Plasma Defender

The Glock 86 plasma pistol, also known as the Plasma Defender, is an energy weapon in Fallout: New Vegas.

Characteristics
The Plasma Defender is a powerful energy-based pistol that fires superheated bolts of green plasma. It is able to punch through most critters and low-level armor with ease, when compared to the more commonly found and cheaper laser pistol.

In comparison to the standard laser pistol, the Plasma Defender deals more than 3 times the damage per shot and over twice as much damage-per-second (DPS). This is offset by the fact that it consumes energy cells at twice the rate, has reduced durability, and has a slightly increased spread. Additionally, it causes a large green burst of plasma upon firing which in addition to partially obscuring the view, travels at a slower rate, resulting in the need to lead the target.

In comparison to the plasma pistol, the plasma defender does an additional 5 damage per shot, has a reduced critical chance, and is less durable. However, the plasma defender is a more accurate weapon, uses fewer Action Points in V.A.T.S. and has a higher rate of fire in real-time, delivering almost twice as much DPS. Unlike the plasma pistol, the plasma defender is not considered a holdout weapon.

Durability
The Plasma Defender can fire a total of about 495 times using standard cells, the equivalent of 31 reloads, from full condition before breaking.

Variants

 * Arcade's Plasma Defender - A unique non-playable Plasma Defender used by Arcade Gannon. It only differs from the standard pistol in its use of companion ammunition.
 * Plasma Defender (GRA) - A variant that can accept modifications.

Locations

 * Lucky 38, in a floor safe of the cocktail lounge.
 * Silver Rush, located on a table and sold by Gloria Van Graff.
 * Dead Bright followers have a 1-in-3 chance of carrying Plasma Defender once the Courier has reached Level 8. They can be found at REPCONN test site along with other energy weapons.
 * Y-17 trauma override harness may carry them on higher levels.
 * Hopeville silo bunker entrance, located in a desk with a Hard lock.
 * Sometimes found on marked men.

Behind the scenes
The Plasma Defender is meant to closely resemble the "Glock 86" Plasma pistol from Fallout and Fallout 2, especially when all of the modifications are added.