TF2 characters: all 9 classes

Team Fortress 2 has nine playable characters, called classes, and each one plays completely differently. Valve sorts them into three groups: Offense, Defense, and Support. That grouping is a rough guide to a class's job, not a hard rule, since a good player can make almost any class work almost anywhere. Below is each of the nine, what it is built to do, and who it suits. If you are new, the fastest way to find your class is to try a few from each group and see which one clicks.

TF2 is one of Valve's longest-running games, and its class design is a big reason it still has players well over fifteen years after release. For the wider catalog, see the Valve games list.

Offense

These three are built to push forward, take ground, and pressure the enemy team.

Scout. The fastest class in the game, and he double-jumps. Low health, but he moves so quickly that hitting him is the hard part. His scattergun shreds up close, and he captures control points and pushes the payload cart at twice the normal rate. High skill ceiling because he lives or dies on your aim and movement. A tough but rewarding first main.
Soldier. The all-rounder and the class most guides recommend to new players. He fires rockets that deal splash damage, so you do not need pinpoint aim to be useful. He can rocket-jump off his own explosions to reach high ground at the cost of some health. Durable, flexible, and forgiving. If you are unsure where to start, start here.
Pyro. Short-range specialist with a flamethrower. Up close he is terrifying, and his compression airblast can reflect enemy rockets and grenades back at them and push enemies off ledges. He is also the main counter to enemy Spies, since his flames reveal and ignite them. Weak at range, strong in tight spaces.

Defense

These three are built to hold ground, block pushes, and protect an objective.

Demoman. Fires arcing grenades and lays sticky bombs that he can detonate on command. He sets traps around corners and chokepoints, then blows them the instant enemies walk through. High damage and huge area control, but the indirect-fire weapons take practice to aim. Also a strong attacker in the right hands, despite the Defense label.
Heavy. The tankiest class, with the largest health pool and a minigun that puts out a wall of bullets. He is slow, and his gun takes a moment to spin up, so he is about holding a position rather than chasing. Pair him with a Medic and he becomes the hardest thing on the map to kill. Simple to pick up, which makes him another good beginner option.
Engineer. The builder. He constructs a sentry gun that automatically shoots enemies, a dispenser that heals teammates and refills their ammo, and teleporters that move his team to the front line. Great for locking down an area and supporting a defense. More about smart placement and management than raw aim.

Support

These three enable the rest of the team more than they hold ground themselves.

Medic. The healer, and arguably the most important class on any team. His medigun heals a teammate and slowly builds an ubercharge, which grants a few seconds of invulnerability or a crit boost to both him and his target. A good Medic decides team fights. If you like keeping your team alive over topping the scoreboard, this is your class.
Sniper. The long-range assassin. His rifle charges up for a one-shot headshot from across the map, and he can pick off key targets like the enemy Medic before a fight even starts. Pure aim and patience. He does little in a close brawl, but from the right angle he changes the whole game.
Spy. The trickster. He turns invisible with his watch and disguises as an enemy player, then sneaks behind the line to backstab targets for an instant kill or sap the Engineer's buildings. High risk, high reward, and the most mind-games-heavy class in the game. Frustrating to learn, deeply satisfying once it clicks.

Which class should you main?

Community advice on the TF2 forums is consistent: new players should start with Soldier, Heavy, or Engineer. Soldier teaches you the game's movement and splash-damage combat without demanding perfect aim. Heavy is forgiving and hard to kill. Engineer lets you contribute through smart building even while you are still learning the maps.

Scout, Sniper, and Spy have the steepest learning curves and reward mechanical skill, so save them until you know the maps and the flow of a match. The best long-term approach is to be comfortable on at least one class in each group, because the class your team needs changes with the situation. Want to see how TF2's population stacks up against Valve's other games before you commit? Our Steam stats page shows where it sits.

FAQ

How many classes are in TF2? Nine. They are split into three groups: Offense (Scout, Soldier, Pyro), Defense (Demoman, Heavy, Engineer), and Support (Medic, Sniper, Spy).

What is the best TF2 class for beginners? Soldier is the usual recommendation because his rockets deal splash damage and forgive imperfect aim. Heavy and Engineer are also beginner-friendly. Save Scout, Sniper, and Spy for later.

What is the hardest TF2 class to play? Spy is widely considered the hardest because he relies on disguises, positioning, and reading the enemy team. Scout and Sniper are close behind due to how much they lean on raw aim and movement.

Which class is the healer in TF2? The Medic. He heals teammates and builds an ubercharge that grants a short window of invulnerability or a crit boost, which is often what wins a team fight.

Can any class attack or defend, or are the groups fixed? The groups are guidelines, not rules. Demoman attacks well despite being labeled Defense, and Soldier defends fine despite being Offense. Good players adapt their class choice to the moment.