Beginner's Guide to the Machine Gunner [translation]
Now, ‘[Team Fortress 2](/games?search=Team Fortress 2)’ is free to play, and anyone with a Steam account can get it. If you haven’t played this game before, it may seem like a daunting ‘header puzzle game’ to you. In previous guides, we’ve talked about the basics of the game, items, and characters. Now it’s time to break down each class in more detail.
Today’s focus is on the Heavy, a giant ‘bear’ from Russia with a really big gun, a broad smile, and one of the most important roles in the game.
Getting Started
The Heavy is ruthless. He should always be at the center of the fight, and his minigun is perfect for taking out multiple targets. He deals a lot of damage, and can ‘knock down’ foes at medium and close range. Moreover, the Heavy has more health than any other character, allowing him to survive on the battlefield for quite a while, and if he gets injured, he can hide and then heal by eating a sandwich or chocolate bar.
The Heavy’s weakness lies in his low speed and large head. It takes the Heavy several seconds to spin up, and once the shooting starts, his speed decreases even further. Oh, and about that large head and broad back: they make him an easy target for Snipers (a fully charged rifle shot kills instantly), as well as for Spies who can easily stab the brave Russian.
Don’t forget to spin up your minigun in advance, especially if you're defending a control point and know that the enemy is about to arrive. Don’t be afraid to lose speed, as your main goal is to help your team.
Medics love Heavies. With their large health pool, they are easier to keep alive. The minigun becomes a killing machine when the Doctor applies an UberCharge to the patient: the Heavy kills everyone in sight, causing the surviving enemies to flee in panic.
If you're on the attacking team, the Heavy should be at the epicenter of the battle; use Engineer’s teleporters for quick movement. A lone Heavy, despite his health pool, is quite vulnerable—just ambush him. So wait for at least two or three teammates. The Heavy is very effective when teamed up with a Medic, especially for breaking through enemy defenses, allowing your team to secure a position faster. On payload maps, stick close to the cart.
If you're defending, stay close to the Medic and the Engineer. His dispenser can heal you, your team, and supply ammo. After all, the Heavy needs to shoot… a lot.
Recommended Items
Take a sandwich instead of a shotgun—this way you can heal yourself in just four seconds. When you eat, you cannot move or shoot, making you completely vulnerable. Enemy teams can also hear your ‘Om Nom Nom-ing’, so try to eat in a safe place. Remember that once you have a sandwich, you will be without a shotgun. You can also drop the sandwich with a right-click—this helps a friendly Medic by restoring their health.
‘Brass Beast’ is a minigun that deals increased damage. However, it takes longer to spin up, and you start moving even slower while shooting compared to the standard minigun. It's a risky choice, as you become vulnerable to surprises, but the high damage compensates for this downside. The choice is yours, regardless.
The Heavy’s fists have a limited range of uses, so try out different options. ‘Killing Gloves of Boxing’ will allow you to move slightly faster when equipped (like a knife in ‘Counter-Strike’). ‘Fists of Steel’ give you crits for five seconds upon killing an enemy. And with ‘Warrior's Spirit’, you can get close enough to the opponent for a melee attack and take them out with almost no damage from long-range weapons.
Another minigun—‘Natasha’ deals less damage but can slow down your opponents.
Helping the Heavy
If you are near the Heavy, watch his back; otherwise, he will become a victim of a Spy. Snipers also pose a threat, as they can kill him with a precise headshot. So stop shooting at the Scout who is running around with fish and start interfering with the shooter’s aiming.
Remember that if an Engineer has built a teleporter, you should yield space to the Heavy, as you run much faster than him.
Battling Another Heavy
Going one-on-one against an enemy Heavy is pointless. The winner will be the one whose minigun is prepared or has more health. Your opponent might even have a Medic with him. Retreat, try to find a way around, strike from the side or behind. Catch the moment when the enemy is focused on shooting someone else and can’t notice the one who’s taking them down from behind.
If you spot another Heavy with a Medic, kill the Doctor first.
Stay with us; soon you will read the guide about the Medic.
Author: Tim Edwards.
Translation: Bats.
Thanks for the help: Thinvesil, Condottiere, snowman.