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TF College 103: Scout Basics

By Digitic

This is the third entry in the TF College series, describing the innate abilities of the Scout.

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Digitic
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Class: Scout

Posted

Updated

31 Aug, 2014 @ 10:45pm

31 Aug, 2014 @ 11:02pm

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Guide Index

Overview

Introduction

Speed

Double Jump

Capture Speed

Hitbox

Conclusion

Comments

Introduction

Welcome back! Hello once again to the TF College series. This guide will cover the main identifiers of the Scout and his innate abilities.

Speed

The Scout has the fastest speed of any class in the game (133% normal speed), and this is capitalized even further upon by the Baby Face's Blaster and Crit-a-cola, both of which increase his speed even more. Not much more to say, so... Onward!

Double Jump

Scouts are the only class in the game that can jump in midair, breaking the already rediculous physics of the game. Usually used as a movement method, it can also be used in combat by double jumping over enemies, projectiles, and sniper scopes. It should also be noted that Scouts are most vulnerable in the air after their second jump. While you cannot change your momentum in the air (not counting explosive jumps), Scouts can go in any direction they want based on where they're going when they do their midair jump. Afterwards, they cannot change their momentum and are vulnerable to Snipers and airshots.

Capture Speed

Scouts are the only class that can passively capture carts or points as two people instead of one. One note, though, remember that capture points have a larger capture zone than the actual point, you don't have to stand still and stare at the point you're capturing. Jump once in a while! However, this passive bonus still counts as two people when adding up the maximum cart speed, so no, you can't cheat the system by putting three scouts on the cart expecting 6x movement speed.

Hitbox

The scout is either close to, tied for, or owner of the smallest hitbox in the game, near the shorter, fatter Engineer. This gives him incredible potential to dodge precise shots and makes inaccurate weapons like the minigun useless at even medium range if the Scout can find cover or run. The only truly useful anti-scout midrange weapon is another Scout's Scattergun. Make use of the hitbox and speed! I've run through an entire Heavy's cone of fire at about 15 feet without getting hit. (That's about 5 metres? Go 'Murica.)

Conclusion

BUT DIGITIC, WHERE'S THE LOW HEALTH?

Well, since four of the classes have the Scout's health level, 125 health, it's not a unique ability. You're not able to take too many hits, but you can always run, jump, or luck your way out of enemy fire. Also, you're an assassin class, you shouldn't be seen approaching anyways.

So that's the end of another guide! Here's a link to the most recent guide:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=305374589

And here's my Steam group! We're having a Spec. Killstreak Strange Conniver's Kunai raffle right now, an entry is two scrap.
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/groups/tipstrickssubclasses

11 Comments

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armpit miko 7 Nov, 2014 @ 5:48am

A good guide for new players, but 80% of new players don't read guides, so it's kinda useless.

ipodmini 8 Sep, 2014 @ 5:26am

No one pointed this out so I will
The scout is not a assasin. Sure he can be looked as one but a assassin in game is a class that can take out another class through 1 hit. The assassin classes in the game are the spy and sniper as they can take out any class with 1 shot
Scout can be used to flank and get the enemy by suprise but because of his speed he can dodge enemy fire like you said
I just wanted to point that out

growth ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) 8 Sep, 2014 @ 2:18am

i like drugs

rush 5 Sep, 2014 @ 11:43pm

Big mask and nice good

Strange Chicken 4 Sep, 2014 @ 11:53am

Tiny head!

Lazy Laze 4 Sep, 2014 @ 6:12am

@MashpitSquared

This guide is not made for teaching. This guide has been made to describe the Scout's abilities.
New players do not understand what air strafing is. I've spoken to alot of new players and when i try to teach them strafing they have no idea what i'm talking about.

Mashpit 3 Sep, 2014 @ 5:51pm

Alright, I understand most of the replies you gave for my point. Except for C and D.
You'd be surprised how much airstrafing will help with dodging. Too often I go Sniper and see Scouts who just jump once left, jump once right, and then repeat that pattern. Headshot food, I call 'em. Jumping forward but airstrafing in an S pattern makes you much more unpredictable and hard to track than simply jumping in straight lines. You can make some pretty creative jumps if you combine airstrafe with basher jumping, too.
Metagame-wise, Scout is brilliant at 1v1 (I'd say that he's equal with Soldier when it comes to 1v1), is the most efficient at "cleaning up" damage from teammates, putting pressure on the other team/diverting pressure from your team, and is the class that should be accomplishing objectives (although I do confess that in pub games, I rarely cap points or push the cart). Teach the newer players to play the roles that Scout is best at, not the roles that he is most often used for.

Digitic [author] 3 Sep, 2014 @ 5:33pm

@MashpitSquared:

A) These guides are currently for new players, this is a comprehensive guide series that will become more advanced over time.
B) I said PASSIVELY capture (aka no weapons) and this guide covers Scout defining, unchangable characteristics.
C) Yes, but this change does not alter your position much, maybe by a few feet off of a regular jump or double jump.
D) The Scout can be used for both, but more often than not I see Scouts going for important targets rather than guarding a flank or simply panicking the other team and giving them a target.
E) That was used as an example and is only useful if you are trying to get behind the enemies or the Heavy is not your primary target (i.e. getting at his Medic).
F) This is an informational guide for newer players and most of these things will already be known to advanced players.

Mashpit 3 Sep, 2014 @ 5:23pm

Wrong info: Pain Train Demo/Solly can also cap at x2 speed; therefore, Scout is not the *only* class who can cap as 2 people.
You *can* change direction by up to 90 degrees after the second jump. Airstrafe ain't just for Sollies and Demos, mate. FaN and Atomizer adds more direction-changing options if you so desire.
Yes, Scout does make a great pickmaker, and could be seen as an "assassin"; however, his most frequently taken role is flank control and putting constant pressure on the other team.
You shouldn't encourage people to stay 15 feet from Heavies. The recommended course of action in Scout v Heavy is jumpspam over the HWG's head while hitting meatshots.
In the end, TF2 college didn't fail to deliver stuff that people will find out within 10 hours of gameplay. Not saying that it's absolutely useless, but... are people really dumb enough to need to have these things pointed out to them?

Lazy Laze 1 Sep, 2014 @ 1:47pm

yes

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