RED Mercenaries

The massive Soviet mercenary wielding Sasha, ready to lead the charge with overwhelming firepower.

The Heavy Weapons Guy, better known simply as the Heavy, is a playable character in the team-based shooter Team Fortress 2 (TF2). He is one of the nine classes and is depicted as a large, intimidating Soviet Russian mercenary primarily wielding a minigun called "Sasha". The Heavy is categorized in-game as one of the offensive classes, distinct from the defensive classes (Engineer, Demoman, and Sniper). Often considered the most iconic character of the game's roster, he is a returning class from Team Fortress Classic, where he was known as the 'Heavy Weapons Guy'.

Quick Facts

Status: Active
Uniform color: Red

Lore & Background

According to official tie-in comics, the Heavy was born Mikhail to a father executed for counter-revolutionary activity. His family was imprisoned in a North Siberian Gulag camp as a result, though they eventually managed to break out during a prison riot instigated by the Heavy himself. With his family hiding in Siberia, he decided to take up mercenary work to support them, which led him to join the team of mercenaries depicted in the game. While intimidating on the battlefield, he possesses a softer side, particularly toward his primary minigun, Sasha. Using the D&D alignment chart, Kieron Gillen of Rock Paper Shotgun classified him as chaotic good.

Reader's Guide

The Heavy is categorized as a defensive class alongside the Demoman and Engineer. His primary weapon is a minigun that must be revved up before shooting. By default, his secondary is a shotgun, replaceable with consumables like the Sandvich. He boasts the highest damage output and health points (300) of all playable characters but has the slowest speed, making him an easy target for Spies and Snipers. His size makes him ideal for support by friendly Medics or leading team pushes. The Sandvich is crucial for healing in the absence of Medics, restoring himself to maximum health or thrown as a kit for teammates. Alternative weapons include the Natascha (slows enemies), Huo-Long Heater (ring of fire), Brass Beast (+20% damage but slows movement/spin-up), and Tomislav (faster spin-up, silent rev, slower firing).

Did You Know?

The Heavy's full given name is Mikhail; 'Misha' is a common Russian diminutive, not his legal name.
The Heavy is voiced by Gary Schwartz; the Demoman is voiced by Edi Patterson.
The Heavy did not receive a major update in 2016 because the Pyro side won the "Meet Your Match" contest.

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