Heavy weapons (competitive)

This article is for competitive play, based on the standard community competitive format.
The community competitive scene changes frequently. Some or all info may be outdated.

Primary Weapons

Minigun

The Minigun is a very powerful weapon that is capable of doing an immense amount of damage at close range. It can also knock back rocket and sticky jumping Soldiers and Demomen. This is a very useful trait for a gun to have and it is very useful as it helps the Heavy to defend the point. A good example of this is on point C of Gravelpit, by standing on the point the heavy can deny the point to jumping Soldiers and Demomen.

The Iron Curtain is a reskin of the Minigun, and therefore has the same stats as the Minigun.

Weapon	Damage	Critical Damage	Function Times	Special
Minigun	Point-Blank: 13/hit (avg 54) 512u: 9/hit 1024u+: 5/hit	Critical: 27/hit (P-B avg 108) Point-Blank MiniCrit: 18/hit (avg 73) 512u+ MiniCrit: 12/hit	Attack: 0.1s Windup: 0.84s Winddown: 1.13s	Fires 4 bullets for every use of 1 ammo. If unfired in the past 1.25 seconds, 1 bullet has perfect accuracy.

Natascha

Natascha trades damage for the ability to slow down enemies, this makes it easier to kill Scouts as it removes their primary advantage over Heavies, it can also 'freeze' jumping Soldiers and Demomen in midair as the slowdown slows their fall as well. This minigun is banned in all major leagues though.

Weapon	Damage	Critical Damage	Function Times	Special
Natascha	Point-Blank: 10/hit (avg 40) 512u: 7/hit 1024u+: 4/hit	Critical: 20/hit (P-B avg 80) Point-Blank MiniCrit: 14/hit (avg 54) 512u+ MiniCrit: 9/hit	Attack: 0.1s Windup: 1.16s Winddown: 1.13s	Banned or restricted in most leagues. Slows on hit. 30% slower spin up time. Fires 4 bullets for every use of 1 ammo. If unfired in the past 1.25 seconds, 1 bullet has perfect accuracy.

The Brass Beast

The Brass Beast trades mobility for 20% more damage, due to the slower movement speed it means that it is even easier for Snipers to headshot you. The Brass Beast is currently banned in the vast majority of leagues.

Weapon	Damage	Critical Damage	Function Times	Special
Brass Beast	Point-Blank: 16.2/hit (avg 65) 512u: 10.8/hit 1024u+: 5.4/hit	Critical: 32.4/hit (P-B avg 129.6) Point-Blank MiniCrit: 22/hit (avg 87.6) 512u+ MiniCrit: 14.6/hit	Attack: 0.1s Windup: 1.305s Winddown: 1.13s	Banned or restricted in most leagues. +20% damage done 50% slower spin up time -60% slower move speed while deployed

Tomislav

The Tomislav has a faster spin-up time, perfect for a surprise Scout or Spy flanking you and depending on your slow windup time. It also has no barrel spin sound, perfect for a lethal ambush. However, its reduced firing speed makes this weapon having less firepower than the other miniguns. The Tomislav is currently banned in the vast majority of leagues.

Weapon	Damage	Critical Damage	Function Times	Special
Tomislav	Point-Blank: 13/hit (avg 42) 512u: 9/hit 1024u+: 5/hit	Critical: 27/hit (P-B avg 82) Point-Blank MiniCrit: 18/hit (avg 59) 512u+ MiniCrit: 12/hit	Attack: 0.12s Windup: 0.53s Winddown: 1.17s	+40% faster spin-up time No barrel spin sound 20% slower firing speed

Primary Weapon Usage

Seeing as the Minigun is the only weapon that is allowed in all leagues it is the best option. Also, whilst the Natascha might sound good because it makes it easier to aim, if you are going to play as a Heavy you should have decent aim with him.

Secondary Weapons

The Shotgun

The Shotgun is the vanilla secondary weapon for the Heavy, it is a useful weapon to use when you are moving from place to place as it doesn't have a spin up time. The only problem with the Shotgun is that most of the time the Heavy will be using his Minigun and won't really need to use it. It is overshadowed by the other secondary unlocks such as the Sandvich.

Weapon	Damage	Critical Damage	Function Times	Special
Shotgun	Point-Blank: 90 512 units: 6/hit, avg 6 hits Over 1024 units: 3/hit	Critical: 18/hit (max 180) Point-Blank Mini-Crit: 121 Over 512 units Mini-Crit 8/hit	Attack: 0.625s Reload Start: 1.0s Reload More: 0.5s	Affected by fixed weapon spread (1 extra pellet at center).

The Sandvich

The Sandvich is an incredibly useful secondary weapon unlock for the Heavy, it's basically like a medium sized health kit that the Heavy can carry round and use when he needs to. It can help the Heavy survive in situations where he shouldn't. It's particularly useful if the Heavy is pocketing a Medic as it allows the Heavy to heal the Medic should he take too much damage.

Weapon	Damage	Critical Damage	Function Times	Special
Sandvich	None. Eating: +300 health Sharing: +50% of max HP.	N/A	Eating Time: 4.3s Shared Sandvich Expire: 30s	Eaten with mouse1, shared with mouse2, and dropped on death. Eating Sandvich heals the heavy in 4 chunks of +75 health. Grabbing shared Sandvich heals 50% max health. Taking dropped Sandvich heals +50 health (+75 for Scout). Restocked by picking up health while already at full (or resupply). Sharing removes your old shared Sandvich on ground. Cannot be eaten underwater (can be shared/grabbed).

The Dalokohs Bar

This is a possible rival to the Sandvich, instead of fully restoring your health, it gives you an overheal. By it's very nature the Sandvich is the better unlock because it can be thrown and it acts as a medium size health kit for anyone, the same can't be said about the Dalokohs Bar. It is also banned in all major leagues.

The Fishcake is a reskin of the Dalokohs Bar, and therefore has the same stats as the Dalokohs Bar.

Weapon	Damage	Critical Damage	Function Times	Special
Dalokohs Bar	None. Eating: +60 health	N/A	Eating Time: 4.3s Health Boost Duration: 30s	Increases non-overhealed max health to 350 (overheal max still 450). Eating heals the heavy in 4 chunks of +15 health. Taking dropped bar heals +50 health (+75 for Scout). Cannot be shared. Unusable underwater.

Buffalo Steak Sandvich

The Buffalo Steak Sandvich is the last of the Heavy's secondary weapons, it increases his speed at the expense of only being able to use his melee weapon. This isn't very useful in the competitive scene as it's banned in all major leagues.

Weapon	Damage	Critical Damage	Function Times	Special
Buffalo Steak Sandvich	None. Mini-Crit Effect:15s Sharing: +50% of max HP	N/A	Eating Time: 4.3s Shared Sandvich Expire: 30s	Banned or restricted in some leagues. Eaten with mouse1, shared with mouse2, and dropped on death. While active, causes Heavy to deal and receive Mini-Crits on all attacks, and the player may only use melee weapons. Grabbing shared Buffalo Steak Sandvich heals 50% max health. Taking dropped Sandvich heals +50 health (+75 for Scout). Restocked by picking up health while already at full (or resupply). Sharing removes your old shared Buffalo Steak Sandvich on ground. Cannot be eaten underwater (can be shared/grabbed). Useless underwater.

The Family Business

The Family Business has 8 shells in its clip, which compared to the 6 of the Shotgun, is useful for close combat when it runs out of ammo. However, the damage dealt is reduced, leaving missing your target a bad idea.

Weapon	Damage	Critical Damage	Function Times	Special
Family Business	Point-Blank: 74 512 units: 5/hit, avg 6 hits Over 1024 units: 3/hit	Critical: 15/hit (max 155) Point-Blank Mini-Crit: 107 Over 512 units Mini-Crit 7/hit	Attack: 0.625s Reload Start: 1.0s Reload More: 0.5s	Affected by fixed weapon spread (1 extra pellet at center). +40% clip size -15% damage penalty

Secondary Weapon Usage

The only two contenders here are the Shotgun and the Sandvich. Most competitive players prefer to use the Sandvich because being able to hand out a medium sized health kit (If using secondary fire) or fully recover his health (If using primary fire / Taunt) is an extremely valuable ability to have. It can make the Heavy survive longer, or giving health to his Medic. The Shotgun / Family Business isn't really useful, but it's mostly used if the Heavy runs out of Minigun ammo in the midst of a firefight.

Melee Weapons

Fists

The Fists are the default melee weapon for the Heavy. Like other standard melee weapons, they deal moderate damage. It is a last resort, just in case the Minigun runs out of ammo, or if an enemy takes advantage of the Minigun's slow windup time.

Weapon	Damage	Critical Damage	Function Times	Special
Fists	Melee: 65	Critical: 195 Minicrit: 88	Attack: 0.8s	Completely standard melee weapon.

Killing Gloves of Boxing

The KGB's 5 second crit bonus is useful for clearing a small group of enemies, but should not be used with the Minigun, as the windup wastes a second of valuable crit time. Instead, use the shotgun. Beware, however, as the KGB is slower at punching than other melees.

Weapon	Damage	Critical Damage	Function Times	Special
Killing Gloves of Boxing	Melee: 65	Critical: 195 Minicrit: 88	Attack: 1.0s	5 seconds of guaranteed crits upon kill 20% slower firing speed

Gloves of Running Urgently

The GRU's speed bonus is useful to get to the destination faster, and are especially useful if paired with the Brass Beast. However, the health drain and damage penalty are risky for actual combat, so this should be used sparingly, unless the Heavy is outside of a firefight and healed by a Medic.

Weapon	Damage	Critical Damage	Function Times	Special
Gloves of Running Urgently	Melee: 33	Critical: 98 Minicrit: 45	Attack: 0.8s	When weapon is active: 30% faster move speed on wearer -50% damage penalty -6 health drained per second on wearer

Warrior's Spirit

The Warrior's Spirit is useful for offensive Heavies, because of the damage bonus. However, it is important that Heavy has a Medic buddy, because of the health reduction, reducing his health to 280 HP.

Weapon	Damage	Critical Damage	Function Times	Special
Warrior's Spirit	Melee: 85	Critical: 254 Minicrit: 117	Attack: 0.8s	+30% damage bonus -20 max health on wearer

Fists of Steel

The FOS's damage reduction from guns means it's good for sucking in damage while under attack. However, it doubles damage done to you by melee weapons, making close combat a last resort, and has a slower weapon switch time, making enemy ambushes fatal.

Weapon	Damage	Critical Damage	Function Times	Special
Fists of Steel	Melee: 65	Critical: 195 Minicrit: 88	Attack: 0.8s	20% longer weapon switch When weapon is active: -40% damage from ranged sources +100% damage from melee sources

Eviction Notice

The Eviction Notice has faster punching speed, but deals dramatically reduced damage, making it perfect for just finishing off enemies low on health and cocky enough to get close.

Weapon	Damage	Critical Damage	Function Times	Special
Eviction Notice	Melee: 26	Critical: 78 Minicrit: 35	Attack: 0.4s	+50% faster firing speed -60% damage penalty

Melee Weapon Usage

A Heavy pulling out his melee weapon to fight enemies (In this case, his fists), is a rare sight to be seen. Heavies only use this on dire situation (Example: Minigun ammo out and having Sandvich instead of Shotgun / Family Business), or to get to the destination faster (With GRU equipped). Overall however, The GRU is the most popular choice, as it combats the Heavy's slow moving speed. However, the Warrior's Spirit is also useful, because of its damage bonus, as are the Fists of Steel, because of their 'shielding' effect to damage.

See also

• Heavy (competitive)