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.

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, 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

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 is used to indicate that player is marking for death. A player that was marking for death received Mini-Crit from all oncoming damage.

Icon displayed above a marked player.
HUD Icon displayed when '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.

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 Smoke effect

The Genteel Smoke effect is attached to the Lord Cockswain's Novelty Mutton Chops and Pipe, Outback Intellectual, Bubble Pipe, Aladdin's Private Reserve, Nine-Pipe Problem, Waxy Wayfinder, Gentle Munitionne of Leisure and Bearded Bombardier.

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 effect

Unused effects

Unused Unusual effects

In addition to the unusual effects introduced in the Mann-Conomy update, the following effects were added at the same time, and have remained unused.

'Beany green'
'Beany hearts'
'Beany target'
'Circling skull'
'Sparkles1'
'Sparkles2'
'Sparkles3'

The following unused unusual effects were introduced with the Very Scary Halloween Special, and are currently unused.

Orbiting Cloudy Full Moon
Orbiting Shells

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.

Demonstration

Update history

September 30, 2010 Patch (Mann-Conomy Update)

Added 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 unusual effects
Added Gloves of Running Urgently particle effect

December 7, 2010 Patch

Added Treasure Hat particle effect

December 17, 2010 Patch (Australian Christmas)

Added World Traveler's Hat particle effect

August 18, 2011 Patch (Manno-Technology Bundle)

[Undocumented] Added Stormy Storm, Blizzardy Storm, Nuts n' Bolts, Orbiting Planets, Orbiting Fire, Bubbling, Smoking, Steaming unusual effects

August 23, 2011 Patch

Fixed Sunbeams effect

October 27, 2011 Patch (Very Scary Halloween Special)

[Undocumented] Added Cloudy Moon, Orbiting Cloudy Full Moon, Eerie Orbiting Fire, Flaming Lantern, Orbiting Shells, Cauldron Bubbles unusual effects

February 2, 2012 Patch

Fixed the Head Warmer not displaying particle effects correctly

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

Bugs

The Nuts & Bolts particle effect has a visual problem. When circle strafing around a player, the Nuts & Bolts appear to slow right down or even stop moving. This is much easier to detect if crouched.
On certain graphics drivers, particles no longer appear to have a distinct bright glow. This applies on the medibeam, unusual effects and energy based weapons. It has also has been reported by DirectX 11 users.
Upon death or disconnect, particle effects often stay in the spot the player was, fully animated.

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

External links

Particle system on the Valve Developer Community