Plasma Rifle (Fallout 3)

The Enclave Plasma Rifle is a semi-automatic energy weapon found in Fallout 3. 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. As of 2277, Plasma Rifles can usually be found on Enclave Soldiers wearing Tesla Power Armor.

Weapon Performance
The plasma rifle fires projectiles that inflict potentially heavy damage at a fairly quick semi-automatic rate of fire. The plasma bolts 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. 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.

Item Locations

 * Fort Independence, inside a weapons armory (the key to the armory door is inside one of the foot lockers in the quarters).
 * The Citadel Laboratory.
 * The unique variant of the Enclave Plasma Rifle is the A3-21's Plasma Rifle, which can be acquired by completing the "Harkness ending" of the The Replicated Man quest.
 * In the quest Project Purity from pursuing Enclave Soldiers.
 * Issued to any Enclave soldiers also issued Tesla Power Armor.
 * 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.  Some Enclave soldiers clad in Hellfire power armor  may also be armed with one.

Known Bugs

 * When fired repeatedly at point-blank range, the Plasma Rifle can cause Xbox 360 consoles to freeze.
 * Piles of Green goo created by the Plasma rifle have been known to not disappear in certain outdoor areas, and also seem to become "connected" with the next unit that respawns afterwards. An NPC turned into a pile of green goo and is afterwards respawned can be pickpocketed through the pile of green goo (and even kill them by Reverse-Pickpocketing explosives onto them).
 * After Downloading Broken Steel, a Plasma Rifle when equiped can switch to a bottlecap mine when switching armour. The riffle still fires as normal except the weapon is a bottlecap mine and no firing noise is heard. This has happened to me twice in as many minutes. To correct it, just un-equip, and re-equip. Or if the item is hotkeyed, press the key, and press again (Confirmed Xbox 360).

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

Tips & Tricks

 * Fire rapidly. The weapon's effective range is mitigated by the plasma bolts' travel time, but the rapid semi-auto fire and heavy damage compensate to do massive damage.


 * Aim for the target's center mass when firing from the hip or down sights. Aiming for particular body parts outside of VATS is difficult because the plasma trail behind the shot blocks your view.  The damage rate of this weapon makes headshots for fast takedowns largely unnecessary.


 * Have cover handy to duck behind. The magazine is fairly short and will be emptied quickly, and the reload time is somewhat lengthy (though not anywhere near the longest).


 * For the energy weapons enthusiast, holding both a plasma and laser rifle provides you with the best of both worlds, having the laser rifle for long range shooting, and the plasma rifle for places where firepower is a must. In general, any close quarters combat is better done with a plasma rifle, and due to its impressive damage headshots at close range are almost always lethal.