Dealing with Phlog Pyros (a not so in-depth guide)

There's been quite a few very vocal people complaining about the recent buff to the Phlog that happened during the Tough Break update. So out of boredom and just getting tired of seeing people complaining about the supposed overpoweredness of the weapon I decided to just put together a little guide giving a few of my own tips for dealing with Phlog Pyros.

I'll briefly cover a few basic tips on dealing with Phlog Pyros in their 3 different states:
Pre-MMMPH (Phlog is not currently charged or is not completely charged)
Activating MMMPH (The Pyro currently taunting and invulnerable)
and Post-MMMMPH (The Pyro is currently running around like an idiot with crits)

So let's get started

The Phlogistinator

What is the Phlogistinator?

From the Team Fortress 2 Official Wiki

"The Phlogistinator is a primary weapon for the Pyro. It is a retro-futuristic ray blunderbuss with some metal parts colored either copper or silver depending on the team, and a team-colored canister stamped with the Dr. Grordbort crest. It fires waves of energy that function identically to the Flamethrower's flames. These energy waves seem to appear across the Pyro's entire range simultaneously, despite the actual damage-causing particles needing a small travel time, resulting in an effect that can be deceiving to the eye."

"With the Phlogistinator equipped, all fire damage done by the Pyro with any of his weapons will increase the 'Mmmph' bar. Once filled, it can be activated with the alt-fire (default key: MOUSE2), or by taunting (default key: G) which performs a taunt that will refill health completely and enable a short crit boost for the Phlogistinator only. During this taunt, the wielder has complete knockback resistance and becomes invulnerable; The taunt cannot be activated if the player is in the air or in water. This weapon cannot gain random crits or use compression blasts.
It requires 225 points of fire damage to completely fill the 'Mmmph' bar (1200 damage against robots, or 3000 damage against tanks, in Mann vs. Machine), and when full, a team-colored plasma/lightning/vortex particle effect will appear in the muzzle of the weapon as a visual indicator. The duration of the buff is 10 seconds, minus the length of the taunt."

Pre-MMMMPH

Pre-MMMMPH (as I call it) is when the Phlog Pyro does not currently have their MMMPH charged or they yet to activate it.

A Pre-MMMPH Pyro can be pretty easy to deal with especially if its a Pyro that just charges in W+M1ing like an idiot. And because of the lack of airblast the Pyro has a significant drop in ways of defending themselves as well as having less control over enemy encounters.

Really the only thing to do is just shoot them till they die. Doesn't matter how you do it, bullets, rockets, stickies, swords, a severed arm. Anything works as long as you kill it before the Pyro gets its MMMMPH charged or has the chance to activate it.

Of course it can be much more difficult if the Pyro actually knows what it's doing, or if they have like 3 Medics strapped to them.

Additional helpful suggestions and tips from the comments

Some Phlog Pyros will attempt to fill their MMMPH bar from a distance by using the different flare guns, avoiding flares and extinguishing your teammates, if you have to ability to, (Airblasting, any Medigun, Mannmelter alt-fire, Jarate, Mad Milk, etc.) can slow the process of the Pyro filling its MMMPH.

if you happened to fail horribly to kill the Pyro or were just unlucky and came across the Phlog Pyro too late then off we go to the next section.

Activating MMMMPH

Well it seems you've failed miserably and the Pyro has charged its MMMPH completely and is now using it, that's okay though there are a couple ways to deal with the Pyro before they can finish the taunt.

RUN!

Seriously there is no shame in running from a fight.
Better to be alive and helping your team somewhere else then staring at the respawn timer.

Sticky Bombs

If you happen to be playing Demoman, have the sticky bomb launcher equipped, and happen to be nearby right when the Phlog Pyro starts taunting well then lay down a quick sticky trap around the Pyro and detonate right when his invulnerability ends.
(Could also work with the Scottish Resistance, probably...I'm not sure)

Line up a Headshot/Bodyshot

If the Pyro happens to start taunting out in the open like an idiot and you happen to be playing that New Zealand Far Shoot Guy well then get out your rifle and line up for a headshot to take the Pyro out once it stops taunting. And if you happen to miss and get a bodyshot, well at least you did some damage to it.

Go for a Taunt Kill

Time it just right and you could kill the Pyro right when it stops taunting or you could at least stun it to waste the phlog crits if you have the right weapon equipped (Huntsman, Ubersaw, Gunslinger). And if you fail, well at least you tried.

Additional helpful suggestions and tips from the comments

Backstab: With some good timing and a little luck on your side you can take out a Phlog Pyro easily with a stab to the back after their taunt ends.



Alright if you somehow messed this part up or came across the taunting Pyro a bit too late, well then on to our last section.

Post-MMMMPH

Well it seems you were too late and the Pyro has now got full health and 10 seconds of crits, now things are going to get interesting.

(was a bit too lazy to make a new image here)

RUN!

Again, no shame in running. At least the Pyro didn't kill most of your team if you ran for it.
And while you're backing off from the Pyro you can also shoot at them to at least chip away at their health.

RUN AND THEN GUN

Avoid the Pyro until they run out of their crits and then try to kill them.

Additional helpful suggestions and tips from the comments

Crit Canceling Weapons: Using weapons such as the Battalion's Backup's charge or the Vaccinator's Uber (with the correct resistance active) can render a Phlog's Crits completely useless.

Natasha: This weapon can be pretty helpful for dealing with the a Phlog Pyro. Keep firing at them from a decent enough distance and the slowing effect should keep them from doing to much damage until their crits are over or they die.

Place down a Mini Sentry: The Phlog Pyro now has 2 things to deal with, you and an enemy that takes no crits and won't miss. The Pyro now must choose to go after the Engineer or take out the Mini Sentry, and either option will end with the Pyro dead or at least low on health.

Stand your ground: Depending on your class and the situation when you encounter the crit powered Pyro, there's a decent chance you can take them out before they can kill you or do to much damage to your team. In a lot of cases when a Phlog Pyro has activated their MMMPH they're just going to charge blindly towards their enemy not even bothering to try and avoid oncoming fire. So there's a chance you can send them back to respawn if you can out DPS them or have enough distance between you and them.
Though in situations you as well will be staring at the respawn timer, but you helped keep the Pyro from doing a lot more damage to your team.

Knockback: Use knockback to keep the Phlog Pyro out of your hair until they're out of crits, or send them flying off that conveniently placed death cliff. There are quite a few weapons that can deal knockback, Force-a-Nature, any Rocket Launcher, Airblast from any Flame Thrower except the Phlog, the Loose Cannon. Just try to not hit the Pyro towards your team's respawn right when like 5 people are exiting....I may have done that once accidentally.

Ending Notes

And there you have it, my not so serious and not so in-depth guide to dealing with Phlog Pyros.

Long story short, just play it smart when dealing with a Phlog Pyro or any of the classes in general.
The Phlog isn't OP, Valve just made it a more viable weapon now and it still has the major disadvantage with the lack of airblast and making you an easy target when activating the MMMMPH.

If a Phlog Pyro managed to decimate most of your team they either got lucky or that Pyro actually knows what they are doing. Any class can be an almost unstoppable force if they know what they are doing, its not that the weapons are overpowered its just the person is using it to its full potential (or just that sweet dumb luck).

Alright that's it for me, have a delightful day.

All images created by me using Source Filmmaker
(Except for the Phlog stats, that's just a screenshot from the TF2 Wiki)










(There are most likely many other ways for dealing a Phlog Pyro that I have missed, but other players have been helping by providing their own suggestions down in the comments so feel free to give those a read or provide your own suggestion.)

[manolouin]

Very good guide indeed, and I seem to avoid most of the Phlog Pyros anyways, but I always call them noobs before I flee. Definitely the easiest weapon to use, in the easiest class to use for new players, after the Soldier. However, what bugs me are those Airblast spam pyros, or the ones MPHHH-ing in front of your teams spawn. At that time, there is no playing it smart. That is why I do hate the Pyro and use it solely for MvM, if there happens to be a FaN scout so I could use the Phlog. All of my friends think Scout is bad at MvM but FaN opens so mnay opportunities for Phlog pyros. Anyways, I have gone into some other subject, but the thing is that I think the guid is very good and in my opinion, very detailed and clear. I would love to see more guides like this from you.

[The Shiny Metagross]

I still h8 phlogs though. mostly noobs can get huge killstreaks in one mmmph.

[Mr. Light]

[Jewplicate]

k soz u still goin on barbie doe. And all that other stuff #Im

[Mr. Light]

So that's why I call him New Zealand Far Shoot Guy

[Mr. Light]

Well if you read the comics, it is revealed that Sniper is actually originally from New Zealand and just was raised in Australia.

[Jewplicate]

New Zealand far shoot guy is not from New Zealand. He is Aussie m8. Big Mistake. Aussies comin to chuck u on barbie and drown u in VB and Fosters. Then we will dress ur body in budgie smugglers. Drop bears have assembled in trees outside your house and Crocodiles are living in rivers surrounding ur house. Be wary Lord Of LIght, u have pissed off the Australians...

[淵 Magia Baiser]

Vacc

[76561198101711924]

i want

[Alsari]

In 'Activating MMMMPH' state Heavy can try to tauntkill Pyro with holiday punch as well.
As for 'Post-MMMPH' state, others can use weapons with knockback (Force-A-Nature,rocket launchers,flame throwers,loose cannon).
Heavy-Medic pair can deal with phlog Pyro in any state if Heavy has good aim and Pyro isn't that close to them.