The Sniper is a situational utility class sometimes used in the standard competitive lineup, valued for his picking and area denial capabilities. He is mostly used as a far ranged class and can be deadly from far away in competitive.

Competitive Mode is an official game mode released for Team Fortress 2. The mode is accessible only by having a Premium TF2 account and a phone number associated with the Steam account. Players can also purchase a Competitive Matchmaking Pass from the Mann Co. Store to gain access. If a player is eligible for Competitive Matchmaking but has a VAC ban on their account, the only way to get access is to buy a pass from the Mann Co. Store. Like regular matches, there are no bans to any weapon and/or class that can be used.

All competitive games are based around the following principles:

Team members are chosen before the game starts.
Players use vocal communication to quickly relay information.
Both teams are of the same predetermined player count, 6 in 6v6 and 9 in Highlander.
Both teams are under the same basic restrictions, which include weapon whitelists and class limits.
Beyond these, there are many differences between various leagues, seasons, and communities. That said, most competitive TF2 games follow the standard competitive format, which has set class limits and certain gameplay settings that try to encourage fairness and reduce the impact of chance. All of the major TF2 leagues and PUG communities follow the standard competitive format, though each has variations on specific rules. Many leagues contain a subdivision for both 6s and Highlander.

In 6v6, the focus is on 5CP maps, such as Badlands, Process and Gullywash, with King of the Hill maps such as Product. Highlander prefers A/D based maps, such as Steel and Payload maps like Upward. They also have other formats such as King Of The Hill and 5CP. Custom maps are used in both formats, and are usually completely custom maps (pl_swiftwater_ugc) or are pro versions of default maps, such as Viaduct or Granary. Other gamemodes, like Capture the Flag and Special Delivery, are rarely seen in either format.