Community Badlands (Arena) strategy

General

• Unlike in other versions of Badlands, the arena version has water, located under the small bridges by the spires.
• Firing on enemy choke points is an effective way to deal damage on this map. Even if no enemies are killed, they will be likely be permanently weakened.

 Scout

• The Scout's extra speed allows him to quickly loop back behind the enemy team by running under the bridge to flank the enemy team.
• The house is a very tight area, crippling the Scout's ability to dodge enemy fire.

 Soldier

• The crates by the control point can be used to gain a minor height advantage. This will allow you to get the maximum amount of splash damage on the enemy.
• Rocket jumping costs a significant portion of the Soldier's health and should be avoided unless Medics or Dispensers are available.

 Pyro

• Badlands has many open spaces that allow classes with ranged weaponry to harass Pyros very effectively. Scouts are particularly dangerous.
• The Axtinguisher allows Pyros to make fast, clean kills without taking much damage.
• The First Blood critboost effect significantly extends the effective range of the Shotgun.
• Try going around the House and in the side entrance to get the drop on the enemy from behind. This method is even more effective with the Degreaser and the Axtinguisher as you can quickly eliminate enemies.

 Demoman

• Sticky traps can be effectively placed on the left side of the enemy house to thwart incoming enemies.
• Enemies coming out of the valley across the bridge from the house have a lot of cover to hide their approach, but well-placed stickies will make their stay a short one.
• Stickyjumps can be utilized effectively on this map. If done correctly, a single Stickyjump may cover the entire map

 Heavy

• The Sandvich is very valuable in arena owing to the lack of health kits.
• The bridge is small enough that the Minigun will kill any opposing players extremely quickly. However, the crates provide excellent cover for enemies to hide behind.
• The bridge is extremely exposed to any enemy Snipers in the valley.

 Engineer

• A Sentry Gun in the house pointed through the window onto the point effectively keeps the enemy team off the point. The nearby ammunition supplies make this location easy to setup at.
• Dispensers placed in the building by spawn or in your house provide your teammates with a safe place to heal and to restock on ammunition.

 Medic

• Medics are essential on this map due to the lack of health pickups.
• Badlands is a particularly large arena map, which means that there is plenty of space to hide in. The Medic's regeneration is invaluable on this health-starved map.

 Sniper

• Snipers on the bridge and at either end of the valley can see most of the map and can pick off enemies with ease.
• Snipers have an almost unique ability in the late game to deal with turtling Engineers. They can kill the Engineer without ever coming within Sentry Gun range. However, the Wrangler does give the Engineer an effective way to fight back.

 Spy

• At the start of a round, if the Spy goes under the bridge he will have an advantage to go around and backstab anyone leaving the House.

See Also

• Community Badlands (CP) strategy