Projectiles
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Projectiles, unlike hitscan bullets, do not travel instantaneously across the map but rather at a preset speed, differing depending on the projectile, and are often subject to engine physics. Projectiles use a large hitbox shared by all classes to judge contact, the same as that used by melee weapons, other players, and the enviroment. The damage of a projectile is usually determined by the distance the target is from the attacker upon collision or, alternatively, from the spot said attacker was at upon death. At a certain distance or time most projectiles disappear. Many projectiles have unique properties, which differ depending on the weapon. Projectiles are not affected by lag compensation.
The Sandvich, which can be thrown by a Heavy, sticky bomb pieces, and dropped weapon pickups from dead players are not considered projectiles; although they are also launched and subject to engine physics, they have wholly different properties.
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Special projectiles
The properties of projectiles differ depending on the weapon that fired them. Projectiles often damage on contact like a hitscan bullet. Alternatively, many projectiles generate explosions upon contact or in the case of the Demoman, generate explosions and destroy themselves when a certain time has passed (in the case of grenades) or at the Demoman's cue (in the case of sticky bombs). All projectiles bar rockets, such as those fired from the Rocket Launcher, are subject to gravity, and fall downward. The damage of the projectiles that are fired from the Demoman's weapons, the flares fired from a Flare Gun, the rockets fired from a level 3 Sentry Gun, and the arrows fired by the Huntsman are not affected by the distance the attacker is from the target nor do they disappear except on contact. (The Flare Gun's range is instead limited by a mechanic that causes the flare to drop rapidly after a period.) Certain projectiles apply effects upon contact. The baseballs launched by the Sandman apply a stunning effect, while flares set enemies on fire. Jarate and Mad Milk do not deal damage at all, but instead apply their respective effects to enemies, temporarily remove the Cloaking ability from Spies, and put out fires within their splash radius. The Blutsauger and Black Box restore health to the firing Medic or Soldier on a hit. The Huntsman can also be made to apply the fire effect when ignited by a Pyro's flames. Note that effects are not applied when the target is ÜberCharged by a Medi Gun.
Sticky bombs adhere to the environment, but bounce off spawn walls, players, and certain other objects. Arrows stick to players and the environment, but only cosmetically. Syringes also stick to the environment, also cosmetically. Rockets from a level 3 Sentry Gun track targets slightly and move about randomly.
Flames
Flames are large, damage-dealing, player-igniting 'particles' fired from the Pyro's primary weapons: the Flamethrower, Backburner, and Degreaser. They use the projectile hitbox to judge contact, like projectiles, but are invisible (instead casting a distortion effect), both time out and have a maximum distance, and have their damage largely determined by time since fired and not distance. Also unlike projectiles, flames do not make contact with players or buildings except to damage them and do not make contact with the environment except at their center; the projectile does not ignite or deal damage through walls, however. Flames have a "negative" curve that cause flames to drift upward and have their momentum partially determined by the firing Pyro's movement.
Explosions
Explosions are instantly damaging splash effects produced by projectiles (and the Kamikaze taunt), that usually have significant knockback. They also use the projectile hitbox. The knockback, size, and damage of explosions vary depending on the projectile that generates them. Explosions cannot pass through walls, and thus conform their shape to the shape of their surroundings. They deal damage proportional to the amount of hitbox encompassed in their radius (or, roughly, distance from the explosion's center). Explosions can hit the player that fired them, which may be used to augment jumping.
The compression blast and splash effects from Jarate and Mad Milk are sometimes classified as explosions, and have similar properties, conforming to walls in the same way.
Syringes
Syringes, fired by the Syringe Gun and Blutsauger, use the projectile hitbox, curve, and have the approximate speed of rockets fired from the Rocket Launcher, but inflict bonus damage on enemies with a weakness to bullets and cannot be reflected or destroyed by other projectiles or a compression blast.
Other properties of projectiles
The compression blast ability of the Flamethrower and Degreaser can reflect all projectiles save for syringes. Once reflected they will switch ownership to the Pyro whom reflected the projectile (unless said projectile is a stickybomb), and deal Mini-Crit damage on enemies they hit.
The Huntsman's arrows Critically headshot when they pierce a particular area of the projectile hitbox that is shared by all classes. The Backburner Crits when attacking an area at the behind of the hitbox. The flares from a Flare Gun Crit or Mini-Crit on burning targets at a certain range.
When colliding in mid-air Critical projectiles and arrows destroy other projectiles. Flares destroy other flares. Sticky bombs can also be destroyed by bullets or melee.
Sticky bombs drop a piece of ammo or metal when destroyed.
Projectiles
| Projectile |  Rocket |
 Grenade |
  Stickybomb |
 Arrow |
 Jarate |
 Baseball |
 Flare |
 Syringe |
 Mad Milk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed (HU/s) | 850 | 805-1850 (Varies based on charge) | 1875 (Varies based on charge) | 850 | 1940 | 1450 | 850 | ||
| Arcs[1] | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sticks[2] | No | No | Only to world | Yes | No | No | No | Only to world | No |
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