Anti-Spy strategy

“

Hey, look, you shape shifted into a dead guy! Click to listen — The Scout

”

The Spy is a cunningly swift espionage agent bent on stabbing everyone's back. He has a slim shape with a poor amount of health, but has a devastating melee attack, requiring his deceptive nature to make use of.

General

• Players of the opposite team cannot pass though each other. Use this to determine if they are a disguised Spy
• Always check for Spies. Check around corners and behind props Spies are likely to hide behind or near.
• When spotting a Spy, alert your team and try to chase down the Spy before he causes any (more) damage.
• Engineers are the only ones that can stand on top of their buildings. Anyone else is a disguised Spy.
• If a teammate is not firing at the opposing force, it's a good indication of a disguised Spy.

Weapon Specific

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

Revolver / The Big Kill

• The Revolver has a quick firing speed, so move and jump at the same time so you can avoid getting hit.

Ambassador

• When fighting a Spy with the Ambassador, always move in an erratic way to avoid being Headshot.

L'Étranger

• When a Spy is wielding L'Etranger, kill the Spy as fast as possible to deny him Cloak gained from hits.

Electro Sapper

• Spies can hold down Mouse1 to repeatedly place Electro Sappers. Kill the Spy before removing the Sappers if no team-mates are around to help.

Knife

Your Eternal Reward

• This weapon does not produce a scream from its victim, but it does show in the killfeed. Remember who you are with to avoid dying in a chainstab.

Disguise Kit

• Walk toward your team-mates when possible. Disguised Spies will try to steer clear of you, as they can not clip through you like a team mate would.
• Fire occasionally on your team-mates. Some disguised Spies will turn to face you or begin to flee, while most team mates will continue uninterrupted.

Cloaking Devices

• The Invisibility Watch and Dead Ringer can be recharged even if the Spy is cloaked by picking up metal. If metal is mysteriously disappearing near you, check for a Spy!
• Cloaked Spies with a disguise on can leech health and Cloak recharges from enemy Dispensers. Check near and on top of Dispensers occasionally.
• If you hear an excessive amount of voice responses near you from an unknown source, check the area around you for Spies trying to spook you while cloaked.
• When a Spy uncloaks you can hear it, if you hear this sound rather close to you, turn around because there will most likely be a Spy behind you.

Invisibility Watch / Enthusiast's Timepiece

Cloak and Dagger

• Spies using the Cloak and Dagger will often wait in corners or secluded areas to recharge their Cloak. Check those areas if you think a Spy is nearby.

Dead Ringer

• The Spy has huge damage reduction while under the effect of the Dead Ringer. Try to out-damage him before he gets away.
• When dueling someone, if you are not given a point after they die, then they died with the Dead Ringer activated.

The Saharan Spy

See also

• Spy strategy
• Community Spy strategy
• Spy match-ups
• Team strategy