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 effect 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.

G.R.U. skull effect

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

In-game screenshot
Particle effects for teams RED and BLU.

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.

In-game screenshot
The healing particle emitted for RED players.
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 usually accompanied by a team-colored overlay on the weapon itself. It is also used on the Medi Gun and Kritzkrieg to indicate that a charge is ready to be deployed.

In-game screenshot of a weapon charged with critical hits.
In-game screenshot of a fully charged Medi Gun.
Spark sprite

Weapon effects

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

The Flamethrower fire effect sprite sheet.
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.

In-game screenshot.
The papers emitted from the Intelligence carrier.

Balloon effect

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

Birthday mode gibs
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.

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.

In-game screenshot
The sprite sheet used in the effect's spinning animation.

Genteel Pipe Smoke effect

The Genteel Pipe Smoke effect is attached only to the Lord Cockswain's Novelty Mutton Chops and Pipe, Outback Intellectual and Bubble Pipe.

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.

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).

In-game screenshot
The music note sprite.

Noise Maker effect

Main article: Noise Maker

The Noise Maker effect emits musical notes or ghost particles when used.

"Noise" particle effect.
"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.

In-game screenshot

Nemesis burst effect

Nemesis burst effect

Unusual effect

Other effects

Effect Particle 1 used during the burning of players.

In-game screenshot

Demonstration

Notes

Particle effects that are attached to an item will not be visible to the player wielding it in first-person view.
Miscellaneous items with particle effects can create multiple effect combinations

Bugs

A bug exists in the particle effect ID system. If a headgear has two effects assigned to it, the system will instead add the particle effect ID's together, creating the wrong effect. This was discovered by Self Made Outback Intellectual owners after the Australian Christmas 2011 Update. Community Sparkle (4) and Genteel Pipe Smoke (28) created Orbiting Planets (32).

The above bug extends to the Unusual Bubble Pipe which has no visible effect (not even Pipe smoke) under most conditions. Only some Unusual Bubble Pipe hats will show an effect because the addition gives a result that falls without the bounds of the ID list of current particles. These bugs will most likely be fixed in the near future.

Some clipping issues occur with certain effects when used in combination, with one effect showing in front and the other flickering in and out of view.