Anti-Heavy strategy

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The Heavy is the sturdiest class, but also the least maneuverable. He has a huge amount of health and heavy firepower, but is poor at speed and maneuvering, requiring the swift observation behind himself and ambushing.

General

Attributes	Anti-Heavy Strategy
Role	The Heavy's large size and weapon makes him a great shield for his allies. Taking him out can make your assault far easier. The Heavy is often the focus of many pushes. Taking out the Heavy can often defeat an entire push.
Health	The Heavy can soak up a lot of damage, especially if overhealed. Teams should focus their fire on Heavies in order to take them down quickly.
Speed	The Heavy's size and speed make him an easy target for Snipers and Spies. Try to catch him off guard and take him out quickly, before he can spin his gun up and start firing on you.
Power	The Heavy's Minigun is quite a formidable weapon. It will quickly take care of any unaware class in seconds, so remain far away where the Minigun will deal minimal damage.

Weapon Specific

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

Primary Weapons

Weapon	Anti-Heavy Strategy
All of the Heavy's primary weapons all require a moment to spin up before he can start firing. This makes him vulnerable to ambushes. When any of the Heavy's weapons are spun up, the Heavy moves much slower. A preoccupied Heavy can easily be taken down.
Minigun / Iron Curtain	The Minigun can be spun up more quickly than the Heavy's other primary weapons. Be aware of this and retreat if you are facing a Heavy at mid-to-close range with his Minigun out.
Natascha	Natascha has a longer spin-up than the other primary weapons. Hit and run tactics are more effective on Heavies using this weapon. At long distances this weapon's slow down has little effect, but don't get caught at mid-range or closer, or you'll likely be unable to escape.
Brass Beast	With the Brass Beast spun up, the Heavy becomes slightly more vulnerable to projectile weapons fired from afar. Take advantage of this and attack the Heavy outside of his weapon's effective range.

Secondary Weapons

Weapon	Anti-Heavy Strategy
Shotgun	Heavies will switch to their Shotgun when their primary weapon runs out of ammunition. Try to take them down before they find more.

Edibles

Weapon	Anti-Heavy Strategy
Dropped edibles can be picked up by anyone. Try to steal them before the Heavy or his Medic reach them. Edibles make a distinct noise when being eaten. Use this sound to track down the retreating Heavy. The Heavy is relatively defenseless when eating an edible.
Sandvich	The Sandvich replenishes health quickly. Make sure you can out-damage him while he's eating.
Dalokohs Bar	This weapon only heals the Heavy for 60 health, making him more vulnerable while eating than with the Sandvich.
Buffalo Steak Sandvich	Attack from a distance while retreating, as the Heavy can only use his melee weapon when under this item's effect. He will receive Mini-Crit damage. The Buffalo Steak Sandvich provides the Heavy with no health when it is being eaten, making him completely defenseless.

Melee Weapons

Weapon	Anti-Heavy Strategy
Fists	Because of the Heavy's slow speed, other classes can use their speed to put the Heavy at a disadvantage in a melee fight.
K.G.B	If the Heavy is under the critical buff of the K.G.B, stay back until it wears off. Your death will just extend the effect. The Heavy can also apply his Crit bonus to his other weapons when switched. Take him down as fast as possible.
G.R.U	Beware that enemy Heavies will try and chase you down with the increased movement speed from these gloves. Try to kill them before they switch to their primary weapon and spin it up.
Warrior's Spirit	The Warrior's Spirit inflicts more damage per hit than other melee weapons. Try to retreat from a melee battle with a Heavy wielding them unless you know that he has very little health left.
Fists of Steel	Heavies take double melee damage with the Fists of Steel equipped. However, they tend to use this weapon more for safely advancing than provoking a melee fight. Heavies will most likely switch to their primary weapon when you approach them with your melee weapon out. Try to ambush them from behind instead in order to take advantage of the effect.

Class Set

Set	Anti-Heavy Strategy
The Hibernating Bear	A Heavy wearing this set is especially vulnerable to ambushes, because of his lower health, slow wind-up speed, and slow movement with the Brass Beast spun up. Hit-and-run tactics may prove to be effective against a Heavy using this set. Beware when facing the Heavy when you are taking advantage of a Crit boost. He has more resilience, so keep track of the damage being dealt to you as well.

See also

• Heavy strategy
• Community Heavy strategy
• Sentry Gun
• Heavy match-ups
• Team strategy