Thermic Lance

The thermic lance is a weapon in Fallout: New Vegas.

Characteristics
It is heavy, but deals considerable damage because its continuous penetrating action allows it to bypass the target's Damage Resistance and Damage Threshold. It is very durable, and also resists damage to itself if hit when used defensively (taking only 0.5% of normal durability damage). Due to its automatic attack-type, it will degrade at a faster rate than other weapons when used.

Unlike most melee weapons, holding down the attack button when wielding the thermic lance will cause continuous damage to targets in contact with the tip. While it has a low critical damage rating and critical chance multiplier, its automatic operation allows for 5 chances for a critical hit per second.

Special attack
It has a special Scrap Heap attack that does 50% damage in V.A.T.S. at the cost of 20 less action points (requires a Melee skill of 50).

It is not possible to execute Scrap Heap outside of V.A.T.S. as power attacks do not apply to continuously damaging melee weapons, such as the Chainsaw or Ripper.

Durability
The thermic lance can successfully strike about 9,995 times from full condition before breaking.

Locations

 * Can sometimes be found on Legionary assassins.
 * Crimson Caravan Company - Sometimes available from Blake.
 * Great Khan armory - Sometimes available from the Great Khan armorer.
 * Gun Runners - Sometimes available from the Vendortron.
 * Hidden Valley bunker - Can be purchased from Torres.
 * Hoover Dam - Can be purchased from Quartermaster Bardon at the Hoover Dam offices.
 * Hoover Dam - Found on some centurions of Caesar's Legion during the Second Battle of Hoover Dam.
 * Mick & Ralph's - Sometimes available from Mick's special stock.
 * The Divide - Sometimes carried by marked men.
 * Dry Wells and the Long 15 - Can be sometimes be found in high-tech gun cases.

Behind the scenes
Thermic lance is another name for a thermal lance, a real-world metalworking tool.