Anti-Sniper strategy

“

(mocking Sniper) No worries mate! (laughs) Click to listen — The Spy

”

The Sniper spends most of his time at long range to make up for his lack of a close-range means of self-defense.

General

• Staying at range, especially in the open, is a death wish against Snipers. Close the distance!
• Use Sticky Jumping and Rocket Jumps to quickly close the distance.
• If you can't hide in open spaces, never stop moving. If you don't do so, you'll be an easy target for enemy Snipers.

Weapon Specific Tips

A list of useful tidbits about the Sniper's tools, and how to best counter them.

Primary Rifles

• Shooting the Sniper with hitscan weapons while he is scoped in will disrupt his aim.
• Firing projectiles from range will intimidate the Sniper into dodging, denying him the time to take a clean shot.
• Snipers will have a hard time keeping on target if twitching from fire. Use your Flare Gun to keep the Sniper's aim off.

Sniper Rifle

• Light classes can be killed with an uncharged headshot. Be careful of attacking a skilled Sniper head-on.
• A Sniper may attempt to weaken you with unscoped shots before charging at you with his Knife. Try to keep mobile and keep of out his melee range.

Sydney Sleeper

• The Sydney Sleeper requires the Sniper to be scoped in for some time before able to do significant damage. This makes him an easier target.
• If a Sniper with the Sydney Sleeper jarates you, keep your distance, as he will be likely to follow up with a melee attack with the Bushwacka or Kukri.

Huntsman

• Huntsman arrows are difficult to see, and as a result, difficult to airblast. Be sure to constantly strafe to get a glimpse of the arrow's flight path.
• Snipers cannot fire arrows while airborne. Take advantage of this fact by using the Pyro's airblast or juggling the Sniper.
• Snipers cannot fire arrows while in water.
• The Huntsman kills every class with one hit in the head.
• Fiery arrows deal greater damage and puts you on fire. Watch out!

Submachine Gun

• The Submachine Gun is not accurate at range, If a Sniper attempts to attack you with his Submachine Gun try to move away from him while attacking with a more accurate weapon.
• The Submachine Gun does not deal much damage, but it will quickly stack with sustained fire, keep an eye on your health.

Razorback

• If you're quick enough, you can stab the Razorback off the Sniper's back and Cloak away without being seen before coming back to finish him off.
• Stabbing the Razorback may be unnecessary. You can usually finish Snipers off with the Revolver or Ambassador before they have time to react.
• Quickly get rid of Razorback Snipers by headshotting them once with the Ambassador then following up with a quick bodyshot.

Darwin's Danger Shield

• Unlike the Razorback, this shield does not protect the Sniper from backstabs.

Jarate

• As a Pyro, airblast the Jarate back at the Sniper for an easy follow-up kill.
• Remember that Jarate can be washed off by water.
• It may be better to retreat if covered in Jarate, especially if the enemy Sniper is equipped with the Bushwhacka.
• If you are covered in Jarate, beware of the heavier classes, as Mini-Crit explosives or bullets will quickly kill you.
• When you're covered in Jarate, fast-shooting weapons will easly kill you. Beware!

Kukri

• Snipers will generally only pull out their Kukri in a last-ditch attack against enemies. However beware if a Sniper charges at you, as a Crit swing can severely damage or kill you.

Tribalman's Shiv

• Although this weapon does less damage than the Kukri at first, the bleeding causes it to do more damage over time.

Bushwacka

• If you are covered in Jarate, keep your distance from a Sniper using the Bushwacka. If you have less than 195 health you will be killed with a single hit.
• The Bushwacka makes the Sniper 20% more vulnerable to fire. Use the flaregun to harass him from range.
• If a Sniper finds a Soldier with the Buff Banner, run away: the Bushwacka's effect will normally work.

The Croc-o-style Kit

• Headshotting enemy Snipers with this set on will not kill them, but it will bring them down to one health. A quick follow-up shot is more than enough to finish them off.
• A fully charged bodyshot can also kill a Sniper using this set.
• A Sniper using this set cannot headshot, and they have almost no weapons for close combat. Exploit this using flanking techniques.

See also

• Sniper strategy
• Community Sniper strategy
• Sniper match-ups
• Team strategy