Heads-up display

“

Yo, heads up! Click to listen — The Scout being clever

”

The Heads-up display or HUD, is a system for quickly relaying important information to the player and is an integral part of Team Fortress 2 gameplay. A minimal version of the HUD can be enabled in Advanced multiplayer options or through the console command cl_hud_minmode 1. Players can also modify the game's HUD files to suit their preferences (see HUD modification).

The HUD in Capture the Flag after picking up the RED team's intelligence.

Comparison between normal and minimal HUDs on a Payload map (click to animate).

General HUD Display

The appearance of the health meter when overhealed to 260 health on a Demoman.

The appearance of the health meter when on 15 health on a Demoman.

Intel arrows and score.

Bottom left corner

• The player's health (white cross extends beyond borders if overhealed and turns red if low enough).
• The player's current class.
• Text chat and server notifications.
• Current Killstreaks, if a killstreak weapon is equipped.
• Mann vs. Machine mode - The player's current credit total and the number of Credits on the field.
• Player Destruction Mode - The player's current scoring pickup total. A gold star indicates team leader status.
• With Spellbook Magazine, Fancy Spellbook, or Fireproof Secret Diary equipped during a Halloween Event - Current spell equipped.
• When the Wheel of Fate is active - Current effect.
• When in a bumper car match - The player's damage and boost gauges, in place of health.

Some Halloween-specific HUD elements, showing bumper car damage/boost and any equipped spells.

Bottom center

• Capture the Flag Mode – The locations and status of the Intelligence briefcase of the BLU and RED teams (depicted by a rotating arrow, and one of three status indicators: dropped, taken, and secure) and the current score.
• Control Point, Arena, Territorial Control, and King of the Hill Modes – The status of the control points on the map (untaken, neutral, capturing, or locked).
• Payload and Payload Race Modes – Progression of cart, cart idle timer, cart reverse indicator, the status of checkpoints, and slopes.
• Special Delivery Mode - The location, status, and current owner of the briefcase.
• Mann vs. Machine mode - The position of the bomb or bomb carrier, as well as bomb carrier buffs.
• Player Destruction Mode - The timer for the contested delivery point.
• Robot Destruction Mode - The locations and status of the Reactor Cores.
• Versus Saxton Hale Mode - The amount of damage done to Saxton Hale, as well as number of Mercenaries remaining.

Player's HUD death icon, seen briefly in place of the health number when the player dies.

Bottom right corner

• The player's ammo (Currently loaded/total rounds carried).
• Voice chat (Displays along with the player's name in the middle right to show when they are using voice chat).
• Rechargeables (Any additional projectiles or items that recharge or charge like the Sandman or the Buff Banner).
• Mann vs. Machine mode - (Available charges for an equipped Power Up Canteen and its buff type).
• When playing as Saxton Hale in Versus Saxton Hale Mode - Saxton Hale's abilities.

Top of screen

• The time left in the match (accompanied by a small circular timer).
• Kill reporter (With names and kill icons showing method of death, as well as objectives captured/defended).
• Mann vs. Machine mode - Robots remaining (gray bar) and current wave, as well as health of mini-bosses and tanks.
• While MONOCULUS is present - MONOCULUS' remaining health (blue bar).
• While Merasmus is present - Merasmus' remaining health (blue bar normally, green bar if hiding).
• Versus Saxton Hale Mode - Saxton Hale's remaining health (yellow bar).

Other elements

• The player's crosshair - center of screen.
• Inventory select menu (displayed by pressing the weapon select key) – center right of screen.
• Player name and health – displayed by directing the view onto player. Will display the player's profile picture if they are a friend.
• Current equipped items of the player's teammate (displayed by pressing F while looking at a teammate) – lower right of screen (pressing F again scrolls through the list of items).
• Amount of damage dealt or healed (combat text) – above target.

Scoreboard

Main article: Scoreboard

The scoreboard is a screen accessible with Tab ⇆ ( on the Xbox 360, on the PlayStation 3) or at the end of the round, before a map change. It displays player information, server name, team scores, duel score (if the player is running a duel), and so on. Information is given about each player including their Steam ID, what team they are on, how many points they have, and what class they are playing as (unless on the opposing team).

Class-specific elements

Elements listed below are located next to the ammo, in the bottom right corner of the screen (unless otherwise specified).

 Scout

• Ball meter for the Sandman ball and the Wrap Assassin bauble. Recharges after every launch.
• Drink meter for Bonk! Atomic Punch and Crit-a-Cola drinks. Recharges after every consumption.
• Jar meter for the Mad Milk and Mutated Milk. Recharges after every toss.
• Cleaver meter for the Flying Guillotine. Recharges after every toss.
• Hype meter for the Soda Popper. Fills up when causing damage to enemy players with any weapon.
• Boost meter for the Baby Face's Blaster. Fills up when causing damage to enemy players with any weapon.

 Soldier

Charge meter.

Heads counter.

Stickybomb counter.

Engineer's building panels.

Standard ÜberCharge meter.

Vaccinator's ÜberCharge meter.

The player's current disguise as a Demoman with the Loose Cannon.

An example of a player's loadout being shown on the 3D Character HUD.

• Rage meter for the Buff Banner, Battalion's Backup and Concheror. Fills up when causing damage to enemy players with any weapon.
• Mangler meter for the Cow Mangler 5000. Displays remaining projectiles, recharges on reload.
• Bison meter for the Righteous Bison. Displays remaining projectiles, recharges on reload.
• Mini-Crit, shield or healing icon when under the effect of the Buff Banner, Battalion's Backup or Concheror respectively. Displayed above the player's health.
• Kills counter for the Air Strike. Increments on kill with the Air Strike. Value indicates the increase in clip size for the weapon.
• Parachute icon for the B.A.S.E. Jumper. Appears above the player's health when deployed.

 Pyro

• Mmmph meter for the Phlogistinator. Fills up when causing fire damage to enemy players.
• Gas meter for the Gas Passer. Fills up over time or when dealing damage to enemy players.
• Crits counter for the Manmelter. Value indicates the number of guaranteed Critical hits stored on the weapon.
• Charges for the Thermal Thruster. Recharges after every launch. Also indicates whether the jetpack is active or not.

 Demoman

• Charge meter for the Stickybomb Launcher, Scottish Resistance, Quickiebomb Launcher, and Sticky Jumper. Holding the fire key fills the charge to lengthen the stickybomb's launch distance, automatically firing when a full charge is reached.
• Fuse meter for the Loose Cannon. Holding the fire key depletes the cannonball's fuse time, automatically firing when the meter is emptied, causing self-damage.
• Charge meter for the Chargin' Targe, Splendid Screen and Tide Turner. Recharges after every charge.
• Number of placed stickybombs for the Stickybomb Launcher/Quickiebomb Launcher (max 8), Sticky Jumper (max 2), and Scottish Resistance (max 14).
• Heads counter for the Eyelander, Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker, and Nessie's Nine Iron. More heads contribute to more health and increased speed.
• Parachute icon for the B.A.S.E. Jumper. Appears above the player's health when deployed.

 Heavy

• Food meter for the Sandvich, Robo-Sandvich, Dalokohs Bar, Fishcake, Buffalo Steak Sandvich and Second Banana. Recharges after every consumption or drop.
• Mann vs. Machine mode - Rage meter for upgraded primary weapons. Pushes back robots on hit when activated.

 Engineer

• Metal counter. Depletes when constructing and fixing buildings, refills when picking up ammo or touching a resupply locker.
• Pomson meter for the Pomson 6000. Displays remaining projectiles, recharges on reload.
• Revenge counter for the Frontier Justice. Value indicates the number of guaranteed revenge criticals stored on the weapon.
• Building panels, displayed on the top left corner.
  • Sentry Gun panel: health, level, number of kills, number of assists (in parenthesis), bullet ammo, rocket ammo/upgrade meter and whether or not the turret is being sapped or is in need of repair.
  • Dispenser panel: health, level, metal stock, upgrade meter and whether or not the Dispenser is being sapped or is in need of repair.
  • Teleporter Entrance and Exit panels: health, level, number of times used/recharge meter (Entrance only), upgrade meter and whether or not your teleporter(s) are being sapped or are in need of repair.
  • Mann vs. Machine mode - Disposable Sentry Gun panel: health and bullet ammo.

 Medic

• Damage resistance icon for the Vaccinator. Displayed above the player's health.
• ÜberCharge progress meter. Shows the progress of the player's charge when healing teammates (or an enemy Spy) and flashes when it is fully charged. When the ÜberCharge is activated, the meter gradually depletes until it is empty.
• ÜberCharges for the Vaccinator. Shows the amount of charges left and the progress of one of the player's charges when healing teammates (or an enemy Spy). Also displays the damage resistance icon.
• Medic! calls – shown above any nearby friendly (or enemy Spy) players that call for medical assistance.
• Auto-Medic! calls have a slightly different appearance than those invoked by players themselves but serve the same general purpose. In the Advanced Options menu, the user can set the percentage threshold of health points at which other players automatically emit these beacons.
• Organs counter for the Vita-Saw. Higher organ count contributes to a higher ÜberCharge percentage retained on death.
• Mann vs. Machine Mode - Energy meter for upgraded secondary weapons. Deploys a Projectile Shield when activated.

 Sniper

• Shot charge for the Sniper Rifle, AWPer Hand, Sydney Sleeper, Bazaar Bargain, Machina, Shooting Star, Hitman's Heatmaker, and the Classic. Charge amount determines the damage output of the shot. Displayed to the right of the crosshair when scoped.
• Charge meter for the Huntsman and Fortified Compound. Holding the fire key fills the charge to increase the arrow's damage output.
• Razorback respawn meter. Recharges after it has been destroyed.
• Jar meter for the Jarate and Self-Aware Beauty Mark. Recharges after every toss.
• Heads counter for the Bazaar Bargain. Higher values contribute to a faster zoomed shot charge time.
• Focus meter for the Hitman's Heatmaker. Fills up with every kill or assist.
• Crikey meter for the Cleaner's Carbine. Fills up when causing damage to enemy players with the Cleaner's Carbine.

 Spy

• Current disguise with the disguising player's name, health and currently equipped weapon. Displayed on the bottom left corner of the screen.
• Cloak meter for the Invis Watch, Enthusiast's Timepiece, and Quäckenbirdt. Depletes when the cloak is active and recharges when the player is uncloaked.
• Motion meter for the Cloak and Dagger. Depletes when moving while motion is active and recharges when the player stops moving.
• Feign meter for the Dead Ringer. Depletes when feign is activated, then recharges over time.
• Knife meter for the Spy-cicle. Recharges when the weapon is destroyed by fire damage.
• Health of Sapper and currently sapped buildings. Displayed on the top left corner.
• Crits counter for the Diamondback. Value indicates the number of guaranteed Critical hits stored on the weapon.
• Cloaking visibility as indicated by the translucency of the class and disguise images. This option is only available when using class images instead of the 3D player model.
• Mann vs. Machine Mode - Recharge meter for Sapper, Ap-Sap, Snack Attack, and Red-Tape Recorder.

3D Player Model

When enabled, the player's current class is shown as a 3D model instead of a 2D image. The model shows what the player is currently wearing and the item they have equipped. This adds a benefit for Spies because a disguised Spy can see what the player they are disguised as looks like, making it easier for them to identify (and potentially avoid) other players they are disguised as.

This option can be enabled by going to the Advanced Options menu and selecting the option Use Player Model in Player Class HUD.

HUD modification

Team Fortress 2 allows players to modify their HUD from the default layout. Many community members have made modifications that are shared with the public, and many have become very popular. Reasons for using custom HUDs vary widely, but most agree that they are primarily to improve visibility of important information, e.g. health, ammo, Damage Text, or ÜberCharge meters, and move non-vital HUD panels aside. Most custom HUDs only modify the game visually, but some add custom buttons such as a Console button. Custom HUDs can also be used on servers with an sv_pure 1 setting.

• Note: Custom HUD modifications often break after major game updates, and for that reason are disabled when players next launch the game. If the current custom HUD is not displaying properly, check the website of the custom HUD for an update.

Installation

Each custom HUD contains different files and their correct destination may vary (see their individual documentation for exact locations). However, custom HUD modifications generally only modify files in two folders:

• /tf/resource
• /tf/scripts

After placing all files in their correct destinations, using hud_reloadscheme or restarting the game allows playing with the new HUD.

Often after using hud_reloadscheme when replacing or copying files from /tf/resource, the HUD bugs out and displays fonts and other items incorrectly, requiring a restart.

After editing clientscheme.res, the game requires a restart before changes take effect.

Update history

September 20, 2007 Patch

• Fixed crash on opening the scoreboard after having changed between windowed and fullscreen.

October 2, 2007 Patch

• Added "Minimal HUD" option to Options->Multiplayer.

October 8, 2007 Patch

• Team Goals panels stop appearing after you've played a map several times.

October 25, 2007 Patch

• Deathcam screenshots now move the player id panel to the lower right and hide other hud elements until the freezecam fades.
• Fixed scoreboard team scores label getting cut off.

November 7, 2007 Patch

• Freeze panel HUD improvements now trigger on usage of the "jpeg" command.

November 15, 2007 Patch

• Fixed a bug that would cause NULLNAME to be shown as the player's name in the scoreboard for a short time.

November 21, 2007 Patch

• Pass over spectator UI and scoreboard in SourceTV mode, disabled/changed some VGUI elements.

December 20, 2007 Patch

• Prevented players from hiding their name in the scoreboard.
• Tweaked achievement HUD fonts and color palette for more readability.

February 14, 2008 Patch

• Added a timer to the HUD to show the value of mp_timelimit. This is useful if you're playing a timed match on 2Fort, where you only set a time-limit on the server and no other win conditions.

March 6, 2008 Patch

• Fixed Setup timer not showing the correct percentage in the circular progress bar.

May 27, 2010 Patch

• Fixed the desktop resolution not appearing in the list of valid resolutions when using windowed-mode.

June 11, 2010 Patch

• Made the training HUD code more robust, so it doesn't crash if the client has modified HUD resource files.
• Fixed a potential crash in the HUD during startup.
• Disabled quickswitch UI in training to reduce confusion.

September 30, 2010 Patch (Mann-Conomy Update)

• [Undocumented] A green number now shows up by your health bar when you pick up health, similar to when hitting enemies with the Blutsauger.

February 3, 2011 Patch

• Fixed seeing a partial health bar in the upper left corner of the spectator menu.
• Fixed the control point progress bar not being aligned properly when using cl_hud_minmode 1.
• Changed default crosshair to be more opaque, like the custom crosshairs.
• Tournament mode HUD fixes
  • Fixed seeing an empty alert tray under the stopwatch timer.
  • Fixed a bug where the time for the tournament mode stopwatch wasn't being displayed.
  • Fixed the countdown when both teams are ready always reading "0 seconds".

March 11, 2011 Patch

• Fixed the decapitation counters not being displayed for some weapons.
• Fixed the revenge Crit label not being localized correctly.

April 20, 2011 Patch

• Fixed class names/descriptions not showing up on the class menu.

September 2, 2011 Patch

• Added a checkbox to the Advanced Options dialog that will hide the HUD during freezecam screenshots.

February 2, 2012 Patch

• Added "DamagedPlayer" animation event for the HUD, fired when the local player damages other players.

March 8, 2012 Patch

• Added hud_fastswitch to the Advanced Options dialog.

November 29, 2012 Patch

• Fixed some HUD clipping issues when using cl_hud_minmode.
• Fixed missing materials in the control point HUD on attack/defend maps.

December 21, 2012 Patch

• Fixed a client crash in the Medi Gun charge meter when using a custom HUD.

February 14, 2013 Patch

• Fixed a client crash related to the HUD control point maps.

February 28, 2013 Patch

• Updated a couple HUD panels to support team scores with more than two digits.

March 19, 2013 Patch

• Fixed a scoreboard bug where domination count was reduced by 2 when a dominated player left the server.

May 13, 2013 Patch

• Updated the Linux version
  • Made loading custom fonts for third party HUDs work on certain fonts.

June 6, 2013 Patch

• Fixed a client crash caused by using custom HUD files.

August 27, 2013 Patch #1

• The in-game player status panel has been updated to show an animated image of your character with their current loadout.

August 27, 2013 Patch #2

• Fixed a client crash caused by using custom HUD files.

August 28, 2013 Patch

• Fixed the HUD 3D Character causing other HUD items to sometimes disappear.
• Fixed a client HUD crash when Spies disguise as a class that has a non-active weapon like the Chargin' Targe.

September 3, 2013 Patch

• Fixed seeing stretched polygons in the HUD 3D Character.

October 10, 2013 Patch

• Fixed the Sandvich meter being drawn in the HUD when the Sandvich is not equipped.

April 1, 2014 Patch

• Fixed the Huntsman charge bar being misaligned.

June 11, 2014 Patch #1

• [Undocumented] Added teleport location HUD for Eureka Effect.
• [Undocumented] Added localization strings for a currently unused taunt slot and in-game taunt HUD.
• [Undocumented] Added a white line above the names of buildings on the Construction PDA menus.
• [Undocumented] Modified the Disguise Kit menu. It now has a Spy Mask icon in the upper-left corner and a white line above the class portraits.

June 11, 2014 Patch Patch #2

• Fixed the Engineer's build menu staying open after changing class.
• Updated the materials for The Eureka Effect HUD to support mat_picmip.

June 12, 2014 Patch

• Fixed a client crash related to the HUD weapon selection menu.

June 18, 2014 Patch (Love & War Update)

• Pressing the taunt key (default: G) in game now brings up the taunt selection menu.

July 8, 2014 Patch

• [Undocumented] Added HUD for Robot Destruction gamemode.

July 17, 2014 Patch

• The HUD for Robot Destruction gamemode has been reworked.
  • Inverted the layout to better represent the layout of the level.
  • Added progress bars to represent each team's score.
  • Potential point gains from stolen reactor cores are now visually represented on the score progress bars.
  • Thief icon now moves across the scoreboard relative to the thief's position in the level.
  • Updated thief icon to represent both the color of the power core stolen and the color of the thief's team.
• Added strings to the win panel that explain why the team won.

July 24, 2014 Patch

• Updated HUD layout for Robot Destruction gamemode.
• Fixed a client crash caused by using custom HUD files
• Fixed a client crash related to the CTF HUD.
• Fixed the CTF HUD not updating properly.

November 10, 2014 Patch

• Fixed a client crash caused by using custom HUD files.

January 9, 2015 Patch

• Fixed the grappling hook using the wrong icon in the HUD weapon selection menu.

January 15, 2015 Patch #1

• Fixed an exploit related to the Sniper's scope HUD panel.

March 12, 2015 Patch

• Fixed the Killstreak icon not being positioned correctly in the HUD targetID panel.

December 18, 2015 Patch

• Fixed a client crash related to the HUD.

January 7, 2016 Patch

• Fixed objective names in death notice HUD using white text when the local player was involved.

March 28, 2018 Patch #1

• Fixed the Overtime label not being centered under the team status HUD.
• Updated the team status HUD to be enabled by default when playing on Community servers (for game modes other than Mann vs. Machine).
  • Can be toggled via the Adv. Options menu.

March 26, 2019 Patch

• Updated HUD with community fixes from CriticalFlaw.

June 21, 2022 Patch

• Fixed some HUD images being blurry when using low texture settings

October 18, 2022 Patch

• Fixed the match status HUD not being hidden during freezecam screenshots

December 15, 2023 Patch

• Fixed The Razorback not being displayed in the 3D HUD player model and the loadout preview (community fix from gidi30)
• Fixed the Engineer's Destruction PDA using the wrong animation in the 3D HUD player model (community fix from gidi30)

July 18, 2024 Patch

• Fixed CTF HUD being visible when no flags are present (Community fix from fellen)

Bugs

• After switching teams, HUD panels may appear incorrectly colored, with a player on BLU having a RED HUD (but not vice-versa). This can be fixed by opening and closing the Advanced Options or by the console command hud_reloadscheme.
  • A similar bug can occur with the buildings panel, in which the panels of buildings left at the end of the previous round do not get greyed out after a team switch. Bringing out the relevant building's blueprint fixes this.
• The HUD may load incorrectly if the game window is not in focus when the map is loaded. The console command hud_reloadscheme can be used to fix this.
• Inspecting another friendly player can occasionally cause the bottom right corner of the HUD to disappear after no longer inspecting them. This can be fixed by inspecting a player again.
• Changing loadout from Chargin' Targe or Splendid Screen to Stickybomb Launcher, Scottish Resistance, Sticky Jumper or using the command hud_reloadscheme may result in the HUD displaying "%A" or a blank instead of the number of stickies. This is fixed by dying or placing new stickies.
• When choosing another class and respawning, a RED Scout and "%HEALTH" are shortly seen on the HUD instead of the current health.
• The "Overtime" text can conflict with the text showing server time remaining, should the option be enabled.
• The Diamondback Crits counter overlaps the Spy's cloak meter when the minimal HUD option is enabled.
• The Righteous Bison's ammo meter overlaps the Air Strike's "kills" counter when the minimal HUD option is enabled.
• The Air Strike's "kills" counter overlaps the "rage" meter when the minimal HUD option is enabled.
• The cash counter in Mann vs. Machine overlaps the player's killstreak counter and current disguise panel.
• The canteen counter in Mann vs. Machine overlaps the panel used for the Thermal Thruster.
• When equipping another primary weapon after equipping the Dragon's Fury and touching a resupply cabinet, a "Pressure" meter appears in the bottom right corner.
• When the "Use player model in class HUD" option is in use:
  • The 3D HUD icon displays the player's selected loadout rather than their current loadout, which can lead to inconsistencies if they have not yet respawned or visited a resupply locker.
  • Some items that affect the appearance of the character while inactive, such as the Buff Banner and Battalion's Backup backpacks, do not display unless they are active.
  • Dying holding one weapon and respawning holding another may cause the display to continue showing the first weapon until any weapon switch is made.
  • Disguised Spies who change their disguise weapon to a default Shotgun do not see the HUD update.
  • Disguised Spies may see a taunt animation instead of their selected disguise weapon in some cases (an example of this is with the Chargin' Targe). The animation loops and plays any associated sounds.

See also

• Main menu
• System messages
• Mechanics
• Health
• Ammo
• Scripting

External links

• Flame's HUD Guide (PDF) – a starter's guide to modifying the HUD.
• Comfig huds, a collection of HUDs created after HUDS.tf shut down.