TF2: The Official Taunt Tier List

Summary

The video revisits a previous Team Fortress 2 taunt tier list, this time evaluating vanilla and purchasable taunts more deliberately. The host’s main point is that the original taunts generally feel more purposeful and class-specific, while many later additions feel like generic emotes, meme references, or props designed to sell items.

Evaluation criteria

Each taunt is judged on whether it:

• Mocks or jeers at an opponent rather than merely showing an idle activity.
• Fits TF2’s tone and impressionistic visual style.
• Makes sense in the game world and for the class using it.
• Avoids reducing a character to a single trait.
• Is brief; endlessly looping actions are penalized.

The host also recalls that looping taunts affected gameplay. A sticky-demoman exploit involving detonating traps while taunting was removed after purchasable taunts allowed players to look around in third person.

Class-by-class highlights

• Scout: His original taunts—such as the cocky slap, pistol gesture, and bat taunt—rank among the best because they are brief and capture his arrogance. The Sandman taunt and “Bat a Thousand” also rank well. The host is less enthusiastic about unrelated sports, dance, meme, and prop-based taunts; the skateboard, pogo stick, and several reference emotes land near the bottom.
• Soldier: The original “loser” taunt, salute, shotgun salute, shovel celebration, and kamikaze taunt are praised for fitting his military persona. The coffee taunt also ranks highly. The hammock, puppet, oversized props, and vehicle taunts are criticized as overly cartoony or generic.
• Pyro: The original flamethrower taunt, execution gesture, and air-guitar-on-the-axe taunt rank highly for emphasizing Pyro’s frightening, violent side. The host likes the concept of Pyroland but objects when its imagery becomes visible to everyone in the game. Childlike, musical, or vehicle-based taunts are criticized for turning Pyro into a cute, playful character.
• Demoman: The original “Kaboom,” chest-and-peace-sign, and drinking taunts are among the favorites. Some weapon-related taunts and “Dead Man’s Drink” score reasonably well. Bagpipes and the various pirate-themed vehicle taunts rank poorly for being long, prop-heavy, and weakly connected to taunting.
• Heavy: The gun-hug taunt and shotgun finger-spin/throat-slit gesture are top picks because they combine Heavy’s size, strength, and mercenary character. The flexing taunt also earns a high score. The host dislikes the hug, boxing, cooking, and vehicle emotes when they make Heavy seem like a cuddly mascot or reduce him to a single gimmick.
• Engineer: His original howl, pistol flourish, and laugh after a wrench kill are praised as fitting, characterful taunts. The guitar and some tool-based actions receive mixed reviews. Banjo, vehicle, and other looping activities rank low because they feel more like unrelated emotes.
• Medic: The glove-tightening, bow, and bone-saw gestures rank highly. The heart-squeezing taunt is also praised for leaning into his mad-doctor side, while the Uber-saw taunt receives a good but slightly lower placement. Skeleton, ambulance, accordion, and chair animations are criticized as prop-heavy or not truly taunting.
• Sniper: His original wave, heel-click, and hat-removal taunts rank highly. “Killer Solo” and “Bushman’s Rules” receive moderate-to-good placements. The host dislikes the instrument and tent taunts, and argues that the comics’ New Zealand reveal should not override Sniper’s original Australian characterization.
• Spy: The tie adjustment, disguise-kit and cigarette gestures, and Spy-crab reference are favorites. The money taunt is considered acceptable but somewhat out of character. The cardboard-box reference, disco dance, oversized desk, and helicopter briefcase rank poorly because they do not fit Spy’s stealthy persona.

All-class taunts and overall conclusion

The all-class high-five and replay gesture are viewed favorably. Shadenfreude is named the strongest all-class taunt for being a straightforward, effective laugh at an opponent’s death. Rock-paper-scissors and the skull-cracker receive middling-to-good assessments. Many dance, vehicle, and novelty emotes rank low because the host sees them as activities rather than taunts.

The final tier list is heavily weighted toward both the top and bottom: the original taunts are praised for defining TF2’s tone and characters, while many later taunts are criticized as monetized, looping, or overly silly additions that weaken the game’s original style.

Gamers and sources mentioned: ZestyAlt (host); chat participants RTOR, Chubs, Richtor, Joey, and Gambler. Referenced sources and media include TF2’s Meet the Team shorts, Meet the Pyro, Meet the Demo, Expiration Date, the TF2 comics, Street Fighter, Poker Night, Sam & Max, Left 4 Dead, and a Fortnite lore video.