Item quality

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“
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Click to listen
— The Sniper, on hat-based modern stylishness
 ”

Item rarity is a "quality" of items in Team Fortress 2.

Normal items

Backpack Scattergun.png

Scattergun
Level 1 Scattergun

Also called 'stock' items, these are the standard non-unlockable weapons that first shipped with the game, e.g. the Scattergun and the Rocket Launcher. These weapons are available to all players. Since the Mann-Conomy Update, unique variants of these items can be made by using a Name Tag or Description Tag with a normal weapon, which are seen by checking the "Show Stock Items" box in the backpack view.

Unique items

Backpack Huntsman.png

The Huntsman
Level 10 Bow

Also known as unlockables. These items can be purchased from the Mann Co. Store, dropped randomly through gameplay, obtained through achievements, crafted, traded or gifted. As of the Mann-Conomy Update, all unique items gained before the update were changed to Vintage status.

Vintage items

Backpack Backburner.png

Vintage Backburner
Level 10 Flame Thrower

Vintage items are items that were obtained before the release of the Mann-Conomy Update. Most existing Unique items were changed to Vintage items in order to increase their appeal in Trading. However, they bear no difference other than their blue name and "Vintage" prefix. Some items were excluded and not changed to Vintage items, such as Badges, Promotional items, and Holiday items such as the Mildly Disturbing Halloween Mask. Other items such as the Vintage Tyrolean keep both their original name and the new prefix, resulting in the title "Vintage Vintage Tyrolean".

As the number of Vintage items decreases over time by crafting, their individual value will increase. Renamed Vintage items keep their original name color.

Unusual items

Unusual items are those with special attributes or qualities attached to them.

Scream Fortress Update

Two new Unusual items were introduced with this update: the Haunted Metal Scrap and the Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker. Besides having the Unusual quality attached to it, the Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker has no discerning attributes from the Eyelander.

Unusual Hats

Backpack Napper's Respite.png

Unusual Napper's Respite
1 - 100
Effect: Circling Heart
After a long day of burning scouts.

Unusual hats are hats with particle effects attached to them.

Currently, the only way to obtain an unusual hat is by unlocking a Mann Co. Supply Crate with a Mann Co. Supply Crate Key, or by trading for one. There are 896 possible combinations between hats and unusual item particle effects (14 effects * 64 current 'Unusual-able' Hats). The different particle effects are viewable in this animation, and below as they appear in-game. Two unusual hats cannot be crafted into another unusual hat. The result of two combined unusual hats will produce a normal hat.

Originally, the majority of the particle effects were bound to the feet.

Effects Gallery

Particle effects are used frequently in Team Fortress 2 to serve as decorations or visual cues for both various in-game events and cosmetic purposes. Any particle effect can be attached to any item or model theoretically, however, some effects appear exclusively on items of a particular quality; for example, the Unusual effects only appear on items with the Unusual quality.

Status effects

Status effects are used to indicate a change in player state to other players. A common example would be the overheal particles emitted from an overhealed player or one that recently picked up a health kit.

Burning player

The burning player effect is used during the burning of players. When viewed in Pyroland, the flames are replaced with multi-colored sparkles.

  • A burning Heavy.

  • A burning Heavy in Pyroland.

Critical spark

Main articles: Critical hits, ÜberCharge

The critical spark effect is used to indicate that a player's weapon will deal critical damage. This is accompanied by a team-colored tint on the weapon itself. It is also used on the Medi Guns to indicate that a charge is ready to be deployed.

  • In-game screenshot of a weapon charged with critical hits.

  • In-game screenshot of a fully charged Medi Gun.

  • Spark sprite

Weapons missing

Currently, these weapons are missing the critical glow effect. This means the effect is either purely cosmetic, or it hides the visibility of the weapon being boosted, often confusing the weapon holder and enemies. As of now, the following weapons do not glow while crit boosted:



Marked For Death

The Marked For Death effects are used to indicate that the player is marked for death. A player that is marked for death receives Mini-Crits from all incoming damage.

  • Icon displayed above a marked target.

  • HUD Icon displayed when the player is 'marked for death'.

Nemesis Burst

The Nemesis effect pulses outwards from the Domination icon above a dominating player. The effect is team-colored to match the team of the dominating player.

  • Nemesis Burst sprite.png

Overheal

Main article: Overheal

When a player is overhealed by a Medic, the player will emit medical crosses. The overheal effect is also emitted when injured players pick up health kits. It is also used on the Medi Gun beam itself, as well as the trail of the Crusader's Crossbow.

  • In-game screenshot

  • The healing particle emitted for RED players.

  • The healing particle emitted for BLU players.

Weapon effects

Most non-hitscan weapons have particle effects. These include the Rocket Launcher and Flamethrower.

  • The Rocket trail effect sprites.

  • The spritesheet of the flames emitted from most flamethrowers.

  • The animation of the flames emitted from most flamethrowers.

  • The spritesheet of the flames emitted from the Rainblower.

  • The animation of the flames emitted from the Rainblower.

Gameplay effects

Gameplay effects are used to indicate gameplay events.

Australium laundry trail

While the Australium briefcase is being carried, it emits a stream of boxer shorts and socks.

  • The Australium briefcase being carried.

  • The spritesheet of the boxers emitted from the carrier.

  • The animation of the boxers emitted from the carrier.

  • The spritesheet of the socks emitted from the carrier.

  • The animation of the socks emitted from the carrier.

Balloon

While birthday mode is activated, players will spurt balloons instead of blood.

  • Birthday mode gibs

  • The balloon sprite emitted.

Dollar sign

When playing Mann vs. Machine, dropped credits will a emit green dollar sign particle if the robot was killed normally. Dropped credits will emit a red particle if the robot was killed by a Headshot or by bleed damage through the Explosive Headshot upgrade or by the Tribalman's Shiv.

  • Green Dollar Sign Effect

  • Red Dollar Sign Effect from headshot-related kills.

Intelligence paper trail

While either the Intelligence or Ticket briefcases are being carried, they emit a stream of papers.

  • The Intelligence briefcase being carried.

  • The Ticket briefcase being carried.

  • The spritesheet of the papers emitted from the carrier.

  • The animation of the papers emitted from the carrier.

Decorative effects

Decorative effects are not used to indicate any gameplay changes and are used purely for aesthetics.

Flying Bits

Intended to be used for rendering flames on gibs, the Flying Bits effect is also attached to certain Valve weapons.

  • In-game screenshot

Genteel Smoke

The Genteel Smoke effect is attached to a variety of items. A smaller version of the effect is also attached to certain items, as well as an undisguised Spy.

  • The normal Genteel Smoke effect.

  • The small Genteel Smoke effect.

Holy glow effect

The holy glow effect is attached to the Cheater's Lament.

  • In-game screenshot

Map Stamps effect

Main article: Map Stamps

The map stamps effect is attached to the World Traveler's Hat. These render similarly to the purple and green Unusual confetti effects but use stamp sprites instead. Like the Treasure Hat, the effect is influenced by the movement of the wearer and will only be emitted when the player is in motion.

  • In-game screenshot

  • The spritesheet of the map stamps emitted from the hat.

  • The animation of the map stamps emitted from the hat.

Musical notes

The musical notes effect is attached to the Earbuds and Noise Maker (see below section).

  • In-game screenshot.

  • The music note sprite.

Noise Maker

Main article: Noise Maker

The Noise Maker effect emits musical notes and ghost particles when a Halloween-themed Noise Maker used. The musical note particles are twice as large as the ones produced by the Earbuds.

  • "Ghost" particle effect.

  • "Noise" particle effect.

  • In-game screenshot

Snow burst effect

The snow burst effect is produced by using the Winter Holiday Noise Maker and by beginning the Skating Scorcher taunt. Snowflakes burst outwards to form a sphere around the player before slowly drifting downwards and fading away.

  • In-game screenshot

Spy-cicle

Main article: Spy-cicle

Particles eminate from the base of the Spy-cicle, emulating a cool mist.

  • In-game screenshot

Treasure Hat

Main article: Treasure Hat

There is no known localized name for the Treasure Hat effect, but it is attached as a new particle system defined as coin_spin. The particles from this effect are influenced by the movement of the wearer and will only be emitted when the player's model is in motion: even moving on the spot with a taunt will cause coins to fall.

  • In-game screenshot

  • The sprite sheet used in the effect's spinning animation.

  • The effect's spinning animation.

Unusual effects

See also: Unusual

Unused particle effects

G.R.U. skull effect

The G.R.U. skull effect was emitted when the Gloves of Running Urgently were wielded by the player.

  • In-game screenshot

  • Particle effects for teams RED and BLU.

Rotating Birthday Cake

Currently unused.

  • Orbiting cake.PNG

Update history

July 13, 2010 Patch
  • Improved the performance of the critboost particle effect.

September 30, 2010 Patch (Mann-Conomy Update)

  • Added effects: Green Confetti, Purple Confetti, Haunted Ghosts, Green Energy, Purple Energy, Circling TF Logo, Massed Flies, Burning Flames, Scorching Flames, Searing Plasma, Vivid Plasma, Sunbeams, Circling Peace Sign, and Circling Heart.
  • [Undocumented] Added effect: G.R.U. skull.

December 7, 2010 Patch

  • Added effect: Treasure Hat particle effect.

October 27, 2010 Patch (Scream Fortress Update)

  • [Undocumented] Added effect: Marked For Death.

December 17, 2010 Patch (Australian Christmas)

  • Added effect: Map Stamps particle effect.

August 18, 2011 Patch (Manno-Technology Bundle)

  • [Undocumented] Added effects: Stormy Storm, Blizzardy Storm, Nuts n' Bolts, Orbiting Planets, Orbiting Fire, Bubbling, Smoking, and Steaming.

August 23, 2011 Patch

  • Fixed the Sunbeams effect.

October 27, 2011 Patch (Very Scary Halloween Special)

  • [Undocumented] Added effects: Cloudy Moon, Orbiting Cloudy Full Moon, Eerie Orbiting Fire, Flaming Lantern, Orbiting Shells, and Cauldron Bubbles.

June 11, 2012 Patch

  • Fixed a rare case where the offensive/defensive buff particle effects could get stuck on players.

June 27, 2012 Patch

  • Fixed cases where some clients didn't receive broadcasts about long continuous particle effects being started or stopped.

June 28, 2012 Patch

  • Fixed missing DX8 particle effects.

October 26, 2012 Patch (Spectral Halloween Special)

  • [Undocumented] Added effects: Knifestorm, Misty Skull, Harvest Moon, It's A Secret To Everybody, and Stormy 13th Hour.

February 14, 2013 Patch

  • Increased the particle limit.

May 17, 2013 Patch (Robotic Boogaloo)

  • [Undocumented] Added effects: Anti-Freeze, Electrostatic, Green Black Hole, Memory Leak, Overclocked, Phosphorous, Power Surge, Roboactive, Suplurous, and Time Warp.

June 5, 2013 Patch

  • Attachment point and offset for particle effects on unusual hats can now be adjusted from the character loadout screen.
  • Fixed a bug that would cause unusual effects to float in the air over dead players.
  • Fixed a bug that would cause unusual effects to show incorrectly sometimes when spectating other players.

June 19, 2013 Patch

  • [Undocumented] Added effects: Aces High, Cloud 9, Dead Presidents, Disco Beatdown, Kill-a-Watt, Miami Nights, and Terror-Watt.

July 11, 2013 Patch

  • Fixed Disco Beat Down unusual effect showing through walls.

September 3, 2013 Patch

  • Removed showing the Marked For Death icon over the head of the local player.

October 29, 2013 Patch (Scream Fortress 2013)

  • [Undocumented] Added effects: Arcana, Spellbound, Poisoned Shadows, Chiroptera Venenata, Hellfire, Something Burning This Way Comes, Darkblaze, and Demonflame.

July 30, 2014 Patch

  • Fixed a bug related to orphaned marked for death particles.

June 18, 2014 Patch (Love & War Update)

  • [Undocumented] Added Taunt effects: '72, Fountain of Delight, Holy Grail, Mega Strike, Midnight Whirlwind, Screaming Tiger, Showstopper, Skill Gotten Gains.

October 29, 2014 Patch (Scream Fortress 2014)

  • [Undocumented] Added Amaranthine, Bonzo The All-Gnawing, Ghastly Ghosts, Ghastly Ghosts Jr., Haunted Phantasm, Haunted Phantasm Jr., Stare From Beyond, and The Ooze unusual effects.

December 8, 2014 Patch (End of the Line Update)

  • [Undocumented] Added Death at Dusk, Frostbite, Molten Mallard and Morning Glory unusual effects.

January 9, 2015 Patch

  • Fixed the Mega Strike unusual taunt effect showing through walls.

January 30, 2015 Patch

  • Fixed a client crash related to the particle system.

February 11, 2015 Patch #1

  • Added convar r_drawtracers_firstperson to disable the drawing of first person bullet tracer particles.

February 18, 2015 Patch

  • Fixed a client crash related to disappearing particles, props, and players.
  • Fixed some Unusual particle effects not drawing correctly

March 12, 2015 Patch

  • Fixed a bug that caused some particles to not draw correctly.

July 2, 2015 Patch (Gun Mettle Update)

  • [Undocumented] Added Isotope, Hot, Cool, and Energy Orb unusual effects.

July 8, 2015 Patch #1

  • Fixed cosmetic items with an ambient particle effect (i.e. Soldier's Stogie, Nine-Pipe Problem) erroneously reporting that they had the Genteel Smoke unusual effect.

August 18, 2015 Patch

  • Fixed character loadout menus so they display the particle effects for all equipped Unusual items.

October 6, 2015 Patch (Invasion Update)

  • [Undocumented] Added Abduction, Atomic, Subatomic, Electric Hat Protector, Magnetic Hat Protector, Voltaic Hat Protector, Galactic Codex, Ancient Codex, and Nebula unusual effects.

October 12, 2015 Patch

  • Fixed Unusual versions of the Taunt: Burstchester not displaying their Unusual effects.

October 28, 2015 Patch (Scream Fortress 2015)

  • [Undocumented] Added Death by Disco, It's a mystery to everyone, It's a puzzle to me, Ether Trail, Nether Trail, Ancient Eldritch, and Eldritch Flame unusual effects.

October 29, 2015 Patch

  • Fixed the Invasion Unusual effect "Subatomic" being off-center.

October 21, 2016 Patch (Scream Fortress 2016)

  • Added 8 new community-created Unusual effects.
    • 4 new effects for Unusual hats.
    • 4 new effects for Unusual taunts.

December 1, 2017 Patch

  • Fixed rendering issues with the Infernal Flames, Infernal Smoke, Cloudy Moon, It's A Secret To Everybody, Ancient Eldritch, Eldritch Flame, and Death by Disco unusual effects.

[Unknown Date]

  • Added effect: Rotating Birthday Cake.

March 28, 2018 Patch #1

  • Fixed the Community Sparkle particle effect not drawing on the viewmodel for players with Community and Self-Made weapons.
  • Added a unique particle effect whenever a player performs a "Stomp" attack on another player with the Mantreads or The Thermal Thruster.
  • Updated the Harvest Moon, Dead Presidents, and Circling Peace Sign unusual effects to fix display problems.

October 19, 2018 Patch (Scream Fortress 2018)

  • Added 17 new community-created Unusual effects.
    • 11 new effects for Unusual hats.
    • 6 new effects for Unusual taunts.

October 25, 2018 Patch

  • Updated the Roaring Rockets unusual taunt particle effect.

October 30, 2018 Patch

  • Updated the Roaring Rockets unusual taunt particle effect.

December 19, 2018 Patch (Smissmas 2018)

  • Updated the Starstorm Slumber unusual effect to fix a display problem.

October 10, 2019 Patch (Scream Fortress XI)

  • Added 20 new community-created Unusual effects.
    • 12 new effects for Unusual hats.
    • 8 new effects for Unusual taunts.

December 16, 2019 Patch (Smissmas 2019)

  • Added 17 new community-created Unusual effects.
    • 11 new effects for Unusual hats.
    • 6 new effects for Unusual taunts.

August 21, 2020 Patch (Summer 2020 Pack)

  • Added 4 new community-created Unusual effects.
    • 9 new effects for hats.

Bugs

  • One end of the particle effect on Kill-a-Watt and Terror-Watt may randomly attach to temporarily random areas of a map, causing the effect to stretch from the point through any walls to the wearer's head.
  • On certain graphics drivers, particles no longer appear to have a distinct bright glow. This applies to the medibeam, unusual effects, and energy-based weapons. It has also has been reported by DirectX 11 users.
  • Upon death or disconnect, particle effects often stay in the spot the player was, fully animated.
  • The 'Marked for Death' particle effect sometimes appears when the user is not marked for death.
  • Particle effects of cosmetic items may appear in First Person view.
    • The particle effects of the player and their cosmetic items does also appear while spectating someone.
  • Effects that have been adjusted may not appear.
  • The Genteel Smoke effect does not appear on the Loadout menus.
  • Due to an issue with both the Genteel Smoke effect and Earbuds Musical Notes effect, any item that goes to the bip_head bone (i.e. most items that go to the Hat equip region), paired with an item that has the smoke/notes effect and shares the same bone, will cause the item to get slightly out of sync with the player's movement, occasionally clipping on the character's player model.
  • If a player who is marked for death uses a Teleporter, the particle effect will remain above the entrance for a few seconds.

Notes

  • Particle effects that are attached to an item will not be visible to the player wielding it in first-person view unless the player is using the cl_first_person_uses_world_model console variable.
  • Cosmetic items with particle effects can create multiple effect combinations.
  • Particle effects get hidden by Wheel of Fate big heads effect. However, if being watched as the head expands, the effect will be repositioned and be visually correct.

External links

Effects in Particle Editor

Community items

Backpack Knife.png

Community Knife
Level 50 Knife

Community weapons are unique in-game weapons given by Valve to individuals who have made significant, valuable contributions to the Team Fortress 2 community. Community weapons have green names and a sparkle particle effect attached.

An incomplete list of Community Weapon receipients is available here.

Trivia

  • Originally, names for community unlockable weapons were grammatically incorrect, using names like “Community The Kritzkrieg.” Valve has since corrected this.
  • Typically, these weapons are level 50 items, though there are some at 100. Like all other in-game items, levels have no effect on gameplay or the weapons.
  • In some cases, a contributor was awarded one item, such as a Community Sniper Rifle, but later had it exchanged for another weapon, like a Community Huntsman. Initially, players were given Community weapons based on what their most played class was, but depending on the circumstances it has been possible to specify a weapon instead.
  • Community weapons used to be tradable, but Valve released an update preventing this.
  • Community weapons derived from the original set of weapons recieve an additional boost to their 'Phong' shading exponent, resulting in the weapon having a more glossy appearance.
  • Communitystickybomb.png

    In-game example

  • Comparison of Phong exponents

Self-Made items

Backpack Whoopee Cap.png

Self-Made Whoopee Cap
Level 50

Self-made items are special versions of community-made items that are given to the contributors who created them. Like Community weapons, they emit a sparkle particle effect and have dark green names, with the added line "I made this!" in their item description. See Contribution page for when the items were added in-game.

A complete list of Self-made items and their owners is available here.

Valve weapons

Backpack Equalizer.png

Valve Equalizer
Level 100 Pickaxe

Valve weapons are alternate versions of regular weapons given to Valve employees. Valve weapons can be identified by their magenta names and attached flaming effects, although, since the Mann-Conomy Update they appear to have become broken. All Valve weapons are Level 100. These weapons also have a unique particle effect attached: "Flying Bits".

Valve weapons also appear to be for testing purposes, with some possessing hugely powerful attributes. Robin Walker has a Rocket Launcher that shows this (seen here).

See also

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