Anti-Sniper strategy

“

(mocking Sniper) No worries mate! (laughs) Click to listen — The Spy

”

The Sniper spends most of his time at long range to make up for his lack of a close-range means of self-defense.

General

• Staying at range, especially in the open, is a death wish against Snipers. Close the distance!
• Use Sticky Jumping and Rocket Jumps to quickly close the distance.
• Heavies are the Snipers' favourite targets: Always watch out for Snipers when you are an heavy!
• If you can't hide in open spaces, never stop moving. If you don't do so, you'll be an easy target for enemy Snipers.

Weapon Specific Tips

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

Primary Rifles

• Shooting the Sniper with hitscan weapons while he is scoped in will disrupt his aim.
• Firing projectiles from range will intimidate the Sniper into dodging, denying him the time to take a clean shot.
• Snipers will have a hard time keeping on target if twitching from fire. Use your Flare Gun to keep the Sniper's aim off.

Sniper Rifle

• Light classes can be killed with an uncharged headshot, be careful of attacking a skilled Sniper head-on.
• A Sniper may attempt to weaken you with unscoped shots, before charging at you with his Knife. Try to keep mobile and keep of out his melee range.

Sydney Sleeper

• The Sydney Sleeper requires the Sniper to be scoped in for some time before able to do significant damage. This makes him an easier target.
• If a Sniper with the Sydney Sleeper jarates you, keep your distance, as he will be likely to follow up with a melee attack with the Bushwacka or Kukri.

Huntsman

• Huntsman arrows are difficult to see, and as a result, difficult to airblast. Be sure to constantly strafe to get a glimpse of the arrow's flight path.
• Snipers cannot fire arrows while airborne. Take advantage of this fact by using the Pyro's airblast or juggling the Sniper.
• Snipers cannot fire arrows while in water.
• The Huntsman kills every class with one hit in the head.
• Fiery arrows deal greater damage and puts you on fire. Watch out!

Submachine Gun

• The Submachine Gun is not accurate at range, If a Sniper attempts to attack you with his Submachine Gun try to move away from him while attacking with a more accurate weapon.
• The Submachine Gun does not deal much damage, but it will quickly stack with sustained fire, keep an eye on your health.

Razorback

• If you're quick enough, you can stab the Razorback off the Sniper's back and Cloak away without being seen before coming back to finish him off.
• Stabbing the Razorback may be unnecessary. You can usually finish Snipers off with the Revolver or Ambassador before they have time to react.
• Quickly get rid of Razorback Snipers by headshotting them once with the Ambassador then following up with a quick bodyshot.

Darwin's Danger Shield

• With this Shield equipped without the set bonus, the Sniper has enough health to survive most quick headshots. If you can, allow your gun to charge some before firing to ensure the kill.
• Unlike the Razorback, this shield does not protect the Sniper from backstabs.

Jarate

• As a Pyro, airblast the Jarate back at the Sniper for an easy follow-up kill.
• Remember that Jarate can be washed off by water.
• It may be better to retreat if covered in Jarate, especially if the enemy Sniper is equipped with the Bushwhacka.
• If you are covered in Jarate, beware of the heavier classes, as Mini-Crit explosives or bullets will quickly kill you.
• When you're covered in Jarate, fast-shooting weapons will easly kill you. Beware!

Kukri

• Snipers will generally only pull out their Kukri in a last-ditch attack against enemies. However beware if a Sniper charges at you, as a Crit swing can severely damage or kill you.

Tribalman's Shiv

• Even if this weapon deals less damage than a normal Kukri, the bleed effect chews up your health quickly.
• Unlikely the fire, the bleed effect can't be removed by health packs. Watch out!

Bushwacka

• If you are covered in Jarate, keep your distance from a Sniper using the Bushwacka. If you have less than 195 health you will be killed with a single hit.
• The Bushwacka makes the Sniper 20% more vulnerable to fire. Use the flaregun to harass him from range.
• If a Sniper finds a Soldier with the Buff Banner, run away: the Bushwacka's effect will normally work.

The Croc-o-style Kit

• Headshotting enemy Snipers with this set on will not kill them, but it will bring them down to one health. A quick follow-up shot is more than enough to finish them off.
• A Sniper using this set cannot headshot, and they have almost no weapons for close combat, exploit this using flanking techniques.

See also

• Sniper strategy
• Community Sniper strategy
• Sniper match-ups
• Team strategy