Choosing A Main

There are many factors to consider when choosing a main, and there are many problems that people have when choosing one. I will provide you with many solutions to consider while choosing your main, and different methods to accomplish this dauntless task.

What is a main?

Before we move along in this guide, we all must know what a main is. There are many misconceptions about a main, so I will explain it to you.

A main is the class that someone plays the most, and identifies with. For example, Uncle Dane is an Engineer main. This means that he plays Engineer the most. Another example is MrPaladin. MrPaladin is a Spy main, which means that he plays Spy the most.

A common misconception for the term "main" is that your main is the only class you play. This is entirely untrue. A main is simply what you play the most, and does not mean you cannot play other classes. In pub servers, it is important to play what your team needs to balance the team composition. If you are a Sniper main but there are already 3 Snipers on your team, play as another class. If you see that your team lacks a Medic, go as a Medic. This is important to winning battles, and may also help you by allowing you to see how your countering classes play.

1. Development

The first step to choosing a main is development. This means that you have to develop yourself to be aware of all classes playstyles, tricks, weapons, and overall familiarity. You have to put a decent amount of hours into each class in order to find what you are good at.

It takes a lot of practice to settle on what you truly are as a TF2 Player. It took me over 1000 hours to settle on my main.

TIP: Never be in a rush to choose your main. It takes time to successfully choose your main.

AVOID OBSESSION
Obsession is something I struggled with for a long time. There are many different kinds, but the typical one is:

1. Taking interest in a class
2. Playing the class and falling in love with it
3. Taking interest in another class
4. Playing the class and falling in love with it
It was a never-ending cycle, or so I thought.

2. Change your Mentality

What got me to begin with my quest to main was changing my mentality. I was convinced that I needed to play a certain class for many, many hours to get good at it, and only then I could choose if I wanted to main it. Wrong.

Rydercycle's Heavy main video opened my eyes, and told me that I had the wrong mentality on things. Your main isn't necessarily just what you want to play, but also what you are good at. There will be a link to his video at the bottom of this guide.

When getting your mentality right, you have to think: What is my playstyle? Do you like to flank? Do you like to be fighting on the front lines? Are you not particularly good at aiming? Are you good at multi-tasking in game? These are all questions that can help you find your main.

I personally like to flank. I also like to fight on the front lines. I'm also not particularly good at aiming. I am also decent at multi-tasking. With all this, these questions really didn't answer too much for me. But this is a step that may solve problems for some, it may help solve problems for some, and may be a jumpstart to solving the problem for some, like it did for me.

3. Research

You need to research in order to make the job of choosing a main easier. Watch videos of choosing a main, find quizzes. Watch gameplay of each class and see which classes appeal to you the most, because once you become good you will want to be as skilled as them, if not better. Once you are able to narrow down the classes in your research, you can proceed to test.

4. Testing

Yes, I'm sure you have all played in-game to see what class you like the best. I'm sure it has led you nowhere, as it did me. But upon changing your mentality, you may look at the test in a whole new light.
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This is a summarized version of my main journey through testing in-game, and how it could be similar to yours.

Previously, I thought the main was just going to be something I enjoy playing, and I would work to get better at. This may be true for some, but it wasn't for me. I wasn't sure what I wanted to main, but Scout was always in the back of my mind. (I'm not a Scout main) I loved the idea of being an obnoxious guy running around and jumping over everyone, coming out of spot that nobody expected and they'd be dead before they would know I was there, and then that final killcam of me doing the conga. I was going to be that flashy guy ruining everyone's day.

But I wasn't particularly good at aiming, and the added speed made it even more difficult. I practiced some, but realized Scout wasn't right for me.

Next, I wanted to be a Pyro main. I was okay at Pyro, and seemed to be naturally okay at it, but I found that it would take a lot of practice to combo, and I was poor at it. I used my shotgun/flare sometimes, yes, but I flamed a lot. Pyro got old kind of fast.

Next, I wanted to be an Engineer main. I was good at setting up everything up, but that too got old. I seemed to take interest in other classes much quicker when I was playing Engineer.

Then, I wanted to be a Heavy main for a little bit. Heavy mains were rare, and his unusuals were cheap. (Dumb reason but yeah) But I was okay at Heavy, and if you're okay at one of the easiest classes in the game, maybe it isn't meant for you. (I understand that Heavy is a difficult class to play, I am not insulting Heavy. Avoiding Spies, Snipers, and being left out in the open is a lot to deal with. But most of the other classes are more difficult still)

Finally, it was down to the two I was best at: Medic and Spy. I honestly wanted to be a Medic main, because they were the most important player on the team, I was okay at shooting Crossbows, and I spread heals very evenly. I was also pretty good at staying alive. But then there was Spy. After watching some MrPaladin gameplay, I found that I was naturally talented at Spy. Without much practice, I was getting multiple backstabs per life, and was doing my job as a Spy, other than taking out Sentry nests. I tried, but I struggled. But that is where practice comes in.
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I ultimately decided to become a Spy main because I am naturally talented at the class, and I enjoyed the playstyle. I can flank like a Scout, but I take a slightly different approach.

The bottom line is that you have to test yourself in-game with a different mentality and narrow down the pros and cons. Is that a class you enjoy? Is that a class you are good at? Is that a class that doesn't get stale? These are all questions that you need to ask yourself.

5. Talent

Find the class that you are most talented at, and there is a good chance that will be your main. If you do not enjoy the class, do not take it off of your list but it probably will not be a good main choice for you. But you may come back around to it.

-Keep all classes on the table when choosing your main. I used to be a terrible Spy, and I rarely ever played him unless there was a Sentry that needed to be sapped (it took about 4 lives to sap it too). But then after watching MrPaladin videos, I learned how he was actually played, only then did I realize the talent I had for him.

Which brings me to my next point: Once you narrow it down, watch multiple gameplay videos: Highlander, Competitive, Casual, big-name youtubers, etc. These guys can help improve your gameplay without even giving tips. You may not realize that it is helping you, but it is.

Summary

Taking all factors into consideration, you hopefully have an idea for a main. Now go try it out, and good luck!

Rydercycle's "TF2: Are you a Heavy main?"
/www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-UPtcSxyUk

A good quiz to find your main:
https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=what-tf2-class-are-you
-As Rydercycle said, there are flaws. For example, I got Medic, but that was my 2nd choice overall. If I had a secondary class to play, that's what it would be.

I hope you all enjoyed this guide, and if you have any suggestions/problems let me know in the comments!

[o.hajjar13! :D]

got scout perfect aim with speed to dodge A and D to strafe and dodge

[HighOffQuack]

got engi, side main with scout

[albert gaeming]

hah, i got heavy

[AtZa]

Got medic, I fugnick hate him

[a duck with a smoking thingy]

im not really a one class main im more of a "fuck you sniper i hate playing as you and i will never play you for a desent amount of time" main

[mrBaff]

Is it possible to main more than 2 main classes, for example, I like to play a medic pyro heavy and scout? In addition, I want to say I can't play for the 1st class all the time!

[Shyanide]

what if I'm naturally talented at all classes ?

[god's sleepiest soldier]

huh, i got Medic even though i'm Pyro... well i have been looking to try Medic out more so i guess

[ytamus]

i got medic

[bababooey]

tbh i just wanted some unusuals like you but i decided to main spy after reading this, still gonna get some unusuals doe