The Backburner is an unlockable primary weapon for the Pyro. It is the default Flamethrower with a team colored metal addition to the nozzle shaped like a dragon's head.
The Backburner guarantees critical hits whenever it is used on an opponent from behind, and deals 10% more damage than the normal Flamethrower.
The area behind an enemy that will register critical hits for the weapon is approximately a 90 degree angle centered behind where the opponent is facing. This is significantly less than the Spy's backstab range, which appears to be any angle in the 180 degrees behind where a player is looking.
The Backburner is automatically given to any player who obtains 16 Pyro achievements.
Damage and function times
| Damage and function times
|
| Shot type
|
Particle
|
| Damage
|
| Flame damage (close)
|
100%
|
7.13 / particle
|
| Flame damage (far)
|
60%
|
4.28 / particle
|
| Critical
|
13-21 / particle
|
| Mini-crit
|
6-10 / particle
|
| Afterburn
|
3 / tick
60 total
|
| Afterburn (mini-crit)
|
4 / tick
80 total
|
| Function times
|
| Attack interval
|
0.04 s
|
| Ammo consumption interval
|
0.08 s
|
| Afterburn duration
|
10 s
|
| Values are approximate and determined by community testing.
|
Note: Flame damage is proportional to particle lifetime instead of distance from target. Unlike most weapons, critical hits are also affected by the scaling. Additionally, there is a very slight damage variance (±0.08 / particle) due to differences in particle angles.
Demonstration
Crafting
Blueprint
As a Crafting Ingredient
Related Achievements
|
|
Flamethrower
Set five enemies on fire in 30 seconds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Semper Fry
Kill 20 enemies while you are on fire.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Combined Fire
Use your shotgun to finish off 20 players you've ignited.
|
|
|
|
|
Pyromancer
Do 1 million points of total fire damage.
|
|
|
Second Degree Burn
Kill a burning enemy who was ignited by another Pyro.
|
|
|
Weenie Roast
Have 2 enemy Scouts on fire at the same time.
|
|
|
Hot on Your Heels
Kill 50 enemies with your flamethrower, from behind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Infernal Medicine
Extinguish 100 burning teammates.
|
|
|
|
Friendship is Golden
Extinguish a burning teammate with your Jarate.
|
|
|
|
Update history
June 19, 2008 Patch (The Pyro Update)
- The item was added to the game.
July 1, 2008 Patch
- Fixed Backburner's flame critical hits not being recalculated after collision. This meant that it would check if the target was looking away once and after that the flame could score a critical hit again even if the orientation changed.
July 29, 2008 Patch
- Removed health bonus from the Backburner (previously gave 50 extra max health).
August 19, 2008 Patch (A Heavy Update)
- Added new firing sounds to the Backburner
April 29, 2010 Patch (119th Update)
- Added a 20% damage bonus to the Backburner.
May 19, 2010 Patch
- Reduced Backburner damage bonus from 20% to 15%.
September 30, 2010 Patch (The Mann-Conomy Update)
January 7, 2011 Patch
- Backburner was assigned a unique kill icon.
- [Undocumented] Fixed players claiming health by switching to the Powerjack as the enemy dies from burn damage from the Flamethrower.
February 3, 2011 Patch
- Updated model (the dragon attachment) with optimizations and new LODs.
February 22, 2011 Patch
- [Undocumented] Several particle effects, including Flamethrower fire, were altered to appear brighter. These changes do not apply to ATi graphics card users and some others.
April 14, 2011 Patch
- Removed the restriction on airblast, Ammo cost increased 150%, Damage bonus reduced to 10%
Bugs
- In first-person view, the flame at the front of the Backburner clips through the metal cover.
- Due to being a near identical model of the Flamethrower, a similar bug persists; should the Pyro move his hand due to a voice command, the hose connected to the propane tank will appear attached to his wrist.
- Upon dieing whilst using this weapon, the Pyro will drop the default Flamethrower.
Gallery
See also
 Pyro |
|---|
| | Weapons |
Primary | | | Secondary | | | Melee |
Fire Axe ( Frying Pan, Saxxy, Conscientious Objector, Freedom Staff, Bat Outta Hell, Memory Maker, Ham Shank, Golden Frying Pan, Necro Smasher, Crossing Guard, Prinny Machete) · Axtinguisher ( Postal Pummeler) · Homewrecker ( Maul) · Powerjack · Back Scratcher · Sharpened Volcano Fragment · Third Degree · Lollichop · Neon Annihilator · Hot Hand | | | | | | |
| | | Abilities | | | | Cosmetics | | | | Item sets | | | | Special taunts | | | | Achievements | | | | Character | | | | Strategy | | | | Other | |
|
General
Soldier
Heavy
Engineer
Medic
Sniper
Spy
