Plasma Rifle (Fallout 3)

This Plasma Rifle, superior to the pre-War P94 Plasma Rifle, was developed by the Enclave after the Great War. By 2277, it was widely used by Enclave soldiers in the Capital Wasteland.

The Enclave Plasma Rifle is a high energy output assault weapon. The plasma burns and melts through the toughest opposition found in the wasteland. It utilizes a semi-automatic firing action along with a twelve shots before reloading is required.

The Plasma Rifle is not without downsides however. First of all, the plasma projectile moves slower than a conventional solid slug bullet, aswell as laser weapons, which hit almost instantly. Opponents can dodge the plasma bolt if the shot is not aimed or leaded correctly. Second of all, the firing of the plasma rifle produces a large burst of visible green radiation which partially obscures view. It is necessary to wait until after the green burst dissipates to acquire a new bead. These two factors relegate the Plasma Rifle to a close to medium range assault weapon as opposed to the medium to long range duties of the AER9 Laser Rifle. The Enclave Soldiers use a combination of Plasma and Laser Rifles in the field, supplementing their weaknesses.

Appearances
The Enclave Plasma Rifle appears only in Fallout 3, replacing the P94 Plasma Rifle from previous Fallout games.