Soldier match-ups

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You are all maggots, you scum sucking fruit baskets! Click to listen — The Soldier on the enemy

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Class			Strategy
Soldier	vs.	Scout	Both of you are strong at close range and can kill each other with two good shots. The Scout will try to outmaneuver you, so the match-up is a matter of prediction. Predict where the Scout will land after his double jump, then use the Rocket Launcher’s splash damage for guaranteed damage. If possible, Rocket jump to higher ground so you can fire at the Scout from above - depending on where you go, consider if he can follow you using his jumps. If he is too hard to hit with your rockets, switch to your hitscan Shotgun. Some Scouts will make use of weapon heckling to force you to switch weapons; with good aim, the Shotgun can still be used over the Rocket Launcher at close range. While the Direct Hit can instantly kill a Scout at close range, the lack of splash damage will make hitting him with a rocket difficult.
Soldier	vs.	Soldier	When in a deathmatch against another Soldier, you want to make each rocket count. On the ground, use nearby cover to avoid his splash damage. Maintaining a height advantage can easily win you the fight; you get to freely rain down rockets while the enemy Soldier is also forced to land direct hits. Damaging yourself with a rocket jump to reach high ground is worth avoiding two of his. If you run out of available rockets, switch to the Shotgun instead of reloading the Rocket Launcher to finish him off. If the enemy Soldier is actively rocket jumping, you can rocket jump into the air yourself, use precise aim to land an aerial, or fire a rocket where he is going to land.
Soldier	vs.	Pyro	A Pyro who is skilled with the compression blast can render your rockets useless. At medium to long range, harass an enemy Pyro with your Shotgun. Once he gets close, continue to use the Shotgun or shoot rockets at his feet; the closer he is, the harder it is to reflect your rockets. Rocket jumping is particularly useful, both to create some distance and to get into the air, where the Pyro is hard-pressed to hit you with any of his weapons.
Soldier	vs.	Demoman	In terms of one-on-one encounters, the two of you are pretty evenly matched when it comes to damage output. Stay within medium range and maintain a direct line of sight, as your Rocket Launcher is easier to aim than his Grenade Launcher or Stickybomb Launcher. If you allow the Demoman to maintain a distance, he can freely shell you with grenades and charged Stickybombs. Rocket jumping can allow you to gain a height and distance advantage while making it difficult for the Demoman to land direct hits. To bypass his Stickybomb traps, use the Shotgun's pellets to disarm or a well placed rocket to scatter them. If the Demoman decides to rush you down with one of his shields, use the knock back from a rocket to pop him into the air and cancel his charge.
Soldier	vs.	Heavy	Don’t engage an enemy Heavy if his Minigun is already spun up; you will lose the ensuing one-on-one fight. He is slow, so harass him with your Rocket Launcher from around obstacles while denying him a direct line of sight. If his Minigun is not already revved up, you should be able to defeat him at close range by unleashing all your rockets and maybe a few Shotgun blasts. He is a relatively large and slow target, so the Direct Hit can be particularly effective against him. Rocket jump only to escape fights with a Heavy; you can’t quite afford the self-damage and the hitscan Minigun can still easily hit you in midair.
Soldier	vs.	Engineer	Your Rocket Launcher allows you to destroy Engineer buildings from a safe distance and damage the Engineer himself via splash damage. If the Engineer stays near his nest, target him or his Dispenser first to prevent any repairs. Ensure that you have good cover to duck in and out of, especially if the Engineer is using his Wrangler. Once the Engineer is away or dead, the Sentry Gun is simple to destroy. If you must directly take on a level 3 Sentry Gun, it’d be best to come back with the Battalion's Backup or a friendly Medic.
Soldier	vs.	Medic	A lone Medic is an easy target. The Medic is a high priority target, especially when he’s healing his teammates. Use your Rocket Launcher’s splash damage to attack both him and his patient at once. You can rocket jump above and past the Medic’s allies to dive-bomb him. Even if you just make him retreat, you are denying his team a major source of healing.
Soldier	vs.	Sniper	The Soldier is slow but tough in many battles, making him a prime target for most Snipers.The Sniper will take aim at you from long range and tends to oversee wide open areas. If you must directly approach an enemy Sniper, move erratically and harass him with a few rockets. Although you're not likely to kill him, you will force him to take cover and can even aim at objects near him to deal splash damage. In particular, the speedy rockets from the Direct Hit or Liberty Launcher can force him to take cover before taking a single shot. You can Rocket jump to quickly close the distance, but air-strafe to keep your trajectory inconsistent and avoid being shot out of the air.
Soldier	vs.	Spy	Your slow speed and heavy damage make you a prime target for any enemy Spy. The key is to identify him before he strikes. Use the Shotgun to Spy-check suspicious teammates, then splash the area with your Rocket Launcher if he tries to escape by Cloaking. To reduce the risk of self-damage or accidentally being backstabbed, keep the fight outside of melee range. .

See also

• Team strategy
• Soldier (competitive)