Atomic Pulverizer

The  is an energy weapon of alien origin that is added to Fallout 3 in the Mothership Zeta add-on. It is the unique version of the Alien Atomizer.

Characteristics

 * A unique Alien Atomizer, the Atomic Pulverizer is a devastating sidearm. In terms of base damage, the Pulverizer only does slightly more damage than its original (about 2 to 4 more depending on if you got the Xenotech Expert perk or not). However, what makes the Pulverizer so effective is its V.A.T.S. capability.


 * This weapon has one of the lowest AP costs in the game, just under The Pitt's Steel Knuckles (14 AP), tied with the Point Lookout Ritual Knife, and just above Point Lookout's Toy Knife (10 AP). Its damage compared to any of these other weapons, however, is significantly higher. It is also the only ranged weapon that can be noted for having such a low AP cost, allowing for devastating V.A.T.S. attacks from a distance.


 * Players with 10 Agility and the Action Boy/Action Girl perk along with any special armor sets can shoot at least 9 shots in one V.A.T.S. burst. Also, since it shares the 0 spread rating of the original Atomizer, it is extremely accurate. Its critical hit chance multiplier is also double the Alien Atomizer's, making up for the small increase in base damage with many more critical shots. Overall, the weapon still does not compare to the Alien Disintegrator in terms of damage per shot and cannot match the fully-automatic Destabilizer in terms of damage per second, but at longer distances or in a tough close-quarters situation the higher accuracy and/or extremely low AP cost can allow for an overwhelming V.A.T.S. attack with a very rapid and accurate barrage of shots.


 * With the ghoul ecology, xenotech expert and the superior defender perks, a full V.A.T.S. barrage (aimed at the head) will deal approximately 1000 damage.

Obtaining
It is located in the Weapons Lab after beaming up from the Space Walk section and proceeding through the Observation Deck. It can be found in a small room located in a hallway near the entrance. The room can only be accessed by using an alien door terminal that requires 75 Science to activate. The terminal is explosive so when killing the enemies don't destroy it. It will be found lying on a rack directly to the right after entering the door. Other notable loot inside the same room include some Alien Power Cells, another Atomizer, an offline Guardian Drone, and other forms of Alien memorabilia.

Bugs

 * The Pulverizer shares the same visual glitch as the original Atomizer (a very long projectile that appears to go through the target or wall that it hits).

Appearances

 * The appears in the Mothership Zeta add-on for Fallout 3.