Shotty Heavy

I test this out in a game, using shotty 90% of the time (with the exception of big gun to take out sentry). I found it to be very effective because most expect a heavy to be immobile.  Think about it, heavy got twice the health, with some dodging = long live (excellent vs. demo and sniper). Also  dont you hate it when you are shooting and the pyro rush out from a corner and you die. Well using shotty allow you to quikly withdraw the weapon without cooldown time and throw the punch taking him out in one or two hit . (you dont have to worry about ammo when is time to rush). Try it and leave some feedback on this tatic.

Yeah I must admit, its good for a heavy to go shotty or even fist on a pyro...I've killed heavies with pyro just buy using a half circle strife, and the heavy was just trying to kill me with the big gun...it just wouldn't be fast enough for the heavy turning speed to match the pyro. And since you got the big health, shotty against the pyro is the way to go

people should try to counter spin the direction your enemy is firing yo at so yo are bound to meet them half way. Heavies are pretty useless though with the shotty when facing a crowd of people, its more fun just pre spin the fire at them in a tight space like hte bridge at 2fort.

well 2 things, Your damage out put goes down considerably. Pyros almost never take me down unless ubered or they really really catch me off gaurd. Being immobile is never an issue for me, it's all about hit and run which with some practice is actually pretty easy to do. I've heard alot of people say that I'm the fastest heavy they have ever seen. I use my shotty in 2 occasions, killing some one persuing me while im low on heath or I have the flag (which oddly enough is pretty often).


To use the minigun effectivly, you must have your sensitivity really high. I have my in game at 6.8 and climbing with mouse sensitivity at 2000 dpi. Also, you must have good health management. I get just as many kills without a medic as I do with a medic and my deaths a little higher, but normally I'll go at least 2:1 without a medic.

I can not stress sensitivity enough though, and making sure you have a framerate above 50 at all times. Those 2 things alone will increase how well you do.

I've tried about 30 different strategies with playing heavy in my 170+ hours of playing the class and this was one of them.

Yeah those heavies whom I killed with pyro, they didn't do counter spin to meet up with me nor having a high mouse sensitivity....not to mention they have no uber nor medics behind him. But then again I usually don't try to kill enemy heavies anyways unless they are being distracted with something else

Well the higher the sensitivty the less you have to counter spin, I spin with them because at that distance my minigun will out damage the flamethrower, then i just go for the nearest health pack or get a medic. But you will lose that match up if your using the shotgun, so you'll have to just run. I'm very aggressive as a heavy so retreating isnt in my blood.

I usually use the shotgun whenThe enemy are too far from the minigun range (ie. one end of the bridge to and the enemy's on the other side on 2fort) since you can move faster and ive got a feeling it's more accurate aswell...
I'll try that tactic and let you know what I thought...

i find pyros to be one of the easiest targets to take out when i rarely play heavy
they have to get in close range, which is where your minigun is best at...usually you have enough health for the burning, but can shred the pyro in a mere second

If the Pyro sets you aflame and you're not buffed and do not have your gun revving, you have two options.

1. Rev your gun and (if you have good aim, reflexes and a high sensitivity) kill the Pyro, in which you will have 50~20 health left to find a medpack before you burn to death, and that's not if he crits or if you don't get him in time or if he has backup. Then you'll pretty much die.

or

2. Take out your secondary and move the hell away. I suppose if you're a great shot and get as many hits in as possible the Pyro will die, but the shotty also takes a long time to switch out to and you will probably end up with as much health as the first option if the Pyro is competent at burning things (especially big fat guys).

If I know a Pyro is after me I will sometimes try and surprise him with my fists as I've become more comfortable with meleeing as compared to shotty, and if I crit he will be dead on the spot, unless he is buffed. But you can always get two hits in before any class can get away from you, except for Soldier which you can keep up with if they are backpedaling.

I don't find myself using the Shotty, well, ever. If I find someone attacking me in an open field I'll scare them off with Sasha and then flank them (or just downright confront them) as they cower behind cover. The fist of justice knows better than any damned shotgun.

Haha...just like the ignus solus movie...a pyro being fist to death by a heavy is quite painful..

But if you aren't confident with your fists, don't try it or the pyro might go weapon switch on you...