Taunts

“

Yeah, why don't you come over and say that to my face, tough guy? Click to listen — The Scout's final words to an angry Heavy

”

Each class has its own series of taunts. These can be performed using default key: G, to bring up a small menu to select an action taunt, or press G again to perform the taunt for their weapon, for the PC, OS X, and Linux, for the Xbox 360, Right Bumper for the Sixense/Razer Hydra Motion Control and for the PS3, with most weapons possessing their own unique animation and dialog line(s), though some taunts may be shared between similar weapons. Several lines of dialog are chosen at semi-random during a taunt, with one line being chosen at random and every line after it following a specific order. Taunts are generally used for gloating purposes after killing an opponent, to celebrate a victory, provoke living opponents, or simply for comedic effect, and for the most part have no direct effect on gameplay. However, certain taunts have effects such as healing the player and his teammates, stunning, damaging, and usually killing opponents. Taunts that kill enemy players are known as "Attack taunts" or "Kill taunts". Several achievements also require the use of taunts. Although taunts can be used during humiliation and Stalemate, related achievements are not awarded. Caution should be exercised when performing a taunt; while a player performs a taunt, they are left vulnerable and the view shifts from first to third-person, leaving the player unable to act until the taunt is concluded (though Demomen are able to activate their Stickybombs while taunting).

Taunting cannot be performed underwater or while airborne. The effects of knockback will instantly cancel any taunt. All taunts, including Kill taunts, can be successfully performed while stunned.

A minority of weapons, such as the Engineer's PDAs, Jarate, and Sapper, all lack taunts. The Heavy's food and Scout's drinks function as both a consumable and taunt when activated, moving the player into a third-person view. While the Heavy's consumable taunts activate upon pressing the taunt key, the Scout's consumables only activate upon pressing the primary fire key. All weapons that have been released in "Community" updates do not have unique taunts, instead using a pre-existing taunt or nothing at all.

On servers with the variable tf_allow_taunt_switch set to 1, it is possible to switch weapons after pressing the key to taunt, but before the taunt animation actually plays. This results in a character performing the taunt for the weapon being used before pressing the taunt key, but holding the new weapon. This behavior was originally a glitch that was unintentionally "fixed" in the Mann-Conomy Update, and later made into a server side option at community request. Setting this variable to 2 results in the ability to switch weapons at any time during the taunt. With the variable set to 0, any attempt to switch weapons will result in the player instantaneously switching back to the weapon used for the taunt.

Taunts by class

• Scout taunts
• Soldier taunts
• Pyro taunts
• Demoman taunts
• Heavy taunts
• Engineer taunts
• Medic taunts
• Sniper taunts
• Spy taunts

Special taunts

Certain special taunts are also known as "Kill taunts" or "Taunt attacks", as they deal 400+ damage and have the potential to kill any opponent in a single hit (with the exception of Armageddon and Execution, which can only deal a maximum of 400 damage, and so are not powerful enough to kill a Heavy with maximum overheal).

Class	Kill Taunt	Kill Icons	Weapons	Damage	Duration	Details
Scout	Grand Slam		Sandman Atomizer	500 (Instant kill)	5 seconds	Sends the enemy flying Slowest kill taunt
Soldier	Grenade		Equalizer Escape Plan	500 (Instant kill)	4 seconds	6ft blast radius Kills player upon completion. Destroys buildings
		(Lumbricus Lid)
Pyro	Hadouken		Shotgun Flare Gun Detonator Reserve Shooter Manmelter	500 (Instant kill)	3 seconds	Kills with fire effect Can kill more than one opponent at once Slightly slower than Showdown Destroys buildings Knocks enemy back a few feet
	Armageddon		Rainblower	400 (damage halved for every subsequent enemy hit) 60 (afterburn)	5 seconds	Deals heavy damage with fire effect within 6ft radius Applies afterburn Slight knockback
		(Afterburn)
	Execution		Scorch Shot	400 (Close range) 15 (Medium to long range)	4 seconds	Deals heavy damage with fire effect at point blank or close range At longer ranges or on miss it will act like a normal flare Consumes ammo
Demoman	Barbarian Swing		Eyelander Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker Claidheamh Mòr Half-Zatoichi Persian Persuader Nessie's Nine Iron	500 (Instant kill)	5 seconds	Adds a head to the killer's head count when wielding the Eyelander, Nessie's Nine Iron, and the Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker. Counts as an honourable kill with the Half-Zatoichi and allows you to sheath the weapon
Heavy	High Noon		Fists Saxxy Apoco-Fists Holiday Punch	400-500 (Instant kill)	3 seconds	Has medium range and a wide bullet spread Fastest kill taunt
Engineer	Guitar Smash		Frontier Justice	500 (Instant kill)	4 seconds	Will smash the target's head in, so it appears their neck has been broken
	Arm Blender		Gunslinger	1 per hit (Stun, 14 fast hits) 500 (Instant kill)	4 seconds	Gibs the opponent if they were killed by the final blow, ragdolls if killed by the spinning
Medic	Uberslice		Ubersaw	1 (Swing, stun effect) 500 (Instant kill)	4 seconds approx	Initial stab has stun effect (1 damage, adds 25% to ÜberCharge meter), followed by the killing Ubersaw removal (adds 75% to ÜberCharge meter, 100% in whole)
Sniper	Arrow Stab		Huntsman Fortified Compound	None (Stab, stun effect) 500 (Instant kill)	4 seconds	Arrow stab with stun effect, followed by arrow removal, causing death Moving target may keep moving after stab for 0.1 seconds, allowing time to get out of the arrow removal radius Stun lasts longer than time it takes to complete taunt, making it possible to skew again if target dodges removal
Spy	Fencing		Knife Your Eternal Reward Conniver's Kunai Saxxy Big Earner Wanga Prick Black Rose	50 (Swings) 500 (Instant kill)	5 seconds	Two swings followed by a killing thrust Can kill more than one opponent in a single thrust Destroys buildings

Other taunts will grant the user and/or their teammates special abilities.

Class	Taunt Effects	Weapons	Duration	Details
Pyro	Mmmph	Phlogistinator	2 seconds	Fills all health, enables a primary weapon crit boost, and gives 75% damage resistance for the duration of the taunt, once Mmmph bar is full when the Phlogistinator is equipped. Can protect the user from Telefrag.
Heavy	Nomming	Sandvich Buffalo Steak Sandvich Dalokohs Bar Fishcake Robo-Sandvich	4.3 seconds	The Sandvich will gradually restore all health over the duration of the taunt (75 health each second, does not overheal), and will not trigger the cooldown if health is already full. The Buffalo Steak Sandvich restricts the user to their melee weapon, causes them to dish out Mini-crit attacks and take an additional 25% damage, and grants a 35% movement speed increase; this effect lasts 15 seconds, and has a cooldown that activates under the same conditions as the Sandvich. The Dalokohs Bar and Fishcake will grant the user an extra 50 health for 30 seconds and will heal 100 health (25 health each second). Unlike the other lunchbox items, it has no cooldown bar.
Engineer	Eureka Effect Taunt	Eureka Effect	2 seconds	Teleports player to teleporter exit or back to spawn and replenishes all health, metal, and ammo
Medic	Oktoberfest	Kritzkrieg	4 seconds	Heals player for 11 health
	Medicating Melody	Amputator	4 seconds	Heals nearby teammates

Action taunts

These are separate taunts that can be equipped in 8 different slots. Pressing G will bring up the taunt menu, allowing them to perform the taunt of their choice.

Taunt	Class	Duration	Details
Battin' a Thousand	Scout	Variable	When executed, the Scout spins his bat around, throws it in the air, and balances it on his hand.
Deep Fried Desire		Variable	When executed, the Scout takes out a bucket of fried chicken, takes a drumstick, then throws it away.
Fresh Brewed Victory	Soldier	Variable	When executed, the Soldier stands on a bag of coffee grounds and drinks from a coffee mug.
Party Trick	Pyro	Variable	When executed, the Pyro takes out a long balloon, ties it into a Balloonicorn, lights it with a small lighter, and laughs as it does a few flips in the air while burning..
Spent Well Spirits	Demoman	Variable	When executed, the Demoman bites the top off of a grenade, pours a bottle of whiskey and gunpowder from the grenade into his mouth, and spits the mixture out over a cigarette lighter, causing a small explosion.
Oblooterated		Variable	When executed, the Demoman takes out a case of beer, holds a bottle up, and cheers, as in Expiration Date.
Meet the Medic	Medic	5 seconds	When executed, the Medic strikes a heroic pose and glows as doves fly out from around him while a slight chant of "opera" music plays in the background.
Results Are In		Variable	When executed, the Medic takes out an X-ray sheet, examines it, then crumples it up and throws it away.
I See You	Sniper	Variable	When executed, the Sniper brings two fingers to his eyes, then points ahead.
Buy A Life	Spy	Variable	When executed, the Spy takes a wad of dollar bills out of his suit, counts a few, and tosses them in front of him.
Director's Vision	All classes	5 seconds	When executed, the player puts their arms out and forms a square with their fingers.
Schadenfreude		Variable	When executed, the player revels in the humiliation of their opponents.
High Five!		Variable	When executed, the player holds one hand up and waits indefinitely for a player to taunt in front of them. The two players will then high five and express enthusiasm.
Shred Alert		4 seconds	When executed, the player summons an electric guitar and plays an intense solo on it as flames and lightning spout from behind.
Conga		Variable	When executed, the player will indefinitely perform a dance while slowly walking forward. Other players will be able to join in by taunting near a dancing player. The player cannot stop slowly walking forward, but can turn with the keys used to strafe left and right.
Square Dance		Variable	When executed, the player begins dancing indefinitely, until another player taunts in front of them, at which point the two will perform a square dance.
Skullcracker		Variable	When executed, the player taps their head or helmet, and wait for another player to taunt in front of them, at which point the two will bash their heads together.
Flippin' Awesome		Variable	When executed, the player crouches and waits indefinitely for a player to taunt in front of them. The initiator will then help the receiver perform a backflip.
Rock, Paper, Scissors		Variable	When executed, the player puts forth a challenge to a game of rock, paper, scissors. When another player taunts in front of the initiator, the two players will then play against each other, with a random outcome. if the players are on opposing teams, the loser explodes.

Thriller taunt

During Halloween events, all classes can do the Thriller taunt, which references a dance move from the hit song "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. The taunt has a 60% random chance upon hitting the taunt button and will always activate if a player taunts with an item that possesses no taunt animation, e.g. Jarate or the Sapper. This taunt will not activate if a player taunts with an item that possesses a special taunt.

Notes

• All classes perform this taunt slightly differently; as an example, the Sniper will lift his feet up, the Demoman will look straight forward without moving his head, and the Pyro will stretch his fingers to two sides.

Related achievements

 Scout

Out of the Park Bat an enemy 25 meters.

 Soldier

Gore-a! Gore-a! Gore-a! Provide the enemy with a freezecam of you taunting over 3 of their body parts. Spray of Defeat Use a grenade to gib a player.

Worth a Thousand Words Provide the enemy with a freezecam of your 21 gun salute.

 Pyro

Dance Dance Immolation Kill 3 enemies while they're taunting. Got A Light? Ignite an enemy Spy while he's flicking a cigarette. Full Spectrum Warrior Ignite 3 enemy players using your Rainblower taunt.

Freezer Burn Provide enemies with freezecam shots of each of your taunts. OMGWTFBBQ Kill an enemy with a taunt.

 Demoman

Bloody Merry Provide an enemy player with a freeze cam of your smiling face. Second Eye Provide an enemy player with a freeze cam of you shaking your rump.

Scotch Tap Glory in the slaughter of your enemies using the Eyelander.

 Heavy

Konspicuous Konsumption Eat 100 sandviches. Show Trial Kill an enemy with a taunt.

Photostroika Provide an enemy with a freezecam shot of you taunting while invulnerable.

 Engineer

Six-String Stinger Provide an enemy player with a freeze cam of your guitar playing skills.

Honky Tonk Man Smash an enemy player's head in with your guitar.

 Medic

Autopsy Report Provide an enemy with a freezecam shot of you taunting above their ragdoll.

 Sniper

Be Polite Provide an enemy with a freezecam shot of you doffing your hat. The Last Wave Provide an enemy with a freezecam shot of you waving to them.

Shafted Stab an enemy with an arrow.

 Spy

For Your Eyes Only Provide an enemy with a freezecam shot of you flicking a cigarette onto their corpse.

The Man from P.U.N.C.T.U.R.E. Stab an enemy while fencing.

Replay achievements

Star of My Own Show Spend some time editing a replay. Reward: Director's Vision

Update history

November 20, 2007 Patch

• Fixed taunt exploit.

April 29, 2008 Patch (Gold Rush Update)

• [Undocumented] Added sounds to the Medic's melee taunt if he is using the Ubersaw.

June 19, 2008 Patch (Pyro Update)

• Hadouken taunt now kills people it hits.

July 8, 2008 Patch

• Fixed broken Medi Gun taunt.

August 19, 2008 Patch (A Heavy Update)

• [Undocumented] The Heavy's Showdown becomes a taunt attack.
• [Undocumented] Added a taunt used by the Killing Gloves of Boxing.

February 16, 2009 Patch

• Demoman's bottle taunt has received a 'burp' sound.

February 24, 2009 Patch (Scout Update)

• [Undocumented] Added Home Run taunt for the Sandman.

February 25, 2009 Patch

• Fixed the BONK!! particles appearing in the air when the bat's taunt kill is used on a target.

May 21, 2009 Patch (Sniper vs. Spy Update)

• Demomen can now detonate their stickies while taunting.
• Added a taunt for the Kritzkrieg, which also heals for 10 points.
• [Undocumented] The Spy's Fencing becomes a taunt attack.
• [Undocumented] Added Skewer taunt for the Huntsman.
• [Undocumented] Added "Spycrab" taunt to the Disguise Kit

June 25, 2009 Patch

• Fixed Dead Ringer damage reduction exploit involving Spy taunting.

August 31, 2009 Patch

• Fixed the Hadouken killing Scouts that had used Bonk! Atomic Punch when contacted.

September 15, 2009 Patch

• Eating a Sandvich using the taunt method now heals a Heavy to full health.

October 14, 2009 Patch

• Fixed being able to eat your Sandvich (via taunt) and drop it in the same frame.

October 29, 2009 Patch (Haunted Halloween Special)

• [Undocumented] Added Thriller taunt for all classes.

December 7, 2009 Patch

• Fixed the Heavy's fists being hidden while taunting.

December 17, 2009 Patch (WAR! Update)

• [Undocumented] Added taunts used by the Direct Hit, Equalizer and Eyelander.
• [Undocumented] Replaced the Soldier's Shotgun taunt with a 21 Gun Salute taunt. The previous taunt was given to the Buff Banner.
• [Undocumented] Added unused "Hi-five" taunts for the Soldier and Demoman.
• [Undocumented] Added unused "Bottle showoff" taunt for the Demoman.

December 18, 2009 Patch

• Fixed a server crash caused by the Demoman's taunt kill.

January 13, 2010 Patch

• Added Medic Ubersaw kill taunt.

July 8, 2010 Patch (Engineer Update)

• [Undocumented] Added taunts used by the Frontier Justice and Gunslinger.
• [Undocumented] Added unused "Hi-five" and "Guitar playing" taunts for the Engineer.

August 26, 2010 Patch

• Fixed the Lumbricus Lid not playing the correct sound during the Equalizer taunt.

September 30, 2010 Patch (Mann-Conomy Update)

• [Undocumented] Fixed taunt glitch involving switching weapons quickly.
• [Undocumented] Added unused "Hi-five" taunts for the Scout, Pyro, Heavy, Engineer, Medic, Sniper, and Spy.
• [Undocumented] Updated the "Hi-five" taunts of the Soldier and Demoman.
• [Undocumented] Removed the Engineer's "Hi-five" and "guitar playing" taunts from the game files.

November 19, 2010 Patch

• Added the original Ubersaw taunt to the Vita-Saw.

January 3, 2011 Patch

• Fixed an exploit causing the Amputator to heal teammates non-stop with the Medicating Melody taunt.

March 15, 2011 Patch

• Fixed the Soldier/Demoman taunts not working correctly when the Half-Zatoichi is the active weapon.

April 14, 2011 Patch (Hatless Update)

• [Undocumented] The Spinal Tap taunt now fills the ÜberCharge meter completely.

May 5, 2011 Patch (Replay Update)

• Added taunt: Director's Vision.
• [Undocumented] Added voice responses to the Kamikaze, Skewer, Oktoberfest, and Spinal Tap taunts.
• [Undocumented] Added the Engineer's "Hi-five" taunt back into the game files.
• [Undocumented] Added an unused "show" taunt for the Heavy.

June 3, 2011 Patch

• Added community contributed response rules to various taunts.
• [Undocumented] Added the Decapitation taunt to the Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker and Claidheamh Mòr.
• [Undocumented] Removed the Demoman's taunt from the Pain Train.

June 8, 2011 Patch

• [Undocumented] Added unused laughing taunt for the Soldier, Demoman, Heavy, Medic, and Sniper.

June 23, 2011 Patch (Über Update)

• Added taunts: Meet the Medic and Schadenfreude.
• [Undocumented] Added laughing taunts to the Scout, Pyro, Engineer, and Spy.

July 1, 2011 Patch

• [Undocumented] Added the Home Run taunt for the Atomizer.

July 20, 2011 Patch

• [Undocumented] Added the Cocksure taunt, used by the Cow Mangler 5000.
• [Undocumented] Added an unused "show" taunt for the Soldier.

July 22, 2011 Patch

• [Undocumented] The Soldier is no longer able to taunt while the Cow Mangler 5000 is charging.

August 23, 2011 Patch

• Fixed supply closets regenerating players while they are taunting.

October 13, 2011 Patch (Manniversary Update & Sale)

• Added taunt: High-five.
• Added "tf_allow_taunt_switch". Set to 0 for disallowed (default behavior), 1 for old bug behavior, or 2 to allow weapon switching any time during the taunt.
• Taunting with the Righteous Bison, Battalion's Backup, or the Saxxy now play the Buff Banner taunt
• Taunting with the Pain Train or the Saxxy as Demoman now plays the same taunt as the Grenade Launcher.
• Taunting with the Saxxy as Medic plays the Medi Gun taunt.
• Added a taunt for the Ullapool Caber ("Bottle showoff" taunt).

October 17, 2011 Patch

• Fixed high five taunts applying the wielded weapon's taunt effect.

November 2, 2011 Patch

• Added a taunt for the Tin Soldier set.

November 22, 2011 Patch

• Added a taunt for the FrankenHeavy set.

December 16, 2011 Patch

• Fixed a problem that would allow Pyro 'Mmmph' to activate in the air without taunting with the Phlogistinator.
• Fixed an exploit with The Eureka Effect's taunt where the effects could activate without taunting in high-lag situations.
• Fixed an exploit with the Phlogistinator where the effects could activate without taunting in high-lag situations.

June 27, 2012 Patch (Pyromania Update)

• Added the Armageddon taunt used by the Rainblower.
• Added the Execution taunt used by the Scorch Shot.

July 2, 2012 Patch

• Fixed an exploit where the Scorch Shot could fire its short range kill pellet at the very beginning of the taunt.

July 5, 2012 Patch

• Fixed the Armageddon taunt attacking players through walls.

September 6, 2012 Patch

• Fixed the Escape Plan not using the same taunt as the Equalizer.

December 20, 2012 Patch (Mecha Update)

• Added map stamp effect after a player taunts on a map they have donated towards.

January 8, 2013 Patch

• Fixed being able to cross into enemy spawn rooms using the high-five taunt.

February 18, 2013 Patch

• Added taunt: Shred Alert.

February 28, 2013 Patch

• Updated some of the animations for the Shred Alert taunt.
• Fixed a client crash when attempting to fire the flamethrower while coming out of a taunt.
• Fixed the Phlogistinator’s Mmmmph particle effect getting stuck on after performing a taunt.

November 6, 2013 Patch

• Fixed taunts with a special purpose being overridden by the Halloween taunt.

December 20, 2013 Patch

• The Beggar's Bazooka has been updated to use the same taunt as the Direct Hit.
• Fixed an exploit where players could move around while using a taunt to attack enemies
• Fixed an exploit related to the Rocket Jumper and the Soldier's grenade taunt
• Fixed Taunt Kills Strange scores not incrementing properly for the Strange Scorch Shot

January 23, 2014 Patch

• Fixed the Meet the Medic taunt not releasing doves during the taunt
• Updated the Short Circuit to use the Engineer's melee taunt
• Updated the Scotsman's Skullcutter to use the Demoman's secondary taunt
• [Undocumented] Added unused "dosido" taunt animations for the Heavy and the Spy.
• [Undocumented] Added unused "buy a life" taunt animations for the Spy.

February 11, 2014 Patch #1

• Fixed taunts not previewing in the character loadout screen after being equipped.
• Fixed the High-Five! taunt not hiding the Engineer's weapon.

June 11, 2014 Patch

• [Undocumented] Added localization strings for a currently unused taunt slot and in-game taunt HUD.
• [Undocumented] Updated the backpack icons for the Director's Vision, Meet the Medic, Schadenfreude, High Five! and Shred Alert taunts.
• [Undocumented] Added a prompt above players in the High Five! taunt pose.
• [Undocumented] Taunts that were push-to-hold are now toggles. Pressing the action key once will let the player hold their pose until the action key is pressed again
• [Undocumented] Moved the Director's Vision from the Action slot to the Taunt slot.
• [Undocumented] Added console commands tf_taunt_move_forward_speed, tf_allow_sliding_taunt, eureka_teleport and taunt_by_name.
• [Undocumented] Fixed a bug that let players move while taunting.

June 11, 2014 Patch #2

• Fixed not being able to equip The Director's Vision taunt in the Action slot.

June 18, 2014 Patch

• Mann Co. Store
  • Added 15 new taunts and a taunt bundle.
• Items
  • Added the Mann Co. Audition Reel. Contains taunts and a rare chance at an unusual taunt.
• Bug Fixes
  • Fixed The Director's Vision taunt not playing both variations for the Pyro.

Bugs

• Some kill taunts are affected by random damage spread and have a chance of not dealing 450+ damage, meaning an overhealed Heavy has a possibility of surviving a Kill taunt.
• Occasionally, a player may reload their active weapon while taunting, in cases where the weapon automatically reloads (such as if auto-reload is enabled or if the weapon's clip is empty).
• If the server variable tf_allow_taunt_switch is set to 1 or 2, the effects of lunchbox items are not applied to the player if they are activated by taunting, as the game automatically switches the player's weapons during the consumption animation instead of after the animation has completed. However, the item is considered "consumed" and the player must wait for it to recharge before using it again.
  • Using primary fire to consume such an item does not cause this to occur.
• It is sometimes possible to perform a kill taunt while the player's model is facing the opposite direction. This can be done by quickly turning before performing a taunt; the player's model will be facing one direction, while the kill taunt's effects occur in a different direction.
• If a taunt is done and the taunter is killed while performing it, the sounds and effects that are made may continue to play even if the player is dead.
• If a player without the Conga taunt plays the taunt via another player into a wall, the player without the taunt will continue to taunt until they are killed.

Trivia

• If a player enables tf_allow_taunt_switch 2 on a server, then taunts with any Pyro weapon and switch to the Rainblower while taunting, the Pyro will, instead of the Rainblower itself, have a bubble wand in his hand.
  • This is because the Pyro uses what he sees as a bubble wand during the Armageddon taunt.

See also

• Responses
• Voice commands