Rocket Launcher

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This article is about the Soldier's stock primary weapon. For other rocket launchers, see Rocket Launcher (disambiguation).
I joined this team just to kill maggots like you.
The Soldier

The Rocket Launcher is the default primary weapon for the Soldier. It is a typical rocket-propelling device with a protruding metal side and a wide exhaust port.

The launcher can hold up to four loaded rockets and fires them as projectiles at a speed of around 1100 Hammer units per second, roughly 47 mph. The trajectory of these rockets are not affected by gravity; they will travel in a straight line until exploding on contact with any surface or player. Rockets inflict damage in a set splash radius; damage inflicted decreases the further the distance from the center of the explosion. Normal rockets have significant damage falloff over long distances, while critical rockets suffer no such falloff. Upon a kill, players will most likely explode into gibs.

As the explosion from rockets causes knockback on enemies, an experienced player can juggle opponents. Doing so can deal fall damage to these enemies when they land. The player can use the knockback effect on themselves in order to perform a rocket jump by firing at the ground beneath them and catapulting themselves vertically and/or horizontally. Simultaneously crouching increases the height and length of the jump while also decreasing damage inflicted to self. This technique can be used to reach areas not accessible to other classes.

Damage and function times

See also: Damage
Damage and function times
Shot type Projectile
Damage
Maximum ramp-up 125% 112
Base damage 100% 90
Maximum fall-off 53% 48
Point blank 105-112
Medium range 50-90
Long range 45-60
Critical 270 (Range does not affect damage)
Mini-crit 122-151
Splash damage
Minimum splash 50% 9 ft
Damage reduction 1% / 2.88
Self-damage 27-89
Self damage (rocket jump) 27-46
Function times
Attack interval 0.8 s
Reload (first) 0.92 s
Reload (consecutive) 0.8 s
Values are approximate and determined by community testing.

Demonstration

Strange variant


Related achievements

Leaderboard class soldier.png Soldier

Backdraft Dodger
Backdraft Dodger
Kill a Pyro who has airblasted one of your rockets in the last 10 seconds.


Crockets Are Such B.S.
Crockets Are Such B.S.
Shoot two non-boosted crit rockets in a row.


For Whom the Shell Trolls
For Whom the Shell Trolls
Bounce an opponent into the air with a rocket and then kill them with the shotgun before they land.


Death from Above
Death from Above
Rocket jump and kill 2 enemies before you land.
Mutually Assured Destruction
Mutually Assured Destruction
Kill an enemy sniper with a rocket after he kills you.


Tri-Splatteral Damage
Tri-Splatteral Damage
Kill 3 enemies with a single critical rocket.


Where Eagles Dare
Where Eagles Dare
Get the highest possible rocket jump using jump and crouch.

Leaderboard class pyro.png Pyro

Hotshot
Hotshot
Kill a Soldier with a reflected critical rocket.


Pilot Light
Pilot Light
Ignite a rocket-jumping Soldier while he's in midair.
Hot Potato
Hot Potato
Reflect 100 projectiles with your compressed air blast.

Leaderboard class heavy.png Heavy

Crock Block
Crock Block
Survive a direct hit from a critical rocket.


Leaderboard class sniper.png Sniper

Jumper Stumper
Jumper Stumper
Kill a rocket or grenade-jumping enemy in midair with your Sniper Rifle or the Huntsman.

Update history

October 25, 2007 Patch
  • Fixed rocket explosions being able to impart damage through thin ceilings.

December 20, 2007 Patch

  • Fixed Rocket trail effects sometimes existing permanently in world.

February 28, 2008 Patch

  • Reduced Soldier's maximum rocket reserve ammo from 36 to 16.

March 1, 2008 Patch (Xbox)

  • Fixed exploit with rockets causing damage through thin walls.

March 6, 2008 Patch

  • Fixed critical modifier for explosive weapons (rockets, pipe bombs) increasing critical chance more than intended.

February 2, 2009 Patch

  • Increased Soldier's primary ammo count from 16 to 20.

January 7, 2011 Patch

February 22, 2011 Patch

  • [Undocumented] Several particle effects, including critical rockets, pipes, and stickies, were altered to appear brighter. These changes do not apply to ATI graphics card users and some others.

June 23, 2011 Patch

  • [Undocumented] Added Strange Quality.

June 28, 2011 Patch

  • Refined all Rocket Launcher Forces recoil forces to feel more true to recoil animation.

December 15, 2011 Patch (Australian Christmas 2011)

December 19, 2011 Patch

  • Festive Rocket Launchers can now be gifted

August 15, 2012 Patch (Mann vs. Machine Update)

  • [Undocumented] Added Silver and Gold Botkiller variants.

October 9, 2012 Patch

  • Added Rust, Blood, Carbonado, and Diamond Botkiller variants.

December 20, 2012 Patch (Mecha Update)

  • Added Silver and Gold Botkiller Mk. II variants.

Unused content

  • In the GCF's Rocket Launcher folder, there exists a texture of the old TFC Rocket Launcher. The texture is listed as new_worldrpg_combo.
  • Another Rocket Launcher is included in the GCF, with a white, outlined Rocket Launcher texture. It is in a folder listed as W_RPG. The texture is listed as w_rocketlauncher01.

Bugs

  • While reloading, the Rocket Launcher will occasionally appear to load an extra rocket.

Trivia

  • The weapon seems to be a heavily stylized Template:W. The handle and the grip have been switched around, the rear exhaust port and the sights are cartoonishly over-sized and it seems to fire modified Template:W grenades.
  • It is actually possible to hold 4 rockets in a real Rocket Launcher at one time. However, the launchers that can do this are modern designs with a protruding "magazine", not the traditional World War II era "Bazooka" the Soldier uses; these could only hold one rocket at a time.
  • Upon comparing the Rocket Launcher seen in the original Team Fortress 2 trailers to the current in-game Rocket Launcher, it can be seen that the trigger was originally placed on the front handle of the launcher and that rockets were loaded at the muzzle. In-game, the trigger is located on the rear of the two handles, although the reload animation remains the same.
  • The Rocket Launcher was originally single-rocket loaded, much like its Team Fortress Classic counterpart. An animation of this still exists in the game files.
  • The Soldier's Rocket Launcher is usable by Megabeth in Super Monday Night Combat as part of a cross-promotion.

Gallery

See also