Fragzine

Half-Life 2: Deathmatch new player introduction

A new player guide to start playing Half-Life 2 Deathmatch on the SF Match servers

Gameplay Advanced Tips Setup Maps Videos

Basic Gameplay

This page goes over the bare minimum of game knowledge to start playing HL2DM. There are mechanics and quirks that the game never attempts to communicate. Hopefully this primer helps give you a leg up while playing and pulls back the curtain a bit on the things that make this game so special.

backpack reload
These are some of my favorite characteristics of Half-Life 2: Deathmatch that set it apart from other arena FPS games and Quake-likes:

Nade Cooking: use your ggun to time your grav-nades. grenade +attack2, switch to ggun, ggun +attack2 to pick up nade, ggun +attack to throw nade. every time a nade is picked up, the timer resets.

This is the foundation of combat. Spawn and use grav-nades to clear corners and rooms to get to the nearest weapons/items. Use grav-nades when attacking to do initial damage then finish them off with another weapon.
How to: grenade +attack2, switch to ggun, ggun +attack2, ggun +attack
gravnade gif
Use your grav-gun to time and throw your grenades
Backpack Reload: Guns automatically reload if you switch them and wait a couple seconds. example: xbow +attack, switch to smg, switch back to xbow and it'll be reloaded. this avoids manual reloading. Skip manual reloading with well timed weapon switches
backpack reload
xbow +attack, smg +attack, xbow +attack
Shotgun +attack2: use the secondary attack on the shotgun. you want to do as much damage as you can with short time to kill.
backpack reload
Backpack reload: shotgun +attack2, mag +attack, shotgun +attack2
orbs
Control Supercharger to gain a big stack of hp/armor		 Charger is one of the main control points of the map. Use with caution as you can easily get attacked. On some maps it's best to use it after a fight when the likeliness of an attack is lower.
suit armor
Collect every bit of suit you pass		 Armor absorbs 80% of incoming damage (but you'll always take 20% HP damage). Will make you less likely to be 1 shot. Xbow will 1 shot you if you have no suit.
SMG Nades are good spam and effective at damaging opponent's suit. Best used as prefire. If you use it mid-fight, you risk your opponent shooting it and it blowing up in your face. (regular grenade shown for scale) smg nades
SMG nade spam is one of the best ways to beat the odds
AR2 Orbs insta-kill if not caught. +attack2 and use it to push into a room or flank around. Use if you hear someone around the corner. This is also used as a distraction to make the opponent draw their ggun during a gunfight. orbs
Use orbs to zone an area
Fastorb: while shooting an orb, switch to and use ggun quickly to push the orb at enhanced speeds while it's building up. It's much harder to predict and catch.
How to: AR2 +attack2, switch to ggun, ggun +attack
fastorb
AR2 +attack2, switch to ggun, ggun +attack
Weapon Combos: many times just attacking with shotgun won't be enough. use a combination of pre-fire and finishing weapons. Spam/explosive damage then hitscan is a common combo.
Examples: smg nade + shotgun, gravnade + smg, xbow + shotgun, mag + ar2
weapon combo
nade + mag combo
weapon combo
xbow + smgnade + shotgun
Headshots do 3x damage compared to body hits. A mag headshot does 225 dmg and ends the fight. Always aim for the head. Reference HL2DM University guides for damage numbers.
headshots
a mag headshot saving my ass
spawn gather Gathering (& spawning): know where every item pick up is and practice efficient gathering of items and resources. You should know where to get guns/suit/spam when you spawn, take dmg, or give dmg, when you got your opponent running. Knowing where the double-hp pick ups, charger, suit is will help you stay one step ahead and cut them off.

Example on dm_caverns: Spawn at back shotgun and grab the orb+suit besides you. As you jump down to grab the shotgun to your right you can grab the other suit on the way. In the corner you'll get a shotgun and SMG nade. Head down to front mag and you'll pass by 2 suit and an orb.

Example on dm_caverns: You get hit by a mag for 75hp. Remember where the closest HP pick-ups are and plan to grab them as you defend and retreat.
On the other side of the coin, if you were to get the mag shot, remember the HP pick-ups so you can predict your opponent's destination to cut them off.

orbs
If you get hit and retreat, know where items are so you can quickly stack up while repositioning

MOVEMENT TIPS

bind mwheeldown +jump: This is how most players are setup to bhop. Spacebar bhop is possible but more difficult to master. Enter this in your console to bind your jump action to your mouse scrollwheel.
Strafe Jump: The initial big sprint jump that starts your bhop chain. Also used to jump gaps.
Forward + sprint + strafe and turn your mouse in the direction of your strafe. Release sprint and forward when in the air while still holding the strafe key. movement
Crouch Bhop: After your initial strafe jump, hold crouch while bhopping. You move silently and conserve sprint. Sprint conservation is important. You never want to run out of sprint or you become vulnerable to attack.

Watch Xeogin's informative and helpful movement video

cl_showpos 1: use this to show your speed/velocity. try to maintain 400 velocity.

Other Resources