View source for Horseless Headless Horsemann

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[[Image:HHH.png|250px|right|The Horseless Headless Horsemann]]
{{Quotation|'''The Soldier''' on undead horseless horsemen|This is my world! You are not welcome in my world!|sound=Soldier_taunts17.wav}}
The '''Horseless Headless Horsemann''' is a neutral enemy in [[Mann Manor]], released with the [[Scream Fortress]] update. The not-quite-dead form of [[Non-player characters#Silas Mann|Silas Mann]], he appears at random on the currently contested [[control point]], after which he will proceed to hunt down and kill any player on either team until he is killed (again). It is unknown exactly how much damage he can do, but it is presumed to be over 1250 per swipe (as the [[Dead Ringer]] fails to work against him).

Players too close to the monstrosity when it makes a kill may be designated as "It", whereupon they become the primary target. The current "It" is marked with a floating white skull-and-crossbones symbol (previously only used for the [[G.R.U.]]). The person marked as "It" can pass on their status by smacking someone on the opposing team with their [[melee]] weapon.

If no one is "It", he may perform a "Boo" taunt. He crouches over arms spread wide, releasing a loud ghostly "BOO!" and scaring anyone in a range of 500 [[Hammer unit|units]]. This is similar to the [[Ghost]]'s effect and also grants the ''Scared Stiff'' [[Scarechievement]]. Wearing the [[Horseless Headless Horsemann's Head]] provides immunity from being scared in this way.

Contributing in killing the Horseless Headless Horsemann awards the Sleepy Holl0wnd achievement and drops the [[Horseless Headless Horsemann's Head]] hat. If a player delivers a single blow with a melee weapon he will drop an [[Unusual Haunted Metal Scrap]], specifically when the Horsemann "shivers" when he is about to die. Contributing to the kill is not specific to melee or ranged damage. Dealing damage in any form to him awards you with credit for his death if you are alive at the time of his death.

The Horseless Headless Horsemann has a base health of 3000, increasing by 200 per player in the server, making his maximum possible health a massive 7800 (24-player server) or an even higher 9400 (32-player server). The horseman spawns every 8 minutes (plus or minus 1 minute). He will not spawn if there are under 10 players in the server (meaning the minimum health would be 5000).

== Strategy ==
[[File:Horseless_Headless_Horseman_HP_Chart.png|250px|right|thumb|Damage graph showing the number of players, vs. health of the Horsemann.]]
*One basic strategy is for whoever is "It" to retreat from the Horsemann while all other players inflict damage upon him.
*If it's in you and your team's best interests, have a Scout who is "It" flee while the Horsemann pursues him near your team's spawn room. If not, then lure the Horsemann towards the enemy team's spawn room to provide a distraction.
*A Scout can keep the Horsemann running back and forth at the Control Point nearest to Red team's spawn by jumping over the bottomless pits, and then jumping back over them when the Horsemann gets close.
*Playing as [[Scout]] while "It" allows you to dodge the Horsemann's attacks and pursuits due to your agility and ability to double/triple jump. As a [[Demoman]] using the [[Chargin' Targe]], it is also possible to outrun him by charging repeatedly in a single direction across open ground.
*The Horsemann is unable to reach you while you are standing on the roof of the building near the second control point. You can safely deal damage to him from there without putting yourself in harm's way.
*The [[Spy]]'s [[Backstab]] takes away 1000 of his health (you will draw aggro instantly); with five to ten backstabs, he will fall. However, try to be careful, as Spies are ill-equipped to attack him unless he's distracted; even with a [[Dead ringer]] HHH's hit will kill you.
*Using the Pyro against the Horseless Headless Horsemann is not recommended. Not only does the Horsemann not suffer afterburn damage, but the short effective range of the Pyro makes attacking head-on a very deadly prospect. However, using the Backburner while he is distracted will still take him down quickly.
*Using the [[Scottish Resistance]], the [[Demoman]] can deal a considerable amount of damage with multiple stickybombs. Use the increased firing rate of the Scottish Resistance to your advantage.
*As the Engineer, [[Sentry Gun]]s will not automatically target the Horsemann. You can use the [[Wrangler]] to slow down the Horsemann. Although the knockback effect of the Sentry doesn't work, the Sentry can still hurt him.
*As a [[Scout]] you can use Bonk! Atomic Punch if you are "it" to distract the Horsemann to aid your team although this would run out over time so caution is advised.
*The Horsemann has a specific search radius around the active control point.  It is possible to stop him chasing you by running away from the control point and evading him until he loses interest in you.  This will cause him to attack someone else, or if there is nobody in his search radius, to run back and stand upon the control point to await more victims.
*The control points are still active while The Horsemann is out.  Use this time to take control of the point while the enemy is distracted!
*A strategy regarding RED on C is stay as close to spawn as possible and retreat into the spawn as soon as a player on said team is 'IT'; this way, the HHH will spend most of the time chasing BLU, thus defending your point. This strategy works great with Sentry Guns aiming at the point.

==Related Achievements==
{{Achievement table
| {{Show achievement|Halloween|Sleepy Holl0wnd}}
| {{Show achievement|Halloween|Gored!}}
}}

== Trivia ==
*The Horseless Headless Horsemann is a parody of the Headless Horseman from the story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving.
*A belt identical to The Horsemann's is attached to the [[Ghastlier Gibus]].
*The Horseless Headless Horsemann's mechanics are similar to a community made mod called [[VS Saxton Hale Mod|VS. Saxton Hale]], in which everyone is on [[RED]] except [[Saxton Hale]], who is able to instantly kill anybody with a single hit, as well as startle groups of enemies.
*The Horsemann appears to use 2 different Demoman animations, specifically, the [[Bottle]] animations when turning around on the spot to attack his next target and majority of the [[Eyelander]] animations for his attacks and movement.
*The Horsemann appears to be completely immune to most, if not all, status ailments such as being coated in [[Jarate]], [[Mad Milk]], afterburn, [[Natascha]] slowdown, [[Sandman|The Sandman's]] ball, knockback, and [[headshots]]. It is unknown if the Horsemann is unaffected by damage rampup and falloff or [[Critical hits]] like Engineer buildings or not.
*Dealing damage to the Horsemann as a Soldier with the [[Buff Banner]] equipped will not add to the player's Rage Meter.
*The Horsemann will not cause damage notifications to show up on any player's screen (the same applies with the hit sound).
*The Horsemann is purple and leaves a purple glow, perhaps referencing the fact that he is on neither RED or BLU and, therefore, targets both teams. Additionally, he leaves a trail of smoking purple footprints, allowing him to be easily tracked.
*By using the console command "ent_create headless_hatman", it's possible to spawn the Horseless Headless Horsemann in any map (requires cheats). However, like other bots, he won't move or attack unless the map has nav meshes.
*The Horsemann kill's count as enviromental deaths.  Therefore achievements such as Foul Territory for the Scout can be achieved by bonking some one about to be killed by the Horsemann.
*Even when it's extremely rare, the [[:Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker]] can crit.

== Demonstration ==
{{youtube|4cb2HG-6VlM}}

[[Category:Halloween]]