Sniper match-ups

“

Be polite. Be efficient. Have a plan to kill everyone you meet. — The Sniper on exemplary battlefield etiquette

”

Class			Strategy
Sniper	vs.	Scout	Although an enemy Scout is difficult to hit, he’ll only be able to harass you with his Pistol at longer ranges. He dominates you at close range, so try to take him out before he gets too close. His head is a rather small target, so don’t be afraid to take your time to land a fully charged bodyshot instead of going for a quick headshot. If a Scout runs in a straight path towards you, he’ll be easy to headshot, no matter how close he already is. If he does manage to close the distance, he’ll have a huge advantage. At close range, backpedal while firing your Submachine Gun or uncharged shots from your primary weapon.
Sniper	vs.	Soldier	An enemy Soldier will typically be fighting at the frontlines, far away from you. He is a slow, bulky target and is easy to hit when grounded. If he sees you, he’ll probably fire rockets at your position to force you behind cover. In this situation, you can just take quick shots between his barrages. If he tries to approach you by rocket jumping , you’ll have to either shoot him out of the air or simply retreat. It is suicide to go toe-to-toe with a Soldier at close range, where he can easily land rockets and Shotgun blasts.
Sniper	vs.	Pyro	Unless an enemy Pyro is using the Flare Gun, Detonator, Scorch Shot, or Manmelter, he has no way to fight back at long range. If he is out in the open, you can attack without fear of retaliation. However, at close range, his Flamethrower will devastate you. If stuck in this sort of situation, backpedal while firing your Submachine Gun or uncharged shots from your primary weapon. The effects of afterburn will negatively affect your aim but can be extinguished by Jarate.
Sniper	vs.	Demoman	Over long distances, an enemy Demoman can only lob inaccurate grenades and Stickybombs at your position. Keep moving in between your own shots to avoid the wide splash damage. If he tries to sticky jump or use the Chargin’ Targe to approach you, hide behind cover or take advantage of his predictable trajectory to land an easy headshot. At medium range, his explosives can easily make short work of you. If he gets too close, backpedal while firing your Submachine Gun or uncharged shots from your primary weapon. The Demoman, with his indirect weaponry, is one of the only classes capable of attacking you from outside your line of sight; well placed explosives can turn your sniping spot into a deathtrap. Keep an eye out for traps and use your Sniper Rifle or Submachine Gun to remove Stickybombs if needed.
Sniper	vs.	Heavy	The Heavy’s slow speed and large size make him a juicy target. At a distance, his Minigun fire suffers from bullet spread and will do minimal damage, allowing you to snipe freely. Even with his large health pool, it will take only a few headshots to take him out. At close range, however, his weaponry will shred you to bits. If a Heavy somehow maneuvers to your sniping location, just run; both uncharged shots from your primary weapon and your Submachine Gun will deal pitiful damage.
Sniper	vs.	Engineer	You are unlikely to face an Engineer in direct combat unless the two of you are away from his Sentry Gun. His Shotgun, Pistol, and possibly Combat Mini-Sentry will give him the advantage in close range combat, so don’t seek him out yourself. You can use a few charged shots from your primary weapon to pick off an exposed Sentry Gun from a distance, which can also work as a lure to attract the Engineer to repair his buildings, where he can then be picked off fairly easy, unless he uses his buildings as cover; pressuring an Engineer in this way can prove very useful for keeping an Engineer occupied, but be aware that concentrating on your efforts on one thing may lead to enemies sneaking up on your while you're distracted. If the Engineer is actively repairing the Sentry Gun, or harassing you with the Pistol or Wrangler, target him first; he can’t repair his buildings if he’s dead.
Sniper	vs.	Medic	When you see an enemy Medic, he should become one of your top priority targets. Do your best to land a headshot or fully charged bodyshot to instantly eliminate his team’s source of healing. His Syringe Gun is ineffective over longer distances; if he is alone, you should be able to fire at him without any problems. However, even a Medic can easily take you down at close range, where his Syringe Gun will outperform your Submachine Gun. His relatively high speed will allow him to easily chase you, so it might be best to stand your ground anyway.
Sniper	vs.	Sniper	One of your main jobs is to eliminate the pesky enemy Sniper that’s constantly picking off your own teammates. In this matchup, unpredictability is key; prediction of movement is one of the biggest tools in a Snipers ability. Aim for the head when facing your counterpart; a Sniper duel can be decided in just one shot, and a headshot will almost always beat out a bodyshot. However, don't be afraid to use bodyshots if you know your enemy is low on health. Don’t stay exposed for too long; if you fail to kill him, there will be a small window of time where he can freely fire at you. Never stand still! A standing target is extremely easy to hit - even when aiming, keep moving by strafing so you are more difficult to hit, adjusting your crosshair as needed. If an enemy team's Sniper dot is visible, it may be prudent to move to another area to approach the enemy, as the dot indicates a Sniper is watching that area. After firing a shot in a Sniper duel, it is often better to crouch and continue strafing unpredictably instead of jumping to cancel the scope, as jumping will stop you from controlling your movement, giving you a predictable path and a landing place which a good Sniper will easily be able to anticipate. A Sniper with the Huntsman will have to fight considerably closer to the frontlines and is thus at a disadvantage when facing a Sniper with the default Sniper Rifle. The Croc-o-Style Kit can remarkably change the dynamics of a Sniper duel. Because neither the user nor his Sniper opponent will be able to kill the other with a headshot, being able to charge up a strong bodyshot first will decide the victor. This is where zone control is most important; being in a position to land a fully charged shot on your enemy as soon as they step out from behind cover will give you a great advantage in any Sniper duel.
Sniper	vs.	Spy	The Spy is your nemesis. Because you will frequently be focused on aiming at targets that are far away, you might not notice that he’s behind you with his Revolver or Knife. As a Sniper, you generally work alone, so stay aware of your surroundings and Spy check any suspicious teammates that get too close. Although the Razorback is made to stop a Spy's backstab, an experienced one will simply gun you down if you're alone. Jarate as well as the bleed effect from the Tribalman's Shiv can be used to nullify both the Cloak and disguise of an enemy Spy, allowing you and your teammates to hunt him down. Bear in mind that in a 1v1, a Spy with good aim will be able to gun you down in 2-4 shots from outside your melee range, and your Sniper rifle has a slow fire rate. In this instance it is better to either try to score a quick headshot or simply run away.

See also

• Team strategy