Why do competitive players use stock ONLY

[JumpnShootnMan]

I understand that they are technically the best weapons in the game. But it is rather boring to only use those and nothing else. For example, what is the point of the Heavy using a shotgun? You may use if you run out of minigun ammo, but then you're just going to run off to get some ammo. The sandvich is a much better option since it heals you and has no downsides. Another one is the fire axe for the pyro. What is the point of using it if you have a flame thrower that is brutal at close range. If you run out, then use your secondary or run and get some ammo. I also wanted to be part of a competitive gaming club and the ONLY weapons they allowed are stock. It doesn't make sense since they aren't overpowered and it only depends on how you use them rather than how much better they are than other weapons.

[grounded in reality]

because it's competitive tf2.

[JumpnShootnMan]

That doesn't tell me anything. Using a sandvich to heal yourself and your teammates is the perfect item for competitive play.

[racknae]

In most major competitve leagues there are a fair amount of unlocks available to use.

[rb72]

I agree, though it may be so everything is predictable. How would you feel if you had a Kritzkreig Medic with his Uber deployed, and some soldier with Battalion's Backup (which gives imuninity to crits) came and screwed your whole strategy up?

[FaelisongTalim]

There are multiple leagues that allow unlockable weapons. Infact, the only weapons they block are bugged, new, or extremely useless weapons.

Pomson is a prime example. It's pretty fair in concept, but the lack of a proper hitbox and crit warning makes it banned.

[ʙᴜɴ.ᴇ]

because stock is how the game was created and is the most balanced. They also play without random crits.

[Juno Brier]

You'd be hard-pressed to find someone competitively using Stock Melee on at least half the classes though.

[BenjiGonzo]

Being a shotgun hoovy is actually quite fun, you should try it sometime.

[JumpnShootnMan]

I tried. A fair amount of kills but nothing compared to the minigun.

[grounded in reality]

Originally posted by Silverfox:

Being a fat scout is actually quite fun, you should try it sometime.

fixed*

[JarateKing (very rusty)]

they are technically the best weapons in the game

Generally speaking of course, but pretty much because of this. If you want to get your highest chances of winning, why ruin it not only with a dumb strat that doesn't work as well but a dumb strat that your team doesn't understand?

Sandvich is used when it is not banned, the "comp players use stock" has its exceptions when it comes to utilities, which is more often than you'd think. Pyro is probably the biggest exception, the standard weapons are never stock.

Sounds like a pretty cruddy community imo, stock only communities don't last long and never get that big because whether they like it or not the meta involves certain non-stock items. The major leagues and pug communities keep quite a bit of things unbanned.

As for being boring, it may seem like it when you're not doing it but it's not. You get a much clearer idea of your skill and recognize where you're sub-par, and see yourself improving. As with anything with a competitive nature, that's what it's all about in the end, improving. It's not for everyone certainly but it is for more people than you'd think.

Originally posted by Leeevog #NOTKMARTSMART:

Pomson is a prime example. It's pretty fair in concept, but the lack of a proper hitbox and crit warning makes it banned.

Pomson was banned mostly because of bombing engies. As dumb as it sounds, if an engie could get in on a flank or do an ambush right before an uber-fight, he could prevent the enemy medic from having 100% and being able to use his uber, letting his team just roll in on an advantage.

The particle size and no difference in crits aren't a big concern for competitive. Crits on an engie are uncommon enough that none of his stuff could show crits and it'd still be fine, while the particle size is relatively minor because he'd have done more with shottie anyway. Things only get banned if it's disrupting to gameflow or gives one team a dumb advantage just for having it.

[Lumanator]

Because stock is for pros while other items are for noobs.

[JumpnShootnMan]

I do use certain stock weapons for certain loadouts but I don't have one that is all stock. Besides you don't necessarily need to use the stock weapons to improve yourself since a lot of the weapons are different and require skill to master. They are dependent on how good you are with them rather than having one stronger than the other which requires not much skill to use.

[Peachb]

My guess for why the competitive TF2 community only uses stock weapons is because then, everyone is using the same weapons, so who wins the battle is pretty much based on skill level.

[JumpnShootnMan]

Do I have to repeat myself on the weapons and the required skill level to be good with them.