Item drop system

“

Click to listen

— The Heavy

”

The item drop system is the process of item distribution within Team Fortress 2. It distributes a random item to players on a regular basis until a weekly time-cap is reached.

This system was first introduced with the Sniper vs. Spy Update to change distribution from being dependent upon achievements. Its purpose was to improve accessibility to the expanding quantity of items within the game, while negating the need to achievement farm (meaning to perform out of context actions to gain achievements) or use third-party tools to falsify the obtaining of achievements. However, this system created another way of farming to obtain new items called idling.

Current system

A graph displaying the relationship between time and number of drops.

A bar chart displaying the distribution of item drops per week.

The current item drop system was introduced on April 20, 2010.^[1] Players are guaranteed to find items at regular intervals of 30 to 70 minutes, with an average interval of 50 minutes.

The system has a cap on the amount of playtime in which drops can occur. This cap has been estimated to be 10 hours each week. Playing beyond the cap will not yield additional items^[2]. Mann Co. Supply Crates and other usable items drop on a separate timer, meaning that these items do not affect the interval between regular drops.^[3]^[4] The system resets each player's playtime cap every Thursday at approximately 00:00 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)[7:00 PM EST, 8:00pm EDT Wednesday]. If a player plays less than the playtime cap in a week, their leftover time will be added to the next week, so a player who does not play for one week will receive twice as many items the following week. The amount of time a player can save up is capped at double the allotment of a single week (roughly 20 hours).

In order for a player to receive an item drop, they must be "actively playing" i.e they meet all of the following criteria:

Is connected to a VAC secured server.
Is responding to in-game drop notifications while not utilizing external programs to do so.
Is running only one instance of the game.
Is not in textmode.^[5]

The dropped items are stored in the Backpack after the player's death, after a trade is completed, if the Mann Co. Store is opened, or if ten duels are won. If the player leaves the server after receiving an item, but before storing it in the backpack, a notification will alert the player of the new item(s) when the Main Menu is visited the next time. New item notifications must be dismissed before any further new items can be found. Occasionally, dropped, traded, or crafted items may get stuck "in limbo" and may not immediately appear in the player's Backpack. This may occur on instant respawn servers blocking the "New Item Found!" screen pop-up. Visiting the Mann. Co. Store or disconnecting from the server will usually restore these items to the player's Backpack.

While it has always been perceived that each weapon has an equal chance of being dropped to the player, it appears that certain weapons that form part of an item set will drop more or less often than others. It is not known exactly which of these weapons are rarer or more common.^[6]

Under the Free-To-Play system introduced in the Über Update, free players receive only limited item drops (with no rare or cosmetic items) until they upgrade to Premium status, upon which they gain access to the full item drop system.^[7]

Advantages and disadvantages

A positive aspect of the system is that it allows new and old players alike to earn unlockable weapons by investing playtime. It allows players to play as any class, since as long as they are racking up gametime the player is eligible for an item drop. But if players play for more than 10 hours a week, they will not be rewarded for their extra playtime.

Many players receive unwanted duplicates. This issue was resolved by the introduction of the crafting system, and later by the trading system, allowing players to respectively craft and trade many of the available items (with some exceptions) with each other.^[8]

Achievement Milestones

On April 29, 2008, Valve unveiled a set of three unlockable weapons as part of the Gold Rush Update. These weapons were unlocked by completing a set number of achievements, which completed an Achievement Milestone. There were three Achievement Milestones in all, with each successive one requiring more achievements. Once a milestone was unlocked, the player received the individual set weapon that came with that milestone. This requirement was later lowered to reduce players from grinding achievements just to get the new unlocks.

On May 21, 2009, Valve implemented a new system of random drops for unlockable items, and originally discontinued the milestone system. Valve soon fell back to the Achievement Milestones, now coupled with the item drop system, for the Sniper and Spy weapons in the May 29, 2009 Patch. This milestone system has since been used in the WAR! Update as well as in The Engineer Update.

History

Former system

The backpack icon used before the Mann-Conomy Update.

While keeping the Achievement Milestones already present for the Scout, Pyro, Heavy, and Medic, Valve implemented the random drop system to maintain class balance in the event of a class update. This system was patched into the game as part of The Sniper vs. Spy Update on May 21, 2009.

Valve calculated the average time a regular Team Fortress 2 player played, then came up with a standard time which was used as a marker or set point. Every 25 minutes of gameplay, the game calculated a random number to determine whether the player would receive a weapon. If the player was lucky (25% per item chance), then they would find a randomly chosen item. If the player was unlucky (75% chance), then they would receive nothing and the timer would reset. In addition, there was a separate timer which ran on a 15,430 second (4 hours, 17 minutes, and 10 seconds) interval which gave an additional 1 in 28 chance of receiving a hat. The average time for finding a single item was 1 hour and 40 minutes (including duplicates). Since weapons were granted via a random number generator, experiences varied.

When first released, item drops would only occur if players were connected to the Steam Community. If the player was not signed into his or her friends list, or if Valve was performing maintenance on the Steam Community, the player would not receive any item drops during that time. Additionally, if a player was connected to a server that had lost connection to Steam, item drops would not occur until the server reestablished its connection.

Also the system resulted an unlucky streaks for some players where no items were found for long periods of time. The current system has removed this possibility and increased the rate at which items drop.

Double Drop-Rate Week

On December 22, 2010, Valve announced that the item drop rate would double between December 23, 2010 and December 30, 2010. All players during that period were also awarded a Stocking Stuffer Key.^[9]

A second Double Drop-Rate Week was announced on June 2, 2011, which lasted from June 3, 2011 through June 10, 2011.^[10]

A third Double Drop-Rate Week was announced on December 14, 2011, lasting from December 15, 2011 through December 21, 2011 to coincide with the Australian Christmas 2011 update.^[11]

Gallery

Promo image of first Double Drop-Rate Week
Promo image of second Double Drop-Rate Week
In-game notification of planned downtime

Non-dropping items

v • d • e Weapons that cannot be found via a random drop.
Scout	Secondary
	Secondary	Mutated Milk
	Melee
	Melee	Three-Rune Blade	Unarmed Combat	Batsaber
Pyro	Primary
	Primary	Nostromo Napalmer
	Melee
	Melee	Maul
Demoman	Melee
Demoman	Melee	Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker
Heavy	Primary
	Primary	Iron Curtain
	Secondary
	Secondary	Fishcake	Robo-Sandvich
	Melee
	Melee	Apoco-Fists	Bread Bite
Engineer	Secondary
	Secondary	Giger Counter
	Melee
	Melee	Golden Wrench
Sniper	Primary
	Primary	AWPer Hand	Shooting Star
	Secondary
	Secondary	Self-Aware Beauty Mark
Spy	Secondary
	Secondary	Big Kill
	Melee
	Melee	Wanga Prick	Sharp Dresser	Black Rose
	PDA 2
	PDA 2	Enthusiast's Timepiece	Quäckenbirdt
	Building
	Building	Ap-Sap	Snack Attack
Scout Engineer	Secondary
Scout Engineer	Secondary	Lugermorph	C.A.P.P.E.R
All classes	Melee
	Melee	Frying Pan^†	Saxxy	Freedom Staff^†	Memory Maker^†	Ham Shank^†	Necro Smasher^‡	Crossing Guard^†	Prinny Machete
	Other
	Other	Festive weapons	Botkiller weapons	Australium weapons
Note	† Usable by all classes except Engineer and Spy. ‡ Usable by all classes except Spy.

Template:Hats drop list Template:Misc drop list

v • d • e Tools that cannot be found via a random drop.
Tools
	Craft items	Mann Co. Supply Crate Key	Festive Winter Crate Key	Stocking Stuffer Key	Refreshing Summer Cooler Key	Nice Winter Crate Key	Naughty Winter Crate Key	Scorched Key	Fall Key

	Eerie Key	Naughty Winter Crate Key 2012	Nice Winter Crate Key 2012	Robo Community Crate Key	Summer Appetizer Key	Red Summer 2013 Cooler Key	Orange Summer 2013 Cooler Key	Yellow Summer 2013 Cooler Key	Green Summer 2013 Cooler Key

	Aqua Summer 2013 Cooler Key	Blue Summer 2013 Cooler Key	Brown Summer 2013 Cooler Key	Black Summer 2013 Cooler Key	Fall 2013 Acorns Crate Key	Fall 2013 Gourd Crate Key	RIFT Well Spun Hat Claim Code	Spooky Key	Naughty Winter Crate Key 2013

	Nice Winter Crate Key 2013	Mann Co. Strongbox Key	Mann Co. Stockpile Crate Key	Limited Late Summer Crate Key	End of the Line Key	Nice Winter Crate Key 2014	Naughty Winter Crate Key 2014	Gun Mettle Key	Gun Mettle Cosmetic Key

	Invasion Community Update Key	Gargoyle Key	Tough Break Key	Tough Break Cosmetic Key	Mayflower Cosmetic Key	Creepy Crawly Key	Rainy Day Cosmetic Key	Abominable Cosmetic Key	Unleash the Beast Cosmetic Key

	Jungle Jackpot War Paint Key	Infernal Reward War Paint Key	Winter 2017 Cosmetic Key	Winter 2017 War Paint Key	Blue Moon Cosmetic Key	Violet Vermin Key	Scream Fortress X War Paint Key	Winter 2018 Cosmetic Key	Summer 2019 Cosmetic Key

	Spooky Spoils Key	Winter 2019 Cosmetic Key	Winter 2019 War Paint Key	Summer 2020 Cosmetic Key	Wicked Windfall Key	Scream Fortress XII War Paint Key	Winter 2020 Cosmetic Key	Winter 2020 War Paint Key	Summer 2021 Cosmetic Key

	Crimson Cache Key	Scream Fortress XIII War Paint Key	Winter 2021 Cosmetic Key	Summer 2022 Cosmetic Key	Ghoulish Gains Key	Scream Fortress XIV War Paint Key	Winter 2022 Cosmetic Key	Gift Wrap	Backpack Expander

	RIFT Well Spun Hat Claim Code	Something Special For Someone Special	Strange Part¹	Mysterious Treasures²	Tour of Duty Ticket	Squad Surplus Voucher	Voodoo-Cursed Items²	Halloween Spells	Upgrade to Premium Gift

	Strange Filter	Strange Bacon Grease	Mann Co. Painting Set	Summer Claim Check	Strangifier	Chemistry Set²	Killstreak Kit	Killstreak Kit Fabricator	Duck Token

	Gun Mettle Campaign Pass	Gun Mettle Campaign Coin	Competitive Matchmaking Beta Pass	Invasion Community Update Pass	Invasion Community Update Coin	Soul Gargoyle	Tough Break Campaign Pass	Gravel Tough Break Campaign Stamp	Strange Count Transfer Tool

	Festivizer	Civilian Grade Stat Clock	Competitive Matchmaking Beta Invite	Competitive Matchmaking Pass	Unusualifier	Jungle Inferno ConTracker	Jungle Inferno Campaign Pass	Jungle Inferno Contracts Pass
Crates
	Mann Co. Supply Crate²	Festive Winter Crate²	Refreshing Summer Cooler²	Salvaged Mann Co. Supply Crate²	Naughty Winter Crate²	Nice Winter Crate²	Scorched Crate	Fall Crate²	Eerie Crate²

	Naughty Winter Crate 2012²	Nice Winter Crate 2012²	Robo Community Crate²	Select Reserve Mann Co. Supply Crate²	Summer Appetizer Crate²	Red Summer 2013 Cooler	Orange Summer 2013 Cooler	Yellow Summer 2013 Cooler	Green Summer 2013 Cooler

	Aqua Summer 2013 Cooler	Brown Summer 2013 Cooler	Black Summer 2013 Cooler	Fall 2013 Acorns Crate²	Fall 2013 Gourd Crate²	Spooky Crate²	Naughty Winter Crate 2013²	Nice Winter Crate 2013²	Mann Co. Strongbox²

	Mann Co. Supply Munition²	Mann Co. Stockpile Crate²	Mann Co. Audition Reel²	Limited Late Summer Crate²	Mann Co. Director's Cut Reel²	Unlocked Creepy Scout Crate	Unlocked Creepy Soldier Crate	Unlocked Creepy Pyro Crate	Unlocked Creepy Demo Crate

	Unlocked Creepy Heavy Crate	Unlocked Creepy Engineer Crate	Unlocked Creepy Medic Crate	Unlocked Creepy Sniper Crate	Unlocked Creepy Spy Crate	End of the Line Community Crate²	Naughty Winter Crate 2014²	Nice Winter Crate 2014²	Concealed Killer Weapons Case²

	Powerhouse Weapons Case²	Gun Mettle Cosmetic Case²	Confidential Collection Case²	Quarantined Collection Case²	Gargoyle Case²	Pyroland Weapons Case²	Warbird Weapons Case²	Tough Break Cosmetic Case²	Mayflower Cosmetic Case²

	Unlocked Cosmetic Crate Scout	Unlocked Cosmetic Crate Soldier	Unlocked Cosmetic Crate Pyro	Unlocked Cosmetic Crate Demo	Unlocked Cosmetic Crate Heavy	Unlocked Cosmetic Crate Engineer	Unlocked Cosmetic Crate Medic	Unlocked Cosmetic Crate Sniper	Unlocked Cosmetic Crate Spy

	Unlocked Cosmetic Crate Multi-Class	Creepy Crawly Case²	Unlocked Winter 2016 Cosmetic Case	Rainy Day Cosmetic Case²	Abominable Cosmetic Case²	Unleash the Beast Cosmetic Case²	Jungle Jackpot War Paint Case	Infernal Reward War Paint Case	'Decorated War Hero' War Paint Civilian Grade Keyless Case

	'Decorated War Hero' War Paint Freelance Grade Keyless Case	'Decorated War Hero' War Paint Mercenary Grade Keyless Case	'Contract Campaigner' War Paint Civilian Grade Keyless Case	'Contract Campaigner' War Paint Freelance Grade Keyless Case	'Contract Campaigner' War Paint Mercenary Grade Keyless Case	Winter 2017 Cosmetic Case²	Winter 2017 War Paint Case²	Blue Moon Cosmetic Case²	Violet Vermin Case²

	Scream Fortress X War Paint Case²	Winter 2018 Cosmetic Case²	Summer 2019 Cosmetic Case²	Spooky Spoils Case²	Winter 2019 Cosmetic Case²	Winter 2019 War Paint Case²	Summer 2020 Cosmetic Case²	Wicked Windfall Case²	Scream Fortress XII War Paint Case²

	Winter 2020 Cosmetic Case²	Winter 2020 War Paint Case²	Summer 2021 Cosmetic Case²	Crimson Cache Case²	Scream Fortress XIII War Paint Case²	Winter 2021 Cosmetic Case²	Summer 2022 Cosmetic Case²	Ghoulish Gains Case²	Scream Fortress XIV War Paint Case²

	Winter 2022 Cosmetic Case²
Paint Can
	A Color Similar to Slate	A Distinctive Lack of Hue	A Mann's Mint	After Eight	An Extraordinary Abundance of Tinge	Dark Salmon Injustice	Drably Olive	Pink as Hell	The Bitter Taste of Defeat and Lime

	The Color of a Gentlemann's Business Pants	An Air of Debonair	Balaclavas Are Forever	Cream Spirit	Operator's Overalls	Team Spirit	The Value of Teamwork	Waterlogged Lab Coat	Mann Co. Painting Set
Action items
	Pile o' Gifts	Secret Saxton	Noise Maker	Manniversary Package	Antique Halloween Goodie Cauldron	Mann Co. Store Package	Fireproof Secret Diary²	What's in the Sandvich Box?	What's in the Companion Square Box?

	Pile of Ash	Power Up Canteen	What's in the Portal 2 Soundtrack Box?	Pile of Curses	Pallet of Crates²	A Random Robo Community Crate Key Gift	Pile of Robo Community Crate Key Gifts	Battery Canteens	A Random Summer Cooler Key Gift

	Pile of Summer Cooler Key Gifts	Spellbook Magazine	Unfilled Fancy Spellbook	Fancy Spellbook	Gift-Stuffed Stocking	Summer Starter Kit	Summer Adventure Pack	Bread Box	Halloween Gift Cauldron

	Kritz or Treat Canteen	Duck Journal	A Random Duck Token Gift	A Random End of the Line Key Gift	Pile of Duck Token Gifts	Pile of End of the Line Key Gifts	Grappling Hook	Smissmas 2015 Festive Gift	Halloween Package
Taunts
	Director's Vision	Meet the Medic²	Schadenfreude²	Shred Alert	Battin' a Thousand²	Deep Fried Desire²	Fresh Brewed Victory²	Party Trick²	Spent Well Spirits²

	Oblooterated²	Rancho Relaxo²	Results Are In²	I See You²	Buy A Life²	Conga²	Square Dance²	Skullcracker²	Flippin' Awesome²

	Rock, Paper, Scissors²	Boston Breakdance	Killer Solo	Most Wanted	Kazotsky Kick	Proletariat Posedown	Box Trot	Burstchester	Soldier's Requiem

	Zoomin' Broom	Mannrobics	Bad Pipes	Bucking Bronco	Carlton	Balloonibouncer	Disco Fever	Fubar Fanfare	Victory Lap

	Second Rate Sorcery	Scotsmann's Stagger	Didgeridrongo	Table Tantrum	Boiling Point	Dueling Banjo	Jumping Jack	Soviet Strongarm	Russian Arms Race

	Headcase	Yeti Punch	Yeti Smash	Skating Scorcher	Bunnyhopper	Runner's Rhythm	Luxury Lounge	Surgeon's Squeezebox	Trackman's Touchdown

	Panzer Pants	Scooty Scoot	Pooped Deck	Time Out Therapy	Rocket Jockey	Boston Boarder	Scorcher's Solo	Texas Truckin'	Spin-to-Win

	Fist Bump	Homerunner's Hobby	Profane Puppeteer	Drunken Sailor	Bare Knuckle Beatdown	Mannbulance!	Doctor's Defibrillators	Shooter's Stakeout	Hot Wheeler

	Travel Agent	Scaredy-cat!	Drunk Mann's Cannon	Texas Twirl 'Em	Shanty Shipmate	Russian Rubdown	Tailored Terminal	Roasty Toasty
Other
Other	Bundles
Notes	¹ These strange parts dropped previously: Strange Part: Full Moon Kills Strange Part: Halloween Kills Strange Part: Robots Destroyed During Halloween
	² Dropped previously

Paints obtainable through drop

Paints obtainable through the item drop system
Picture	Name	Color	Picture	Name	Color
	Indubitably Green	#729E42		A Deep Commitment to Purple	#7D4071
	Mann Co. Orange	#CF7336		Muskelmannbraun	#A57545
	Noble Hatter's Violet	#51384A		Peculiarly Drab Tincture	#C5AF91
	Aged Moustache Grey	#7E7E7E		Radigan Conagher Brown	#694D3A
	Australium Gold	#E7B53B		Color No. 216-190-216	#D8BED8
	Ye Olde Rustic Colour	#7C6C57		Zepheniah's Greed	#424F3B