Black Box
“ | If you're lucky enough to sport the upper body strength to actually carry this monster, you can guarantee, after firing this half-a-ton hellraiser, it will be the only thing left that's not a smouldering pile of ash.
— Black Box publicity blurb
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The Black Box is a community-created primary weapon for the Soldier. It is a black, rectangular rocket launcher with rounded edges, sporting two dark grey fastening bands near the front end and case coverings hanging open at both ends of the weapon. The rear case covering swings idly.
For every enemy successfully hit with the Black Box, the player will be awarded up to 20 health points per attack, based on how much damage is dealt, scaling to 20 only on attacks over base damage. The Soldier will not receive health if the target is a disguised Spy or an enemy under the effects of an ÜberCharge; however, health will still be awarded if the target is a Scout under the effects of Bonk! Atomic Punch. A successful hit will not remove the effects of fire, bleeding, Jarate, or Mad Milk on the player. Unlike the Powerjack and Eyelander, health gained through Black Box hits cannot grant overheal. Health gains are indicated by the health counter in the Head-up display. The only downside to this weapon is that its capacity is reduced by one. This makes using the Black Box a good choice for improving survivability, at the expense of the amount of damage that can be dealt.
Should a Pyro successfully reflect a Black Box rocket in such a way that it collides with the shooter or another enemy, the health bonus will be given to the Pyro.
The kill icon for the Black Box was contributed by 76561197976113694.
Contents
Damage and function times
Damage and function times | ||
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Shot type | Projectile | |
Damage type | Explosive | |
Ranged or Melee damage? | Ranged | |
Damage | ||
Maximum ramp-up | 125% | 112 |
Base damage | 100% | 90 |
Maximum fall-off | 53% | 48 |
Point blank | 105-112 | |
Medium range | 50-90 | |
Long range | 45-60 | |
Critical | 270 | |
Mini-crit | 122-151 | |
Splash damage | ||
Minimum splash | 50% | 9.1 ft |
Damage reduction | 1% / 2.88 | |
Self-damage | 27-89 | |
Self damage (rocket jump) | 27-46 | |
Healing | ||
Healing amount | 15 on hit | |
Function times | ||
Attack interval | 0.8 s | |
Reload (first) | 0.92 s | |
Reload (consecutive) | 0.8 s | |
Values are approximate and determined by community testing. |
Item set
The Tank Buster | |
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Effect |
Leave a Calling Card on your victims |
Demonstration
Crafting
Blueprint
Direct Hit | Reclaimed Metal | Black Box | ||
+ | = |
Class Token - Soldier | Slot Token - Primary | Scrap Metal | Possible Results | |||||||||||||||||||
+ | + | = |
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As a crafting ingredient
Refined Metal | Tank Buster weapon | Grenadier's Softcap | ||
x4 | + | = |
Black Box | Reclaimed Metal | Liberty Launcher | ||
+ | x2 | = |
Black Box | Reclaimed Metal | Cow Mangler 5000 | ||
+ | = |
Strange variant
Related achievements
Soldier
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Pyro
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Heavy
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Sniper
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Update history
- The Black Box was added to the game.
- [Undocumented] The Black Box was added to the crafting blueprint for the Grenadier's Softcap.
- The Black Box was given a unique kill icon.
- Fixed players getting set bonuses applied on tournament servers when the server is restricting the player's weapons using the item_whitelist.
- [Undocumented] Fixed players getting set bonuses applied on Medieval maps for items that are not allowed in medieval mode.
March 10, 2011 Patch (Shogun Pack)
- Updated model with optimizations and LODs.
- Fixed players getting a health bonus based on the weapon they're currently holding instead of the weapon that dealt the killing blow.
- [Undocumented] The Black Box was added to the crafting blueprint for the Liberty Launcher.
- [Undocumented] The Black Box was added to the crafting blueprint for the Cow Mangler 5000.
- [Undocumented] Added Strange quality.
- [Undocumented] The Black Box will now grant health when striking a Building.
- Fixed damage to buildings applying on-hit effects.
- Rocket explosions now use correct sound.
- [Undocumented] Added Collector's quality.
November 21, 2013 Patch (Two Cities Update)
- [Undocumented] Added Australium variant.
December 20, 2013 Patch (Smissmas 2013)
- [Undocumented] Added Festive variant.
- Fixed deflected Black Box rockets not giving health to the Pyro.
June 18, 2014 Patch (Love & War Update)
- [Undocumented] Fixed the reload of Soldier primary weapons to show rockets in first person.
July 2, 2015 Patch #1 (Gun Mettle Update)
- Changed attributes:
- Changed +15 health on hit to +20 health on hit per attack.
- Changed how health on hit works for radius damage. Is now capped per attack and scales with total damage done relative to base damage. (i.e. doing 45 damage nets +10 health on hit as base damage is 90. Hitting 3 enemies for 45 each for a total of 135 damage only returns +20 health.)
Bugs
- If a long range rocket is fired, and the Soldier switches to his Escape Plan and receives the health benefit, he will still stay at the same speed, even if he was injured beforehand.
Trivia
- The Black Box was originally based on the real world M202 FLASH incendiary rocket launcher. The four barrel holes were swapped for one due to gameplay issues.
- The Black Box was the name of an unreleased compilation of the new content in The Orange Box.
- An early concept of the Black Box shows that it originally had a scope attached to it, much like the Direct Hit.
- The term "black box" refers to any device with a known function but an unknown means of internal operations.
- It is also a common term for flight recorders, highly sturdy devices which are used to record what happens in a cockpit in case of a plane crash. Interestingly, these boxes aren't black at all; they are a bright orange color.
Gallery
BLU Festive variant.
See also
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Weapons | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary | Scattergun | Rocket Launcher | Flame Thrower | Grenade Launcher | Minigun | Shotgun | Syringe Gun | Sniper Rifle | — | |
Force-A-Nature Shortstop Soda Popper Baby Face's Blaster Back Scatter |
Direct Hit Black Box Rocket Jumper Liberty Launcher Cow Mangler 5000 Original Beggar's Bazooka Air Strike |
Backburner Degreaser Phlogistinator Rainblower Nostromo Napalmer Dragon's Fury |
Loch-n-Load Ali Baba's Wee Booties Bootlegger Loose Cannon B.A.S.E. Jumper Iron Bomber |
Natascha Iron Curtain Brass Beast Tomislav Huo-Long Heater |
Frontier Justice Widowmaker Pomson 6000 Rescue Ranger Panic Attack |
Blutsauger Crusader's Crossbow Overdose |
Huntsman Sydney Sleeper Bazaar Bargain Machina Hitman's Heatmaker AWPer Hand Fortified Compound Classic Shooting Star |
— | ||
Secondary | Pistol | Shotgun | Shotgun | Stickybomb Launcher | Shotgun | Pistol | Medi Gun | SMG | Revolver | |
Bonk! Atomic Punch Lugermorph Crit-a-Cola Mad Milk Winger Pretty Boy's Pocket Pistol Flying Guillotine Mutated Milk C.A.P.P.E.R |
Buff Banner Gunboats Battalion's Backup Concheror Mantreads Reserve Shooter Righteous Bison B.A.S.E. Jumper Panic Attack |
Flare Gun Detonator Reserve Shooter Manmelter Scorch Shot Panic Attack Gas Passer Thermal Thruster |
Chargin' Targe Scottish Resistance Sticky Jumper Splendid Screen Tide Turner Quickiebomb Launcher |
Sandvich Dalokohs Bar Buffalo Steak Sandvich Fishcake Family Business Robo-Sandvich Panic Attack Second Banana |
Lugermorph Wrangler Short Circuit C.A.P.P.E.R Giger Counter |
Kritzkrieg Quick-Fix Vaccinator |
Jarate Razorback Darwin's Danger Shield Cozy Camper Cleaner's Carbine Self-Aware Beauty Mark |
Ambassador Big Kill L'Etranger Enforcer Diamondback | ||
Melee | Bat | Shovel | Fire Axe | Bottle | Fists | Wrench | Bonesaw | Kukri | Knife | |
Sandman Frying Pan Holy Mackerel Boston Basher Candy Cane Sun-on-a-Stick Fan O'War Three-Rune Blade Saxxy Atomizer Conscientious Objector Unarmed Combat Wrap Assassin Freedom Staff Bat Outta Hell Memory Maker Ham Shank Golden Frying Pan Necro Smasher Crossing Guard Batsaber Prinny Machete |
Equalizer Pain Train Frying Pan Half-Zatoichi Saxxy Disciplinary Action Market Gardener Conscientious Objector Escape Plan Freedom Staff Bat Outta Hell Memory Maker Ham Shank Golden Frying Pan Necro Smasher Crossing Guard Prinny Machete |
Axtinguisher Homewrecker Frying Pan Powerjack Back Scratcher Sharpened Volcano Fragment Maul Saxxy Postal Pummeler Conscientious Objector Third Degree Lollichop Neon Annihilator Freedom Staff Bat Outta Hell Memory Maker Ham Shank Golden Frying Pan Necro Smasher Crossing Guard Prinny Machete Hot Hand |
Eyelander Pain Train Scotsman's Skullcutter Frying Pan Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker Claidheamh Mòr Ullapool Caber Half-Zatoichi Saxxy Persian Persuader Nessie's Nine Iron Conscientious Objector Scottish Handshake Freedom Staff Bat Outta Hell Memory Maker Ham Shank Golden Frying Pan Necro Smasher Crossing Guard Prinny Machete |
Killing Gloves of Boxing Frying Pan Gloves of Running Urgently Fists of Steel Warrior's Spirit Saxxy Eviction Notice Conscientious Objector Apoco-Fists Holiday Punch Freedom Staff Bat Outta Hell Memory Maker Ham Shank Golden Frying Pan Bread Bite Necro Smasher Crossing Guard Prinny Machete |
Golden Wrench Gunslinger Southern Hospitality Jag Saxxy Eureka Effect Golden Frying Pan Necro Smasher Prinny Machete |
Ubersaw Frying Pan Vita-Saw Amputator Saxxy Solemn Vow Conscientious Objector Freedom Staff Bat Outta Hell Memory Maker Ham Shank Golden Frying Pan Necro Smasher Crossing Guard Prinny Machete |
Tribalman's Shiv Bushwacka Frying Pan Saxxy Shahanshah Conscientious Objector Freedom Staff Bat Outta Hell Memory Maker Ham Shank Golden Frying Pan Necro Smasher Crossing Guard Prinny Machete |
Your Eternal Reward Conniver's Kunai Saxxy Big Earner Wanga Prick Sharp Dresser Spy-cicle Black Rose Golden Frying Pan Prinny Machete | ||
Primary PDA | — | — | — | — | — | Construction PDA | — | — | Disguise Kit | |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
Secondary PDA | — | — | — | — | — | Destruction PDA | — | — | Invis Watch | |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Cloak and Dagger Dead Ringer Enthusiast's Timepiece Quäckenbirdt | ||
Building | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sapper | |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Red-Tape Recorder Ap-Sap Snack Attack | ||
Taunt | Grand Slam | Grenade | Hadouken Armageddon Execution Gas Blast |
Barbarian Swing | High Noon | Arm Blender Guitar Smash |
Oktoberfest Uberslice Medicating Melody |
Arrow Stab | Fencing |
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