Horseless Headless Horsemann

“

This is my world! You are not welcome in my world! Click to listen — The Soldier on undead horseless horsemen

”

The Horseless Headless Horsemann is a neutral enemy in Mann Manor, released with the Scream Fortress update. The not-quite-dead form of 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). His attack power and other attributes (such as whether he takes critical damage) are currently unknown. However, one hit from his axe will instantly kill a player who is not under any invulnerability effects.

Players too close to the monstrosity when it makes a kill may be designated as "It", whereupon they become the primary target. Hitting an enemy with a melee attack makes them "It". 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 the target can pass on their status by smacking someone on the opposing team with their melee weapon.

If no one is IT, he will perform a "Boo" taunt. He crouches over arms spread wide, releasing a loud ghostly "BOO!" and scaring anyone in range (value currently unknown). 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 3000 lifepoints by default, increasing by 200 per player in the server, making his maximum possible health a massive 9400. The frequency of the Horsemann's spawning is possibly based on the number of players in the server, along with the Gift drop rate. He will not spawn if there are under 10 players in the server.

Strategy

• One basic strategy is for whoever is IT to kite the Horsemann around while Red and/or Blu deal damage to him.
• If it's in you and your team's best interest, have a Scout kite the Horsemann around close to your team's spawn.
• 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.
• The Horsemann is unable to reach you while you are standing on the roof of 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, with three backstabs, he will fall. However, try to be careful, as Spies are ill-equipped to attack him unless he's distracted.
• Using the Pyro against the Horseless Headless Horsemann is not recommended. Not only does he not suffer after-burn damage , but the close distance required for the Pyro to be effective makes it a very deadly prospect.
• Using the Scottish Resistance, the Demoman can deal a considerable amount of damage with multiple stickybombs. Use the extra firing time to your advantage.
• As the Engineer you can use the Wrangler to slow down the Horsemann, because it seems that Sentry Gun itself can't damage him enough (by doing so the Horsemann will immediately destroy your Sentry Gun).

Related Achievements

Sleepy Holl0WND Kill the Horseless Headless Horsemann. Reward: Horseless Headless Horsemann's Head

Gored! Collect the Horseless Headless Horsemann's Haunted Metal Scrap.

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. Where a blue team member would become Saxton Hale and be 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, Using the Bottle/Pain Train/Frying Pan animations when turning around on the spot to attack his next target and majority of the Eyelander/Scotsman's Skullcutter 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 stunball, explosive/airblast/Force-A-Nature knockback, and headshots. It is unknown if the Horsemann is unaffected by damage rampup and falloff like Engineer buildings or not.
• The Horsemann will not cause damage notifications to show up on any player's screen (the same applies with the hit sound).
• Sentry Guns will not automatically target the Horsemann.
• Whenever you are killed by the Horsemann, the freezecan will label him as the "Late" Horseless Headless Horsemann, no matter if he is "alive" (undead) or "dead" (for good).
• The Horseless Headless Horsemann event is very similar to the Hallow's End event in World of Warcraft, including the fighting of a Sleepy Hollow-inspired boss for loot, weapons, and pumpkin-shaped headwear.