Editing Pocket

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The pocket is the [[Soldier]] assigned to protect the [[Medic]] for the duration of the round. In [[6v6]], the pocket is almost always a [[Soldier]], but in [[Highlander]] it can be the [[Soldier]], [[Demoman]], or [[Heavy]].

== Main Roles ==
The three main goals of the Pocket are as follows:
# Protecting the medic 
# Lead pushes
# Effectively use übers
There are a lot of other roles the Pocket has to fulfill, these are just the main ones.

== The Combo ==
The Pocket is a very important part of the combo, as it is an effective bodyguard for the Demoman and Medic due to his ability to tank damage and utilize explosive knockback. The Pocket's job is also to watch main choke points with the combo, and to punish any enemies who overextend near choke points. The pocket is where most of the fighting should be centered around, and he will usually lead his team into the fray.

== Mid Fights ==
The Pocket, being one of the most versatile 6v6 class, has a number of ways to approach midfights. Usually, this involves protecting the medic from bombing soldiers and scouts, while putting out consistent damage on the other team. In some cases it is known for both Soldiers on a team to bomb the opposing Medic in a mid fight rather than staying to protect their own. The Medic will often be left to the Demo during this period, however this is largely a team preference as they may be using a strategy that requires higher aggression than normal. Normally, the pocket stays with the medic, while scouts and the roaming soldier pressure the enemy medic. This provides more protection for the medic, as a soldier can protect much better against enemy scouts than a demoman.

== 6v6 Pocket Unlocks ==
The Pocket Soldier, being heavily attached to the Medic, will usually use a rather stock like loadout due to the lesser need of the Gunboats unlock. This loadout would commonly include the Rocket Launcher or The Original together with The Shotgun and The Escape Plan. 

The use of The Original or Rocket Launcher is a common usage by all soldiers due to its reliability of 4 shots which is capable of killing almost all targets when hit for rather large amounts of damage; the Heavy is largely excluded from this due to the ability of 450HP through overheal. The Soldier, on occasions may run The Direct Hit — this is often to spam out a Sentry nest locations on maps such as cp_gravelpit as it has lower splash and higher damage. The Direct Hit may also be used by preference, though this is rarely seen.

The use of the Shotgun on a Pocket as opposed to the Gunboats of the Roamer is due to the increased damage output. The shotgun is a well rounded weapon for a pocket to use due to its ability to clear stickies and its 6 shells that can be loaded, making it effective at taking out many targets both alone or after using rockets. The shotgun is also very good at helping to defend the medic as the role of Pocket as it will cause jumpers or bombers of the opposing team to be slowed if hit while in the air and is a safer alternative to airshots with rockets. The shotgun is a great weapon to use if/when the rocket launcher runs out of shots loaded but the enemy is not yet dead.

The use of the Escape Plan rather than a stock Shovel will often be due to its use in Rollouts as the Soldier can cause enough damage to themselves easier than a Soldier with gunboats allowing them to be granted the movement speed bonus and reach the midfight along side the rest of the team members easier. After 10 seconds this Soldier would then be able to take "Crit heals" from their Medic and be restored to full health upon arriving at the midfight.

This loadout is well rounded and allows a Pocket to protect the Medic in a number of ways, give out damage in a number of ways and also a possible escape should they become to injured to stay in a fight. Additionally, anything besides stock is often banned in leagues, especially ETF2L.

== Resources ==

=== Video Guides ===
* {{YouTube video|VLprSMSzHVk|text=Marxist's 10 Precepts of Pocket}}
* {{YouTube video|ia2kRZ4CfkA|text=Marxist's Pockets' Uber analysis}}
* {{YouTube video|Jv9fXKuH0|text=FML Bootcamp: Pocket Soldier Competitive Overview}}

=== Demo Reviews ===
* {{YouTube video|0PZRr556mD8|text=Crack Clan Close-Up #1 - Crack Clan vs Broder on Badlands - (Ipz)}}
* {{YouTube video|ZQZYRHEmfo8|text=iM yuki's Badlands POV demo review by antwa, aoria and yuki}}
* {{YouTube video|B5TgIktJK44|text=iM yuki's Viaduct POV demo review by antwa, aoria and yuki}}
* {{YouTube video|DsQYDlefDVY|text=MR SLIN's Sunshine demo review of 4G.Lansky from CEVO S5 LAN}}
* {{YouTube video|FGl2sJkoK6g|text=Froyotech b4nny's Badlands i55 Lower Bracket Finals vs reason POV demo review by A_Seagull}}
* {{YouTube video|V2UNNCyKaRQ|text=MGE: Soldier#Platinum: MGE Premium Soldier Demo Review}}

=== POVs ===
=== Badlands ===
* {{YouTube video|rgCrGXIurU4|text=i55 - [R]eason vs Ascent - (kaptain) }}
* {{YouTube video|i-MJsDXGpEc|text=i55  Consolation Final - [R]eason vs Froyotech - (kaptain) }}
* {{YouTube video|SBKfASNXNoY|text=ETF2L Prem - broder vs BFF - (Zebbosai) }} ''(Includes team comms)''

=== Granary ===
* {{YouTube video|eFtC1zZuG2c|text=ESEA S13 LAN - HRG vs FT - (Lansky) }} ''(Includes team comms)''
* {{YouTube video|5mAsaXnT7cE|text=ETF2L Prem - broder vs BFF - (Zebbosai) }} ''(Includes team comms)''

=== Gullywash ===
* {{YouTube video|eNckznvwdvw|text=i55 - TLR vs [R]eason - (AMS) }}
* {{YouTube video|k1iRXU6ns7U|text=i55 - [R]eason vs Froyotech - (kaptain) }}
* {{YouTube video|sn5nPvLXk-o|text=i55  Consolation Final - [R]eason vs Froyotech - (kaptain) }}

=== Process ===
* {{YouTube video|oa-F_DwSqQI|text=i55 Upper Final - nR vs Froyotech (Map 1) - (Tek) }}
 
=== Viaduct ===
* {{YouTube video|NUvCD6OTuiU|text=i55 Upper Final - nR vs Froyotech (Map 2) - (Tek) }}
* {{YouTube video|hierDtxOtaw|text=ETF2L Prem S15 - Crack Clan vs LMS - (ipz) }} ''(Includes team comms)''

=== Snakewater ===
* {{YouTube video|UckKDsvtTwY|text=i55 Upper Final - nR vs Froyotech (Map 3) - (Tek) }}