Cosmetic items previously known as hats and miscellaneous items , or miscs are items that can be equipped in any one of the three cosmetic slots in the loadout screen. Valve introduced the first set of nine cosmetics in the Sniper vs. Spy Update , with one hat for each class. Several updates have since added additional cosmetics, including those designed and submitted by members of the Team Fortress 2 community through the Steam Workshop or the former contribution page on the TF2 Official Website.
There are currently a total of cosmetic items. While most cosmetics can be obtained through crafting , the item drop system , or bought from the Mann Co. Store , some cosmetics are only available to players via other means. Some cosmetics can only be obtained by completing in-game achievements. Others have been added as promotions for various Steam games, events in the Steam Store, third-party websites, and merchandise.
While it is possible to obtain most of these cosmetics via trading , there is no option to purchase them from the Mann Co. Only players with the premium account type can receive cosmetics randomly through the item drop system.
Supply Crate. Effects are chosen at random from applicable groups certain effects are only obtainable during special events when the cosmetic item is obtained. Cosmetics do not affect gameplay, spare the psychology of players.
Additionally, several cosmetic items make sounds, potentially revealing the location of the wearer and making them more noticeable. Several cosmetic items provide an additional cosmetic effect, such as replacing voice lines or playing certain sounds when taunting.
