Direct Hit

“

A high precision version of the standard-issue rocket launcher, the Direct Hit has been engineered from the ground up for Soldiers who have mastered the art of shooting at their targets instead of vaguely near them. — Direct Hit publicity blurb

”

The Direct Hit is the unlockable Primary weapon for the Soldier. It is a high-tech Rocket Launcher with a slimmer barrel, smaller exhaust port and is outfitted with a cosmetic scope.

Unlike the default Rocket Launcher, rockets fired by the Direct Hit travel at a rate of 1980 Hammer Units per second (roughly 84 mph), 80% faster than normal rockets. Additionally, the rockets inflict 25% more damage on their target, compared to conventional rockets. For precision marksmen, the Direct Hit also scores Mini-Crits on targets that are sent airborne by an explosion, adding additional damage and negating damage fall-off.

The splash area of the Direct Hit's shots is reduced to 30%, placing emphasis on players needing to score 'direct hits' on enemies in order to effectively damage them. The radius of the splash zones are roughly 40 Hammer units, or the width of an operational Teleporter. This tightened splash radius only applies to enemies, however, as the Soldier can successfully rocket jump and the radius is extended to equal the normal Rocket Launcher rockets.

Due to the Direct Hit's larger damage per hit and emphasis on hitting the target directly with rockets, it is best suited to slow moving and stationary targets with high health, especially Sentry Guns.

Damage

See also: Damage

The Direct Hit deals 25% more damage than the standard Rocket Launcher and inflicts Mini-Crits on targets that are sent airborne by an explosion. The exact figures are unknown.

• Base: 112
• Max Ramp Up: 125% (140 damage)
• Max Fall Off: 51% (57 damage)
• Mini-Crit: 151
• Critical hit: 338

Function times

• Attack Interval: 0.8
• Reload Base: 0.8
• Additional Reload: 0.92

Reload base is the time it takes to reload the first rocket. Additional reload is the time it takes to reload each rocket after the first. All times are in seconds. Times are approximate and determined by community testing.

Related Achievements

Death From Below Kill 10 opponents who are airborne with the Direct Hit.

As a Crafting Ingredient

Direct Hit		Reclaimed Metal		Black Box
	+		=

Previous Changes

December 18, 2009 Patch

• The weapon's short range damage curve is tweaked to match that of the standard Rocket Launcher.

December 22, 2009 Patch

• The weapon no longer scores Mini-Crits against enemies submerged in water.

Trivia

• The Direct Hit was definitely not involved in the tragic explosion of American monkeynaut Poopy Joe's capsule. Mann Co.'s subsequent desire to give away the weapon was for completely unrelated and innocent reasons. [1]
• There are 3 unused sounds for the Direct Hit's taunt in the game files: first, second, third. Why they are not used in-game is unknown.
• The Direct Hit was first glimpsed on Day 4 of the War update in two different locations. Its muzzle is visible behind Saxton Hale on Page 10 of the comic (though its proportions are slightly distorted), and it is visible on the Engineer's chalkboard on the newspaper.
• When reloading, the Soldier's hand will animate as if he's putting in rockets; however, the rockets are not seen. Despite this, the projectiles for the Direct Hit and the Rocket Launcher are both visually identical.
• Unlike the Rocket Launcher, the barrel is not actually hollow; players cannot look through the world model.
• The Direct Hit's polycount is larger than that of the Soldier's model.
• On the side of the scope, the Mann Co. logo can be seen, as this is a custom order product from Mann Co The Administrator ordered for the BLU Soldier to eradicate his friendship with the RED Demoman.

Gallery

• Direct Hit 1st person cropped.png

  1st person view.

• 

  Projectile.

See also

• Direct Hit strategy
• Rocket jump
• Juggling

External links

• The Soldier Update - Direct Hit