Particle Effects for Weapon Effects in FiveM

Weapon visual effects greatly enhance the combat experience — learn how to create muzzle flash, impact effects, and weapon auras.

Events related to weapons

-- Shoot detection
AddEventHandler("weaponDamageEvent", function(
  sourceEntity, targetEntity, weaponInfoHash,
  baseDamage, isAimed, coordsX, coordsY, coordsZ, ...
)
  -- Play impact effect at the hit point.
  local hitCoords = vector3(coordsX, coordsY, coordsZ)
  PlayImpactEffect(hitCoords, weaponInfoHash)
end)

-- Detect gunshots (client-side)
Citizen.CreateThread(function()
  while true do
    Citizen.Wait(0)
    local ped = PlayerPedId()
    if IsPedShooting(ped) then
      local weapon = GetSelectedPedWeapon(ped)
      OnPlayerShoot(ped, weapon)
    end
  end
end)

Muzzle Flash Effect

local weaponEffects = {
  -- pistol flash
  [GetHashKey("WEAPON_PISTOL")] = {
    dict = "core",
    effect = "muz_pistol_b",
    bone = "IK_R_Hand",
    scale = 0.3
  },
  -- rifle flash
  [GetHashKey("WEAPON_ASSAULTRIFLE")] = {
    dict = "core",
    effect = "muz_assault_rifle",
    bone = "IK_R_Hand",
    scale = 0.4
  },
  -- shotgun flash
  [GetHashKey("WEAPON_SHOTGUN")] = {
    dict = "core",
    effect = "muz_shotgun",
    bone = "IK_R_Hand",
    scale = 0.6
  }
}

local function PlayMuzzleFlash(ped, weaponHash)
  local config = weaponEffects[weaponHash]
  if not config then return end

  if not SafeRequestPtfx(config.dict) then return end

  local boneIndex = GetEntityBoneIndexByName(ped, config.bone)
  UseParticleFxAssetNextCall(config.dict)
  StartParticleFxNonLoopedOnEntityBone(
    config.effect,
    ped,
    0.1, 0.0, 0.0, -- forward offset
    0.0, 90.0, 0.0,
    boneIndex,
    config.scale,
    false, false, false
  )
end

Impact Effects by Surface

-- impact effects according to surface type
local impactEffects = {
  concrete = {dict = "core", effect = "ent_sht_concrete"},
  dirt = {dict = "core", effect = "ent_sht_dirt"},
  metal = {dict = "core", effect = "ent_sht_metal"},
  wood = {dict = "core", effect = "ent_sht_wood"},
  water = {dict = "core", effect = "ent_sht_water"},
  blood = {dict = "core", effect = "ent_sht_blood"},
}

local function PlayImpactEffect(coords, normal)
  -- find the surface type
  local material = GetGroundMaterialUnder(coords)
  local config = impactEffects.concrete -- default

  if material == "CONCRETE" then
    config = impactEffects.concrete
  elseif material == "DIRT" then
    config = impactEffects.dirt
  end

  if not SafeRequestPtfx(config.dict) then return end

  UseParticleFxAssetNextCall(config.dict)
  StartParticleFxNonLoopedAtCoord(
    config.effect,
    coords.x, coords.y, coords.z,
    0.0, 0.0, 0.0,
    1.0,
    false, false, false
  )
end

Special Weapon Aura

local weaponAuraHandle = nil

local function StartWeaponAura(ped, color)
  if not SafeRequestPtfx("scr_powerplay") then return end

  local boneIndex = GetEntityBoneIndexByName(ped, "IK_R_Hand")

  UseParticleFxAssetNextCall("scr_powerplay")
  weaponAuraHandle = StartParticleFxLoopedOnEntityBone(
    "scr_powerplay_overlay_electricity_chars",
    ped,
    0.0, 0.0, 0.0,
    0.0, 0.0, 0.0,
    boneIndex,
    0.4,
    false, false, false
  )

  -- Set color
  if color and weaponAuraHandle then
    SetParticleFxLoopedColour(
      weaponAuraHandle,
      color.r, color.g, color.b,
      false
    )
  end
end

local function StopWeaponAura()
  if weaponAuraHandle then
StopParticleFxLooped(weaponAuraHandle, false)
    weaponAuraHandle = nil
  end
end

Trail Effect on bullets

-- Make a bullet trail with networked effect at spawn point
local function CreateBulletTrail(startCoords, endCoords)
  if not SafeRequestPtfx("core") then return end

  -- Calculate direction
  local dir = endCoords - startCoords
  local distance = #dir
  local steps = math.floor(distance / 0.5)

  for i = 0, steps do
    local t = i / steps
    local pos = startCoords + (dir * t)

    UseParticleFxAssetNextCall("core")
    StartParticleFxNonLoopedAtCoord(
      "ent_sht_sparks_2",
      pos.x, pos.y, pos.z,
      0.0, 0.0, 0.0,
      0.1,
      false, false, false
    )
  end
end

Summary

Weapon effects greatly enhance combat scripts — try a combination of:

• Muzzle flash when shooting
• Impact effects according to surface
• Weapon aura for special abilities
• Bullet trail for visual feedback