Steel

Steel is an Attack/Defend map consisting of 5 points. The objective of the map is to capture point E. While the attacking team can try and skip straight to Point E, it's in their better interest to capture the other four points first. As Blu captures each point, doors will open and close to give them slight advantages. While point E can be captured at any time, points A through D must be captured in order. Due to its complexity, Steel is a map that brutally puts a team's cohesion to the test.

Locations

Control Point A

Steel - Blu Spawn
Cliff Windows Ledge Health Pack Roof Yard

Steel - Control Point A
Barrel Ramp Big Door Rocks Point (A) Cliff Stairs Ammo Pack Red Spawn (front) Drop-Down

When Point A is captured

• Big Door will start opening slowly
• Drop-Down will open.

Notes & Strategies

• When Point A is lost, it is very hard for the defending team to fall back to B fast enough, especially for the Engineer. Because of this, most teams don't put much effort into defending A. It is usually a bad idea to pop uber at point A. The engineer will often skip it entirely and build at B during the setup period.
• When a sentry is built on A, it is typically built on Ramp. This gives the sentry a view of enemies peeking Cliff as well as enemies contesting Yard.
• Sentries are also sometimes built near Red Spawn. While this gives the Engineer an easier escape route, it makes the sentry much more vulnerable to demo spam from over the cliff.
• There is a currently a map exploit where a Pyro can shoot flames through Big Door. It only works from the Lobby side. Flames cannot be shot back from the Point A side. This may or may not be considered legal in your league, so just be aware of it and don't stand near the door. As an attacker, do not send your Pyro to shoot through the door. The Pyro is more useful in the fight, rather than trying to get cheap kills using a map exploit.
• Keep in mind that stickies (or even a sentry) can easily be hidden in Drop-Down. It is often a better idea to move back through spawn to contest B.

Control Point B

Steel - Control Point B
Drop-Down Ladders Secret Beck Platform Point (B) B-C Connector Blu spawn

Steel - Control Point B
Platform Truck Point (B) Sniper Windows Sniper Ledge

When Point B is captured

• Red team will start spawning in the back spawn rather than the front spawn.
• Metal grate separating B-C Connector and C Cliff will start opening slowly.

Notes & Strategies

• "Beck" gets its name from being the "B-E-C" connector, which spelled out is pronounced "Beck".
• When defending, be aware that the enemy can come behind through Beck.
• Sometimes attackers will even sneak a sentry and teleporter into Beck. This allows Blu to contest Point B from behind, as well as immediately contest Point C as soon as Point B is taken. This also allows easy access to Point E.
• When defending Point B, the Engineer will usually build on either Platform or Truck. Either place will heavily rely on the wrangler in order to make the sentry useful.
• When defending, the Sniper can get a decent view from the windows in Secret, however it is difficult to fall back to a safe location if the point is taken.
• When calling out locations, be sure your team knows the difference between Drop-Down and Secret. It's an easy confusion since they both have areas where players can drop down.

Control Point C

Steel - Control Point C
B-C Connector Rocks / Cliff Beck Lower Balcony Bridge Stairs Ramp Point (C)

When Point C is captured

• Catwalks extend to point E, allowing players to walk to the point rather than rocket/detonator jump.

Notes & Strategies

• When defending, Point C is a point that Red team should commit to defending. This is a point that can win the game for red if held long enough. This is because red spawn is so close to Point C, and the Red team is easily able to fall back through spawn to start defending Point D. The combination of these two factors makes it an easy point to defend.
• When attacking, Blu team can try to send their Scout or Soldier to contest Point E to try and draw some players away from Point C.
• When defending, the Red Engineer will typically build a Sentry on Balcony. For a better wrangling position, the Sentry can also be built on Bridge.

Control Point D

Steel - Control Point D
Red Spawn (back) Stairs C-D Connector D-E Connector Control Room Connector Elbow Point (D)

When Point D is captured

• Doors connecting red spawn to Point E become locked, forcing the read team through Point D to get to Point E.
• Guard rails appear on Point E catwalks, making it slightly harder to fall off.

Notes & Strategies

• When attacking, contesting point D using the C-D Connector can be tempting but risky. This is because it goes past two active Red spawn doors. This should only be done with either Uber advantage or advantage in numbers. Otherwise, it is safer to regroup in lobby. While this does take longer, it's better to not to risk losing your combo.
• Because the doors connecting red spawn to Point E become locked when Point D is taken, Point D is a critical point for defenders to hold on to. Point E is much harder to defend if Point D is lost.
• When defending, the Red Engineer will often not build a sentry on point D. The spawn doors locking after Point D is taken makes it very difficult to build a sentry on E.
• When a sentry is built on D, it is typically built at the top of Stairs. From there, the sentry will be able to reach every point of the room except for Elbow, which requires wrangling to scare off enemies harassing the sentry.
• When attacking Points D and E, it is wise to get a teleporter set up. The most common places to set up a sentry nest are Control Room, Beck, and Secret (near point B). Control room is the ideal place, since it gives easy access to both D and E points. A teleporter in Beck or Secret is only useful when contesting Point E.

Control Point E

Steel - Control Point E
Lobby Blu Batts Platform Beck Lower Pipe D-E Connector Red Batts Balcony / Upper Lime / Red Windows Point (E)

Steel - Control Point E (catwalks extended)
Platform Blu Batts Lobby Control Room Catwalks Point (E) Balcony D-E Connector Red Batts Lemon / Blu Windows

Notes & Strategies

• When defending, the Engineer will typically try to build on Balcony. Wrangler is required to reach Platform, Blu Batts, and Lobby.
• When defending, if the Engineer can't get a sentry up before the spawn doors lock, consider using Gunslinger.
• When defending, try setting up a teleporter in Lime. With the spawn doors locked, a teleporter can be very handy.
• As said above, attackers should try to set up a teleporter in Control Room, Beck, or Secret.
• Red combo will typically hold in D-E connector or at Point D. These areas are the safest from spam and snipers.
• If a player falls off, they can sometimes save themselves by trying to land on Pipe. Pipe will lead to Lower, which can then lead to Point C or Beck.

Other Areas

Steel - Control Room
Elbow Control Room Connector Control Room

Steel - Lobby
Big Door Lobby Control Room