Sniper match-ups

“

Be polite. Be efficient. Have a plan to kill everyone you meet. — The Sniper on exemplary battlefield etiquette

”

Class			Strategy
Sniper	vs.	Scout	The Scout is a dangerous enemy who can close in on you quickly using his speed, double jumps, and tools like Bonk! Atomic Punch. At a distance, he can only harass you with his Pistol but is a difficult target; instead of aiming at his small head, consider fully charging a bodyshot instead. If the Scout manages to approach you, he has a massive advantage. At close range, backpedal while firing your Submachine Gun or go for a quick headshot if he moves too predictably.
Sniper	vs.	Soldier	An enemy Soldier can either fight at the frontlines, away from you, or roam on his own, where he might hunt you down. On the ground, he is slow and bulky, and will probably fire rockets at you to force you behind cover between shots. If he starts rocket jumping, predict his trajectory to shoot him out of the air or retreat if he gets too close. A roaming Soldier is more likely to simply get the drop on you; periodically check vertical routes he might take..
Sniper	vs.	Pyro	Unless an enemy Pyro is using the Flare Gun or its variations, he has no way to effectively fight back at long range. If he is out in the open, you can attack without fear of retaliation. However, at close range, his Flamethrower will devastate you. If stuck in this sort of situation, backpedal while firing your Submachine Gun or unscoped shots from your primary weapon. The effects of afterburn will negatively affect your aim but can be negated by Jarate, which extinguishes flames, the Cozy Camper, which helps negate the damage, or Darwin's Danger Shield, which completely eliminates afterburn. If you are using the Huntsman, note that arrows are the one damaging projectile you have that can be reflected.
Sniper	vs.	Demoman	Over long distances, an enemy Demoman can only lob inaccurate grenades and Stickybombs at your position. Keep moving in between your own shots to avoid the wide splash damage. If he tries to sticky jump or use one of his shields to approach you, hide behind cover or take advantage of his predictable trajectory to land an easy headshot. At medium range, his explosives can easily make short work of you. If he gets too close, backpedal while firing your Submachine Gun or unscoped shots from your primary weapon. The Demoman, with his indirect weaponry, is one of the only classes capable of attacking you from outside your line of sight; well placed explosives can turn your sniping spot into a deathtrap. Keep an eye (and ear) out for traps and use your Sniper Rifle or Submachine Gun to remove Stickybombs if needed.
Sniper	vs.	Heavy	The Heavy’s slow speed and large size make him a juicy target. At a distance, his Minigun fire suffers from bullet spread and will do minimal damage, allowing you to snipe freely. Remain distant; even at medium range, his bullets will cause you to flinch and make it much harder to aim. One fully charged headshot will instantly kill an overhealed Heavy, well worth waiting for if he has a Medic healing him. If a Heavy somehow maneuvers to your sniping location, run for your life; both unscoped shots from your primary weapon and your Submachine Gun will deal pitiful damage compared to his large health pool and deadly Minigun.
Sniper	vs.	Engineer	The Engineer likely takes a defensive position that is too dangerous to approach with just your Sniper Rifle. His Shotgun and possibly Combat Mini-Sentry give him a dueling advantage, so don't seek him out yourself. However, you can pick off an exposed Sentry Gun from far away. If the Engineer comes out of cover to repair it or uses the Wrangler to target you, shoot him too. If he hides behind his Sentry Gun and can't be hit, fire at his other buildings to deprive him of resources.
Sniper	vs.	Medic	The enemy Medic should be one of your top priority targets. Do your best to land a headshot or fully charged bodyshot to instantly eliminate his team’s source of healing. His Syringe Gun and other weapons are ineffective over longer distances; if he is alone, you should be able to fire at him without any problems. However, even a Medic can easily take you down at close range, where his Syringe Gun will outperform your Submachine Gun. His higher speed allows him to chase you, so it might be best to stand your ground anyway.
Sniper	vs.	Sniper	One of your main jobs is to eliminate enemy Snipers that’re constantly picking off your own teammates. Because a Sniper duel can be decided in just one shot, focus on predicting the enemy Sniper's movements while remaining mobile yourself. A standing target is extremely easy to hit - even when aiming, strafe back and forth, adjusting your crosshair as needed. Accustom yourself to aiming for quick headshots unless you're sure your target can be killed by a bodyshot. After taking your shot, keep moving and don't stay exposed; if you fail to kill him, there will be a small window of time where he can freely fire at you. Establishing control of a zone first is important; being in a position to land a fully charged bodyshot on your enemy as soon as they step out from behind cover is a great advantage. If there are signs that an enemy Sniper is already watching the area, such as his Sniper Rifle's laser dot or injured teammates, consider moving to another position so that you can freely take the first shot. If you don't wish to do so, leave cover while charging your shot so that you are already prepared to fire. A Sniper with the Huntsman will have to fight considerably closer to the frontlines and is thus at a disadvantage when facing a Sniper with the default Sniper Rifle.
Sniper	vs.	Spy	The Spy is your nemesis. Because you will frequently be focused on aiming at targets that are far away, you may not notice when he’s behind you with his Knife. As a Sniper, you generally work alone, so stay aware of your surroundings and Spy check any suspicious teammates that get too close. To discourage a Spy from picking you off, stay close enough to your team that they can provide assistance (or vengeance). Jarate won't protect you against a backstab but can nullify the Spy's Cloak and disguise, making him easy to track down. If you choose to use the Razorback, you deprive yourself of a secondary weapon but force the Spy to use his gun, which should draw your team's attention. His Revolver gives him an advantage in a straight-up duel, but you have melee weapons, such as the Tribalman's Shiv, that give you the upper hand in melee range.

See also

• Team strategy
• Sniper (competitive)