Particle effects

Particle effects are used frequently in Team Fortress 2 to serve as decorations or visual cues for both various in-game events and cosmetic purposes. Any particle effect can be attached to any item or model theoretically, however, some effects appear exclusively on items of a particular quality; for example, the Unusual effects only appear on items with the Unusual quality.

Status effects

Status effects are used to indicate a change in player state to other players. A common example would be the overheal particles emitted from an overhealed player or one that recently picked up a health kit.

Overheal effect

Main article: Overheal

When a player is overhealed by the Medic, the player will emit medical crosses. The Overheal effect is also emitted when injured players pick up Health kits. It is also used on the Medi Gun beam itself, as well as the trail of the Crusader's Crossbow.

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  In-game screenshot

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  The healing particle emitted for RED players.

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  The healing particle emitted for BLU players.

Critical spark effect

Main articles: Critical hits, ÜberCharge

The Critical spark effect is used to indicate that a player's weapon will deal critical damage. This is accompanied by a team-colored tint on the weapon itself. It is also used on the Medi Gun, Kritzkrieg and Quick-Fix to indicate that a charge is ready to be deployed.

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  In-game screenshot of a weapon charged with critical hits.

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  In-game screenshot of a fully charged Medi Gun.

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  Spark sprite

Weapons missing effect

Currently these weapons are missing the critical glow effect. This means the effect is either purely cosmetic, or it hides the visibility of the weapon being boosted, often confusing the weapon holder and enemies. As of now, the following weapons do not glow while crit boosted:

List of weapons with missing critical glow effect
Class	Slot	Item	Notes
Scout	Secondary		The glass.
		Mad Milk
	Melee		The baseball.
		Sandman
			The bauble.
		Wrap Assassin
Soldier	Primary		The entire item.
		Cow Mangler 5000
	Secondary		The backpack and flag.
		Battalion's Backup
		Buff Banner
		Concheror
		Festive Buff Banner
			The entire item.
		Gunboats
		Mantreads
Pyro	Primary		The nose.
		Festive Backburner
			The entire item.
		Rainblower
	Secondary
		Thermal Thruster
	Melee
		Festive Axtinguisher
		Lollichop
Demoman	Primary
		Ali Baba's Wee Booties
		Bootlegger
			The grenades.
		Iron Bomber
			The cannonballs.
		Loose Cannon
	Secondary		The shield, in third person.
		Chargin' Targe
			The entire item, apart from the cables.
		Festive Chargin' Targe
			The shield, in third person.
		Splendid Screen
		Tide Turner
	Melee		The ice.
		Festive Eyelander
Heavy	Secondary		The entire item, apart from the attached star.
		Festive Sandvich
	Melee		The diamonds.
		Apoco-Fists
			The entire item.
		Fists
		Holiday Punch
Engineer	Melee		The entire item, in third person.
		Golden Wrench
			The entire item.
		Gunslinger
	PDA 1
		Construction PDA
Medic	Primary		The glass.
		Syringe Gun
	Secondary		The backpack.
		Kritzkrieg
		Medi Gun
		Quick-Fix
		Vaccinator
	Melee		The bells on the side and the bow.
		Festive Bonesaw
Sniper	Secondary		The entire item.
		Cozy Camper
		Darwin's Danger Shield
			The glass and liquid.
		Festive Jarate
		Jarate
			The entire item.
		Razorback
Spy	Building
		Ap-Sap
		Red-Tape Recorder
	PDA 2
		Enthusiast's Timepiece
		Invis Watch
	PDA 1		The entire item, in third person.
		Disguise Kit
Multiple classes	Secondary		The entire item.
		B.A.S.E. Jumper
	Melee		The eagle.
		Freedom Staff
All classes	Melee		The entire item.
		Saxxy
	N/A		The heads, and parts that attach the heads to weapons.
		Botkiller weapons
			The lights and cables.
		Festive weapons

Burning Player effects

The Burning Player effects is used during the burning of players.

• 

  In-game screenshot

Marked For Death effects

The Marked For Death effects are used to indicate that the player is marked for death. A player that is marked for death receives Mini-Crits from all oncoming damage.

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  Icon displayed above a marked player.

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  HUD Icon displayed when 'marked for death'.

Weapon effects

Most non-hitscan weapons have particle effects. These include the Rocket Launcher and Flamethrower.

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  The Flamethrower fire effect sprite sheet.

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  The Rocket trail effect sprites.

Gameplay effects

Particles are used to indicate gameplay events.

Intelligence paper trail effect

While the Intelligence is being carried, it emits a stream of papers.

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  In-game screenshot.

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  The papers emitted from the Intelligence carrier.

Australium laundry trail effect

While the Australium is being carried, it emits a stream of boxer shorts and socks.

• In-game screenshot of Australium carrier particles.png

  In-game screenshot.

• Particle Boxers animated.png

  Boxer shorts with a heart motif emitted from the Australium carrier

• Particle Socks animated.png

  Socks with a checkered pattern emitted from the Australium carrier.

Balloon effect

While birthday mode is activated, players will spurt balloons instead of blood.

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  Birthday mode gibs

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  The balloon sprite emitted.

Decorative effects

Decorative effects are not used to indicate any gameplay changes and are used purely for aesthetics.

Holy glow effect

The holy glow effect is attached to the Cheater's Lament.

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  In-game screenshot

Community sparkle effect

The Community sparkle effect is attached to Community or Self-Made items.

• Selfmadedalokohs.png

  In-game screenshot

• Sparkle sprite.png

  Sparkle particle sprite

• Sparkle sprite2.png

  Sparkle particle sprite

Treasure Hat effect

Main article: Treasure Hat

There is no known localized name for the Treasure Hat effect, but it is attached as a new particle system defined as "coin_spin". The particles from this effect are influenced by the movement of the wearer and will only be emitted when the player is in motion.

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  In-game screenshot

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  The sprite sheet used in the effect's spinning animation.

Genteel Smoke effect

The Genteel Smoke effect is attached to the Lord Cockswain's Novelty Mutton Chops and Pipe, Soldier's Sparkplug, Soldier's Stogie, Backpack Broiler, Bubble Pipe, Waxy Wayfinder, Aladdin's Private Reserve, Bearded Bombardier, Nine-Pipe Problem, Steam Pipe, Outback Intellectual and the Gentle Munitionne of Leisure. The Spy also has a thinner version of this while undisguised.

• Genteel Pipe Smoke.png

  In-game screenshot

Map Stamps effect

Main article: Map Stamps

The map stamps effect is attached to the World Traveler's Hat. These render similarly to the purple and green Unusual confetti effects, but use stamp sprites instead. Like the Treasure Hat, the effect is influenced by the movement of the wearer and will only be emitted when the player is in motion.

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  In-game screenshot

• Stamp sprites.png

  The sprite sheet used for the effect's spinning animation.

Musical notes effect

The musical notes effect is attached to the Earbuds and Noise Maker (see below section).

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  In-game screenshot

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  The music note sprite.

Noise Maker effect

Main article: Noise Maker

The Noise Maker effect emits musical notes or ghost particles when used. Noise maker particles are colored to distinguish them from Earbuds.

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  "Noise" particle effect.

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  "Noise" particle effect.

Flying bits effect

Intended to be used for rendering flames on gibs, the flying bits effect is also attached to certain Valve weapons.

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  In-game screenshot

Nemesis burst effect

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  Nemesis burst effect

Unusual effects

See also: Unusual

Unusual effects are attached to Unusual quality items. The first fourteen effects ("1st generation") were added to the game with the Mann-Conomy Update in 2010. Eight more unusual effects ("2nd generation") were added with the August 18, 2011 Patch, and seven more ("3rd generation") were later added with the June 19, 2013 Patch. Ten more unusual effects were added with the Robotic Boogaloo update in 2013, these effects can only be obtained through opening a RoboCrate. Four unusual taunt effects were released with the Love & War Update in June 2014, prompting the first series of Taunt effects, available only from the Mann Co. Director's Cut Reel and Mann Co. Audition Reel. Four more unusual effects were later added with the End of the Line Update in 2014, these effects can only be obtained through opening an End of the Line Community Crate.

Four Halloween-only unusual effects were added with the Very Scary Halloween Special in 2011, another five with the Spectral Halloween Special in 2012, another eight as part of the Scream Fortress 2013 (as an undocumented change in the October 29, 2013 Patch) update, and another eight (two of which are Taunt effects) as part of the Scream Fortress 2014 update. Those can only be obtained during Halloween events, but from any crate that can be opened (including RoboCrates during that time window).

The different particle effects are viewable in this animation, as well as in this video.

In chronological order:

1st Generation Effects (2010)

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  Green Confetti

• Unusual purple Confetti.png

  Purple Confetti

• Unusual Ghost.png

  Haunted Ghosts

• Unusual green energy glow.png

  Green Energy

• Unusual purple energy.png

  Purple Energy

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  Circling TF Logo

• Unusual Flies.png

  Massed Flies

• Unusual Chieftain's Challenge normal burning fire effect.png

  Burning Flames

• Unusual Green Flame Effect.png

  Scorching Flames

• Unusual plasma effect 2.png

  Searing Plasma

• Vivid Plasma.png

  Vivid Plasma

• Unusual sunbeam.png

  Sunbeams

• Unusual Peace.png

  Circling Peace Sign

• Unusual Heart Effect.png

  Circling Heart

2nd Generation Effects (2011)

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  Bubbling

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  Steaming

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  Orbiting Fire

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  Orbiting Planets

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  Nuts n' Bolts

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  Smoking

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  Stormy Storm

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  Blizzardy Storm

Very Scary Halloween Special (2011)

• Unusual Cloudy Full Moon.png

  Cloudy Moon

• Unusual Orbiting Dark Fire.png

  Eerie Orbiting Fire

• Unusual Orbiting Jack O' Lantern.png

  Flaming Lantern

• Unusual Green Bubbles.png

  Cauldron Bubbles

Spectral Halloween Special (2012)

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  Knifestorm

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  Misty Skull

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  Harvest Moon

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  It's A Secret To Everybody

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  Stormy 13th Hour

Robotic Boogaloo (2013)

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  Phosphorous

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  Sulphurous

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  Memory Leak

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  Overclocked

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  Electrostatic

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  Power Surge

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  Anti-Freeze

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  Time Warp

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  Green Black Hole

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  Roboactive

3rd Generation Effects (2013)

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  Aces High (RED)

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  Aces High (BLU)

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  Cloud 9

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  Dead Presidents

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  Disco Beat Down

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  Kill-a-Watt

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  Miami Nights

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  Terror-Watt

Scream Fortress 2013

• Unusual arcana.png

  Arcana

• Unusual chiropteraveneta.png

  Chiroptera Venenata

• Unusual darkblaze.png

  Darkblaze

• Unusual demonflame.png

  Demonflame

• Unusual hellfire.png

  Hellfire

• Unusual poisonedshadows.png

  Poisoned Shadows

• Unusual somethingburningthiswaycomes.png

  Something Burning This Way Comes

• Unusual spellbound.png

  Spellbound

Love & War (2014)

• Unusual Taunt '72.png

  '72

• Unusual Taunt Fountain of Delight.png

  Fountain of Delight

• Unusual Taunt Holy Grail.png

  Holy Grail

• Unusual Taunt Mega Strike.png

  Mega Strike

• Unusual Taunt Midnight Whirlwind.png

  Midnight Whirlwind

• Unusual Taunt Screaming Tiger.png

  Screaming Tiger

• Unusual Taunt Showstopper RED.png

  Showstopper (RED)

• Unusual Taunt Showstopper BLU.png

  Showstopper (BLU)

• Unusual Taunt Skill Gotten Gains.png

  Skill Gotten Gains

Scream Fortress 2014

• Unusual Amaranthine.jpg

  Amaranthine

• Unusual Bonzo The All-Gnawing.jpg

  Bonzo The All-Gnawing

• Unusual Ghastly Ghosts Jr.jpg

  Ghastly Ghosts Jr.

• Unusual Haunted Phantasm Jr.jpg

  Haunted Phantasm Jr.

• Unusual Stare From Beyond.jpg

  Stare From Beyond

• Unusual Ooze.jpg

  The Ooze

As well as the two Halloween-exclusive taunt effects:

• Unusual Ghastly Ghosts.jpg

  Ghastly Ghosts

• Unusual Haunted Phantasm.jpg

  Haunted Phantasm

End of the Line (2014)

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  Death at Dusk

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  Frostbite

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  Molten Mallard

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  Morning Glory

Unused effects

Unused Unusual effects

In addition to the unusual effects introduced in the Mann-Conomy Update, the following effects were added at the same time, and are unused.

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  'Beany green'

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  'Beany hearts'

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  'Beany target'

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  'Beany tf'

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  'Circling skull'

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  'Sparkles1'

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  'Sparkles2'

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  'Sparkles3'

• Fetti spray.png

  'Spray confetti'

The following unused unusual effects were introduced with the Very Scary Halloween Special, and are unused.

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  Orbiting Cloudy Full Moon

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  Orbiting Shells

The following unusual effect was introduced with the Spectral Halloween Special, and is unused.

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  Blood Rain

G.R.U. skull effect

The G.R.U. skull effect was emitted when the Gloves of Running Urgently were wielded by the player.

• 

  In-game screenshot

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  Particle effects for teams RED and BLU.

Rotating Birthday Cake

Currently Unused

• 

Update history

July 13, 2010 Patch

• Improved the performance of the critboost particle effect.

September 30, 2010 Patch (Mann-Conomy Update)

• Added effects: Green Confetti, Purple Confetti, Haunted Ghosts, Green Energy, Purple Energy, Circling TF Logo, Massed Flies, Burning Flames, Scorching Flames, Searing Plasma, Vivid Plasma, Sunbeams, Circling Peace Sign, and Circling Heart.
• [Undocumented] Added effect: G.R.U. skull.

December 7, 2010 Patch

• Added effect: Treasure Hat particle effect.

October 27, 2010 Patch (Scream Fortress Update)

• [Undocumented] Added effect: Marked For Death.

December 17, 2010 Patch (Australian Christmas)

• Added effect: Map Stamps particle effect.

August 18, 2011 Patch (Manno-Technology Bundle)

• [Undocumented] Added effects: Stormy Storm, Blizzardy Storm, Nuts n' Bolts, Orbiting Planets, Orbiting Fire, Bubbling, Smoking, and Steaming.

August 23, 2011 Patch

• Fixed the Sunbeams effect.

October 27, 2011 Patch (Very Scary Halloween Special)

• [Undocumented] Added effects: Cloudy Moon, Orbiting Cloudy Full Moon, Eerie Orbiting Fire, Flaming Lantern, Orbiting Shells, and Cauldron Bubbles.

June 11, 2012 Patch

• Fixed a rare case where the offensive/defensive buff particle effects could get stuck on players.

June 27, 2012 Patch

• Fixed cases where some clients didn't receive broadcasts about long continuous particle effects being started or stopped.

June 28, 2012 Patch

• Fixed missing DX8 particle effects.

October 26, 2012 Patch (Spectral Halloween Special)

• [Undocumented] Added effects: Knifestorm, Misty Skull, Harvest Moon, It's A Secret To Everybody, and Stormy 13th Hour.

February 14, 2013 Patch

• Increased the particle limit.

May 17, 2013 Patch (Robotic Boogaloo)

• [Undocumented] Added effects: Anti-Freeze, Electrostatic, Green Black Hole, Memory Leak, Overclocked, Phosphorous, Power Surge, Roboactive, Suplurous, and Time Warp.

June 5, 2013 Patch

• Attachment point and offset for particle effects on unusual hats can now be adjusted from the character loadout screen.
• Fixed a bug that would cause unusual effects to float in the air over dead players.
• Fixed a bug that would cause unusual effects to show incorrectly sometimes when spectating other players.

June 19, 2013 Patch

• [Undocumented] Added effects: Aces High, Cloud 9, Dead Presidents, Disco Beatdown, Kill-a-Watt, Miami Nights, and Terror-Watt.

July 11, 2013 Patch

• Fixed Disco Beat Down unusual effect showing through walls.

September 3, 2013 Patch

• Removed showing the Marked For Death icon over the head of the local player.

October 29, 2013 Patch (Scream Fortress 2013)

• [Undocumented] Added effects: Arcana, Spellbound, Poisoned Shadows, Chiroptera Venenata, Hellfire, Something Burning This Way Comes, Darkblaze, and Demonflame.

July 30, 2014 Patch

• Fixed a bug related to orphaned marked for death particles.

June 18, 2014 Patch (Love & War Update)

• [Undocumented] Added Taunt effects: '72, Fountain of Delight, Holy Grail, Mega Strike, Midnight Whirlwind, Screaming Tiger, Showstopper, Skill Gotten Gains.

October 29, 2014 Patch (Scream Fortress 2014)

• [Undocumented] Added Amaranthine, Bonzo The All-Gnawing, Ghastly Ghosts, Ghastly Ghosts Jr., Haunted Phantasm, Haunted Phantasm Jr., Stare From Beyond, and The Ooze unusual effects.

December 8, 2014 Patch (End of the Line Update)

• [Undocumented] Added Death at Dusk, Frostbite, Molten Mallard and Morning Glory unusual effects.

January 30, 2015 Patch

• Fixed a client crash related to the particle system.

February 11, 2015 Patch #1

• Added convar r_drawtracers_firstperson to disable the drawing of first person bullet tracer particles.

[Unknown Date]

• Added effect: Rotating Birthday Cake.

Bugs

• The Nuts n' Bolts particle effect has a visual problem. When circle strafing around a player, the Nuts n' Bolts appear to slow right down or even stop moving. This is much easier to detect if crouched.
• On certain graphics drivers, particles no longer appear to have a distinct bright glow. This applies on the medibeam, unusual effects and energy based weapons. It has also has been reported by DirectX 11 users.
• Upon death or disconnect, particle effects often stay in the spot the player was, fully animated.
• The 'Marked for Death' particle effect sometimes appears when the user is not marked for death.

Notes

• Particle effects that are attached to an item will not be visible to the player wielding it in first-person view, unless the player is using the cl_first_person_uses_world_model console variable.
• Cosmetic items with particle effects can create multiple effect combinations.
• Particle effects get hidden by Wheel of Fate big heads effect. However, if being watched as the head expands, the effect will be repositioned and be visually correct.

External links

• Particle System