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

Attributes	Anti Soldier Strategy
Role	The Soldier is the main force of a team, so they will be most of the enemy you will be facing. When facing multiple amounts of them alone, retreating to your allies is the best choice.
Health	The Soldier has the second largest amount of health from the get-go, so out-damaging him is a must have.
Speed	His slow mobility can cripple his attempt to catch up with a retreat.
Power	Keeping your distance will negate much of the Soldier's rocket power.

Weapon Specific

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

Primary Weapons

Weapon	Anti Soldier Strategy
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.

Secondary Weapons

Weapon	Anti Soldier Strategy
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.
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.
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.

Melee Weapons

Weapon	Anti Soldier Strategy
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.
Sandman	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.

Item Set

Set	Anti Soldier Strategy
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