HANDS ON GUIDE

Defence #3 - Engineer

Unlike other classes, the Engineer doesn’t use the Shotgun as a secondary weapon. He carries it as a primary weapon instead. It can be used offensively or defensively, as other classes use it. However, the Engineer’s main interest should be in keeping Spies and other ruffians away from delicate structures.

Secondary Weapon: Pistol

As with the Scout, the Engineer uses a pistol as a secondary weapon. It’s most useful as a finishing weapon, should you primary be exhausted. It’s vaguely useful for attacking enemies who are trying to destroy your turrets at long range. However, any class trying to take out a sentry at long range is unlikely to be phased by a long-range Pistol shot. Your time is better spent repairing your structures than defending them.

Melee Weapon: Wrench

Arguably it’s the wrench, not the shotgun, which is the engineer’s primary weapon. It’s an all purpose tool. You can fix anything from a leaky dispenser to a rampaging Spy with it, and it does both jobs in just a couple of swipes. Whenever you’re tending your structures with the wrench, your front is protected, but your back is open to attack. If you’re on your own try to arrange yourself so your back is in a corner. This gives you less area to check. If you repair without covering your back a Spy has a chance to deactivate your structures and kill you.

Best Allies: Engineers

Engineers are best surrounding themselves with more Engineers. It’s easy to co-ordinate the location of Sentries with other Engineers, because you just put your sentry in a position that covers an available exit. If you do find yourself with another Engineer it will help everyone if you chip in and help upgrade or repair their Sentry. If a Spy sets a sapper on someone else’s turret your first instinct should be to search out the Spy and kill them. If you have time afterwards, remove the sapper from your teammates’ equipment. Although you may not get kills from another Engineer’s turret, its wellbeing could be the difference between your structures surviving the next wave of attackers. When that wave does eventually come make sure you’re close enough to your turret, with enough metal, to keep it working.

Worst Enemies: Spy

The Spy is a deadly opponent for an Engineer, and the one they’re most likely to come up against. Since an engineer is often concentrating on upgrading a turret, a Spy may easily creep up and try to stab you in the back. Your only chance of survival is to keep their eyes open and remain alert for any signs of Spies. If you are attacked, or your Sentry is sapped, quicly turn round while swinging your wrench. It’s likely you will hit the spy and remove the disguise. The second hit will most likely kill them, and the third hit certainly will. Most importantly, moving will make it more difficult for the spy to land their backstab move. In a fair fight your Wrench will beat his Knife, and your Shotgun will beat his Revolver. If the spy escapes don’t chase them, they will be back soon to try again.

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