Tactics in Team Fortress 2

Published October 25, 2007

Team Fortress® 2 may be worth the price of The Orange Box on its own. Its class-based, team-focused gameplay accentuates all that is worthwhile in a multiplayer shooter.

You will certainly develop your own strategies for the game after a few hours of play, but these tips should get you up and running quickly.

Core Classes
Every one of the nine available classes serves an important purpose, but there are three core classes you should consider as mainstays. The Heavy, Medic, and Engineer classes all provide a rock-solid foundation from which to build.

Welcome to the mayhem.

There is no more powerful tandem in Team Fortress
2 than a Medic and Heavy working together.

Every team needs firepower, and the Heavy offers major damage-per-second. The Medic can tip the balance of power during a firefight as they heal teammates on the fly. And the Engineer's turrets alone are absolutely critical when holding down a control point, or protecting the "Intelligence."

Heavy Medic
There is no more powerful tandem in Team Fortress 2 than a Medic and Heavy working together. With the Heavy's enormous firepower and naturally robust health points, augmented by a Medic's constant healing, you can darn near eliminate entire teams with just this duo.

What's more, the Medic can achieve an Ubercharge state by constantly healing his teammates, making both he and the comrade he's healing invulnerable for a short period of time. Make it a habit when playing a Medic to heal teammates at all times (even when they don't need it) to fill up your Ubercharge meter.

Better team up with a Medic buddy.

Move … Now
Team Fortress 2 operates at a rate of blazing swiftness, and it's this speed that can help you survive many a harrowing firefight. Though this won't work so well with the lumbering Heavy, zig, zag, and leap about whenever fired upon to gain time to reach safety. To neutralize your enemy from using this tactic, don't fire at an opponent from long range when they're unaware of your presence. Close the distance between you and your opponent, and then let her rip.

Backstab the Base
Backstabbing an opponent while in disguise as a Spy earns cheap kills, but there's no deathmatch in Team Fortress 2, so every kill needs to count towards capturing or defending the Intelligence or a Control Point. Coordinate with your teammates to achieve an effective kill. Sneak into an enemy base disguised, and wait for the kill until your team is about to begin their assault. This is particularly effective if the enemy base is guarded by an Engineer and his turrets. You should be able to backstab the Engineer and zap his turret, clearing the way for an easy assault.

Friend or Foe?
Speaking of Spies, the only surefire way to tell whether a supposed teammate is an enemy Spy is by blasting them with bullets or whacking them with a melee weapon. Friendly fire doesn't exist in TF2, so any teammate that takes damage is actually an enemy Spy. You may also occasionally notice a teammate run past you displaying your own Gamertag. Identity crises aside, you're looking at an imposter. Act accordingly.

Scout Captures
The Scout is the fastest class in the game, and apart from their ability to avoid enemy fire, they make excellent Intelligence carriers, being able to reach and capture Control Points in a flash.

When playing a Control Point map, use the Scout's speed to help your team capture two points almost simultaneously. While the rest of your team attacks and captures the map's neutral Control Point, use the Scout to sprint to the next available Control Point. When your team takes the neutral Control Point, you can immediately begin capturing the next one, effectively handicapping the opposing team and setting up your own squad for a quick victory.

Team Fortress 2 operates at a rate of blazing swiftness,
and it's this speed that can help you survive
many a harrowing firefight.

Step Back, Move Forward
So much success in Team Fortress 2 requires dedicated teamwork, so whatever goal you're working toward, make sure you tackle it as a group. If half your team perishes attempting to take a Control Point in an Attack and Defend game, try retreating and regrouping, then go after it again when back to full strength.

Pick It Up
Every map is littered with ammo and health packs, and they respawn rapidly. Memorize these locations, and you'll be able to out duel opponents as you replenish your health and ammo during firefights. Don't forget to run over the bodies of fallen troops to pick up their leavings.

Believe the Bandwidth
While unrelated to gameplay, it's worth noting that those who host a match of Team Fortress 2 should heed the advice of the game. If it tells you that your connection isn't capable of hosting a sixteen player game, believe it. Otherwise, you'll only create a lag-ridden match sure to frustrate every participant.

Team Fortress 2 is a wonderful multiplayer experience, and as you continue to play, you'll discover even greater depths within the game. Use these basic tips to start your play off on the right foot, and good luck.

Article by Ryan Treit