This guide is going to explain how the item drop system works in TF2.
 
 

The System

To receive random item drops, you must be “actively playing”… This means you either need to be 1. connected to a VAC secure server, or 2. be on the main menu of TF2 but still checking alerts and being active – not just AFK on the main menu.
 
​
 
Players are guaranteed to find items at an average interval of every 50 minutes, however, the system has a weekly cap on the amount of playtime in which drops can occur. Meaning… If you play TF2 for 10 hours one week, any additional time played will not result in more drops. So for example if you start playing TF2 on a Monday morning and play a few hours every day for the whole week, you’ll get drops every 30-50 minutes for the first 10 hours of playtime, but then no more after that until the next week when the cap is reset.
 
​
 
If a player plays less than 10 hours in one week, their leftover time will be added on to the next week. Meaning if you don’t play for one week, you will receive twice as many items the following week. The amount of time a player can save up is capped at 2x the sum of a single week. (20 hours)
 
​
 
Also, if you get a drop, you need to click on the alert in order to accept the item. If you never click on the alert of an item you found, then you will not be able to receive any more drops until you do so.
 
​
 
“Free to Play” players will only receive limited item drops (no rare/cosmetic items) until they upgrade to a Premium account, in which they will gain access to the full item drop system.
 
 
 

How many drops per week?

You will get an average of 7-12 items dropped each week. (If you play TF2 for 10 hours every week.)
 
 
 

What items can be dropped?

Lots of items can be dropped. Here is a list of the most common to most uncommon types of dropped items…
 
​
 
#1 Weapons (Very common)
 
#2 Crates (Common)
 
#3 Tools – Description Tags, Name Tags, Giftapults, etc. (Rare)
 
#4 Cosmetics (Very rare)
 
​
 
You will likely only find a few cosmetic drops in your entire time of playing TF2.
 
 
 

New Item Acquired!

 
 

 
 
This is all about Team Fortress 2 – Items Drop System Works in TF2 Information Guide; I hope you enjoy reading the Guide! If you feel like we should add more information or we forget/mistake, please let us know via commenting below, and thanks! See you soon!