TF2: Spy Guide Part#1: Spying 101

[OpalCreeper]

And I tried your ally disguise with the dead ringer and it works even better. The enemy things you're dead!

[OpalCreeper]

Lol 4:30 engineer suspected wring guy as spy. I need to learn that trick. :D

[AgentCooperTP]

Ah, the good old days before TF2 became a hat fest.

[FineAgedCheese]

That Goldrush one is now blocked off :/

[whatintheworld91]

Personally to me, the best thing to disguise as when your a spy is another spy. When your another spy you appear as you are disguised as your team, while disguised as their team, and when you combine this and that, you are bulletproof

[Blazimun1]

@whatintheworld91 Mmm, but a spy in friendly territory sticks out quite a bit.

[whatintheworld91]

@Blazimun1 True but your supposed to be around enemies or at least all alone, rule number 1 of being a spy never surround yourself with friends, keep your friends close and your enemies closer

[Blazimun1]

@whatintheworld91 Exactly, so if you're disguised as a red spy in the red base, people are going to see you, wonder what you're doing here and not on the other side of the map, and naturally spy-check you.

[Pyrominecrafter]

Ya see it's funny cause he cut out all of him dying :)

[kave507]

@Pyrominecrafter ur stupid this video was to show tactics for a spy not to show how good he is if he wants to keep the deaths in he wouldve titled it spy-what not to do

[Pyrominecrafter]

@kave507 Well actually I'm not stupid because I knew what this video was about I just HAPPENED to Notice that he could've died many times if he didn't cut out. I liked this video I love playing spy. you need to bug off I wasn't asking you a question I said something then you just decided to call me stupid (which in fact I'm probably really smarter than you)

[AdMint2Night]

Actually,i disguise myself openly without cloaking

[cooolkid125]

Lol, "Fucking demos" IT WAS A SPYPER.

[SouthExpectations]

Half the metagame is based on the Spy's possible presence.

That should say everything

[SgtTreecko]

Wait, so has the Spy been nerfed before?

I tried sometimes pulling of a flick/aerial/poke stab, but it either it counts as a weak stab, or a laggy backstab.

[101blackshot]

can u use like other spy gun like ambassasdor or l'etranger

[MrSurekill]

HOW do you disgiuse as allies? please tell me!

[MrStaxxy]

@MrSurekill

If you are not using your eternal reward, you have to pull out your 3rd weapon.

If you use your eternal reward, backstab people and you will instantly disguise as the guy you assasinated.

[alhimal]

@MrSurekill Press -(right of zero) and then the color in of the disguise choises in the spy thingy change

[GmanIsMe100]

@MrSurekill

press - when got spy kit up

[The12FEAR1]

there is no "Hi-Resoulution"

[junkaccount4297]

whats the map at 5:19? please reply, i realy like that map but cant find it

[legofreak118]

@junkaccount4297 its cp_well

[silentsurvivor2011]

You make look playing the spy it's an easy thing.

[MrStaxxy]

@silentsurvivor2011

It is. IMO, it's the simplest, the more complicated class being the scout.

[ronaldo5555599999]

@silentsurvivor2011 what?

[wornwardawg]

@silentsurvivor2011 You make look speaking english it's an easy thing.

[royce536]

this is good at ur time becoz the animation was really terriblely slow but good job u did really well

[ProjectDrift77]

What is the font of tf2?

[AlexTimification]

Whahahah 4:30))

[PERSONTHATISCLEVER]

I guess now the guy uses the ambassador to use his sniping strategy

[21syaf]

Hahahahaha....I hate pyro!

[Banminator]

Been playing for years, so far the spy is nothing but fodder

[PinkShroomz]

@Banminator go watch OMFGNinja's videos. He is amazing as teh spah

[ZimmerSquash]

can u make a guide for the eternal reward?

[drwillee]

4:47 song on splinter cell chaos theory, very nice guide :)

[BlueBloodW0lf]

i've been playing mostly as spy for about 2 years now and i know my way around any map but i still get fucked up by pyro's 24/7!

[brhaosys]

2:10 YOU JUST TIED MY RECORD FOR MOST BACKSTABS IN ONE LIFE!!!! This guy's good. Either that, or I'm horrible.

[KClock3r]

how do you get that reticle?

[NoobBeast456Inc]

the pyro is a dangerous victim of the spy,

the pyro can always look back and burn you till ru dead

[deminidze]

Mostly his skill consists of luck cos almost all his targets were retarded dumbfucks. Hunting pyros? Are you fucken' insane? There's no sense in taking such deadly risk. Though he's good at fooling.

[MystyrNile]

2:24 Bad, a-to-the-A.

I lold at how the engy thinks its a demoman at 5:51.

6:21 Did you not notice the spy leaping in front of you?

[luccasmi2]

o ed tnx

[luccasmi2]

I MISS DAT SONG RELY VRON sps

[Antb356]

@PickEmAndFlickEm no offence but NEVER ask that question again everything on tf2 is personal pereference just having exactly what someone has doesnt make you better, i prefer clpak and dagger because i know maps well enough where the decreased mobility doesnt matyer + im patient, use what YOU want ans get better at that

[drkcrstl]

how do you disguise as ur friends ??? :O

[drkcrstl]

very good spy gameplay. i cant seem to do any of this xD

im directly behind the enemy becuz< as u know spies dont run that fast so i cant catch up to them and so my kill is gone :l

any solution ?

[TheUltraplaya1]

@drkcrstl try to stay near to the enemy or flank them when there shooting. ( when shooting a person slows there speed) or take shortcuts to get around the enemy.

[UnitedWithDubstep]

remember last night i was the best i have ever been as a spy. i was disguised as a sniper and a demoman came up (ive killed him alot at that same spot) so he was staring at me i was pretending to take a shot. he bought it i went up behind backstab!

Spy is my favorite class.

[akatsuki12354]

@UnitedWithDubstep Cool Story Bro.

[UnitedWithDubstep]

@akatsuki12354 Thanks Bro. -_-

[akatsuki12354]

@UnitedWithDubstep No problem bro.

[PatchedCow]

Too bad TF2 went f2p. Now being a good spy is easier than tying your shoes.

[akatsuki12354]

@PatchedCow F2P = Paranoid Kids.

[neoman289151]

When your disguised and clocked, are you invisible to the enemy completely? or can they see you move?

[UnitedWithDubstep]

@neoman289151 You will be fully cloaked but if you bump into an enemy your cloak will flicker and you can be seen by the enemy.

[neoman289151]

@UnitedWithDubstep OK, thanks

[Wi1qi]

thank you so much for this guide :D

[PickEmAndFlickEm]

In your opinion would you recommend the cloak and dagger or the default invisibility watch. I ruled out the dead ringer cuz i'm terrible with it.

[ZimmerSquash]

i recommend the eternal reward when you want to attack a group facing one side.

you continuously back stab each of them from weak to strong.

[mitro2828]

bad quality :/ 

[igloo77881]

sir you honestly are a really good spy

[marakaratma]

Prompt name map for 7:00 minutes? What is the name of the MAP?

[Starioshka]

1 spy is ok 2 spys is very bad 3 spyes is complete epic fail for the team youre in. Too much spys is very very bad.

[Gerstein1]

@Starioshka It actually depends on a. the number of other people, and b. the skill of the spies. Done well, for instance with constant communication, two or more spies can trick the enemy by going through each other whilst disguised (making the enemy think neither is a spy.) No class is good in mass numbers when none of them coordinate with each other. However, done right, EVERY class rush is powerful. There are numerous tactics that can make a french connection very powerful.

[Starioshka]

@Gerstein1 every other class rush is very effective but spy rush is not.

[Gerstein1]

@Starioshka Someone doesn't know how to use the friendly disguise or the bait and switch.

[Gerstein1]

@Starioshka More importantly, why do you say that a spy rush is inneffective? I just want to hear your reasoning.

[Starioshka]

@Gerstein1 ijust played in 8 spys in 1 team and other team normal. spy team didnt even get out of spawn.

[Gerstein1]

@Starioshka That's not evidence. That's a lack of coordination. Spies rushes are effective with teamwork. The reason so many people hate spies is because spies, unlike myself, always try to solo win. That's not how you play ANY class, let alone spy.

[Starioshka]

@Gerstein1 spy must work ALONE and there can be only ONE. a normal spy must be able to take care of whole enemy team which has his team pinned down.

[Gerstein1]

@Starioshka Spies do not specialize in solo work. They specialize in killing the distracted, the busy, the stupid, and the singular. Spies are not designed to destroy entire teams by themselves. That gets them killed almost no matter what. It will only ever work on noobish teams, and even that's debatable. It's called TEAM fortress for a reason, every class compliments itself and all others. Any two class working together can do devastating things to the enemy. Spy is no exception.

[Starioshka]

@Gerstein1 spys primary objective is sentry and most of the time theres noone but engineer sentry, dispenser and spy. Now go watch some omfgninja, thats how you do it, entire team alone.

[Gerstein1]

@Starioshka If you think he was working "alone" you didn't really understand what was going on in his videos. As for the engi thing, those are quick easy kills, nothing to it. Those aren't important or too helpful unless the engi's alone on an intel or point or something. Spy is not the hard counter to an engi. That's a demoman. A spy can help in that, but that's the point. Supporting allies. That's not working alone. Why do I get the feeling you're one of those people who collects hats...

[Starioshka]

@Gerstein1 Dont ever diss on hats, also im free to play so i have none. And spy is rogue, alone, and must help his team by killing strong targets like medic-heavy or sentries, also keep the enemy lines thin by destroyng teleporters and stabing people runing to front lines. I have 41 hour as spy in 1 month and still counting vildly up have all the spy weapons, except for enforcer because its useless, and you probably don't even play spy.

[Gerstein1]

@Starioshka I've been playing TF2 since 2007 and I have 2000 hours on him. I know how spy works. The point is no matter how much you do by yourself, you can do tons more if you work connected but not next to allies. It's a concept that takes a while to understand, so discussing seems pointless. Also, the enforcer for good spies and bad alike is absolutely brilliant. It's arguably the greatest one with almost literally no downsides with the dead ringer or with good timing. watch wingspantt! 

[Starioshka]

@Gerstein1 enforcer makes spy a gun not a knife user.

[Gerstein1]

@Starioshka The spy is supposed to use the revolver. A lot. It's really good, and that's the stock one I'm talking about. So many people underestimate it.

[Starioshka]

@Gerstein1 revolver is secondary, spys primary weapon is knife. Revovler is used for escape, killing wounded, killing pyros while escaping kill snipers with razorback, nothing more and enforcer heavily knocks spys ability of uncloak stab.

[Gerstein1]

@Starioshka It increases cloaking time, not decloaking. Second, they can hear you decloak easily anyway and they'll kill you if they're any good. Third, look at the strategy articles on the tf2 wikis, because debating with you seems to have lost all meaning after you posted your first comment anyway. Fourth, revolver is good for a lot more things than you listed here, but I guess some experience is necessary for you to get that. Fifth, TEAMWORK! That is all.

[Starioshka]

@Gerstein1 what is your score in normal match ?and place in team.

[Gerstein1]

@Starioshka It really depends on the map, the team, the enemy, whether we lost or not, a ton of factors. Generally somewhere between 30 and 80 though, and generally top scoring. Still, it almost always depends on my allies.

[Starioshka]

@Gerstein1 mine is 1st place and normaly i always have 50 or 120 sometimes over 120.

[Deus35]

Can't they see the knife? Or is it not shown with other players?

[MrScotland262]

@Deus35 No they don't see the knife what ever you choose to disguise, you look exactly like the class you choose to disguise as.

[Deus35]

@MrScotland262 Okay, thanks.

[Gerstein1]

@Deus35 Your disguised form holds the weapon of what you're disguised as. You can even change it by pressing b and switching weapons.

[SpartanLegion300]

these people you are playing with are FUCKING IDIOTS!

[Gerstein1]

@SpartanLegion300 Are they really? You underestimate how difficult it is to track and stop a spy while still being effective.

[MrXthemusic2]

before this video i would mess around with people going invisible then following them around everywhere it used to be fun

[MrCallOfDutyFreak100]

xBox 360!!!

[eptthree]

You should always cloack and get somewhere away from enemies but where the enemy would come not going straight towards them from your teams spawn

[TheGameStrike]

claok and dagger is the best cloak :D shame I swapped mine for a stupid dagger that insta disguise as person you killed and I thought that was great, but never saw the part that said you couldn't disguise :(

(your eternal reward)

[Wolf202Videos]

@TheGameStrike The Cloak and Dagger is not the best cloak. Half the time you use it you are sitting in one spot waiting for the cloak to recharge. You can do nearly everything the CnD does with the default watch.

Also, the Your Eternal Reward is not bad.  It just takes some getting used to.

[Omega97DX]

@Wolf202Videos Of course. The cloak and dagger can't be recharged with ammo crates. I usually try to stay cloaked most of the time. Gear in this game is balanced so every item with a + comes with a - too. I never got a chance to try the swift stabs but looks like stabs in those days must be closer to the enemies back so we can still do lateral stabs but with a lack of range.

[Wolf202Videos]

@Omega97DX I am fairly certain that stabs back then didn't have to be closer. However, a normal backstab then was very slow. It is still like this on the console versions.

[SwEGameX]

I recognized the music from Splinter Cell...am i right?

[spiderluver0]

Splinter cell music FTW!

[hungnhat1]

How u disguise so fast. ?

[JEB375]

@LENNOX117 Please don't encourage newbies to use the dead ringer, it doesn't teach them the basics of the class and it's too hard to understand when you're first starting.

[Antheas7]

2:23 you call that spycheck? in the server Im playing Pyros doublecheck everyone

[Jinz007]

if u can have 2-3 pyros doing 360 turns looking for you

you completed ur goal as a spy

[VertousWLF]

Your Eternal Reward is my best friend.

[filipvojtik]

I remember the day that i ubercharged a enemy spy...

[roshi98]

Love the Splinter Cell track. Reminds me why stealth is my preferred mode of gameplay.

[xOrangeTicTacs]

How does he switch disguises so fast? I know you can press B to go to previous, but he brings up the menu and chooses one so fast it's up for only a fraction of a second. He'd have to at least let go of W to hit a number. My best guess is he's using a gaming keypad or something?

[robcraft284]

@xOrangeTicTacs you dont have to let go of w to hit 4 its just pressing a button

[thegamegorilla]

8:34

like a true ninja...

[kinsuya1]

I wanted a Spy guide.

I got one.

VERY impressive guide, I used to not be able to take out engies well.

Now they better fear me. >;D

-Sub'd-

[LatiosBlade]

Tips if you are guarding or covering someone's back and when you get close to someone and your knife switches animation.

means its a disguise my first day I learned that trick

[shanethefox]

2:24 I always try to do that, but it never seems to work for me everyone who spy checks me just fires at me with no end (that is until I die of course)

[panikattak14]

7:00 - 7:18

GET. THE. FUCK. OUT. OF. MY. HOUSE.

[TheAwexome]

great old days, now people are too smart for this, still good eternal weapon sniper can cut through enemy forces sometimes

[soulprosthesis]

I like how nobody in the video notices the de-cloaking noise; it's a dead give away for anybody who's played the game for more than a couple hours.

[MysticRixel]

@soulprosthesis Sometimes they can't hear it because they are listening to music, game sounds or simply the Spy uncloaks far of they audition range.

[gisibah]

so, you didn't blink when cloaked and you weren't able to pick up metal?

[tatu123100]

and what is better revolver or ambassador

[tatu123100]

why any sniper don'y hold razorback and sorry my bad english

[keyboardescapism]

@tatu123100 This video was uploaded in 2008. The Razorback was released as part of the Sniper vs. Spy update in spring 2009.

[qwas12348gr5]

Right after disguising, the game shows a weapon at the bottom left, and then if you press B(for pc) it'll change the weapon or something. Could someone please explain what that's all about? Thanks

[keyboardescapism]

@qwas12348gr5 Pressing your last-disguise button (default B on the PC) will change your disguised character's weapon to the loadout slot equivalent to whatever weapon you've currently got selected. So, if you were to disguise as a Medic, you'd be holding the syringe gun (primary weapon) by default; select your electro-sapper (secondary weapon) and press B and your character will switch to the medi-gun (secondary weapon).

[Masterpivot292]

Unless there's little lag, I fail as a spy, but I love playing as them.

[mustlyrash425]

@Masterpivot292 the most funny thing about being a spy is those dumbass medics who heal you and you just stand there, while the medic goes durp.

[Masterpivot292]

@mustlyrash425

xD yeah, then I run upstairs jump back and stab them

[mrawesome1000]

I lold at how the engy thinks its the demoman at 4:21.

[FliBsiness]

@mrawesome1000 haha wow, I didn't notice that at first.

[Rockinbite]

even standing still pretending your not hurt works only 5% of the time

[barnabyjones786]

I just read your FAQ and I have to say You did a good job explain whats to do and I just bought the game today and I am having a ton of fun Thank You :D

[DracoX872]

This is useless!! The only tip is: "Play with idiots"

[ThrowItOnTheGrill]

This video is great. The spy has a huge learning curve. I've been trying to learn it and just can't seem to get the hang of it yet. One thing that I've noticed in your videos is how many snipers don't use the razorback to block backstabs once. When I snipe, all I have to do is hear that noise, switch to the shiv, and bleed the suckers. ;)

[MrZerockas]

@ThrowItOnTheGrill Just so you know this video was made before the Razorback came out. It was also made before they "fixed" the backstab. Backstabs now are much faster and more fluid. **The more you know**

[danfrost313]

@ThrowItOnTheGrill A good sniper won't get backstabbed. It took me over 90 hours of playing sniper to get the achi Consolation prize (For getting backstabbed 50times)

Darwins danger shield for the win, outshoot another sniper ;D

[rayane181297]

on the xbox pyros are not like they aim for 1 target they be trigger happy and shoot everywhere and for other when they spy check its not like they just do a shoot they shoot you to death like over 5 shoots

[Daesiel]

4:53

You killed Jessica Alba! D':

[godsnash]

haha splinter cell music, perfect for a spy video ;)

[darkrev94]

good guide but, bear in mind that nowadays EVERY F****NG ONE SPY CHECKS! i mean, people now shoot friends instead of foes

[jesternario]

in my experience, most players immediately spycheck any pyros they come across now adays.

[vernondewinnaarsta]

fuck that engi was dumb at 2:50...i shoot fucking 100 rounds out to see if some 1 is a spy ^^

[yhghgyu]

Latino wives alone and try to chat her rockmycity.info

[bangNL94]

Huh everytime I try a pokestab it does connect and hurts the enemy, but it never makes a backstab... anyone else having this?

[90dogs5]

what about the other revolver is it accurate because the crosshair gets huge when i shoot it

[OPRICA000]

did you use splinter cell music because you're one?

[Raiden738]

music fits perfectly

[liucy12345]

the spy actually gets less effective over time cos the people become over suspiscious

[LosLangkos]

Spy is the clas, one can play without aim. Its just positioning...while cloaked or disguised. Very skillful! Really! Cant compare to Meatshotscouts or Pipedemos.

I could barf, seeing someone make a video about "skilled" Spies....

[TheUnbeholden]

@LosLangkos .. skilled spies need good aim with the revolver, you'll find its very good weapon. Second of all, good spies don't die, bad spies do. Thats what a 'skilled' player is of any class. So yes there is such thing as skilled spies.. not just skilled Scouts and Demomen.

[Klaus1386]

@TheUnbeholden Thats idiotic, all players die.. and your life expectency is completely situational, if you're up against a shitty team you can stab/shoot and run, but if they have half a clue it wont last long.

[mikebrightman]

@TheUnbeholden "not skilled scouts and demomen"

you tell that to comp players xD

[MondoMiniman]

thats smart sapping a sentry as soon as someone else walks by it making the engi think hes the spy.

[Norogoth]

This guy is an epic spy.

[Xantexhunter]

I think spies got nerfed.

Poking Backstab no longer works for me.

[PsyJill]

@Xantexhunter you cant poke stab anymore sadly, only on nocrit servers but you must be in normal backstab range

[DarknessIon]

how to get that aiming reticule shape thing now?

[WormySauce]

Nice guide, very good info.

[LureYouOut]

the name you made for the stabs are wrong. arieal stabs = leapstab/ flick stab= quickstab | the diference of poke stab and true stab is if the server have random crit or not. If there is random crit will be "true stab" if no random crit will be "poke stab"

[b2o4e]

41 people are engies and snipers.

[BrainyDevil]

at 4:21 I love how the demoman gets the blame for sapping. :)

[fNelHaLibE]

How can the people not see you running when your invisible? Can't they partially see you?

[Mikidy]

@fNelHaLibE

Nope thats the cool thing about the watch. You are 100% invisible, one certain watch makes you partly invisible if you run out of it.

[GiveMeBass93]

Spy v Spy can be hard sometimes but if you kill an enemy spy it feels good

[Grojic]

Thanks for this advice now I am like a pro,my score is ussualy very good!!!

[WsBrosOne]

another good spy tip is to go for the distracted people then the other guys

[Olaipai]

Those 41 who thumbes this down must be Heavys and Snipers!

[BrainyDevil]

@Olaipai Or engineers, with dispenser erectile disfunction!

[PattiRetard]

I remember Good Old days with swift stab.

thumps up if you agree

[cuuliu]

@PattiRetard rest in peace esg

[mitro2828]

@PattiRetard What's that?

[leptir1]

Amazing. I wish I watched this two nights ago, when I just got the game. This would've helped me so much!

Add me if you ever wanna play on TF2, I'd be honored ;)

SteamID - sdrakulich

Thanks again!

[tpainx3]

when you disguise do you wear a mask or look like the actual thing please help!

[crowfaceltd]

@tpainx3 you obviously don't wear just a mask, or else the other team would see that you're a spy. YOUR team see you as a mask wearing spy, so they know your on your team

[toygar05]

probably best hint about spy is act when the enemy is distracted because nowadays everbody is paranoid about spys everyone spychecks

[cmbdragon666]

I know how to do everyting but I still suck as a spy, is it because I'm a noob? somebody answere! :'(

[QCBEC]

@cmbdragon666 well if it make you that sad to be a noob you might be under age to play this game...plz at least dont use ur mic if you sound like a kid...its like in the real life would you go with some adult and randomly talk to them? no you wouldnt so dont do it online

[cmbdragon666]

@QCBEC Yes, I'm underaged, not I do not have a mic (waiting to sound muature), and even if I did, I would only keep it on to just say good job to teammates or to say if there's a spy around..... I never talk to much about crap unless I'm pissed to a never ending rage.