Ripper (weapon)

The RipperTM vibroblade is a melee weapon found in Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3 and Fallout Tactics.

Fallout and Fallout 2
A Ripper™ vibroblade. Powered by a small energy cell, the chainblade rips and tears into its target.

Fallout 3
Rare compared to other melee weapons in Fallout 3, the Ripper is unique in that the player can hold down the attack button and an enemy at melee range will continuously receive damage. The Pitt, however, does add a weapon with identical functionality, the Auto Axe. You can use a Ripper to repair an Auto Axe.

Locations

 * One can be found in Marigold Station, behind the locked door with the turning light.
 * One can be found on the AntAgonizer.
 * Outcast gatekeeper Protector Henry Casdin at Fort Independence can be seen carrying a Ripper if he has not picked up a better weapon from the occasional random encounter.
 * There are around 5 Rippers in Andale, both in the basement and in the shed.
 * Enclave soldiers occasionally carry them and will rush at you with them while some of their squad covers them from afar.
 * Some Brotherhood of Steel members around the Citadel have them.
 * A unique Ripper called "Jack" can be found on a dead Enclave Officer in the Deathclaw Sanctuary.
 * Occasionally Moira Brown has one for sale at Craterside Supply.
 * Flak 'N Shrapnel's in Rivet City sometimes has one for sale.
 * Many members of the Brotherhood Outcasts when fighting robots in Fort Constantine.

Trivia

 * This weapon may be a nod to the chainswords wielded by the Space Marines from the Warhammer 40K universe, as the one-handed design is strikingly similar.
 * In the film Hotshots Part Deux, Charlie Sheen's character uses a knife that has a chainsaw blade attached; it looks identical to the Ripper in Fallout 1.
 * Rippers are of similar design to Juggling Chainsaws, with an extended handle from the back behind the clutch and drive.

Bugs

 * When encountering (or getting close to) a character carrying a Ripper, the sound of the weapon will sometimes continue to play for a time at its full volume even when out of plausible earshot. It is unconfirmed whether the sound stops after a specific (or random) time, or after you are a certain distance the Ripper (this has occurred on the PS3 and PC versions). Another way to stop the ripper's noise is if you take the ripper off of an enemy that was using it and was freshly killed the sound will stop even if you're right next to it, leaving you the option of dropping it and lightening your load. Saving and immediately loading the newly saved game once out of feasible earshot of the Ripper will usually clear up the issue.


 * Not really a bug but, when an NPC uses this weapon (BOS, Outcasts, Enclave) they swing it like a regular melee weapon.
 * When this weapon is used to attack items on the ground, they will launch backward, through the player, at speeds high enough to cause slight damage. This is likely due to the rapid rate at which the weapon hits, each 'hit' adds to the speed rather quickly.

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