14 DAY TRIAL // On the final stretch, the Friendship War of Team Fortress 2 has the two former best friends ripping each other a new one. A total death count so far has 11,470,648 killed mercenaries on both sides and, with just 14,792 more Demomen killed, this is still anybody's game. To help him get back in the game, Mann Co. has given the Demoman another weapon, the Scottish Resistance, one that favors a more strategic approach to the fight, since the same type of thinking served the Soldiers very well with the Direct Hit. But, since the entire thing was started by the Announcer's desire for some “healthy competition,” the Soldier's stronger push in the war has won him two new items.
The first one is The Equalizer, a new melee weapon for the Soldier that encourages players to get shot as many times as possible. “You didn’t misread that sentence: losing is now a strategy. This melee-slot pickaxe becomes more deadly the more damage you take, letting you move faster and hit harder the more wounds you endure. Get close enough to death, and you will become Death himself.” With this unexpected turn of events, second only to the Demoman, the Doctor can now become the Soldier's worse nightmare.
The second item the class has received is one inspired by his present victory in the war, as his triumphant march has pushed the Blues forward, getting them up on their feet and reminding them that only the victors go home to tell tales. As such, The Buff Banner enters the stage and turns the Soldier into a General, propelling his teammates to victory in the marching sound of the trumpets.
“When this secondary-slot item is equipped, any damage you deal boosts a rage meter that, when full, lets you pull out your bugle and sound a call to war! For the next 14 seconds, every teammate who rallies round your flag will deal mini-crits.” Also, remember that Valve has deemed this weekend a free TF2 one, so get ready with your pre-load of the game and be ready to heat things up. The developer has also added a brand-new set of achievements for the Soldier as well, like Geneva Contravention - kill five defenseless players after a single match has ended or Frags of our Fathers - gib 1,000 people.