Thoughts on the pyro unlocks

**Veovis** · 06-23-08, 10:30 AM

Pyro has never been my most played class, but there are some maps that I love to play it on... mainly Gravel Pit defense, but only A and B, not C.

The Flare Gun
Overall, not worth it. Sure it may be situationally useful, but in most situations I'd rather have the shotgun.

The Backburner
Overall, not worth it. Pretty cool, for sure, to be able to crit from behind. But unfortunately you have to give up your airblast which is more important IMO, especially on defense, because of how awesome it is for breaking up ubers. Twice the other night I literally JUGGLED a medic for the entire duration of his uber, leaving him helpess and disconnected from his uberee. A few people witnessed this and were laughing their asses off. Very fun, very effective. Maybe on certain maps the crit-from-behind would be more useful, but im my mind hardly anything is more useful than the ability to reliably break up an uber almost every time.

The Axetinguisher
Overall, worth it. As I've said before I never really axe somebody unless I've ignited them first. The one negative about this weapon is close combat with other pyros. In which case I just try to stay out of melee range and use my shotgun. Although I will miss axing other pyros... it's pretty futile to try now unless you have the upper hand on them.

**_BuRn_** · 06-23-08, 10:45 AM

Airblast is too strong, keep it in but lower the effect.

Backburner = Instant Death for an ambushed party.

Flare Gun - Makes me think there is a pyro on my ass when I suddenly catch fire.

**Graverunner** · 06-23-08, 10:49 AM

Lighting someone then axing them is really satisfying

I haven' gotten used to the air blast yet

backburner is just old flamethrower, with the added crit from behind

flare gun is fun at times, but lacks the reliable damage from the shotty.

this said, I haven't gotten to use them in a full game yet, only 3 on 3.

**Pimp Trizkit** · 06-23-08, 11:19 AM

Flare gun is definitely situational, but more often than not, the shotgun is more valuable.

Axetinguisher is a definite upgrade. Light 'em up, chop 'em down.

IMO, the backburner is leaps and bounds more useful than the airblast effect you get with the normal flamethrower. Something I see you neglected to mention is the +50 hp you get from equipping the backburner. With that extra hp, pyros are now able to take max damage from a soldier crit rocket and survive! If you have the timing down with the airblast, sure, you can reflect it for 0 damage to you and possible death if it happens to hit the soldier. But, pyros are a close range combat class...how much time do you have to react when you ambush a soldier to activate the airblast effect and knock that rocket back? And I haven't even touched on the auto-crit to the back effect of the backburner. Pyros are made for ambushing, and let's face it, ambushes from a pryo with the backburner are lethal to ALL classes. Hell, you can even take out a heavy/medic combo with relative ease(assuming of course, that you are playing the class like you are meant to and are setting up ambushes).

So, in conclusion, flare gun ftl; axetinguisher and backburner ftw.

**Consultant** · 06-23-08, 11:25 AM

Flare Gun is sort of weak - I expected more I guess. If it didnt arc and was easier to aim, I may use it more, but it's sort of awkward and very situational.

Backburner is nice, the give and take (back crits for airblast) is a fair trade and so far, I have had the most fun with this weapon...

The axtinguisher is a blast as well...here's my typical pyro move...come up behind a medic-heavy combo...crit-kill the medic in like a second, crit the heavy down some, he turns to see what's up and I whip out the Axtinguisher and 1-shot him.

SO satisfying.

**enf** · 06-23-08, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Pimp Trizkit

If you have the timing down with the airblast, sure, you can reflect it for 0 damage to you and possible death if it happens to hit the soldier. But, pyros are a close range combat class...how much time do you have to react when you ambush a soldier to activate the airblast effect and knock that rocket back?

Most of the weekend was spent as a soldier and I found it funny and completely predictable when I would meet an enemy pyro for a 1 on 1 battle and he would stand back with his flamethrower out. Hmmm I wonder what hes waiting for me to do... So stupid. I just pull out my shotgun and start blasting him from afar while he freaks and is probably thinking "no wait, you were supposed to shoot me with a rocket so I can bounce it back and kill you!" Then he pulls out is weak little flare gun and I switch to my rockets and turn him into human chunks...

**FragRaptor** · 06-23-08, 12:00 PM

Air burst is perfect good time to re-burst, good power, burn just doesnt like his uber taken away :P

**Ficet99** · 06-23-08, 12:07 PM

I think the Back Burner and normal Flamer are balanced pretty well and are both very useful depending on the situation.

I'll probably stick with the Back Burner when playing defense since I'll be able to set for an ambush.

On assault I can stand in front of the medic heavy combos and deflect rockets as they get in position for their Uber.

like the Kritzeig and Uber I think both need to be used in coordination to be best used. Having a Pyro krit killing people from behind and having a Pyro ready to stop an uber with his air blast is quite effective. Pyros need to work together, thats what the guns are for. One has a shot gun, the other has a flare gun. You now have both Shotgun and Flare gun situations covered.

It's nice to catch a soldier out of close range, light him up with the flare gun, and let the other Pyro have at him with the shotgun. He then retreats from a battle he should have won

**Langrad** · 06-23-08, 12:10 PM

I dont play pyro much but iv seen some very interesting stratagies used. The pyro can use the air blast to push stickies away from sentries (uber demoman defence), the flare gun seems usefull for tapping those classes that stay at super far range. No one likes to be on fire. I think that both of the pyro mains have big advantages and disadvantages. The airblast can give you the time to get upclose and personal on some of those maps with huge open areas. I played pyro for 5 minutes on 2fort and snuck past a sentry, grabbed the intel, and then ran backwards deflecting critical stickies with the airblast to get a cap. The backburner is devastating if you can get behind people. Just think of the pain you can inflict when your dancing around on a point (dusbowl part 2 cap 2 or part 3 cap 2). When both teams are trying to get everything they can on the point no one is aiming. The backburner will be a great way to stop people on that.

The axetinguisher is a HUGE advantage for pyros. As a soldier I often pull out my shotgun when a pyro is close and iv unloaded my rockets. Already slow backpedaling wont allow me to escape. A quick burst of flame and suddenly the pyro can easily 1 hit kill me. I think the axetinquisher will become the most used melee soon