A3-21's Plasma Rifle

A3-21's Plasma Rifle is an upgraded version of the normal Plasma Rifle. It is the most powerful general purpose weapon in the game, second only to the Alien Blaster, but it has more ammo available than the Alien Blaster and its Condition holds up much longer. Both the A3-21's Plasma Rifle and the Alien Blaster can be acquired very early in the game, and they make the rest of the game much easier. With either one, you can quickly dispatch Super Mutants, Yao Guais, Deathclaws, etc., though against multiples of any of these, the Alien Blaster is preferable for its superior one-shot kill ability and for getting off more shots in one turn.

Characteristics

 * It does 5 more damage at max energy weapons and condition.
 * This Weapon has a crit % multiplier of 2.5, compared to the standard version's 2.
 * It can be repaired with normal plasma rifles although it is very durable and will not need to be repaired often.
 * On normal difficulty, with maxed skill, a single sneak attack headshot to any of the toughest creatures in the wasteland: Deathclaws, Super Mutant Brutes, or Super Mutant Masters is always fatal.

Related quests

 * The Replicated Man

Story Plot

 * Since Harkness has access to this piece of advanced technology that only the Enclave are known to have, it is possible that the Institute is under the control of the Enclave, or simply does trade with them (This would not be the first time the Enclave has done trade with outside factions). Or possibly the Insitute developed them.


 * Another theory is that the Institute captured one and developed and modified them.


 * Considering that plasma weapons ARE NOT exclusively Enclave tech and were available in FO1, before Enclave came out of hiding. And found in FO2 in one military base and one armory both of which were sealed up before the Great War. Harkness's possession of a plasma weapon is not evidence of any Institute/Enclave connection.


 * Examples of non Enclave controlled plasma weapons within Fallout 3 existent before the enclave came onto the scene are used by every Mr. Gutsy, and if plasma weapons are already outside their control then an institute who is already inventing technology greater than existed pre-war it is not unreasonable they could reverse engineer plasma tech off of Mr. Gutsys.

Quest Notes

 * It is carried by Harkness, and can be received by the player character through two of the endings of The Replicated Man quest.
 * The Player can still get this and the Wired Reflexes perk if he reveals Harkness' identity to himself, keep his secret safe, obtaining the weapon, then ratting him out to Zimmer or for agreeing to kill Zimmer for him (talk to Zimmer before shooting him though to get the perk). Note: By doing this, the player will not receive good or bad Karma. The player gets +200 Karma for talking to Harkness, and -200 Karma for talking to Zimmer, equaling no change in overall Karma. If the player does not reveal Harkness's identity to him it is impossible to achieve the gun otherwise as Harkness is considered "important to the plot" and will fall unconscious if you try to kill him. See the The Replicated Man page for details.

Appearances in games
A3-21's Plasma Rifle appears only in Fallout 3.

YouTube Videos
Obtaining A3-21's Plasma Rifle zxvJvtQnGRs