Welcome back! This is the third installment, and for those of you who wonder how you missed medic through demoman, THIS IS NOT A COUNTDOWN. I will do these guides based on popular request. If you want one class to get a guide next, please leave a comment below. The newest addition to improve the guide is the Causes section, which details why this type of pyro came to be and what his behavior is. The next installment will be Scout, by the way. But let's get serious for a second... Good? Then let the hilarity resume!

Pyros with sniper rifles? Well, we're screwed.

Also known as W+m1 pyros, these guys have a flamethrower. It shoots fire. They jump to the conclusion to BURN EVERYTHING! And they're partially right. However, they fail to take into account airblast, shotguns, or axes, and don't let afterburn do all of the work it should be doing.

Causes:
New to TF2

Loadout:
Stock Flamethrower
Stock Shotgun
Stock Axe

Characteristics:
1. BURN EVERYTHING
2. Very easily confused
3. Acts like a burning heat-seeking missile to the closest enemy
4. Unable to do anything but burn
5. Does not realize that they are immune to afterburn

Advantages: Unless you're a scout, he's going to burn you. He may take a while to catch up, but he WILL burn you.

Disadvantages: Close range combat and a general inability to see through his own flames.

How to beat him: He's going to run into a wall sooner or later, so hit him when he's confused. Also, lead him away from ammo boxes, and he's screwed.

You want me to trade you this? No way!

These guys have heard about auto-reload. They've heard of guaranteed crits. They've heard of long range burning. They want that flare gun NOW! So, if you hear the achievement sound over a pyro's head every other minute, it's probably one of these guys.

Origins: "I want that flare gun!"

Loadout: Stock, or whatever it needs to be.

Characteristics:
1. Achievement zombies (achieve...)
2. Devoted
3. Helpful

Advantages: They are very devoted to their tasks, and are actually pretty useful to their team.

Disadvantages: They'll do anything to get that achievement, even if it means suiciding through a failed taunt or trying to get behind an enemy.

How to beat them: Look at the achievement list and watch the pyro. If you can figure out which one he's going for, then you can deny him and keep him in this aggressive stage for longer. Just watch out for taunt kills.

This doesn't really fit, but it's hilarious.

These guys ALWAYS come after an Achievement Pyro. For them, flare ammo is their world. Out? Run to spawn or a dispenser. They don't do what a pyro should do, which is to get close to their enemy. They spam flares and only use the flamethrower if they are ambushed.

Origins: Traumatized by heavies or other pyros.

Loadout:
Any
Flare gun/variants (manmelter preferred)
Any

Characteristics:
1. Cowards
2. Does not switch weapons from flare
3. Avoids water like it's a giant hairy spider (like the one behind you)
4. Camps ammo boxes

Advantages: These guys are great at fighting other close-range classes. The flare gun they use may give crits on hitting a burning enemy, or it may have infinite ammo (manmelter). They're also REALLY good shots.

Disadvantages: They aren't very good against long-range classes like Sniper or Soldier, and refuse to airblast. Also, really low fire rate makes them horrible against noob sniper bumrushes and other groups.

How to beat them: This depends on their loadout. If they have the Scorch Shot or Detonator, use a long range class. If they're going stock flare gun, go pyro. If they have any other flare gun, group up on them. They won't survive.

You all know the drill, here we go!

If a pyro:

Lights everything on fire? Spammer Pyro.

Hates spies? Paranoid Pyro.

Helps his team out? Pybro.

Uses a "cheap loadout"? Themed Pyro.

Airblasts and dodges enemies? Untouchable Pyro.

Knows how to do it all? Knowledgeable Pyro.

Can do it all? Legend Pyro.

Well. Back to basics then.

These guys are basically reverting back to their babylike stage, whether that's just for the laughs or if they actually think that it's a good strategy. They're Baby Pyros with the Backburner and a little bit more sneakiness.

Origins: Trolls or noobs who got a Backburner.

Loadout:
Backburner
Any (usually Manmelter)
Any (probably Powerjack)

Characteristics:
1. Backburner
2. Troll

Advantages: These guys stay out of the main battle and wait for some poor sap from the enemy team to come over alone. Those with Powerjacks will target Medics and slower, those without the Powerjack will not target medics unless they have full Uber. They ambush their target and Backburner them, then hide and repeat.

Disadvantages: They may chase down an enemy who's going to the enemy base, and so will accidentally get caught. They also remember their old days of using something other than flames.

How to beat them: Flames are loud. Also, get the pyro to focus on a Soldier or Demo, then have them shoot a rocket/sticky. With any luck, the pyro will airblast and run out of ammo. Or just blow him up.

I do believe I will be on fire.

These guys hate spies. They've either been backstabbed one too many times, or they have lost because of spycaps or sentry sapping. Often Engie's Best Friends, these guys can sniff out any spy. Also, they go nuts when they hear a call of "Spy!".

Origins: Trauma from spy-related events.

Loadout:
Whatever will kill spies.

Characteristics:
1. Paranoid (o.o)
2. Spy!!!!!
3. *Crackling, burning heard, Spy screams*

Advantages:
These guys are going to catch that spy. So say your prayers, spy, because even Dr. Tapeforcicle won't save you.

Disadvantages:
They're like a targeted missile locked onto that spy. they WILL kill him.

How to beat them:
As a spy, turn and run until you reach your teammates. Let them kill him, then get past spawn before he spawns or while cloaked.

This is a common misperception of pybro, if partially accurate nonetheless.

Pybros are not always this dedicated, but they're always helpful. Teammates love a good pybro (unless you already have one).

Origins:
A genuinely helpful person.

Loadout:
Any except Phlog or Backburner
Any (usually manmelter or flare)
Any

Characteristics:
1. Helpful
2. May stick around engies
3. Aware of his team
4. Not aware of much else

Advantages: Teammates are motivated to help this guy out because he always returns the favor. He airblasts burning teammates, spychecks, and even acts as a bullet sponge if there is a medic nearby.

Disadvantages: This guy tries so hard to help his teammates that he doesn't recognize a hopeless situation to retreat from unless it's REALLY obvious (i.e. an ubercharge in a closed space). He will follow teammates to their deaths or just sacrifice himself to save them.

How to beat him: Fool his teammates into a bad situation. He'll die with them.

Sub-classes:
Engie's best friend:
This guy is a pybro with the Homewrecker. He constantly spychecks and will remove any enemy sappers. Usually is a Paranoid Pyro as well.

The themed pyro uses different loadouts. Here they are. Just identify his loadout and use this guide to beat him.

Loadouts:
ALL THE CRITZ:
Phlog/Degreaser/Backburner (Free crits/Fast switch/Free crits)
Flare gun (free crits)
Axtinguisher (free crits)
See a theme here?

The anti-pyro:
Backburner
Shotgun
Powerjack

The sneaker:
Backburner
Flare gun or variation
Powerjack

Pyroshark:
Any
Shotgun/Reserve Shooter
Neon Annihilator
Hangs out in the water, avoid at all costs.

Don't you just love crocket airblasts?

Untouchable pyros are never hit. Ever. It's uncanny.

Origins:
Someone who has WAY too many hours dodging attacks and airblasting.

Loadout:
Any except Phlog (not usually Backburner)
Whatever they need at the time
Any

Characteristics:
1. Great at dodging
2. Airblast pro

Advantages:
Airblasting and dodging are both over 9000.

Disadvantages:
He can't dodge what he can't see. Also, he can't reflect bullets.

How to beat them:
Snipers, hide and snipe without using the machina. Everyone who's not a pro sniper, use Heavy or Scout. Also, do not use the Sandman or Guillotine!

These guys know everything there is to know about pyro, down to the fact that w+m1 actually shortens your flamethrower's range. However, they can't quite capitalize on it yet. It's laughable how easily these guys go down.

Origins:
Bookworms and people who've viewed TF2's code.

Characteristics:
1. Very precise
2. Basic idea of tactics
3. Doesn't play often, researches more

Loadout:
Who knows?

Advantages:
THey know everything about Pyro.

Disadvantages:
They can't actually do anything very well. They only know the theories behind it.

How to beat them:
Shoot them, then laugh at them.

Uh... I don't think an uber will save me here...

These guys are knowlegeable pyros that have learned how to properly apply their knowlege. They're frightening.

Origins:
150+ hours as pyro

Loadout:
Anything they need

Characteristics:
1.Scary
2. Creative
3. May troll spies

Advantages:
Everything.

Disadvantages:
Swarms of other pyros.

How to beat them:
Even legend pyros have bad days. Just snipe them or do a Baby Sniper with pyros.

I'm sorry it took this long to get this guide out, it was a mix of being busy and procrastinating. Next up on the list is Scout (which I may have said in the intro), and Medic is slated to be after that unless the community overwhelmingly wants someone else to come first. Anyway, I'll try to pick up the pace for the next guides, but it all depends on my schedule.

Don't get the reference to my other guides? Here's a link to the Sniper guide:
The Evolutionary Tree of Snipers
Thanks for reading, if you have any suggestions please post them in the comments. If I like your idea, I'll add it!