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For an overview of plasma rifle models throughout the Fallout series, see Plasma rifle.
Plasma rifle
PlasmaRifle
Plasma rifle icon
Requirements
SkillEnergy Weapons
Attack statistics
Dmg/Attack
45 (52.3)
DPS
90 (104.5)
DPS (reload)
60 (69.7)
Crit Dmg
44
Crit % Mult
x2
Attacks/Sec
2AP25
Projectiles1Spread0.2
Crit Effect
Disintegration on death
Ammo & reloading
Ammo TypeMicrofusion cell
Ammo/Shot
1
Shots/Reload
12
Ammo Cap.12
Reload Time
3
Other
Weight8Value1799
Item HP900
Repair
Plasma rifles
Editor ID?
Base ID00004344
Perk Effects
Perks (dam.)
 
Gametitle-FO3
Gametitle-FO3

The urban plasma rifle is an energy weapon found in Fallout 3.

Background[]

The following section is transcluded from Plasma rifle. To modify, please edit the source page.

Plasma rifles or plasma casters are high tech weapons firing superheated bolts of plasma, powered by either microfusion cells or heavy energy cells, which find numerous applications in military and industrial fields. The bolts form into toroids in the plasma chamber, which are then sent down a superconducting barrel,[1][2][3] propelled by, and in some models stabilized by electromagnetic claws upon exiting it.[4] However, the plasma bolt chamber can be hotwired in order to accelerate the bolt formation process, effectively turbocharging the rifle.[5] The primary damage mechanism of plasma rifles is thermal transfer, causing serious burns to soft targets and melting hard ones. In extreme cases, the plasma can cause spontaneous dissolution of the target, including separation of soft tissues from hard ones or wholesale molecular destabilization that turns the target into a viscous green fluid.[6]

Initially, the weapon was a bulky, industrial plasma caster, manufactured by Winchester Arms; while it performed admirably, it was expensive and required specialized training to use. However, later developments for the United States Army would lead to a more compact design that was cheaper to produce and easier to train for, perfectly suited for urban warfare.[7]

This plasma rifle is a lightweight urban warfare weapon created as part of a desire to replace the aging Winchester P94 "Plasma Caster" design.[7] This design was produced and fielded in number prior to the Great War of October 23, 2077. This however was not the end of the design nor manufacture[8] of this weapon platform. Prior to the nuclear Armageddon REPCONN Aerospace – as a subsidiary of RobCo Industries – would successfully develop an improvement from their spaceflight research. With significantly advanced factions tinkering with the design post Armageddon.[9]

Characteristics[]

The plasma rifle uses microfusion cells, the same type of ammunition used by the laser rifle and commonly found throughout the Capital Wasteland, and can discharge up to twelve green, self-illuminated plasma bolts before requiring a reload.

The plasma rifle fires projectiles that inflict potentially heavy damage at a fairly quick semi-automatic rate of fire. The plasma bolt moves at sub-sonic speeds, giving enemies the chance to dodge the plasma bolts. Because of this, the plasma rifle is most effective in close to medium range combat, as opposed to the laser rifle which is better suited to long range. Due to its fast semi-automatic rate of fire, it empties its 12-shot magazine rather quickly, and its reload time is somewhat longer than most other small guns/energy weapons. Maintenance is a combination of perks and drawbacks; like other energy weapons, it has a high maximum condition compared to small guns, but is expensive and/or difficult to repair. A plasma rifle in poor condition (under 10%) can cost over 1000 bottle caps to repair. The plasma rifle has twice the chance of inflicting a critical hit than most other weapons, and can turn enemies into piles of green goo if the killing blow is a critical hit. Like all energy weapons, the plasma rifle's plasma bolt can ignite gas leaks.

A fully-repaired plasma rifle can fire 666 bolts, or 55 and a half full cells, before breaking.

Variants[]

Comparison[]

Name Type Dmg/shot DPS Att/sec Crit mult Crit dmg Spread AP cost Ammo Ammo cap Weight Item HP Value
Plasma rifle Energy rifle 45 90 2 x2.0 44 0.2 25 Microfusion cell 12 8 900 1799
A3-21's plasma rifle Energy rifle 50 100 2 x2.5 44 0.2 25 Microfusion cell 12 8 1200 2200

Locations[]

  • Fort Independence, inside a weapons armory (the key to the armory door is inside one of the footlockers in the quarters).
  • The Citadel Laboratory, on the table (note there a possible chance that power armor can be there instead of plasma rifle)
  • Issued to many Enclave soldiers wearing Tesla or Enclave Hellfire armor. Some wearing hellfire power armor will have heavy incinerators instead of plasma rifles; these will be noted by the name Enclave Hellfire trooper rather than Enclave soldier.
  • In Broken Steel, Brotherhood soldiers may frequently be armed with plasma rifles, presumably captured by the Brotherhood and re-issued amongst the ranks. Officer Lepelletier is also armed with one. It is possible to obtain it passing a speech check.
  • In Mothership Zeta, at least two plasma rifles can be found; one in the weapons lab and the cargo hold.

Behind the scenes[]

  • A 'clip' levelled list that remains buried and unused in both Fallout 3 and New Vegas implies that the plasma rifle was originally designed with a 10 round capacity.

Gallery[]

Sounds[]

SingleShotVB ReloadVB
JamVB

References

  1. Fallout and Fallout 2 item description: "{1500}{}{Plasma Rifle}"
    "{1501}{}{A Winchester Model P94 Plasma Rifle. An industrial-grade energy weapon, firing superheated bolts of plasma down a superconducting barrel. Powered by Micro Fusion Cells. Min ST: 6.}"
    Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel item description: "name_plasmaRifle = {Plasma Rifle}"
    "desc_plasmaRifle = {A Winchester Model P94 Plasma Rifle. An industrial-grade energy weapon, firing superheated bolts of ionised gas down a superconducting barrel. Powered by Micro Fusion Cells.}"
    (PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout), PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout 2), and Items.txt)
  2. Fort Independence terminals; Research Terminal, Research Log - Plasma Rifle
  3. Research Note - Plasma rifle
  4. Chris Taylor interview for Vault13.net
  5. Fallout and Fallout 2 item description: "{23300}{}{Turbo Plasma Rifle}"
    "{23301}{}{A modified Winchester P94 plasma rifle. The plasma bolt chamber has been hotwired to accelerate the bolt formation process. Min ST: 6.}"
    (PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout), PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout 2), and Items.txt)
  6. Weapon behavior in the game.
  7. 7.0 7.1 The cover of the Future Weapons Today periodical as seen in Fallout: New Vegas has a section prominently promoted entitled "Urban Plasma Rifles."
  8. Energy weapon forge
  9. In Fallout 3 and Fallout 4 both the Institute and the Brotherhood of Steel are origins of such designs acquirable by the player character. See the variations list on the overview article.
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