Demoman match-ups

Class			Strategy
Demoman	vs	Scout	Scouts can be difficult to kill as a Demoman, and at high level play are considered your main counter. They can easily evade your Grenades and can run past your Stickybombs if you don't see them coming. Your best bet is to attempt to predict their actions. Lead them with the Grenade Launcher if they are attempting to strafe you, Sticky trap corners and doors if you happen to see a Scout approaching, or place stickies in front of them if they are trying to run away. If they try to get in close, take advantage of the fact that your grenades will be more likely to hit; a grenade to the face should kill a Scout with one hit, otherwise the splash damage should hurt them severely. If using the Stickybomb Launcher, shoot stickies near the Scout and detonate them as soon as possible, all the while jumping erratically to mess up the Scout's shot. If in close combat, you are unable to hit the Scout, switching to your melee weapon may yield better results, though it's best to be used as a last resort; the Scout can easily back off, and a Scout can usually easily dodge a Chargin' Targe attack. On the other hand, if you have managed to collect a few heads already you can very often surprise a backpedaling Scout with your own speed and the range of the Eyelander and claim another.
Demoman	vs	Soldier	Soldiers can be tedious to fight. At medium and long ranges you'll both probably be dodging as much as possible, and at close range you both tend to hurt yourselves. Keep in mind that a Soldier has slightly more health than you. They can also switch to their Shotgun, which is much harder to dodge, as it is a hitscan weapon; consider using your stickies to keep him at a distance. Their slow speed also makes them an easier target for these if you can aim them well. Generally, two direct grenade hits should kill the Soldier. With the Chargin' Targe, you take less damage from rockets, but you can still be knocked back, interrupting your charge. Also, be wary of a Soldier with the Equalizer, as they may be able to overpower you in melee fights.
Demoman	vs	Pyro	Pyros can kill you quickly if you're caught off guard, such as when planting stickies. A Pyro with the Flamethrower equipped can reflect your grenades with their air blast, allowing them to hurt you. However, if you know they are coming, plant stickies on/around their path and detonate them when they come close. If you are already in Flamethrower range, you will not have time to detonate your stickies. Use your Grenade Launcher on them in those cases, as direct hits will be very likely while inside Flamethrower range; however, be cautious of potential point-blank reflected grenades, which can be lethal. The Chargin' Targe will allow you to survive afterburn much more easily due to the passive fire damage reduction, but it is ill-advised to go toe-to-toe with a Pyro with melee, or in melee range, since the Chargin' Targe does not protect you from contact damage from the Flamethrower. If you find yourself being pursued by a Pyro, backpedal and lob grenades or stickies.
Demoman	vs	Demoman	Demomen use the same strategy as you. Try and hit them with your Grenade Launcher before they do likewise, or lay stickies near them. You can detonate one of your own stickies in the midst of an enemy's, and it will send them scattering. Demomen with the Chargin' Targe act essentially as counters to regular Demomen—the latter's lack of bullet based weaponry puts him at a significant disadvantage. If you have the Stickybomb Launcher or the Scottish Resistance instead, take out your bottle and hope for a Critical hit or run away if you can. Remember that the Scottish Resistance can break regular stickies. A Demoman with Scotsman's Skullcutter is much more dangerous than an Eyelander Demoman; the Skullcutter can kill you with one Critical hit even if you have 4 heads.
Demoman	vs	Heavy	You can be one of the more dangerous threats for a Heavy. The one thing to bear in mind is that while his weapons all have significant damage drop off over distance, yours do not. Use cover and ground wherever possible. Lay carpets of stickies around him while he is distracted, and land grenades on him while he is wound up; even with a Medic he can't stand up to the amount of damage you can dish out to a slow target. In a one-on-one fight, backpedal while firing your Grenade Launcher at him, and lure him into your sticky trap. Make sure to get behind cover as quickly as possible if caught in a head on fight, and sticky the corner you passed to cover your retreat. Don't try to use the Chargin' Targe and Eyelander combo against a Heavy unless he is distracted. His Minigun spread will take you down within a second and don't underestimate his Fists or the K.G.B. if he runs out of Minigun ammo. However, the Scotsman's Skullcutter's Crit hits for over half an overhealed Heavy's health, so if you can charge him from a blind spot, it is possible to finish off a heavy with another one or two well-aimed axe strikes, probably before he can react in time. Remember, if you see the Heavy carrying Natascha, it will almost nullify your charge.
Demoman	vs	Engineer	You are highly unlikely to survive in a head-to-head battle against a Sentry Gun (unless you're ÜberCharged or outside of their range). Your grenades and stickies are excellent at taking them out where they don't have line of sight or sufficient range. An added advantage is that your weapons will often take out the Engineer trying to repair them, too: your launchers are capable of inflicting damage through buildings. Three stickies or more will destroy both the Engineer and any building. Engineers who are aware may shoot and destroy your stickies with their Shotgun or Pistol, if you see this detonate immediately because they cannot fix their buildings since their Wrench isn't out. If you're using the Chargin' Targe, Sentry Guns are more threatening since you don't have your sticky launcher and you're more prone to running into their line of sight. Learn to shell positions indirectly using the Grenade Launcher. Even without direct hits, grenades can easily destroy a sentry nest.
Demoman	vs	Medic	Medics are pretty quick, which makes them a little more difficult to kill. Try and hit them with your grenades, or juggle them with a few Stickybombs. Since they run slightly faster than you, it's not advisable to run after them with your melee weapon since they can just shoot you full of needles. Try using your Eyelander against distracted Medic's, as you can get a free head with 2-3 hits. If he has a Medic buddy, stay out of sight and take out his buddy with stickies. Your Stickybombs are powerful enough to kill even overhealed targets in clusters of four or more.
Demoman	vs	Sniper	Snipers can kill you with ease at long range. Try to get close enough to lob grenades and stickies at them from where they can't see you. This has the added advantage of allowing your team-mates to rush past without fear as they make for cover. Alternatively, use the long range launch of your stickies to lob them onto distant Sniper decks and wait for the Sniper to walk into blast range. Snipers are an easy enemy to defeat if you can corner or sneak up on them with the Eyelander, or even with the ordinary bottle. It only requires two hits or one Crit to kill a Sniper at full health. A base level Eyelander Demoman can be killed at full health by one fully charged bodyshot or a non-charged headshot. Most Snipers will easily kill you if you charge directly at them. On the other hand, if you manage to flank them, their necks are delightfully stationary.
Demoman	vs	Spy	Spies can Cloak to pass over your stickies and so can lead to an unexpected death for you if you don't stay alert. Luckily, they usually place greater priority on Medics, Heavies, Engineers, and Snipers. Simply watch your back, especially when you stand still to place Stickybombs or lay down fire and Spy check suspicious team-mates occasionally. Most of the time, Spies will attempt to get in close to fight you. Bring out your bottle and scrumpy them to death, or glory in their slaughter with your Eyelander. Two hits or one Critical hit should do it, with either weapon. If you have the Eyelander equipped, you should consider using it to Spy check regularly, as killing a Spy who is using the Dead Ringer will still add to your head count. This effectively gives you the chance to gain two heads from a single player.

See also

• Team strategy