Your Allies and Enemies

Quick and low health, it's important to make sure they stay overhealed when they come by, as they will likely be spending a lot of time near or behind enemy lines. Should only be "pocketed" (focus healed) while using the Quick-Fix, and only when they know they're being pocketed so they can protect you.Scouts are very good at doing lots of damage very quickly. If you're flanked by an enemy Scout, let your team know as they will probably be gunning right for you. If you're getting harassed regularly by Scouts, consider staying near a Sentry gun, which Scouts cannot dodge.Slow and with high health, Soldiers make good pocket choices, as you can stay near them easily and they can protect you as long as they don't rocket jump away. Avoid healing one with the Black Box (a black, rectangular rocket launcher), the Rocket Jumper (a flourescent orange rocket launcher) the Gunboats (a pair of metal boots), the Half-Zatoichi (a samurai sword) or the Concheror (a feudal samurai-styled backpack), as they are sacrificing damage output in exchange for not needing as much healing. You cannot heal a Soldier that is carrying an Equalizer or an Escape Plan (pickaxes). A Soldier carrying the Cow Mangler 5000 or the Righteous Bison (laser guns) are not as effective against enemy buildings, while one carrying the Direct Hit (a rocket launcher with a bulbous nose) is more effective against buildings but less effective against crowds.It is very common for a Soldier to rocket jump over the front lines and "dive" on you. Make sure your team is ready to protect you in these situations.Reasonable health and speed, a good Pyro is exceptional at protecting allies, but less useful in direct assaults due to their short range. Treat them similar to Scouts and pocket them when necessary or when there's nobody else around, however they're also invaluable for protection against enemy Spies and for putting out fires.Just like Scouts, they can flank you and do lots of damage very quickly. If you get set on fire, a friendly Pyro, Sniper with Jarate, Scout with Mad Milk, or an Engineer's Dispenser can help you, or jump in some nearby water if there is any on the map.Slower speed than the Pyro but with the same amount of health, the Demo is capable of outputting a great deal of damage in the right circumstances, and is potentially the best pocket choice. Avoid pocketing "Demoknights," however, as they sacrifice their potential damage output for damage resistance and typically attack by running ahead to engage the enemy at melee range. If a Demoman has a shield or is carrying a sword of some kind, treat them like a Scout or Pyro. A Demoman with explosives can be the best choice for using a Kritzkrieg uber with.Be very wary of sticky traps, and never step in areas where you see sticky bombs without making sure the Demo that laid them is killed. Make sure your patient goes through doors first.Very slow with a great deal of health, the Heavy may seem like a perfect heal target at first (just like Valve will try to tell you), but their strength lies in defending, not attacking, due to their slow speed. Consider pocketing a Soldier or Demoman before pocketing a Heavy. If a Heavy has a sandwich, he can use it to heal you when you are hurt.Never get close to an enemy Heavy, and try to get your team to focus fire on him or his Medic if you see one. You may need an Ubercharge to take care of one. Hiding behind your pocket in a hail of bullets isn't cowardice, it's just a good idea.The Engineer's strength on the battlefield depends on what kind of melee weapon they're using. If they are using a wrench of some kind, it is their duty to dig in and provide a safe area with their Teleporters, Dispensers, and Sentry guns. They excel at defense, but usually only need healing when they're repairing a Sentry gun under fire. Make sure to stick around their Dispenser when you need healing.An Engineer with a Gunslinger (robotic hand) becomes more useful on offense, and should be treated like a Scout or Pyro on the frontlines. He won't have much health, so make sure he stays healthy on the offensive and gets the metal he needs to build his Minisentries.As mentioned before, the Kritzkrieg is ineffective against Sentry nests, while the default Medigun excels. During an Ubercharge, run in front of your patient to take the attack, which can ruin your patient's aim. Make sure your pocket knows to focus on the Engineer before attacking the Sentry in most cases, as the Engineer can repair buildings very quickly.Heal your fellow Medics whenever possible, they're just as important as you are. Treat them like your brother. If your allied Medic is pocketing someone, then avoid attempting to heal his patient whenever possible, and find your own patient. Try and equip the Kritzkrieg when he's using the default, and vice-versa. Avoid using the Quick-Fix at all, as super-healing the team will make it much more difficult for him to build up his Uber.If a Medic is healing an enemy, make sure your pocket knows to focus on them first. If the enemy is using a Kritzkrieg, use a default Medigun's Uber to make their Uber useless. If you're using a Kritzkrieg against an enemy's default Medigun, make sure to take advantage of the quick Ubercharge gain to get your Uber before they get theirs.Snipers are very rarely in danger of attack, and when they are, it's usually a one-hit kill that gets them. Only heal when necessary. Snipers with a Huntsman (bow and arrow) and a Darwin's Danger Shield (a crocodile back) may be more useful on the frontlines.Avoid staying still in open areas where a Sniper could be (the colored dot is usually a giveaway). If you're forced to, move in unpredictable ways and use your natural speed to your advantage to avoid being shot.Avoid healing them unless they absolutely need it, as the particle effect associated with overheal can give them away when they disguise themselves as the other team. Never,heal them when they're already disguised.Stick near Pyros and always check your backside to avoid spies. After playing a while, you might form a "sixth sense" where you realize that it's a littlequiet, and hasn't been a while since the last Spy attack. Never chase a Spy that you've caught, always let your team know about them and take care of them.