TF2: Mann vs. Machine Upgrade Report

So you read our enemy intelligence report and as a result you want to hand in your resignation for the Red or Blu army? You didn't think we'd send you in there without any help did you? No sir, we've organised a series of upgrades, items and new abilities to help you stand your ground against the metal menace. To re-assure you and ensure that you report for duty tomorrow, here's a list of the new features you can expect to find from the Mann vs. Machine update in Team Fortress 2.

Upgrade Stations

Unlike us humans who combust into a joyful shower of red mist and fingertips, our robot enemies leave behind scrap metal and cash, which can be exchanged at any of the new Upgrade Stations placed throughout the map in-between waves of enemies, allowing you to purchase weapon, item and ability upgrades.

Canteens

After completing your first mission, each and every soldier will receive one free Mann Co.-branded canteen. It's equippable in your action slot, and it will be filled with tasty power-ups available from the Upgrade Station. Each canteen will hold three single-use charges of the same type. What kind of upgrades are we talking about here?

ÜberCharge: Supplies five seconds of personal invincibility
Critical Hit Boost: Full critical hit power for five seconds
Ammo/Clip Refill: Never stop shooting with this instant ammo and clip refill
Return to Base: Immediately returns you to the respawn room for last-minute base defense and gives you a temporary speed boost
Buildings Upgrade: For the Engineer who needs Level Three buildings in a hurry

Tactics

Upgrade Stations will give you a wide range of tactical options to choose from. While we don't have access to a full list of upgrades and ability changes, here's what we do know so far:

Soldier

• Upgraded Buff Banner can empower entire team
• Upgrade rocket launcher to increase damage, firing speed, reload speed and projectile speed

• Upgraded medigun or Kritzkrieg boosts overheal amount and duration
• Upgraded Medic can increase ÜberCharge build rate and lengthen deploy duration
• Upgraded Medic can share his canteen effects with heal target

• Upgraded Mad Milk slows affected enemies
• All Scouts have the following innate skills:
• Extra-length cash collection radius
• Health boosts from collected cash
• Instant respawns

• Upgraded rounds pass through multiple targets
• Upgraded minigun can shoot down projectiles
• Upgraded Heavy can generate rage, causing rounds to knock back enemies

• Use a Critical Hit Boost canteen to lay deadly sticky traps
• Use damage-upgraded sticky bomb clusters to instantly destroy all but the strongest targets

• Upgraded Engineer can build a second, disposable mini-sentry
• Use a Critical Hit Boost canteen to temporarily boost sentry gun to three times its firing speed
• Remember: The Wrangler excels against long-range targets

• Upgraded Jarate slows affected enemies
• Upgraded sniper rifle rounds and Huntsman arrows pass through multiple targets
• Combine Jarate with bleed effect on rounds and arrows to take down larger enemies
• Upgraded sniper rifle and Huntsman cause explosive headshots

• Upgraded airblast pushes targets further
• Use air blasts to separate medic robots from their targets and push bomb-carrying robots into mineshafts
• Upgraded flare gun becomes a lethal long-range weapon

• Upgraded sapper can disable groups of regular robots and slow Giants
• Spies' disguises fool all robot enemies; robots may detect a nearby backstab, and will always detect a Spy who is on fire
• Upgraded knife can penetrate armour, allowing increasing effectiveness against Giants

Are you ready soldier? The update is due to drop sometime tomorrow, so we suggest you get a good nights sleep, the cause needs you!

By Stephen Heller

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