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.

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 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.

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

v • d • e List of weapons with missing critical glow effect
Class	Slot	Item	Notes
Scout	Secondary		The glass.
	Secondary	Mad Milk	The glass.
	Melee		The baseball.
		Sandman	The baseball.
			The bauble.
		Wrap Assassin	The bauble.
Soldier	Primary		The entire item.
	Primary	Cow Mangler 5000	The entire item.
	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 nose.
			The entire item.
		Rainblower
	Secondary
	Secondary	Thermal Thruster
	Melee
		Festive Axtinguisher

		Lollichop
Demoman	Primary
		Ali Baba's Wee Booties

		Bootlegger
			The grenades.
		Iron Bomber	The grenades.
			The cannonballs.
		Loose Cannon	The cannonballs.
	Secondary		The shield, in third person.
		Chargin' Targe	The shield, in third person.
			The entire item, apart from the cables.
		Festive Chargin' Targe	The entire item, apart from the cables.
			The shield, in third person.
		Splendid Screen

		Tide Turner
	Melee		The ice.
	Melee	Festive Eyelander	The ice.
Heavy	Secondary		The entire item, apart from the attached star.
	Secondary	Festive Sandvich	The entire item, apart from the attached star.
	Melee		The diamonds.
		Apoco-Fists	The diamonds.
			The entire item.
		Fists

		Holiday Punch
Engineer	Melee		The entire item, in third person.
		Golden Wrench	The entire item, in third person.
			The entire item.
		Gunslinger
	PDA 1
	PDA 1	Construction PDA
Medic	Primary		The glass.
	Primary	Syringe Gun	The glass.
	Secondary		The backpack.
		Kritzkrieg

		Medi Gun

		Quick-Fix

		Vaccinator
	Melee		The bells on the side and the bow.
	Melee	Festive Bonesaw	The bells on the side and the bow.
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.
	PDA 1	Disguise Kit	The entire item, in third person.
Multiple classes	Secondary		The entire item.
	Secondary	B.A.S.E. Jumper	The entire item.
	Melee		The eagle.
	Melee	Freedom Staff	The eagle.
All classes	Melee		The entire item.
	Melee	Saxxy	The entire item.
	N/A		The heads, and parts that attach the heads to weapons.
		Botkiller weapons	The heads, and parts that attach the heads to weapons.
			The lights and cables.
		Festive weapons	The lights and cables.

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.

Icon displayed above a marked target.
HUD Icon displayed when the player is 'marked for death'.

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.

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.

Birthday mode gibs
The balloon sprite emitted.

Dollar Sign effect

When playing MvM, the dropped cash will a emit green dollar sign particle, if the robot was killed normally, and a red particle if it was killed by a Headshot, or through the Explosive Headshot upgrade.

Green Dollar Sign Effect
Red Dollar Sign Effect from headshot-related kills.

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's model is in motion: even moving on the spot with a taunt will cause coins to fall.

In-game screenshot
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, Gentle Munitionne of Leisure and the Bomber Knight. An undisguised Spy, and the item El Patron, also have thinner versions of this.

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 maker particles are colored to distinguish them from Earbuds.

"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 effects

Standard Series

Standard Unusual effects can be found in specific crate series.

Gen 1

The first generation of standard Unusual effects was added in the Mann-Conomy Update. They can be obtained in crates Series #1 onward.

Series 1 Unusual effects
Cosmetic 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	Circling Heart

Gen 2

The second generation of standard Unusual effects was added in the August 18, 2011 Patch. They can be obtained in crates Series #26 onward.

Series 2 Unusual effects
Cosmetic effects
	Stormy Storm	Blizzardy Storm	Nuts n' Bolts	Orbiting Planets	Orbiting Fire	Bubbling

	Smoking	Steaming

Gen 3

The third and current generation of standard Unusual effects was added in the June 19, 2013 Patch. They can be obtained in crates and cases Series #59 onward.

Series 3 Unusual effects
Cosmetic effects
	Kill-a-Watt	Terror-Watt	Cloud 9	RED	BLU	Dead Presidents
	Kill-a-Watt	Terror-Watt	Cloud 9	Aces High		Dead Presidents

	Miami Nights	Disco Beat Down

Community Sparkle

An exclusive Unusual effect was added in the First Community Contribution Update. It is automatically applied to Community and Self-Made items.

List of Community Sparkle effects

Cosmetic items	Taunt	Weapon

Scream Fortress Series

Scream Fortress Unusual effects can be found in specific Scream Fortress crates. During Scream Fortress events, they're available in all other crate series.

Very Scary Halloween Special

The first Scream Fortress generation of Unusual Effects was added in the Very Scary Halloween Special. They could be obtained in any crate during the event.

List of Very Scary Halloween Special Unusual effects

Cauldron Bubbles	Cloudy Moon	Eerie Orbiting Fire	Flaming Lantern

Spectral Halloween Special

The second Scream Fortress generation of Unusual Effects was added in the Spectral Halloween Special. They could be obtained in any crate during the event.

List of Spectral Halloween Special Unusual effects

Harvest Moon	It's A Secret To Everybody	Knifestorm	Misty Skull	Stormy 13th Hour

Scream Fortress V

The third Scream Fortress generation of Unusual effects was added in the Scream Fortress V update. They could be obtained in any crate during the event.

List of Scream Fortress V Unusual effects

Arcana	Chiroptera Venenata	Darkblaze	Demonflame	Hellfire	Poisoned Shadows	Something Burning This Way Comes	Spellbound

Scream Fortress VI

The fourth Scream Fortress generation of Unusual effects was added in the Scream Fortress VI update. They could be obtained in any crate during the event.

List of Scream Fortress VI Unusual effects
Cosmetic items
Cosmetic items	Amaranthine	Bonzo The All-Gnawing	Ghastly Ghosts Jr	Haunted Phantasm Jr	Stare From Beyond	The Ooze
Taunts
Taunts	Ghastly Ghosts	Haunted Phantasm

Scream Fortress VII

The fifth Scream Fortress generation of Unusual effects was added in the Scream Fortress VII update. They could only be obtained by opening a Gargoyle Case during the event. They can still be obtained by opening a Gargoyle Case.

List of Scream Fortress VII Unusual effects

Ancient Eldritch	Death by Disco	Eldritch Flame	Ether Trail	It's a mystery to everyone	It's a puzzle to me	Nether Trail

Scream Fortress VIII

The sixth Scream Fortress generation of Unusual effects was added in the Scream Fortress VIII update. They could be obtained in any crate during the event. They can still be obtained by opening a Creepy Crawly Case.

List of Scream Fortress VIII Unusual effects
Cosmetic items
Cosmetic items	Neutron Star	Starstorm Insomnia	Starstorm Slumber	Tesla Coil
Taunts
Taunts	Hellish Inferno	Infernal Flames	Infernal Smoke	Spectral Swirl

Scream Fortress X

The seventh Scream Fortress generation of Unusual effects was added in the Scream Fortress X update. They could be obtained in any crate during the event. They can still be obtained by opening a Violet Vermin Case.

List of Scream Fortress X Unusual effects
Cosmetic items
	Brain Drain	Clairvoyance	Galactic Gateway	Head of Steam	Omniscient Orb	Open Mind	Ring of Fire	The Dark Doorway

	The Eldritch Opening	Vicious Circle	White Lightning
Taunts
Taunts	Acidic Bubbles of Envy	Flammable Bubbles of Attraction	Ominous Night	Poisonous Bubbles of Regret	Roaring Rockets	Spooky Night

Scream Fortress XI

The eighth Scream Fortress generation of Unusual effects was added in the Scream Fortress XI update. They could be obtained in any crate during the event. They can still be obtained by opening a Spooky Spoils Case.

List of Scream Fortress XI Unusual effects
Cosmetic items
	Abyssal Aura	Ethereal Essence	Fifth Dimension	Ghastly Grove	Menacing Miasma	Mystical Medley	Twisted Radiance	Valiant Vortex

	Verdant Vortex	Vicious Vortex	Violet Vortex	Wicked Wood
Taunts
Taunts	Accursed	Bewitched	Eerie Lightning	Enchanted	Jarate Shock	Nether Void	Static Mist	Terrifying Thunder

Smissmas Series

Smissmas Unusual effects can be found in specific Smissmas crates. During Smissmas events, they're available in all other crate series.

Smissmas 2019

The first and current Smissmas generation of Unusual effects was added in the Smissmas 2019 update. Currently, they can be obtained in any crate.

List of Smissmas 2019 Unusual effects
Cosmetic items
	RED	BLU	Fragmented Gluons	Fragmented Photons	Fragmented Quarks	Fragmenting Reality	Frozen Icefall	RED
	Defragmenting Reality		Fragmented Gluons	Fragmented Photons	Fragmented Quarks	Fragmenting Reality	Frozen Icefall	Pyroland Daydream

	BLU	Refragmenting Reality	Snowblinded	Snowfallen	Sparkling Lights
	Pyroland Daydream	Refragmenting Reality	Snowblinded	Snowfallen	Sparkling Lights
Taunts
Taunts	Arctic Aurora	Festive Spirit	Good-Hearted Goodies	Magical Spirit	Winter Spirit	Wintery Wisp

Robotic Boogaloo

An exclusive generation of Unusual effects was added in the Robotic Boogaloo update. They could be obtained in any crate during the event. They can still be obtained by opening a Robo Community Crate.

List of Robotic Boogaloo Unusual effects

Anti-Freeze	Electrostatic	Green Black Hole	Memory Leak	Overclocked	Phosphorous	Power Surge	Roboactive

Sulphurous	Time Warp

Love & War Update

An exclusive generation of Unusual effects was added in the Love & War Update. They can be obtained through Taunt Unusualifiers.

List of Love & War Update Unusual effects

'72	Fountain of Delight	Holy Grail	Mega Strike	Midnight Whirlwind	Screaming Tiger	RED	BLU
'72	Fountain of Delight	Holy Grail	Mega Strike	Midnight Whirlwind	Screaming Tiger	Showstopper

Silver Cyclone	Skill Gotten Gains

End of the Line Update

An exclusive generation of Unusual effects was added in the End of the Line Update. They could be obtained in any crate during the event. They can still be obtained by opening an End of the Line Community Crate.

List of End of the Line Update Unusual effects

Death at Dusk	Frostbite	Molten Mallard	Morning Glory

Gun Mettle Update

An exclusive generation of Unusual effects was added in the Gun Mettle Update. They can be obtained through Decorated cases.

With the introduction of the Jungle Inferno Update, the Energy Orb effect has been removed from the Unusual effect pool due to issues with it disappearing and/or not fitting some weapons properly. Only the three remaining effects can be obtained now.

List of Gun Mettle Update Unusual effects

Cool	Energy Orb	Hot	Isotope

Invasion Community Update

An exclusive generation of Unusual effects was added in the Invasion Community Update. They could be obtained in any crate during the event. They can still be obtained by opening a Confidential Collection Case or a Quarantined Collection Case.

List of Invasion Community Update Unusual effects

Abduction	Ancient Codex	Atomic	Electric Hat Protector	Galactic Codex	Magnetic Hat Protector	Nebula	Subatomic

Voltaic Hat Protector

Unused effects

Unused Unusual effects

Currently unused Unusual effects
Cosmetic effects
	`AAA_AAA`	`balloon`	`beams1_newstyle`	`beany_green`	`beany_hearts`	`beany_target`

	`beany_tf`	`circling_glow`	`circling_skull`	`crisp_spotlights_cones03`	`halo`	`orbit`

	`orbit_fullmoon_cloudy`	`sparkler_green`	`sparkler_orange`	`sparkles1`	`sparkles2`	`sparkles3`

	`spray_confetti`	`storm_blood`	`stormcloud`	`symbols_parents_ice`	`test`

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
Particle effects for teams RED and BLU.

Rotating Birthday Cake

Currently Unused

Self-Illumination

Related to particle effects, some items create a glowing effect called Self-illumination.

Demonstration

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 9, 2015 Patch

Fixed the Mega Strike unusual taunt effect showing through walls

January 30, 2015 Patch

Fixed a client crash related to the particle system.