Anti-Soldier strategy

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The Soldier is a devastating, bulky predator who has an above average health and powerful rockets, but he lags behind with his cumbersome speed and ammo.

General

• Keeping your distance will negate much of the Soldier's rocket power.
• His slow mobility can cripple his attempt to catch up with a retreat.

Weapon Specific

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

Rocket Launchers

• Rockets move slowly. Try to dodge them by strafing left and/or right.

Rocket Launcher

• The Rocket Launcher is very versatile and is a powerful weapon, but can only hold four loaded shots at a time. Watching the Soldier's actions and attacking when he has no rockets loaded can grant you an immense advantage.

Direct Hit

• The Direct Hit can one-hit-kill weaker classes at close range. Keep your distance, and try to fight at mid-to-long range, where the Direct Hit's low splash damage radius becomes readily apparent.

Black Box

• Mobility is key as this Rocket Launcher will grant the Soldier with more health each time he hits you.
• The Soldier has less ammunition before he needs to reload, granting you an opening when he does.

Rocket Jumper

• Although there is practically no use in serious gameplay, the Soldier might use this to assault higher positions, so tread carefully with a height advantage.

Shotgun

• The Shotgun is usually used when a Soldier does not want to use the Rocket Launcher, either because he is out of loaded rockets, or because he wishes to conserve them. Either way, he is more vulnerable to attack with the Shotgun out than when he wields any of his primary weapons.

Banners

• Target the Soldier when his banner is active to quickly end the team buff.
• Friendly Soldiers will take advantage of banner buffs to charge their own banners. Take them out before they do so.

Buff-Banner

• Activating the Battalion's Backup will protect you from the Mini-Crit buff of an enemy Soldier's Buff-Banner.
• The Mini-Crit buff has a short range, encouraging the team to cluster. Use rockets, grenades, and stickies to quickly kill or break up the enemy team.

Battalion's Backup

• Watch out for a Soldier with this when Übercharging with the Kritzkrieg since it renders the effect useless. The Backup-wielding Soldier should be a top priority in this case.
• As a Spy, your backstab will still kill him instantly when the Soldier is buffing his team mates.

Gunboats

• Soldiers using the Gunboats often take the high ground. Prevent this from happening, as on the ground, the Soldier is less effective without his Shotgun. Attack the Soldier vigorously, as he has no secondary weapon to aid him in combat.

Shovel / Frying Pan

• Due to the Soldier's slow movement speed, one can usually defeat a Soldier with the Shovel simply by moving backwards and attacking him. If you can't avoid the Soldier, fight him head-on, as you should have an advantage.
• Good Soldiers can get unusually high Crit rates due to their proficiency with their primary weapons. Always consider this when facing one brandishing a melee weapon.

Equalizer

• If an enemy Soldier is running quickly with the Equalizer out, it may be more useful to try and pick him off with a hitscan weapon such as the Shotgun or Pistol.
• On the other hand, if he's slowly moving towards you, be careful to deal enough damage to kill him before he can catch up, as his speed and attack will greatly increase the more abuse he's taken.

Pain Train

• If you see a Soldier with the Pain Train, take advantage of his susceptibility to bullets, and watch your control points more carefully, as the extra capture speed is significant.

The Tank Buster

• A Soldier using the Tank Buster item set will be less vulnerable to Sentry Guns, but can only fire three rockets before a reload, and lacks a Shotgun. If you can catch the Soldier before he reloads, you will have a major advantage over him.

See also

• Soldier strategy
• Community Soldier strategy
• Rocket jumping
• Soldier match-ups
• Team strategy