Community Badlands (Arena) strategy

Community Badlands (Arena) strategy
Basic Information
Developer(s):	Unknown
Map Photos

General

Unlike in other versions of Badlands, the arena version has water, located under the small bridges by the spires. If you are on fire and a Medic is nowhere to be seen, this area should be the first place you go to as burn damage can severely cripple your chances of winning.
Firing on enemy choke points is an effective way to deal damage on this map. Even if no enemies are killed, they will be likely be heavily weakened. Try to aim for medics like in most arena maps.

The Scout's extra speed allows him to quickly loop back behind the enemy team by running under the bridge to flank the enemy team.
The house is a very tight area, crippling the Scout's ability to dodge enemy fire.

The crates by the control point can be used to gain a minor height advantage. This will allow you to get the maximum amount of splash damage on the enemy.
Rocket jumping costs a significant portion of the Soldier's health and should be avoided unless Medics or Dispensers are available. Try to use the Gunboats over other secondarys because backwards rocket jumping to cover long distances is very useful.

Badlands has many open spaces that allow classes with ranged weaponry to harass Pyros very effectively. Scouts are particularly dangerous.
The Axtinguisher allows Pyros to make fast, clean kills without taking much damage.
The First Blood critboost effect significantly extends the effective range of the Shotgun.
Try going around the House and in the side entrance to get the drop on the enemy from behind. This method is even more effective with the Degreaser and the Axtinguisher as you can quickly eliminate enemies.
Try to use the Flare Gun because of the wide open spaces in the central area.

Sticky traps can be effectively placed on the left side of the enemy house to thwart incoming enemies that have opted not to pass through the house.
Enemies coming out of the valley across the bridge from the house have a lot of cover to hide their approach, but well-placed stickies will make their stay a short one. Place your traps around the numerous corners and ensure you distribution can take out weakened enemies running back to their spawn in search of a Medic or Dispenser.
Stickyjumps can be utilized effectively on this map. If done correctly, a single Stickyjump may propel a Demoman across the entirety of the primary battle area.
A Demoman with the First Blood buff can easily wipe out the majority of the enemy team. Stickyjump quickly to the enemy house and score a kill before proceeding to wreack havoc on the team with your Critical Stickies while they are still bunched together. The key to this strategy lies in making it to the other team before they have a chance to spread out.
Use your Grenade Launcher to flush out weakened enemies hiding in the houses or behind the train cars on the bridge, ideally forcing them into an Ambush.

The Sandvich is very valuable in arena owing to the lack of health kits.
The bridge is small enough that the Minigun will kill any opposing players extremely quickly. However, the crates provide excellent cover for enemies to hide behind.
The bridge is extremely exposed to any enemy Snipers in the valley.
Constantly check for spys behind your back, or get your medic to do it.

A Sentry Gun in the house pointed through the window onto the point effectively keeps the enemy team off the point. The nearby ammunition supplies make this location easy to setup at.
Try to make your sentry level three before moving the sentry to the ledge, unexpected enemies will run into its range.
Dispensers placed in the building by spawn or in your house provide your teammates with a safe place to heal and to restock on ammunition.

Medics are essential on this map due to the lack of health pickups.
Badlands is a particularly large arena map, which means that there is plenty of space to hide in. The Medic's regeneration is invaluable on this health-starved map.

Snipers on the bridge and at either end of the valley can see most of the map and can pick off enemies with ease.
Snipers have an almost unique ability in the late game to deal with turtling Engineers. They can kill the Engineer without ever coming within Sentry Gun range. However, the Wrangler does give the Engineer an effective way to fight back.

At the start of a round, if the Spy goes under the bridge he will have an advantage to go around and backstab anyone leaving the House.
By using the Cloak to sneak around the map, the Spy can get a few easy backstabs from enemies not expecting an attack from behind.
As a Spy, you must be careful in the tight confines of the buildings, as it is quite easy to bump into an enemy and blow your cover.
Spray damage will be large in the open areas. Try to stay out of choke points.