How to Not Be a Bad Team

Common teamwork failures and how to not fail your team

Good Teams

A good team. These do not exist in pub servers. You might get lucky and have a few intelligent players on your side, but other than that all good teams are prefabricated highlander teams or the like.

If all the players on a team help each other to complete an objective, they are a good team. They never have more than one Spy or Sniper, and will usually have multiple Medics working together. Voice commands aren't spammed by a good team, so when they do get used everyone listens and reacts accordingly. Engineers help each other build and keep an area secure. Pyros airblast burning teammates and check for spies around their base. Demos lay sticky traps and carpet bomb enemies during a team fight. Spies take out Medics and Demomen first. (isn't this a nice fantasy? Oh well.)

There are loads of tips n tricks to being a good team. I'll go over some at the end of the guide, but before you can get good, you have to learn how to not be bad. A good way to do that is to read on.

Bad Teams

Bad teams, better known as all teams, exist in every active server. In a game called Team Fortress 2, it makes me wonder at the level of intelligence of people who can't figure out how to properly play a game whose core concept is in the name itself. They play it like Call of Duty, ignoring anything and everything that isn't directly in front of them or about to be directly in front of them. They're more worried about their k/d ratio than about helping their team win. Sometimes it gets so bad that I have to take a break from playing until I'm sure I won't go off on my moron teammates. (I'm not an angry person, but it bothers me when people fail miserably at something very simple, especially when their failure directly affects everyone else on their team.) And remember, helping your team is infinitely more important than playing your favorite class. Another helpful tip: learn to situational awareness. If you can't do this then why are you playing video games in the first place? Go back to the hospital, you vegetable.

Spy Town

This is the mistake that I see most often: more than one Spy. There are occasions when two Spies can effectively help each other out, but these are very rare, and I have yet to encounter such a situation in all my 850 hours of play time(I know, I'm a scrub). What's more is that anyone who would switch and become the second or third spy is likely so bad at the class as to be a detriment to their team, giving Medics an ubersaw target and any Phlog Pyros a good boost to their MMMPH meter. If you see more than one spy on your team and no Medic or Engie, you're screwed(unless the other team is just as stupid). Welcome to Spy Town.

Sniper Town

This is just like Spy Town, but with Snipers. The most common place for this to happen is 2Fort. Unlike Spy Town, Snipers who neglect their team to be Sniper are sometimes decent at the class. This does not excuse them. They are still pieces of feces who should probably go ahead and uninstall. If you're on a team with two Snipers already, then tough luck. Go Medic or something. You don't NEED to snipe NOW. Honestly, people...

No Medic

Every team should have at least one Medic. If you join a team with no Medic, then GO MEDIC. But of course most people are likely to instead be the third Pyro or the fourth Scout. I'll repeat myself just in case any bad teammates missed it: If you join a team with no Medic, then GO MEDIC. Even a bad Medic is better than no Medic at all.

The CTF Turtles

If you find a level 3 sentry right outside your front door that seems to have been there for a while, then your team might be Turtling. This is when they defend, and that's it. They never leave the base or attempt to kill the incoming Medic before he gets an Uber. In fact, they never do anything. They just sit and wait for the timer to run out, and will likely still lose due to lack of score from sitting and doing nothing. If you're legitimately defending against a push and can't leave the base, then fine. But you need to push back. Do not be a Turtle team.

The Inappropriate Taunters

I only taunt when I really shouldn't have been able to get the kill, like when a Pyro is chasing me and I beat him to death with my bat without even catching on fire. Even then, I will only taunt if I know I'm in a safe position to do so. Many people taunt ALL THE TIME. In the enemy intel room, on a point that's actively being assaulted, you name it. They'll taunt, just to show that THEY ARE TOP DOGE. Don't be that guy.

What's A Voice Commands???

You're sitting on a point with your sentry all alone. You know there are teammates within earshot, you can hear them calling for Medic and checking for spies. All of a sudden, a Soldier and a Medic start attacking your nest! You press C+1 since you don't have time to type "help defend my sentry, guys!" You are ignored entirely, and your nest demolished. Then the Medic Ubers to try and chase you down. As you retreat, you call Incoming to your teammates nearby. They proceed to run outside without even looking, and are blown up by a crocket. The lesson to be learned here: pay attention. You should already know how to do this flawlessly, but apparently there are hundreds of mentally challenged people playing TF2.

Teamwork? Nah, I'm A CoD LOLOLOL

People who play TF2 like CoD, in that they're a bit shaky on the concepts of Health and Teamwork. They seem to think that they will do well playing every class like a competent player would play Soldier. This type of team is never together in groups of more than two, and even then the pair will usually go their separate ways. Do not go off and do your own thing. Remember: the game is called TEAM Fortress 2. (Even I'm guilty of doing this occasionally when I play Scout or Demo. The only difference is, I know it's a mistake and I can usually correct it as soon as I realize what I'm doing.) A side note: Scout is not for roaming as much as Soldier is. Yes, he's on the front lines wreaking havoc, but his real talent lies in finishing off fleeing enemies and quickly taking out a specific target in a group. A good Scout against a bad team can totally dish out loads of punishment and get kills out the wazoo, but in a balanced game a lone Scout who's overextended is just cannon fodder for his enemies.

Assistance Is For Losers

TF2 is not about getting the highest k/d, and assists matter just as much as kills. If you see a teammate in trouble, go to help them. Take some fire for them while they escape. DO NOT: Shoot at the enemy from far away in the hopes of getting another kill. DO NOT: rush in to butterknife a Pyro who's already being shot at from close range by a Heavy. DO NOT: kill an enemy that one of your teammates is about to successfully taunt kill. (Seriously, don't be like that.) DO NOT: ignore a teammate in trouble.

All For One (Class)

This is that team of 6 Scouts and a Pyro. Or 4 Demos and a Sniper. Or even 3 Pyros and 2 Engies. If your team is lacking a class, play as that class, or any other more important class that is also not present. DO NOT be the third of ANYTHING, except Engies and possibly Medics, and even then only if you have at least one of every other class. Proper team composition is EXTREMELY important and EXTREMELY easy to figure out. And always, always, always remember, I've said it before and I'll say it again: Helping your team is INFINITELY MORE IMPORTANT than playing as your favorite class.

Tips n Tricks (Class Specifics)

Miscellaneous tips on how to be a better teammate.

Scout

• Distract enemies while your teammates shoot them in the face.
  
  
• If one of your teammates wounds an enemy but they try to flee, chase them down and finish the job.
  
  
• Complete the objectives. Go after the briefcase, stand on points and carts, etc., etc.
  
  
• If you really want to be a team player, use the Fan o War and Mad Milk properly. (I don't use them, but they really do help a team if used correctly. Unfortunately, most Scouts just use them to their own benefit, in one-on-one battles)

Soldier

• The Soldier is great at dealing fair damage to a group of people or taking out a lone wolf who wandered too far from his pack. Try to weaken enemies so your teammates can finish them off more easily.
  
  
• If a Medic has a kritz Uber ready nearby and looks confused, get close to him and let him know that you're ready to crocket some poor unsuspecting saps.

Pyro

• Airblast! Airblast burning teammates, airblast incoming projectiles, airblast a spy who's just about to stab your Medic. It's one of the most powerful tools in TF2 when used at the right times.
  
  
• Pyro is a defense class. Whenever I see a Pyro get a > 10 killstreak, it'll be because he doesn't run into the enemy team holding M1. He might be a pybro or simply a master of defense, but either way he knows how to pick his battles. Pyro has the potential to absolutely dominate offense as well, but really it's better to keep people away from your base than to go assaulting theirs.
  
  
• Engies are your best friends, and vice versa. Spycheck for them, and airblast rockets and grenades away from their buildings. More often than not they'll even express in chat how much they love you for being so team-oriented.

Demoman

• Lay sticky traps in your base, or right outside of theirs. Most people won't notice a cluster of stickies.
  
  
• Instead of trying to do loads of damage directly, use your brain. Put stickies where enemies are going to run, not where they're standing. Lob grenades into the crowd during a teamfight.
  
  
• Take out any sentry you see or hear about. Out of all the classes, you're the best at it. Soldier is pretty good as well, but he doesn't have a stickybomb launcher. (Imagine if he did...ye gads) Also, a good Pyro can easily take down a level three sentry, the Engineer guarding it, and anyone else in the vicinity. Circle-strafing ftw!
  
  
• Stay with your team. Demo is not Soldier.

Engineer

• Give your team a teleporter, even if it's just to the entrance of your base from spawn.
  
  
• Help any other Engie you see. Two Engies working together make defense 300x more secure than if only one Engie were present.
  
  
• Put your dispenser somewhere near the front lines so your team can resupply and quickly get back into the fight.

Heavy

• In a team fight, chip away at enemy's health so your Demo or Sniper can more easily one-shot them. You're there to keep it a team fight instead of a chaotic brawl. Remember: wherever you are, your enemies will hesitate to go.
  
  
• You have more health than anyone else by 100 points. Stay near the front of the fight to take bullets for your more squishy friends.
  
  
• You're not invincible. A dead Heavy can't do his job of area denial, so err on the side of caution.

Medic

• HEAL. EVERYONE.
  
  
• Keep your whole team overhealed if possible. During setup, ALWAYS get everyone near you to full overheal.
  
  
• Pocket people based on how much danger they're in. For example, don't heal a half-health Demoman if your Soldier is being ambushed by a Heavy nearby. This does require a brain, which is why most Medics can't do it.

Sniper

• Take out Medics first.
  
  
• If you can, headshot enemy Engineers from outside their sentry's range.
  
  
• Jarate is really useful in teamfights. Think of it as an AoE fan o war when you're up against a whole team. Minicrits can help your Soldier solo the entire enemy team.

Spy

• Take out Medics first.
  
  
• Wait until your teammates distract the enemy, then go in for a chainstab.
  
  
• You're so very squishy. Think before you act; remember, a dead Spy can't backstab their Medic.
  
  
  I was planning on doing this guide after I'd done all the classes, but it seems like this one was REALLY needed.
  If you liked this, please rate and favorite. You'll be helping spread the good word and making TF2 a better experience for all of us.
  
  

Other Guides

How to Not Be a Bad Engineer

How to Not Be a Bad Heavy

How to Not Be a Bad Medic

How to Not Be a Bad Demoman

[exxelll]

wow my entire team are spies only as i am reading this

[Frogbane]

Don't listen to this guide. ALWAYS TAUNT!

[Quinbek]

as i am reading this there are 5 spies on the server ...

[jt20816]

"do no harm"
yeah right

[88888888]

I don't do objectives


I kill enemies to make it easier for my team doing the objective

[Beanstalk]

I was telling a spy to go engie. He said no. When I asked him why, he said "Because I din't want to"

[Beanstalk]

Supports team and helps them win
























Last minute autobalance

[limes]

The name of the class is Medic. Not Mindless-Heavy-Camping-Dummkopf.

[ChaosConvexum]

Very nice guide, though "Go back to the hospital, you vegetable"? You may attract unwanted kinds of attention with that, I suggest discretion.

Anyway: "DO NOT: kill an enemy that one of your teammates is about to successfully taunt kill." ... Oh God, this is exactly my life as a Medic when I want to Spinal Tap a stunned enemy for an Insta-Uber!

[Deleted]

It's called communication.