstabbed anyone yet, he should be an easy kill. | * The Conniver's Kunai reduces the Spy's base health to 70 HP. If he has not backstabbed anyone yet, he should be an easy kill. | ||
* This severe health reduction may encourage the Spy to also use the [[Dead Ringer]] for a safety net. | * This severe health reduction may encourage the Spy to also use the [[Dead Ringer]] for a safety net. | ||
+ | * The Kunai allows the Spy to have ridiculous survivability if they can consistently hit backstabs. | ||
+ | * If possible, notify your team about the backstabber so that he is denied extra health. | ||
+ | * Keep in mind one backstab will fully heal the Spy regardless of your teammate's health. | ||
* Spy-check a teammate who is suspiciously overhealed, especially if there is no friendly Medic nearby. | * Spy-check a teammate who is suspiciously overhealed, especially if there is no friendly Medic nearby. | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 176: | Line 184: | ||
| | | | ||
* A Spy can replace any Sappers removed from a target building faster than an Engineer can remove the Sapper and repair the building; locate the disguised Spy and kill him before removing his Sappers. | * A Spy can replace any Sappers removed from a target building faster than an Engineer can remove the Sapper and repair the building; locate the disguised Spy and kill him before removing his Sappers. | ||
− | * An Engineer who needs to leave his buildings should have a teammate, preferably a Pyro or another Engineer, guard them while he is away. | + | * An Engineer who needs to leave his buildings should have a teammate, preferably a Pyro or another Engineer, guard them while he is away. A Pyro who has either the Homewrecker or [[Neon Annihilator]] equipped can also remove Sappers from buildings, making it even more difficult for the Spy to do significant damage using his Sappers. |
* Spacing Engineer buildings from each other forces the Spy to cover more ground between Sapper placements, giving your team more time to react. | * Spacing Engineer buildings from each other forces the Spy to cover more ground between Sapper placements, giving your team more time to react. | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 187: | Line 195: | ||
|} | |} | ||
− | == Telling | + | == Telling them apart == |
:''See [[Spychecking#Identifying enemy Spies|Spychecking]] for more strategies.'' | :''See [[Spychecking#Identifying enemy Spies|Spychecking]] for more strategies.'' | ||
Line 196: | Line 204: | ||
* Teammates who appear overly-fixated on other allies, suddenly beeline towards friendly targets, ignore objectives, refuse to fire their weapon, or otherwise deviate from typical behavior should cause concern. | * Teammates who appear overly-fixated on other allies, suddenly beeline towards friendly targets, ignore objectives, refuse to fire their weapon, or otherwise deviate from typical behavior should cause concern. | ||
* Note how teammates interact with the environment. A few situations might call for a Spy-check, including a teammate who is at full health but can pick up a health kit, an injured teammate moving away from your respawn area, or team-specific doors not opening for a teammate. | * Note how teammates interact with the environment. A few situations might call for a Spy-check, including a teammate who is at full health but can pick up a health kit, an injured teammate moving away from your respawn area, or team-specific doors not opening for a teammate. | ||
− | + | * A Spy's disguise does not grant him any of the effects that the disguise's loadout may grant. For example, a Sniper disguise equipped with the [[Darwin's Danger Shield]] does not make the Spy immune to afterburn. Similarly, a Pyro disguise does not make the Spy immune to afterburn. If you see a burning Darwin's Danger Shield Sniper or a burning Pyro, it is most likely a disguised Spy. Be aware that the [[Gas Passer]] can make Pyros burn for longer than normal. <!-- At the time of writing (26-11-2023), the Darwin's Danger Shield is bugged because the Gas Passer does not work on it --> | |
== See also == | == See also == |
Latest revision as of 23:30, 5 February 2024
“ | That's what my daddy taught me to do to backstabbers.
Click to listen
— The Engineer
|
” |
The Spy is a cunning espionage agent bent on deceiving and frustrating your team. He will use his Cloak and disguises to maneuver behind friendly lines, then use his signature backstab technique to instantly kill any target in one strike. Be wary of his other methods of deception, including acting like a teammate or the ability to fake his own death.
The best defense against a Spy is keen observation; he only has so many ways to infiltrate your team, so a team that regularly performs Spy-check measures renders him far less of a threat. If you catch the Spy, his direct combat is weak, so expect him to look for an escape.
The Pyro, with their wide-fanning flames that nullify Cloak and disguise, is one of the best defenses against the Spy.
Contents
General
Attributes | Anti-Spy strategy |
---|---|
Role |
|
Health |
|
Speed |
|
Power |
|
Weapon-specific
Main article: Spy weapons
Secondary weapons
Weapon | Anti-Spy strategy |
---|---|
Revolver + reskins |
|
Ambassador + reskins |
|
L'Etranger |
|
Enforcer |
|
Diamondback |
|
Melee weapons
Weapon | Anti-Spy strategy |
---|---|
Knife + reskins |
|
Your Eternal Reward + reskins |
|
Conniver's Kunai |
|
Big Earner |
|
Spy-cicle |
|
Disguise Kit
Weapon | Anti-Spy strategy |
---|---|
Disguise Kit |
|
Invis Watches
Main article: Cloak
- Cloaked Spies can be revealed if they are doused, lit, or bleeding. Try using Jarate, Mad Milk, fire, and weapons that cause bleeding in areas where you suspect a Spy is hiding. These debuffs cure twice as quickly while the Spy is cloaked, so act quickly once you reveal him.
- Emerging from water also compromises a Spy's invisibility, as water particles will drip off him for a few seconds.
- Spies can pick up health and ammo even while cloaked. If health kits and ammo boxes are disappearing for no apparent reason, there is a cloaked Spy nearby.
- Disguised Spies can receive health and ammo from enemy Dispensers. Occasionally Spy-check around Dispensers and check for healing beams attached to thin air.
- The Invisibility Watch and the Cloak and Dagger will show a silhouette of a cloaked Spy if he bumps into an enemy; if a Spy's silhouette is revealed, press against him and attack to keep him visible.
- A cloaked Spy still makes sound. You may hear his footsteps from running across hard surfaces, the crunch from fall damage, or voice responses from unknown sources. He also makes a distinct noise upon uncloaking.
- If you see a Spy cloak, die at suspiciously high health, or otherwise escape your sight, alert your team and tell them exactly where they are.
Weapon | Anti-Spy strategy |
---|---|
Invis Watch + reskins |
|
Cloak and Dagger |
|
Dead Ringer |
|
Buildings
- Even if the Spy is disguised, you can still see him reach out and place Sappers on buildings. Keep an eye out for this animation to quickly figure out which teammate is the Spy.
- Pyros with the Homewrecker are excellent for defending buildings; it only takes one strike to dislodge Sappers, compared to the two strikes required by the Engineer's default Wrench.
- Keep special notice of your team's Teleporters. If left unguarded, a Spy can place a Sapper on one end and continue to replace those that are removed on the other end, eventually sapping more health than what the Engineer can repair and slowing your team's reinforcements.
- The Spy may put a Sapper on a Teleporter entrance and take it as soon as the Engineer removes it. Do not stand on your Teleporter Exit, as the Spy may Telefrag you.
Weapon | Anti-Spy strategy |
---|---|
Sapper + reskins |
|
Red-Tape Recorder |
|
Telling them apart
- See Spychecking for more strategies.
- Your team can always hurt an enemy Spy. A stray bullet or explosion may reveal a cloaked Spy.
- A disguised Spy can't pass through you like teammates can. If you bump into a teammate and can't pass, they are a Spy.
- The Spy cannot copy special abilities or use weapons of other classes. A strangely slow Scout or a Medic who is not healing warrants suspicion.
- Consider where allied classes are typically found and are played. For example, two common disguises are the Sniper and Spy. The Sniper is usually played away from allies on high ground, while your Spy should be with the enemy team!
- Teammates who appear overly-fixated on other allies, suddenly beeline towards friendly targets, ignore objectives, refuse to fire their weapon, or otherwise deviate from typical behavior should cause concern.
- Note how teammates interact with the environment. A few situations might call for a Spy-check, including a teammate who is at full health but can pick up a health kit, an injured teammate moving away from your respawn area, or team-specific doors not opening for a teammate.
- A Spy's disguise does not grant him any of the effects that the disguise's loadout may grant. For example, a Sniper disguise equipped with the Darwin's Danger Shield does not make the Spy immune to afterburn. Similarly, a Pyro disguise does not make the Spy immune to afterburn. If you see a burning Darwin's Danger Shield Sniper or a burning Pyro, it is most likely a disguised Spy. Be aware that the Gas Passer can make Pyros burn for longer than normal.
See also
|