The
Pyro is a mumbling pyromaniac of indeterminate origin who has a burning passion for all things fire related. As shown in
Meet the Pyro, the Pyro appears to be insane and delusional, living in a utopian fantasy world known as
Pyroland.
The Pyro specializes in fighting enemies at close range using a homemade
Flame Thrower. Enemies set on
fire suffer from afterburn and take additional damage over time, allowing the Pyro to excel at hit-and-run tactics. Due to the Flamethrower’s short range, the Pyro is weaker at longer ranges and relies heavily on ambushing and taking alternate routes to catch opponents off-guard.
Although categorized as an offensive class, the Pyro also brings some utility to the battlefield. The Pyro’s
compression blast, for example, can deflect enemy
projectiles, extinguish burning teammates, and forcibly reposition any enemy, including one under the effects of an invincibility-granting
ÜberCharge.
Because enemies hit by fire are visibly ignited, the Pyro is the best class for
Spy-checking, as even a small puff of flame can nullify the
Spy’s Cloak and disguise. Additionally, the Pyro can use the
Homewrecker,
Maul, or
Neon Annihilator to protect an
Engineer’s buildings from an enemy Spy's
Sapper or use the
Detonator or
Scorch Shot to
jump to normally unreachable places.
The Pyro wears an asbestos-lined suit that provides protection from the
afterburn of other Pyros, flaming
Huntsman arrows, charged
Cow Mangler 5000 shots, and the
Huo-Long Heater, though it does not add any resistance to the direct damage taken from the flamethrower/explosion. A Pyro can counter attack an enemy Pyro by using the default
Shotgun or the
Reserve Shooter. The three incendiary grenades on the Pyro's character model are purely cosmetic and cannot be used.
The Pyro is
voiced by
Dennis Bateman.