Slimy Anti-Bot Stategey

“

Cheatin' only gets ya so far. Click to listen — The Sniper

”

Bots in TF2 have been invading Casual Mode ever since 2019 and have been a big problem in the community. Even though they are difficult to defeat, there are still ways to beat them.

Note: Anyone can be a bot and they can join any server (with the exception of Competitive Mode). Be careful of who you suspect is a bot.

General strategy

• To find a bot, you must look at a user and make sure they fit the following categories:
  • They are a Sniper or Heavy,
  • They have a familiar username or profile picture,
  • They play offensively,
  • They are looking all over the place or up,
  • All of their shots are successful,
  • They have easily obtainable cosmetics eqipped.
• If you find a bot, immediately vote kick them to remove them from the server. Be careful, as you can only remove one bot at a time.
  • If a vote kick is unsuccessful, report them in the game or on Steam.
    • If you can't do any of these or there are too many bots, then just leave the server and join a different one.
• Bots sometimes tend to miss a Headshot. Use this advantage to defeat them.

Class-specific strategies

 Scout

• Even though you are the fastest class, bots still can hit you. But often, they will miss or body shot. Use this as an advantage.
  • Drinking Crit-a-Cola makes you deal mini-crits, so drink it before going onto the battlefield.
• Drinking Bonk! Atomic Punch makes you invulnerable to all damage. Drink it just as the bots are near, run towards them, and just after the effect wears off, shoot them.
• The Mad Milk gives you health for every enemy you or your teammate hit soaked in it. Aim for a crowd of bots and throw it at them.

 Soldier

• Your low speed makes you a pretty easy target to bots. Take that into consideration while against them.
  • If you get shot, use the Escape Plan as it gives you more speed at low health.
  • If a teammate is nearby, hit them with the Disciplinary Action to give you and your teammate a speed boost.
• Any Rocket Launcher (except the Direct Hit and Rocket Jumper) is useful against bots as they deal Splash damage.
• Equipping banners can benefit you and your team in three different ways against bots:
  • The Concheror will give your teammates speed boosts,
  • The Buff Banner will give teammates mini-crits,
  • The Battalion's Backup will make you and your teammates immune to critical hits.
    • It is recommended to use this banner because resistance to crits is what we're looking for.

 Pyro

• The Detonator and the Scorch Shot are great options against bots as they also do splash damage and light enemies on fire.
• If you can deal enough damage, the Phlogistinator will make you immune for a short while, and make you deal critical hits.
• The Gas Passer can hit multiple enemies at once at a long range. Try to throw it at a group of bots, and when your teammates hit the soaked bots, they will be lit on fire.

 Demoman

• As a Demoman, you can't defeat bots as easily as other classes.
• You can make stickybomb traps to kill multiple bots at once.
  • The Scottish Resistance is recommended as you can detonate more stickybombs.

 Heavy

• Your low speed makes you an easy target for bots, so be careful.
  • Equipping the Gloves of Running Urgently makes you move faster, but drains your health as you hold them out.
• If you ever lose some health, eating any Sandvich will heal you.
• If the bots are other Heavies, then switch to another class as actual people will suspect you as a bot.