sap then stab

errr, topic should read "sap then stab or stab then sap?"(i dunno how to edit topic titles)

usually for me its stab then sap

if its a level 3 sentry, i may sap then stab, depending on the situation

Depends on whether or not I can guarantee I'll land a back-stab first try.

It's usually a stab and then sap, anyway.

I don't play spy very much (meaning I suck at it) but I would definitely go with "Stab than Sap". That is, if you can sap the sentry before it starts to shoot you.

...sap first, for sure. If you stab first, you're dead because the stabbing removes your disguise and the SG will kill you dead.

As you said it depends on the level sentry. I normally wait until the engineer goes directly behind then sentry (If level 1 or 2) then stab and sap. It always works and I get the sentry and engie at once.

If it's a level 3 sentry then I assist myself by sapping/ shooting it down then proceeding to stab. The only time I'll do a sap and stab when dealing with a level 3 sentry is if I'm sure that I won't miss. The rockets will get you every time.

Also, I don't deal with sentries level three if there are people guarding them such as pyros. It just serves to give away sapper points. It's all about sitting back and waiting for the engie to leave the level 3 un-guarded.

^^That is, unless you're capable of pulling out your sapper fast enough, and possibly knowing how the target sentry will turn around.

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Not if you time it right. The problem with first sap is that the engineer might get scared and turns around, messing up your backstab- that will get you killed for sure.

Anyting but stab-sap is going to get you a wrench to the face.

Stab and sap works in the following situation:

1. The engineer is between you and the sentry
2. The sentry is facing away from you
3. The engineer has his back to you
(so, the standard gun-humping position)
4. The sentry is lv.1 or lv.2.

The last point is important; a lv.3 sentry has a much faster turn time and will nail you before you can pull out the sapper.

There is a trick which lets you stab-sap even a lv.3 sentry - you have to stab the engineer without getting the slow "lift" backstab animation. To do this, use a flick-stab. Either:

A: Face at 90' (left or right) to the engineer, start your stab, then turn to bring your knife into his back as it reaches the peak of its arc.

B: Start your stab when you're out of range of the backstab but running forward, so that part way through the swipe your knife contacts with their back.

Both of these give the "flickstab", which is a normal knife melee move that does a backstab; and the flickstab has a sufficiently fast recovery time to let you get the sentry as well.

Oh, and if you're GMan, there is one more technique, which I don't understand. He looks up and jumps and does some crazy stuff.

Technically, you can pull off a "lift" stab-sap on a Lvl. 3 Sentry, and walk away from it. Given that it'll usually take a bit of your health, anyway.