A couple of Pyro tips from HueyLewis. And me. :D (And/or Q&A.)

[Phoenixxx Wright]

For those of you that haven't seen his videos, HueyLewis and DonNewman are two of the best pyros ever to have played TF2.

Don Newman
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LHw9M1wdVE[/ame]

Huey Lewis
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOhnthgKQ7k&feature=channel_page[/ame]

(I'm more partial to Huey Lewis myself, since he plays with more than just an axe.)

Anyway, I emailed Lewis asking him about his strategy, and this is the reply I got in return:

" My main strategy is just doing whatever I think will let me survive longer. The people I normally play with are very quick to react so a lot of it has to do with how much damage I think I can do before getting blown to bits. You can still accomplish some pretty awesome stuff while mostly just trying to keep your own ass alive.

When you see me backing away with the flaregun it's probably because A) I just airblasted and the cooldown leaves me vulnerable...so flare and retreat, or B) I know if I stay around longer I'll die and as I'm backing away I'll try to do as much damage as possible. Often I'll just get a good sense that I've done enough damage and can safely back away and pester/let them die.

I absolutely hate attacking people head-on so that's maybe another reason. When I started playing pyro I just enjoyed messing around without using the flamethrower (ie: my first video). That went a long way in teaching me how to flank and how to play conservatively. If I don't think I can get away with something, chances are I won't do it, unless necessary for the map objective. I continue to get better though so I take more risks."

I suggest watching his videos and then reading his strategy. Repeat until it clicks. After everything he said, I started playing again, and I'm consistently topping the scoreboard. Case in point:

Anyway, I'll add to Huey's suggestions.

Winner loadout: Flamethrower, flaregun, axtinguisher. Now that the flaregun minicrits on contact with a burning target, there is NO reason to use a shotgun. Unless you're playing on an underwater map. EVER.

Learn circle strafing, and learn the timing between rockets. if you can reflect rockets, you are close to invincible. Plus, there's nothing more humiliating than this:

Those are a couple tips, but it's earlier and I'm sure there are many more things. So if you've got questions, ask away and I'll do what I can.

 

[mobomelter]

As much as I cannot stand pyros, (Mile long flames make me rage) these guys obviously have the skill. I couldn't ever use Flare Gun as my aim with it isn't good enough to justify using it.

 

[GulfXray]

Thanks...

I usually play Pyro - once I started getting the hang of 'circle strafing' and started paying attention to the timing between rockets, arrows, etc. I was more effective...

Still a loooong ways to go though....

 

[M.c.P]

any tips on gettting better at airblasting? like, a good practice map or something?

Edit:
I'd still say there's a choice to be made between flaregun and shotgun, depending on how many pyros the other team has, and how much work you're doing trying to kill them. Getting into a flamethrower duel with another pyro has always been a risky proposition.

 

[SneakySneakyMonkey]

Hehe, those are pretty funny to watch. The axe is a good weapon for messing around with, and it's actually pretty effective too. I think I ought to try my hand at a Pyro tips video.

I'm gonna go ahead and silently chuckle to myself at the "no reason to use a shotgun" part of your post. I get like half my kills with a shotgun, and trust me, there are plenty of reasons to use it very, very often. Ask Iceman if you don't believe me.

any tips on gettting better at airblasting? like, a good practice map or something?

Well, to be honest, you can try to get better at airblasting through practice maps and whatnot all you like, but you'll find the best way to do it is through simply playing in real maps, since people have a certain level of unpredictability and won't just unleash all their rockets at you at once. That said, sentries obviously don't have that same unpredictability, so you could probably just find a private map with an enemy sentry and practice reflecting its rockets back at it (an extremely useful skill to have). Gravel Pit is a very soldier and sentry friendly map, so it's a good place to practice as there will be a lot of airblasting targets to practice on. Good luck learning the arts of the C.A.B.!

 

[Phoenixxx Wright]

any tips on gettting better at airblasting? like, a good practice map or something?

Edit:
I'd still say there's a choice to be made between flaregun and shotgun, depending on how many pyros the other team has, and how much work you're doing trying to kill them. Getting into a flamethrower duel with another pyro has always been a risky proposition.

Airblasting, really, just takes a lot of practice. I mean you could get on the 2fort bridge, spawn a soldier, and just make it constantly attack. But really it's just practice.

And the flaregun is almost always better, at least in my opinion. People run away from it, and you'll do much more damage if you get a hit with it. And pyro on pyro fights are generally easy, retreat and circle-strafe. You'll hit them and they won't hit you.

 

[SneakySneakyMonkey]

And pyro on pyro fights are generally easy, retreat and circle-strafe. You'll hit them and they won't hit you.

Let's duel. :3

 

[Phoenixxx Wright]

Let's duel. :3

I'll win. :B

 

[mogwaimon]

Thanks for the tips,those videos were great stuff. That HueyLewis guy had this video where he got 100 reflect kills, he just reflects the rockets right back at the guys before they even fire. It's insane, really.

 

[KillerTofu]

i call hacks

 

[gorebagg]

hi guys...
i agree with most of your premise, except on two issues: firstly, survival is not my plan, it's usually base defense or removal of obstacles for the team, ie; sentry guns with or without the help of a medic...i usually play pyro when there are tons of spies to deal with. secondly, the shotgun is a very necessary weapon if you play 2fort as often as i do on our servers...it is simply not ok to flame underwater, and the flare gun in water is about as objectionable. the ax is often too much melee for my taste in water, although it can be daunting....and most opposing players find pyros pretty doggone daunting. i've played pyro for over 14 years now, and find it a lot of fun...i tend to switch classes based on team needs of course, but pyro is by far my favorite. don't you love the insane laugh when the pyro gets revenge????

 

[ToiletPastries]

I don't know if you follow Huey Lewis' videos religiously like I do, but he's discontinuing his production of Pyro videos due to computer problems.

 

[rawr]

Thanks for the tips. I've become inspired to play some pyro now.

I might add one of my little tactics that works fairly consistantly. With flamethrower and axtinguisher, if i'm flanking someone, a quick shot of flame followed by airblasting them into the air, thus giving me time to bust out my axtinguisher which will kill just about anyone in one hit once on fire, except heavies, but if you strafe them well enough you can get off two hits with the axtinguisher pretty easy, even if they're overhealed. You can also follow that up with a guitar solo taunt which is just plain fun.

Just keep in mind the axes have the longest reach of any melee weapon I believe.

 

[Phoenixxx Wright]

Thanks for the tips. I've become inspired to play some pyro now.

I might add one of my little tactics that works fairly consistantly. With flamethrower and axtinguisher, if i'm flanking someone, a quick shot of flame followed by airblasting them into the air, thus giving me time to bust out my axtinguisher which will kill just about anyone in one hit once on fire, except heavies, but if you strafe them well enough you can get off two hits with the axtinguisher pretty easy, even if they're overhealed. You can also follow that up with a guitar solo taunt which is just plain fun.

Just keep in mind the axes have the longest reach of any melee weapon I believe.

of course. Puff, blast, axe. Works best in corners. If you're not in a corner, you'll need two blasts to get them stationary.

 

[Captain Calle]

I might add one of my little tactics that works fairly consistantly. With flamethrower and axtinguisher, if i'm flanking someone, a quick shot of flame followed by airblasting them into the air, thus giving me time to bust out my axtinguisher which will kill just about anyone in one hit once on fire, except heavies, but if you strafe them well enough you can get off two hits with the axtinguisher pretty easy, even if they're overhealed. You can also follow that up with a guitar solo taunt which is just plain fun.

Also known as Puff'n'Sting by many.

Just keep in mind the axes have the longest reach of any melee weapon I believe.

Every melee weapon has the same range. What you are referring to was a mistake by Valve.


-Calle

 

[iGreen]

I've seen some of Huey Lewis' stuff before, not seen Don Newman before though.
I'd like to think i'm a decent pyro, but this just shows you how much you can do with the class once you really know how to.

 

[huntrix]

I play pyro and sniper, if any of u guys need anything hit me up

 

[Cut Chem!st]

I agree about the flaregun. Love it so much.

 

[xosniper]

this thread is cute.........all we need is more people thinking they can play pyro

 

[Phoenixxx Wright]

How dare you. ):