Laser Rifle (Fallout: New Vegas)

The AER9 laser rifle is a weapon in Fallout: New Vegas.

Characteristics
This variant of the AER9 laser rifle can be upgraded beyond the factory standard. Close to the breach (just behind the muzzle) there appears to be a bright light and the body of the rifle has been painted red.

Due to the fact that it can fire 2 beams at once by adding a beam splitter, it can score a critical hit for each beam outside of V.A.T.S. This effect allows it to sometimes,(with a critical hit for each beam) hit a huge amount of damage (72.6) per shot. Depending on your perks and Luck, this weapon can be a good choice just for its 2 beam shot. Keep this in mind when choosing a weapon.

The markings on theses rifles as well as their descriptions in game hint at the types of lasing mediums used in each variant. The 1064nm wavelength (frequency converted to green, 532nm) of the AER14 prototype strongly indicates that it is a Nd:YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) laser while the ~650nm wavelength of the AER9 laser rifle indicates that it is likely a Ruby, InGaAs or HeNe laser.

The laser rifle has no iron sights, but compensates with excellent zoom. This is further augmented by the scope, however this makes it less effective in close quarters. Nevertheless, the laser rifle makes a decent starting weapon. Even later in the game it still proves useful to a certain extent.

Modifications

 * Laser rifle focus optics - Adds +3 Damage.
 * Laser rifle scope - Adds a long range scope.
 * Laser rifle beam splitter - Causes rifle to fire two grouped beams per shot, with greater total power than a single beam, at the cost of reducing per-beam damage, and overall accuracy.

Variants

 * AER14 prototype - The unique version of the Laser Rifle in Fallout: New Vegas.
 * Tri-beam laser rifle
 * Van Graff laser rifle
 * The Disintegrator (cut content)

Locations

 * One can be found inside in the bathtub of one of the Nipton houses together with a dead Wastelander, two Leather armors and a .357 magnum revolver. However, the interior of this house is guarded by a Mr. Gutsy.
 * Can be purchased from Silver Rush or the Brotherhood of Steel if you join them.
 * Numerous laser rifles can be found in Silver Rush and are easy to steal.
 * The laser rifle is often carried by members of the Fiends outside Vault 3, as well as the surrounding areas (especially at higher levels).
 * Found on the dead Brotherhood patrols during the Still in the Dark Quest.
 * Another can be found in Nipton lying beside a dead Wastelander by the small trailer park.
 * They can be randomly found on dead Bright followers.