First, to cover the basic glossary that will be used in the guide.

Pocketing
The term is made-up and possibly will only be used in this guide. It makes allusion to having a single patient as a Medic.

What is a Pocket Medic?
This concept, often derrogatory (in this guide is neutral), refers to a Medic having a sole patient. Some circumstances may need the use of Pocketing in order to turn the tide for the game, altough it is often seen as useless.

What is a Medic Buddy?
A Medic Buddy is a Pocket Medic's sole patient; it usually is a Soldier or Heavy due to both classes' high damage output. It is not always a good choice, but they are the most common Medic Buddies.

With this covered, let's move on.

If you are chosen as a medic buddy, it is either because the Medic wants to make a push, build Übercharge, feels unsafe, or lacks knowledge on the class. We are ignoring the last case for now.

Making a Push
Let's put a scenario: in this Payload match, the last point is surrounded by Sentry nests. Of course, the match is next to impossible to win. However, a Medic with a full Übercharge Pockets you.

Do not run away. This may be the decisive eight seconds of the match. If you cower, the Über is wasted, and the Medic will keep following you until either is dead. Instead, use a voice command for the Medic to activate the Charge and beat the snot out of the buildings.

Be wary of the G.E.W.P. and Gibus Engineers though, as if both are present and you destroy a Gibus nest, You'll be heavily questioned in your morals.


Building up an Übercharge
Be wary that an Über fills up slower if you are overhealed. If you are a Soldier, Demoman, Pyro with Detonator/Scorch Shot, or Scout with Boston Basher/Three-Rune Blade, take advantage of safe situations and self-damage yourself to build the Charge at an accelerated speed. If a Medic starts healing you, you should step out of battle for a bit; the Übercharge rate fills faster on patients that have been out of combat for several seconds (~6), unless you are making a decisive push or the Medic indicates that he is about to deploy an Übercharge on you to make said push.


Protecting your Pocket Medic
Hardest part of keeping a Medic Duo is mantaining the Medic alive. After all, the Medic is a frail class dependant on his patients.

Soak up as many damage as possible. Turn into your Medic's meat shield. You have a constant source of healing, whereas the Medic may not (unless being healed himself or near a Dispenser). Watch over him. Occassionally turn to quickly Spy-Check.

Below your crosshair, the Medic's name, current Übercharge meter, Medigun being used and remaining health appear as a status bar. If the status bar suddenly dissapears or the Medic's health suffers a decrease, check the area and try to ward off enemies.

Leave any health kits for the Medic. Seriously damaged while Medic has near-full health? Leave medkit for them! After all, they are infinite sources of healing (as long as you keep them alive).

Unequip weapons like the Black Box, Phloginstinator or Candy Cane, as you put to doubt your loyalty to the Medic. Specially the Phloginstinator, since you can't airblast and potentially save your Pocket Medic from fire or an incoming enemy/proyectile. Additionally, if you play as a Heavy, replace whatever you have in your secondary slot for the Sandvich, as it provides a portable medkit for you Medic.

And, if you are STILL using the Phlogistinator, seriously consider updating your loadout.


Life and Death
One extra note: despite what people may think (and THEY do), Medics are NOT instant god modes. A lot of people go to the enemy base, all cocky because of having a Pocket Medic, when BOOM! An entire sentry nest is the last thing they see. That and the Rancho Relaxo Engineer, enjoying your negligence. If you are going to do a Caber-charge or some other kamikaze method, make the Medic go to a more reilable teammate before diving into the unkown.

First you should know when to pocket an ally. Follow this criteria:

• You are alone
  
• Your team needs to break defense of a point
  
• You trust your guts on that one
  
• They are constantly moving and aiding the team

Choosing the right Buddy
After following the criteria, specific classes have specific roles. This can change depending on certain situations. For instance, practicing a standard Über can help a Demoman quickly dispose of a Sentry nest, help a Pyro go on a full-crit rampage with the Kritzkrieg, and so on.

Using the right Medigun
What a tough decision! As a Medic, you get to use four different Mediguns. I present to you, a table that shows possible scenarios, and a proper Medigun for it.


*Due to the four separate Übercharges, you are able to quickly adapt to the enemies' defenses.

Patient Interaction
If you and your patient keep an active communication, make sure to:

• Be polite (Don't be rude...)
  
• Be efficient (Keep him alive)
  
• Have a plan to kill himUh, wrong guide. Sorry.
  
• Ask them to leave the Medkits (Being alive is keeping them alive)
  
• Set up body language

Patient Body Language
If you want to, you two could quickly set up in-game gestures that could symbolize something. For example:

*Remember that an Übercharge builds up faster if your target is wounded.
**Don't forget that another ally might be in distress. This could be paired up with the Crusader's Crossbow to keep allies healty as well as keeping your Medic Buddy.

These are examples, you could set up your own.

Something else: don't latch your Medigun to some random guy's butt. If you don't need to make a push, it is better to keep all the team alive.
(p.d.: Equip the Amputator if you have one. That extra regen can help to keep yourself safe and sound if retreating.)

• Keep your distance from your patient, or it could end badly for both of you.
  
• Try to follow indications of fellow Pocket Medics.
  
• If your Pocket Medic is not performing well, politely correct them.
  
• Don't use a standard Übercharge if your patient is in low-health. Use it to make pushes.
  
• Don't use a Vaccinator Übercharge if your patient is trying to break enemy defense. Use it to patch them up quicker.
  
• If your patient dies,you have a full Übercharge and you are being pursued, use it. Better to run away with it that to die having it unused. Keep a special eye on enemy Pyros.
  
• In case you see another Medic Duo deploy their Übercharge, wait a few seconds and activate your own.
  
• Do not pocket Spies, Engineer or Snipers. They are rather ineffective for this end.
  
• If you are a Scout, wait for the Medic to start healing you, instead of bouncing around like an hyperactive three-year-old and keeping him from healing you.
  
• Constantly check behind your back for enemy Spies and incoming W+M1 Backburner/Phlog Pyros.
  
• Crusader's Crossbow and Vita-Saw are the best weapons for Pocketing.
  
• If a new Medic starts Pocketing you for no apparent reason, try to instruct them on how to play as a proper Medic.

This article is a basic strategy for Medic Duos. Unless it is absolutely necessary to Pocket someone, do not. This is considered a neglicence on part of the Medic, as their role is to keeep the entire team healthy.

This is based on my own experience as a Medic in Team Fortress 2. You don't know how much times keeping this guidelines I- no- we managed to turn the tide of an entire game.

I accept constructive criticism and genuinely appreciate mentions of anything I forgot to add.