Dead Ringer
| Dead Ringer | |
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| Basic Information | |
| Used by: | Spy |
| Slot: | PDA 2 |
| Released: | May 21, 2009 Patch (Sniper vs. Spy Update) |
| Availability: | Unlock, Drop, Craft, Purchase, Uncrate #38 (Strange) or Chemistry Set (Collector's) |
| Tradable: | Yes |
| Giftable: | Yes |
| Craftable: | Yes |
| Nameable: | Yes |
| Craft No.?: | No |
| Medieval: | Yes |
| Available Qualities | |
| Loadout Stats | |
 The Dead Ringer |
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| “ | By the time your adversary races towards your 'body' to frisk you for cash and pull gold fillings out of your mouth, you'll already be behind him, poised for the killing blow.
— Dead Ringer publicity blurb
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” |
The Dead Ringer is an unlockable PDA weapon for the Spy. It is an advanced cloaking device disguised as a gold-plated pocket watch with an engraving of a hummingbird on its lid.
Unlike the Invis Watch, the Dead Ringer does not activate immediately when the alternate fire key is pressed. Instead, the Spy will hold the Dead Ringer in his left hand. The Dead Ringer's cloak meter must be fully charged before it can be held, and holding the watch prevents the Spy from attacking or placing Sappers as if cloaked. Pressing the alternate fire key again will cause the Spy to put the Dead Ringer back in his pocket. Upon taking damage while the Dead Ringer is being held in hand, the Spy will immediately and fully cloak, leaving behind a fake corpse to deceive enemies. If a player is disguised as one of their own teammates, the fake corpse will appear to enemies as the player they were disguised as, and to their own team as a friendly Spy corpse wearing a disguise mask. Certain in-game information (listed below) is also faked to make the Spy's "death" more convincing.
The Spy takes 75% less damage from the initial attack that activates the cloak. In addition, the Dead Ringer's cloak differs from that of the Invis Watch in several ways:
- Upon activation, the cloak meter will immediately drop to 50%, and the Spy will receive a 3-second speed boost.
- During the first 3 seconds of cloak, the Spy will not flicker on contact with enemies or upon being shot, and he gains immunity to afterburn.
- The Spy gains a 65% damage resistance upon the Dead Ringer's activation, fading to the normal 20% cloaked damage resistance after 3 seconds.
The cloak takes 7 seconds to fully drain (from the initial 50%). The initial damage reduction allows the player to survive massive amounts of damage as long as the user has a sufficient amount of Health before the attack was made, with the exception of fully charged headshots by Snipers using the Machina, Backstabs from enemy Spies, and most taunt kills.
Activating the Dead Ringer will extinguish afterburn and stop bleeding. However, other status effects are unaffected. Notably, soaking effects, including water, will not be removed, making it difficult to convincingly fake a death while under these effects. In addition, afterburn and bleeding are only removed by the initial activation; once the player is cloaked, the Spy is not immune to these status effects, although such effects will have a reduced duration as with the normal Invis Watch cloak.
The Dead Ringer uncloaks with a very loud and distinct sound. The uncloak noise is noticeably loud up-close but rapidly fades with distance. Unlike with the Invis Watch, ammo pickups and Dispensers cannot replenish the Cloak meter.
The Dead Ringer is automatically given to any player who obtains 17 Spy achievements.
Contents
Feign death effects
Feigned deaths will replicate or fake certain HUD elements in order to look more convincing. However, some effects are not replicated, which vigilant players may notice.
| Replicated mechanics |
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| Faked mechanics |
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| Unreplicated mechanics |
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Function times
| Function times (in seconds) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Effect | Upon activation:
Drop a fake corpse, 75% damage reduction, remove some status effects For the first 3 seconds:
Speed boost, no cloak shimmer upon collision with an enemy, up to 65% damage reduction Subsequently:
Normal invisibility | |
| Cloak maximum duration | 7.0 s 8.2 s 6.0 s 7.6 s | |
| Cloak fade time | Instant | |
| Decloak fade time | Player: 2.0 sWorld: 1.8 s
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| Recharge time | 10-20 s | |
| Activation time | Instant | |
| Values are approximate and determined by community testing. | ||
Demonstration
Crafting
See also: Crafting
Blueprint
| Class Token - Spy | Slot Token - PDA2 | Scrap Metal | Possible Results | |||||||||||||||||||
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As a crafting ingredient
| Dead Ringer | Huntsman | Tribalman's Shiv | ||
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| Dead Ringer | Reclaimed Metal | L'Etranger | ||
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| Reclaimed Metal | Frontier Justice | Dead Ringer | Diamondback | |||
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Strange variant
Related achievements
Pyro
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Demoman
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Heavy
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Engineer
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Sniper
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Spy
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Update history
May 21, 2009 Patch (Sniper vs. Spy Update)
- The Dead Ringer was added to the game.
- Fixed Spy feign death not being reflected in scoreboard.
- The Dead Ringer now fully drains the Cloak meter, even if the Spy uncloaks early.
- Fixed Spies not being telefragged when standing on an enemy teleporter exit with this item enabled.
- The Dead Ringer can now be activated while carrying the flag.
- The Dead Ringer's Cloak consume rate has been slightly reduced, giving about an extra second of Cloak time on a full meter.
- Emerging from this item's Cloak now drains up to 40% of the Cloak meter instead of 100%. This drain only happens if the meter is at least 60% full.
- The Dead Ringer's Cloak meter can now be regenerated from ammo sources.
- The Dead Ringer's "extra" Cloak powers (damage reduction and no-flicker) are not extended by obtaining ammo.
- Being attacked while taunting with the Dead Ringer out no longer triggers a Spy's Cloak, but instead keeps the damage reduction for the remaining duration of the taunt.
- Fixed the Dead Ringer's damage reduction exploit involving Spy taunting.
- [Undocumented] The Dead Ringer's recharge time was shortened from 18.5 seconds to 16.5 seconds.
- The Dead Ringer now reduces Cloak to 40% when uncloaking early.
- Made a 35% cap on the amount of Cloak it can gain from an ammo pack.
- Has as a quieter decloak sound.
- Feigning death can now play custom death animations like a normal death (head loss, Sniper shot, backstab, etc).
- Feigning death due to explosive damage now has a chance to gib, like a normal death.
- Corpses from a feign death now use the correct wearable behavior (hats stay on, or fall off as they should).
- The weapons dropped by feign death corpses now have appropriate physics and collision for their type.
- Fixed Spies that feign death while disguised as enemy Spies dropping fake ragdolls wearing a mask.
- Fixed a couple of physics issues on ragdolls created by feign death.
- [Undocumented] The Dead Ringer was added to the crafting blueprint for the Tribalman's Shiv.
September 30, 2010 Patch (Mann-Conomy Update)
- [Undocumented] The Dead Ringer was added to the crafting blueprint for the L'Etranger.
- [Undocumented] Your silhouette can be seen if touching an enemy.
October 13, 2011 Patch (Manniversary Update & Sale)
- [Undocumented] The Dead Ringer now plays a tone if Cloak is fully recharged.
- [Undocumented] Added Strange quality.
- Death pits on sd doomsday now properly kill Dead Ringered Spies.
- Fixed a Dead Ringer Spy exploit in Mann Vs. Machine mode.
- Changed attribute:
- When under the effect of Feign Death, damage taken decreases the duration of the effect.
- When disguised as a teammate, the Dead Ringer will drop the body of the player the Spy is disguised as.
- Added Collector's quality.
- Fixed a bug with Dead Ringer Cloak meter being lowered to 40% after Super Armor duration ends when Cloak was extended via pickups or the L'Etranger.
July 2, 2015 Patch #1 (Gun Mettle Update)
- Changed attributes:
- Triggering Feign Death instantly removes 50% cloak meter.
- Changed increased drain rate to a decreased drain rate. Overall duration of invisibility is still 7 seconds when accounting for initial spend of 50 cloak meter for triggering Feign Death.
- Decreased cloak regen rate from +80% to +50%
- When Feign Death is triggered, the Spy receives a 3 second speed boost.
- Initial attack that triggers feign death has its damage reduced by 50%.
- Damage resistance on triggering feign death scales over time. 65% to 20% over 3 seconds.
- Feign Death stealth has no bump shimmer for 3 seconds.
- 3 seconds after triggering Feign Death, the Spy is under normal invisible conditions (20% armor and shimmers if bumped or shot).
- Can no longer pick up ammo for cloak meter while cloaked.
- Fixed a case where speed-line particles were visible for enemy players when a Spy triggered the Dead Ringer.
- Fixed an issue with Unusual Revolvers where the unusual effect would sometimes not disappear when the Spy would feign death, disguise, cloak, etc.
December 17, 2015 Patch (Tough Break Update)
- The HUD 'Cloak' meter now displays 'FEIGN' when Dead Ringer is equipped.
- Changed attribute:
- Initial damage reduction when feigning death increased to 75% from 50%.
- Updated the draw sound for the Dead Ringer.
- Fixed ragdolls not drawing the head properly when a Spy feigns death.
- Fixed a bug related to using the Dead Ringer while carrying the flag.
- Fixed Spectators seeing the fake death notices for the Spy when he feigns death.
October 20, 2017 Patch (Jungle Inferno Update)
- Changed attribute:
- Ammo kits and Dispensers no longer refill the Spy's cloak meter.
Bugs
- The Cloak meter displayed on the watch does not properly correspond to the actual amount of Cloak available, similar to the Enthusiast's Timepiece.
- If a Spy is holding a Dead Ringer and takes damage while taunting, any damage taken after the taunt is finished won't trigger the feign death.
- Feigning death on circumstances that should trigger a unique death scream will sometimes issue a normal death scream.
- The damage reduction from the Dead Ringer applies to drowning damage as well. However, the Spy will recover the full amount of health that would have been lost without the Dead Ringer, allowing players to heal themselves by intentionally drowning.
- Activating the watch upon round start will sometimes cause the Spy not to hold up the watch. This can only be fixed by dying.
- There is an occasional bug that occurs with the Dead Ringer where, once the feign death is activated, the killfeed reports that the Spy's killer "got revenge" on him, even if they were not dominated or don't exist. The same bug may report that the Spy's killer is dominating him even if said Spy was already being dominated by that player, or if they were nowhere close to dominating them. Both bugs may also play the accompanying sound cue. When the Spy is killed by environmental hazards or fall damage, "ERRORNAME" will get revenge on the Spy. These messages are only broadcast to the other team, just like all faked mechanics of the Dead Ringer.
- When reloading the Revolver, switching weapon to the Sapper, or using the Sharp Dresser while quickly activating the Dead Ringer, three hands can be momentarily seen.
- Some achievements that involve killing cloaked Spies can be achieved by attacking a Spy with his Dead Ringer ready.
- When a player holds the Dead Ringer with Specialized or Professional Killstreak Weapon, the sheen will be replicated on the Dead Ringer.
- If the user has final hitsounds enabled, they will not always play if they activate the Dead Ringer of an enemy Spy.
- Just like the Invis Watch and the Cloak and Dagger, if the Dead Ringer is deployed during the reload animation of a primary weapon, the reload itself will be sped up.
- Disguising with the Your Eternal Reward or Wanga Prick while holding out the Dead Ringer will result in it still being held out and will show it charging. Upon it being fully charged, it will act normally. However, if the user takes damage while the uncharged Dead Ringer is active they will still receive the 75% damage resistance on the first hit taken.
- If the player is holding the Dead Ringer after their team has lost the round, taking damage won't cause the feign death trigger, but the 75% damage resistance will trigger each time.
- If an enemy player damages a Spy in this state, damage numbers won't reflect the 75% damage resistance.
- The Dead Ringer does not fake the Spy's death in the Team Status Display, unlike in the scoreboard.
Unused content
- The Dead Ringer has an unused model featuring a chain, similar to the backpack icon's model.
Trivia
- Dead Ringer is a phrase used to describe an exact duplicate of something or someone else; for example, "He's a Dead Ringer for that BLU Spy we shot earlier!". The "ringer" part of the phrase refers to a replacement or impostor, especially in sporting events, making the fake Spy corpse an actual "dead ringer".
- The ability to feign death was present in Team Fortress Classic, and the Dead Ringer's function was likely inspired by that ability. However, in Team Fortress Classic, feigning death was limited to being rendered immobile and having to hope that the enemy would have already passed by when the player decided to get up.
- On the third day of the Sniper vs. Spy Update where the Razorback was introduced, the Dead Ringer can be seen in the "dead" Spy's hand, despite the fact that it wouldn't be officially announced until the next day.[1]
- The Dead Ringer is mentioned by the Heavy in Poker Night at The Inventory during a fold response with the line "The cards flop worse than Spy with Dead Ringer".
Gallery
RED first-person view.
BLU first-person view.
Unused world model.
References
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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