Grenade (Plasma)

 is a Throwing weapon in Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3 and Fallout Tactics. They create a blast of superheated plasma on contact.

Fallout and Fallout 2
A magnetically sealed plasma delivery unit, with detonating explosives. Creates a blast of superheated plasma on contact. Mainly used by the Hubologists and Mercenaries (in random encounters) but also by the Enclave as well. Not recommended to use them against the Enclave soldiers as their Power Armor can absorb around 50-80% damage.

Fallout Tactics
Description: A magnetically sealed plasma delivery unit, with detonating explosives. Creates a blast of superheated plasma on contact.

Note
End-game weapon of grenadier, plasma grenade delivers good all-around punch and is abundant enough to make using it feasible as main weapon in the last few missions. However, its value is somewhat detracted by the fact that end-game revolves around fighting robotic forces, which are prime targets for Pulse Grenade. Thus, it`s best to use plasma grenades as soon as they become available, and don`t attempt to conserve them.

Fallout 3
The Plasma Grenade is a magnetically-sealed plasma delivery unit, with detonating explosives, creating a fiery blast of green superheated plasma on detonation, with a high chance to cripple limbs. A critical hit will reduce the target to green goo. It seems to have the same blast radius as its less powerful variant, the Frag Grenade. They are typically used by Enclave Officers and Smugglers, introduced in the Point Lookout add-on.

Tactics and strategies
Thrown grenades are affected by physics; they may bounce or roll unexpectedly if not thrown carefully. However, in game physics can also be used to your advantage; such as throwing grenades through doorways or bouncing them around corners to attack enemies who cannot see you.

Grenades are targetable in V.A.T.S. Thus they can be shot out of the air, and shooting them whilst they are still held by the enemy can detonate them. Grenades can be thrown point-blank in V.A.T.S due to the sharply reduced damage taken.

It is best to use a grenade on groups of enemies at chokepoints such as doorways or stairwells. A grenade that has been thrown toward you will show up on your HUD as a red arrow denoting its direction relative to you. Move in the opposite direction as quickly as possible to escape the blast radius.

Holding the fire button down for a longer period of time will increase the strength of the throw. Grenades can be thrown for longer distances than normal through successful V.A.T.S. hits. Grenades cannot be cooked to detonate earlier.

It is also possible to plant a live grenade on an NPC by passing one from your inventory to the NPC's inventory via pickpocketing. This will kill the NPC, regardless of how much health he has, but far more common grenades such as the Frag Grenade can do this too.

Known Locations

 * Some can be found in the Citadel behind a Very Hard locked cell door, along with other weapons.
 * Some can also be found after completion of the Operation: Anchorage DLC, in the reward vault.

Bugs

 * The "Rocket-Boots-Bug": there's a semi-common bug with Deathclaws, Behemoths and Giant Radscorpions. The explosion may launch them into the sky, which can lead to multiple queued V.A.T.S shots wasting grenades and AP as the grenades explode, harmlessly, where the creature was. Setting up one targeted throw at a time eliminates the chance of missing.


 * Destroyed grenades; i.e targeted in V.A.T.S. and shot out of an opponents hand, have a condition of zero yet you can use other broken grenades to fix them thus restoring its firepower.


 * When a missile launcher is broken from launching a missile, if you have one grenade/mine of any particular type in your inventory, e.g. having one Plasma Grenade but any number of other grenade/mine types, and it is the next weapon you equip, you will have unlimited ammo for that particular grenade/mine until it is unequipped. The next grenade/mine thrown after the first will be invisible while held in the player's hand but will appear once thrown. This is an excellent way of obtaining many Bottlecap Mines as they can be disarmed and picked up, adding them to your inventory to be used at any time. V.A.T.S, unfortunately, cannot be used until the grenade is unequipped.


 * Be wary when using Plasma Grenades against Radscorpions. If the grenade accidentally lands in between their legs whilst they chase you it can be propelled out at a very high speed, possibly hit the player.