### The Midfight --- One of the most demanding parts of any KOTH map for pyro is the midfight. Very frequently, you will have to juggle every part of your responsibilities at the same time and prioritize them. Here are some key steps in the usual midfight thought process 1. As you roll out to mid, keep your Degreaser out and observe. 2. Reflect some spam if it is landing on your combo and check to see if you have visuals on the solider. - If you don't see the solider, or see that he is going to bomb, make sure you are in a good position to deny the bomb. - If you see that the solider isn't planning to bomb, you can mostly hold space and continue to reflect another sticky or two until spy time 3. Based on the map, be ready for spy time. Check the cross, watch for any ammo packs that the spy could pick up, and be ready for the fastest possible stab timings. > [!Warning] NOTE > If you are running a flare weapon, do not spend the entire midfight spamming, hitting one useful target as you get to mid and then keeping your Degreaser out is the most effective way to approach it. In an ideal world, you aim punch the sniper, save your combo from taking spam damage, deny the bombing soldier, and catch the spy during the mid. Obviously, the game is a lot more complicated and varied than that and you will have to constantly adjust to the situation and each map. Some maps like [[Lakeside]] have very different mid defaults. ### Ubers --- Most of the time, KOTH ubers are going to involve your scout and demo, but in some instances, especially those where you have the point and are attempting to hold the space, you may be called in for an exchange. In these exchanges, its very important not to overextend and try to hold the space for your team. Airblast the enemy's uber up and away and set your team up to collapse in the post. It is also common that you will need to [[Health and damage management#When to Die|sacrifice]] yourself to stuff ubers, allowing your combo to escape. During ubers that you are not a part of, take into account your players' [[Vulnerability assessment |vulnerability]] and adjust your position. Spies love to look for free sniper picks during exchanges, and you can catch out a lot of spies while keeping your sniper alive for the post by keeping an eye out for this. Make sure that you get back into position with your combo for the post-uber. ### Pushes & Dry Fights --- Pyro's role in any push is first and foremost, to get the rest of your combo into the fight safely. Usually on koth, this means clearing out common sticky trap spots with your [[Utilizing the Detonator effectively|detonator]] and clearing potential corners and dropdown spots if the [[Spy Tracking|spy]] can be in position. In the case of an uber push, don't get into the uber if you aren't supposed to be, and find ways to protect your players and set your team up for the post during it. Be ready to catch your combo on the exit or join them for the push as the uber fades. If the push is dry, instead of leaving your scout and demo to take the front lines, much more focus should be placed on protecting your demo and playing up with him. In these fights it becomes a juggling act between reflecting the most impactful [[Basic Playstyle#^12dc63|spam]] off of your demo, making sure the spy doesn't capitalize on your team walking forward, and keeping an eye out for [[Basic Playstyle#^516d33|bombers]] and other flank classes while trying to take the space with your team. ### Holds & Kiting --- When given the space to setup a hold, position yourself in such a way that you have a good view of your team and their position, as well as potential areas that sacs/spies will come from. Do this while playing with your demo and medic, and try to keep an eye out for your other classes when you can. It is very important that you are one of the classes that gets out in the event that your team gives up the hold so make sure not to overcommit your life or play too far up without your team. Use the space you have to be observant and prepared to react to the next most likely threat, using your understanding of [[Vulnerability assessment|vulnerabilities]]. When its time to leave, whether the fight has been lost or your team is fighting an uber, one of the first things you should try to ensure is that you are leaving with your medic. Medics will frequently call what side they are trying to leave and you should adjust your position to leave with them, otherwise use your eyes and keep track of where your medic is going. As you kite, there are a couple of considerations to take into account which will determine your next moves. If there is no uber involved, do your best to play next to your medic as they walk out. Know whether or not the spy is alive and if he can be in position to catch you as you leave. Check to see if the solider and demo are both alive and could be bombing in on your exit. Account for this info and play accordingly, clearing out spy as needed, keeping your eyes locked on the sky as needed. Even if you get stabbed yourself or die to stop a bomb, as long as your medic makes it the rest of the way to to spawn because of you, you've done your job. If your team is trying to kite an uber while leaving, the same considerations must still be made, however you must also evaluate whether you need to stuff the uber and the level of risk it is worth taking to do it. If your medic is stuck in at all, anything you can do to stuff the uber and get your medic out alive is probably worth it, even it it means dying. The key here is to avoid defaulting to sacrificing your life to stuff every uber. If your team is kiting correctly, outside of people bombing in with the uber, there shouldn't be much of a risk of bleeding people. If this is the case, simply give up the space with your team and be ready to refight immediately. If the only kill an uber would get is on you, don't give it to them as this delays your teams ability to refight as soon as the uber fades.