Editing Spy

[[File:SpyIcon.png|200px|right]]
The '''Spy''' is a suave backstabbing rogue that has the ability to insta-kill any class in the game with their knife.  Spies are valued in that they can position themselves as they see fit with their Cloak and can get important [[Glossary#Metagame terms|Picks]] through the manipulation and deception of the enemy team.  The Spy arguably has below average direct combat ability, as he is solely designed to only get one or two kills at a time.  As a pick class, the Spy will usually target the enemy [[Demoman]], [[Heavy]] or [[Medic]] and either get the Medic to pop or drop his [[Übercharge]]. The Spy is also capable of incapacitating and destroying the [[Engineer]]'s buildings.

==6v6==
{{main|Spy (6v6)}}

In 6v6, the Spy is considered an [[offclass]] due to his unreliable damage output and weakness. If a Spy is played he will usually only get one chance at getting a pick. Because of this, the Spy is rarely used and will most often target the enemy Medic or Demoman to get a pick worth more than his own life. A team might use a Spy when the enemy Medic has a large advantage, or to get an important pick over the enemy team and end a stalemate.

In terms of assassination power, the Spy has less potential than the Sniper, so be wary when running a Spy. A Sniper can shoot multiple times and get multiple picks, but a Spy will usually only get one chance for a pick and is almost certainly going to die after their attempt to pick someone. However, because spy is not often used in 6v6, players are generally less aware of spies, making them more likely to fall for disguises and backstabs. The Spy is commonly used as a surprise tactic for breaking stalemates against teams too wary of [[Snipers]] or [[Roamer]] bombings. However the Spy is still largely situational and most teams will prefer a [[Sniper]]. 

There are benefits to running a Spy however. You can check the enemy Medic's Uber percentage and choice of Medigun, call surprise offclasses and where the enemy is positioned. The Spy can also be utilised for backcapping due to his cloak allowing him to traverse the map easily and undisturbed.

==Highlander==

{{main|Spy (Highlander)}}

In Highlander, the Spy is used as a support class. He is often used to pick the enemy Medic, Heavy, Demoman, Sniper, Engineer, or any key targets that are giving his team trouble.  Spies in Highlander must be aware that the enemy team has a full-time [[Pyro]] and is [[spychecking]] more often, leaving the Spy with less opportunities for picks.

The Spy is also the best scouting class in the game, providing invaluable information for his team. He can find how far along a [[Medic]] is to fully charging his ubercharge, where the enemy team is located, and in what direction they are moving towards in the safety provided by his watches.

==Techniques==
{{main|Trickstabs}}
When spotted or confronted by an enemy, a spy is almost always put at a disadvantage, due to his low damage output on primaries. In times of need, Spies may need to use one of the many techniques developed to deceive or lure their enemies in position for a stab that otherwise wouldn't be possible. These are called trickstabs and are often a technique highly exploited by most of the high level spies.

==Weapons==

{{Template:Class Spy Primary Table}}

{{Template:Class Spy Secondary Table}}

{{Template:Class Spy PDA Table}}

{{Template:Class Spy Melee Table}}

==Weapons==
=== Secondary ===
{{Class Weapon Table Header}}
{{Class Weapon Table Row
|weaponname = Revolver
|description = The '''Revolver''' deals a base damage of 40, with a clip of 6 rounds. This weapon, along with the Ambassador, is Spy's go-to weapon for dealing damage. While underwhelming compared to other classes' Primary weapons, its damage is not to be underestimated, as Spy can kill light classes in under two seconds with proper aim.
|ugc4s = always
|6s = always
|ugchl = always
|etf2lhl = always
|rgl6s = always
|rglhl = always
}}
{{Class Weapon Table Row
|weaponname = Ambassador
|description = The '''Ambassador''' has only 34 base damage compared to the stock Revolver's 40, but deals crits if Spy lands a headshot, for an impressive 102 damage. However, the weapon is hampered by a cooldown period, during which it will not deal critical hits. At mid to long-range, headshot damage will decay significantly, preventing Spy from sniping targets from afar.

While less reliable than the stock Revolver in an extended fight, the Ambassador allows Spy to deal heavy burst damage like Sniper. Two well-placed shots can kill light classes in under a second at close-to-mid range, making it ideal for quickly dispatching a single enemy.
 
|ugc4s = true
|6s = true
|ugchl = true
|etf2lhl = true
|rgl6s = true
|rglhl = true
}}
{{Class Weapon Table Row
|weaponname = L'Etranger
|description = The '''L'Etranger''' deals a base damage of 32. In exchange for its damage penalty, it passively increases Spy's maximum cloak time by 40%. On every hit, his cloak is instantly restored by 15%. It is one of the two ways to manually recharge the [[Dead Ringer]], and can extend the [[Cloak and Dagger]]'s cloak time rival that of the Invis Watch. This weapon is often used when gathering information on the enemy and waiting for an opportunity to backstab, rather than gun them down.

|ugc4s = true
|6s = true
|ugchl = true
|etf2lhl = true
|rgl6s = true
|rglhl = true
}}
{{Class Weapon Table Row
|weaponname = Enforcer
|description = The '''Enforcer''' deals as much damage as the stock Revolver, but has a base damage of 48 when Spy is disguised. As a drawback, it suffers from a 20% firing speed penalty. While it is overshadowed by the stock Revolver in most situations, it ignores damage resistances and deals full damage against Wrangled Sentries, Vaccinator shields, and Fists of Steel.
|ugc4s = true
|6s = true
|ugchl = true
|etf2lhl = true
|rgl6s = true
|rglhl = true
}}
{{Class Weapon Table Row
|weaponname = Diamondback
|description = The '''Diamondback''' deals a base damage of 34.  For every Engineer building Spy saps and destroys and for every backstab kill, he will get one guaranteed critical hit (102 damage) for the Diamondback. These crits can be used to take out damaged enemies who would otherwise survive, or to weaken enemies in direct combat. Unlike the Ambassador, it does not suffer from damage falloff, which allows Spy to snipe enemies from across the map with minimal risk of retaliation.

This weapon is banned in most leagues, as it allows Spy to out-damage every class in the game at mid to long-range.
|ugc4s = false
|6s = false
|ugchl = false
|etf2lhl = false
|rgl6s = false
|rglhl = false
}}
{{Class Weapon Table End}}

=== Sapper ===
{{Class Weapon Table Header}}
{{Class Weapon Table Row
|weaponname = Sapper
|description = The '''Sapper''' is the Spy's main tool for disabling and destroying enemy Engineers' buildings. The stock Sapper will disable an enemy building when placed, but if an enemy Engineer removes the sapper with his Wrench, the building will resume operation. One of the most common strategies for attacking an Engineer's buildings is to backstab the Engineer, then sap his buildings. If your team is making a push, simply sapping his Sentry Gun may disable it long enough for your team to destroy it.
|ugc4s = always
|6s = always
|ugchl = always
|etf2lhl = always
|rgl6s = always
|rglhl = always
}}
{{Class Weapon Table Row
|weaponname = Red-Tape Recorder
|link = Red-Tape_Recorder
|description = Much like the stock sapper, the '''Red-Tape Recorder''' also disables enemy engineer's buildings. This sapper, however, does not destroy the buildings it saps; rather, it reverses the construction of the building - if not removed immediately, it will almost always de-level a building at least once. While inferior to the stock Sapper in most situations, it may be useful to weaken a Sentry Gun before your team attacks. It is banned in some leagues.
|ugc4s = true
|6s = true
|ugchl = true
|etf2lhl = true
|rgl6s = true
|rglhl = true
}}
{{Class Weapon Table End}}

=== Melee ===
{{Class Weapon Table Header}}
{{Class Weapon Table Row
|weaponname = Knife
|description = The '''Knife''' is Spy's melee of choice. Attacking an enemy from behind will instantly kill them, regardless of health or damage resistances - if they are not immune to damage, they will die. From the front, it deals a paltry 40 damage (known as butter-knifing), which can be used to kill a low-health enemy, but otherwise should be avoided. Spy's most common tactic is to get behind enemy lines with his cloak, deceive the enemy with his disguise, and then then use his Knife to backstab a key target, often at the cost of his own life. When the element of surprise is lost, however, Spy must use his Revolver or cloak in order to escape.
|ugc4s = always
|6s = always
|ugchl = always
|etf2lhl = always
|rgl6s = always
|rglhl = always
}}
{{Class Weapon Table Row
|weaponname = Your Eternal Reward
|link = Your_Eternal_Reward
|description = The '''Your Eternal Reward''' weakens Spy's cloak, but strengthens his disguises. If Spy disguises outside of spawn, he will lose all of his cloak, in addition to passively reducing his maximum cloak time by 33%. The only way for Spy to disguise without losing cloak is to backstab an enemy. Upon landing a backstab, he will instantly disguise as the victim, and their corpse will be cloaked in under a second. Backstabbed players will not scream, so enemies engaged in combat will seldom notice. This weapon is rarely seen in competitive play, as slain enemies will immediately call out Spy's position and disguise to their teammates, making the Your Eternal Reward's benefits useless in seconds. However, if Spy can act in the few seconds of confusion after a backstab, he may be able to land another kill before dying, or retreat safely.

|ugc4s = true
|6s = true
|ugchl = true
|etf2lhl = true
|rgl6s = true
|rglhl = true
}}
{{Class Weapon Table Row
|weaponname = Spy-cicle
|description = The '''Spy-cicle''' partially protects Spy from Pyro's flamethrower. When Spy is ignited, the Spy-cicle will melt (preventing him from attacking with it) and protect Spy from all fire damage for one second. He will be immune to afterburn for 10 seconds, making him harder to track down while cloaked. After it melts, the Spy-cicle takes 15 seconds to recharge, though Spy can recharge his Spy-cicle faster by picking up ammo packs. However, backstabbed victims are turned into distinctive ice statues, revealing Spy's presence. Note that with other knives, Spy can continue to backstab after being ignited. Users should take their play-style and the current state of the game into consideration before choosing the Spy-cicle over the stock Knife.
|ugc4s = true
|6s = true
|ugchl = true
|etf2lhl = true
|rgl6s = true
|rglhl = true
}}
{{Class Weapon Table Row
|weaponname = Conniver's Kunai
|link = Conniver's_Kunai
|description = When the '''Conniver's Kunai''' is equipped, Spy's maximum health is reduced to 70, allowing him to be killed instantly by most close-range attacks, even while cloaked. On a backstab, however, Spy steals his victim's health, overhauling him up to 210 points of health. If he was previously on fire, backstabbing an enemy will extinguish him. Be cautious while using this knife; if caught before he can land a backstab, Spy will die to most attacks that hit him. Once he backstabs an enemy, he can either use the health to escape, attempt to land another stab, or simply distract the enemy team for a few seconds longer.
|ugc4s = true
|6s = true
|ugchl = true
|etf2lhl = true
|rgl6s = true
|rglhl = true
}}
{{Class Weapon Table Row
|weaponname = Big Earner
|link = Big_Earner
|description = The '''Big Earner''' reduces Spy's base health to 100 points, which is pretty cringe. Killing an enemy with this weapon, either with a backstab or a butter-knife, will recharge the Cloak meter by 30% and increase Spy's movement speed for 3 seconds. This knife is best used when enemies are spread out; the movement speed buff allows Spy to quickly close the distance between enemies before they can react. However, a point-blank attack from most classes will kill him instantly.
|ugc4s = true
|6s = true
|ugchl = true
|etf2lhl = true
|rgl6s = true
|rglhl = true
}}
{{Class Weapon Table End}}

=== Invisibility Watch ===
{{Class Weapon Table Header}}
{{Class Weapon Table Row
|weaponname = Invis Watch
|link = Invis_Watch
|description = The default '''Invis Watch''' for Spy is time-based. It provides Spy with 10 seconds of cloak time, during which he will have a 20% damage resistance. It takes 30 seconds to recharge normally, but Spy can pick up ammo boxes to refill his cloak meter. The Invis Watch is best suited for an aggressive play style, allowing Spy to roam the map quickly, landing multiple kills. In competitive settings, however, players will tend to be more Spy-aware, and the 10-second window may not be enough to make a play.
|ugc4s = always
|6s=always
|ugchl = always
|etf2lhl = always
|rgl6s = always
|rglhl = always
}}
{{Class Weapon Table Row
|weaponname = Cloak and Dagger
|link = Cloak_and_Dagger
|description = The '''Cloak and Dagger''' is motion-based; as long as Spy holds still, his cloak will regenerate. This watch has a doubled cloak recharge rate (15 seconds, compared to the Invis Watch's 30) but drains significantly faster. This watch's cloak cannot be replenished by ammo boxes while cloaked, requiring Spy to reveal himself briefly when trying to cover large amounts of ground. The Cloak and Dagger is best suited for a more passive playstyle, allowing Spy to hide and relay important information to his team, such as enemy positioning and Medic Übercharge. It is often paired with the L'Etranger in order to offset the reduced cloak time.
|ugc4s = true
|6s=true
|ugchl = true
|etf2lhl = true
|rgl6s = true
|rglhl = true
}}
{{Class Weapon Table Row
|weaponname = Dead Ringer
|link = Dead_Ringer
|description = The '''Dead Ringer''' is unique among Spy's watches, trading stealth for survivability. Instead of cloaking Spy, deploying the Dead Ringer will "arm" it. Spy will not be able to attack while the Dead Ringer is armed, but when damaged, he will instantly turn invisible, drop a fake corpse, and gain a movement speed boost, allowing him to escape. The attack that activates the Dead Ringer will have its power reduced by 75%, allowing a full-health Spy to survive any attack short of a backstab. For the first 3 seconds after the first attack, Spy will have a 65% damage resistance which will soon fade to the standard 20%, and will not become visible when bumping enemy players. The Dead Ringer allows Spy to easily escape when confronted, but prevents him from cloaking on demand. Alternatively, he can briefly face his enemies in direct combat, dealing as much damage as possible before activating the Ringer and retreating. Regardless of his tactics, Spy must wait 10-20 seconds before the Ringer recharges, as ammo boxes and Dispensers will not recharge it.
|ugc4s = true
|6s=true
|ugchl = true
|etf2lhl = true
|rgl6s = true
|rglhl = true
}}
{{Class Weapon Table End}}

==See Also==
*[[Spy (6v6)]]
*[[Spy (Highlander)]]

==External Links==
[http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=312421865# DarkNecrid's Comprehensive Pub & Competitive Spy Guide]

[[Category:Classes]]