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The Heavy contestant is, naturally, a class all about defence and survival. They have powerful weapons and can take a ton of punishment. Use our best Heavy build loadout to focus on their strengths while accounting for potential drawbacks. Feel free to tinker around with it as every playstyle is different and you should play the way you want to. But there’s no harm in discovering new favourite items.
Best Heavy build loadout in Season 4
The following loadout is based on our time playing as the Heavy build, trying out what works and what doesn’t when emphasizing the power of the class:
| Heavy Specialisation | Weapon | Gadgets |
|---|---|---|
| Mesh Shield Winch Claw | SA1216 Lewis Gun Flamethrower | RPG-7 Barricade Pyro Mine Dome Shield |
Best Heavy build loadout specialisation
Use the Mesh Shield to protect your allies from enemy fire. Image captured by VideoGamer.
Reel in opponents with the Winch Claw. Image captured by VideoGamer.
Here’s what we recommend when it comes to the Heavy’s specialisations:
Mesh Shield
The Mesh Shield specialization is the best utility for a Heavy and your team since it deploys a shield your friends can shoot out of, while the enemy has to break through it. This will only cover you from the front, so make sure you have someone watching your back when using this. A Light build foe with a sword or shotgun could swoop in for some close-quarters combat so be mindful about positioning. Protecting a cash-out with this as your allies respawn is a great way to buy some time.
Winch Claw
Season 3 introduced Heavy users to the Winch Claw and they haven’t looked back since. It’s a lethal chain that could reel enemies towards you, similar to how Scorpion pulls foes towards him in Mortal Kombat. It catches them by surprise, letting you or your allies finish them off. The Winch Claw is particularly brilliant when you have close-range weapons like the SA1216 shotgun or Flamethrower. Close the gap with this specialisation before knocking an enemy out of the game.
Best Heavy build guns
Use this auto shotgun to dish out solid damage at close range. Image captured by VideoGamer.
The Lewis Gun is reliable against enemies in mid-range combat. Image captured by VideoGamer.
Char foes in flames with the Flamethrower. Image captured by VideoGamer.
Here are the weapons you should consider equipping as a Heavy:
SA1216 automatic shotgun
Despite nerfs, the SA1216 is still a loadout-defining menace thanks to its high damage and fast fire rate for a shotgun. As long as you close in on an opponent, a couple of shots is all it’ll take to down them. Just remember to watch out for enemies with mid-range weapons like assault rifles and other similar guns. Another shotgun option is Season 2’s KS-23, with solid damage and a reload that can be cancelled mid-battle, letting you stay in combat. However, the SA1216 remains the stronger option in our opinion.
Lewis Gun
While the standard M60 is decent at close to mid-range encounters, the Lewis Gun settles for a smaller magazine while buffing up recoil control and range. This LMG is reliable in almost all encounters, able to lay down a hail of bullets that can shred all enemies. Just try not to run out of ammo during a shootout or risk being caught reloading mid-battle. If you pick a close-range option in your loadout, remember to pick the Lewis Gun as your reserve.
Flamethrower
Launch streams of flames at your foes and dominate in close-quarter situations. Fire can also melt through Goo, trivialising any Goo Grenades your enemies throw. While it might be a situational weapon, it’s great while protecting objectives as the mere sight of flames will send Light builds scurrying away. The reload on this weapon can be long, but since you have a generous fuel tank before that happens, it should be easy to mitigate.
Best Heavy build gadgets
Blow buildings and walls up with the RPG-7. Image captured by VideoGamer.
Wall up with the Barricade. Image captured by VideoGamer.
Use the Pyro Mine to protect objectives. Image captured by VideoGamer.
As mentioned, here’s what your three gadgets should be as a Heavy:
RPG-7
Clearing obstacles is always a good thing in the game. And the RPG-7 does that well, be it walls or ceilings. You can even sneak in a surprise Cashout Station grab from a lower floor this way. And yes, it’s great while tacking the occasional Light build – a direct hit will one-shot them! While the Sledgehammer weapon can accomplish this too, a ranged weapon is better against enemies. Now buffed to remove incremental radius which added a full 1m to it, there is no question that RPG-7 is one of the best gadgets to take.
Barricade
The Barricade is excellent for making positions more defensible while also giving you cover if you’re caught out in the open. If you want to heist an ongoing cash-out, this will help create an opening if used correctly. You can pick up barricades you’ve deployed as well, letting you reposition when required.
Pyro Mine
While protecting locations like Cashout Stations, it’s good to have a Mine handy. The Pyro Mine will burn foes to a crisp and is particularly lethal to Light builds. Prop one of these near an objective and you’ll at least delay a capture if not prevent it altogether. These can still be shot at so they aren’t completely fool-proof. And in modes like Terminal Attack, knocking a single opponent down can turn the odds of success in your favour.
It’s easy to forget that you have a plethora of gadgets to use, so make sure you’re using them often. They have infinite uses (outside Terminal Attack), just mind the cooldown. For instance, a Dome Shield is an excellent substitute for the Barricade – or you can bring both for the ultimate turtling strat.
Strategies for playing Heavy build
When playing the Heavy contestant, here are some things to keep in mind for optimal plays:
- Be mindful of your gadget cooldowns. Since items like the RPG-7 are great at environmental destruction, use them at every opportunity.
- Divert enemy attention from your teammates. You can take more damage than them so distract opponents and let your allies land the killing blows. Use the Dome Shield and the Mesh Shield to gain a defensive bonus.
- Remember that Goo is useful in almost every situation. Want to block a passage? Goo. Want to create a bridge to get somewhere difficult? Goo. Either bring a Goo Grenade along or use the crates and canisters scattered around the map. Utilising Goo to its fullest will help you play better, and let Heavy access better manoeuvrability.
- Keep an eye out for enemies with high-damage weapons like shotguns that can eat through your health bar. Light players with a Stun Gun or flashbang are particularly annoying. You might be durable but you’re not invincible.
After reading about the best loadout for the Heavy build in The Finals, also check out the same for the Medium and Light builds.
About the Author
The Finals
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s): Action, First-Person Shooter, Shooter
