The Third Degree: Direct Upgrade?

[Doswallo]

The Third Degree is a melee weapon for Pyro.

It has one stat:
+Hits people connected via medi-beams

One upside. No downsides. Direct Upgrade? In some cases yes, but in most cases no. It's upside exists for one reason: "Medic Chaining". Medic Chaining is a tactic in which many Medics heal eachother to keep eachother alive and support their team. This strategy can get annoying so as always Valve eventually solved the problem with The Third Degree, except they didn't.

The Third Degree does 65 damage every 0.8 second swing while a Medigun heals at 24 hp per second. This does eventually take the Medic Chain out, but by the time that does happen the other team is on your butt and will probably kill you. Unless you get a lucky crit you're screwed (sometimes even a crit can't save you)!

"But Doswallo, stock weapons are the best and because The Third Degree is statistically the same as the Stock Fire Axe it is a straight upgrade!" you all say. For the other classes you would be right, but not for Pyro. The Third Degree AND The Stock Fire Axe both have a hidden downside:

-Not the Powerjack, Homewrecker, Backscratcher, etc.

The Pyro doesn't really need a melee weapon when his flamethrower or shotgun do the "close range job" better. But Pyro's unlockable melees with speed, support, or strength boosts are almost direct upgrades to the Stock and Third Degree.

So the Third Degree (and Stock Fire Axe in a way) is/are pretty useless. Valve probably thought that since the Third Degree is a direct upgrade people will automatically use it, they'd nerf it, and then they'd be able to buff it fair and square. But because it's upside was so useless and other options were so much better it was never overused and therefore wasn't nerfed & soon after buffed.

I think it should have new stats that go like this:

+Hits people connected via medi-beams
+Minicrits people hit via medi-beams
+3 second speed boost on hit
-30% swing speed

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with me? Do the new stats I made make it too OP? Tell me in the comments!

[Magenta]

Third degree doesn't need a nerf. Stock needs a buff.

[Mr. Shadow | Folfie]

How many times will you not die if you try to kill them?

[Professor snail]

Originally posted by Purple:

Degreaser doesn't need a nerf. Stock needs a buff.

But we are talking about the fire axe and the third degree, not flamethrowers.

[Magenta]

Originally posted by schnell_the_snail:

Originally posted by Purple:

Degreaser doesn't need a nerf. Stock needs a buff.

But we are talking about the fire axe and the third degree, not flamethrowers.

I fixed the typo so good on you for having a relevant post.

[light]

I play plenty of pyro, I can say for a fact degreaser+third degree destroys medic chains.

[Professor snail]

Third degree is always going to be better than stock unless buffed/nerfed. They both have the same downsides, but the third degree has more upsides.

[Professor snail]

Originally posted by Purple:

Originally posted by schnell_the_snail:

But we are talking about the fire axe and the third degree, not flamethrowers.

I fixed the typo so good on you for having a relevant post.

People can still see your error in my comment. :/

[sexgod69]

Originally posted by Doswallo:

One upside. No downsides. Direct Upgrade? In some cases yes, but in most cases no. It's upside exists for one reason: "Medic Chaining". Medic Chaining is a tactic in which many Medics heal eachother to keep eachother alive and support their team. This strategy can get annoying so as always Valve eventually solved the problem with The Third Degree, except they didn't.

this has never been a problem

[Holly the Jolly]

This is more ideal imo, as it is locked in as an anti medic weapon
+hits connect to all being healed by medibeam
+25% damage bonus
-100% slower holster time
-cannot be healed by medics when active

[Magenta]

Originally posted by schnell_the_snail:

Originally posted by Purple:

I fixed the typo so good on you for having a relevant post.

People can still see your error in my comment. :/

And my comment was edited BEFORE you posted. Your point?

[Professor snail]

Originally posted by Purple:

Originally posted by schnell_the_snail:

People can still see your error in my comment. :/

And my comment was edited BEFORE you posted. Your point?

Dunno I still see your typo.

[78pac7]

I think we all already knew all this, but thanks for putting it in text, anyway.

[Cursed Hawkins]

Originally posted by schnell_the_snail:

Originally posted by Purple:

And my comment was edited BEFORE you posted. Your point?

Dunno I still see your typo.

then Edit the typo yourself to fix it why complain when you can fix the damn thing!

[Doswallo]

Originally posted by Syref the Pyro Main:

I play plenty of pyro, I can say for a fact degreaser+third degree destroys medic chains.

Ok fair enough. But I still think The Third Degree needs a buff and if you don't that's fine (btw I'm not implying you were saying that it doesn't need a buff).