Backburner

“

Mmmmmmmrrrrrrrpppghhh! Click to listen — The Pyro on rump roasting

”

The Backburner is an unlockable primary weapon for the Pyro class. It appears as the default Flamethrower, with the addition of a dragon-shaped nozzle.

The configuration of the weapon is such that the compression blast capability and the chance for random Crits have been removed. Instead, the Backburner is guaranteed Critical hits whenever used on an opponent from behind. Additionally, the weapon will deal 15% more damage than the normal Flamethrower. The area behind an enemy that will register Critical hits for the weapon is approximately a 45 degree angle centered behind where the opponent is facing. This is significantly less than the Spy's backstab range, which appears to be any angle in the 180 degrees behind where a player is looking.

In order for players to be able to use the situational Critical hits advantage effectively, they must utilise the Pyro's ability as an ambush class.

Damage

• Base damage is based upon range (or, by extension, particle lifetime), and is rounded at the end of all calculations (after Critical multipliers, et cetera).
  • From 0 to 200 units: 7.13 per particle (160.4 per second).
  • From 200 to 384 units: linear decrease from 7.13 to 4.28 per particle (96.3 per second, 60% of max) (384 is maximum range)
    • There is very slight variability (±0.08 per particle) because some particles are at an angle, slightly varying their travel time.
• Afterburn damage: 3 damage every 0.5 seconds for 10 seconds (60 damage total)
  • Mini-Crit afterburn damage: 4 damage every 0.5 seconds for 10 seconds (80 damage total)
• Mini-Crit: 1.35× base damage, then round to nearest whole
• Critical hit: 3× base damage, then round to nearest whole
  • DPS at <200 units: 472.5

Note: Damage-Per-Second values assume all particles find victims.

Base damage changes over particle lifetime, instead of distance from player (all other weapons affected by distance measure from player to player). Damages are approximate and determined by community testing.

Function times

• Attack Interval: 0.04
• Ammo Consumption Interval: 0.08

All times are in seconds. Times are approximate and determined by community testing.

Recent Changes

• The Backburner was added to the game as part of the Pyro Update. On a later day, the 50% max health advantage was removed in the interests of balance.
• On the August 19, 2008 Patch, unique firing sounds were given to the weapon in order to allow it to be distinguished from the regular Flamethrower.
• During the April 29, 2010 Patch and May 19, 2010 Patch, the Backburner was reconfigured along with the Pyro class itself. Originally the weapon was given a 20% damage bonus in the initial patch. This was lowered to 15% in the later patch, as the base damage was increased by 10% and afterburn duration was extended to 10 seconds.

Trivia

• The eye color of the nozzle alters depending on the Pyro's choice of team. RED turns the eyes white whilst BLU gives them a yellow-ish color.
• The Backburner lacks a unique kill-icon, instead sharing one with the Flamethrower.

Gallery

• Backburner 1st person red cropped.png

  RED 1st person view.

• 

  Full RED 1st person view.

• Backburner 1st person blu cropped.png

  BLU 1st person view.

• 

  Full BLU 1st person view.

See also

• Flamethrower
• Backburner Strategy
• Fire