Pyro match-ups

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Class			Strategy
Pyro	vs.	Scout	Generally, you have an advantage against a scout, as your flamethrower and afterburn can make short work of his low health. However, he may use Mad Milk to extinguish burning teammates. A good Scout will use his speed and double jump to stay out of your Flame Thrower’s short range. If given enough room, he can constantly switch between close and medium range in response to whatever weapon you equip, so take the fight into enclosed areas. Although he's hard to hit, one puff of flame will ignite and whittle him down for almost half of his 125 base health. To stop him from getting away and extinguishing himself, deny access to health kits and use the compression blast to keep him pinned down. Particular weapons that may be effective against the Scout are the Degreaser, which lets you somewhat counter weapon heckling, or the Detonator, which has an exploding flare that is easier to ignite the Scout with. The Scorch Shot with its splash can also easily ignite the Scout for those whose Detonator timing still needs improvement.
Pyro	vs.	Soldier	An enemy Soldier will initially hold the advantage if he's at medium range or on high ground, but is susceptible to ambushes due to his slow speed. You'll want to enter close range as soon as possible, where he'll be forced to use the Shotgun or risk damaging himself with rockets. If you can't reach him, make use of the compression blast to deflect his rockets back. With prediction, you are actually able to deflect his rockets the moment they leave his Rocket Launcher. Check his body language; a Soldier who jumps backwards is usually trying to dodge the splash damage of a rocket he's about to fire. Any primary weapon that penalizes your airblast, particularly the Phlogistinator, leaves you far weaker in a direct fight against the Soldier. To prevent him from escaping via rocket jumping, airblast him off the ground.
Pyro	vs.	Pyro	If you and an enemy Pyro insist on fighting in close quarters, it's a simple matter of outmaneuvering and outdamaging him with your own primary weapon. An enemy Pyro can extinguish burning teammates with an airblast, so it may be best to choose him as a first target. Although the two of you are immune to afterburn, you aren't protected from the lion's share of the Flame Thrower's damage. If he charges at you with his Flame Thrower, backpedal while firing yours – due to the innate time flames take to travel, he will take more damage. Your choice of primary weapon is key - the Backburner and Phlogistinator provide situational critical hits while the Degreaser will allow you to quickly switch to a more suitable weapon. The compression blast can be used to position the enemy Pyro so that you can either retreat or land an easy Shotgun blast. The mirror matchup is uneventful at longer range, where your secondary weapons deal little damage without any supplementing afterburn.
Pyro	vs.	Demoman	The Demoman's ranged weapons can only fire projectiles, so good use of the airblast will turn you into his living nightmare. Protect your team by deflecting the grenades and Stickybombs that the Demoman launches at you. Aim your compression blast carefully, as your own deflected projectiles are still harmful to you. While he is reloading, pepper him with your secondary weapon while steadily approaching. The Demoman’s weapons are difficult to aim and can inflict self-damage at close range; once you close the distance, you should easily be able to kill him. If the Demoman equips one of his three shields, use your Shotgun or melee weapon to ignore the shield's fire resistance and use the compression blast to break his charges.
Pyro	vs.	Heavy	It is usually suicide to directly face a Heavy, the other class that specializes in close range combat. If you have no escape route, his Minigun can shred you in less than a second. If his Minigun is already revved, your best option would be to harass him with your secondary weapon while searching for an alternate path. To take the Heavy out quickly, you’ll have to ambush him and perhaps use the Backburner to deal your highest possible burst damage. If you are having trouble, airblast him away and retreat. If you can't escape, ignite the Heavy before dying to at least deal some damage. At range, your Flare Gun can be relied upon to deliver a succession of critical hits which he can't dodge easily.
Pyro	vs.	Engineer	A lone Engineer is an easy target. His Sentry Gun, however, can be more resilient than even a Heavy and is immune to afterburn, making him a dangerous opponent to you. If the Sentry Gun has already been upgraded to level 3, you will find it difficult to circle-strafe it without taking heavy damage. Unless you can safely attack it with your Flame Thrower or Shotgun from an angle, you’re best off retreating and coming back with teammates. If you're feeling ambitious, try deflecting the Sentry Gun rockets back at the Sentry Gun or its owner. Your Flame Thrower can penetrate his buildings and attack him directly, making you a prime candidate to destroy Sentry positions when ÜberCharged.
Pyro	vs.	Medic	Although you can easily defeat a Medic in a one-on-one duel, he will usually be surrounded by his teammates. You probably won’t be able to pick him off alone, as he is slightly faster than you and his natural health regeneration makes afterburn less effective. That being said, you should still make sure to set enemy Medics and his patients on fire, even if don't kill them, as your fire damage reduces the Medi Gun's healing rate. Leave directly targeting him to your teammates and try for a Backburner ambush. When a Medic deploys his ÜberCharge, use your airblast to separate him from his patient and prematurely cut the ÜberCharge link.
Pyro	vs.	Sniper	The Sniper is perhaps your exact opposite. While you deal damage over a wide area at close range, the Sniper deals precise damage to single targets at long range. Unfortunately, this means you are at a disadvantage unless you have a flare gun. If possible, stay out of sight until you are within Flame Thrower range. If the Sniper spots you, move erratically and make an effort to mess up his aim; the Flame Thrower can obscure his view while the Flare Gun can apply afterburn and force him to retreat. Once you close the distance, the Sniper is easy prey. Don’t let him get away, as his Jarate can extinguish your flames. While difficult, you can use your compression blast to defensively deflect Huntsman arrows and Jarate.
Pyro	vs.	Spy	You are the deadliest enemy a Spy can face. Although you are not immune to backstabs, your flames are a natural deterrent for any Spy. Fire nullifies both the Cloak and disguise of any Spy, so Spy-check all of your teammates with a quick puff of flame. His Revolver is much more accurate and superior to your Shotgun at long range, so don't hesitate to retreat if you can't catch him. You can further annoy enemy Spies by using the Homewrecker or Neon Annihilator to remove their Sappers from friendly buildings. The Spy has two specific items that aid in surviving your flames; the Dead Ringer will allow him to extinguish your flames once before Cloaking, while the Spy-cicle will protect him from being ignited for a short time. In both cases, liberally flame the area to ensure he does not escape.

See also

• Team strategy