How is your pyro Specced??

For those of you who have gotten all of the weapon unlocks, which is your pyro equipped with, and why??


Flamethrower: I'm still testing the two flamethrowers out, and the reflect is extremely fun to play with, but the backburner just has health and crits, so i typically use the backburners

Shot/flaregun: This one was easy, the flaregun is pretty wimpy, since being set on fire does almost nothing, at times i felt helpless with all enemies my flamer couldn't touch. Shotgun is the far better gun.

Axe: So far i use the axtinguisher, but it doesn't really make much of a difference, i usually only go for it if i'm sure ill get the kill, (usually from behind), so i might as well use backburners

What do you use?

Primary: Backburner, so worth it.


Secondary: Flare, owns.  People just haven't seen it in action yet (With everyone being pyros and all, unflamable)

Melee: Axstinguisher, good axe against medics and such.  Also fun to send snipers flying off of balcony's.

Primary: Flamethrower, hands down. Helped me soo much in both scrims I played today.

Secondary: Flaregun. I was told today in the scrim that I was very annoying with the flare, so I will continue to use it.

Melee: Axtinguisher. There isn't really a down with this, besides not doing too much damage when someone's not on fire. Plus, it works in no-crit servers

Primary: Flamer.
Secondary: Shotgun.
Melee: Fireaxe.


As you can see, I haven't unlocked anything yet. Just updated, infact.

I've been using today what BOOSH used. I really hate the backburned (the range for peoples "backs" is tiny and the health bonus is nothing compared to reflecting projectiles). I really like the axtinguisher, but I'm really torn on the flare gun. Its pretty accurate even at long range if you shoot it right but the shotgun is such a nice tool to have. The flare gun really lacks burst damage and is totally useless against other pyros, so I like having the shotty for them. The one saving grace is that it is a bone fide long range weapon that can be used effetively against soldiers, demos, and even snipers. Its also a little less noisy for those juicy burn + axetinguisher "backstabs". So I'm still deciding on that one.

Primary: Flamethrower/Backburner
Secondary: Flare Gun
Melee: Axtinguisher

I'm torn between the two flamethrowers.

The axtinguisher is probably a no-brainer unless you like meleeing people instead of shooting them. Other than that, I'm completely torn.

primay: Backburner, the extra 50 health makes everything worth it
secondary: Shotty, teh flare does shit literally against buildings and other classes, excluding the pyros.
melee: fire axe, who actually wants to humiliate someone that bad?

I think people that have unlocked everything should wait til teh pyro craze is gone, cuz the flare gun on pyros does shit. so does the axetinguisher.

I think with the recommended weapon sets there can be two schools of thought on the subject...
1: Flamethrower/Flare/any Axe - Tech Pyro: This set allows the Pyro to fill in as a support class on the team; it allows him to use the air blast to break apart ubers, as well as clear points of stickies and defend the key classes from oncoming Rocket/Demo spam. The Flare gun disrupt Snipers and discourages other classes from advancing; most people that get ignited before the firefight will usually back off if the Medic's absent/no safe health packs around.
2: Backburner/Shotgun/any Axe - Ambush Pyro: This set is usually better for attack/defend maps, or just any map where you have a lot of flanking options that you won't meet much opposition in. The Backburner can completely devestate a pushing team if used right, and with the extra health the Pyro has a very good chance of getting out alive and returning to sweep up the survivors while they're still reeling from the last attack.

1. Flamethrower vs backburner: I see uses with both, much like the critz and uber. They are for different situations. If the other team has a lot of demos/sollys then the regular flamethrower would be more useful. If not, then the backburner would be more useful if there are few projectiles and popping up behind medic combos are perfect.

2. shotty vs flare: hate to be repetitive, but I think it's also more situational. The shotty is perfect when you are a lone wolf, ambushing people. But I think the flare is less about survival and more about support.So the flare is a perfect addition to an assault force, especially as an annoyance. You definitely need teamates when you use the flare gun and going lone wolf is suicide.

3. Ax vs Axtinguisher: This one, i think the axtinguisher wins hands down. It may do less damage but a pyro burns and a lot of the times, they are already burning.