Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth CulRulRud "the wise"? I thought not. It's not a story the Pyro mains would tell you. It's a Spy legend. Darth CulRulRud was a Dark Lord of the Spies, so powerful and so wise he could make people backpedal into his stabs. He became so powerful... the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power, which eventually, of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentices everything he knew, then they killed him with a trickstab. It's ironic he could teach others the Spy ways, but not protect himself from them.
This makes perfect sense. Answers every question I've had, like why they always turn away and why matadors seem to work less and less. On top of that it's just really well edited. Glad I committed the time to watch and understand the mechanics
The video answers why matadors seem to work less and less but I still feel like the video glosses over the actual mechanics that relate player movement to mouse sensitivity. Or for that matter the completely different way that non spy melee works compared to spy melee. Like even for matadors it never really touches on why people do the whole w then s without straffing. Its because they are trying to deal with delayed aspect of non spy melees. In which case you want to press the attack button while away from your opponent and then close in so that it hits after the delay then back away. That way you only are in range of your opponents melee for the brief moment when your own can hit.
@@peterisawesomeplease he does go over players with lower sensitivity in a section about some people who seem to "give you their back" and talks about people who aim with their mouse being able to get "circle strafe-ish" stabbed also not every lv2 moves like that to compensate for the swing delay, you can see people move forward and backward without strafing on primary weapons and the such, and overall they might just think it's playing safe, and whether or not they do it relying on the swing delay or just trying to keep distance doesnt matter because it doesnt change how you can stab them
NOTE: with Jungle Inferno, pyro's airblast range became a big box as apposed to a cone, so making a pyro miss an airblast is now practically impossible
it also doesnt allow you to airstrafe (wtf?). you just go in a straight line and cant change direction. if youre near an incline and jump then get airblasted, youre getting launched verrry far
．0:00 Introducing Circle Strafe Stab ．2:00 Explaining why do we need the technique ．4:50 CSS in one sentence "Strafe in one direction, and eventually stab." ．5:28 Explaining "Strafing" and how it relates to spy ．10:10 How to pull the stab ．15:30 Bump into wall(Change Direction) ．16:45 Upside & Downside to CSS ．20:10 How CSS works ．21:48 Strafing is people's reflex ．22:36 Different Angles of Strafing Towards ．26:21 The "line" exceed(succeed) & really learn the stab ．28:09 how to take advantage of people crossing us over (Leading) ．31:23 How to avoid most of the flame by leading ．32:39 pull CSS from beneath or above ．35:05 Explain why "people eventually gravitate backward" ．37:40 Why the stab is difficult ．38:15 CSS turns into Backpedal Stab ．40:16 Backpedaling and how it relates to Strafing ．42:35 How to approach your target ．44:49 People backpedaling can be vulnerable to spy sometimes ．45:39 how Strafing can combine with Backpedaling ．47:38 How to counter people doing ↑ ．51:24 Corners (C₂C) ．58:42 Conclude Here is my learning timescales for CSS lv.1. It's my pleasure to change it if you find any mistake out of them. Keep on Spying!
Ey CRD. I think this video is the classic case of an expert, whose ALMOST figured out how to teach a special skill, and just needs to refine their words so that everyone can follow. Cheers, from an old Spy
So I see a lot of these comments, and a lot of them seem to be confused. So, if you are learning this for the first time, congrats and welcome. Here's a few things to note: - Pyros airblast is no longer able to be dodged. If it happens you got extremely lucky. There are other ways to counter an airblast now. Jumping before an airblast can throw the pyro off, airstrafing can help you, and if the pyro has a specific habit centered around airblasts you might be able to exploit this, but you will learn about habits later on. - Watch the entire tutorial, including the 4 other parts after this, before you comment that it does not work on x player who does y. A lot of what I am seeing is explained in later parts. - You have to be mentally present to understand this stab and all of the other stabs in its entirety. If you play while watching, it's going to be significantly harder. - If you are confused about something after watching all of the videos, time stamps do exist in the comments. However, this is also not something you want to just watch once. It is a lot of information to take in. So rewatching the tutorials over and over will build your understanding significantly more than just watching once. Now, this is something that has to be practiced. You can't just watch tutorials and suddenly be able to instantly recognize someone, and instantly understand what a person is doing. So, clip your failures and rewatch them. If you do not understand what is happening, or how someone is moving, rewatching a clip in slow motion is very helpful. Looking up the video "Why you suck at circlestrafing" explains this better than I can, and also points you towards the circle strafing community, which can also help you. Most importantly, if you are not having fun with it, you do not have to do it. This is not a fundamental part of spy, in fact it might as well be an entirely different class. If you do not think it works, or just find it to be boring, or too challenging, or whatever the reason may be, these videos are here for people who want to learn.
I agree with all of this, except one thing: you can't airstrafe when you get airblasted because it now applies a hidden slowdown mechanic :( But yes, it's vital to pay close attention when watching these videos and constantly ask yourself why you did and didn't get each stab you attempt.
Holy F'ing shit. I am VERY bad at trickstabbing. I tried learning about how the server registration works today and I came across this video. And let me tell you. This video is THE GOLDEN GRAIL of trickstabs. 15 Minutes in, I paused the video and just joined a game. Just going spy with the mentality of "circle around them in one direction and DO NOT let up your strafe". I got like 6 stabs from the 7 scenario's that people went for me with melee. This was mostly a 'circling around the enemy' kind of stab and not a "circling" manouvre by going in a line (in order to get behind the enemy). But it is already proving VERY effective! :D
Also, I LOVE the Rayman music you used. I played Forever, Great Escape, and Hoodlum and I recognised ALL music. And ALL of it gave me serious nostalgia (-; God I played Rayman Forever to no end when I was little (PS2)
also also, surely you must be a psychopath xD Damn you are good and serious in your spy mechanics. I love it. (though I must admit that the word-choice threw me off from the point you meant in the video here and there in a confusing way)
I also made an hour long tutorial with all the massive editing and voiceover work, so I can understand how long this took for you. You did an outstanding job!
@@mrchoco4605 I took a class on Stab Theory, it was my major. My parents were telling me I was wasting my education and should major in Rocket Jumping but I knew from the moment I held my uncles butterfly knife that I was a Frenchman at heart!
10:04 Is such a mindblowing moment for me. I'm seeing a clip that is basically the same as many other "facestab" clips I've seen before, but this time I understand what's happening. I've been playing this game for 10 years and only now does someone actually explain to me properly how this works. I feel like I've been looking at this game wrong for all these years, even if only in such a small way. This is amazing.
Those 5 vids are a perfection. Although, I thought putting stuffs like Chapters or numbers to get a bit more organized, they are just amazing. When I saw the first part for the first time... I couldn’t believe it, it was like a revelation, like the game got to a whole other level of gameplay. You explained perfectly and I thank you for that. Hopefully you are still playing after this Pyro Update. Maybe I’ll meet you in-game one day... ;) In hope to see new vids from you Lord Culrudud :D
The amount of time and effort it must have taken to do this. Jesus, props to you man. Thats a lot of defication, wont let it go to waste! You did a great job of explaining and with clips that showcased what you said. Now its just to put all this into practice. I guess ill have to rewatch these a few times. Again, thanks for doing this cul.
dude this music along with the epic informational narrative was giving me super Spice and Wolf vibes. I know that sounds odd but it really was just like some scene where Lawrence is explaining the market economy to Holo
Man this must of taken forever for you to make thanks so much for this vid. i have 150 hours on spy and i was wondering why most of the time my matador failed love you vid
First 9 minutes was about something i used, after watching them before having to stop i learned so much about this particular stuff concepts that now are on my head that i used by chance i can now reconize this is an amazing tutorial and after i deal with my duties obviously im watching it enterely
Short Summary for [TF2- Circle Strafing Tutorial: Strafing Towards [Part 1/5]](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html) by [Merlin](merlin.foyer.work/) Title: Mastering Circle Strafing for Tactical Stabs [07:31](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=451) Circle strafing is a key technique for successful stabs in TF2. [15:02](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=902) Circle strafing is a battle of who gets behind who. [22:33](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=1353) Circle strafing allows you to avoid flames while going for stabs. [30:04](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=1804) Circle strafing involves different angles and strategies for strafing towards opponents. [37:35](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=2255) Circle strafing allows you to lead opponents and position for stabs effectively. [45:06](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=2706) Circle strafing and backpedaling are crucial in surprising and outmaneuvering opponents. [52:37](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=3157) Understanding the dynamics of strafing and backpedaling in TF2 gameplay [1:00:01](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=3601) Circle strafing allows you to take corners and back up faster than your opponents. --------------------------------- Detailed Summary for [TF2- Circle Strafing Tutorial: Strafing Towards [Part 1/5]](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html) by [Merlin](merlin.foyer.work/) Title: Mastering Circle Strafing for Tactical Stabs [07:31](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=451) Circle strafing is a key technique for successful stabs in TF2. - Circular movement confuses opponents and helps close the gap for a successful stab. - Understanding strafing mechanics and opponent behavior is crucial for mastering circle strafing. [15:02](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=902) Circle strafing is a battle of who gets behind who. - Circle strafing exploits the other player having to adjust to look at you. - To pull off the stab, you have to keep strafing in the same direction and aim for a spot to the side and behind the other player. [22:33](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=1353) Circle strafing allows you to avoid flames while going for stabs. - Circle strafing helps in avoiding flames and staying on player's left during stabs. - However, it is weak against melee weapons as the opponent can hit you first. [30:04](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=1804) Circle strafing involves different angles and strategies for strafing towards opponents. - Circle strafing forwards is for melee attackers, sideways is for aiming, and backwards is for evading. - Backwards strafing requires adjusting and leading opponents to create opportunities for stabs. [37:35](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=2255) Circle strafing allows you to lead opponents and position for stabs effectively. - Leading opponents slowly restricts their space, making it easier to get close for a stab in tight hallways. - Circle strafing allows you to potentially avoid pyro flames and airblast by leading and positioning strategically. [45:06](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=2706) Circle strafing and backpedaling are crucial in surprising and outmaneuvering opponents. - Circular strafing is a powerful technique to cover everyone, making it difficult to predict and counter. - Backpedal stab can be initiated when circular strafing fails and disrupts opponent's strafe, making it hard to predict the subsequent movement. [52:37](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=3157) Understanding the dynamics of strafing and backpedaling in TF2 gameplay - Backing off makes players vulnerable, leading to stabs. [1:00:01](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=3601) Circle strafing allows you to take corners and back up faster than your opponents. - Peeking through corners to use as cover and preparing to back up into a corner increases your chances of successful stabbing. - Knowing corner systems and double corners and taking advantage of them can give you the upper hand in backpedaling situations.
Spectacular video, you are one of the few spies that explain in depth why stabs work, and to have a set of techniques that work on good players is more than amazing, what more can you ask for?
i know this video is really old and the trick itself, but i found it really interesting and inspiring. most trickstabs ive been doing are the more popular ones, like corners, matadors, stairs, etc. but never have heard about this. now i realised how many times ive been fooled. i was getting killed exactly with this method. everything is right. i always said to myself after getting killed by it "damn why was i looking the opposite direction to the spy location. i always thought it was luck from his side, that he just happened to get me. but no, theres whole theory and thinking about this. ill love to practice this a bit. thank you for this(these) video(s).
yes...circlestrafe stab counters the basic trickstab which is the usual matador and corner and stair, its normal that many people always gets confused when they got circlestrafed it means that the spy you're facing already knew and read your movements ,i hope you gonna learn about circlestrafe stab too Much Love, Elegant Spy
The most comprehensive guide to get better at spy. It's a little goofy with the music sometimes, but if you want to get better at movement as well, WATCH THE WHOLE THING.
My favorite stab is the I didn't see you matador, where you see an enemy in the corner of your screen running at you but you act like you didn't see him a'd when he gets close just go backwards and strafe a little in his direction and there you go. You successfully confused the ennemy
You have NO IDEA how much I hate playing against players that can do what you do. NO IDEA. (I am a Pyro main BTW :3)... (secondary spy and this is the best stab vid I have seen EVER by far, besides swipezz trickstab tutorial, but that is in a different catergory.
Rakta Specter yeah, in this series of videos CRD kinda just takes that last part of swipez video when he talks about circle strafing and extends into a 4 hour tutorial lol
Weeelp, I'm finally done. Aaaaand I usually take a while to learn, so I'll probably have to watch this over, and over again. :( Really excited for the next one, CRD.
Yup last year when I was playing around with this stab, ive noticed many of these scenarios. Thanks for explaining then for me. Its very interesting and makes me want to play again.
yes but. The problem is even though you are not necessarily tricking a player you are still relying on them being bad. Good players are incredibly hard to circle strafe stab. Simply backing up and using your mouse to follow the spy and then shooting is very effective against it. Actually you can simply stand still and never get backstabbed by just using mouse aim to stay facing the spy. Its only really effective if the person has bad tracking. Backing up just makes the tracking easier. Against good tracking you need a big speed imbalance. "big earner, spy vs soldier, ..." or a big mouse sensitivity imbalance(sometimes vs heavy). But it does work if people chase you and thankfully even at the highest levels of play its sometimes worth chasing a spy despite the risk so it does sometimes happen.
@@peterisawesomeplease The amount of players with near-perfect tracking is pretty much 0. Not even the best players are perfect. But you are right about Trickstabbing and honestly Spy in general being ineffective against good players. There's a reason Spy has gotten so much harder to play over the years as casual players have gotten better over time and information and learning resources about TF2 are more accessible than ever.
@@peterisawesomeplease The target players that circle strafes work best on are in fact the good players you talk about, they are aware of basic spy tricks and will start to avoid them and this is where this whole series becomes useful, and if you've watched enough videos, you will realise there are many approaches used against players who back off like c2c, using your gun, etc. and they work against anybody no matter how good they are. I would argue standing still is one of the worst ways to actually avoid getting stabbed because you eliminate avoiding entirely and are more prone to getting stabbed by simple matadors + you become an easy target to shoot so that's not a smart idea.
@@youdontwanttohear Obviously there are general spy tactics that work against good players. Like shooting the person with the revolver. I am saying that circle strafing specifically is not very effective against good players. I am also not saying that standing still is a good tactic. Its a horrible tactic. But circle strafing is so ineffective against good players that even if forced to stand still a good player can avoid getting circle strafed.
@@nts0n You don't need perfect tracking to completely nullify circle strafe stabs. The spy has to get to your back so the spy is at a disadvantage. The spy has to circle you further and therefore move their mouse further than their target does. So even a players with worse tracking than the spy will win. It is only if there is a large difference in tracking ability, some kind of distraction, or very large imbalances in mouse sensativity(winner is the one with higher sensitivity but there are downsides to precise aim with this) will the spy win.
as someone who is an ok spy and despise any form of trick steps for being all style and not effective (i am more of hide and strike at the right moment when the enemy is distracted) this actually not only really good tutorial but it's seem legit with some "science" behind it. and it's based on good player subconscious reaction. aka the best part about spy is getting into your enemy head and being disruptive support.
A 'modernization' of this video could be really nice, with improved audio quality, chapter divisions, subtitles, etc (though the latter options could just be added to this one I suppose) Not to imply the quality of this video is poor or anything, it can just feel a little hard to follow at times and the lack of chapter markers makes it harder to 'review' the material
46:40 To use the Naruto's "Bad Situation" for the heroes explaining some relations between the elements in show's magic system, as BGM for your own similar purposes - as a BGM underlying the text piece about the Spy's mechanics hidden in code? What a G.
A lil' bit of discovery by myself: ppl will still unconsciously do the "adjust" even if they are not actually strafing, as long as their muscles are attempting to strafe. A Kunai-DR enemy spy (context: he is the typical old-school matador sort of DR spy, so he strafes virtually all the time) was surrounded in a tight space by me (playing spy) and my team, he had no chance to come out alive. But like every spy main, even if he would eventually die, he didn't wish to die to another spy's backstab. I'm sure because this is the mindset of most spy mains and I can also tell it from this guy's movements. Then, this guy got body blocked in a corner. He could not move at all; I was sticking to his right side, standing still, and another guy was blocking him into that corner too(the sequence of events happened very quickly tho). But here's the thing: even if I could tell he was fully concentrated on avoiding getting stabbed by me or even maybe stabbing me back, he still *turns a little bit away from me*. I was confused first, but now I'm sure: it must be *adjust*. So, from this piece of experience, it occurred to me that, maybe those seemingly random matadors executed on ppl who do strafe can still succeed sometimes, has other reasons than because those guys' strafe are not consistent. I think the second possibility is that, the victim was caught a little bit off-guard. Then even his instinct tells him to "Strafe! Strafe NOW!", but the adjust kicks in first, or the spy attempting matador happens to block his way. So, at the end of the day, it's still about "adjust". ------------------------- I found many people disliking this tutorial beacause "it's boring". I don't know how many people actually watched the entire series as well as doing so carefully. Among those who do watch it, some failed to grasp what fundamentally differentiates Circle Strafing's way of analyzing from those good old trickstab style. And, I don't think everyone will be able to understand the mechanics behind each stab, no matter successful or failed, in order to improve oneself, as thoroughly as this video does. The ability to learn from past experience is what made human beings' every single creation this far; it also applies to gaming skills. Good luck trying. Wish you guys won't regret in the far future.
so, at base level, this stab is to a matador stab as a c2c(around a corner) is to a cornerstab, it excels at getting people that avoid the more basic stab, but it also fails against the people who would fall for it (by blindly chasing). I have been trying to do more circle strafe stuff recently, and this will help a TON. thanks crd :D
Your amazing I learned a lot even tho this video is 5 years away I am feeling confident in my trickstab and I wanted to thank you for teaching me the basic and how to circle stab enemies and thank you again your the best
Holy shit Cul you see what happens when you come back to a loving fanbase? I'm really hoping no trolls see this, but 2 more likes and we've gone 100:0.
Funny, I thought a 1 hour trickstabbing video would be a waste, and with 4 more parts? My god, but this is quite informative and you should many good examples.
Pyro flames do more consistent damage so it is a little more difficult (though before and after the update if the pyro just airblasts this doesn't work)
This video shifted my mentality when playing spy. I'm still garbage but at least I feel happier when I get a cool stab and don't feel cheated or angry when I miss.
As an ex spy main I usually just spy check everyone and everything, chase spies outside their melee range, and if I’m playing pyro I just flame them and airblast followed by if I have a secondary that can finish him off
![TF2- Circle Strafing Tutorial: Strafing Around [Part 2/5]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ORxNCuA6Wz8/mqdefault.jpg)
![TF2- Circle Strafing Tutorial: Strafing Around [Part 2/5]](/img/tr.png)
![Why [TF2] has (Almost) Perfect Melee Weapons](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/NArb-D-M8aU/mqdefault.jpg)
Musics made me think like that I'm dealing with very important secrets of universe.
Im Freaking Out Right Now
@@barankaraz6685 why?
you are
@@barankaraz6685 enes batur?
When playing spy, it IS
Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth CulRulRud "the wise"?
I thought not. It's not a story the Pyro mains would tell you. It's a Spy legend. Darth CulRulRud was a Dark Lord of the Spies, so powerful and so wise he could make people backpedal into his stabs.
He became so powerful... the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power, which eventually, of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentices everything he knew, then they killed him with a trickstab. It's ironic he could teach others the Spy ways, but not protect himself from them.
Your comment was a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.
I loved this hahahahha
I love this story!
@@TF2SlyGuySaysHi Here's a touching story. Once upon a time you died and we lived happily after. The End.
@@augustus5481 :(
The most in depth tutorial related to tf 2 period.
This makes perfect sense. Answers every question I've had, like why they always turn away and why matadors seem to work less and less. On top of that it's just really well edited. Glad I committed the time to watch and understand the mechanics
You still play tf2?
My name is antIerman (the l is a capital i) add my on steam. I have a doomer profile pic
@@antlerman7644 I do
The video answers why matadors seem to work less and less but I still feel like the video glosses over the actual mechanics that relate player movement to mouse sensitivity. Or for that matter the completely different way that non spy melee works compared to spy melee. Like even for matadors it never really touches on why people do the whole w then s without straffing. Its because they are trying to deal with delayed aspect of non spy melees. In which case you want to press the attack button while away from your opponent and then close in so that it hits after the delay then back away. That way you only are in range of your opponents melee for the brief moment when your own can hit.
@@peterisawesomeplease he does go over players with lower sensitivity in a section about some people who seem to "give you their back" and talks about people who aim with their mouse being able to get "circle strafe-ish" stabbed
also not every lv2 moves like that to compensate for the swing delay, you can see people move forward and backward without strafing on primary weapons and the such, and overall they might just think it's playing safe, and whether or not they do it relying on the swing delay or just trying to keep distance doesnt matter because it doesnt change how you can stab them
NOTE: with Jungle Inferno, pyro's airblast range became a big box as apposed to a cone, so making a pyro miss an airblast is now practically impossible
Yeah, it's borderline impossible to stab airblast happy pyros anymore, just gun them down or avoid them entirely.
it also doesnt allow you to airstrafe (wtf?). you just go in a straight line and cant change direction. if youre near an incline and jump then get airblasted, youre getting launched verrry far
@@Thenormalguy101 I don't know what they were thinking when they made that change.
@@Inconspicuous-Gnomemake pyro the ultimate poo poo baby class
SPY HAS A GUN
．0:00 Introducing Circle Strafe Stab
．2:00 Explaining why do we need the technique
．4:50 CSS in one sentence "Strafe in one direction, and eventually stab."
．5:28 Explaining "Strafing" and how it relates to spy
．10:10 How to pull the stab
．15:30 Bump into wall(Change Direction)
．16:45 Upside & Downside to CSS
．20:10 How CSS works
．21:48 Strafing is people's reflex
．22:36 Different Angles of Strafing Towards
．26:21 The "line" exceed(succeed) & really learn the stab
．28:09 how to take advantage of people crossing us over (Leading)
．31:23 How to avoid most of the flame by leading
．32:39 pull CSS from beneath or above
．35:05 Explain why "people eventually gravitate backward"
．37:40 Why the stab is difficult
．38:15 CSS turns into Backpedal Stab
．40:16 Backpedaling and how it relates to Strafing
．42:35 How to approach your target
．44:49 People backpedaling can be vulnerable to spy sometimes
．45:39 how Strafing can combine with Backpedaling
．47:38 How to counter people doing ↑
．51:24 Corners (C₂C)
．58:42 Conclude
Here is my learning timescales for CSS lv.1.
It's my pleasure to change it if you find any mistake out of them.
Keep on Spying!
Thank you
dot
Amazing
Ey CRD. I think this video is the classic case of an expert, whose ALMOST figured out how to teach a special skill, and just needs to refine their words so that everyone can follow. Cheers, from an old Spy
So I see a lot of these comments, and a lot of them seem to be confused. So, if you are learning this for the first time, congrats and welcome. Here's a few things to note:
- Pyros airblast is no longer able to be dodged. If it happens you got extremely lucky. There are other ways to counter an airblast now. Jumping before an airblast can throw the pyro off, airstrafing can help you, and if the pyro has a specific habit centered around airblasts you might be able to exploit this, but you will learn about habits later on.
- Watch the entire tutorial, including the 4 other parts after this, before you comment that it does not work on x player who does y. A lot of what I am seeing is explained in later parts.
- You have to be mentally present to understand this stab and all of the other stabs in its entirety. If you play while watching, it's going to be significantly harder.
- If you are confused about something after watching all of the videos, time stamps do exist in the comments. However, this is also not something you want to just watch once. It is a lot of information to take in. So rewatching the tutorials over and over will build your understanding significantly more than just watching once.
Now, this is something that has to be practiced. You can't just watch tutorials and suddenly be able to instantly recognize someone, and instantly understand what a person is doing. So, clip your failures and rewatch them. If you do not understand what is happening, or how someone is moving, rewatching a clip in slow motion is very helpful. Looking up the video "Why you suck at circlestrafing" explains this better than I can, and also points you towards the circle strafing community, which can also help you.
Most importantly, if you are not having fun with it, you do not have to do it. This is not a fundamental part of spy, in fact it might as well be an entirely different class. If you do not think it works, or just find it to be boring, or too challenging, or whatever the reason may be, these videos are here for people who want to learn.
I agree with all of this, except one thing: you can't airstrafe when you get airblasted because it now applies a hidden slowdown mechanic :(
But yes, it's vital to pay close attention when watching these videos and constantly ask yourself why you did and didn't get each stab you attempt.
@@ME0WMERE ohh yeah I completely forgot about the slow. Thanks for reminding me!
@@faelynOlayu you can dodge pyro airblast now hooray
@@DrW01 You can?? I thought 64 bit didn't fix it
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to get wasted.
on cola.
CulRulDud Just a question do your crosshair have accurately stay on the target when proceeding the circle strafing?
CulRulDud could you make a list of different sections with times to make it easier to access information in the video? It would probably help a lot.
CulRulDud It only took you like 8 months ;) Just kidding tutorial is much appreciated and much awaited.
Keep being the best Spy and a new Year : ^)
Polite Spy 8 months? he's been working on this and compiling clips for the past 2-3 years.
MOO? Thats my bad. Time goes by way too fast. by the way nice MOOstab ;)
Holy F'ing shit. I am VERY bad at trickstabbing. I tried learning about how the server registration works today and I came across this video.
And let me tell you. This video is THE GOLDEN GRAIL of trickstabs.
15 Minutes in, I paused the video and just joined a game. Just going spy with the mentality of "circle around them in one direction and DO NOT let up your strafe". I got like 6 stabs from the 7 scenario's that people went for me with melee.
This was mostly a 'circling around the enemy' kind of stab and not a "circling" manouvre by going in a line (in order to get behind the enemy). But it is already proving VERY effective! :D
Also, I LOVE the Rayman music you used.
I played Forever, Great Escape, and Hoodlum and I recognised ALL music. And ALL of it gave me serious nostalgia (-;
God I played Rayman Forever to no end when I was little (PS2)
also also, surely you must be a psychopath xD Damn you are good and serious in your spy mechanics. I love it.
(though I must admit that the word-choice threw me off from the point you meant in the video here and there in a confusing way)
@@koenyboy500 are ya still playing tf2 and becoming craccccc
I learned circle strafing from my early days of PvP in mine craft. Now I use it in other games!
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Happy new year
MOO? hi moo :p
happy moo year
Heeyy, ur here too? :3
oof 2020
OH MY YES, BEST NEW YEARS EVE EVER
Watching these makes it feel like I'm looking through top secret files and I'm lovin' it
I didn't think I would watch a straight hour just to comprehend a mechanic so much.. amazing
2 FUCKING YEARS LATER HE FINALLY RELEASE THE TUTORIAL HAHHAHAHA
Every time I rewatch your videos, I learn more and more. Thank you for your tutorials, they help dum people like myself
I also made an hour long tutorial with all the massive editing and voiceover work, so I can understand how long this took for you. You did an outstanding job!
I like how he talks like the guy that trains the spy in the movies, the pro, he talks like all the briefing scenes, and its great
genuinly. i dont think you can call yourself a spy main if you dont come back and watch this series every few years to refresh you memory
literally revising stab theory for my spy pubbing
@@mrchoco4605 good man
Yup. Spy is really a class you have to study and apply extensively to understand.
@@mrchoco4605 I took a class on Stab Theory, it was my major. My parents were telling me I was wasting my education and should major in Rocket Jumping but I knew from the moment I held my uncles butterfly knife that I was a Frenchman at heart!
10:04 Is such a mindblowing moment for me. I'm seeing a clip that is basically the same as many other "facestab" clips I've seen before, but this time I understand what's happening. I've been playing this game for 10 years and only now does someone actually explain to me properly how this works. I feel like I've been looking at this game wrong for all these years, even if only in such a small way. This is amazing.
bro's monolouge and music makes him seem like an evil scientist
I got my first game of consistent circle strafe it was amazing. Big thank you for making these tutorials
Good job, still on my way there but ive gotten tons of clips already.
Those 5 vids are a perfection. Although, I thought putting stuffs like Chapters or numbers to get a bit more organized, they are just amazing. When I saw the first part for the first time... I couldn’t believe it, it was like a revelation, like the game got to a whole other level of gameplay. You explained perfectly and I thank you for that. Hopefully you are still playing after this Pyro Update. Maybe I’ll meet you in-game one day... ;)
In hope to see new vids from you Lord Culrudud :D
The amount of time and effort it must have taken to do this. Jesus, props to you man. Thats a lot of defication, wont let it go to waste! You did a great job of explaining and with clips that showcased what you said. Now its just to put all this into practice. I guess ill have to rewatch these a few times. Again, thanks for doing this cul.
dude this music along with the epic informational narrative was giving me super Spice and Wolf vibes. I know that sounds odd but it really was just like some scene where Lawrence is explaining the market economy to Holo
Cul.... holy fuck. I will for sure be watching this even if I don't play any more. Still love ya :)
This is fascinaiting.
35:51 Bro becomes Professor Layton with music and all
We're really lucky that the most knowledgeable spy felt like making a video
well now i have something to watch since my computer was taken away. thanks CulRulDud, hopefully i get to play with you since i have no more lag
34:06 hey thats me
Man this must of taken forever for you to make thanks so much for this vid. i have 150 hours on spy and i was wondering why most of the time my matador failed love you vid
First 9 minutes was about something i used, after watching them before having to stop i learned so much about this particular stuff concepts that now are on my head that i used by chance i can now reconize this is an amazing tutorial and after i deal with my duties obviously im watching it enterely
Fucking 1 hour long. Jesus you weren't kidding when you said that these videos would take a while to make.
I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna watch this 5 part series.
Yay a new cul vid, its been long glad to see u back
I'm actually surprised how effective this stab has been for me considering I never really took too much consideration to the psychology of it.
This is one of the best in depth tutorials I've seen, wow I've learned a lot! Thanks!
how this video have 6 years and you still have the best matador explonation on youtube
real
I mean, who'd want to spend 4 hours on making a tutorial?
@@snaketf2181 they talking about the initial visual used. matador is very simple it was like a 20 second clip
Short Summary for [TF2- Circle Strafing Tutorial: Strafing Towards [Part 1/5]](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html) by [Merlin](merlin.foyer.work/)
Title: Mastering Circle Strafing for Tactical Stabs
[07:31](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=451) Circle strafing is a key technique for successful stabs in TF2.
[15:02](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=902) Circle strafing is a battle of who gets behind who.
[22:33](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=1353) Circle strafing allows you to avoid flames while going for stabs.
[30:04](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=1804) Circle strafing involves different angles and strategies for strafing towards opponents.
[37:35](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=2255) Circle strafing allows you to lead opponents and position for stabs effectively.
[45:06](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=2706) Circle strafing and backpedaling are crucial in surprising and outmaneuvering opponents.
[52:37](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=3157) Understanding the dynamics of strafing and backpedaling in TF2 gameplay
[1:00:01](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=3601) Circle strafing allows you to take corners and back up faster than your opponents.
---------------------------------
Detailed Summary for [TF2- Circle Strafing Tutorial: Strafing Towards [Part 1/5]](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html) by [Merlin](merlin.foyer.work/)
Title: Mastering Circle Strafing for Tactical Stabs
[07:31](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=451) Circle strafing is a key technique for successful stabs in TF2.
- Circular movement confuses opponents and helps close the gap for a successful stab.
- Understanding strafing mechanics and opponent behavior is crucial for mastering circle strafing.
[15:02](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=902) Circle strafing is a battle of who gets behind who.
- Circle strafing exploits the other player having to adjust to look at you.
- To pull off the stab, you have to keep strafing in the same direction and aim for a spot to the side and behind the other player.
[22:33](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=1353) Circle strafing allows you to avoid flames while going for stabs.
- Circle strafing helps in avoiding flames and staying on player's left during stabs.
- However, it is weak against melee weapons as the opponent can hit you first.
[30:04](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=1804) Circle strafing involves different angles and strategies for strafing towards opponents.
- Circle strafing forwards is for melee attackers, sideways is for aiming, and backwards is for evading.
- Backwards strafing requires adjusting and leading opponents to create opportunities for stabs.
[37:35](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=2255) Circle strafing allows you to lead opponents and position for stabs effectively.
- Leading opponents slowly restricts their space, making it easier to get close for a stab in tight hallways.
- Circle strafing allows you to potentially avoid pyro flames and airblast by leading and positioning strategically.
[45:06](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=2706) Circle strafing and backpedaling are crucial in surprising and outmaneuvering opponents.
- Circular strafing is a powerful technique to cover everyone, making it difficult to predict and counter.
- Backpedal stab can be initiated when circular strafing fails and disrupts opponent's strafe, making it hard to predict the subsequent movement.
[52:37](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=3157) Understanding the dynamics of strafing and backpedaling in TF2 gameplay
- Backing off makes players vulnerable, leading to stabs.
[1:00:01](ruclips.net/video/jEXA6vKsTcE/видео.html&t=3601) Circle strafing allows you to take corners and back up faster than your opponents.
- Peeking through corners to use as cover and preparing to back up into a corner increases your chances of successful stabbing.
- Knowing corner systems and double corners and taking advantage of them can give you the upper hand in backpedaling situations.
thanks goat
@@futabasakurairl no worries mate
I think i have adhd
Funny coming back to this video after so many years. Time to pick up spy again :)
B)
*=D*
Thank for your work, sensei
Spectacular video, you are one of the few spies that explain in depth why stabs work, and to have a set of techniques that work on good players is more than amazing, what more can you ask for?
OMG OMG OMG!! It's here!!!! hype hype hype!
I watched 10 mins of the video, went to try the stab.
Perfect success!
i know this video is really old and the trick itself, but i found it really interesting and inspiring. most trickstabs ive been doing are the more popular ones, like corners, matadors, stairs, etc. but never have heard about this. now i realised how many times ive been fooled. i was getting killed exactly with this method. everything is right. i always said to myself after getting killed by it "damn why was i looking the opposite direction to the spy location. i always thought it was luck from his side, that he just happened to get me. but no, theres whole theory and thinking about this. ill love to practice this a bit. thank you for this(these) video(s).
yes...circlestrafe stab counters the basic trickstab which is the usual matador and corner and stair, its normal that many people always gets confused when they got circlestrafed it means that the spy you're facing already knew and read your movements ,i hope you gonna learn about circlestrafe stab too
Much Love, Elegant Spy
CUL IS BACK WHAAAAAAAAAAAT
The most comprehensive guide to get better at spy. It's a little goofy with the music sometimes, but if you want to get better at movement as well, WATCH THE WHOLE THING.
Welp I hope I can remember all of it
My favorite stab is the I didn't see you matador, where you see an enemy in the corner of your screen running at you but you act like you didn't see him a'd when he gets close just go backwards and strafe a little in his direction and there you go. You successfully confused the ennemy
What scary about this is that, this is actual good tips
Im about to watch all of these
You have NO IDEA how much I hate playing against players that can do what you do. NO IDEA. (I am a Pyro main BTW :3)... (secondary spy and this is the best stab vid I have seen EVER by far, besides swipezz trickstab tutorial, but that is in a different catergory.
Rakta Specter yeah, in this series of videos CRD kinda just takes that last part of swipez video when he talks about circle strafing and extends into a 4 hour tutorial lol
Man i love it when you say "This guy"
*Sees new CRD upload* *runs around room with excitement* *sees video length* *grabs popcorn* *settles in*.
Thx CRD for expanding my spy knowledge. Hope to to see the other parts :)
IT HAS ARRIVED
Ohhh! You don't know how much I wanted to see this!! happy new year ;)
just got my first circle strafe!!
Yay!
Gg
Love this best new years ever thanks daddy!
THIS IS THE BEST FUCKING TUTORIAL I'VE EVER SEEN!! IM SERIOUS! every single thing you explained is very understandable and make sense!
The only channel on youtube that I actually turned on the bell.
HE IS BACK, BACK, BACK,
BACK AGAIN!!!
You sound so different :o
I guess that's what 3 years does .-.
shady's back
HyperMonkeyBird tell your friends
Jec
created a monstuh
cuz nobody wants ta
see marshall no more
they want shady,
i'm chopped liver
Weeelp, I'm finally done. Aaaaand I usually take a while to learn, so I'll probably have to watch this over, and over again. :(
Really excited for the next one, CRD.
this felt like watching a documentation over what you can do wuth just 2 keys and a mouse
I am 21minutes into the video and I feel like I found some ancient forgotten knowleadge
like seriously this is soooo usefull and nobody talk about it
Yup last year when I was playing around with this stab, ive noticed many of these scenarios. Thanks for explaining then for me. Its very interesting and makes me want to play again.
It's not about deception
It's about out-maneuvering your opponent
yes but.
The problem is even though you are not necessarily tricking a player you are still relying on them being bad. Good players are incredibly hard to circle strafe stab. Simply backing up and using your mouse to follow the spy and then shooting is very effective against it. Actually you can simply stand still and never get backstabbed by just using mouse aim to stay facing the spy. Its only really effective if the person has bad tracking. Backing up just makes the tracking easier. Against good tracking you need a big speed imbalance. "big earner, spy vs soldier, ..." or a big mouse sensitivity imbalance(sometimes vs heavy).
But it does work if people chase you and thankfully even at the highest levels of play its sometimes worth chasing a spy despite the risk so it does sometimes happen.
@@peterisawesomeplease The amount of players with near-perfect tracking is pretty much 0. Not even the best players are perfect. But you are right about Trickstabbing and honestly Spy in general being ineffective against good players. There's a reason Spy has gotten so much harder to play over the years as casual players have gotten better over time and information and learning resources about TF2 are more accessible than ever.
@@peterisawesomeplease The target players that circle strafes work best on are in fact the good players you talk about, they are aware of basic spy tricks and will start to avoid them and this is where this whole series becomes useful, and if you've watched enough videos, you will realise there are many approaches used against players who back off like c2c, using your gun, etc. and they work against anybody no matter how good they are.
I would argue standing still is one of the worst ways to actually avoid getting stabbed because you eliminate avoiding entirely and are more prone to getting stabbed by simple matadors + you become an easy target to shoot so that's not a smart idea.
@@youdontwanttohear Obviously there are general spy tactics that work against good players. Like shooting the person with the revolver. I am saying that circle strafing specifically is not very effective against good players. I am also not saying that standing still is a good tactic. Its a horrible tactic. But circle strafing is so ineffective against good players that even if forced to stand still a good player can avoid getting circle strafed.
@@nts0n You don't need perfect tracking to completely nullify circle strafe stabs. The spy has to get to your back so the spy is at a disadvantage. The spy has to circle you further and therefore move their mouse further than their target does. So even a players with worse tracking than the spy will win. It is only if there is a large difference in tracking ability, some kind of distraction, or very large imbalances in mouse sensativity(winner is the one with higher sensitivity but there are downsides to precise aim with this) will the spy win.
Even 7 years ago, it's still usefull
What an absolute babe!
as someone who is an ok spy and despise any form of trick steps for being all style and not effective (i am more of hide and strike at the right moment when the enemy is distracted) this actually not only really good tutorial but it's seem legit with some "science" behind it. and it's based on good player subconscious reaction. aka the best part about spy is getting into your enemy head and being disruptive support.
This is some next-level stuff, keep it up!
Finally I have been waiting for this video for so long.
the only spy video that's easy to understand imo
A 'modernization' of this video could be really nice, with improved audio quality, chapter divisions, subtitles, etc (though the latter options could just be added to this one I suppose)
Not to imply the quality of this video is poor or anything, it can just feel a little hard to follow at times and the lack of chapter markers makes it harder to 'review' the material
46:40 To use the Naruto's "Bad Situation" for the heroes explaining some relations between the elements in show's magic system, as BGM for your own similar purposes - as a BGM underlying the text piece about the Spy's mechanics hidden in code? What a G.
This is insanely well done and thorough
The absolute most detailed guide to trickstabs.
Ah, I'm doing this trickstab so much. Finally have a tutorial.
A lil' bit of discovery by myself: ppl will still unconsciously do the "adjust" even if they are not actually strafing, as long as their muscles are attempting to strafe.
A Kunai-DR enemy spy (context: he is the typical old-school matador sort of DR spy, so he strafes virtually all the time) was surrounded in a tight space by me (playing spy) and my team, he had no chance to come out alive. But like every spy main, even if he would eventually die, he didn't wish to die to another spy's backstab. I'm sure because this is the mindset of most spy mains and I can also tell it from this guy's movements.
Then, this guy got body blocked in a corner. He could not move at all; I was sticking to his right side, standing still, and another guy was blocking him into that corner too(the sequence of events happened very quickly tho). But here's the thing: even if I could tell he was fully concentrated on avoiding getting stabbed by me or even maybe stabbing me back, he still *turns a little bit away from me*. I was confused first, but now I'm sure: it must be *adjust*.
So, from this piece of experience, it occurred to me that, maybe those seemingly random matadors executed on ppl who do strafe can still succeed sometimes, has other reasons than because those guys' strafe are not consistent. I think the second possibility is that, the victim was caught a little bit off-guard. Then even his instinct tells him to "Strafe! Strafe NOW!", but the adjust kicks in first, or the spy attempting matador happens to block his way. So, at the end of the day, it's still about "adjust".
-------------------------
I found many people disliking this tutorial beacause "it's boring". I don't know how many people actually watched the entire series as well as doing so carefully. Among those who do watch it, some failed to grasp what fundamentally differentiates Circle Strafing's way of analyzing from those good old trickstab style. And, I don't think everyone will be able to understand the mechanics behind each stab, no matter successful or failed, in order to improve oneself, as thoroughly as this video does. The ability to learn from past experience is what made human beings' every single creation this far; it also applies to gaming skills. Good luck trying. Wish you guys won't regret in the far future.
wow, thanks for the exact video I've looking for : ) Thanks!
So much information, such good stuff
so, at base level, this stab is to a matador stab as a c2c(around a corner) is to a cornerstab, it excels at getting people that avoid the more basic stab, but it also fails against the people who would fall for it (by blindly chasing).
I have been trying to do more circle strafe stuff recently, and this will help a TON. thanks crd :D
Oh shit son, He's back
51:23 "i am a better spy then you!"
-says the guy who died as scout to circle stabbing spy.
@@TF2DarkGamer i think i saw you on 2fort.
I have watch this so many times thank you sir for ur work.
23:55 Look CulRulDud, it's ok, we know you took the amby. It's O.K.
Great video
I would love to see this series redone with better quality
Look at Ezra's recap of these
@@drinkingboroneven worse than culrulduds tutorials bruh
Your amazing I learned a lot even tho this video is 5 years away I am feeling confident in my trickstab and I wanted to thank you for teaching me the basic and how to circle stab enemies and thank you again your the best
Holy shit Cul you see what happens when you come back to a loving fanbase?
I'm really hoping no trolls see this, but 2 more likes and we've gone 100:0.
Funny, I thought a 1 hour trickstabbing video would be a waste, and with 4 more parts? My god, but this is quite informative and you should many good examples.
When you waste half a day watching some weeb because you forgot that Spy has a gun:
13:51 Not really
I would listen to this guy for hours owo
Too bad it's harder to do it to pyros since the pyro update..
Why is this?
@@gatleekaw1825 he's talking about jungle inferno saying that many people play pyrotechnics because of the contracts
It's not that hard
It’s not harder it’s easier, there’s just more pyros
Pyro flames do more consistent damage so it is a little more difficult (though before and after the update if the pyro just airblasts this doesn't work)
This video shifted my mentality when playing spy. I'm still garbage but at least I feel happier when I get a cool stab and don't feel cheated or angry when I miss.
Keep on going!
You'll remain garbage if you keep circle strafing
@@xiarvi6342 then what do you expect him to do lol
I already know all of this(somewhat), but I found this video very helpful. Thanks
I can only imagine him as the mad scientist in his clock tower browsing through all the data with his potato laptop
As an ex spy main I usually just spy check everyone and everything, chase spies outside their melee range, and if I’m playing pyro I just flame them and airblast followed by if I have a secondary that can finish him off
to combat people like you, there's a simple strategy: running forward.
YOU'RE BACK
Happy new year guys.
Omg i just watched at the time of video
It's my boy!!!! CRD!
Jesus christ is this video really an hour long?
The upload must have taken literally days!
The upload was the shortest part..
And there's 5 video parts in the whole tutorial
***** Honestly, credit where it's due, you put a lot of effort into explaining your understandings and perspectives to us - thanks a lot! :D
sans
@@chris._. sans