Community Versus Saxton Hale strategy

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This article is about Community Versus Saxton Hale strategy.

General strategy (as Saxton Hale)

Saxton Hale

• If you are facing off against a high health target (such as a Heavy or an overhealed Soldier) and it has been a while since you've used Saxton Punch!, it may be beneficial to back off and wait for the ability to recharge to deal extra damage.
• Try to use the Sweeping Charge often, either to quickly catch up to pesky Scouts or to reach advantageous areas in conjunction with Brave Jump. It deals moderate damage and knocks people back, which also means you can juggle a Medic and prevent them from escaping, making it easier to take down one of the most consistent sources of healing for the Mercenaries.
• Prioritize high-value targets over the main combat classes. Below is a list of which mercenaries you should try to kill first, why they pose a threat to you, and how to deal with them.
  • Medics should be killed as quickly as possible, as their ability to grant Overheal prevents you from killing most Mercenaries in one hit, and can provide their team with invulnerability every 20 seconds or critical hits every 16 seconds. They take two hits to kill thanks to their 30% damage resistance against your attacks, and take significantly more knockback, allowing them to surf your punches to safety. Try to knock Medics into walls to deny their escape - a second hit will finish them.
    • Uber-chaining Medics, while not practical, can pose a significant threat if you let them hit you, as it only takes two Ubersaw hits on you to gain a free Ubercharge. Try to knock one of them away with a punch, or Mighty Slam between them to push them away from each other.
  • Engineers are also of high priority; despite your 50% damage resistance against Sentry guns, a large Engineer nest can rapidly eat through your health. Try to take them out before they can set up; most will go down to a single hit. If you are unable to stop Engineers from setting up, do not waste your health rushing headlong into their nests; you have two efficient ways to destroy buildings.
    • Buildings have a +100% damage vulnerability to Hale's Mighty Slam. If the nest is not underneath a low ceiling, consider using Brave Jump to leap above it, then slam down, breaking all buildings in a wide radius.
    • If the room is too small to use Mighty Slam, wait for Saxton Punch to recharge. Saxton Punch creates a large explosion that can break buildings instantly - use Brave Jump or Sweeping Charge to approach the nest quickly, then target the Sentries first. Don't worry about the Wrangler, as your attacks pierce its damage resistance.
  • Pyros should also be targeted for their airblast, which can protect Medics and Engineer nests, and deny you from capturing the control point.
    • Try and set up a surprise attack with either Sweeping Charge or Brave Jump in conjunction with Mighty Slam, then pick them off before they can react.
    • Pyros that use the Phlogistinator are usually not much of a threat, as their inability to airblast makes them unable to keep you at a distance. As in the base game, if you find a lone Phlogistonator Pyro activating Mmmph, deny their attacks by standing near them and killing them as their invulnerability wears off. However, if a Medic Übercharges them as they do so, it is strongly advised to back off and target other mercenaries until their buffs wear off.
• While Mighty Slam is on cooldown, it is still possible to hold (default key: Ctrl) to accelerate downwards and increase your stomp damage.

General strategy (as Mercenaries)

• Do not spread out too much, as Hale can easily pick off most isolated players. At the same time however, do not bunch together too tightly; Hale can deal significant area-wide damage which can greatly weaken your group if it lands.
• Saxton Hale's left arm glows if Saxton Punch! is ready; this means the next attack he lands will instantly kill anything short of an overhealed Heavy. Spread apart to minimize the splash damage he will deal.
  • If you are a Medic, try to bait Hale into wasting his Saxton Punch! by Ubercharging the player he is targeting.
• If you are falling to your death (a common occurrence in this gamemode), try to make your way to a wall and hit it with your melee to Wall Climb. If you are successful, this will launch you upwards, and can save your life.
• In less serious matches, Hale may be willing to play Rock, Paper, Scissors. Winning the toss-up is the only way to instantly kill Hale in larger servers, and it is not uncommon to see the last player standing offering Hale a game.

Class-specific strategy (against Saxton Hale)

 Scout

As Scout, you cannot damage Hale as efficiently as many of your teammates, as your Scatterguns' limited range and your Pistols' limited ammo force you to get close to Hale to deal large amounts of damage - extremely risky, as Hale will kill you in a single hit, even if you are Overhealed. As such, your main role will usually be supporting your team

• The Baby Face's Blaster is a great primary choice for survivability, as fully charging your Boost meter will let you run as quickly as Hale at maximum speed. Despite your high speed, continue to keep your distance from Hale, as the splash damage he deals can quickly drain your Boost.
• The Force-A-Nature can be a useful tool to push Hale away before he gets too close, possibly into an environmental hazard.
• While situational, using the Bonk! Atomic Punch can let you escape what would otherwise be a certain death, or help kite Hale around for the rest of your team to flank.
• The Crit-a-Cola can be a great option if you are willing to fight Hale directly, as its Mini-Crit boost increases your effective range and lets you keep your distance from Hale. The downside of marking yourself for death is largely irrelevant, as Hale will kill you in one hit regardless.
• Considering there is only one enemy for your team to attack, Mad Milk is an excellent choice, as it greatly increases your teammates' survivability.
• While risky, hitting Hale with the Fan O'War marks him for death for 15 seconds, greatly increasing your team's damage output.

 Soldier

As Soldier, you can take two hits from Hale before dying, making you better-suited to fighting Hale at mid-to-close range. However, your Rocket Launcher will run out of ammunition quickly, so you'll need to support your team during your downtime.

• All Banners are useful in their own ways, and allow you to keep your distance from Hale most of the time. Below are a few use cases for each banner.
  • The Buff Banner greatly increases your team's offensive power, and if used regularly when Hale is still healthy, can be the difference between a win and a loss later in the game. Even if you are not fighting head-on, it allows your team to consistently pepper Hale with chip damage at range, due to Mini-crits ignoring damage falloff.
    • If you are one of the three last Mercenaries standing, you will gain a permanent Mini-Crit boost, making the Buff Banner completely useless.
  • The Concheror will give your teammates better survivability when fighting Hale head-on, and its speed boost the will help them outmaneuver or escape him in the early game.
    • The Concheror can be activated more often as it only requires 480 damage to charge, compared to the other banners' 600 damage required.
    • The speed boost's utility diminishes as Hale takes damage. At low health, he can run 30% faster than Scout, making running away ineffective.
  • The Battalions Backup is extremely useful at dampening the effects of Hale's attacks, allowing teammates to fight Hale longer.
    • Combined with Medic's overheal, the 35% damage reduction lets you take two punches from Hale without dying. Light classes survive a hit from Hale with overheal. Even without overheal, the buff lets Pyros and Demomen can now survive a hit from Hale, and Heavies can take two punches without dying.
    • If Hale is about to attack a nearby Heavy with Saxton Punch!, activating the Backup will let him survive it if he is at full health.
    • The extra 20 maximum health from the Battalions doesn't often come into play, as you still die in 2 hits without Overheal. However, you receive slightly more health from health packs, which may occasionally save your life.
    • Unlike other banners, the Battalions is useful at all times, as the damage reduction can often allow you and a Pyro to capture the control point while warding off Hale.
• It is recommended that you use either the Rocket Launcher, Black Box, Original, Cow Mangler, or the Direct Hit with the Banners as they all deal consistent, reliable damage.
  • If you do not have a Kritzkrieg Medic, use the Cow Mangler instead of the Rocket Launcher, as it has effectively no downsides, and does not require ammo to fire. If you are at a safe distance, you can use a charged shot to Mini-crit Hale.
  • The Direct Hit deals 25% extra damage, which can charge your Banners faster - and will Mini-Crit Hale if he as much as jumps.
    • You do have to be especially accurate, due to the 70% explosion penalty.
• If you are confident in your rocket-jumping skills, consider using the Market Gardener to deal heavy damage to Hale.
  • Trolldier can be viable if you can consistently hit Gardens, as Hale will have a hard time hitting a highly mobile target that only stops to reload their Rocket Launcher. Be advised that the Rocket Jumper no longer has its extra ammo buff, so you will need to use ammo packs or Dispensers often.
    • One launcher you can utilize is the Liberty Launcher in conjunction with the Gunboats, as it severely reduces the amount of self-damage you take and gives an extra rocket in the clip. The damage penalty doesn't matter as much as you will usually be using your Market Gardener to deal damage, however it is useful for dealing some damage if you miss the Garden.
    • You do risk under-performing or being caught out as you will spend a good amount of time traveling to ammo packs or reloading due to the nature of the Liberty Launcher and the Rocket Jumper, but the potential payoff is worth it.
• The Half-Zatoichi heals the player for every successful hit against Hale, making it an excellent option for surviving close encounters.
  • If you are willing to take the risk, you can deal heavy damage to Hale in a melee fight, as each melee swing will push him away, preventing him from killing you - though you will have to land two hits for each hit you take. If you activate the Battalion's Backup before engaging Hale, this ratio will drop to 1.27 hits dealt per hit taken, making you very difficult for Hale to kill as long as you keep hitting him.

 Pyro

As Pyro, your Airblast is your main weapon, and can either be used to keep Hale away from your team, or to force him into an unfavorable location (such as an environmental hazard or a corner). If timed correctly, it can even deny Hale's Mighty Slam attack entirely. Use it to keep your teammates safe and prevent Hale from outmaneuvering you.

• The Flare Gun combos well with other Pyros dealing fire damage. It may be difficult to hit Hale at range, but if your team can consistently keep him on fire, this is a solid option. If he attacks you, use airblast to push him in a predictable direction, then follow up with a flare.
• The Thermal Thruster can be a good escape tool when you are out of ammo. Note that the reduced deploy/holster speed leaves you vulnerable for a short time.
• While risky, the Axtinguisher's bonus damage to burning targets stacks with critical hits, dealing up to 371 points of damage. If you are able to hit Hale, the heavy knockback melee weapons deal will keep him from retaliating immediately, and the speed boost will let you escape.
• The Hot Hand's double-hit can be used to wall-climb faster.
• The Phlogistinator can land guaranteed crits on Hale, but removes your ability to airblast. Consider using this if you have another Pyro on your team or if your team can protect you effectively.
  • Activating your Mmmph grants temporary invulnerability, which can be timed to save you from Hale's attacks. If timed correctly, you may be able to use his knockback to move to safety or deal crits while still invulnerable.
• The Scorch Shot is another great option, as it can keep Hale on fire for long periods of time (allowing other Pyros to combo him), and can deal significant knockback if you run out of Flamethrower ammo for airblasting.

 Demoman

• Try to lure him into a hidden sticky trap to take a good chunk of his HP.
  • The Scottish Resistance is the most suitable weapon for this, as it allows Demo to set a sticky trap with up to 14 stickies.
• Consider equipping the Loose Cannon as your primary to knock him out if he starts focusing on you or is reaching too close to you.
• The Chargin' Targe, Splendid Screen, and Tide Turner can act as a one-hit immunity against Hale's primary attack or the death penalty of a Rock, Paper, Scissors match.
• The Half-Zatoichi heals the player for every successful hit against Hale, making it an excellent option for surviving close encounters.
• The Eyelander grants heads for each successful hit against Hale. The increased movement speed can be helpful for dodging Hale's attacks, or for chasing him around the map.
• The Swords also provide greater mobility with regards to wall-climbing, as the increased melee range allows them to more easily strike the floor to gain a height advantage. This can be used to either make a quick get-away from Hale, or to better approach him.

 Heavy

• All Miniguns have a 40% damage reduction to Saxton Hale.
• As the class with the highest health pool, you can always survive a normal punch at full health (two if fully overhealed).
• Keep an eye on your ammo counter, as you can run out of ammo very quickly. Make sure to find where your Engineer put his Dispenser for easy access to unlimited ammo. A voice response plays if you are low on ammo.
• Consider using the Shotgun or Tomislav to take advantage of the higher mobility they provide.
  • The Tomislav's quicker rev-up time and better accuracy is a great all-around primary for the Heavy, considering Saxton Hale's speed and your own speed.
• The Brass Beast is an ultimate damage dealer, especially when paired with a Kritzkrieg Medic, with its trade-off being the lack of mobility. Consider using it in high places where Hale might have difficulty reaching you.
• The Natascha's slowdown-on-hit ability has a 15% chance of applying against Hale, making it less viable to use in close proximity. Much like the Brass Beast, consider using it in spots where Hale is not able to easily reach you, especially on high places.
• The large knockback of melee weapons means that a skilled Heavy can use them to push Saxton back, while still gaining benefits from on-hit effects.
  • The Warrior's Spirit grants Heavies 50 health points for every hit against Hale, allowing for increased survivability.
  • The Killing Gloves of Boxing trigger a 5 second crit boost on every hit, allowing for a high risk, high reward playstyle. If paired with Mad Milk or a Medic, a Heavy can chew through Hale's health in a massive burst while still surviving his onslaught.
• The Eviction Notice's quicker firing speed lets Heavies wall climb faster and to higher places.
• Beware of Saxton Hale's Super Punch, as it can usually deal fatal damage, although a full overheal can just barely take the hit.
• The Fists of Steel are rather detrimental when fighting Saxton. Not only do they make you more vulnerable to Saxton's melee-heavy combat style whilst active, but the reduction to healing decreases your survivability even more.
• The Holiday Punch can be used to stun Hale in a laughing animation, allowing your team to get in some free damage. However, if Hale takes too much damage, he will blast out of the stun, damaging and knocking back those nearby.

 Engineer

• The Rescue Ranger is a great pick to pack up your Sentry Guns when Saxton is damaging it, as well to repair friendly Sentry Guns from other Engineers.
• Try to hide your Dispenser out of sight or in places where Hale does not pass through, communicating to your team where you have placed it can be helpful to ensure they have a safe place to retreat.
• Place your Sentry Gun in clear view of where Saxton will likely be to maximize time spent dealing damage.
  • Sentry Guns are a very good deterrant that may take attention away from your teammates.
• Due to the lack of respawn, Teleporters can be used as an escape option rather than for quick reinforcements.
  • The Eureka Effect can let you hide Teleporters more easily, but beware of the long taunt animation.
• Dispensers, Teleporters, and Sentry Guns can be used to block Saxton's movement on the ground. This can slow him greatly in corridors or other areas of importance.
  • Teleporters are effective on ramps and inclines where the incline may prevent you from simply stepping over the teleporter.
  • Be careful however, an experienced Saxton can tear through your buildings with his charge attack.
• When using the Frontier Justice, remember that your Sentry Gun will be credited with one assist when it deals 200 damage to Saxton, giving you a Revenge Crit.

 Medic

• Medics take only 70% damage from Hale's fist, allowing you to survive a hit.
• All Mediguns have a quicker ÜberCharge rate with the Ubersaw equipped.
  • The Ubersaw also grants 50% uber per hit, needing only 2 hits to have full Über.
• Prioritize the classes closest to Saxton Hale, as they are the ones in the most danger.
• The stock Medi Gun's ÜberCharge is best used on teammates that can deal large amount of damage, either if they are about to die or if they are very close to Hale. This can force him away while dealing a lot of damage.
  • Changing targets during ÜberCharge is very important, considering the Saxton Hale player may focus on other teammates close to him when he sees someone being ÜberCharged.
• Although risky, consider going off alone and baiting Saxton into following you, then use your ÜberCharge when he is near you. This can waste his time and allow your team to deal a lot of damage in the meantime.
• The Kritzkrieg is a great damage dealer, but as a trade off it makes you and other allies more vulnerable during Über. Considering equipping it only if there is another Medic running the default Medi Gun.

 Sniper

• High areas give a better vantage point on Saxton's head and have an escape route downward if he spots you.
• Sniper is an easy class to pick off due to his lone wolf playstyle. Avoid the attention of Saxton by hiding in low-visibility spots, frequently changing spots, or having a route to teammates that can protect you.
• The Sydney Sleeper is a great support tool to shoot Hale from far away and increase your team's damage output.
• The Bazaar Bargain is highly recommended, as its higher charge rate increases your damage output greatly.
• The Machina has the potential to deal large amounts of damage, but also has a larger chance of giving away your position to Hale.
• Although very risky, the Huntsman and the Fortified Compound taunt kill can be used to stun Hale, allowing your team to pile on some damage for free.
  • Saxton Hale can break out of a stun after 2 seconds, blasting everyone away from him.

 Spy

• Use the Dead Ringer to survive a hit from Saxton. Consider luring him away from your team first to buy more time for them to deal damage.
• The Kunai and the Big Earner on kill effects trigger on backstab, allowing you to escape more easily.
• Consider disguising as a friendly teammate with the Disguise Kit to conceal that you are a Spy or gain the Enforcer's damage bonus.
  • Consider disguising as a friendly Scout, as they will commonly use the Baby Face's Blaster, masking your slower movement speed.
    • It also is better for hiding due to the Scout's smaller stature, in addition to the fact Hales will commonly not check their back if they think it is simply a Scout behind them.
  • Disguising as a friendly Medic can also divert Saxton Hale's attention if you use the Dead Ringer, as it can lure Hale into a disadvantageous position thinking they are chasing a Medic, when they are in fact a particularly devious Spy.
  • Disguising as a Heavy or Soldier is ill-advised if you are not using the Dead Ringer, as Hales commonly target these classes due to their high damage output.
• It should be noted that due Spy's knives registering a hit the moment you press M1, wall climbing is slightly easier and you can gain more height. It is detrimental to wall-climb using the floor if using it for simple mobility however, as you will lose a great deal of speed while crouching to ensure you hit the ground, which can be all the difference in life-or-death situations.