Taken from www.tf2help.blogspot.com
O
nly two things are known for sure about the mysterious Pyro: He sets things on fire and he doesn't speak. In fact, only the part about setting things on fire is undisputed. Some believe his occasional rasping wheeze may be an attempt to communicate through a mouth obstructed by a filter and attached to lungs ravaged by constant exposure to his asbestos lined suit. Either way, he's a fearsome, inscrutable on-fire Frankenstein of a man. If he even is a man.Team Fortress have placed the Pyro as an offence class but in reality he is just as useful in defense.
The Pyro's strength is close range combat due to his very powerful main weapon, the flamethrower, it also has the unique ability to set enemies on fire which deals continuous damage to them either until a certain time elapses or they jump into some water.
The Pryo's main weapon the flamethrower is extremely powerful and if used at point blank range will result in certain death to your enemy. The ability to set enemies on fire will finish off many fleeing enemies due to its continuous damage and also force stronger enemies to divert off course to either find health or douse the flames. This weapon is best used in close quarters where you can surprise your enemy using ambush tactics, this will allow you to finish off most enemies before they have time to deal you any serious damage.
A very common mistake made by players is overusing the flamethrower especially in big open areas where the enemy can see you coming and take you out before you are close enough to set them alight. It is tempting to charge at an opponent with the flamethrower but a good player will take you out every time.
So when an enemy is out of flaming range use the Pyro's shotgun, it is actually a very good weapon but is criminally under used, using the shotgun at medium range will usually draw the enemy closer to you where you can switch to the flamethrower and finish them off, also after you have set an enemy alight you can calmly finish them off with your shotgun if they flee rather than give chase into potentially unsafe territory. The Pyro also has an axe which can be used to kill already lit up enemies or if you are out of ammo but is mostly just a novelty due the flamethrower been more effective in almost every way.
Symbol Of Fear
As a Pyro you have the ability of intimidation and causing paranoia amongst enemies especially the Spy. You have the ability to set Spies on fire no matter if they are cloaked or disguised, this reveals their position to all your fellow team mates and is also an easy kill for yourself so basically the Pyro is the Spies Achilles heel, there is nothing more annoying or difficult for a Spy to overcome than a Pyro who is constantly Spy checking team mates and random firing flames in all directions. Due to this as a Pyro you have the ability to defend Spy vulnerable parts of your base/defense for instance, you could protect a Sentry or your Snipers.
You are not just limited to giving the Spy a bad day at the office, as a Pyro you have the potential to break up any opponent attack and destroy any momentum they may have built up. You hide in the shadows, around corners, on high ledges any place where you can get the spring on your opponent, stealth is just as important to a good Pyro as it is a Spy. Constantly change your hiding place, any way keep your opponent on the back foot, if you constantly torment your opponents they will become paranoid and be on the constant look out for you, this crushes their momentum and will result in their attacks becoming weaker and slower because some of their resources will be dedicated to stopping you.