Anti-Heavy strategy

“

You're dumb as a box of rocks! Click to listen — The Engineer

”

The Heavy is known to be a slow, behemoth. He has a large amount of health with heavy firepower, but is poor at speed and maneuvering, requiring the swift observation behind himself and ambushing.

General

• The Heavy should always be avoided when you are in combat alone. Always try to fight with your team in order to defeat him easier.
• As a Scout, use your speed to quickly deal damage to the Heavy before retreating. The hit-and-run strategy can quickly gun down a Heavy.
• When fighting a Heavy and his Medic, try to kill the Medic instead. The Heavy will merely absorb your damage and charge the Medic's ÜberCharge.
• As a Sniper, it is easy to kill the Heavy with an accurate headshot because of his large cranium and slow movement.
• As a Spy, disguising as a weaker, more vulnerable class would likely take the Heavy by surprise with a swift backstab.

Weapon Specific

A list of useful tidbits about the Heavy's equipments, and how to best counter them.

Primary Weapons

• The Heavy's primary weapons all require a brief moment to spin up before he can start firing, especially Natascha. This makes him vulnerable to ambushes.
• The Heavy's primary weapons all kill even the toughest opponents at close range. Never try to attack a Heavy at short range unless you have the help of an ally or the upper hand.
• Scouts are no match for Heavies at close range, unless they make good use of strafing and double-jumping. Jump over his head to constantly shift his focus.

Minigun / Iron Curtain

Natascha

• Always attack the Heavy from behind so that you will avoid the 100% slow-down effect of the Natascha.
• Attacking is best while Natascha is not spinning as, in addition to the normal spin up time, there is a penalty of 30%. This additional time can allow the attacker to abort the attack or make a clean exit after the attack.
  • Using Spies as an example, this would be re-cloaking should their uncloak be heard, followed by a quick retreat.
  • In the case of Scouts using the Force 'a Nature, this would mean issuing a full 2 shots before running in the opposite direction.

Brass Beast

• The Heavy moves extremely slow when spinning or firing the Brass Beast. This makes him an easy target for Snipers and Spies.
• Use of the Pyro's flare guns can be particularly effective even at long range, since a heavy with the Brass Beast cannot take evasive action. Two flares in succession will result in a Mini-Crit bonus providing extra damage, a third flare shot will typically force the heavy to take out a Sandvich and risk being ambushed or retreat.

Shotgun

• A Heavy may use his Shotgun to hide which Minigun he is using, but reveals that he is not carrying one of his Consumables.
• Brass Beast Heavies often use their Shotgun when they are not at chokepoints, beware when attacking a Shotgun Heavy head-on.
• Heavies using their Shotgun may have ran out of ammo for their Minigun, try to kill them before they can find ammo.

Edibles

• The dropped Sandvich or Buffalo Steak Sandvich can be stolen from the Heavy. If you see one, grab it!
• Edibles make a distinct noise when being eaten. Use this sound to find the Heavy or steer clear.
• The Heavy is relatively defenseless when eating an edible.

Sandvich

• The Sandvich replenishes health quickly. Make sure you can out-damage him while he's eating.

Dalokohs Bar

• This weapon only heals the Heavy for 60 health, making him more vulnerable while eating than with the Sandvich.

Buffalo Steak Sandvich

• Keep your distance and use ranged weapons, all damage to the Heavy will be Mini-Crits.
• The Buffalo Steak Sandvich provides the Heavy with no health when it is being eaten, making him totally vulnerable.
• While in Degroot Keep, Heavies under Buffalo Steak's effect are even more dangerous.

Fists

K.G.B.

• If the Heavy is under the critical buff of the K.G.B, stay back until it wears off. Your death will just encourage his killing spree.

G.R.U.

• Lone Heavies will generally only use the G.R.U. if they are sure they will not be attacked on the way to their destination. A surprise attack can exploit their lowered health before they can heal.

Warrior's Spirit

Fists of Steel

• The Heavy takes 100% more melee damage with the Fists of Steel out. If the Heavy persists, switch to your melee, but be careful, as Heavies will often only use the Fists of Steel to safely close the distance.

The Hibernating Bear

• Because of the 5% Critical resistance when you wear the whole item set, it might make it harder to kill a Heavy with the Backburner, while using melee weapons, attempting to headshot the Heavy without having the shot be fully charged, or while using the Buff Banner.

See also

• Heavy strategy
• Community Heavy strategy
• Heavy match-ups
• Team strategy