Play a Soldier in Team Fortress 2
Soldiers; the American war heads of Team Fortress 2. Despite having no official military experience, Soldiers hold the offense role by charging in with their Rocket Launcher, their Shotgun and a Shovel. They also have the ability to rocket jump to higher ground and join the team. Combining the Rocket Launcher and Shotgun can also allow them to knock players into the sky and shoot them down.
Contents
Steps
- Prepare for battle. Soldiers jump into the war with a 4/20 Rocket Launcher, useful for knocking someone far away (Primary), a 6/32 medium ranged Shotgun (Secondary) and a Shovel (Melee).
- Use your Rocket Launcher for all kinds of situations. The Rocket Launcher is a very powerful primary weapon. It can be used in all ranges.
- At close range, shoot it at an incoming enemy for a lot of damage. Most classes die with 2 rockets.
- Shoot it at an enemy's feet! An enemy is less likely to dodge a rocket attack if you shoot it at their feet. Keep this in mind, especially at close range.
- At medium range, shoot it at an enemy for a very strong attack. At this range you can finish most classes with 3 rockets.
- At long range, shoot it at an enemy for a shot that can deal much damage to your enemy if it hits directly. Remember that it helps to try to predict an enemy's movement before shooting because it can be easily dodged. Use your rocket against enemy snipers. While, as said before, they can dodge quickly, the rockets deal a surprising amount of splash damage.
- Watch out! You can injure or kill yourself with your own rocket shots!
- Use the Shotgun for all situations as well. When you are unable to use your Rocket Launcher, you may want to use your shotgun. It provides adequate power that can chip away at enemy health to help deliver a finishing rocket blow or pick off retreating enemies with low health. Using the shotgun for longer range can guarantee damage is being dealt, whereas the rocket launcher may be too slow to reach any foes in your sight. Enemies on elevated ground are also valid shotgun targets, because your rockets can't be aimed at the ground in front of them to deal damage. Also, use this against Scouts, because it can be nigh impossible to hit them with your very slow Rocket Launcher.
- Use the Shovel in point-blank range. As with all melee weapons, the shovel is very fun to use, but only use it when you are close and have a clear shot. One misstep and you can be dead.
- Shield your teammates. With your Rocket Launcher, you can create a "shield" of damage as your rockets deal a lot of splash damage which your teammates can hide behind. Watch out when you take on many enemies, for they can attack you while you are reloading.
- Use the Rocket-Jump! Rocket-jumping is a technique used by many Soldiers. Rocket-jumping allows you to jump to huge heights. You can use it to escape, attack, get to a place, or just for fun. To Rocket-jump, you need to jump, then shoot and crouch at the same time. You should be in the air in no time. Remember that this will injure you. It is sometimes a good idea, if you have the time, to get a nearby medic to buff you up to 150% health to lower the health lost.
- Pair up With a Medic! If used effectively a medic soldier combo can be even more deadly than a heavy medic combo. If you like having high DPS have your medic try the kritzkrieg, if you are a heavily mobile soldier have your pocket medic use the quick fix. Shoot rockets at any oncoming enemies while the Medic heals you, and you have a huge rocket shield. Be sure to protect your medic!!!
Tips
- By shooting a rocket at an enemy's foot, it will sometimes lob them up in the air. With proper practice, you can shoot them while they're still airborne or predict where they will land and be able to get another hit.
- Try rocket jumping. You can use it to get an advantage over your enemies and get out of bad situations. You can also rocket jump to reach places faster or to get somewhere where the enemy will not expect you!
- If you see enemy Demoman sticky bombs, always use your shotgun to clear them before they are detonated. Your rocket launcher does not destroy them. That being said, you can also use your rockets to 'splash' the sticky bombs back. If you're lucky, the enemy Demoman might detonate the stickies on himself. Using rocket splash to move the stickies around is especially good when the enemy Demoman is sticky-trapped around a corner, where your shotgun can't hit him.
- The Soldier's rocket launcher holds four rockets in a clip, but it takes a long time to reload. It is best to reload in a deserted area or behind a corner before going into an area with enemies. It best to reload as often as possible. When fighting an enemy, even stepping back for two seconds to reload can mean not running out of rockets when the need arises. Try to keep your launcher constantly loaded. The shotgun can be used to save rockets especially when your enemy is low on health and there is no one around to take splash damage.
- Know that the rockets aren't coming from the middle of your screen (unless you're using the Original), instead, they are coming out from the end of the rocket launcher. In other words, the rockets are coming out slightly to the right. Use this to your advantage by shooting around corners to your right, or aiming slightly to the left when fighting point-blank in order to maximise damage (note that if you have view-models flipped then you should use the left corners and aim slightly to the right)
Warnings
- If you are critically low on health, try not to use the rocket launcher in enclosed areas. The splash damage will end up finishing you off with a single shot if you aim close enough to yourself. Instead, seek health and use the shotgun or rocket launcher cautiously.
- Rocket jumping gives you fall damage as well if you haven't landed on any surface. Be sure you land on an elevated platform to avoid unnecessary fall damage. Alternatively you can jump flat as fall damage depends on vertical speed only.
- Your slow speed makes you an easy target for Spies and Snipers if you aren't paying attention. Always look behind you to check for possible Spies and test them with a rocket attack or two. Fire a couple rockets in a Sniper's direction to simply distract them for a short time or make them switch positions. Shooting with a shotgun also works as it flinches their aim.
