TF2 Sticky Jump Guide: Demoman Mobility, Charge by Charge
Sticky jumping is the Demoman's rocket jump. Here is the Sticky Jumper weapon, the charge-and-detonate timing, the demoknight shield variant, and the practice maps that turn a flailing Demoman into a flanking demon.
Sticky jumping is how a Demoman gets to high ground and crosses the map without walking. It works exactly like a Soldier’s rocket jump, except the launch comes from your stickybomb launcher instead of a rocket. Done right, it is the highest-mobility play in the game for his class.
The Sticky Jumper
The clean way to learn is the Sticky Jumper — a reskin of the stickybomb launcher that deals no self-damage and no damage to enemies, carries +200% max secondary ammo, and has no random crits. It is a pure movement tool, available as a random drop and via crafting or trading. Because it cannot hurt you, you can practice jumping all day and never respawn. (In real fights you use the normal Stickybomb Launcher, which does self-damage — same technique, just respect the health cost.)
The jump, step by step
- Look down at about a 45-degree angle at the ground just in front of you.
- Jump (space).
- Fire a sticky (left click) so it lands at or just under your feet as you leave the ground.
- Detonate (right click) at the very start of your rise — the explosion launches you upward and forward.
- Air-strafe toward your target with A/D while holding W for distance.
The timing that beginners miss: detonate immediately after the jump, not at the apex. Detonate too late and you have already started falling; too early and the sticky is still traveling. The sticky should pop right as your feet leave the ground.
Controlling distance
Unlike the Rocket Jumper, your launch distance on a sticky jump is set mostly by where the sticky lands relative to you and your air-strafe, not by a charge meter. Two rules:
- A sticky placed closer to your feet = higher, shorter pop.
- A sticky placed a step ahead = longer, flatter travel.
For maximum height (reaching a rooftop), pop straight down at your feet and strafe minimally. For crossing a gap, place it slightly ahead and hold your strafe the whole way.
The demoknight variant
If you run a Chargin’ Targe or Splendid Screen (a shield in the secondary slot) with a sword, you also get a shield charge — right-click dashes you forward on the ground. Chain it: shield-charge across flat ground, then sticky-jump up. This is the demoknight’s whole movement identity and what lets him reach backlines Melee-only.
Where to practice
Load any jump_ map (search the community server browser) or tr_walkway_rc2. Start by just reaching a ledge without touching the wall, then chain two jumps, then jump onto a specific rooftop. Hours on jump maps is what separates a Demoman who flops from one who appears behind your Sniper.
Common mistakes
- Detonating late — you fall instead of rising. Pop at the jump.
- No air-strafe — you go straight up and come straight down.
- Using the real Stickybomb Launcher at low health — the self-damage will kill you; switch to the Jumper for travel.
- Forgetting you have no weapon — the Sticky Jumper cannot fight. Keep your Grenade Launcher ready to swap after you land.
The one thing to remember
Sticky jump = fire a sticky at your feet, detonate the instant you jump, then air-strafe. Learn it on the Sticky Jumper (no self-damage), take it to jump_ maps, and only switch to the real launcher once the timing is automatic.