Heavy match-ups

“

Entire team is babies! Click to listen — The Heavy on his tactical analysis of the opposition

”

Class			Strategy
Heavy	vs.	Scout	Relative merits: The Scout is mobile but fragile. He will rely on catching you off-guard, then try to wear you down by dodging your fire or via hit-and-run tactics. The Scout has to be in close range to deal meaningful damage, where you can shred him in return. Tactics: When you are busy fighting other enemies, keep in mind that the Scout can quickly join the action. Anticipate where he can attack you from and react quickly once he shows himself. The Scout is the most difficult class to track - keep your aim steady even as he darts and double jumps around. Useful weapons: If the Scout is too difficult to hit thanks to his double jump or him constantly changing directions, Natascha can slow him down to a crawl. If he keeps running away before you can retaliate, consider using the faster Tomislav. The Shotgun can be fired while moving and does not need to be revved.
Heavy	vs.	Soldier	Relative merits: You are the only class that boasts more health and firepower than the Soldier. The Soldier will be aware of this and either abuse cover or high ground to bombard you with rockets. Tactics: Position yourself such that the Soldier must reveal himself to fire at you. When the Soldier leaves cover, lay down oppressive fire to wear down his health and stop him from rocket jumping away. If you can goad the Soldier into wasting his rockets at long range, which will subject them to damage fall-off, you can unrev the Minigun and reposition yourself. Useful weapons: The Shotgun lets you stay mobile while being bombarded by rockets. The Gloves of Running Urgently can be used to chase down a retreating Soldier. The Fists of Steel can help you survive a retreat.
Heavy	vs.	Pyro	Relative merits: The Pyro should not be able to defeat you without an ambush, as your Minigun deals far more damage than his Flame Thrower. However, he has tools to disrupt your defensive positioning, including the compression blast and Flare Gun. Tactics: The Pyro should try to catch you off-guard, making use of certain weapon combinations to burst you down before you can react. Like when dealing with the Scout, note possible routes you can be flanked from. If you can react in time, jump backwards to create some distance while revving your Minigun, then fight back. Once in a direct fight, keep your crosshair steady as the Pyro attempts to circle-strafe or airblast you. Watch out for Flare Gun shots at long range, as its 90-damage critical hits can wear you down if you stay ignited. Useful weapons: Your lunchbox secondaries can be thrown as small health packs to extinguish teammates - of these, the Second Banana recharges the fastest.
Heavy	vs.	Demoman	Relative merits: The Demoman’s explosives can easily match your large damage output, especially from medium range and beyond. A smart Demoman will keep his distance or stay behind cover while lobbing grenades or a field of Stickybombs. Tactics: At the front lines, you want to force the Demoman behind cover just so you can hold position, which in turn allows him to reload and attack you again. If a teammate is not available to move ahead of you, take out your Shotgun and close the distance, taking care for any Stickybomb traps. Pay attention to the Demoman's loadout; a Demoman who runs at you with his melee weapon and a shield should be a much easier kill.
Heavy	vs.	Heavy	Mirror match-up: You would meet an enemy Heavy on the front lines. The encounter is decided by who has more health, who fires first, and which primary weapons the two of you are wielding. Tactics: Be the Heavy that already has a revved Minigun and taken a favorable position. Even alone, it is possible to take down an enemy Heavy that is paired with a Medic by simply being the first to fire. Useful weapons: Generally, a Heavy wielding Natascha, a weapon with lower damage output, will lose to one wielding any other available primary weapon.
Heavy	vs.	Engineer	Relative merits: You can reliably take on an Engineer's Sentry Gun at levels 1 or 2. A Sentry Gun that is level 3 or controlled by the Wrangler can match your firepower. Tactics: A lone Engineer is an easy fight, but you are more concerned about his Sentry Gun. Regarding his buildings, if you can get the drop on even a level 3 Sentry Gun at close range without getting pushed back, your Minigun can actually destroy it faster than it can kill you. If you need to deal with a Sentry Gun at a longer range, it’s best to pressure it with Minigun bursts or come back with teammates, as all of your weapons suffer at longer ranges. Useful weapons: Combining your firepower with a Medic's ÜberCharge is a common tactic for pushing into a Sentry Gun. You can switch to the Brass Beast or Fists of Steel, weapons with damage resistance, to help you or your teammates approach.
Heavy	vs.	Medic	Relative merits: The Medic is typically accompanied by a Medic buddy that can steadily wear your health down. A lone Medic is capable of running away while taking potshots. Tactics: Any chip damage you deal to a Medic's patient will gradually be healed off. If you are alone, your goal is to deal enough damage to make the Medic retreat so you can heal up and take a better position. If you can get the first strike, your Minigun will quickly burn through any overhealing. Useful weapons: The Sandvich can be eaten between several fights with the same enemy.
Heavy	vs.	Sniper	Relative merits: There is no practical way for you to approach an enemy Sniper. If none of your teammates are occupying him, respect his position and don't go out into the open. Tactics: Even if a friendly Medic overheals you, a fully charged headshot will instantly kill you, so take care as you creep up the battlefield. At medium range, you can nick the Sniper with enough Minigun or Shotgun bullets to severely impede his aim as you close in; occasionally steer to the sides to add some unpredictability to your movement. Useful weapons: Equipping the G.R.U. or Fists of Steel can make crossing a Sniper’s field of view a little bit easier.
Heavy	vs.	Spy	Relative merits: Your large, bulky frame is easy for your team to rally around, which in turn makes you an important target for the enemy Spy. You cannot outrun the Spy, so protect yourself and your teammates. Tactics: Even if you have teammates at your side, be careful of activity that indicates a threat, such as if a friendly Medic stops healing you or teammates disappear. Short bursts from the Minigun are great for Spy-checking, with the bonus of likely killing the Spy in the process. If the Spy uses his Cloak to retreat, fan the Minigun or Shotgun over a wide area to try and reveal him. Useful weapons: The Huo-Long Heater deploys a ring of fire around you when revved up, which can reveal nearby Spies that you should react to quickly.

See also

• Team strategy
• Heavy (competitive)