Community Heavy strategy
“ | I have plan for you: more pain!
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— The Heavy
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” |
The Heavy, as the class name suggests, is the full frontal attack force of Team Fortress 2. The class itself is a heavy weapon - big, slow, tough, and powerful - players can wade into battles where other classes dare not. The Heavy's usefulness as a shock troop on the front lines, defense breaker, and wide-area defender should not be underestimated or ignored by either side.
Quick tips
- Hurry through any open areas. You're the favorite target of Snipers. Using the Gloves of Running Urgently will make you a harder target to hit.
- Look out behind you! A Spy will almost invariably be behind you. Listen for the de-cloaking sound.
- The Sandvich heals very quickly, and will keep you in the fight. Use it from cover.
- You can right-click to throw your food items to someone else, like your Medic.
- Consider arming the Fists of Steel while crossing open areas, and as a strategy for distracting Sentry Guns.
- If you have a Medic healing you, keep them protected by having them stay behind you.
- Pick up ammo often. Though 200 seems like a lot, your Miniguns will deplete it quickly.
General
- As the class with the most HP, the Heavy is capable of absorbing a large amount of damage before going down. This endurance can allow players to stay on the front lines for longer durations than other classes. Use this to keep the pressure on the enemy if teammates need to replenish their health or ammo.
- However, remember that due to the Heavy's slow speed and large hitbox, it's far easier for players to cause damage to the Heavy, so always be ready to retreat behind cover. As powerful as the Heavy is, players should keep in mind that they are still vulnerable to concentrated attacks, and that the Heavy's slow movement can increase this vulnerability.
- Beginner Heavy players should aim to develop a mentality that they will automatically retreat no matter what when their health drops to around 125 HP (plus/minus 25 HP). As they gain experience they will be better suited to judge a situation to see if they should retreat early or to stay and fight to the death.
- With 300 HP, the Heavy is capable of being overhealed up to 450 HP, which can allow players to absorb even more damage. A Heavy with a Medic in tow is easily one of the most powerful combinations in the game.
- Being the slowest class in the game, the Heavy usually has top teleporter priority. In the absence of Teleporters, it is important to plan your route ahead so as to not waste time by going the wrong way.
- Thanks to the class's size, strength, firepower, and general obviousness, Heavy players draw a lot of attention in a fight. This allows Heavies to dictate the focus and pace of a battle merely by their presence and positioning. Heavies can be used to distract enemies while more maneuverable classes such as Scouts and Pyros can ambush and flank the enemy, and their absence can be used to lead the foe into a false sense of security.
- Remember that, in spite of the class's considerable offensive power, the Heavy is a Defensive type class. Heavies used in defensive situations can suppress enemy movements and break up pushes.
- A Heavy standing next to a Dispenser can get a constant supply of ammo and health, letting players fire their Minigun without the need for a resupply or Medic.
- Watch out for the enemy colored laser dot. Though Heavies have a large health pool, one well placed Sniper shot can take them down easily.
- Firing the Minigun at Snipers may not do much damage, but will cause them to lose accuracy.
- Heavies are big targets for Spies. Constantly watch your back when spinning up.
- Because of the Minigun's wide spread, firing occasionally out in the open can hit and reveal a cloaked Spy. This allows players to Spy-check over longer distances.
- Pushing the cart in Payload games can be quite effective if there are teammates to support the push. Use the cart as cover and shoot from behind it. Furthermore, as the cart acts as a moving Dispenser, health and ammo will be replenished automatically, increasing the Heavy's already impressive endurance.
- Take care of Medics! A Heavy/Medic pair can be a devastating force, but only if the two of them work together. Remember that a Medic usually has other teammates to worry about besides a Heavy, so be observant of when the Medic is and isn't healing you. Be sure to throw your Sandvich to your Medic if he is low on health. You can also block incoming projectiles for your Medic if necessary.
- Communication is the key! Keep communicating with your Medic to reduce the chance of getting separated. This can also help with Ubercharge because you can tell your Medic when to deploy it so that it is not wasted.
- Lunchbox items such as Sandviches cannot be eaten in situations where the Heavy is considered airborne or swimming. However, it can still be thrown with secondary fire with the exception of the Dalokohs Bar or the Fishcake.
Weapon Specific
Primary Weapons
Minigun/Festive Minigun/Iron Curtain
Weapon | Kill Icon | Ammo | Damage | |||
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Carried | Point Blank | Medium Range | Long Range | Critical | ||
![]() Stock Minigun |
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200 | 50-54 | 5-30 | 5-10 | 27 |
![]() Uncrate Festive Minigun |
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![]() Promotional Iron Curtain |
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- Remember that holding alternate fire will keep the Minigun spun up and ready to shoot at a moment's notice; taking up station in strategic defensive positions and staying spun up is often an excellent alternative to attempting an assault as a Heavy.
- Beware that spinning up the Minigun will greatly reduce movement speed as well as emit a distinctive sound. Nearby enemies will know that you are nearby.
- Tap the alternate fire button to move at a normal speed while still being able to spin up quickly.
- Mouse tracking speed doesn't decrease when the Minigun is spinning. Setting the mouse to a high sensitivity can allow players to quickly lock on to moving targets.
- Knowing when not to fire is key to good Heavy play. Wasting ammo whittling away long-range targets or on ÜberCharged pairs will leave players without bullets at a crucial point.
- One of the keys to using the Minigun effectively is learning to jump and spin up at the same time. Use this when going around corners to effectively ambush the enemy.
Natascha
Weapon | Kill Icon | Ammo | Damage | |||
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Carried | Point Blank | Medium Range | Long Range | Critical | ||
![]() Unlock Natascha |
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200 | 32-36 | 5-20 | 3-10 | 20.25 |
- Natascha is particularly effective against faster classes (such as the Scout) since it counteracts their speed advantage. Use Natascha to prevent speedy classes from reaching cover, making them easier to pick off.
- Due to Natascha doing less damage, it's best to avoid fighting Heavies that are wielding a different primary weapon (especially the Brass Beast), or an Engineer's Sentry Gun, unless a Medic is providing support or teammates are nearby.
- When working with a teammate on defense such as a Demoman, Soldier, or Minigun-wielding Heavy, Natascha can make Scouts, Medics, and Pyros easier targets for slow-moving projectiles and allows other Heavies time to spin up their guns.
- Natascha can be a better choice than Minigun for dealing with Spies, as Natascha reduces the chance of an enemy Spy fleeing after a successful Spy-check.
- The slowdown of Natascha also affects vertical momentum, meaning that any opponent trying to jump (including rocket jumps and sticky jumps) will come up short when hit. This can be used to defend high vantage points against Soldiers and Demomen trying to take the high ground.
- Natascha can slow Demoman who use the Chargin' Targe or Splendid Screen to charge.
Brass Beast
Weapon | Kill Icon | Ammo | Damage | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carried | Point Blank | Medium Range | Long Range | Critical | ||
![]() Craft Brass Beast |
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200 | 60-65 | 6-36 | 5-12 | 32.4 |
- Carrying the Shotgun as a secondary weapon is recommended due to the Brass Beast's long spin-up time. This allows players to quickly have a weapon ready to fire in event of an ambush.
- Due to the extremely slow walking speed while spun up, this weapon is great in defensive situations that do not require a significant amount of movement.
- Take advantage of its greater damage potential by guarding bottlenecks and choke points, where the enemy has less room to maneuver and avoid fire.
- In team defenses, try to pair up with another Heavy that is using Natascha. The Natascha-wielding Heavy can slow nearby targets down, maximizing the amount of damage that the Brass Beast can do.
- Make good use of Dispensers with this weapon. The slower movement speed when spinning means it's difficult for players to keep the Brass Beast well-stocked with ammo, as others may take the dropped weapons of dead foes first, as well as making the Heavy an easier target for explosive splash damage.
- With the Brass Beast equipped, enemy Heavies are often less of a threat; you should nearly always win against other Heavies.
- Hiding around the corner for unaware players is a good way to make a quick ambush.
Tomislav
Weapon | Kill Icon | Ammo | Damage | |||
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Carried | Point Blank | Medium Range | Long Range | Critical | ||
![]() Craft Tomislav |
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200 | 50-54 | 5-30 | 5-10 | 27 |
- A Tomislav-equipped Heavy is ideal for surprising foes as they turn corners. Ambushing a foe at point-blank range in this manner results in a very quick, nearly unavoidable kill; they cannot retreat fast enough to escape the finishing burst as you follow them, and they usually cannot outlast the Heavy's health if they choose to fight anyway.
- If you find an area where you can efficiently execute such ambushes, make sure you do not use the same spot each time. Victims of your rampage will quickly warn their teammates, who will bring backup or keep their weapons ready as they close into the kill zone.
- The Tomislav's rapid spin-up generally compensates for many of the weaknesses of the Shotgun. If your ammo efficiency is good and/or you expect to use mostly defensive tactics, a consumable may be a better use of your secondary slot.
- An aggressive Heavy can take advantage of the Tomislav's quick spin-up in order to advance more quickly with almost no risk. If you run out of targets, feel free to stop spinning up and reposition rapidly; you can re-enter the fight or respond to surprises quite rapidly.
- Normally, switching to the Minigun while boosted from the Killing Gloves of Boxing is an inefficient use of the Crit-boost period; the Tomislav is a powerful exception to this rule, as you can switch to, deploy, and fire the weapon less than a second after you connect with the gloves. This is a great way to clear an area while ÜberCharged.
- When coordinating with a Medi Gun equipped Medic, feel free to close the distance more in the early part of an offensive ÜberCharge, as you will have additional time to fire nonetheless.
- Listen carefully for enemy Heavies and their Miniguns; should you engage, you will lose in a head to head fight with all but Natascha-wielding Heavies (assuming both of you are spun up and ready to fire and all else being equal). Catch them close and undeployed, and you will win the damage race before they can deal too much damage.
- The Tomislav's fast spin-up can be rather useful against lighter classes such as Scouts.
Huo Long Heatmaker
Weapon | Kill Icon | Ammo | Damage | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carried | Point Blank | Medium Range | Long Range | Critical | Fire Ring | Afterburn | ||
![]() Craft Huo-Long Heater |
File:Killicon huo long heatmaker.png | 200 | 50-54 | 5-30 | 5-10 | 27 | 12-18 | 36 damage over 6 seconds |
- It is best to carry a Shotgun for Heavy's secondary weapon, as the Huo Long Heatmaker will reduce ammo far quicker than the other miniguns. In the event that you run out of ammo, rely on the Shotgun, but do not try to substitute it for the Heatmaker's firepower.
- Focus more on long-ranged assaults with your Minigun fire than for self-defensive, close-ranged attacks. The ring of fire will protect you from close-ranged enemy assaults, though it will not finish them off completely.
- Do not rely completely on the ring of fire or its afterburn to kill nearby enemies. Unless your opponent is low on health, the flames will most likely not be effective enough to kill even a Spy attempting to backstab, but it will ignite them either way.
- Rely on teammates more than ever. Your ammo is more limited than usual, and you will be likely to run out of ammo directly in enemy territory. Teammates will be able to support you in this situation as well as to finish off any enemy ignited by your flames while you focus on key targets, or when you are not spun up as to not waste ammo.
- Pay attention to any reserve of ammo nearby. Fallen players' weapons and ammo packs will be able to restore your quickly-depleted ammo for a longer assault.
- Enemies will be more likely to attack you from a longer range due to your protective ring of fire, so note faraway enemies like Snipers, who will have even more motivation to attack you from a distance.
- Conserve ammo as much as possible. It is best to keep your Heatmaker spun up only when in an area vulnerable to ambush or near a source of ammo like a Dispenser. Otherwise, you may run out of ammo quickly.
- Attempt to get close to enemies. Far away from them, they both take less damage from your bullets and are out of the range of your flames. Pairing with the Gloves of Running Urgently can allow you to close in to your enemies quicker.
- The heavy's own size added to the ring of fire that surrounds him can allow him to act as an even greater defensive figure, able to block off passageways and ward off enemies, while protecting himself from attacks.
- The ring of flames you create can also serve as a deterrent for Spies. Spies attempting to backstab you while you are revved up will be ignited. Keep an eye out for any friendly players who have been lit on fire- they may be an enemy Spy.
- This weapon can also be used to defend friendly Engineer nests. His Dispenser will give you a continuous source of ammo, and the ring of flames you create will ignite enemy Spies attempting to sap buildings.
Secondary Weapons
Shotgun
Weapon | Kill Icon | Ammo | Damage | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loaded | Carried | Point Blank | Medium Range | Long Range | Critical | ||
![]() Stock Shotgun |
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6 | 32 | 86-90 | 24-67 | 3-26 | 120 |
- The Shotgun is the maneuvering weapon of the Heavy. Use it in situations where losing mobility is disadvantageous, such as:
- Fighting Demomen and Soldiers, where they can use cover to damage you whilst remaining safe from Minigun fire. This also allows you to dodge their shots more easily:
- Whilst retreating.
- Whilst attempting to close distance whilst ÜberCharged.
- Fighting whilst in view of an enemy Sniper.
- When getting to Health and Ammo pickups quickly is important.
- The Shotgun also provides a ranged backup weapon when you have run out of Minigun ammo.
- If there are multiple friendly Medics on the team, then it may be a better idea to bring this over the Sandvich, since replenishing health is not an issue.
- Keep in mind that without the Sandvich, players will need to rely more on Health Packs and Medics to stay alive. Try to memorize the map's health pack locations, and keep within easy distance of teammates should the need to retreat arise.
- You can also try and use the Shotgun to bait more reckless enemies around corners if going around said corner is too dangerous or you're low on health. This strategy is more effective with the Tomislav, as the enemy won't be aware of your plan until it's in full effect.
Sandvich
Weapon | Ammo | Eating | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loaded | Carried | Health Gained | Duration | Recharge Time | |
![]() Unlock Sandvich |
1 | ∞ | 300 | 4.3 seconds | 30 seconds |
- When eaten, it fully restores the Heavy's HP over four seconds; during this process, the Heavy becomes immobile and emits loud eating noises.
- Remember to use the Sandvich only when behind cover and in the presence of teammates. As the Heavy is completely immobile while recovering health, enemies can very easily follow up at their leisure.
- Try to eat while backed up against a wall, as a Spy that happens upon a dining Heavy can spell disaster. In addition, make sure to stand somewhere where a Spy is unable to use a height advantage to climb over and perform a backstab from above.
- Use alternate fire to throw the Sandvich onto the ground. A dropped Sandvich acts as a medium health pack, replenishing 50% of a player's HP when picked up, and stopping burning/bleeding damage. Use it to help endangered teammates quickly recover health. This is especially advisable for healing Medics, as they cannot heal themselves and doing so helps them to retain their ÜberCharge meter.
- Sandviches cannot be used on yourself this way. Picking it up will replenish your Food bar.
- Enemies can use dropped Sandviches from either team, so it's possible to set traps by dropping a Sandvich and ambushing enemies that try to pick it up.
- The Sandvich has a 30 second cooldown if it's thrown or eaten when injured. Picking up a Health pack while at full HP restores the Sandvich instantly.
- This can be used to teammates' benefit when picking up small health packs, as the Sandvich can be dropped for a teammate, and the small health pack picked up to restore the Food meter, effectively turning the small health pack into a medium one.
- Without a fallback weapon such as the Shotgun or the Family Business, you are forced to rely solely on using the Minigun to do damage in open areas.
- By immediately performing a taunt upon equipping the Sandvich, the one-second weapon-change delay can be bypassed, allowing for faster consumption.
Dalokohs Bar/Fishcake
Weapon | Ammo | Eating | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loaded | Carried | Health Gained | Duration of Eating | Effect Duration | |
![]() Craft Dalokohs Bar |
1 | ∞ | 60 or if at full health, raises maximum health to 350. | 4.3 seconds | 30 seconds |
![]() Promotional Fishcake |
- Consuming the Dalokohs Bar restores 60 HP over four seconds when eaten, and increases the Heavy's maximum health to 350 HP for 30 seconds. As with the Sandvich, the Heavy becomes immobile and makes highly audible eating noises.
- At the end of the 30-second time limit, any health over 300 becomes overheal health and will fully drain away in around 7 seconds.
- Unlike the Sandvich or Buffalo Steak Sandvich, the Dalokohs Bar has no cooldown timer, and thus can be consumed consecutively multiple times to restore health. However, be wary that consuming it will still take time, so it's often wiser to simply look for more health pickups if the chance of being ambushed by enemies is high.
- The extra 50 HP allows the user to withstand a minimum of one more shot from the Scattergun, the Grenade Launcher or the Sniper Rifle (minimally charged headshots or bodyshots). It may also allow a minimum of one more shot from the Stickybomb Launcher and Direct Hit when fighting outside very close range. All of these weapons are used by the Heavy's most common enemies and the extra hit may give the Heavy time to finish off his opponent, however without the 100% healing power of the Sandvich they will be troubled to find healing afterward.
- The Dalokohs Bar can be particularly useful for Heavies that can obtain a constant source of healing but lack a nearby friendly Medic for overhealing or a Dispenser for healing.
- The Dalokohs Bar has good synergy with Medics using the Quick-Fix. The improved healthpool provided by the Dalokohs Bar works well with the Quick-Fix's inability to Overheal, thus allowing the Heavy the benefits of both a sort-of-overheal and the improved heal rate of the Quick-Fix, which makes the Heavy fairly difficult to kill, especially for support classes like the Engineer.
- Even though the Dalokohs Bar increases maximum health to 350, Medics can still only overheal the Heavy to 450 HP, making the bar less effective when there are numerous friendly Medics.
- Furthermore, due to a bug, Dispensers and Quick-Fix Medics will still only heal Heavies under the effect of the Dalokohs Bar up to 300 HP.
Buffalo Steak Sandvich
Weapon | Ammo | Eating | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loaded | Carried | Buff | Eating Duration | Duration of Effect | Recharge Time | |
![]() Craft Buffalo Steak Sandvich |
1 | ∞ | Increases speed by 35% and turns all damage dealt and taken into Mini-Crits. | 4.3 seconds | 15 seconds | 30 seconds |
- Like the Sandvich, the Buffalo Steak Sandvich can be dropped with alternate fire. A dropped Buffalo Steak Sandvich behaves the same as a regular Sandvich, replenishing 50% of the health of whoever picks it up, excluding the person who threw it.
- The speed boost can be handy in more ways than simple offense; it can aid in scouting and can help get players to their destinations quickly. Note, however, that players are more vulnerable to attack after eating a Buffalo Steak Sandvich due to having Mini-Crits inflicted on them.
- A particularly effective tactic is to use the Buffalo Steak Sandvich at the start of Arena mode's setup time; the now-faster Heavy will be able to reach the front lines faster and the effect will wear off as combat begins, allowing players to make surprising offensive rushes and ambushes against lighter classes.
- The speed boost can also be used to gain access to places that were previous inaccessible to Heavies. Some jumps that would normally only be accessible to most other classes can be done by a Heavy under the effects of the Buffalo Steak Sandvich.
- If an enemy is chasing at a distance, turn a corner and use the Buffalo Steak Sandvich. Using the third-person camera, it's possible to spot the enemy whilst eating and, with good timing, pop out again with a surprise melee attack.
- Make sure not to charge at enemies because they can still use their projectile weapons at range, which can result in swift death when combined with Mini-Crits.
- The Fists of Steel can be combined with the Buffalo Steak Sandvich for soaking up the Mini-crit damage caused by the Buffalo Steak Sandvich's side-effect.
- However, be especially wary when using the Fists of Steel in combination with the Buffalo Steak Sandvich, as all melee attacks by the enemy will inflict double damage on top of Mini-Crits.
Family Business
Weapon | Kill Icon | Ammo | Damage | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loaded | Carried | Point Blank | Medium Range | Long Range | Critical | ||
![]() Craft Family Business |
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8 | 32 | 74-76 | 20-52 | 3-22 | 102 |
- The Family Business does best at longer ranges compared to the Shotgun, where its ammo count gives it a notable damage advantage per-mag over the Shotgun. At closer ranges, the difference is much smaller, though the Family Business still does more damage per-magazine than the Shotgun.
- Though the decreased damage makes it less useful in direct combat and as an ambush weapon, the increased magazine size makes it useful for picking off distant or wounded targets that are unsuitable for being targeted by a Minigun due to distance or the Minigun's slowdown.
- The Family Business is particularly useful for Snipers and Engineers; against the former, it can push Snipers around and mess up their aim from afar, whilst against the latter, the spray of ammo makes it more likely you can damage an Engineer trying to hide behind its Sentry when attacking the Sentry itself is unfeasible. It can also help throw off the aim of Wrangler-using Engineers.
- The added ammo of the Family Business makes it possible to destroy a Mini-Sentry or Level 1 Sentry from just outside its maximum targeting range. This is technically also possible with the Shotgun, but is considerably harder to pull off, as all the shots need to hit for it to happen, whereas with the Family Business, it's a lot more likely to due to the extra ammo eclipsing the lowered damage.
- The added ammo of the Family Business makes it a superior "Run and Gun" weapon for the Heavy - it lacks the spin-up time of a Minigun, and when running forward, accuracy is often secondary in necessity compared to volume of fire. In this situation, the Family Business makes for a great weapon for running between objectives, and a little better than the Shotgun for this purpose. It also is quite handy, in the same vein, for chasing down enemies trying to flee, especially faster classes like Spies and Scouts, since - again - volume of fire helps a lot more than raw punch in such a situation.
- The lack of the Tomislav's firing noise means that the Family Business is a great backup weapon for it - enemies won't have any clue what you're going to use until you start firing, making the Tomislav and Family Business a good ambush combo. While the Shotgun can be used the same way, the Family Business' larger clip size means fewer reloads in the face of enemy aggression and more overall damage dealt per-clip.
- There's a number of situations where the Shotgun's a better choice than the Family Business, so fight accordingly. The higher damage of the Shotgun means that it's much better when it comes to ambushing foes, medium-and-close-range combat (where the Shotgun will typically win a damage race against the Family Business), and for dissuading mobile melee attackers, such as Demomen.
- The Family Business pairs well with the K.G.B.'s Crit-boost, as the increased ammo clip means you can deal more critical damage than with the Shotgun.
Melee Weapons
Fists / Saxxy / Conscientious Objector / Apoco-Fists/Frying Pan
Weapon | Kill Icon | Attack Interval | Damage | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Point Blank | Critical | |||
![]() Stock Fists |
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0.8 seconds | 65 | 195 |
![]() Promotional Saxxy |
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![]() Craft Conscientious Objector |
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![]() Promotional Apoco-Fists |
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![]() Promotional Frying Pan |
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- The Fists are a fallback weapon and are the Heavy's only fallback weapon if a secondary weapon other than the Heavy's Shotguns is equipped. It's also good against any class that is cornered or not expecting a Heavy to engage in melee combat.
Holiday Punch
Weapon | Kill Icon | Attack Interval | Damage | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Point Blank | Critical | |||
![]() Uncrate/Craft Holiday Punch |
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0.8 seconds | 65 | N/A / 195† |
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† While rolled crits force the victim to laugh, a boosted Heavy will inflict a normal critical hit.
- While remaining a last resort like the other versions of the Fists, the Holiday Punch is notable as it provides the advantage of forcing the enemy to laugh upon a hit to the back or a critical hit; as a result, consider surprising or repeatedly punching enemies in order to gain an easy kill.
- Since the Minigun needs to spin up, the Shotgun is not too powerful and the Holiday Punch comes with the Showdown taunt, it is recommended you abuse the instant kill ability by taunting upon stunning an enemy.
- The Holiday Punch can be a great ambush weapon if used correctly, and paired with weapons such as the Tomislav, it can be used to immobilize one or more enemies from behind and finish them off with a fast hitting weapon.
- This weapon can crush Übercharge pushes if you can get the element of surprise. Simply go behind and hit the Medic, breaking the healing beam, and waste up to five seconds of precious time.
Showdown
Kill Icon | Weapon | Damage | Duration | Details | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
High Noon |
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Fists, Saxxy, Apoco-Fists, Holiday Punch | 500 | 3 seconds | The Heavy mimics a quick-draw Pistol Showdown, resulting in instant death for any enemy in the way. |
- Keep in mind the attack speed for this taunt. If it can be timed right, it's a perfect revenge tool during humiliation. It also can be used against either distracted Heavies or scoped Snipers, saving ammo for other classes.
- Unlike other taunts, the Showdown taunt must be manually aimed. This allows players to hit targets from above or below, as long as the target is within the player's line of fire when the "lethal" portion of the taunt is executed.
- The Showdown acts as a short ranged but very wide hitting Pistol, making it the only kill taunt with range. In melee-only Sudden Death, this can provide a considerable advantage.
- In Attack/Defend and Payload maps, it's possible to achieve a kill with this. Stand in front of the gates, and taunt when there is a second left on the Setup clock.
- The taunt attacks in a straight line, so it's possible to aim it through tight spaces and surprise unaware targets. It's possible to do a "Pinshot" by aiming the taunt through a thin crack that leads to another part of the map. For example, a crack under a bridge can be exploited to hit someone under or above the bridge.
Killing Gloves of Boxing
Weapon | Kill Icon | Attack Interval | Damage | Effect | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Point Blank | Critical | Critical Boost | |||
![]() Unlock Killing Gloves of Boxing |
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0.97 seconds | 65 | 195 | 5 seconds |
- The guaranteed critical hits can be transferred to other weapons as well. Therefore, it's possible to kill an enemy, then quickly switch to another weapon to kill enemies beyond melee range. However, switching weapons wastes precious time, and spinning up the Minigun wastes even more; in addition, the Shotgun's Criticals are less powerful than those of the K.G.B. If possible, get multiple kills (2 or more) with the K.G.B. before switching to another weapon.
- The slow swing speed coupled with the Heavy's slow movement speed makes using the K.G.B. a risky prospect. It's best to use them when facing a cornered enemy, or have a Medic to provide constant healing.
- However, if the Crit-boost can be achieved in tight corridors, keep using the K.G.B. while there are still enemies around; a Critical hit with the K.G.B. will kill all non-overhealed classes with a single hit except Soldiers, Demomen (with the Eyelander and with 4 or more heads) and Heavies, who will fall if a second hit is landed.
- Using the Buffalo Steak Sandvich can assist in getting the first melee kill, as players will be able to move faster and deal Mini-Crits. However, beware that all damage taken will be Mini-Crits for the duration of the Buffalo Steak Sandvich's buff, so try to time an attack so that the Buffalo Steak Sandvich's effects run out as soon as a melee kill is achieved.
- This strategy is even more effective in Medieval Mode, as most other enemy classes will not be carrying long-range weapons.
Gloves of Running Urgently
Weapon | Kill Icon | Attack Interval | Damage | Effect | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Point Blank | Critical | Speed Boost | |||
![]() Craft Gloves of Running Urgently |
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0.8 seconds | 49 | 147 | 299 Hammer units/sec |
- The G.R.U. is a weapon that allows the heavy to move 30% faster while active in exchange for both a 25% damage penalty as well as being marked for death while the weapon is active and for three seconds afterwards, meaning all damage taken is dealt as mini-crits.
- Use the G.R.U. to reach the front lines faster and keep up with teammates, but make sure to know where the frontlines are so to switch away on approach and be free of the mini-crit penalty upon arriving at the fight.
- The G.R.U. can also be used to escape losing combat situations. This can allow players to survive and rendezvous with teammates to continue the fight, rather than be killed and forced to respawn.
- Dodging enemy fire is also more effective when using the G.R.U., since players can use the increased maneuverability to actively dodge projectiles as well as make it more difficult to aim Hitscan weapons.
- Remember that the Buffalo Steak Sandvich's speed boost does not stack with that of the G.R.U. A Heavy under the effects of both will still only move at a maximum speed of 311 HU/sec.
- When under the effects of an ÜberCharge, use the G.R.U. to push in closer to a Sentry Gun until close enough to nullify its knockback. The extra acceleration allows players go straight up to a Sentry Gun and use the Minigun's full damage potential, rather than at longer ranges where the spread makes a Heavy ineffective.
- Beware of the amount of fire you are taking, and consider only using the G.R.U. in close-range 1-on-1 confrontation to minimize the risk of taking mini-crits from enemy attacks.
Warrior's Spirit
Weapon | Kill Icon | Attack Interval | Damage | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Point Blank | Critical | |||
![]() Craft Warrior's Spirit |
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0.8 seconds | 85 | 254 |
- The Warrior's Spirit can be used to give players an edge in melee fights. As the Heavy already has a significant amount of HP, being able to deal more damage allows players to kill their enemies before they take too much damage.
- Due to the health penalty, the maximum amount of health that a Medic can overheal the Heavy to is 420, rather than 450.
- The Dalokohs Bar can be used to partially negate the health penalty. However, the Dalokohs Bar's buff does not increase the maximum overheal health.
- One thing that should be noted about the Warrior's Spirit is that it blocks a lot of the screen, making it difficult to keep track of your surroundings, something of high priority when using a melee weapon. Use it wisely!
Fists of Steel
Weapon | Kill Icon | Attack Interval | Damage | |
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Point Blank | Critical | |||
![]() Craft Fists of Steel |
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0.8 seconds | 65 | 195 |
- The Fists of Steel can significantly reduce the Heavy's vulnerability if ambushed or when attacked while traversing areas. As the Heavy has effectively 500 HP, it's possible to survive fully-charged headshots under certain conditions.
- When retreating, equipping the Fists of Steel can increase the chances of a successful escape. Enemy players trying to finish such a fleeing Heavy will not be able to deal enough damage to get a kill before the Heavy can retreat behind cover or find some health.
- The damage resistance makes the continuous healing given by Medics, Dispensers and the Payload more effective by proportion.
- A Heavy with the Fists of Steel equipped can effectively shield a Sentry Gun from a barrage of rockets with ease and soak up quite a bit of Minigun damage, which makes it ideal for protecting friendly Sentry Gun nests against an enemy ÜberCharge.
- The Fists of Steel are extremely valuable for accomplishing objectives such as capturing points, pushing the Payload cart or capturing the Intelligence. As most players will often try to protect objectives from a distance, using the Fists of Steel can give the Heavy a much greater chance of success at accomplishing such objectives.
- Make sure not to get into a melee battle, due to the double damage enemies can deal with their melee weapons.
- Because of this, it's generally a bad idea to equip the Fists of Steel in Medieval Mode, unless there's a large amount of Snipers using the Huntsman or Medics using the Crusader's Crossbow on the opposing team.
- A Heavy using the Fists of Steel can be an enticing target for classes that would otherwise use ranged weapons. Baiting an enemy into chasing you with a melee weapon, then switching to your Minigun, can be a very effective technique.
- The Tomislav is a good weapon to pair with the Fists of Steel, as you can quickly spin the Tomislav up to take out faster enemies wielding melee weapons trying to take advantage of the double damage melee weapons will inflict on you.
- The slowed weapon switching speed impedes switching between your Shotgun and Minigun, making such tactics much less effective.
Eviction Notice
Weapon | Kill Icon | Attack Interval | Damage | |
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Point Blank | Critical | |||
![]() Craft Eviction Notice |
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0.4 seconds | 26 | 78 |
- The Eviction Notice's improved attack rate makes the Heavy's melee attack faster than even most of the Scout's melee weapons, while dealing roughly equivalent damage.
- While this is only about 80% of the damage the Heavy normally deals, Damage-per-second-wise, meaning other melee weapons are overall more effective, however the chance of Critical hits paired with the high attack rate means this is considerably more effective for beating down a weakened opponent, especially with the Buffalo Steak Sandvich's Mini-Crits and speed buffs.
- The Eviction Notice is used to great effect when used to corner, panic, or ambush enemies. Because the Eviction Notice will get off 4 punches in the time it takes the K.G.B. to attack twice, it is extremely effective at taking enemies down quickly, provided you get the element of surprise.
- The higher melee speed paired with the Heavy's natural punch means this weapon can also be effective in "Bull Rushing" players off of cliffs and off ledges, for much the same reason the Scout can - the first instinct of many players when melee attacked is to clear some distance, and the Eviction Notice's rapid punch rate means players will be in that much more of a panic when they try to escape.
- This weapon can be effective in a melee fight, as you will land many more hits than your opponent. Simply hold down your mouse button and back away every time he swings, and move forward between swings. This is especially against fast, weak, classes like Scouts that could dodge your normal punches.
Item set effects
The Hibernating Bear
The Hibernating Bear | |
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Effect |
No effect |
- Note that a Heavy using this item set cannot survive a fully charged headshot even when fully overhealed, as a headshot will still do 428 damage, while the Heavy's maximum HP when overhealed is 420.
- The reduced Critical damage extends to Mini-Crits as well. This makes the Heavy more effective in the face of Jarate and the Buff Banner.
- The combination of the Warrior's Spirit with the Buffalo Steak Sandvich is one of the best loadouts for Medieval Mode. Since almost all damage will come in form of melee, the health penalty of the Warrior's Spirit is somewhat negligible. The damage bonus, combined with the Mini-Crits offered by the Buffalo Steak Sandvich allows you to defeat most classes in melee combat.
Weapon combinations
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This setup is good for an all-rounded, objective oriented Heavy. As most enemies generally attack with ranged weapons, the Fists of Steel can provide 40% damage reduction from player and Sentry Gun fire, allowing the Heavy to walk right into heavily defended objectives; this increased damage resistance can also allow particularly aggressive players to use melee attacks to successfully kill players or destroy Sentry Guns. In a Payload map, the Heavy can even use the bomb cart as an additional shield, as well as health replenishment, allowing players to escort the cart with ease. The Minigun provides a modest amount of damage, while the short spin-up time allows Heavy players to switch from the Fists of Steel directly with minimal penalties. As the Minigun does not suffer any spin-up penalties compared to the Heavy's other two unlockable primary weapons. Due to the obstacles a Heavy with this loadout faces, a lunchbox item is preferred over the Shotgun. The Dalokohs Bar is useful by giving the Heavy extra health in the event that there are no Medics nearby to give a buff, or to heal 60 HP when injured. The Sandvich is useful for healing a supporting Medic to guarantee longer survivability for both. | |||||||||||||
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A good offensive-support setup for when facing non-Heavies in close-quarter combat, and when paired with a Medic constantly. Natascha's slow effect can be used to help teammates finish off any particularly fast enemies, and a Pocket Medic allows players to sustain fire even in the face of overwhelming force. While replenishing health with the Sandvich will not always be necessary due to having a Medic along, the Sandvich can be dropped both to keep the Medic alive as well as keep other teammates in the fight if the Medic is too busy. The GRU gives players a significant maneuverability advantage, allowing them to quickly respond to enemy movements or to reach objectives more quickly. | |||||||||||||
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This set-up is for a strictly defensive Heavy whose main goal is to mow down enemy offensive pushes and stop them from advancing. The Brass Beast's increased damage allows players to counter Sasha-wielding Heavies, but its increased spin-up time and slow movement speed means that strategic positioning is required, preferably next to a Dispenser. The Family Business can provide vital secondary fire in the event of an ambush where players cannot spin up the Brass Beast in time, and its choice over Shotgun is due to its overall benefit as an escape weapon. Which melee weapon to use will depend on the type of defense needed: The K.G.B. can be used to quickly give players a temporary boost in firepower to deal with offensive pushes decisively. Due to the long spin-up time of the Brass Beast, the Shotgun is incredibly useful for utilising the 5 second Crit boost. Furthermore, the K.G.B can be used to decisively deal with any Heavies on the other team who attempt to use the Fists of Steel's sheer defensive potential to accomplish objectives, due to being able to kill such Heavies quickly with melee attacks without worrying about receiving double melee damage in return. The Fists of Steel can be used to physically prevent enemies from accomplishing an objective by using the high ranged weapon damage reduction, but beware of Scouts or Fists of Steel-equipped Heavies. | |||||||||||||
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The Hibernating Bear
Having 5% Crits protection in exchange of having max health of 280hp, this Polycount set is geared toward strategic positioning, high-damage attacks, with provisions against Crits – especially useful due to the stationary nature of a deployed Brass Beast. The Brass Beast's increased damage potential makes it a good direct assault weapon, but its slower movement speed and higher spin up time requires careful positioning on the player's part. Alternatively, it can be used for defense, especially if friendly Engineers have not had the time to properly deploy their Sentry Guns yet; the Crit protection will force opponents to be more skillful instead of relying on the random roll. In Medieval Mode, the Warrior's Spirit's higher base damage and a relatively fast swing can provide much-needed offensive potential when fighting against Demomen using the Chargin' Targe and melee weapon combination. The Buffalo Steak Sandvich can either be eaten normally to increase the melee damage and speed of the Heavy, or thrown on the ground for quick healing; combined with the increased resistance against Critical hits, this set makes the Heavy a good class for assault in Medieval Mode. | |||||||||||||
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One of the best setups for the offensive lonewolf. The G.R.U. allows the Heavy to quickly arrive to the battle, while the quick spin-up of the Tomislav eliminates the need of the Shotgun, and allows the Heavy to use cover, shoot a few rounds, and then retreat behind cover to heal with the Sandvich. Do note that the slower firing speed makes it a bad choice against other Heavies, so if Minigun/Brass Beast Heavies are encountered, the Tomislav-wielding Heavy should quickly retreat or attempt to take advantage of their longer spin-up time. | |||||||||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Minigun or Festive Minigun or Iron Curtain or Tomislav |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Fists or Saxxy or Conscientious Objector or Apoco-Fists or Holiday Punch or K.G.B. or Eviction Notice or Frying Pan or Fists of Steel |
This setup is for a Heavy who likes to engage with his melee weapons, with the aid of the Buffalo Steak Sandvich for increased speed and damage, allowing him to surprise enemies with a couple Mini-Crit punches and retreat before extra fire can be drawn to him, or attack another distracted enemy. The Fists (and variants) provide supple damage output, without any real drawbacks. The Holiday Punch should be used when you can effectively circle-strafe around the enemy, and cause them to laugh after punching them in the back. Mini-Crits will not cause an enemy to laugh, but do provide Mini-Crit damage, so you must hit them in the back or get a random critical hit to cause them to laugh. The K.G.B. is more of a high risk, high reward weapon when combined with the Buffalo Steak Sandvich, as you have decreased attack speed, but when you do kill someone, you will gain a critical hit boost, which can kill most enemies in 1 hit. The Eviction Notice has a much higher DPS than the regular Fists (and variants), killing enemies much faster, although the hit sound is a dead giveaway to you. The Fists of Steel more than negate the mini-crits for all ranged damage, allowing you to survive much longer. The Minigun provides a reliable weapon when the Buffalo Steak Sandvich is recharging, and a good offensive weapon, while the Tomislav can be quickly fired when the effects run out and is great for switching from melee combat. This setup should not be used for direct combat if you are the only Heavy on your team and lack a Medic, as when the enemy sees a Heavy, they almost always direct their fire to him. | |||||||||||||
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Black Market Business
The Black Market Business set trades some of the Heavy's sheer firepower for the ability to ambush and flank foes more effectively. The faster spin-up time of the Tomislav allows you to quickly engage or disengage from combat, while the silent spin-up bonus allows the player to quietly wait around corners or chokepoints and ambush enemies as they pass by, rather than fighting enemies head-on; a compensation for its 20% reduction in firing speed. The Family Business can be used to finish weakened enemies outside of the Tomislav's range, be used as an escape weapon, or to provide cover fire when crossing open ground. The Eviction Notice can be used to quickly dispatch unsuspecting Scouts and Medics from behind. Beware of Minigun, Natascha, or Brass Beast-wielding Heavies, however, as they will be able to quickly overpower you with their primary weapon. With no Sandvich to heal yourself, always make sure that a Medic or medkit is nearby. | |||||||||||||
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A set for Heavies on an offensive push. The Huo Long Heatmaker is an excellent weapon for clearing out tunnels or congested areas, as the fire it creates will drive enemies backwards and ignite other Heavies, making it easier for you to finish them off. However, the Heatmaker uses up ammo extremely quickly, so use your Shotgun when engaging a lone enemy instead of wasting precious ammunition. The GRU can be used to reach contested areas extremely quickly. Class combat strategiesSee also: Heavy match-ups
With the greatest firepower and endurance of all the classes in TF2, the Heavy is capable of taking on every other class in the game head-on and emerging victorious.
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