Everything You Need to Know About TF2 Classes

Over the years, Team Fortress has gained somewhat legendary status in the gaming community. Since the first day of its release, this first-person-shooter game has managed to gather a large community of devoted fans who have become deeply immersed in its virtual universe. However, due to the fact that TF 2 is actually more than 15 years old, it may seem outdated to some players, especially those new to the game, so entering its world can seem difficult at first. Even things like choosing the perfect character may be challenging, due to the multitude of options available. Fortunately, this article is designed to provide you with a comprehensive guide to all nine classes in Team Fortress. With us, you’ll have no problem choosing the perfect fit for your gameplay style.

A Brief Introduction to Team Fortress 2

Ok, so in order to cater to everyone’s needs, no matter how deeply immersed in the game they are, we would like to offer a quick explanation of what Team Fortress is and how it actually works. So let’s start with the very basics.

Team Fortress 2 is a game produced by Valve Corporation and was first launched in 2007. Initially it was available exclusively for Windows and Xbox 360, but after a few months, it was also released for PlayStation 3. Today it is one of the most popular games distributed on Steam.

Gameplay in Team Fortress 2

The objectives in Team Fortress are very dependent on the game in which the player decides to participate. TF offers its users as many as 16 game modes, of which 5 are the core ones:

1. Attack/Defend
2. Capture the Flag
3. Control Points
4. King of the Hill
5. Payload

On top of that, there are 8 alternative game modes:

1. Arena
2. Mannpower
3. Medieval Mode
4. PASS Time
5. Payload Race
6. Player Destruction
7. Special Delivery
8. Territorial Control

And special non-categorized modes:

1. Halloween Mode
2. Mann vs Machine
3. Offline Practice Mode
4. Training Mode

The objectives in these game modes vary, but most of them are combat-based, and all involve players being divided into two teams: the Reliable Excavation Demolition (RED Team) and the Builders League United (BLU Team). Each player then chooses which class they want to play as, and they fight to achieve a given goal.

TF 2 Classes Explained

Team Fortress offers its players nine official classes, also known as character classes. Users choose an in-game character they would like to play and then, based on that choice, perform a specific role on their teams to lead them and their buddies to victory.

TF2 Classes are divided into 3 different categories, based on the function they are to fulfill during gameplay. These are:

• Support classes
• Defensive classes
• Offensive classes

Let’s now go through each of them and explore all the classes available in Team Fortress 2.

Support Classes

At first, this category of character classes may be overlooked, especially If someone is just starting out in TF2. Why? Well, players who opt to play as one of the Support Classes do not participate in combat, at least not directly. Instead, they perform various support tasks (as the name implies) to help their teammates achieve a common goal. Of course, this may seem redundant at first, but if you’ve played Team Fortress 2, you should know how important these roles can actually be. Therefore, these classes should not be looked down upon.

1. Medic

The Medic class is probably the most important of all Support Classes (or maybe even of all classes). His main duty is… as you’ve probably figured out by now…. Healing his teammates and keeping them alive, which by no means is an easy task. Other players can call the Medic by pressing “E”. The character is then expected to come to the rescue and provide assistance with his Medi Gun or Syringe Gun (mostly the Medi Gun, though). Granted, the Medic also carries a Bonesaw, but we don’t really know why.

• HP: 150
• Speed: 170%

2. Sniper

The Sniper class is a very valuable addition to any TF2 team. If the player behind this character picks their position well, they can easily and swiftly take down opponents from a distance. Of course, it is also all a matter of good tactics and excellent aiming skills, but all in all, a sniper has the power to make or break the entire game. This character class is equipped with three different types of weapons – a Sniper Rifle, an SMG, and a Knife. However, as you can imagine, it mostly uses the Rifle.

• HP: 125
• Speed: 100%

3. Spy

The Spy is a challenging character class, best suited for advanced TF2 players. To use him well, it requires great stealth and a good knowledge of other character classes. His primary task is to gain information about the opposing team’s strategy, and then pass it on to his own teammates. Sometimes the Spy participates directly in combat, and for this reason, is equipped with a Knife and a Revolver, but such occasions are rare and this is not his main focus, which is why in the end, he is part of the supporting class.

• HP: 125
• Speed: 107%

Defensive Classes

Defensive characters work (and look) similarly in pretty much every game. They are usually large, take up a lot of space on the maps, and therefore, are difficult to get around. In Team Fortress 2, the situation is exactly the same. This class often plays a key role, especially in mods that rely on defending a given landmark (King of the Hill, Capture the Flag). Players love to play as them because they are often the center of attention, and moreover, they can be a lot of fun.

1. Heavy

To start out big (literally), let’s talk about the Heavy class. This is a great TF2 character for beginners. Why? Well… First of all, his massive and has insane amounts of HP, so if you’re not confident in your combat skills, it’s probably the right choice for you. However, if you want to go straight to the front line and initiate combat, the Heavy class is definitely not the way to go about it. This class is extremely heavy (as the name implies) and moves pretty much slower than a turtle. It is meant to be held back and wait for enemies to come to it. However, once they appear, they don’t stand a chance.

• HP: 300
• Speed: 77%

2. Engineer

The Engineer class is a fan favorite. In theory, it is part of the Defensive group, but primarily performs support tasks, i.e. creates special structures that then fire at the opposing team, heal other team members and act as teleports. He owes its classification mainly to its huge size and… not so sophisticated appearance. Of course, the Engineer class actually takes part in defense when necessary. For this purpose, he carries a Wrench, a Pistol, and a Shotgun. However, if you decide to play as this character, be aware of the fact that your job will be much more complicated than just waiting for the enemies to come to you.

• HP: 125
• Speed: 100%

3. Demamon

The Demamon, just like the Spy, is only suitable for experienced players. Beginners to TF2 may not realize the power he possesses and thus cause harm to their own team. The name is actually an apt representation of his in-game abilities, as Demamon carries a Grenade Launcher and a Stickybomb Launcher. His role is basically to blow things up in order to injure multiple enemies at once. He also carries a bottle around, but this is unlikely to change the final outcome of the game.

• HP: 175
• Speed: 93%

Offensive Classes

Finally, let’s talk about everyone’s favorite (or almost everyone’s) – the Offensive Classes. They are the main attacking force of every Team Fortress team and are key to achieving objectives in virtually every game mode. The characters of these classes are always supposed to rush to the front line and initiate combat or try to capture certain points as quickly as possible. If your preferred style of gameplay is bold, then the Offensive Classes are perfect for you.

1. Soldier

This character can be easily mistaken for part of the Defensive Classes, mainly due to his size and appearance. However, the Soldier actually plays a very significant part in the team’s offensive strategy. His task in Team Fortress 2 is to always rush to the front lines and seize a significant amount of territory for his team, using a Rocket Launcher, a Shotgun, and a Shovel (ok, this one is probably the last resort). Players love playing as the Soldier because of the amount of damage he can inflict and his high HP level, almost atypical for this sort of character.

• HP: 200
• Speed: 80%

2. Scout

The Scout is visually by far TF2’s weakest character, which unfortunately carries over into practice as well. His HP level is the lowest of all classes available in the game, making players often hesitant to choose him. However, he somewhat makes up for it with his speed. After all, his primary task, just as his name suggests, is to explore. Granted, if you are just getting started with the game, Scout is probably not the best character for you. However, if you decide to go for it, we have one piece of advice for you: KEEP MOVING.

• HP: 125
• Speed: 133%

3. Pyro

Whether you’ve played TF2 or not, you’ve most likely heard of Pyro. This character is one of the most recognizable classes in the entire game, mostly due to being the main protagonist of many online memes, but also due to the fact that players simply love to play as him. The reason for that is one, Pyro wields a Homemade Flamethrower and, on top of that, is the only character who bears this type of weapon. Of course, we can blabber about how this makes him great at short-range combat, but the bottom line is that the flamethrower simply brings a lot of fun to players, which is why Pyro is one of the most popular classes in the game.

• HP: 175
• Speed: 100%

So Which One of the TF2 Classes Should You Choose?

Unfortunately, there is no right answer to this question. It all depends on your play style, skill level, and what role you prefer to perform in the game. In general, if you are just starting out in Team Fortress, it would be best to choose classes that are easy to control, such as Soldier, Pyro or Heavy. However, once you become more advanced, we advise you to experiment with all the available classes in order to truly find out what works best for you.

Conclusions

As you can see, Team Fortress 2 offers its players many various options to make their gameplay challenging and interesting at the same time. With 9 different classes available, users can choose what suits them best and then become a champion in that particular category. And if they ever get bored of their usual character, they can simply change it to something else. Hopefully, this article has provided you with enough knowledge to choose your ideal TF2 class and you can now confidently begin your TF2 adventure.