Razorback

“

Backstab that, ya snake! Click to listen — The Sniper

”

The Razorback is an unlockable secondary weapon for the Sniper class. It is a hand-carved tribal shield, with a car battery taped to the back.

When equipped, this weapon grants the player resistance to a single backstab from a Spy, with said Spy being disabled for approximately 2 seconds and unable to switch weapons. During this period, the player will be alerted to this by a large electrical sound played, at which he can retaliate. Upon a single backstab, the Razorback will break and be unusable until respawn or the player going to a resupply cabinet.

Damage

See also: Damage

None. The Razorback instead blocks one backstab attempt. As soon as the shield is broken, the Sniper is alerted by an electric sound and, if he's zooming in through his Rifle, he will zoom out.

Function times

• Knife 'Lock-up': 2

All times are in seconds. Times are approximate and determined by community testing.

As a Crafting Ingredient

Razorback Chargin' Targe Gunboats + =

Razorback Reclaimed Metal Darwin's Danger Shield + =

Related Achievements

Sniper

Shock Treatment Kill a spy whose backstab attempt was blocked by your Razorback.

Spy

Die Another Way Kill a Sniper after your backstab breaks his Razorback.

Previous Changes

• Originally, using the Razorback slowed the Sniper down to 85% of his original speed. This effect has subsequently been removed, as lacking a secondary weapon is a rather substantial downside.

Trivia

• The Razorback resembles a mid-20th Century Queensland Rainforest tribal shield.[1]
• 'Razorback' is also the name of a minor Spiderman villain who coincidentally, uses electricity to ward off foes who sneak up from behind. [2]
• It is also a term for a feral pig. Feral pigs are an environmental problem in Australia, giving the word a (somewhat tenuous) connection to the Sniper.
• A bug exists to do with alt-tabbing (switching from TF2 to other windows and back) that renders some people's Razorbacks invisible to the player who has alt tabbed (this can also occur when a server's connection to the steam servers is faulty or sporadic). In this situation, it becomes impossible to tell if a Sniper has the Razorback equipped unless you previously see them use Jarate or the SMG.
• The Razorback always has a red colored stripe, whether the Sniper wearing it is on BLU or RED.
• The Razorback bears a scar caused by the Spy's unsuccessful attempt to backstab the Sniper on day three of the Sniper Vs Spy Update.

See also

• Razorback strategy