Difference between revisions of "Fusion Ball Launcher"

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[[Image:fusionballlauncher.png|right|Fusion Ball Launcher]]
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[[Image:Fusionballlauncher.png|thumb|right|200px|Fusion Ball Launcher]]
 
The '''Fusion Ball Launcher''' is available after [[research]] is completed on the [[Blaster Launcher]] and [[Blaster Bomb]].
 
The '''Fusion Ball Launcher''' is available after [[research]] is completed on the [[Blaster Launcher]] and [[Blaster Bomb]].
  
Fusion Balls are without a doubt the most devasting weapon per shot available for use on X-COM [[craft]]. They also have the greatest range of any X-COM craft weapon, standing at 65 km.
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Fusion Balls are without a doubt the most devasting weapon per shot available for use on X-COM [[craft]]. They have the greatest range of any X-COM craft weapon, standing at 65 km. They also have the highest firepower - damage per unit of time - of any craft weapon in the game, including alien weapons. Until they run out of ammunition, that is.
  
However, the drawbacks associated with Fusion Balls far outweigh the advantages. There is only enough room on each hardpoint to load two fusion balls into each launcher, for a total of four shots. Against most UFOs, this is more than adequate; but against alien [[Battleship]]s , your craft will likely run out of ammunition before bringing it down.
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However, the drawbacks associated with Fusion Balls in general outweigh the advantages. There is only enough room on each hardpoint to load two fusion balls into each launcher, for a total of four shots. Against most UFOs, this is more than adequate; but against alien [[Battleship]]s , a lone craft or even a pair of craft will likely run out of ammunition before bringing it down.
The FBL also requires ammo to be manufactured for it, at a high cost of hours, cash and elerium.
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The FBL also requires ammo to be manufactured for it, at a HIGH cost of hours (21000 dollars worth of labour) , cash (28000) and Elerium (4 elerium... market price 20000 but worth much more than that). EACH.  
The FBL does 230 damage vs the Plasma Beam's 140, but has a reload time of 25s, vs PB 6s.
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The FBL does 230 maximum damage vs the Plasma Beam's 140, but has a minimum reload time of 16gs/24gs/32gs, vs PB 12gs.
 
The FBL has 2 shots, the PB has 99.
 
The FBL has 2 shots, the PB has 99.
Fortunatly, the FBL has 100% accuracy, compared to PB with 50%.
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Fortunately, the FBL has 100% accuracy, compared to PB with 50%.
  
Although it has the greatest range of all X-COM craft weapons, it is only equal to the range of the craft weapon on an alien Battleship. However, the [[Plasma Beam]] and [[Avalanche]]  outrange all other UFOs except Battleships. This makes the FBL equal or worse than the Plasma Beam vs anything except Battleships, equal to (but much more expensive than) the Avalance against Medium or Small ships, with a slight edge against Large Ships, and the FBL is pretty much inferior to the Plasma Beam against Battleships.
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Although it has the greatest range of all X-COM craft weapons, it is only equal to the range of the craft weapon on an alien Battleship. However, the [[Plasma Beam]] and [[Avalanche]]  outrange all other UFOs except Battleships. This makes the FBL's range advantage over the Plasma Beam and Avalanche largely redundant, though it does reduce the amount of time spent being fired upon without being able to fire back.  
  
Despite these disadvantages, however, Fusion Balls are not quite useless. One strategy for intercepting Battleships involves attacking them with four [[Interceptor]]s – all armed with Fusion Ball Launchers – simultaneously. Additionally, [[Manufacturing Profitability#Laser Cannons vs. Fusion Ball Launchers|a bug]] present in most versions of X-COM causes Fusion Ball Launchers to be even more profitable for manufacture than [[Laser Cannon]]s. (however, this same bug/exploit makes Hovertank Plasma the most profitable item)
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Despite these disadvantages, however, Fusion Balls are the safest way to intercept Battleships using [[Interceptor]]s. You'll still probably lose some of the Interceptors, along with their valuable armament, so this is really reserved for the last resort.
  
Quite apart from all of that, the manufacture of Fusion Balls for use with the launcher requires 4 [[Elerium-115]], a very rare and valuable resource, making the firing of the FBL prohibitively expensive.
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This weapon is used in ''[[X-COM|UFO: Enemy Unknown]]''. For the ''[[TFTD|Terror from the Deep]]'' equivalent, refer to the [[P.W.T. Cannon]].
  
 
== Manufacturing Requirements ==
 
== Manufacturing Requirements ==
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<tr><td>Cost per Unit:</td><td>242,000</td></tr>
 
<tr><td>Cost per Unit:</td><td>242,000</td></tr>
 
<tr><td>Workshop Space required:</td><td>6</td></tr>
 
<tr><td>Workshop Space required:</td><td>6</td></tr>
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<tr><td>Raw Materials:</td><td>1x [[Alien Alloys]] (except for the first FBL in each production run)</td></tr>
 
</table>
 
</table>
  
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<tr><td>Range:</td><td>65 km</td></tr>
 
<tr><td>Range:</td><td>65 km</td></tr>
 
<tr><td>Accuracy:</td><td>100%</td></tr>
 
<tr><td>Accuracy:</td><td>100%</td></tr>
<tr><td>Reload Time:</td><td>25 seconds</td></tr>
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<tr><td>Reload Time:<br>(Cau/Std/Agg)</td><td>96/72/48 frames</td></tr>
 
<tr><td>Shots:</td><td>2</td></tr>
 
<tr><td>Shots:</td><td>2</td></tr>
 
<tr><td>Ammunition Used:</td><td>Fusion Balls</td></tr>
 
<tr><td>Ammunition Used:</td><td>Fusion Balls</td></tr>
 
</table>
 
</table>
  
Note that the Accuracy given in the in-game UFOPaedia is incorrect; two independent code digs have confirmed these are the correct accuracies for the craft weaponry.  
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Note that the accuracy and reload time given in the in-game UFOpaedia are incorrect. The values given here are taken directly from the executable.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{Craft Navbar}}
 
{{Craft Navbar}}
[[Category:Craft_Armaments]]
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[[Category:Craft Armaments (EU)]][[Category:Research (EU)]]
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[[Category:Enemy Unknown/UFO Defense]]

Latest revision as of 12:10, 16 July 2018

Fusion Ball Launcher

The Fusion Ball Launcher is available after research is completed on the Blaster Launcher and Blaster Bomb.

Fusion Balls are without a doubt the most devasting weapon per shot available for use on X-COM craft. They have the greatest range of any X-COM craft weapon, standing at 65 km. They also have the highest firepower - damage per unit of time - of any craft weapon in the game, including alien weapons. Until they run out of ammunition, that is.

However, the drawbacks associated with Fusion Balls in general outweigh the advantages. There is only enough room on each hardpoint to load two fusion balls into each launcher, for a total of four shots. Against most UFOs, this is more than adequate; but against alien Battleships , a lone craft or even a pair of craft will likely run out of ammunition before bringing it down. The FBL also requires ammo to be manufactured for it, at a HIGH cost of hours (21000 dollars worth of labour) , cash (28000) and Elerium (4 elerium... market price 20000 but worth much more than that). EACH. The FBL does 230 maximum damage vs the Plasma Beam's 140, but has a minimum reload time of 16gs/24gs/32gs, vs PB 12gs. The FBL has 2 shots, the PB has 99. Fortunately, the FBL has 100% accuracy, compared to PB with 50%.

Although it has the greatest range of all X-COM craft weapons, it is only equal to the range of the craft weapon on an alien Battleship. However, the Plasma Beam and Avalanche outrange all other UFOs except Battleships. This makes the FBL's range advantage over the Plasma Beam and Avalanche largely redundant, though it does reduce the amount of time spent being fired upon without being able to fire back.

Despite these disadvantages, however, Fusion Balls are the safest way to intercept Battleships using Interceptors. You'll still probably lose some of the Interceptors, along with their valuable armament, so this is really reserved for the last resort.

This weapon is used in UFO: Enemy Unknown. For the Terror from the Deep equivalent, refer to the P.W.T. Cannon.

Manufacturing Requirements

Fusion Ball Launcher

Engineer Hours:400
Cost per Unit:242,000
Workshop Space required:6
Raw Materials:1x Alien Alloys (except for the first FBL in each production run)

Fusion Balls

Engineer Hours:600
Cost per Unit:28,000
Workshop Space required:6
Raw Materials:4x Elerium-115

Vital Statistics

Damage:230
Range:65 km
Accuracy:100%
Reload Time:
(Cau/Std/Agg)
96/72/48 frames
Shots:2
Ammunition Used:Fusion Balls

Note that the accuracy and reload time given in the in-game UFOpaedia are incorrect. The values given here are taken directly from the executable.

See Also

UFO Badge X-COM: Enemy Unknown/UFO Defense: Craft
Craft: SkyrangerLightningAvengerInterceptorFirestorm
Craft Armaments: StingrayAvalancheCannonFusion Ball LauncherLaser CannonPlasma Beam
Data

RepairsRefuelingRearming
UFO InterceptionAircraft Firepower TableCraft Comparison Table
Craft-Based UFO DetectionAircraft Detection and Duty Cycle Table