Item quality

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Revision as of 02:57, 13 November 2010 by Ath (talk | contribs) (Undo previous edits, this article is not arranged by the numeric order of rarities. + Improve wording)
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Hmmm, have a gander at this little beauty.
The Sniper, on hat-based modern stylishness

Item rarity is the "quality" of an item in Team Fortress 2.

Normal Items

Backpack Scattergun.png

Scattergun
Level 1 Scattergun

Normal items are also called 'stock' items. These are the standard non-unlockable weapons that first shipped with the game, e.g. the Scattergun and the Rocket Launcher. These weapons are available to all players. Since the Mann-Conomy Update, unique variants of these items can be made by using a Name Tag or Description Tag with a normal weapon, which are seen by checking the "Show Stock Items" box in the backpack view.

Unique Items

Backpack Huntsman.png

The Huntsman
Level 10 Bow

Unique items, also known as "Unlockables", are items which can be purchased from the Mann Co. Store, dropped randomly through gameplay, obtained through achievements, crafted, traded or gifted. As of the Mann-Conomy Update, all unique items gained before the update were changed to Vintage status.

Vintage Items

Backpack Backburner.png

Vintage Backburner
Level 10 Flame Thrower
+15% damage done.
100% critical hits from behind.
No compression blast.

Vintage items are items that were obtained before the release of the Mann-Conomy Update. Most existing Unique items were changed to Vintage items in order to increase their appeal in Trading. However, they bear no difference other than their blue name and "Vintage" prefix. Some items were excluded and not changed to Vintage items, such as Badges, Promotional items, and Holiday items such as the Mildly Disturbing Halloween Mask (with the exception of some Bill's Hats and one pair of Earbuds). Other items such as the Vintage Tyrolean keep both their original name and the new prefix, resulting in the title "Vintage Vintage Tyrolean."

As the number of Vintage items decreases over time by crafting, their individual value will increase. Renamed Vintage items keep their original name color.

Community Items

Backpack Knife.png

Community Knife
Level 50 Knife
Given to valuable Community Contributors
Effect: Community Sparkle

Community items are special items given by Valve to individuals who have made significant, valuable contributions to the Team Fortress 2 community. Community items have green names and a sparkle particle effect attached, and those derived from the stock weapons receive an additional boost to their phong shading exponent, resulting in the weapon having a more glossy appearance.

An incomplete list of Community Weapon recipients is available here.

Self-Made Items

Backpack Dalokohs Bar.png

Self-Made Dalokohs Bar
Level 50 Lunch Box
Adds +50 max health for 30 seconds.
Effect: Community Sparkle
I made this!

Self-made items are special versions of community-made items that are given to the contributors who created them. Like Community weapons, they emit a sparkle particle effect and have dark green names, with the added line "I made this!" in their item description. See Contribution page for when the items were added in-game.

A complete list of Self-made items and their owners is available here.

Valve weapons

Backpack Equalizer.png

Valve Equalizer
Level 100 Pickaxe
Effect: Flying Bits

Valve weapons are alternate versions of regular weapons given to Valve employees. Valve weapons can be identified by their magenta names and attached flaming effects, although, since the Mann-Conomy Update they appear to have become broken. All Valve weapons are Level 100. These weapons also have a unique particle effect attached: "Flying Bits".

Valve weapons also appear to be for testing purposes, with some possessing hugely powerful attributes. Robin Walker has a Rocket Launcher that shows this (seen here).

Unusual Items

Backpack Napper's Respite.png

Unusual Napper's Respite
1 - 100
Effect: Circling Heart
After a long day of burning scouts.

Unusual items are those with special attributes or qualities attached to them.

Scream Fortress Update

Two new Unusual items were introduced with this update: the Haunted Metal Scrap and the Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker. Besides having the Unusual quality attached to it, the Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker has no discerning attributes from the Eyelander.

Unusual Hats

Unusual hats are hats with particle effects attached to them.

Currently, the only way to obtain an unusual hat is by unlocking a Mann Co. Supply Crate with a Mann Co. Supply Crate Key, or by trading for one. There are 896 possible combinations between hats and unusual item particle effects (14 effects * 64 current 'Unusual-able' Hats). The different particle effects are viewable in this animation, and below as they appear in-game. Two unusual hats cannot be crafted into another unusual hat. The result of two combined unusual hats will produce a normal hat.

Originally, the majority of the particle effects were bound to the feet.

Effects Gallery

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.

Burning player

The burning player effect is used during the burning of players. When viewed in Pyroland, the flames are replaced with multi-colored sparkles.

Critical spark

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 Guns to indicate that a charge is ready to be deployed.

Weapons missing

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:



Marked For Death

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 incoming damage.

Nemesis Burst

The Nemesis effect pulses outwards from the Domination icon above a dominating player. The effect is team-colored to match the team of the dominating player.

Overheal

Main article: Overheal

When a player is overhealed by a 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.

Weapon effects

Most non-hitscan weapons have particle effects. These include the Rocket Launcher and Flame Thrower.

Gameplay effects

Gameplay effects are used to indicate gameplay events.

Australium laundry trail

While the Australium briefcase is being carried, it emits a stream of boxer shorts and socks.

Balloon

While birthday mode is activated, players will spurt balloons instead of blood.

Dollar sign

When playing Mann vs. Machine, dropped credits will a emit green dollar sign particle if the robot was killed normally. Dropped credits will emit a red particle if the robot was killed by a Headshot or by bleed damage through the Explosive Headshot upgrade or by the Tribalman's Shiv.

Intelligence paper trail

While either the Intelligence or Ticket briefcases are being carried, they emit a stream of papers.

Decorative effects

Decorative effects are not used to indicate any gameplay changes and are used purely for aesthetics.

Flying Bits

Intended to be used for rendering flames on gibs, the Flying Bits effect is also attached to certain Valve weapons.

Genteel Smoke

The Genteel Smoke effect is attached to a variety of items, listed below. A smaller version of the effect is also attached to certain items, as well as an undisguised Spy.

Holy glow effect

The holy glow effect is attached to the Cheater's Lament.

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.

Musical notes

The musical notes effect is attached to the Earbuds and Noise Maker (see below section).

Noise Maker

Main article: Noise Maker

The Noise Maker effect emits musical notes and ghost particles when a Halloween-themed Noise Maker used. The musical note particles are twice as large as the ones produced by the Earbuds.

Snow burst effect

The snow burst effect is produced by using the Winter Holiday Noise Maker and by beginning the Skating Scorcher taunt. Snowflakes burst outwards to form a sphere around the player before slowly drifting downwards and fading away.

Spy-cicle

Main article: Spy-cicle

Particles emanate from the base of the Spy-cicle, emulating a cool mist.

Treasure Hat

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.

Unusual effects

See also: Unusual

Unused particle effects

G.R.U. skull effect

The G.R.U. skull effect was emitted when the Gloves of Running Urgently were wielded by the player.

Rotating Birthday Cake

Currently unused.

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.

February 11, 2015 Patch #1

  • Added convar r_drawtracers_firstperson to disable the drawing of first person bullet tracer particles.

February 18, 2015 Patch

  • Fixed a client crash related to disappearing particles, props, and players.
  • Fixed some Unusual particle effects not drawing correctly

March 12, 2015 Patch

  • Fixed a bug that caused some particles to not draw correctly.

July 2, 2015 Patch (Gun Mettle Update)

  • [Undocumented] Added Isotope, Hot, Cool, and Energy Orb unusual effects.

July 8, 2015 Patch #1

  • Fixed cosmetic items with an ambient particle effect (i.e. Soldier's Stogie, Nine-Pipe Problem) erroneously reporting that they had the Genteel Smoke unusual effect.

August 18, 2015 Patch

  • Fixed character loadout menus so they display the particle effects for all equipped Unusual items.

October 6, 2015 Patch (Invasion Update)

  • [Undocumented] Added Abduction, Atomic, Subatomic, Electric Hat Protector, Magnetic Hat Protector, Voltaic Hat Protector, Galactic Codex, Ancient Codex, and Nebula unusual effects.

October 12, 2015 Patch

  • Fixed Unusual versions of the Taunt: Burstchester not displaying their Unusual effects.

October 28, 2015 Patch (Scream Fortress 2015)

  • [Undocumented] Added Death by Disco, It's a mystery to everyone, It's a puzzle to me, Ether Trail, Nether Trail, Ancient Eldritch, and Eldritch Flame unusual effects.

October 29, 2015 Patch

  • Fixed the Invasion Unusual effect "Subatomic" being off-center.

October 21, 2016 Patch (Scream Fortress 2016)

  • Added 8 new community-created Unusual effects.
    • 4 new effects for Unusual hats.
    • 4 new effects for Unusual taunts.

December 1, 2017 Patch

  • Fixed rendering issues with the Infernal Flames, Infernal Smoke, Cloudy Moon, It's A Secret To Everybody, Ancient Eldritch, Eldritch Flame, and Death by Disco unusual effects.

[Unknown Date]

  • Added effect: Rotating Birthday Cake.

March 28, 2018 Patch #1

  • Fixed the Community Sparkle particle effect not drawing on the viewmodel for players with Community and Self-Made weapons.
  • Added a unique particle effect whenever a player performs a "Stomp" attack on another player with the Mantreads or The Thermal Thruster.
  • Updated the Harvest Moon, Dead Presidents, and Circling Peace Sign unusual effects to fix display problems.

October 19, 2018 Patch (Scream Fortress 2018)

  • Added 17 new community-created Unusual effects.
    • 11 new effects for Unusual hats.
    • 6 new effects for Unusual taunts.

October 25, 2018 Patch

  • Updated the Roaring Rockets unusual taunt particle effect.

October 30, 2018 Patch

  • Updated the Roaring Rockets unusual taunt particle effect.

December 19, 2018 Patch (Smissmas 2018)

  • Updated the Starstorm Slumber unusual effect to fix a display problem.

October 10, 2019 Patch (Scream Fortress XI)

  • Added 20 new community-created Unusual effects.
    • 12 new effects for Unusual hats.
    • 8 new effects for Unusual taunts.

December 16, 2019 Patch (Smissmas 2019)

  • Added 17 new community-created Unusual effects.
    • 11 new effects for Unusual hats.
    • 6 new effects for Unusual taunts.

August 21, 2020 Patch (Summer 2020 Pack)

  • Added 4 new community-created Unusual effects.
    • 9 new effects for hats.

October 1, 2020 Patch (Scream Fortress XII)

  • Added 19 new community-created Unusual effects
    • 8 new effects for Unusual hats
    • 11 new effects for Unusual taunts
  • All cosmetic and taunt Cases will grant Halloween 2020 Unusual effects instead of their normal Unusual effects during the event. This does not include Crates.
  • [Undocumented] Added the following Scream Fortress 2020 effects:
    • Cosmetic effects: Green Giggler, Laugh-O-Lantern, Plum Prankster, Pyroland Nightmare, Gravelly Ghoul, Vexed Volcanics, Gourdian Angel, Pumpkin Party
    • Taunt effects: Arachnid Assault, Arcane Assistance, Astral Presence, Pyrophoric Personality, Creepy Crawlies, Emerald Allurement, Spectral Escort, Spellbound Aspect, Static Shock, Toxic Terrors, Veno Shock

October 2, 2020 Patch #1

  • Updated the timing of the Static Shock and Veno Shock unusual effects

December 3, 2020 Patch (Smissmas 2020)

  • Added 19 new community-created Unusual effects
    • 12 new effects for Unusual hats
    • 7 new effects for Unusual taunts
  • All cosmetic and taunt cases will grant Smissmas 2020 Unusual effects instead of their normal Unusual effects during the event. This does not include crates.
  • [Undocumented] Added the following Smissmas 2020 effects:
    • Cosmetic effects: Blighted Snowstorm, Distant Dream, Divine Desire, Frozen Fractals, Genus Plasmos, Lavender Landfall, Mirthful Mistletoe, Pale Nimbus, Serenus Lumen, Special Snowfall, Ventum Maris, Violent Wintertide
    • Taunt effects: Apotheosis, Ascension, Delightful Star, Frosted Star, Reindoonicorn Rancher, Shimmering Lights, Twinkling Lights

June 22, 2021 Patch #1 (Summer 2021 Pack)

  • Added 6 new community-created Unusual effects
  • Moved materials for the community particle effects into the Effects/workshop sub-folder to distinguish them from Valve materials
  • [Undocumented] Added the following Summer 2021 Pack effects:
    • Cosmetic effects: Aggradation, Ardentum Saturnalis, Flavorsome Sunset, Fragrancium Elementalis, Iridescence, Lucidation, Perennial Petals, Raspberry Bloom, Resonation, Reverium Irregularis, Stunning
  • [Undocumented] Updated the Gravelly Ghoul and Vexed Volcanics Unusual effects.

September 16, 2021 Patch

  • Updated the Resonation, Aggradation, and Lucidation unusual effects to fix a problem when taunting

October 5, 2021 Patch (Scream Fortress XIII)

  • Added 28 new community-created Unusual effects
    • 15 new effects for Unusual hats
    • 13 new effects for Unusual taunts
  • All cosmetic and taunt Cases will grant Halloween 2021 Unusual effects instead of their normal Unusual effects during the event. This does not include Crates.
  • [Undocumented] Added the following Scream Fortress 2021 effects:
    • Cosmetic effects: Tempered Thorns, Devilish Diablo, Severed Serration, Shrieking Shades, Restless Wraiths, Infernal Wraith, Phantom Crown, Ancient Specter, Viridescent Peeper, Eyes of Molten, Ominous Stare, Pumpkin Moon, Frantic Spooker, Frightened Poltergeist, Energetic Haunter
    • Taunt effects: Spectral Shackles, Cursed Confinement, Cavalier de Carte, Hollow Flourish, Magic Shuffle, Vigorous Pulse, Thundering Spirit, Galvanic Defiance, Wispy Halos, Nether Wisps, Aurora Borealis, Aurora Australis, Aurora PolarisPolaris

October 8, 2021 Patch

  • Updated the Shrieking Shades Unusual effect to prevent a naming conflict with another effect
  • Updated the Spectral Shackles Unusual effect to fix some material and rendering issues
  • Updated the Thundering Spirit Unusual effect to fix a missing glow effect

October 28, 2021 Patch

  • Updated border color for Unusual items in the loadout menu

December 2, 2021 Patch (Smissmas 2021)

  • Added 27 new community-created Unusual effects
    • 16 new effects for Unusual hats
    • 11 new effects for Unusual taunts
  • [Undocumented] Added the following Smissmas 2021 effects:
    • Cosmetic effects: Smissmas Tree, Hospitable Festivity, Condescending Embrace, Sparkling Spruce, Glittering Juniper, Prismatic Pine, Spiraling Lights, Twisting Lights, Stardust Pathway, Flurry Rush, Spark of Smissmas, Polar Forecast, Shining Stag, Holiday Horns, Ardent Antlers, Festive Lights
    • Taunt effects: Amethyst Winds, Golden Gusts, Smissmas Swirls, Minty Cypress, Pristine Pine, Sparkly Spruce, Festive Fever, Golden Glimmer, Frosty Silver, Glamorous Dazzle, Sublime Snowstorm

December 3, 2021 Patch

  • Renamed Smissmas Swirl Unusual effect to Spiraling Lights
  • Updated Polar Forecast, Spiraling Lights, and Twisting Lights Unusual effects

December 8, 2021 Patch

  • Updated the Smissmas Tree Unusual effect to improve performance

December 17, 2021 Patch

  • Updated Spark of Smissmas Unusual effect
    • Fixed some slight coloring issues
    • Adjusted lifetime values

December 21, 2021 Patch

  • Updated Winter Spirit, Festive Spirit, and Magical Spirit Unusual taunt effects with performance improvements

January 5, 2022 Patch

  • Updated Minty Cypress, Pristine Pine, and Sparkly Spruce Unusual taunt effects to improve visibility in bright areas

March 28, 2022 Patch

  • Fixed looping particle effects being orphaned when players are killed or force-respawned
  • Updated Smissmas Swirls, Amethyst Winds, and Golden Gusts Unusual effects
    • Fixed visibility issues in bright environments
    • Reduced delay before the swirls start in order to accommodate short taunts
  • Updated Sparkling Spruce, Glittering Juniper, and Prismatic Pine Unusual effects
    • Raised the default height of the effect in order to prevent clipping issues
  • Updated the Sparkling Lights Unusual effect
    • Fixed visibility issues in bright environments
  • Updated Condescending Embrace Unusual effect
    • Fixed the effect not moving when taunting

March 29, 2022 Patch

  • Fixed particle effects regression when players are killed

July 7, 2022 Patch

  • Fixed not being able to adjust the offset for a cosmetic item's Unusual effect

July 29, 2022 Patch (Summer 2022 Pack)

  • Added 29 new community-created Unusual effects
    • 29 new effects for Unusual hats
  • [Undocumented] Added the following Summer 2022 Pack effects:
    • Cosmetic effects: Crustacean Sensation, Frosted Decadence, Sprinkled Delights, Terrestrial Favor, Tropical Thrill, Flourishing Passion, Dazzling Fireworks, Blazing Fireworks, Shimmering Fireworks, Twinkling Fireworks, Sparkling Fireworks, Glowing Fireworks, Glimmering Fireworks, Flying Lights, Limelight, Shining Star, Cold Cosmos, Refracting Fractals, Startrance, Starlush, Starfire, Stardust, Contagious Eruption, Daydream Eruption, Volcanic Eruption, Divine Sunlight, Audiophile, Soundwave, Synesthesia

August 11, 2022 Patch

  • Updated the Cold Cosmos Unusual effect to fix a parenting issue
  • Updated Contagious Eruption, Daydream Eruption, and Volcanic Eruption Unusual effects
    • Fixed the highlight glow detaching itself from the effects and moving in the direction the player is moving
    • Fixed the effects being almost invisible in bright areas

October 5, 2022 Patch (Scream Fortress XIV)

  • Added 25 new community-created Unusual effects
    • 12 new effects for Unusual hats.
    • 13 new effects for Unusual taunts.
  • [Undocumented] Added the following Scream Fortress 2022 effects:
    • Cosmetic effects: Haunted Kraken, Eerie Kraken, Soulful Slice, Horsemann's Hack, Haunted Forever!, Forever And Forever!, Cursed Forever!, Moth Plague, Malevolent Monoculi, Haunted Wick, Wicked Wick, Spectral Wick
    • Taunts effects: Marigold Ritual, Pungent Poison, Blazed Brew, Mysterious Mixture, Linguistic Deviation, Aurelian Seal, Runic Imprisonment, Prismatic Haze, Rising Ritual, Bloody Grip, Toxic Grip, Infernal Grip, Death Grip

October 11, 2022 Patch #1

  • Fixed Horsemann's Hack unusual effect not being visible in bright areas and optimized the particle count.

December 5, 2022 Patch (Smissmas 2022)

  • Added 17(sic) new community-created Unusual effects
    • 8(sic) new effects for Unusual hats
    • 9(sic) new effects for Unusual taunts
  • [Undocumented] Added the following Smissmas 2022 effects:
    • Cosmetic effects: Musical Maelstrom, Verdant Virtuoso, Silver Serenade, Cosmic Constellations, Dazzling Constellations, Tainted Frost, Starlight Haze
    • Taunts effects: Charged Arcane, Thunderous Rage, Convulsive Fiery, Festivized Formation, Twirling Spirits, Squash n' Twist, Midnight Sparklers, Boundless Blizzard

December 6, 2022 Patch

  • Updated Musical Maelstrom, Verdant Virtuoso, and Silver Serenade effects to fix max particle count.

December 14, 2022 Patch

  • Updated Tainted Frost unusual effect to fix a problem with the material.

July 12, 2023 Patch #1 (Summer 2023 Update)

  • Added 20 new community-created Unusual effects
    • 12 new effects for Unusual hats
    • 8 new effects for Unusual taunts
  • [Undocumented] Added the following Summer 2023 effects:
    • Cosmetic effects: Hard Carry, Jellyfish Field, Jellyfish Hunter, Jellyfish Jam, Global Clusters, Celestial Starburst, Sylicone Succiduous, Sakura Smoke Bomb, Treasure Trove, Bubble Breeze, Fireflies, Mountain Halo
    • Taunts effects: Deepsea Rave, Pastel Trance, Solar Scorched, Floppin' Frenzy, Wildflower Meadows, Blooming Beacon, Beaming Beacon, Blazing Beacon

July 12, 2023 Patch #2

  • Fixed a transparency issue with the Hard Carry Unusual effect.

July 20, 2023 Patch #1

  • Fixed geometry collision issue with the Wildflower Meadows Unusual effect.
  • Fixed the Deepsea Rave Unusual effect's ground particles not being visible on some surfaces.
  • Fixed Bubble Breeze, Global Clusters, Celestial Starburst, and Sylicone Succiduous Unusual effects not following moving players.

July 27, 2023 Patch

  • Fixed the Pastel Trance Unusual taunt effect not drawing two Balloonicorns.

August 31, 2023 Patch

  • Fixed the floor particles for the Pastel Trance Unusual taunt effect sometimes drawing full white.

October 9, 2023 Patch #1 (Scream Fortress XV)

  • Added 20 new community-created Unusual effects
    • 13 new effects for Unusual hats
    • 7 new effects for Unusual taunts
  • [Undocumented] Added the following Scream Fortress 2023 effects:
    • Cosmetic effects: Celestial Summit, Stellar Ascent, Sapped, Hellspawned Horns, Demonic Impaler, Revenant's Rack, Sixth Sense, Amygdala, The Bone Zone, Arachne's Web, Acidic Climate, Otherworldly Weather, Nightmarish Storm
    • Taunts effects: Deep-sea Devourer, Eldritch Horror, Autumn Leaves, Dead Man's Party, Potion Explosion, Haunted Cremation, Cremation

October 13, 2023 Patch

  • Fixed Celestial Summit and Stellar Ascent Unusual effects not following moving players
  • Updated the Sapped Unusual effect to fix visibility issues in bright environments
  • Updated the Nightmarish Storm, Acidic Climate, and Otherworldly Weather Unusual effects to fix a problem with the lock rotation
  • Updated the Eldritch Horror and Deep-sea Devourer Unusual taunt effects to fix a problem with flickering

October 19, 2023 Patch

  • Updated the Celestial Summit Unusual effect to reduce the particle count
  • Updated the Potion Explosion Unusual taunt effect to remove the delay when starting the effect
  • Updated the Dead Man's Party Unusual taunt effect
    • Added fades to hand sprites
    • Improved effect composition on fast-moving taunts
    • Fixed some particle sorting issues

December 7, 2023 Patch (Smissmas 2023)

  • Added 31 new community-created Unusual effects
    • 17 new effects for Unusual hats
    • 14 new effects for Unusual taunts
  • [Undocumented] Added the following Smissmas 2023 effects:
    • Cosmetic effects: Icestruck, Goldstruck, Radiant Rivalry, Radiant Legacy, Frosty Flavours, Mint Frost, North Star, Prettiest Star, Festive Falling Star, Lunar Lights, Fairy Lights, Natural Lights
    • Taunts effects: Snowfall, Galactic Connection, Eldritch Rift, Selfless Sensation, Distant Desire, Glamorous Glance, Permafrost Essence, Arctic Delight, Winning Spirit, Petal Prance

December 8, 2023 Patch

  • Updated Selfless Sensation to fix a rendering/brightness problem
  • Updated the Permafrost Essence Unusual effect to fix transparency issues in bright areas

January 9, 2024 Patch

  • Updated the Winning Spirit Unusual effect to fix problems with clipping and the control points

July 18, 2024 Patch #1 (Summer 2024 Update)

  • Added 38 new community-created Unusual effects
    • 18 new effects for Unusual hats
    • 20 new effects for Unusual taunts
  • [Undocumented] Added the following Summer 2024 effects:
    • Cosmetic effects:
    • Taunt effects:
  • Updated the Eldritch Horror and Deep-sea Devourer Unusual taunt effects to fix incorrect spawn locations

July 18, 2024 Patch #2

  • Fixed the Distress Signal and Carioca's Call Unusual effects sometimes causing the game to crash
  • Updated the Treasure Trove Unusual taunt effect
    • Renamed to Bountiful Riches to fix a naming conflict
    • Updated the materials to fix a problem with the coins

July 19, 2024 Patch

  • Updated the Distant Drift Unusual effect to fix a visibility issue
  • Updated the Butterfly Season Unusual effect to fix problems with the scale and effect trails
  • Updated the Fiesta Royale and Grand Jubilee Unusual taunt effects with performance improvements

July 25, 2024 Patch #1

  • Updated the Loyalist's Coronet Unusual effect to fix team BLU particles in the team RED effect
  • Updated the Rainbow Reverie, Warp Drive and Overdrive Unusual effects to work better with larger hats
  • Updated the Rainbow Reverie Unusual effect to add a fade in when spawning and make the refract more noticeable
  • Updated the Dragonflies' Embrace, Dragonflies' Nature, and Dragonflies' Lucent Unusual effects to fix trailing issues on the grass and ground particles
  • Updated the Distress Signal and Carioca's Call Unusual effects to fix some issues with overlapping sprites
  • Updated the Desert Wind and Monsoon Season Unusual effects
    • Fixed the wind flickering on moving taunts
    • Fixed the tumbleweed having incorrect physics
    • Updated the wind and dust to trail slightly on moving taunts

August 2, 2024 Patch

  • Updated Taunt: Can It! to fix missing flies particle effect
  • Updated Violent Viridian Unusual effect to fix a visual bug

Bugs

  • One end of the particle effect on Kill-a-Watt and Terror-Watt may randomly attach to temporarily random areas of a map, causing the effect to stretch from the point through any walls to the wearer's head.
  • On certain graphics drivers, particles no longer appear to have a distinct bright glow. This applies to 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.
  • The 'Marked for Death' particle effect sometimes appears when the user is not marked for death.
  • Particle effects of cosmetic items may appear in First Person view.
    • The particle effects of the player and their cosmetic items does also appear while spectating someone.
  • Effects that have been adjusted may not appear.
  • The Genteel Smoke effect does not appear on the Loadout menus.
  • Due to an issue with both the Genteel Smoke effect and Earbuds Musical Notes effect, any item that goes to the bip_head bone (i.e. most items that go to the Hat equip region), paired with an item that has the smoke/notes effect and shares the same bone, will cause the item to get slightly out of sync with the player's movement, occasionally clipping on the character's player model.
  • If a player who is marked for death uses a Teleporter, the particle effect will remain above the entrance for a few seconds.

Notes

  • Particle effects that are attached to an item will not be visible to the player wielding it in first-person view unless the player is using the cl_first_person_uses_world_model console variable.
  • Cosmetic items with particle effects can create multiple effect combinations.
  • Particle effects get hidden by Wheel of Fate big heads effect. However, if being watched as the head expands, the effect will be repositioned and be visually correct.

External links

See also