Mann vs. Machine (update)

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This page is about the update to Team Fortress 2. For the game mode, see "Mann vs. Machine (game mode)"; for the update trailer, see "Mann vs. Machine (video)".
This article is for content released in the update. For the patch itself, see August 15, 2012 Patch.
Alright, enough reading advice. It's man-to-man talk time. I am not going to lie to you: I am going to have to lie to you. You men are absolutely prepared to deal with this, and you are going to be just fine. Right. End of lie. Now get ready to absorb some bullets so they don’t hit my factories.
Saxton Hale; TF2 Official Website
Mvm logo.png

Mann vs. Machine is a major update for Team Fortress 2, announced on August 13, 2012 and released on August 15, 2012.

Day 1: Machines

Day 1 revealed a new co-op game mode in which a team of six players fights a horde of bots, as well as a new map, Mannworks, and multiple special classes of robots introduced for the new mode. It also revealed the trailer for the mode.

Robots

Note: This article details the original set of robots released with the August 13, 2012 Patch. For an up-to-date list, please see the Robots article.

Main article: Robots

The majority of the robot legion represent each class (with the exception of the Engineer) equipped with basic weaponry.

Special Robots

In addition, several Special Robots were announced:

Machine Class Name Equipped with Abilities
Scout Robot
Scout
Minor League Scout
Minor League Scout
Sandman
Batter's Helmet
Bonk Scout
Bonk Scout
Bonk! Atomic Punch
Demoman Robot
Demoman
Demoknight
Demoknight
Eyelander
Chargin' Targe
  • Sword-wielding maniac
  • Can cover large distances very quickly by charging
Heavy Robot
Heavy
Steel Gauntlet
Steel Gauntlet
Fists of Steel
  • Very durable
  • Damage resistant
  • Good with its fists
Heavyweight Champ
Heavyweight Champ (Type 1)
Killing Gloves of Boxing
Gloves of Running Urgently
Pugilist's Protector
  • Doesn't need weapons to rough you up
  • Attacks in large groups
Heavyweight Champ
Heavyweight Champ (Type 2)
Gloves of Running Urgently
  • Doesn't need weapons to rough you up
  • Attacks in large groups
  • Surprisingly fast
Heavy Mittens
Heavy Mittens
Holiday Punch
  • Permanently critboosted
  • Once hit, players are forced to laugh helplessly
Medic Robot
Medic
Quick-Fix Medic
Quick-Fix Medic
Quick-Fix
Über Medic
Über Medic
Medi Gun
  • ÜberCharges like a maniac
Sniper Robot
Sniper
Bowman
Bowman
Huntsman
  • Deadly accurate
  • Quick on the draw
Sydney Sniper
Sydney Sniper
Sydney Sleeper

Giant Robots

Giant Robots are larger and more durable than normal robots, but also move at half speed. Each Giant Robot has its own unique ability.

Machine Class Name Abilities
Scout
Scout
Super Scout
Super Scout
Unlike other giant robots, Super Scout moves lightning fast, so don't let it pick up the bomb!
Soldier
Soldier
Rapid Fire Soldier
Rapid Fire Soldier
The machine gun of rocket launchers. Don't stand in one place for too long.
Heavy
Heavy
Deflector Heavy
Deflector Heavy
Can shoot down projectiles such as rockets and grenades.


Though not explicitly stated on the update page, a few more variations are revealed.

Machine Name Abilities
Scout
Scout
Major League Scout
Major League Scout
Throws baseballs at a much higher rate than most normally could.
Soldier
Soldier
Charged Soldier
Giant Charged Soldier
Hurls slow moving, but fatal critical rockets.
Pyro
Pyro
Pyro
Giant Pyro
Able to airblast projectiles back at its source.
Flare Pyro
Giant Flare Pyro
Fires flares rapidly and accurately.
Demoman
Demoman
Rapid Fire Demoman
Rapid Fire Demoman
Lobs grenades at high frequencies with great precision.

Sentry Buster

Day 1 also introduced the Sentry Buster, a robot designed to take down co-op players' Sentry Guns.

Machine Based on Abilities
Sentry Buster
Sentry Buster
Leaderboard class demoman.png Demoman Detects Sentry Guns that are dealing sustained damage to the horde and runs at the offending Sentry Gun, exploding after a couple of seconds. Also can destroy Dispensers, Teleporters and kill teammates in the explosion radius.

Tank Robot

The Day 1 update page also teased another robot, displaying only an image of a set of tracks in the dirt, accompanied by a mysterious note. It was revealed in-game that the said robot was a Tank Robot.

Machine Abilities Health
Tank
Tank
Has an extremely large amount of health, more than any other robot. Does not attack players through any means, but will instantly crush to death any players caught between the tank and(for example) a wall while it is turning. Carries a separate bomb that it will automatically begin to deploy if it reaches the hatch, regardless of whether a robot has the main bomb or not. Varies

Bomb Carrier Upgrades

The longer a Bomb Carrier survives, the more attributes they get, making them tougher to kill. The upgrades accumulate, and can make them very dangerous should they be ignored or otherwise not killed quickly. One upside is that every time they upgrade, they will stop for a few seconds and Taunt, giving any nearby player a chance to take it out while its guard is down. However, while giant variations are able to carry bombs, they do not upgrade.

Stages Upgrades
Bomb carrier defense.png
First stage
Defensive buff, shared with all nearby robots
Bomb carrier health.png
Second stage
Health regeneration
Bomb carrier crits.png
Final stage
Full crits all the time

Maps

Name Picture Game mode File name
Mannworks Poster Mannworks.png Mann vs. Machine
Mvm navicon.png
mvm_mannworks

Day 2: Mercs

Day 2 revealed a variety of new upgrades and power-ups that players can purchase using in-game currency to boost their effectiveness on the battlefield, as well as Canteens. A new map, Coal Town, was also featured. Day 2 also revealed a set of sample tactics for each class, indicating each class's special abilities and the effects of upgrading some weapons.

Power Up Canteens

Image Type Usage
UberCharge Canteen.png Übercharge Supplies 5 seconds of personal invincibility
Critical Hit Boost Canteen.png Critical Hit Boost Full critical power for 5 seconds
Ammo Clip Refill Canteen.png Ammo/Clip Refill Instant ammo and magazine refill
Return to Base Canteen.png Return to Base Immediately returns user to respawn room and supplies temporary speed boost
Buildings Upgrade Canteen.png Buildings Upgrade Upgrades user Engineer's buildings to level 3 in a hurry

Maps

Name Picture Game mode File name
Coal Town Poster Coal Town.png Mann vs. Machine
Mvm navicon.png
mvm_coaltown

Day 3: Bounty

Day 3 revealed 35 new achievements, as well as an alternative Mann Up game mode, obtainable with the purchase of a ticket from the Mann Co. Store. A new map, Decoy, was also featured.

Maps

Name Picture Game mode File name
Decoy Decoy.png Mann vs. Machine
Mvm navicon.png
mvm_decoy

Trailer

Main article: Mann vs. Machine (teaser)

Pre-announcement references

While officially announced on August 13, 2012, numerous references had been made by Valve prior to the release.

Haunted Hallowe'en Special

The 2009 Haunted Hallowe'en Special revealed Zepheniah Mann's Last Will and Testament, written on his sloughed-off skin, with several lines obscured by sand.

119th Update

On May 5, 2010, as part of the 119th update, Valve released a 27-second teaser for the Engineer update. The teaser shows an early skin-toned model of the Heavy Robot's head passing in front of the camera at 00:08 and a Demoman Robot's head with a red eye socket in the background at 00:15.

Engineer Update

Day 0 of the Engineer Update itself started as wall covered with pictures which was eventually covered with blueprints. One of the pictures depicts a Scout Robot in the style of Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man.

Australian Christmas 2011

Australian Christmas 2011 released a new map, Foundry. Exploration revealed two secret rooms; One with four blurry photographs of robots and the numbers "13 22 13" (which read MVM). Another with a sign reading "TO-BOR" (ROBOT backwards).

May 3, 2012 Patch

The May 3, 2012 Patch added sound paths to the pl_thundermountain manifest which referenced sound files involving 'mvm' and 'robot'.

 "sound\mvm\giant_heavy\giant_heavy_step01.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_heavy\giant_heavy_step02.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_heavy\giant_heavy_step03.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_heavy\giant_heavy_step04.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_soldier\giant_soldier_step01.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_soldier\giant_soldier_step02.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_soldier\giant_soldier_step03.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_soldier\giant_soldier_step04.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_demoman\giant_demoman_step_01.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_demoman\giant_demoman_step_02.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_demoman\giant_demoman_step_03.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_demoman\giant_demoman_step_04.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_scout\giant_scout_step_01.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_scout\giant_scout_step_02.wav" 
 "sound\mvm\giant_scout\giant_scout_step_03.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_scout\giant_scout_step_04.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_pyro\giant_pyro_step_01.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_pyro\giant_pyro_step_02.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_pyro\giant_pyro_step_03.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_pyro\giant_pyro_step_04.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_heavy\giant_heavy_loop.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_soldier\giant_soldier_loop.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_demoman\giant_demoman_loop.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_scout\giant_scout_loop.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_heavy\giant_heavy_explodes.wav"
 "sound\mvm\giant_common\giant_common_explode.wav"
 "sound\mvm\sentrybuster\mvm_sentrybuster_explode.wav"
 "sound\mvm\sentrybuster\mvm_sentrybuster_loop.wav"
 "sound\mvm\sentrybuster\mvm_sentrybuster_step_01.wav"
 "sound\mvm\sentrybuster\mvm_sentrybuster_step_02.wav"
 "sound\mvm\sentrybuster\mvm_sentrybuster_step_03.wav"
 "sound\mvm\sentrybuster\mvm_sentrybuster_step_04.wav"
 "sound\mvm\sentrybuster\mvm_sentrybuster_spin. wav"
 "sound\mvm\mvm_deploy_small.wav"
 "sound\mvm\mvm_deploy_giant.wav"
 "sound\mvm\melee_impacts\cbar_hitbod_robo01.wav"
 "sound\mvm\melee_impacts\cbar_hitbod_robo02.wav"
 "sound\mvm\melee_impacts\cbar_hitbod_robo03.wav"
 "sound\mvm\mvm_tank_loop.wav"
 "sound\mvm\mvm_tank_deploy.wav"
 "sound\mvm\mvm_tank_start.wav"
 "sound\mvm\mvm_tank_smash.wav"
 "sound\mvm\mvm_tank_explode.wav"
 "sound\music\mvm_wave_done.wav"
 "sound\mvm\mvm_bought_upgrade.wav"
 "sound\mvm\mvm_bought_in.wav"
 "sound\mvm\mvm_used_powerup.wav"
 "sound\mvm\mvm_player_died.wav"

June 19, 2012 Patch

The June 19, 2012 Patch added the Damaged Capacitor. Closer examination of the numbers imprinted on it reveals two sets of numbers. The larger, '6.22V1800', corresponds to a future date: June 22, 1800 PST. This would lead up to a blog post made by the Pyro. The smaller set, '07180125', corresponds to the same alphanumeric code (07-18-01-25, A=1, B=2...), reading 'GRAY'.

Pyromania Update

The Pyromania Update released a new map, Doomsday. Exploration revealed another secret room with the same four photographs and a map showing three locations.

Source Filmmaker

The release of the Pyromania Update coincided with the release of Source Filmmaker. Searching the files contained within the editor disclosed models of robot heads for each class.[1]

ARG

Main article: ARG#Mann_vs._Machine

On August 10, 2012 a bloodstain appeared on the TF2 Website, leading to the start of an ARG. It lead to a photograph of the birth certificate of the previously unknown third son of Zepheniah Mann, Gray Mann.

The following day, a second bloodstain appeared, again linking to Zephaniah Mann's will revealing new text which was previously obscured by sand. He mentions Gray Mann and leaves his cache of "miracle gravel" to Elizabeth.

The August 11, 2012 Patch created an intricate ARG involving the Barely-Melted Capacitor and the High-Five Taunt. See the associated article for more details.

The conclusion of the ARG led to the release of the comic, Blood Brothers, on August 12, 2012, which explained the origins of Gray Mann. A day later, the Mann vs. Machine update was formally announced.

Trivia

  • On a episode of GT.TV, Gabe Newell has stated that the Player-versus-Player servers in World of Warcraft inspired Mann vs. Machine.[citation needed]

Update Gallery

Promotion Gallery

External links