Воздушный выстрел

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Воздушный выстрел — выстрел по врагу, находящемуся в воздухе. Может использоваться Солдатом, Подрывником, Снайпером, Поджигателем или Инженером, для того чтобы враги не получили преимущество высоты. Успешное применение этой тактики требует высокой точности полёта снарядов и продвинутого уровня владения игровыми навыками.

Воздушные выстрелы Солдата

Чаще всего этой возможностью пользуются Солдаты. Те игроки, которые любят ходить в отрыве от команды, будут стремиться к контролю над воздушным пространством для получения преимущества в бою, так как ответная контратака в таком случае маловероятна. Самой большой угрозой будут Солдаты и Подрывники, которые используют взрывчатые прыжки, что может свести тактику на нет и сделать игрока их жервами.

Для успешного выстрела Солдату необходимо внимательно следить за обстановкой на поле боя: более умные противники попытаются избежать лишнего внимания на высоте, и станут незаметно подходить сзади, чтобы застать его врасплох; и, самое важное, это опыт, который не позволит врагам взять верх. Выполнение воздушных выстрелов при при помощи Прямого попадания гораздо легче и эффективнее. Одно-два попадания на среднем расстоянии по Подрывнику или Солдату без Штурмботинок будут смертельны. Эффект отталкивания Дробовика не позволит летающим врагам точно атаковать вас. Используйте его, чтобы сохранить боезапас ракет или предотвратить воздушные перемещения неприятеля.

Воздушные выстрелы Подрывника

Aerials for Demomen serve virtually the same function and occur in the same situations as the Soldier's. However, as stated before, this is much more difficult. While the Soldier generally only has to aim ahead of the opponent's flight path, compensating for which direction of his screen the rocket comes from, Demomen will have to shoot at a high angle. Demomen who are already competent with the firing angle of the Grenade Launcher will have to learn to translate this into hitting an aerial target who is moving at high speed, but this is easier said than done.

Primary targets of Demo Aerials will be Soldiers, who often try to use rocket jumps to close the distance between them and an enemy Demoman. Scouts are also likely enemies, since they will jump a lot to dodge grenades. Wait until the Scout has used his double jump before firing.

It is also possible to use the Sticky Bombs and can sometimes be easier if there is enough warning. However, the delayed detonation time of Sticky Bombs can often make it impossible to blow the Sticky in range of a fast-approaching Soldier, who may already be within the detonation gap.

Воздушные выстрелы Снайпера

Aerials as a Sniper are somewhat less difficult, or more difficult, depending on which weapon is used. A Sniper using the Rifle can usually pick off an airborne enemy with a charged bodyshot or a well-placed Headshot, since he will probably be damaged already. Snipers will need to keep an eye out for jumpers when not scoped. Some of them will try to sneak up and melee the Sniper if he hasn't noticed their approach. Said Sniper should react to this in virtually the same way he would try to avoid Spies backstabbing him. Preferably, headshot the incoming flier when he reaches the peak of his jump.

A Sniper using the Huntsman has both added advantages (bigger hitboxes, faster charge, and wider field of view) and irritating drawbacks (slightly unpredictable projectiles and slow reload as well as less damage than the rifle). The Huntsman's arrow is something of a middle ground between a rocket and a grenade. It follows a shallow flight path, but it doesn't fly a straight line like a rocket. It also flies much faster than grenades and rockets. Also, the arc and the speed of the arrow change depending on the charge. Charged bodyshots will sometimes be enough to kill Demomen, but rarely Soldiers. At most, they will force them to retreat.

Воздушные выстрелы Поджигателя

Demonstrating a deflected rocket aerial

There are two ways a Pyro can Aerial. The first is by using the Compression Blast. The second is with the Flare Gun. Doing an Aerial as a Flamethrower Pyro is possibly the most difficult out of all classes which can Aerial. The reason is that it is highly situational. A Compression Blast Aerial requires that the incoming enemy actually try to shoot at him/her from the air. The Pyro must react to the rocket or grenade, then redirect it to where the jumper is going. This requires that the Pyro already be reasonably skilled at Aerials with the weapon being fired at him/her, meaning that a Pyro who can Aerial is already very good at Soldier and Demoman. However, the extra time needed to let the projectile get to the Pyro before it can be reflected can throw off his/her prediction.

Flare Gun Aerials are far less difficult, and also have some tactical advantages of their own. The primary bonus is that the enemy will be on fire when he lands. If you are equipped with the Axtinguisher, you can simply run to where he will land and meet him with an instant-death Critical axe. If he knows how to change direction, and there is water or a health pack nearby, he will probably try to land on it. If there is no water or kits, he will most likely abort his flight and head back the way he came, since he has hurt himself badly from the combined damage of rocket jumping, fall damage, and burning. However, he will probably shrug it off if he was over-healed.

Воздушные выстрелы Инженера

As of the Engineer Update it is now possible for the Engineer to also perform aerials by utilizing the Wrangler to manually aim his Sentry Gun. While the Sentry Gun previously was an exceptional counter to airborne targets, this only applied within the Sentry Gun's limited range. Now it is possible for Engineers to provide anti-air support even at long range, however this requires the corresponding level of skill. Air-shotting with the Level 3 Sentry Rockets is the most difficult but landing a blow will usually be lethal if the target was already damaged, especially due to force of the hit and the higher resulting fall damage. The general "knockback" of a Sentry Gun is also an excellent side-effect, as even if it is not lethal to the target, it will likely prevent jumpers from reaching their intended destinations.

Как избежать воздушного выстрела

As with any tactic you find to your advantage, you must also know of ways to counter it if it is used against you. The simplest, and usually the only way to avoid aerials is by Air Strafing. If you see an aerial rocket or grenade heading for you, use the strafe to curve your jump and dodge it. This is not fool-proof, as more experienced aerial users will be able to predict your strafe pattern and try a second Aerial.

Though it would be rare, even Pyros will sometimes need to counter aerials. Pyros using the Flamethrower can use the Compression Blast to rocket jump off of enemy rockets, and go even higher and faster than a Soldier. In addition, Pyros are the most common targets to be juggled by rockets. If the Soldier sees you coming, the best defense is the Compression Blast. The Direct Hit will be far more difficult to predict.

См. также

• Жонглирование
• Ракетный прыжок