This is the last time I ask this >.>

[Blender]

Ugh I have been asking around on our servers and on vent and I get shakey answers. I need to ask one final time and make my decision for good.

I am trying to choose between demoman and soldier to learn.

Pros?
Cons?

Which is more versatile? Which has more killing power? Opinions?

When I play them it seems I can do all I do on one with the other, just in a different way. I cant decide... ugh.

 

[Deja]

Well, soldier is more versatile in the aspect that he transitions between offense and defense so easily. On a flip side, he moves slower than the demo and only has 4 shots with a rocket before he has to reload... However, he does get the shotgun and that does help close range...

But the demoman.. Oh, he's by far the funnest to play IMHO. Even more-so than spy and scout.. After all, who doesn't love the smiley crotch taunt? But seriously, you can camp a lot easier with the demoman, and bottling people is always fun to (not that shoveling people isn't.. but bottling is more satisfying IMHO).

So, if it were up to me.. If you're looking for raw killing power and versatility, go soldier. If you're looking to fall in love with the most unique character amongst the 9 that are available, go with the demoman. The ball is in your court, sir.

 

[Thereven]

Do you wanna spam rockets or spam grenades?

 

[Cl!FF]

Pro's demoman:
Unbelievable strong weapons even from a distance
He doesn't have a real counterclass
only one who stands a chance against massive amounts of sentrguns
Can shoot targets not in line of sight
Can lay down traps which increased critical hit potential
Faster and better at evading incoming shots
2 primary weapons

Cons:
requires a lot of training to use the weapons accurate
harder to handle in close combat
spies are harder to take down
Needs a lot of reloading

Soldiers pro's
Can shoot in a line
more health
One of my favorite targets as a sniper after the heavy (big head)
Love the shotgun
Survives critical hits usually

Cons:
Not much damage given
4 shots as primary weapon
almost no use against sentryguns
is not the best person to uber except when it is kritskrieg

Maybe I left something out to the arguments but I choose the demoman, in my opinion he is the best

 

[Darth]

Its up to you really, the demoman is really good for going long distances and hiding/camping in corners with stickeys hidden as well, but the soldier is more of a "push the enemy team back" type of class. Well this is just my opinion.

 

[shade]

I feel like on the servers that I play on, really skilled soldiers are few and far between (whereas I feel like there are a lot of good demomen). I don't know if its harder to master, if its less fun, or what, but there just doesn't seem to be a lot of them out there.

I'd say play both classes an equal amount, and you'll naturally find which one suits your playstyle more.

 

[Cut Chem!st]

They both have pros and cons, but it's mostly up to you. Try them both and see which you prefer, on my case I play both. The demos pipes are a little harder to aim and take out a person than a rocket. Neither of them have hitscan so they take a little practice.

 

[TheZaw]

I feel like on the servers that I play on, really skilled soldiers are few and far between (whereas I feel like there are a lot of good demomen). I don't know if its harder to master, if its less fun, or what, but there just doesn't seem to be a lot of them out there.

I'd say play both classes an equal amount, and you'll naturally find which one suits your playstyle more.

Demo is easier to play well.

Both soldier and demoman have high skill ceilings (meaning you can get really really really good with them). Soldier has a different skill floor than demoman, meaning they are different to get good at.
It is easier to get good at demo than to get good at soldier on the lower levels of play.

 

[DrNecroNancy]

I find soldiers more fun to heal and krits
so... from a medic perspective...

 

[PureBlood]

i like being a soldier more than being a demoman. I think he's more fun to play

 

[Super88]

Well what I would say is: Play both
There are certain situations where you might want to use soldier, and others where you might want to use demoman. Since you're good at them both, it shouldn't be too difficult. Plus, you'll be helping out the team if they need a demoman for an uber too. So I say both.

 

[Vandall]

I'm gonna make a generalization and say soldier is easier to play. Which is probably true at pub levels. Demoman however is a much different play type than most other classes. You're gonna get killed A LOT by scouts and pyros at first while playing demo (depending on what maps you're playing of course). Soldiers can take pyros and scouts out more easily that demomen can.

What I suggest you do is try them both out on Valve push maps. Please don't do this on dustbowl or goldrush. Get a feel for each class and see which one you lean to more.

 

[Ca$h Money]

Demoman and soldier take equal skill. With the demoman you have to aim more carefully due to the arch rate of your grenades, but with soldier it's more of a shott and pray. Also, when you look at the secondary weapon you'll find that the soldierls shotgun comes in more handy than the demoman's sticky launcher when you're fighting face to face with an enemy. In the end i've always enjoyed demo. Demo moves faster than the soldier making him a less easier target for spyys adn snipers. In the end, it really coem down to what you like. I would suggest giving both of them a try.
-Ca$h

 

[Blender]

Thanks for all the great responses and help! I have decided soldier because its more fun for me, and I like the way it plays. Of course, my main is always medic. So if ya need a heal, call meh!

 

[TheDeadpool]

The biggest thing I think you should take from everyone's advice (mine included) is that each class is simply a different piece of the whole; a different tool for a different job.

Also, you can play each class differently. I love playing Demo on offense for taking out buildings. and leading uber rushes.

How do you look at maps? If you're very aware of choke points, common sentry locations and corners (corners are not just walls, but ceilings and floors), play Demo. If the map is less important and you focus on the other players, go Soldier.

Also, as was noted above: Soldier can go from offense to defense more easily, so if you play CTF or two-way CP maps it might be better. If you like playing defense on PL or one-way CP maps, go Demo.

Really, learn both. TF2 is all about the importance of EVERY class.

 

[Natirasha]

Demoman is limited to one/team in competitive play. Soldier is limited to two/team.

Take that however you want.

 

[wwwhat]

I started playing soldier from seeing some guys really really dominate with them. Playing against Kascade and SOAP PM@C on Blackmesa is easily the most frustrating thing ever for me. 1 on 1 I died nearly every time. And I rarely see such a dominating demoman (they'll annoy the hell out of me with their camping, but I just avoid them after that). It seems that if you were to master soldier you could take on basically anyone (except those snipers ) and can win.

 

[PoooPants]

from playing soldier the most, i would say the fundamental difference in the two is Soldier = offense. Demo = defense/support.

Another thing to factor in is rocket jumping vs sticky jumping. as a demo you take so much damage the position gain from doing it is almost worthless in a combat situation, yes it gets you halfway across a map but your down to 75 hp most times where as you can jump as a soldier and get behind the enemy medic and push back while only loosing 50 hp (if done correctly).

 

[Rellik]

With Absolutly NO BIAS, i say soldier

 

[westside]

while i would generally say play both

the real answer here is Demo, why?

because they are just a flat out better and more powerful class

there are very few things soldiers can do that demos cant do (and usually better),
need a great target to kritz? Demo's are GREAT and have more than 4-6 shots that they can get off before its up.

rocket jumping? Demo's got it too

great crit damage? Demo's got it too

Have to worry about pyros sending your explosives back at you? Demo's arent at as much of a risk as soldiers are of this...

in short, play what you think is more fun but a well played demo is a better addition to any team