Community Demoman strategy

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Not one of ya's going to survive this! Click to listen — The Demoman

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This article is about Community Demoman strategy.

Similar to the Soldier, the Demoman is a versatile and easy to learn class. It can be great for players who focus mainly on objectives and team play. Those who have experience with Team Fortress Classic's Grenades will have a slight advantage, as the grenades launched from the Grenade Launcher are nearly identical. One of the issues newer players will face concerning the Demoman is self-damage. Advanced players can learn to use the self-damage from a Grenade or Stickybomb to propel themselves to an objective quicker, help a Medic build Übercharge faster, or (in cases involving the Sticky Jumper) prevent explosive damage.

Quick tips

• When fleeing, leave Stickybombs in your wake. You may be able to nab an easy kill on a pursuer.

• Your biggest advantage is delivering damage where other classes can't reach. Try bouncing Grenades around corners, through windows, and onto battlements.

• When defending an objective, try placing Stickybombs on the objective and retreating to cover. You can use the game's alert messages ("The control point is being contested!") to detonate them at just the right moment and save the objective, even with your eyes closed.

• Look for map opportunities where you can create a death trap while maintaining your personal safety.

• When aiming for a distant target, sometimes the best option is to skip Grenades along the ground rather than lobbing them across the sky.

• The Demoman can be an effective Melee combatant, but if you want to take advantage of a Melee centered loadout, an ambush strategy is best.

• When being chased by an enemy player it is better to place a Stickybomb on a wall then detonate it later depending on the opossing class. It will either have the enemy destroy the sticky giving you time for your escape or it will hurt the enemy if they dont know it's there.

• Use your Grenades to mess with enemy tactics such as Heavy Medic pairs by blowing the Medic away from the Heavy

Roles

• The Demoman has three roles:

Defense

• The classic role for the Demoman is Defense. For example, a Demoman can place Stickybombs on key areas, then switch to the Grenade Launcher to keep enemies at bay. As soon as an enemy walks within the blast radius of the stickies, the Demoman can detonate them for an easy kill.

• While staying at one choke-point and constantly filling it with sticky-bombs or grenades is effective, it is still essential to survey the capture point constantly for incoming enemies. But if you still wish to have the freedom to move around while defending, covering the objective with Stickybombs is the way to go. While you essentially lose your Stickybomb Launcher to defend the objective, the bonus is that the game alerts the player (one way or another) when the objective is under attack or being captured. When this happens, simply detonate the bombs to secure a quick and easy kill. This may not work as well with the Scottish Resistance, because the time you take to remember which Stickybombs were on the objective may give a Scout enough time to run away.

• A Demoman is one of the best counters for an ÜberCharge pair, second only to the Pyro. First, place a string of Stickybombs on the ground to create a minefield. Either detonate them just before the pair reaches the bombs to push them backward or just after one of them crosses the bombs to separate the Medic from his ÜberCharge target. Even if the two manage to regroup, they have lost precious seconds of invulnerability. Stickybombs can also be placed on walls or edges of bridges in order to push the pair into corners or off of said bridges. Plan in advance and think creatively to make this strategy effective. Another way the Demoman can push back an ÜberCharge is to first place a trap waiting for the unexpected pair. Second lure them towards the trap by shooting grenades and alerting them to your position. If they have not activated their ÜberCharge they will lose it to your trap. If they already have their charge use it to fling them away from your area and start again.

Offense

• When your team's progress is denied by a strong, Engineer-led defense, switch to offense to punch through their defenses. Along with the Spy and the Pyro, the Demoman is a team's best hope in clearing enemy Sentry Guns and Heavies.

• A good teammate for the Demoman is the Scout, who can capture a point or the intelligence after enemy defenses are cleared. The Scout can also help battle enemy Engineers who might attempt to confront the Demoman directly.

• In addition to being a good offense against Sentry Guns, the Demoman is also effective at assisting Engineers fight off enemy Spies. Place one or two Stickybombs near a building, then wait nearby. When an Engineer says "Spy sapping my [building]," or if an Engineer just destroyed an Electro Sapper, detonate the bombs to kill the Spy in case he is still there and return to reset them. The stickies will not damage a friendly player or building.

• As a Demoman can only place eight stickies down at once with the Stickybomb Launcher, previously shot stickies will blow up after passing this limit. The "self-detonating" stickies can still damage opponents, and could be a useful tactic for taking out incoming enemies while still attacking other enemies with new stickies. Since the Scottish Resistance allows you to lay down fourteen bombs and detonate them separately, this strategy is almost non-applicable but, take the opportunity to place the stickies in well needed areas such as on the Sentry Gun at the exits and entrances.

Support

• Being a support Demoman is slightly harder than concentrating on offense or defense alone. To be a support Demoman means staying next to another team member (such as Heavy, Soldier, Engineer, etc) and dedicating yourself to helping them get their jobs done. Roll in with Heavies and finish off enemies that manage to escape his Minigun's fire. Protect Engineers from enemies while he sets up his buildings or is hauling them somewhere else. Tag-team with Soldiers for twice the amount of explosions and half the amount of opposition to your team.

• Using a "Demoknight" set (generally seen as one of the shield weapons + a sword-based melee weapon) limits you to being a Support class. You can run in to help with a brawl to great effect, but you are far less capable on your own in anything other than one-on-one (either normal combat or through an ambush).

Aerials

• Aerial kills (commonly known as "Airshots") are one of the Demoman's specialties. When an enemy is launched into the air for one reason or the other, a Demoman with good prediction skills can score a direct hit with his Grenade Launcher and kill the helpless enemy. While aerials are possible with the Stickybomb Launcher, the increased trickiness of using it makes scoring aerials with the weapon more for humiliation purposes than efficiency.

• Aerials work on pretty much any class, but the more common targets include Scouts and Soldiers. This is because these classes' own special abilities (Double jumping and Rocket jumping respectively), make them prone to being airborne more often than most other classes.

Demoman Jumps

• The Demoman has various kinds of jumps using different weapons, namely: Grenade Launcher, Stickybomb Launcher, and the Scottish Resistance. These various weapons would require different methods to execute as explained below.

Grenade Jumping

• For smaller jumps or when having a group of stickies already deployed elsewhere, it might be more beneficial to use Grenade Jumping. This inflicts slightly less damage, and placed stickies are left undetonated. YouTube video on various grenade jumps.

• Note that, obviously, grenade jumps are less practical than Stickybomb jumps in situations where enemies may be nearby due to the fact that one must wait for the grenade to explode. However, Grenade Jumping is a very viable tactic with the Chargin' Targe equipped, and it can easily catch people off guard when they find a Targe-equipped Demoman in such an awkward place.

Stickybomb Jumping

• Sticky jumping is similar to rocket jumping. It allows a player to jump much higher at the cost of more health (45-114 excluding fall damage). To do this, lay a Stickybomb on the ground, run over it, jump-crouch, and then detonate. As when rocket jumping, crouching in mid-air before setting off the sticky will propel the player with even more force. Multiple stickies can be used for an even greater effect, at the cost of a higher amount of self damage (Using this method, it is possible to jump from one battlement to the other in 2Fort).

Scottish Resistance

• When sticky jumping with the Scottish Resistance, any stickies directly under the Demoman will be detonated when the alternate fire is activated, so long as there are no other stickies in the reticule. However, jumps with a lot of forward momentum are difficult to achieve with the Scottish Resistance unless the Stickybomb being used for the jump is being directly looked at -- essentially the player will be facing away from the direction they wish to go when the bomb is detonated. This can take some practice to get used to.

Weapon Specific

Primary Weapons

Grenade Launcher

Weapon	Kill Icon	Ammo		Damage
		Loaded	Carried	Base Damage	Splash Damage	Self Damage	Critical
Stock Grenade Launcher		4	16	84-123	22-64	42-74	270-330

An easy weapon for the inexperienced and a deadly tool of destruction in the hands of an experienced player.

• Grenades explode on contact with an enemy, provided they have not bounced first.

• Grenades can be used as an improvised area denial tool when the Stickybomb Launcher or Scottish Resistance have no stickies loaded or the Sticky Jumper or Charging' Targe is equipped.

• Grenades spin when fired, which sometimes causes them to bounce unpredictably. They do obey gravity (e.g. bouncing down slopes) and will bounce around corners and off walls. Predicting their direction after multiple bounces relies on knowing the area being attacked. To shoot long distances it's often better to jump and fire than change the angle of fire much past 45 degrees.

• Grenades launch to the right of the cross-hair, so lead to the left to compensate. This is especially important for dealing with faster classes such as Pyros and Scouts.

• Keep in mind that it is very easy to avoid grenades at long and even medium range; because of the grenade's low speed, enemies have a lot of time to react.

• High angle fire at long distances can help to hit enemies behind cover.

• If an enemy is about to run away, try to block his predicted escape route with some grenades. If the enemy's health is low enough to have them hesitate at running into the grenades, attempt to go for the kill.

• The Grenade Launcher's large splash damage radius is useful against large groups of enemies in small confined spaces.

• Jumping on a fired grenade will provide an effective, mid range jump that's comparable to a sticky jump. It deals less damage to the player than the Stickybomb Launcher, so it's perfect for cautious players.

• The Grenade Launcher can be used to protect you and any sticky traps you have set up.

Loch-n-Load

Weapon	Kill Icon	Ammo		Damage
		Loaded	Carried	Base Damage	Self Damage	Critical
Craft Loch-n-Load		2	16	103-147	53-93	342-388

• One of the more notable strengths of the Loch-n-Load is its ability to consistently deal over 100 damage at any given range. Your damage output should consistently reach over 210 if both grenades hit a single target.

• The Loch-n-Load is notably weaker on area control and building demolition than the standard Grenade Launcher, as standard grenades will, barring a direct hit, stick around for a few seconds and then explode. The Loch-n-Load's shells shatter on impact, exploding only if they hit an enemy or enemy's building.

• The Loch-n-Load's higher damage per-hit and higher splash damage paired with the increased shot velocity means that the Loch-n-Load is a great weapon for tunnel fighting: it proves its worth in areas like the tunnels of Turbine and Hoodoo. The Loch-n-Load is especially useful for bigger targets like the Heavy, who have a natural advantage in long, narrow tunnels.

• The Loch-n-Load's grenades are somewhat better for dealing with tightly-packed crowds than the Grenade Launcher, making it extremely good at holding choke-points, mostly due to the enhanced damage and speed. You're simply more likely to hit a member of a group with a faster grenade shell, and higher damage is a boon as well. If you can get enemies to cluster up (such as any of the control points on Egypt), the damage and disruption the Loch-n-Load can cause makes it extremely effective.

• The Loch-n-Load does have a small clip size (which means more reloads in the face of enemy aggression) and does notably more self-damage than the Grenade Launcher. It's a good idea to switch to your Sticky Launcher of choice for extended battles, and switch to a suitable melee weapon should an enemy insist on getting close.

• The Loch-n-Load functionally removes your ability to grenade jump, since the grenades only explode on impact with an enemy or enemy building. This means you will need to either use sticky jumps to get to hard-to-reach areas or find another route.

• The Chargin' Targe can mitigate the increased self-damage of the Loch-n-Load in close combat situations.

• The Loch-n-Load is particularly devastating against the low-HP classes: the Sniper, Engineer, Scout, and Spy. A direct hit will leave these classes with critical health - and often kill them through falling damage alone if it knocks them into the air.

• Reload often: with only two shots, you don't want to get caught with empty chambers in the middle of a firefight.

• The downside of destructible grenades can be used to your advantage if an enemy Pyro is good with the airblast. Should the Pyro airblast the grenade but miss you and/or your teammates, the reflected grenade will shatter without any explosion whatsoever. This is an immensely useful advantage to have against skilled Pyros.

• The Loch-n-Load is part of the Expert's Ordnance set, which grants you resistance to fire damage when you equip it with the Ullapool Caber.

• In summary, this weapon is one that takes skill, timing, and good accuracy to make the most of. Practice making direct hits from various ranges and angles if you intend to use it; your time will be well-spent.

Ali Baba's Wee Booties

Weapon	Effect
	Passive Effect
Craft Ali Baba's Wee Booties	+25 maximum health. Allows you to turn while charging.

• Used in conjunction with either the Chargin' Targe or the Splendid Screen and a Melee weapon, you can become a melee based offensive powerhouse.
  • However, in doing so, you will lose all ranged damage altogether, which can be hazardous in areas populated with Heavies and Sentry Guns. Plan your engagements and avoid conflict when appropriate.

Secondary Weapons

Stickybomb Launcher

Weapon	Kill Icon	Ammo		Damage
		Loaded	Carried	Base Damage	Splash Damage	Self Damage	Critical
Stock Stickybomb Launcher		8	32	120	60-124	45-114	261

The use of Stickybombs is one of the defining features of advanced Demoman play. They are detonated by using your alternative fire (default key MOUSE2), no matter which weapon is currently out.

Some basic pointers for planting Stickybombs are:

• When guarding a capture point or the Intelligence, create a large blast radius by spreading out a Stickybomb carpet.

• After planting Stickybombs around the intelligence or a control point, the Demoman is free to leave the area. Look at the Capture the Flag or Capture Point HUD elements, or listen for the announcements of "The enemy has taken our Intelligence" or "Our Control point is being captured" and detonate the Stickybombs. Keep an eye on the total number of fired stickies, though, as the enemy could be destroying them before stepping onto the point.

• When guarding other strategic locations, place Stickybombs that are either out of sight until it's too late, or in well hidden/odd places (such as on ceilings, under stairs, above automatic doors etc.). You can also place stickies directly on the Intelligence briefcase, where they will be hidden by it.

• Never forget that Stickybombs can be launched across the visible distance of most open maps. Aim for windows, Sniper ledges and other populated areas. When the trajectory is right, lob in a few bombs and detonate them to clear the room.

• If Stickybombs are clustered too closely, enemy Demomen can clear them away with a single sticky. To counter this, spread them out whenever possible. Beware of Demomen carrying the Scottish Resistance.

• Don't stand still when placing a lot of stickies near objectives like the Payload cart or a control point. Doing so will make the Demoman susceptible to headshots, backstabs, and damage from other weapons as well.

• Place Stickybombs around Health packs, particularly if they are inside buildings, e.g. under control point A on Gravel Pit)

• An easier way to destroy the Sentry Gun is to get to such an angle that you can place the stickies next to the Sentry Gun, and use their splash damage to destroy it. A few more stickies are required, but it is less likely that the Engineer will be able to destroy them all.

• If an enemy is on the control point, wait a moment before detonating, as they may have seen the Stickybombs and might try to trick you into detonating too early.

• When death is imminent, detonate the stickies that you placed. There is a small chance that someone might get caught in the blast radius. It is better to have a slim chance of killing an enemy than losing placed Stickybombs for nothing.

• Do not underestimate the power of airblast stickies. The ability to detonate stickies in midair allows one to attack with great precision for high damage. The only disadvantage is the slow firing rate.

• To use stickies in an offensive battle, it's very effective to constantly launch stickies and detonate them as soon as they come out. The constant flow of damage can add up very quickly, along with the fact that the Demoman may have an easier time laying them out in the heat of a battle in which they are not the only target. This method can be very effective, easily killing bigger classes such as Heavy/Medic combos, in which the Heavy may be firing their Minigun, which slows their movement speed down dramatically, not giving them a chance to move away from the bombs.

Scottish Resistance

Weapon	Kill Icon	Ammo		Damage
		Loaded	Carried	Base Damage	Splash Damage	Self Damage	Critical
Unlock Scottish Resistance		8	36	120	60-124	45-114	261

• The Scottish Resistance is far more effective for creating and managing Stickybomb traps than the normal sticky launcher because of the large number of bombs it can place and that they can be detonated by looking at a desired group of bombs.

• Although primarily used for defense, the Scottish Resistance can still be an effective offensive weapon. Its fast rate of fire can be used in direct combat, but not in the same way as the normal Stickybomb Launcher. One tactic is to launch Stickybombs behind enemies and then attack using the Grenade Launcher. This should cause enemies to retreat, thereby causing them to move backwards through the newly-created sticky trap, which can then be detonated at the right time. This technique helps to offset the longer priming time possessed by the Scottish Resistance. When under the effects of an ÜberCharge, the technique can be used just as effectively without using the Grenade Launcher, as enemies will usually retreat when confronted by an ubered player. It's important to consider the speed of enemy players when using this technique, as the Stickybombs should be placed close behind slower classes such as the Soldier and the Heavy, but further behind faster classes such as the Scout. This will ensure that the Stickybombs have time to prime before the enemy reaches them.

• When defending anywhere, especially places like tunnels, having 2-3 distinct groups of main bombs (2-4 per group) on the corner/doorway and 1-2 secondary groups (1-2 bombs) hidden along a retreat route can single-handily hold a position. Detonate individual main groups to take out incoming enemies, and if a Scout/Pyro gets past, lure them into the secondary traps.

• The longer arming time prevents the Scottish Resistance from being used to deal damage as quickly as the normal Sticky Launcher. It also is much harder to perform airblasts using the Scottish Resistance. This has led to the conventional wisdom that the Scottish Resistance is only useful for creating traps, which is no longer the case now that the Scottish Resistance has gained a 25% faster firing rate. While the bombs now arm slower, the faster firing can be used to create "offensive" carpets. Instead of creating a trap and waiting for enemies to walk near it, it is possible to place bombs around enemy players quickly and then detonate once several stickies are out. This has the effect of rapidly denying enemies room to maneuver, and almost guarantees that enemies in the area being carpeted will take at least some damage once the carpet is detonated. This technique works best in areas where space is already limited.
  • Some enemies may panic as the area around them rapidly becomes covered in stickies, and cause them to either rush forward blindly (into a trap) or run away. This method of attack also works wonders against unaware opponents, since many players are oblivious to stickies being placed around them until it's too late.

• While the Scottish Resistance does require the user to be looking in the general direction of the bombs they set, they do not have to be looking directly at the bombs in question. Even if there isn't a direct line-of-sight to placed bombs, they can still be detonated, no matter what their location is on the map, provided the crosshair is fixated on the general area of your trap(s). This can prove invaluable if someone begins capturing a Control Point or takes the Intelligence while the rest of the team is busy chasing down an opponent or otherwise preoccupied elsewhere.

• While not all of the Scottish Resistance Stickybombs can't be detonated at once, they can be detonated in rapid succession by holding down the detonate key and swinging the crosshair view across all placed Stickybombs.

• Remember that the Scottish Resistance can destroy enemy Stickybombs. This is quite useful on offense despite the Scottish Resistance's obvious defensive applications. This is especially true on Attack/Defend maps and Payload maps where enemy Demomen often lay Stickybombs outside the starting gates. Also, if an enemy Über Demoman is coming to destroy a team's Sentry Gun, placing a few quick bombs can nullify the charge.

• The Scottish Resistance is useful for defending Engineer nests. Since it can destroy enemy Stickybombs, it can be useful if 3-5 stickies are put around the buildings of the Engineer. Activate them if a Demoman tries to destroy it with the Sticky Launcher. This is also useful for dealing with Spies placing Sappers.

• This weapon is great to trick enemies. Set a small group of Stickybombs unseen near a doorway/entrance/etc. Near the same doorway, set down the rest of your Stickybombs. When an enemy comes near, blow up the first group and they will think that the Stickybombs are done for. Then when the enemy comes to the second group, they will not be expecting a giant Stickybomb explosion.

Chargin' Targe

Weapon	Kill Icon	Damage			Effect
		Charge Damage	Charge Speed	Recharge Time	Resistances
Unlock Chargin' Targe		50+10 per head (up to 5)	750 Hammer units/sec (638 Hammer units/sec with Scotsman's Skullcutter)	12 seconds (6 with Persian Persuader)	50% fire resistance and 40% explosive resistance.

A simple shield: just equipping it gives the Demoman resistance to both explosions and fire. A Demoman at full health—even with the Eyelander equipped—can survive a critical rocket if they have the Targe equipped.

• Keep an eye on your Charge meter, as its color will tell you the effects of the Targe - White is recharging or charged, Green is a recently-activated charge (less than 50% used); yellow means your next attack will be a mini-crit, and red means that your next melee attack will be a full strength critical hit. The red zone also means that colliding with an enemy will cause the Targe itself to inflict damage. (50 Damage + 10 damage for each head you have, up to 5 heads.)
  • You must be quick to react, as the 'Red Zone' will only be active during the last 25% of the Charge.

• Try to attack enemies that are unaware of your presence. Getting behind a Soldier or Medic and charging will result in an easy kill.

• Charging down long hallways can force enemies back as well as give you a chance at a few kills.

• If you're in danger or on fire, use the charge to quickly move out of the battle zone to find a Medic or health pack.

• The very end of your charge grants you a critical hit with whatever melee weapon you are using. Using this critical in conjunction with the Eyelander can result in an instant kill for every class except for the Heavy and Soldier. Demomen, Pyros and Medics can survive if they are fully overhealed. A Demoman can also survive if he has collected enough heads.

• The Chargin' Targe does deal damage if you come into contact with an enemy at the end of your charge. This shield bash deals a good amount of damage (50 + 10 for each head you have taken, up to 5 heads), useful for finishing off targets you have struck with the Grenade Launcher. The Targe will not shield you from your own grenades and any grenades fired near the end of the charge will not be made critical by the charge, despite the Crit effect shown.

• The Targe gives you a resistance to fire and explosive damage, but not to bullets and other projectiles. Keep this in mind when charging at Heavies, Scouts, or any players that have a Shotgun equipped.

• Do not attempt to charge Heavies unless they are distracted by other teammates or you know they are very weak. The Heavy's Minigun fire is very effective at close range, and if they have Natascha equipped, you will effectively be slowed to a standstill. If you are hit with Natascha, your only real chances are to either crawl to cover or to spam grenades in hopes of killing the Heavy first.

• The Force-A-Nature's knockback, the Flamethrower's compression blast, Sentry Guns, arrows, Natascha's speed reduction and the explosive force of grenades, rockets, and Stickybombs will all interrupt your charge.

• Don't try to charge enemies who are aware of your presence and can see the beginning of your charge. Simple strafing will help the enemy to avoid your attack and make you vulnerable.

• During a Charge, you move at 750 Hammer Units per second; two and a half times faster than the Engineer, Pyro, Spy or Sniper, and 87.5% faster than the Scout. Using this sudden burst of speed to retreat can mean the difference between waiting to recharge, and waiting to respawn.

• A common technique to use with the Chargin' Targe is to fire off grenades from behind obstacles and other such objects to catch someone's attention, then charge around the object to catch them off guard in their pursuit.

• In maps with areas of deep water, charging out by aiming in a vertical direction can make for very sudden surprises, as well as working well with getting up low ledges that cannot be jumped.

• Use the Claidheamh Mòr in conjunction with the Chargin' Targe to increase your charge distance.

• You could hit the enemy down to about 50 HP with another weapon, preferably melee, and then finish them off with the charge.

Sticky Jumper

Weapon	Ammo		Damage
	Loaded	Carried	Base Damage	Splash Damage	Self Damage	Critical
Craft Sticky Jumper	8	74	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

• The Sticky Jumper is a weapon used for practicing sticky jumping. However, there are some advantages over the normal Stickybomb Launcher if a player wants to use it in serious online play.

• The Sticky Jumper is incapable of dealing damage to enemies as well as the user. Keep this in mind when using it.

• Using the Sticky Jumper with the Pain Train can make be an effective method for point capturing. However, the Pain Train will make you vulnerable. It's best to use this combo against unguarded points or after the previous point was just captured.

• Due to the 100% reduction on self-damage, Demomen can perform 8-stack Sticky Jumps without the need of a Medic. This can be used as a hasty retreat method or as a means to get behind enemy lines.

• While sticky jumping in large, open maps or areas, take note of any enemy Snipers in the area. Any who can see your falling pattern can make you an easy target.

• A common tactic in open areas is to get in using the Sticky Jumper, do damage, then escape using the Sticky Jumper.

Splendid Screen

Weapon	Kill Icon	Damage			Effect
		Charge Damage	Charge Speed	Recharge Time	Resistances
Craft Splendid Screen		85+17 per head (up to 5)	750 Hammer units/sec (638 Hammer units/sec with Scotsman's Skullcutter)	12 seconds (6 with Persian Persuader)	20% fire resistance and 15% explosive resistance.

• The Splendid Screen does more bash damage and can do it at any range, at the cost of less fire and explosive resistance. For this reason, it is better to use it in close quarters.

• When you hit an enemy with a charge, a loud sound will play; right after that, you can hit the enemy with your melee weapon to still get a critical hit. This kills most classes easily.

• The Screen is particularly good when attacking; more resistances are required when playing on defense.

• Like the Targe, it is particularly useful for escaping tricky situations.

• Like the Targe, you can use some points on the maps, for example rocks or hill, to make shortcuts to your desired target.

Melee Weapons

Bottle / Frying Pan / Saxxy

Weapon	Kill Icon	Attack Interval	Damage
			Point Blank	Critical
Stock Bottle		0.8 seconds	65	195
Promotional Frying Pan		0.8 seconds	65	195
Promotional Saxxy		0.8 seconds	65	195

The Demoman's Melee weapon, the Scrumpy Bottle, is valuable as an emergency fall-back, and the only weapon you can use in close-combat without injuring yourself.

• The Bottle should be used in the same way as most other melee weapons: when enemies are too close or too fast to hit with a Grenade (or if you don't have time to reload the Grenade Launcher).

• The Bottle will break on a critical hit. This is purely visual and has no game effect.

• The Bottle can also be used for Spy checking, as it is safer to use than your other weapons in close quarters.

• The Bottle has no drawbacks, unlike the Eyelander and the Pain Train, so if you aren't planning on bludgeoning enemy players in melee, it is best to go with this.

• Keep in mind that an enemy hit with a Frying Pan will be very quick to know what's going on: the Frying Pan makes an incredibly loud and distinctive noise upon hitting anything that isn't air.

Eyelander / Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker / Nessie's Nine Iron

Weapon	Kill Icon	Attack Interval	Damage	Healing
			Point Blank	Critical	From Kill
Unlock Eyelander		0.8 seconds	65	195	15
Craft Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker		0.8 seconds	65	195	15
Craft Nessie's Nine Iron		0.8 seconds	65	195	15

• In most cases, the Eyelander should not be used without the Chargin' Targe. However, a Demoman with 4 decapitations and a Sticky Launcher is a massive threat. Head count is not reset until death, so a smart Demoman can use the Chargin' Targe until he accumulates 4 heads, then return to a resupply cabinet and switch to the sticky launcher of his choice. With over 200 HP and the second fastest run speed in the game, an Eyelander Demoman using the Sticky Launcher can be a very powerful enemy and one to avoid at all costs, especially if he has a Medic.
  • Another option would be to switch to the Splendid Screen. With 5 heads, your charge bash will do 170 damage, enough to kill 5 out of the 9 classes, and your follow-up Crit melee swing will do a total of 365 damage, enough to kill anything besides an overhealed Heavy.
  • This strategy will not work if "Automatically respawn after loadout changes in respawn zones" is checked in Options->Multiplayer->Advanced, as changing weapons respawns the player and resets the player's head count.

• The Eyelander has a very long range for a melee weapon. Get comfortable with its area of effect and take this into account when going for a critical charge.

• Don't try to use the Eyelander all the time: you should have the Grenade Launcher out and be proficient with it. Use the Eyelander when you can get your enemy by surprise or once your charge meter is full again.
  • If possible, weaken the enemy with the Grenade Launcher first before killing him with the Eyelander.

• Be aware that the Eyelander 'hits' near the beginning of the swing animation, rather than at the middle. Keep this in mind so you don't accidentally 'under-shoot' an attack, especially when using the sword in conjunction with the Chargin' Targe.

• Decapitating an enemy Demoman who also has the Eyelander equipped allows you to steal any heads he has accumulated.

• The Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker is much larger than the Eyelander, but is otherwise statistically identical. Similarly, Nessie's Nine Iron appears differently from the Eyelander, so newer players may not recognize it, despite that it shares all its statistics with the Eyelander.

Decapitation

	Kill Icon	Weapon	Damage	Duration	Details
Barbarian Swing		Eyelander, Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker, Claidheamh Mòr, Half-Zatoichi, Persian Persuader, Nessie's Nine Iron	500	5 seconds	With a twirl behind his back, leading to a horizontal slash to the unfortunate neck that stands before him, the Demoman performs his Decapitation taunt. The Demoman concludes his short swipe by bringing his blade back and wiping down its length with his fingers. Adds one head to the head counter if using the Eyelander, Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker, or Nessie's Nine Iron.

• This taunt kill can be used to kill enemies with one hit. It can be used for very distracted enemies such as Snipers looking down scopes or Engineers working on their buildings, but like most taunt kills leaves you vulnerable during the animation.

• If you catch up to a Heavy about to eat a Sandvich, it's a better idea to use the Decapitation taunt rather than start wailing on them with the Eyelander as they will out-heal the damage and proceed to kill you.

Pain Train

Weapon	Kill Icon	Attack Interval	Damage
			Point Blank	Critical
Craft Pain Train		0.8 seconds	65	195

• The Pain Train is situational. It's best used on capture point and Payload, especially when the enemy defenses are about to fall or when your team needs to close the distance on a Payload Race. It can also prove extremely handy on King of the Hill maps.

• You should not equip the Pain Train if you are having trouble with Heavies and Scouts, as the increased bullet damage makes these already annoying enemies nearly impossible to beat in some situations. If you're using the Chargin' Targe as well, Pyros and Soldiers might forgo their primary weapons for the Shotgun to kill you faster.

• For standard melee tactics, see the Scrumpy Bottle/Frying Pan entry, as they both do the same damage and attack at the same rate, and see the Chargin' Targe entry for using melee weapons with it. It's worth noting that the Pain Train makes a different (and quieter) sound when it hits something.

• The Pain Train is also effective for back-capping, as it gives the Demoman a Scout's capturing capabilities. This works well with the Chargin' Targe for getting to an enemy point fast, and Stickybomb jumping for wide open/raised points (like Badlands 2nd and 4th capture points, or Gravel Pit C). The weakness to bullets it grants makes Scouts, Heavies and Snipers all the more dangerous for you, so it's best to keep alert when attempting to do this and use stickies and grenades to lock down the point's entrances.

• The Pain Train makes you slightly more vulnerable to any enemies that use bullets regularly: Scouts, Heavies, Engineers, Spies and Snipers. This is particularly noteworthy for Heavies, Engineers and Scouts; A Minigun or Sentry Guns can kill you frighteningly fast if either one gets the drop on you, and Scouts are already arguably the hardest enemy for a Demoman to counter, with the Pain Train making them all the more so. Stay sharp and be aware of attempts by enemies to ambush you or set up Sentry Guns in difficult areas.

• The Pain Train is useless in Capture the Flag or when defending on an Attack/Defend Control Point map. Equip another melee weapon instead.

• The Pain Train is useful in Medieval Mode due to no bullet weapons allowed in Medieval Mode.

Scotsman's Skullcutter

Weapon	Kill Icon	Attack Interval	Damage	Effect
			Point Blank	Critical	Move Speed
Craft Scotsman's Skullcutter		0.8 seconds	78	234	280 Hammer units/sec

• The Skullcutter is generally of good use in two situations: in conjunction with the Chargin' Targe, or when playing defensively, and confining yourself to a specific area (such as the Flag Room of a CTF map.)

• Think twice before equipping Scotsman's Skullcutter. Ask yourself: "Am I going to melee as Demoman?". The slowdown of this weapon may be a problem when retreating or running for Health. The range and damage of the Skullcutter, however, is extremely useful when attacking enemies that would otherwise be capable of range heckling you (such as Scouts that insist on getting close).

• When combined with the guaranteed critical hit of the Chargin' Targe, the Skullcutter is capable of killing any class (due to a critical hit doing 234 damage), save perhaps for an Overhealed Soldier/Pyro/Demoman, or a Heavy (300 to 450 if overhealed), in a single blow. However, the Skullcutter does not collect 'Heads' as the Eyelander does despite the Decapitation animation it triggers, and as such will not add to your speed, health, or the impact damage of the Targe's shield-bash attack.

• The charge speed when the Skullcutter is equipped is reduced to 638 hammer units, which is still fairly fast but makes it easier for faster or more alert enemies to evade your charge. Because of this, it becomes a larger priority to choose your targets carefully, and maintain the element of surprise as often as possible (guaranteeing a higher success rate if you do).

• With the Skullcutter, it becomes possible to charge and kill Heavies, due to the fact that a critical hit and another hit will do over 300 damage. However, if they have a Medic, this is inadvisable; an overhealed Heavy will still have over 200 health after the initial hit and be able to mow you down with relative ease.

• Players who prefer the raw power should still consider the Skullcutter, despite its speed disadvantage; a Demoman with it's still faster than a Heavy, roughly as fast as a Soldier, and can still score random critical hits with it, making it a valued weapon at close-range—somewhere the Demoman is normally at a distinct disadvantage. Just bear in mind that it will reduce your ability to flee or get into close-combat.

• Sticky jumps can help a Demoman with the Skullcutter into combat range, though this takes practice and is more of an art than a science.

• The Skullcutter's lowered speed generally is less-suitable for teams on offense (for control point missions for example); it likewise is generally better on defensive assignments (such as King of the Hill).

Ullapool Caber

Weapon	Kill Icon	Attack Interval	Damage
			Point Blank	Explosion	Total	Self-Damage	Critical
Craft Ullapool Caber		0.8 seconds	35	149	185	100	405
		0.8 seconds	35	N/A	35	0	105

• Upon a successful hit to an enemy or a wall the grenade will explode, dealing high splash damage to enemies and yourself. In general, this means that it is a last-ditch weapon, one best-used to take an enemy down with you. One direct hit, however, will kill any class other than a Soldier or Heavy, barring Overheal.

• The explosion will launch you particularly high in the air. It's quite possible to use this, either on its own or in conjunction with a Sticky Launcher variant, to reach otherwise inaccessible locations.
  • This functions especially well on DeGroot Keep, allowing you to jump up to the battlements atop the castle. This is useful for killing especially annoying Snipers, for most of them will find attacks at melee range a surprise.

• If you find yourself falling off a cliff or getting pushed into a death pit, this weapon can be used to blast yourself back into the playing field—with a little more luck, your enemy won't be expecting you back so soon.

• After the grenade explodes the weapon will still function as a melee weapon, but does far less damage than other melee weapons, such as the Bottle. It also retains its inability to cause critical hits without a boost.

• You can get a new Ullapool Caber from the resupply closet after yours detonates.

• This is a rather useful Spy checking weapon, as it is an instant kill if you make contact with a Spy. However, its explosion also affects you greatly, so make sure to use it in a place where you can be healed. Try to do this in the safety of your base or where a Dispenser is nearby. However, bear in mind the Dead Ringer invalidates its benefits and severely weakens you, making it easier for the Spy to kill you and leaves you with a drastically less powerful weapon.

• This weapon can be very useful for enemies that run away in a melee battle and don't let you hit them with the grenade: because the grenade explodes if you hit any hard surface with it, you can strike the floor or a wall and the resulting explosion will hit them in a very large range. For weaker classes (such as Engineers) the explosion alone is quite capable of killing them outright if they're in range.

• This weapon is very useful for suicidal picking, as you could sticky jump or charge into an important target (like an enemy Medic) and kill him with it. Be wary of your health if you survive, as the combined sticky jump, explosion and fall damage will leave you with very little health. You will, however, likely die unless you are at full health or overhealed in advance.

• The Ullapool Caber is even more effective with the Chargin' Targe—with a critical boost the Caber can inflict more damage in one hit than any other melee weapon and kill any class in one shot barring overheals. Unfortunately, the Targe's explosion resistance does not apply to the Caber's self-damage, and ergo this tactic is usually best-suited to suicide runs, for getting in quickly and picking a priority target such as a Heavy or Soldier with the Tank Buster set.

• Due to its high damage, the Ullapool Caber is a perfect ambush weapon—and again, an even a better one if combined with the Chargin' Targe, as you can kill a Heavy in one critical hit.

• It goes without saying that the more enemies in range of your explosion, the better. Remember, though, that each enemy that sees you is another enemy that might survive long enough to take you down. If possible, situate yourself so that your ambush will propel you onto a ledge and out of harm's way.

• Do not forget that the Ullapool Caber is a one-shot-only weapon, with the stick-and-metal-fragments weapon you have left after striking being significantly less effective, so use it with caution.

• If you are very low on health, it is best to hit the ground with the Ullapool Caber instead of chasing an enemy since they may kill you before you do any damage to them.

Claidheamh Mòr

Weapon	Kill Icon	Attack Interval	Damage
			Point Blank	Critical
Craft Claidheamh Mòr		0.8 seconds	65	195

• Always equip the Chargin' Targe or Splendid Screen when using this weapon, as its bonus only works with a shield equipped.

• The biggest advantage to the Claidheamh Mòr is its mobility enhancement capabilities, which are considerable. It's possible to use the Claidheamh Mòr's improved dash distance to cover enormous distances in one go: you can easily cross the bridge on 2Fort, for example, with one use, and can likewise go from one end of a sewer tunnel to the other with one dash. This makes the Claidheamh Mòr a great weapon for both quickly engaging enemies and getting away.

• The aforementioned longer dashes means that the Claidheamh Mòr is a phenomenal weapon for getting the Demoman to and from where he needs to go ASAP; on Payload missions it lets him get closer to the cart on either offense or defense. It truly shines, however, on Capture the Flag maps, where the Demoman can easily grab the briefcase and run like hell, the charge enabling him to outpace and escape even enemy Scouts.

• The Claidheamh Mòr is the offensive counterpart to the Scotsman's Skullcutter; whereas the Skullcutter does a lot of damage and is well-suited to defensive missions, the Claidheamh Mòr is mildly ineffective outside of charging attacks and is far more useful on offensive missions.

• The extra charge time is also used offensively; the extra half-second of dashing means that you have that much longer mini-crit and critical boost time.

• Remember, however, that the Claidheamh Mòr does not collect heads like the Eyelander or Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker.

• The Claidheamh Mòr makes an excellent combination with the Ali Baba's Wee Booties: the increased charge time lets you have even more turning control and the increased health of the Booties negate the health penalty of the Claidheamh Mòr.

Half-Zatoichi

Weapon	Kill Icon	Attack Interval	Damage	Healing
			Point Blank	Critical	From Kill
Promotional/Craft Half-Zatoichi		0.8 seconds	65	195/Instant	175 (200 with Ali Baba's Wee Booties)

• The Demoman is faster than the Soldier, so this generally is a better weapon for him than for the Soldier, all the more so due to the Demoman's access to the Chargin' Targe.

• The Half-Zatoichi heals you fully if you score a kill with it. This means it can be used to ambush otherwise-weakened enemies when you're low on health for a quick health boost.

• The Half-Zatoichi has good synergy with the Chargin' Targe. The Targe can be used even with the Half-Zatoichi drawn, enabling you to easily approach or flee, and the Half-Zatoichi's ability to score random critical hits makes it an impressive weapon for Demomen seeking close-combat.

• The Half-Zatoichi cannot be re-sheathed until you have killed an enemy or been killed yourself, meaning that it will leave you functionally without a ranged weapon should you switch to it at an inopportune moment, especially if you lack the Chargin' Targe.

• Should you have your TF2 settings to remember your last equipped weapon upon respawn, you will wind up equipped with it and unable to switch. Be sure to change your settings appropriately, lest you be stuck with only the Half-Zatoichi during a fight! This can be negated by touching the resupply and switching weapons within a second.

• If you encounter an enemy equipped with the Half-Zatoichi, any hit you cause with this weapon will be instantly fatal, and vice-versa. Because of this, enemies using this weapon are both more vulnerable and more dangerous to you should you have the Half-Zatoichi equipped.

• Due to the instant kill mechanic, you can also use Half-Zatoichi as a counter to charging Demomen using a Half-Zatoichi even if you don't have a Chargin' Targe or Splendid Screen of your own. The Targe crit is meaningless in a Half-Zatoichi vs Half-Zatoichi battle.
  • On a similar note, prioritize other Half-Zatoichi wielders in battle, either for a quick kill/health boost or simply to protect yourself from their one-hit kills.

• This weapon is superb for Medieval Mode. Because you can only use melee weapons anyway (and the Chargin' Targe does not need to be selected to use it), the drawback of the Zatoichi becomes utterly moot.

Persian Persuader

Weapon	Kill Icon	Attack Interval	Damage	Healing
			Point Blank	Critical	From Weapons	From Engineer Wrenches	From Small Ammo Boxes	From Medium Ammo Boxes	From Large Ammo Boxes
Craft Persian Persuader		0.8 seconds	65	195	120	25-Max	10	20	40

• A highly offensive melee weapon, the Persian Persuader effectively doubles the charge rate when using a Chargin' Targe or Splendid Screen. Keep in mind, however, that you cannot benefit from random critical hits and that the bonus is not applied if no shield is equipped.

• Picking up ammo with the Persian Persuader equipped will restore your health. This is especially useful for survival. This does not apply to Dispensers, bomb carts or resupply cabinets.

• Effective in Medieval Mode, where only melee weapons are allowed. Defeated enemies and allies will drop their weapons upon death, giving the Demoman more opportunities to heal himself.

• Dead enemies' weapons will manifest as health, so use that to your advantage.

• With the Persian Persuader equipped and not in use, you can still pick up weapons as health. So you can go in and attack using the Stickybomb Launcher or Grenade Launcher or a similar weapon and still be able to pick up weapons as health.

Item Sets

The Expert's Ordnance

Main article: Item sets

The Expert's Ordnance
	Loch-n-Load Ullapool Caber Scotch Bonnet
Effect	No effect

• With the 10% fire damage resistance provided by the set, you can take on Pyros more easily.
• If combined with the Chargin' Targe, a 55% Resistance to Fire damage is applied, instead of 60%, due to the way the Set bonus is calculated.
• The two weapons of this set excel at fighting large groups of enemies: the Loch-n-Load's increased damage and projectile speed allows you to deal massive damage to chokepoints and the Ullapool Caber can deliver an explosion that deals splash damage to enemies.
• This set is recommended to Demomen with good aim. Remember that you have a small clip size and that your grenades shatter on surfaces, so you have to be careful at aiming both grenades or else you will be caught with an empty clip.
• This set lets you pick your secondary weapon; the Caber is poorly optimized for play with shields, so your choice should be one of the Stickybomb Launchers, unless you are experienced enough to make this "Kamikaze" set work.
• The Caber can be used for "explosive jumps" very similar to rocket jumps. If you crouch and strike the ground with the weapon, it will explode, damaging you and sending you flying, usually directly upwards, a good distance. This can be used to access high ledges and certain other areas, but keep in mind that doing so will damage you.

One Thousand and One Demoknights

Main article: Item sets

One Thousand and One Demoknights
	Ali Baba's Wee Booties Splendid Screen Persian Persuader Sultan's Ceremonial
Effect	No effect

• This weapon set is entirely focused on melee combat, thus it removes all your ranged weaponry. Be careful not to be caught in an open area, because you are very vulnerable.

• Killing an enemy with this set relies on a combination of charge impact damage dealt by the Splendid Screen and critical melee damage dealt by the Persian Persuader. These two damages, when dealt together, are capable of killing any non-overhealed class except the Heavy.

• Usually the best tactic is to charge at the enemy, hitting him with the Splendid Screen and then deal a critical hit with the Persian Persuader. Remember that, when you kill an enemy, his dropped weapon will be a source of health, as the Persian Persuader converts ammo into health.

• Plan your attacks carefully and be sneaky. Since you don't have any ranged weaponry, you have to rely on getting close to the enemy to kill him.

• Any slowdown or stun effect will stop your charge. This means that Heavies with Natascha and Scouts with Force-A-Nature or Sandman pose a lot more of a threat when you have this set.

Weapon combinations

Example Combinations
Combo			Usage
or Grenade Launcher or Loch-n-Load	Stickybomb Launcher	Pain Train	A good setup for offensive Demomen. The Stickybomb Launcher's decreased bomb arm time, compared to that of the Scottish Resistance, allows the Demoman to quickly bombard choke points or turtling enemies with stickies. The Stickybomb Launcher can also be used to surround ground-level threats with a sticky carpet. Fast bomb arm times also allow the Demoman to quickly sticky-jump to the objective and quickly capture it with the Pain Train's increased capture rate. If your team already has players focused on the points/cart, or if you are playing CTF, feel free to switch to the Bottle to rid yourself of increased bullet vulnerability. Choosing Loch-n-Load you may be able to quickly dispatch the sentry nest without having your Stickybombs destroyed or airblasted in a long range.
Grenade Launcher	Chargin' Targe	Pain Train	A second loadout for an offensive Demoman: by using the Chargin' Targe, you will be able to rush to positions faster and allow for easier getaways, as well as boosted melee effectiveness, at the cost of your Sticky Launcher. That may be affordable if you don't use the Sticky Launcher offensively. You get the added benefit of being more resistant to explosions and fire as well, so it may be worthwhile if the enemy team has Soldiers, other Demomen and Pyros. Keep in mind that while the Targe charge will make your Pain Train do more damage, it cannot collect heads and doesn't have the same melee range that the Eyelander or Scotsman's Skullcutter do. The Pain Train does the same base damage as Eyelander, so a critical hit will still have the killing power that the Eyelander does.
Loch-n-Load	Scottish Resistance	Scotsman's Skullcutter	For Demomen that desire to do a high amount of damage as well as defense. The Scottish Resistance's higher Stickybomb amount and the ability to detonate groups of Stickybombs will come in handy when defending multiple chokepoints or destroying a bunch of Sentry Guns. The lessened speed from the Scotsman's Skullcutter will only reduce the Demoman to a Soldier's speed, but the extra damage and range can be useful when dealing with further threats. The Loch-n-Load provides a good support for your team in long distance while defending. It might shatter on surfaces, but it's lethal against a group of enemies.
Loch-n-Load	Splendid Screen	Ullapool Caber	The Expert's Ordnance - w/ Splendid Screen As its name indicated, this setup is optimal for Demomen with good positioning and good aim, as it's not good for direct confrontation due to Loch-n-Load high self damage. Instead, use careful aim to destroy your opponent, and use the set bonus to run away from close range combat that Pyros are skilled at. In Medieval Mode, this Demoknight variant provides protection from flaming arrows and is the only class that can deliver splash damage, making it useful when clearing a point filled with enemies. Use the Screen to deal impact damage to the enemy with the shield bash before creating a critical explosion that may kill several enemies, making this combination excellent for a Kamikaze playstyle.
Grenade Launcher	Stickybomb Launcher	Ullapool Caber	This is the basic Demoman set with the Ullapool Caber. The Grenade Launcher is good for medium-range self-defense, while the Stickybomb Launcher can be used to block of choke points while doing other buisness. You do not have to be near Stickybombs to detonate them. The Ullapool Caber is good for last-resort close combat. It has a chance to instantly kill or severely injure the enemy, even at full health. Your height advantage after using the Caber can allow you to land on a safe platform or in a body of water after the attack.
Ali Baba's Wee Booties	Chargin' Targe	or Eyelander or Nessie's Nine Iron or Claidheamh Mòr	One of the most balanced setups in Medieval Mode. Charging towards enemies and decapitating them with the Eyelander is especially effective when dealing with slower enemies that are alone, and the longer melee range and high mobility gives it a legs up to most class except Snipers and Medics. The Chargin' Targe provides a much better defense against fire attacks (from Sharpened Volcano Fragments and fire arrows) and explosive damage (from the Ullapool Caber). Replacing the Eyelander with the Scotsman's Skullcutter allows higher damage at the cost of speed, which could be crucial when playing defense. Similarly, the Claidheamh Mòr allows the Demoman to charge longer, which aside from granting longer critical hits duration also allows the Demoman to reach a destination faster.
Ali Baba's Wee Booties	Splendid Screen	Persian Persuader	This is the A Thousand and One Demoknights set. Ali Baba's Wee Booties will help you survive longer, and be able to unexpectedly turn to catch your enemies off guard. The Splendid Screen works well with the boots: while there is less damage resistance than with the Chargin' Targe, Ali Baba's Wee Booties' health benefit will allow you to slaughter your enemies without being killed quickly. The increased charging damage also works well with the ability to turn while charging. The Persian Persuader is good for destroying enemies in close combat. Since you don't use ammo with this set, all weapons dropped normally would be useless, but the Persuader allows you to gain health easier. The reduced charging time helps you to escape quickly or to run into the fray.
Grenade Launcher	Splendid Screen	Persian Persuader	The Persuader and Grenade Launcher can make an interesting combination, giving you better mid-to-long range capability while still allowing you to operate well in melee range. On top of that, the Persuader's decreased charge regen time allows the user to utilize the charge as a mobility tactic, letting them control range, escape, or charge in for a quick burst of damage on impact. The downside, however, is your inability to get more ammo for the Launcher: this can be remedied by using a Dispenser or supply cabinet.

See also

• Team strategy