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The A3-21's plasma rifle is a unique weapon in Fallout 3.

Background[]

This section is transcluded from Plasma rifle. To change it, please edit the transcluded page.

Plasma rifles or plasma casters are high tech weapons firing superheated bolts of plasma, powered by either microfusion cells, heavy energy cells, plasma cartridges, or plasma cores 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.

Bulky, industrial plasma casters manufactured by Winchester Arms were once popular. While they performed admirably, they were expensive and required specialized training to use. Later developments by the United States Army would lead to a more compact design that was cheaper to produce and easier to train for, suitable for urban warfare.[6]

This plasma rifle is a lightweight urban warfare weapon created as part of a desire to replace the aging Winchester P94 "Plasma Caster" design.[6] 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[7] 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.[8]

Characteristics[]

A3-21's plasma rifle is an upgraded plasma rifle. It deals 50 damage at max Energy Weapons and condition and has a critical % multiplier of 2.5. The rifle is also durable, with an item HP of 1,200. Each attack from A3-21's plasma rifle in V.A.T.S. uses 25 Points and the rifle has a small weapons spread at 0.2.

Durability[]

A3-21's plasma rifle can fire a total of 600 bolts, or about 50 full reloads from full condition, before breaking.

Variants[]

Comparison[]

Legend 
Weapon name (current weapon is highlighted)- Weapon name (melee or unarmed)Attacks in V.A.T.S.- Attacks in V.A.T.S.
Weapon name (current weapon is highlighted)- Weapon name (gun, energy or explosive)Action point cost- Action point cost
Damage per attack (damage per projectile)- Damage per attack (damage per projectile)Damage per action point- Damage per action point
Damage per second- Damage per secondWeapon spread- Weapon spread
Area of effect damage- Area of effect damageMagazine capacity (shots per reload)- Magazine capacity (shots per reload)
Effect damage & duration- Effect damage & durationDurability (number of attacks before breaking)- Durability (number of attacks before breaking)
Bonus effects- Bonus effectsWeight- Weight
Attacks per second- Attacks per secondValue in caps- Value in caps
Critical chance % multiplier- Critical chance % multiplierValue to weight ratio- Value to weight ratio
Critical damage- Critical damageSkill required- Skill required
Critical effect damage & duration- Critical effect damage & durationStrength required- Strength required
With all mods attached- With all mods attached
Weapon name (current weapon is highlighted)Damage per attack (damage per projectile)Damage per secondAttacks per secondCritical Chance % multiplierCritical damageAction Point costDamage per action pointWeapon spreadMagazine capacity (shots per reload)Durability (number of attacks before breaking)WeightValue in capsValue to weight ratio
Plasma rifle 45
902x244251.80.21250081799224.9
A3-21's plasma rifle 50
1002x2.5502520.21260082200275

Location[]

A3-21's plasma rifle is carried by Harkness, and can be received by the player character through two of the endings of The Replicated Man quest.

Related quests[]

Notes[]

  • Any regular plasma rifle will set Harold on fire, but like all unique weapons, Harkness' does not. It will still detonate gas leaks like most other energy weapons.
  • This plasma rifle is unavailable after completing "The Replicated Man" by giving Dr. Zimmer the android component. It is still possible to receive the rifle and complete the quest this way, but it must be obtained before giving Zimmer the component.
  • It can be obtained very early into the game by traveling straight to Rivet City and starting the quest there because it only requires talking to a few doctors in Megaton and Rivet City and then Pinkerton. One major drawback is the availability of microfusion cells and plasma rifles at this stage of the game.
  • At full condition, it is one of the most valuable weapons in Fallout 3.

Bugs[]

Playstation 3Playstation 3Playstation 3 The name of the rifle may change to just "Plasma Rifle" in the Pip-Boy menu, but none of the weapon's stats will change.[verified]

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 terminal entries; 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. 6.0 6.1 The cover of the Future Weapons Today periodical as seen in Fallout: New Vegas has a section prominently promoted entitled "Urban Plasma Rifles."
  7. Energy weapon forge
  8. 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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