Community Rottenburg strategy

Rottenburg
Basic Information
Map type:	Mann vs. Machine
File name:	mvm_rottenburg
Released:	November 21, 2013 Patch (Two Cities Update)
Developer(s):	Valve
Map Info
Environment:	German Town
Setting:	Daylight, sunny
Hazards:	Pitfall
Pyrovision Support:	No
Map Items
Health Kits:	×14
Ammo Boxes:	×12   •    ×3
Map Photos
Map Overview

This article is about Community Rottenburg strategy.

Note: It is recommended to read the main Rottenburg article first to become familiar with the names of key map locations used in this article.

General strategy

• Whenever a Tank appears, only have 1 or 2 players follow the Tank into the town if possible. Pyro, Soldier and Scout are all excellent at killing Tanks. The rest of the team should hold the front and keep the bomb carrier from buffing.
• Don't allow the bomb to get too far into the town. The further in the bomb gets, the further forward Engineer bots will spawn.
• When a Tank is demolished, make sure all of the money is picked up. Check all nearby areas at different elevations.
• Avoid popping Über Medics before the Demoman, Sniper or other appropriate class can get rid of them.
• Note the bomb carrier path before the wave starts. It will help you plan your secondary defense if the bomb makes it into the town.
• Tanks that take the lower path will move under the hatch platform, unable to be damaged, before they exit onto the cliff by the hatch.
• Do not overextend past the bomb. Make sure that Sentry Guns and Heavies are in sight of the bomb at all times to ensure that no robots can sneak past.

Class-specific strategy

 Scout

• Use Mad Milk with the slowdown upgrade to slow Giant Scouts, especially if they are running with the bomb.
• Due to the map's large, open spaces, the Soda Popper can greatly help in credit collection and general agility.
• Pay attention to teammates who like to kill robots in weird places and not collect the money.
• Use your Fan O'War or an upgraded Sandman to mark Giants for death. Make sure to mark Giant Medics before their pockets.
• While collecting money and not using your support weapons, kill the bomb carrier to keep it from buffing.
• If necessary for waves with Super Scouts, you can use Ammo Canteens to instantly refill your primary ammo (and Mad Milk if a Giant Scout spawns while it is still recharging).
• Do not neglect upgrading your primary weapon, especially when there are Tanks in the next wave. All of your Scatterguns have some of the highest damage against Tanks.

 Soldier

• Upgrade one point of Rocket Specialist and use direct hits to stagger Super Scouts and other Giants.
• Follow Tanks when they spawn. Equip the Buff Banner and deploy it as much as possible against them.
• Upgrade Reload Speed and Firing Speed before Damage, unless using the Beggar's Bazooka, in which case Firing Speed should not be upgraded until very late.
  • Firing Speed is less preferred when using the Airstrike with the B.A.S.E. Jumper as after you rocket jump, the firing speed will be highly increased and can be done twice to three times with max Reload Speed.
• Soldier's mobility and weaponry make him good at dealing with Engineer Robots, which can be quite a nuisance on this map if left unchecked.
• Blasting away with the Airstrike and B.A.S.E. Jumper at a Giant Soldier's marked-for-death pocket Medic is very devastating with enough damage and high reload speed.

 Pyro

• Burning without paying attention to airblast with Health on Kill and Resistances is the most effective strategy on this map. If a group of robots is too strong for you to tackle head-on, let them target your teammates first, then attack from behind.
• The Backburner is Pyro's best weapon for killing Giants with its Crits from behind, but the Phlogistinator is the best Tank killer because of the frequent Crits it gives that can be activated.
• Most teams favor a Medic and Soldier over a Pyro for this map, but a very popular strategy is to abuse the Refund option and have multiple Phlogistinator Pyros for the 3-Tank last wave of Hamlet Hostility.
• There are three ways to reset the bomb in Rottenburg. Use an upgraded Scorch Shot or your airblast to put these ways to good use.
  • If the bomb follows the lower route, it can be hard reset in the bottomless pit in the middle of the map.
  • If the bomb follows the upper route, it can be soft reset by airblasting the bomb carrier off of the bridge in the middle of the map.
  • The bomb can be hard reset regardless of the route by airblasting it off the cliff found near the hatch (the area where the Tank exits from). Be sure not to let the bomb carrier onto the hatch, though.
  • Remember that it is far more important to kill a robot than to blast the bomb away.

 Demoman

• The Scottish Resistance has a higher damage output and is cheaper to upgrade than the stock Sticky Launcher, though the extra arming time can be an issue mid-wave.
• Focus Engineers. When an Engineer is building a Sentry Gun, lay a sticky trap to destroy the Sentry before it can fire and the Engineer before it can run off and build another.
  • Against active Sentry Guns, take advantage of your ability to kill targets not in your direct line of sight.
• Upgrading your Grenade Launcher can kill Tanks more effectively at the expense of requiring greater skill against robots.
• Stickies are very effective against Giant Medics. Lay a big sticky trap when a Giant Medic is getting low on health to kill it before it can be deployed.
  • Damage-upgraded Crit sticky traps can sometimes kill Giant Medics in one blow, even if their Megaheal is deployed.
  • Do not place all of your Stickies in the same spot. Instead, spread them out in a small area to ensure that the Giant Medic will take damage.

 Heavy

• Kill Giant Medics by shooting them at point-blank. Do not use Knockback Rage against them, as it only directly decreases your damage output, indirectly decreases your team's damage output due to damage falloff, and makes it harder for your team's Demoman or Sniper to predict the Giant Medic's movements.
  • Rarely, it can be more beneficial to use Knockback Rage to launch Giants and Bosses high into the air and let them take fall damage (fall damage scales based on the robot's maximum health). However, it is recommended that you communicate this strategy to your teammates.
• Remember, Heavy's primaries have their damage harshly reduced against Tanks. It may be best to focus on robots that threaten to kill your teammates who do not experience the same damage reduction.
• Although the Brass Beast does more damage compared to stock, the stock Minigun allows for more mobility, allowing you to move closer to your targets and take advantage of damage ramp-up.
• Stay near your team's Dispenser to stay alive and keep your ammo full.
• When a Super Scout spawns, bodyblock it, but don't let it kill you with its melee weapon.
  • Against Force-A-Nature Super Scouts, there is not much you can do to stop them besides dealing damage. Block them for the short period you can.

 Engineer

• The best spot for a Sentry Gun is just to the left of the right corner of the tunnel entrance. This way, it covers the right-side choke path when not Wrangled, and has a clear shot of the middle of the field while Wrangled. Best of all, it can block Super Scouts.
  • On waves without Super Scouts or Über Medics, the Sentry can go behind the wooden barricade or behind the gap between the two leftmost rocks.
• The Dispenser usually goes behind the rock formation in front of the barricade, though it may be moved behind the rock on the left of the barricade for more protection or behind the rock to the right as the robots begin to funnel through that side.
• Some popular Teleporter Exit spots include the tower in the middle of the map and the forward Upgrade Station.
• If you get pushed back, Sentry placement becomes more complicated. Hold the tunnel if possible. If you lose it, it is sometimes best to just set it up at spawn.
• The Wrangler is important for killing Giants, Tanks, and Snipers, and it prevents your Sentry from popping Über Medics.

 Medic

• Inexperienced players struggle to stay alive without a Medic. Use your Reanimator and Projectile Shield to help them.
• When healing, focus on the Heavy and Soldier, especially when using the Kritzkrieg's ÜberCharge, but don't neglect the rest of your team.
• Use the Ubersaw on robots and Sentry Busters when safe to do so, such as when Sir Nukesalot is reloading.
• Revived players will respawn where they died. Make sure you're in a safe spot before you reanimate, or you may be in danger and die yourself.

 Sniper

• Shoot slow robots in the head while upgraded with Explosive Headshots. Giants, scoped Snipers, Heavies and the bomb carrier are the easiest targets, and Medics are your highest priority.
  • Shoot Giants with multiple Medics first to immediately kill them before they can use their ÜberCharge. Do this before your teammates accidentally pop them.
• If a Tank spawns, know when to damage it with the Cleaner's Carbine and Bushwacka (if you have them equipped) or shoot robots. In general, if any Giants have Medics, deal with those before helping your team on the Tank.

 Spy

• Spy is very powerful on the last few waves of Bavarian Botbash. Consider having a Spy for all or part of that mission, especially if your team has trouble killing Giant Medics.
  • Max out Armor Penetration and Swing Speed to make quick work of Giant Medics before their pocket turns towards you.
• Focus on stabbing Giants, Medics, Snipers, and the bomb carrier. Your Sapper can be used to stun groups of robots when upgraded, but it is best used for Giant Scouts.
  • One point of Sapper upgrade is all you need at first. Swing Speed and Armor Penetration are higher priorities.
  • Spy can easily destroy the bomb carrier once it's buffed by taking advantage of his disguises to approach safely, unlike other classes.
• The Diamondback stores a Crit for each backstab kill you get. Consider using it to help out a bit with Tanks.
  • Without any Crits, if there is nothing left to attack but the Tank, just stab it repeatedly. A Knife with fully-upgraded Swing Speed will deal damage faster than a Revolver without upgrades.