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 of a particular quality; for example, the Unusual effect only appear on items with the Unusual quality.
Contents
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 effect
The G.R.U. skull effect is emitted when the Gloves of Running Urgently are wielded by the player.
In-game screenshot
Overheal effect
When a player is overhealed by the 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.
In-game screenshot
The healing particle emitted for RED players.
The healing particle emitted for BLU players.
Critical spark effect
The critical spark effect 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.
In-game screenshot of a weapon charged with critical hits.
In-game screenshot of a fully charged Medi Gun.
Spark sprite
Weapon effects
Most non-hitscan weapons have particle effects. These include the Rocket Launcher and Flamethrower.
The Flamethrower fire effect sprite sheet.
The Rocket trail effect sprites.
Gameplay effects
Particles are used to indicate gameplay events.
Intelligence paper trail effect
While the Intelligence is being carried, it emits a stream of papers.
In-game screenshot
The papers emitted from the Intelligence carrier.
Balloon effect
While birthday mode is activated, players will spurt balloons instead of blood.
Birthday mode gibs
The balloon sprite emitted.
Decorative effects
Decorative effects are not used to indicate any gameplay changes and are used purely for aesthetics.
Holy glow effect
The holy glow effect is attached to the Cheater's Lament.
In-game screenshot
Community sparkle effect
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 effect
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 is in motion.
In-game screenshot
The sprite sheet used in the effect's spinning animation.
Map Stamps effect
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.
In-game screenshot
- Stamp sprites.png
The sprite sheet used for the effect's spinning animation.
Musical notes effect
The musical notes effect is attached to the Earbuds and Noise Maker (see below section).
In-game screenshot
The music note sprite.
Noise Maker effect
The Noise Maker effect emits musical notes or ghost particles when used.
"Noise" particle effect.
"Noise" particle effect.
Flying bits effect
Intended to be used for rendering flames on gibs, the flying bits effect is also attached to certain Valve weapons.
In-game screenshot
Nemesis burst effect
Nemesis burst effect
Unusual effect
The Unusual effect is attached to Unusual quality items. The first 14 effects were added to the game with the Mann-Conomy Update, 8 more unusual effects were added with the August 18, 2011 Patch.
The different particle effects are viewable in this animation, as well as in this video.
Mann-Conomy Update
Green Confetti
- Unusual purple Confetti.png
Purple Confetti
- Unusual Ghost.png
Haunted Ghosts
- Unusual green energy glow.png
Green Energy
- Unusual purple energy.png
Purple Energy
- Unusual tf2logo.png
Circling TF Logo
- Unusual Flies.png
Massed Flies
- Unusual Chieftain's Challenge normal burning fire effect.png
Burning Flames
- Unusual Green Flame Effect.png
Scorching Flames
- Unusual plasma effect 2.png
Searing Plasma
- Vivid Plasma.png
Vivid Plasma
- Unusual sunbeam.png
Sunbeams
- Unusual Peace.png
Circling Peace Sign
- Medic Unusual Heart Effect.png
Circling Heart
August 18, 2011
Bubbles
Steaming
Orbiting Fire
Orbiting Planets
Nuts and Bolts
Smoking
Stormy Storm
Blizzardy Storm
Other effects
Effect particle 1 used during the burning of players.
Effect particle 1
Notes
- The Spy disguised as a player 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.
Update history
September 30, 2010 Patch (Mann-Conomy Update)
- Added 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 unusual effects.
- Added G.R.U. particle effect.
- Added Treasure Hat particle effect.
December 17, 2010 Patch (Australian Christmas)
- Added World Traveler's Hat particle effect.
August 18, 2011 Patch (Manno-Technology Bundle)
- [Undocumented] Added Stormy Storm, Blizzardy Storm, Nuts n' Bolts,Orbiting Planets, Orbiting Fire, Bubbling, Smoking, Steaming unusual efects.
- Fixed sunbeams effect.
