Particle effects

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 with a particular quality; for example, 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.

G.R.U. skull

The G.R.U. skull particle effect is emitted when the Gloves of Running Urgently are wielded by the player.

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  In-game screenshot

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  Particle effects for teams RED and BLU

Overheal

Main article: Overheal

When a player is overhealed by a Medic, the player will emit medical crosses. The particle effect is also emitted when injured players pick up health kits. It is also used on the Medi Gun beam itself.

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  In-game screenshot

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  The healing particle emitted for RED players

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  The healing particle emitted for BLU players

Critical spark

Main articles: Critical hits, Übercharge

The critical spark is used to indicate that a player's weapon will deal critical damage. This is usually accompanied by a team-colored overlay on the weapon itself. It is also used on the Medi Gun and Kritzkrieg to indicate that a charge is ready to be deployed.

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  In-game screenshot of a weapon charged with critical hits.

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  In-game screenshot of a fully charged Medi Gun.

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  Spark sprite

Weapon effects

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

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  The Flamethrower fire effect sprite sheet

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  The Rocket trail effect sprites

Gameplay effects

Particles are used to indicate gameplay events.

Intelligence paper trail

While the Intelligence is being carried, it emits a stream of papers.

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  In-game screenshot

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  The papers emitted from the Intelligence carrier.

Balloons

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

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  Birthday mode gibs.

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  The balloon sprite emitted.

Decorative effects

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

Holy Glow

The Holy Glow particle effect is attached to the Cheater's Lament.

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  In-game screenshot

Community sparkle

The community sparkle effect is attached to Community or Self-made items.

• Selfmadedalokohs.png

  In-game screenshot

• Sparkle sprite.png

  Sparkle particle sprite

• Sparkle sprite2.png

  Sparkle particle sprite

Treasure Hat

Main article: Treasure Hat

There is no known localized name for the Treasure Hat's 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 is in motion.

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  In-game screenshot

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  The sprite sheet used in the effect's spinning animation.

Map stamps

Main article: Map stamps

The map stamp particle 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.

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  In-game screenshot

• Stamp sprites.png

  The sprite sheet used for the effect's spinning animation.

Musical notes

The musical note particle effect is attached to the Earbuds and to Noise Makers (see below section).

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  In-game screenshot

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  The music note sprite.

Noise Maker effect

Main article: Noise Maker

The Noise Makers emit musical note or ghost particles when used.

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  "Noise" particle effect.

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  "Noise" particle effect.

Flying Bits

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

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  In-game screenshot

Unusual effects

Unusual particle effects are attached to Unusual quality items. The different particle effects are viewable in this animation, as well as in this video.

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  Green Confetti (Effect #6)

• Unusual purple Confetti.png

  Purple Confetti (Effect #7)

• Unusual Ghost.png

  Haunted Ghosts (Effect #8)

• Unusual green energy glow.png

  Green Energy (Effect #9)

• Unusual purple energy.png

  Purple Energy (Effect #10)

• Unusual tf2logo.png

  Circling TF Logo (Effect #11)

• Unusual Flies.png

  Massed Flies (Effect #12)

• Unusual Chieftain's Challenge normal burning fire effect.png

  Burning Flames (Effect #13)

• Unusual Green Flame Effect.png

  Scorching Flames (Effect #14)

• Unusual plasma effect 2.png

  Searing Plasma (Effect #15)

• Vivid Plasma.png

  Vivid Plasma (Effect #16)

• Unusual sunbeam.png

  Sunbeams (Effect #17)

• Unusual Peace.png

  Circling Peace Sign (Effect #18)

• Medic Unusual Heart Effect.png

  Circling Heart (Effect #19)

Notes

• A Spy disguised as a person with items that have attached particle effects currently does not reproduce the particle attachment.
• Particle effects that are attached to an item will not be visible to the player wielding it in first-person view.

External links

• Particle on the Valve Developer Community
• Particle system on the Valve Developer Community
• Effect statistics