Guide to Medic for Beginners [translation]
Now "[Team Fortress 2](/games?search=Team Fortress 2)" has become free to play, and anyone with a Steam account can get it. If you haven't played this game before, it might seem like a scary "hat game mystery" to you. In previous guides, we discussed the basics of the game, items, and characters. Now it's time to take a closer look at each class.
In the previous part of the guide, we talked about the Heavy. Now it’s the turn of the Medic; the German Doctor who created the so-called ÜberCharge. However, his medical ethics raise some doubts.
Introduction
The entire team relies on the Medic. He is simultaneously a healer, a guardian, and a passive participant in the main fight. He mustn't be at the very epicenter of the clash, but somewhere in the back to heal the wounded (distributing the ÜberCharge to the most experienced players) and thus lead his team to victory. Even if the Medic is not the most effective class in combat compared to his comrades, remember: it’s the Doctors who win matches.
The Medic's main weapon is his healing gun. By shooting it at a friendly player or an enemy Spy, you can heal them, as well as raise the patient's health level above normal for a certain period of time. The more severely wounded the patient is, the faster the beam from the gun will restore their health. As I mentioned before, you can perform an "overheal," meaning you can raise a teammate’s or enemy Spy’s health to 150% of their normal health level. It’s especially effective to do this at the very beginning of a round when everyone is spinning around waiting for the gates to open, or when you are out of combat.
Each healing gun has its special second ability. When you heal patients, a counter fills up in the lower right corner of the screen. Once it’s filled to 100%, you can apply the ÜberCharge. Each Medigun has a different effect. With the standard healing gun, the Über gives you and your patient invulnerability for ten seconds. It’s a great opportunity to wipe out a large group of enemies or to take out a turret, or even push the attacking team back to their spawn. While you are under the effect of the charge, you and the patient cannot capture control points. You can recognize a player under the Über by the effect of having a bright metallic colored team appearance as well as eyes filled with fire.
So here’s a question: when is the best time to use the ÜberCharge? Use it when you want to sneak up on an enemy from behind or destroy an Engineer’s gun, but remember that there are tons of strategies for every character. The Heavy is useful at close range, the Pyro is great for destroying targets in tight spaces, and the Soldiers and Demomen can attack from any distance, as long as they can reach the target. However, don't forget to communicate that you are using the Über in voice or text chat. There’s nothing worse than suddenly using a charge, and your Soldier, confused, is unable to finish off the Heavy that has run out of ammo.
Soon you will realize that the ÜberCharge is the most powerful weapon in the game, and by learning to save it and apply it at the right moment, you will gain invaluable experience. Try to die infrequently, don’t take risks; after all, a Medic who has reached 100% charge can help the team win the game, but if he dies, the meter resets. Be careful and always keep an eye on your current level of ÜberCharge.
“Kritzkrieg” and “Quickfix” are alternative healing guns, each with its version of the ÜberCharge. The “Kritzkrieg” makes all your patient’s shots and hits critical for ten seconds, while the “Quickfix” increases healing speed. Many players (not Medics) expect an Uber from the Doctor, and then, upon receiving it, don’t know what to do, so control the situation yourself. Try to play on servers with your friends who can help you in tough times.
The Most Useful Alternative Weapons for the Medic
In the melee weapon slot, the Medic has a regular medical saw. Whenever you get the chance, replace it with the “Uber-Saw”: it allows you to raise your ÜberCharge by 25% if you hit an enemy with it.
In the secondary weapon slot, the Doctor has a syringe gun. Upgrade it to “Bloodsucker”, each shot of which will add a bit of health upon hitting. But be careful, with the “Bloodsucker,” your health recovery speed will be lower. However, when you shoot someone, you will regain your lives.
Medic's Starter Kit: Is It Worth the Money?
Absolutely. It includes the “Uber-Saw” and “Kritzkrieg.” Plus, you will get a hat. Everyone wins.
How to Help the Medic
Always stay ahead of the Doctor. But if the Medic is healing you, don’t run too far away from him, or else the healing beam won’t reach you. Be tactical and take the health pack when you see it. The Doctor can heal you but cannot regenerate his health himself (self-regeneration does not count). If you take the health pack but leave the Medic wounded, know that due to you, the team may lose the ÜberCharge. Tell him/her to activate the charge if you are in a good position. Lastly, equip an auto-reload option to avoid being left “naked” when the Medic activates Über.
Also, if you notice that there are suspiciously few attacking classes on the enemy team, know: the Medic is at risk. Check your comrades for a Spy, and if you see a suspicious ally spinning near the Doctor — kill him; this way, you’ll help the team.
How to Fight Another Medic
In any case, your main goal is the Medic. If he’s alive, any health you take away from the enemy will be restored. And the Medic doesn’t have a lot of health, so he goes down fairly quickly.
If you see a Medic under the Über with an attacking class, try to disrupt their attack. Some classes have special items and abilities that can help you pull off that trick. The Pyro can push back with the alternative ability of his flamethrower. Soldiers and Demomen can use rockets and bombs to knock the Über pair back. Some Scout shotguns can also push a target back. If you don’t have such abilities — hide.
Stay tuned, you’ll soon read the guide on the Sniper.
Author: Tim Edwards.
Translation: Bats.
Thanks for proofreading: snowman.