CommunityFortress

Hey everybody, it's DirtyPurity.  I cannot count how many times I have played a Highlander match and had a Spy who was essentially a wasted team member.  The selfish Spy is one of the most hated TF2 players.  They do nothing useful and typically fail multiple times at killing useless targets. Now, to be clear, my distaste for selfish Spies does not mean that I am against Spies in general.  It is a very useful class, however there seems to be an epidemic of unskilled people playing it in Highlander matches. In this article, I will explain the correct way to play Spy in a Highlander match.

1. Infiltration

To successfully infiltrate any map you MUST, and I cannot stress this enough, know alternate map routes.  You must also know the rollouts that are used by the Scout, Soldier, and Demoman because you need to be away from the action toward the beginning of rounds. Your knowledge of the map and your opponents' rollouts is necessary to blend in with the enemy team since the aforementioned classes are generally those that will be after you (aside from your nemesis, the Pyro).  For example, on cp_badlands when both teams are fighting over the middle point, you can quietly cloak and slip under the bridge, disguise, and then proceed to ruin the plans of the enemy Engineer and Sniper.

2. Disguise Choice Is Key

Generally, you do not want to disguise as the Scout, the Heavy, the Medic, the Soldier, or the enemy Spy.  The reasons that you don't want to use these disguises are as follows:

Scout = Constantly running and double jumping while you run at your standard 100% speed, rendering you completely obvious to the enemy.

Heavy = Incredibly slow and are always winding up and shooting. You will rarely get a backstab with the Heavy's slow running speed as well.

Medic = The Medic's job is to heal people, so when people see a Medic with his syringe gun/bonesaw out and not healing anyone, trouble ensues for you, the Spy.

Soldier = Soldiers constantly are jumping and firing their rockets, leaving the Spy a small window for the Soldier disguise. While it is possible, it is not recommended by me.

Enemy Spy = The Spy is one of the most feared classes in the game and players will freak out even if they see a friendly spy and will fire upon you in most cases, which also will leave you dead.

This leaves the Pyro, the Demoman, the Engineer, and the Sniper as viable disguise choices.  However you must be aware at all times the status of these classes on the other team.  Pay attention to where these four classes are on the map at all times, so when disguised as one you can stay far from them so you don't give yourself away.  Another good strategy to use is to "replace" the class you recently back stabbed when using the Vanilla loadout.  Just hope the enemy isn't too good at communicating the deaths of teammates.

3. Your Job As A Spy

As a Spy, your job is to kill key targets such as: sentry nests, Engineers, uber charged Medics, and Heavies. You should have no trouble taking care of enemy Snipers as well.  Now some of you may be saying, "DirtyPurity, you make it sound so simple to destroy a sentry nest as a Spy".  To be clear, I'm not saying it is an easy task being a Highlander Spy, but there are a few ways to dispose of an enemy Engineer (sentry and dispenser included).  One good strategy to use is the "Sap and Stab" strategy.  As soon as an Engineer leaves his sentry to repair a teleport or restock on metal, you sap the sentry.  Then follow the Engineer while pretending to be a "team mate helping dispose of the Spy" and then stab the Engineer before he gets to his sentry.

A strategy for that pesky Engie who sits with his sentry and dispenser and does not move is trickier.  There is a way to stab the Engineer and sap the sentry afterwards but requires quick fingers.  The first step is to stab the Engineer, then, to strafe a circle around the sentry in the opposite direction it is rotating towards you. As you do this, quickly switch to your Sapper and sap that sucker.

4. Be Selfless

As a Spy, you must accept the fact that when you first start playing you will die...a lot. While you may not be super Spy at first do not fret.  You will get the hang of it.  Now when I say "Be Selfless", I don't mean to run head first into a crit-rocket.  What I do mean is that trading your life for the killing of an uber-ready Medic is the right thing to do.

This finalizes my lesson on the basics of being a Highlander spy.  I hope you learned something and will use this information wisely.  DirtyPurity out, "Right behind you."