Equalizer
“ | Get close enough to death, and you will become Death himself.
— Equalizer publicity blurb
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The Equalizer is an unlockable melee weapon for the Soldier. It is a silver-headed pickaxe with blood on both its ends.
Once this weapon is equipped, it has the unique ability to scale the damage of the player based on their health. It is therefore capable of destroying most buildings in two hits when the player is at low health. Consequently, the player receives 90% less healing from all Medic weapons when it is being used (healing from health kits and Dispensers is unaffected). Its critical hit animation is a backhanded swing, striking the enemy with the sharp end of the weapon.
Taunting with the Equalizer equipped results in the Grenade kill taunt. A variation of the taunt is available to players who equip the Lumbricus Lid.
Originally, the Equalizer increased the player's movement speed as their health diminished, along with the increased damage. These attributes were separated in the Beta Split Equalizer in the Team Fortress 2 Beta and added to the game in the June 27, 2012 Patch. The Equalizer's present attributes are taken from the Beta Split Equalizer 2, while the Escape Plan takes its attributes from the Beta Split Equalizer 1.
The Equalizer is automatically given to any player who obtains 5 Soldier achievements.
Contents
Damage and function times
Scales inversely with health. Approximately 107.25 − 0.37295 × H (107.25 minus 0.37295 multiplied H), where H is the player's current health, with a minimum of 33 when the player is at or above 100% health, and a maximum of 107 (before random damage and critical hits). TF2 rounds upwards to the next highest integer.
The Battalion's Backup gives the player 20 extra max health but does not change the minimum and maximum damage. As a result, the damage increases more slowly as the player becomes injured, but is greater at identical health levels.
Health | Damage | |||||
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Without Battalion's Backup equipped | With Battalion's Backup equipped | |||||
Base damage | Mini-crits | Critical hits | Base damage | Mini-crits | Critical hits | |
≥220 | 33 | 45 | 98 | 33 | 45 | 98 |
200 | 33 | 45 | 98 | 39 | 53 | 117 |
114 | 65 | 88 | 195 | 69 | 93 | 207 |
52 | 88 | 119 | 264 | 90 | 122 | 270 |
1 | 107 | 144 | 321 | 107 | 144 | 321 |

- Attack Interval: 0.8 s
Note: Values are approximate and are determined by community testing.
Healing
Healing sources | Healing rate | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
In combat | Out of combat | ||||
While Equalizer or Escape Plan is not being used | While Equalizer or Escape Plan is being used | While Equalizer or Escape Plan is not being used | While Equalizer or Escape Plan is being used | ||
Crusader's Crossbow | Point blank | 75 | 8 | 75 | 8 |
Medium range | 113 | 11 | 113 | 11 | |
Long range | 150 | 15 | 150 | 15 | |
Medi Gun / Kritzkrieg | 24 / s | 2.4 / s | 72 / s | 7.2 / s | |
Quick-Fix | Healing | 33.6 / s | 3.4 / s | 100.8 / s | 10.1 / s |
ÜberCharge | 100.8 / s | 10.1 / s | 302.4 / s | 30.2 / s | |
Vaccinator | Healing | 24 / s | 2.4 / s | 72 / s | 7.2 / s |
Overheal | 8 / s | 0.8 / s | 24 / s | 2.4 / s | |
Amputator | 105 / 4 ticks | 11 / 4 ticks | 315 / 4 ticks | 32 / 4 ticks |
Demonstration
Crafting
Blueprint
Class Token - Soldier | Slot Token - Melee | Scrap Metal | Possible Results | |||||||||||||||||||
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As a crafting ingredient
Equalizer | Scrap Metal | Homewrecker | ||
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Strange variant
Related achievements
Soldier
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Demoman
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Update history
- The Equalizer was added to the game.
- Fixed a server crash caused by using the Equalizer.
- Fixed the Gunboats absorbing damage from the Soldier's grenade kill taunt.
- Reduced the damage bonus the Equalizer receives as the player loses health.
- The speed boost was not changed.
- [Undocumented] The Equalizer was added in the crafting blueprint for the Homewrecker.
- Fixed the Lumbricus Lid not playing the correct sound during the Grenade taunt kill.
September 30, 2010 Patch (Mann-Conomy Update)
- [Undocumented] Self-damage for the Grenade taunt kill has been increased to 320, which prevents Soldiers from surviving the taunt when overhealed normally.
- The Lumbricus Lid's Grenade taunt kill received a unique kill icon.
- Updated model with optimizations and new LODs.
- Fixed melee attacks not destroying remote detonation pipes (Stickybombs).
- Fixed the Amputator and the Crusader's Crossbow healing teammates that have the Equalizer as their active weapon.
April 14, 2011 Patch (Hatless Update)
- Tuned high-end damage range so it's no longer possible to one-shot certain classes.
- Suppress the Medic call effect while active.
May 5, 2011 Patch (Replay Update)
- [Undocumented] Added a voice response for the Grenade taunt kill.
- [Undocumented] Added Strange quality.
June 27, 2012 Patch (Pyromania Update)
- Removed player move speed modification and added it to the Escape Plan.
- All owners of the Equalizer will be automatically granted the Escape Plan.
- [Undocumented] Updated backpack icon and model (old ones were given to the Escape Plan)
- Fixed not seeing team colors on the sleeves for the Equalizer and the Escape Plan.
- Fixed the Crusader's Crossbow healing teammates with the Equalizer or the Escape Plan deployed.
- Strange Part: Kills While Ubercharged can no longer be applied to Strange Equalizers and Escape Plans
- [Undocumented] Added Collector's quality.
July 2, 2015 Patch #1 (Gun Mettle Update)
- Changed attribute:
- Changed no healing penalty to 90% less healing from Medics while active.
Trivia
- Based on the hidden Poopy Joe page on the WAR! Update, the Equalizer was originally a pickaxe issued to American Monkeynaut Poopy Joe for him to "pierce the Vault of Heaven itself" before it was acquired by Mann Co. in entirely innocent circumstances.
- The quoted promotional text references a line spoken by the Japanese mecha anime Gurren Lagann character Kamina to his blood brother Simon to use his drill to pierce the vault of heaven.
- Before becoming an official weapon, the Equalizer was first conceived by community members Tom Francis and Jibberish. These users were to receive a unique version of the weapon, called "The Great Equalizer"[1], but currently they are both labeled "Community Equalizer".
- Other promotional text (and meme) "Get close enough to death, and you will become Death himself." summarizes the equalizing effect of the weapon, that the Soldier becomes deadlier the closer he gets to death, death being the "The Great Equalizer"[2]
Gallery
The previously used model in first-person view, now used by the Escape Plan.
See also
External links
References
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Weapons | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Slot 1 | stock | Scattergun | Rocket Launcher | Flame Thrower | Grenade Launcher | Minigun | Shotgun | Syringe Gun | Sniper Rifle | Revolver |
Unlock | Force-A-Nature | Direct Hit | Backburner | — | Natascha | Frontier Justice | Blutsauger | Huntsman | Ambassador | |
Craft/Drop | Shortstop Soda Popper Baby Face's Blaster Back Scatter |
Black Box Rocket Jumper Liberty Launcher Cow Mangler 5000 Beggar's Bazooka Air Strike |
Degreaser Phlogistinator Rainblower |
Loch-n-Load Ali Baba's Wee Booties Bootlegger Loose Cannon B.A.S.E. Jumper Iron Bomber |
Brass Beast Tomislav |
Pomson 6000 Rescue Ranger Panic Attack |
Crusader's Crossbow Overdose |
Sydney Sleeper Bazaar Bargain Hitman's Heatmaker Classic |
L'Etranger Enforcer | |
promotion | — | Original | Nostromo Napalmer | — | Iron Curtain Huo-Long Heater |
Widowmaker | — | Machina AWPer Hand Fortified Compound |
Big Kill Diamondback | |
Uncrate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Shooting Star | — | |
Contract | — | — | Dragon's Fury | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Slot 2 | stock | Pistol | Shotgun | Shotgun | Stickybomb Launcher | Shotgun | Pistol | Medi Gun | SMG | Sapper |
Unlock | Bonk! Atomic Punch | Buff Banner | Flare Gun | Chargin' Targe Scottish Resistance |
Sandvich | Wrangler | Kritzkrieg | Jarate Razorback |
— | |
Craft/Drop | Crit-a-Cola Mad Milk Winger Pretty Boy's Pocket Pistol |
Gunboats Battalion's Backup Mantreads Reserve Shooter B.A.S.E. Jumper Panic Attack |
Detonator Reserve Shooter Manmelter Scorch Shot Panic Attack |
Sticky Jumper Splendid Screen Tide Turner Quickiebomb Launcher |
Dalokohs Bar Buffalo Steak Sandvich Family Business Panic Attack |
— | Quick-Fix Vaccinator |
Darwin's Danger Shield Cozy Camper Cleaner's Carbine |
— | |
promotion | Lugermorph Flying Guillotine |
Concheror Righteous Bison |
— | — | Fishcake Robo-Sandvich |
Lugermorph Short Circuit |
— | — | Red-Tape Recorder Ap-Sap | |
Uncrate | Mutated Milk C.A.P.P.E.R |
— | — | — | — | Giger Counter C.A.P.P.E.R |
— | Self-Aware Beauty Mark | Snack Attack | |
Contract | — | — | Gas Passer Thermal Thruster |
— | Second Banana | — | — | — | — | |
Melee | stock | Bat | Shovel | Fire Axe | Bottle | Fists | Wrench | Bonesaw | Kukri | Knife |
Unlock | Sandman Necro Smasher |
Equalizer Necro Smasher |
Axtinguisher Necro Smasher |
Eyelander Necro Smasher |
Killing Gloves of Boxing Necro Smasher |
Gunslinger Necro Smasher |
Ubersaw Necro Smasher |
Necro Smasher | — | |
Craft/Drop | Holy Mackerel Candy Cane Boston Basher Atomizer Conscientious Objector Unarmed Combat Wrap Assassin Bat Outta Hell |
Pain Train Disciplinary Action Market Gardener Conscientious Objector Escape Plan Bat Outta Hell |
Homewrecker Powerjack Back Scratcher Postal Pummeler Conscientious Objector Third Degree Lollichop Bat Outta Hell |
Pain Train Scotsman's Skullcutter Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker Claidheamh Mòr Ullapool Caber Persian Persuader Nessie's Nine Iron Scottish Handshake Conscientious Objector Bat Outta Hell |
Gloves of Running Urgently Warrior's Spirit Fists of Steel Eviction Notice Conscientious Objector Holiday Punch Bat Outta Hell |
Southern Hospitality Jag Eureka Effect |
Vita-Saw Amputator Solemn Vow Conscientious Objector Bat Outta Hell |
Tribalman's Shiv Bushwacka Shahanshah Conscientious Objector Bat Outta Hell |
Your Eternal Reward Big Earner Wanga Prick Spy-cicle | |
promotion | Frying Pan Sun-on-a-Stick Fan O'War Three-Rune Blade Freedom Staff Ham Shank Prinny Machete |
Frying Pan Half-Zatoichi Freedom Staff Ham Shank Prinny Machete |
Frying Pan Sharpened Volcano Fragment Maul Neon Annihilator Freedom Staff Ham Shank Prinny Machete |
Frying Pan Half-Zatoichi Freedom Staff Ham Shank Prinny Machete |
Frying Pan Apoco-Fists Freedom Staff Ham Shank Prinny Machete |
Prinny Machete | Frying Pan Freedom Staff Ham Shank Prinny Machete |
Frying Pan Freedom Staff Ham Shank Prinny Machete |
Conniver's Kunai Sharp Dresser Black Rose Prinny Machete | |
Distributed | Saxxy Memory Maker Golden Frying Pan |
Saxxy Memory Maker Golden Frying Pan |
Saxxy Memory Maker Golden Frying Pan |
Saxxy Memory Maker Golden Frying Pan |
Saxxy Memory Maker Golden Frying Pan |
Golden Wrench Saxxy Golden Frying Pan |
Saxxy Memory Maker Golden Frying Pan |
Saxxy Memory Maker Golden Frying Pan |
Saxxy Golden Frying Pan | |
Uncrate | Crossing Guard Batsaber |
Crossing Guard | Crossing Guard | Crossing Guard | Bread Bite Crossing Guard |
— | Crossing Guard | Crossing Guard | — | |
Contract | — | — | Hot Hand | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
PDA | stock | — | — | — | — | — | Construction PDA | — | — | Disguise Kit |
PDA 2 | stock | — | — | — | — | — | Destruction PDA | — | — | Invis Watch |
Unlock | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Cloak and Dagger Dead Ringer | |
promotion | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Enthusiast's Timepiece Quäckenbirdt | |
Taunt | various | Grand Slam (Sandman/Atomizer) |
Grenade (Equalizer/Escape Plan) |
Hadouken (Shotgun/Flare Gun/Detonator/Reserve Shooter/Manmelter/Panic Attack/Gas Passer/Hot Hand) Armageddon (Rainblower) Execution (Scorch Shot) Gas Blast (Thermal Thruster) |
Barbarian Swing (Eyelander/HHHH/Claidheamh Mòr/Half-Zatoichi/Persian Persuader/Nessie's Nine Iron) |
High Noon (Fists/Saxxy/Apoco-Fists/Holiday Punch) |
Guitar Smash (Frontier Justice) Arm Blender (Gunslinger) |
Oktoberfest (Kritzkrieg) Uberslice (Ubersaw) Medicating Melody (Amputator) |
Arrow Stab (Huntsman/Fortified Compound) |
Fencing (Knife/Your Eternal Reward/Conniver's Kunai/Saxxy/Big Earner/Wanga Prick/Black Rose/Golden Frying Pan) |
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