Bodygroup
A bodygroup is a feature of the Source Engine that enables specific sections of a model to be enabled or disabled, popularly allowing for different models to take their place. In Team Fortress 2, bodygroups are used in the models of several items to show or hide specific player or weapon models when needed; for example, most cosmetic items manipulate bodygroups to remove the default accessory (headgear, chest grenades, backpack etc.) present on the player model to allow room for the newer cosmetic model.
Bodygroups do not alter hitboxes; like jiggle bones, they are a purely cosmetic feature.
Contents
Bodygroups
Player models
Weapons
| List of weapons with bodygroup | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Slot | Weapon | Group name | Use | |
| Secondary | 
|
|
Shell | The projectile | |
| Flare Gun† | Detonator† | ||||
| |||||
| Scorch Shot† | |||||
| Primary | 
|
|
Reload | The projectile | |
| Grenade Launcher† | Loch-n-Load† | ||||
|
| ||||
| Loose Cannon† | Iron Bomber† | ||||
| Secondary | 
|
|
Bite | Adds a bite mark | |
| Sandvich† | Dalokohs Bar | ||||
|
| ||||
| Buffalo Steak Sandvich | Fishcake | ||||
|
| ||||
| Robo-Sandvich | Second Banana | ||||
| Secondary | 
|
|
Hose | Removes the hose on death | |
| Medi Gun† | Kritzkrieg† | ||||
|
| ||||
| Quick-Fix† | Vaccinator† | ||||
| Primary | 
|
|
Arrow | The projectile | |
| Huntsman† | Fortified Compound† | ||||
| Note |
| ||||
Update history
August 19, 2008 Patch (Heavy Update)
- [Undocumented] Added hand bodygroup to the Heavy model.
May 21, 2009 Patch (Sniper vs. Spy Update)
- [Undocumented] Added arrow bodygroup to the Sniper model.
August 13, 2009 Patch (Classless Update)
- [Undocumented] Added hat bodygroups to the Scout, Soldier, Engineer and Sniper models.
- [Undocumented] Added headset bodygroup to the Scout model.
- [Undocumented] Added medal bodygroup to the Soldier model.
July 8, 2010 Patch (Engineer Update)
- [Undocumented] Added right arm bodygroup to the Engineer model.
- [Undocumented] Added grenade bodygroup to the Soldier model.
September 30, 2010 Patch (Mann-Conomy Update)
- [Undocumented] Added bullet bodygroup to the Sniper model.
- [Undocumented] Added head and grenade bodygroups to the Pyro model.
- [Undocumented] Added shoes and socks bodygroup to the Scout model.
April 14, 2011 Patch (Hatless Update)
- [Undocumented] Added hose bodygroup to the Medi Gun model.
- [Undocumented] Added dogtag bodygroup to the Scout model.
- [Undocumented] Added leg bodygroup to the Demoman model.
June 23, 2011 Patch (Über Update)
- [Undocumented] Added backpack bodygroup to the Medic model.
August 18, 2011 Patch (Manno-Technology Bundle)
- [Undocumented] Fixed Heavy's fist bodygroup not being removed when equipped with certain melee weapons.
- [Undocumented] Added backpack bodygroup to the Pyro.
- Fixed body groups not hiding correctly on ragdolls.
October 26, 2012 Patch (Spectral Halloween Special)
- [Undocumented] Fixed a bug that would make certain body groups will fail to activate when required. For example, the Soldier's 'rocket' and Demoman's 'smile' during certain taunts.
- [Undocumented] Fixed the Spooky Shoes not hiding the socks and shoes bodygroup.
- [Undocumented] Fixed the Coffin Kit hiding the backpack bodygroup.
- [Undocumented] Corrected bodygroups for Snow Sleeves.
- Updated the bodygroup settings for Screamin' Eagle, North Polar Fleece, Bomber's Bucket Hat, Fur-lined Fighter, Insulated Inventor and Snow Stompers.
- Fixed
AE_CL_BODYGROUP_SET_VALUEanimation events not working properly.
- Fixed The Bootenkhamuns not hiding the correct bodygroup when equipped.
- Fixed cosmetics, weapons and weapon attachments casting shadows at the wrong time.
- Fixed the B'aaarrgh-n-Britches hiding the hat bodygroup.
- Updated The Frenchman's Formals to hide the Scout's dog-tags.
- Updated the
player_bodygroupsthat are hidden when equipping The Dark Falkirk Helm and The Sole Saviors.
- Fixed the bite bodygroup for The Fishcake and The Dalokohs Bar.
- Fixed the bite bodygroup for The Second Banana.
- Fixed the Iron Lung hiding the Engineer's helmet.
- Updated the Jupiter Jetpack to not hide the Pyro grenades.
- Fixed The Bone Cone hiding the player's head.
- Fixed the Safety Stripes hiding the Soldier's hat.
- Fixed the Grim Tweeter hiding the hat/headphones.
July 18, 2024 Patch 1 (Summer 2024 Update)
- Fixed cosmetic items that use per-class bodygroups not using the correct bodygroup in the Loadout panel.
- [Undocumented] Fixed the Face Plante hiding the Scout's dogtags.
- [Undocumented] Removed dogtag and headphone bodygroups from the Support Spurs.
July 24, 2025 Patch (Summer 2025 Update)
- Updated the Heavy's model to add a 'bullets' bodygroup for cosmetics.
- Updated the in-game item importer to support the new 'bullets' bodygroup.
- Updated the Kapitan's Kaftan to hide the Heavy's bullets.
- Updated the Fat Friar:
- Adjusted mesh to compensate for lack of bullets bodygroup.
December 9, 2025 Patch (Smissmas 2025)
- Fixed The Accursed Apparition hiding the Scout's headphones.
- Fixed the Skeleton Crew not hiding the Sniper bullets
- Fixed the Bone Chiller not hiding the correct bodygroup
- Fixed additional bodygroup settings for styles not being applied to disguised Spies
- [Undocumented] Updated the Sniper's
bulletsbodygroup to hide the Sniper's bullets in his chest pocket and added a newdartsbodygroup for the Sydney Sleeper's darts.
Unused content
- The Pyromancer's Mask has a bodygroup that features an alternative set of horns.
- The World Traveler's Hat has bodygroups that features different types of stamps.
Bugs
- Items that turn off specific bodygroups do not cast a shadow.
- Occasionally, bodygroups disappear, leaving empty space on the model.
- Occasionally, items fail to turn off the default bodygroup, leading to the original group clipping into the replacement model.
- Items that replace a removed group do not disappear when the player is backstabbed by Your Eternal Reward.
- If a cosmetic that partially covers a bodygroup and a cosmetic that disables that same bodygroup (e.g., the Bottle Cap, which adds custom dog tags partially over the Scout's default ones, and the Bigg Mann on Campus, which entirely removes the default dog tags) are equipped at the same time, the part covering the bodygroup remains visible.
External links
- $bodygroup on the Valve Developer Community — technical explanation of
$bodygroup
