Viewmodel
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| “ | Now that is what I wanna see!
Click to listen
— The Soldier, upon seeing his new weapon's viewmodel
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” |
Viewmodels are models that represent the player's hands holding their current weapon. By default, viewmodels in Team Fortress 2 have a Field of View (fov) of 54 and are mostly right handed, but this can be changed through the Advanced Options or through the usage of console commands. In the Advanced Options menu, the viewmodel's fov can be adjusted to a maximum of 70, but using the console command viewmodel_fov the maximum possible value can be 179. Setting r_drawviewmodel to 0 disables the viewmodels entirely, but does not disable some some particles such as fire. Some viewmodels feature jiggle bones, and it is possible for multiple weapons to be visible at once (such as Demoman shields).
For a list of individual viewmodels, see the gallery on the individual weapon articles.
Contents
Flipped viewmodels
By default all viewmodels, except for the Spy's watches, are right handed. Viewmodels can be flipped in the Advanced Options menu or by setting cl_flipviewmodels to 1, making the viewmodels left handed. Switching the viewmodel makes some projectiles, such as rockets (except for the Original's rockets), originate from the left side of the screen instead of the right side. This can only be done in Spectator or outside of a server.
Minimized viewmodels
In the Meet Your Match Update, minimized viewmodels were added. Enabling them in the Advanced Options (or using tf_use_min_viewmodels) lowers the viewmodel to take up less space on screen. This option allows players to see more of the battlefield while not entirely disabling the viewmodels.
Customization
Players can download custom viewmodels to replace the game's default ones, often changing animations or the appearance of weapons, as well as being able to turn viewmodels semi-transparent. Custom viewmodels cannot be used in Casual or Competitive Mode, but can be used in community servers.
Update history
- Fixed Spy Sapper viewmodel animation popping
- Fixed a viewmodel related crash when switching classes away from Medic
- Added Viewmodel FOV slider to advanced multiplayer options
- Added a hide viewmodel option to advanced multiplayer options
- Fixed muzzle flashes & shell ejections still playing when viewmodels are hidden
- [Undocumented] Removed Natascha's ammo belt in first person view model
- Fixed Natascha's chain not being drawn on the view model
May 21, 2009 Patch (Sniper vs. Spy Update)
- Made it more obvious on first person view model when your motion cloak is out of juice and you are partially visible.
- Also made it more obvious on first person view model when you're bumped while cloaked.
- Added an option to the advanced multiplayer menu to select left or right handed view models
- Changed cl_flipviewmodels so it can no longer be set while connected to a server
- Fixed a case where an observer could set the observed player's view models
- Fixed the Heavy's punches not matching mouse button presses when the view models are flipped
- Added check to prevent clients using the "firstperson" command to get out of thirdperson view while they're phasing, taunting or control stunned
- Fixed several player & viewmodel simulation issues that occurred when the game was paused
- Added min/max values to viewmodel_fov convar to match the settings in the slider
- Removed the clamps on the "viewmodel_fov" convar
- Added "viewmodel_fov_demo", a convar that controls viewmodel fov during demo playback
- [Undocumented] The Tribalman's Shiv view model was updated to match the world model.
- [Undocumented] Attached weapon particle effects removed from viewmodel (still present in 3rd person)
- [Undocumented] Changed the Scottish Resistance model to use a combined world and viewmodel.
- Fixed the Sniper Rifle and SMG view models having Red skins while on the Blue team.
- Fixed the Engineer PDA view models (build/destroy) having Red skins while on the Blue team.
- [Undocumented] Fixed the Sydney Sleeper view models having RED skins while on the BLU team.
- Fixed the Stickybomb Launcher viewmodel sleeves using the wrong team colors for team Blue.
- Fixed a viewmodel fov bug during rendering
- [Undocumented] Fixed a bug where lit Huntsman arrows would visually lose their flame in first person view if the arrow was charged.
- Removed range restrictions from
viewmodel_fov_demo
- Fixed Natascha using the wrong material for the viewmodel
- Fixed some Festive weapons using the lowest LOD for the first person view
- Fixed the Festive Bat using the lowest LOD for the first person view
- Fixed a client crash related to extreme
viewmodel_fovsettings- The
viewmodel_fovconvar is now clamped to valid values. Users who were using this to hide the viewmodel and tracers should user_drawtracers_firstperson 0andr_drawviewmodel 0to achieve the same effect.
- The
July 2, 2015 Patch 1 (Gun Mettle Update)
- Inspect Target has been changed to Inspect Target or Item. While having a decorated weapon deployed with no target under the cross hair and then pressing the bound inspect key (+inspect), an interruptible view model animation will play.
- Fixed left-hand view models not displaying Stat Clocks correctly
October 28, 2015 Patch (Scream Fortress VII)
- Fixed viewmodel/worldmodel when
tf_passtime_ball_modelis set
- Updated PASS Time
- Experimenting with new viewmodel animations
- [Undocumented] Fixed Festive Wrenches not showing the lights in client view.
- Added the class viewmodel animation files to the list of files allowed on servers using
sv_pure 1
July 7, 2016 Patch 1 (Meet Your Match Update)
- Art Changes
- New view model animations
- [Undocumented] Added option to use minimized viewmodels
- Fixed the Bonesaw not working properly while using viewmodel minmode
- Weapon viewmodels
- The field-of-view slider has been re-added to Adv. Options menu (range: 54 to 70 degrees)
- This feature is now allowed in Competitive Mode
- Improved and fixed many animations when using a higher viewmodel field-of-view
- Removed custom animations from the
sv_purewhitelist because it was being exploited - Adjusted The Cow Mangler and Black Box reload animations to be slightly faster (they now match the default Rocket Launcher)
- The field-of-view slider has been re-added to Adv. Options menu (range: 54 to 70 degrees)
- [Undocumented] Fixed Rocket Jumper viewmodel not being affected by the Use minimized viewmodels option
- More fixes and improvements to weapon viewmodels when using wider/larger weapon field-of-view settings
- Updated PASS Time view model positions to support using FOV 70
- Fixed The Fishcake not honoring the viewmodel minmode setting
- Fixed the Engineer's PDA not always honoring the "Use minimized viewmodels" option
- Fixed the Community Sparkle particle effect not drawing on the viewmodel for players with Community and Self-Made weapons
- Fixed the Golden Wrench not having an offset when using minimized viewmodels
- Fixed some view model draw animations not using the snap command
- Fixed syringes triggering false hits on the client when minimal view models are enabled or a custom view model FOV is set
- Fixed broken lighting for viewmodels in tight spaces (community fix from Stuffy360)
- Client-side prediction fixes (these fix 'jank'/rollback in certain situations)
- Made certain client-side entities only trigger local prediction errors
- e.g. If the viewmodel experiences a prediction error, the player will not experience a prediction error
- Fixed prediction of viewmodel sway
- Made certain client-side entities only trigger local prediction errors
- Fixed lighting position discrepancies for cosmetic items, weapons, and viewmodels (community fix from ficool2)
December 9, 2025 Patch (Smissmas 2025)
- Fixed Halloween spell projectiles not adjusting to flipped view models (community fix from copperpixel)
- Fixed broken view model after switching from the Medi Gun while healing someone (community fix from Vlad)
- Fixed view punch not being interpolated (community fix from ficool2)
- Fixed Short Circuit projectile offset ignoring
cl_flipviewmodels(community fix from birchish) - Fixed for mismatched
cl_flipviewmodelsvalues between client and server (community fix from birchish)
Bugs
- The Engineer's glove uses the RED team's coloring regardless of team.
- The Hot Hand's viewmodel is not affected by the "Use minimized viewmodels" option.
- When viewmodels are flipped, some viewmodels do not appear correctly:
- The Spy's watch animation is not visible, unless looking down. The white meter on the HUD is still visible.
- The Holy Mackerel's first person viewmodel becomes twisted, making the upper half of the weapon inside out.
- The Sandman's and Wrap Assassin's baseball and bauble are displaced, merging into the Scout's right hand.
- The Ham Shank, Bat Outta Hell, and the Disciplinary Action's popper appear to be partially hollow.
Gallery
Scattergun viewmodel at 70 field of view.