Difference between revisions of "Plasma Pistol"

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The Plasma Pistol is the first in the alien's plasma weapon line. It is the most powerful, accurate and lightest pistol-class weapon available. It also has the fastest auto shot in the plasma weapon line. As it is a pistol, it fits on the belt and makes a respectable sidearm for a heavy weapons specialist.  
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The Plasma Pistol is the first in the alien's plasma weapon line. It is the most powerful, accurate and lightest pistol-class weapon available. While not as fast as its [[Laser Pistol|laser counterpart]], it has the fastest auto shot in the plasma weapon line. Furthermore, being a pistol, it fits on the belt and makes a respectable sidearm for any number of squad roles.  
  
This weapon suffers several drawbacks. In relation to the other plasma weapons, it does not stand out, and the requirement for ammunition makes it less desirable as a sidearm as this will cut into the item limit. The biggest drawback is its limited availability as it does not take very long for the aliens to stop using this weapon. They have good reasons to abandon it: it is not very effective against the second generation of X-COM armour and [[Heavy Weapons Platforms|HWPs]]. This means X-Com will not have a reliable supply of free clips and must manufacture them for further use. This requires [[Elerium-115|Elerium]], although it is notable that the plasma pistol is the most efficient of the three plasma weapons to make ammunition for. This means little however as the other weapons rarely need to have their ammunition manufactured.
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The Plasma Pistol's biggest drawback is its limited availability as it is soon replaced by the later generation plasma weapons as the primary alien firearm. X-Com will therefore not have a reliable supply of free clips and must manufacture them for further use. This requires [[Elerium-115|Elerium]]. It is notable that of the various elerium based ammunition clips, the plasma pistol clip makes the most efficient use of the amount of elerium used.  
  
 
This weapon appears in ''[[X-COM|UFO: Enemy Unknown]]''. For the ''[[TFTD|Terror from the Deep]]'' equivalent, refer to the [[Sonic Pistol]].
 
This weapon appears in ''[[X-COM|UFO: Enemy Unknown]]''. For the ''[[TFTD|Terror from the Deep]]'' equivalent, refer to the [[Sonic Pistol]].
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== Recommendations ==
 
== Recommendations ==
Despite being a powerful pistol, its role is superceded in almost every way by other weapons. The [[Heavy Plasma]] and [[Plasma Rifle]] outclass it for accuracy (even taking into consideration the -20% penalty), power, ammunition and most importantly availability. The laser pistol outclasses it with speed and thus has a much higher damage potential (though less average damage: only confers greater damage at very close ranges), and not requiring any ammunition allows for more equipment flexibility.
 
  
What it does have over the other plasma weapons is that it is very light and compact, thus can be stored easier. What it has above the laser pistol is its increased damage potential per shot and increased accuracy to make up for its lack in speed.  
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Like the Laser Pistol, the Plasma Pistol excels mainly with its auto shot attack, as it is one of its primary distinguishing features.  
  
Overall it is a moderately well balanced weapon, but this is also its weakness.  
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The Plasma Pistol's single mode attacks are unfortunately easily bested by the [[Plasma Rifle]] and [[Heavy Plasma]] as they are equally as fast but have better damage and accuracy. The plasma pistol's accuracy is still the highest of the three pistols.  
  
The plasma pistol is an isolated research topic that does not lead to new developments. If you don't intend to ever use them, consider skipping the [[research]] on the weapon and its clip until you stop recovering them in battle. Recovering as-yet unresearched items will add additional points and improve your end-of-mission [[Scoring#Item Recovery|scoring]].  
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The Plasma Pistol's short lived nature makes it a difficult weapon to used beyond the early stages of the game without manufacturing its ammo for continued use.  
  
If you do intend to make limited use of the plasma pistol as a specialist weapon, consider treating them the same way as Plasma Rifles and only only keep one or two of them and stockpile every clip you can find. It's a finite supply, but should last a considerable while if used conservatively.
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The Plasma Pistol, thanks to its high strength, can be used as a primary weapon for scouts and any other role that may require a secondary side arm. The higher accuracy helps new soldiers hit their mark better, and it is a remarkably powerful weapon in the hand of veteran soldiers. It is also a good close range weapon.  
  
 
== Usage notes ==
 
== Usage notes ==
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== Tips ==
 
== Tips ==
 
* The lightest sidearm, weighing 6 weight units when loaded.
 
* The lightest sidearm, weighing 6 weight units when loaded.
* The slowest but most powerful sidearm.  
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* The slowest but most accurate and most powerful pistol.  
 
* The TUs needed for a Snapshot and the time needed for an Autofire burst are the same; this means that the only time you should NOT spray the enemy with autofire is when accuracy or ammo are a concern.  The Plasma Pistol has a reasonably large ammo count.
 
* The TUs needed for a Snapshot and the time needed for an Autofire burst are the same; this means that the only time you should NOT spray the enemy with autofire is when accuracy or ammo are a concern.  The Plasma Pistol has a reasonably large ammo count.
* For the most bang for your buck per unit of Elerium used in ammo manufacture, look no further.
 
 
* This weapon will often disappear by April; if you haven't captured one by then, you won't ever get the chance.
 
* This weapon will often disappear by April; if you haven't captured one by then, you won't ever get the chance.
* Recommended for heavy weapons troopers or scouts.  Also pairs very well with the Laser Pistol, allowing you to alternate between brute force or volume when necessary.
 
 
* If you don't intend to use the weapon, leave it unresearched until they no longer appear, so you can reap the benefit of points that you get for unresearched artefacts.
 
* If you don't intend to use the weapon, leave it unresearched until they no longer appear, so you can reap the benefit of points that you get for unresearched artefacts.
  
 
== General pistol warning ==
 
== General pistol warning ==
This note covers the regulation [[Pistol]], Laser Pistol and the Plasma Pistol.  
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This note covers the regulation [[Pistol]], [[Laser Pistol]] and the [[Plasma Pistol]].  
 
   
 
   
Pistol-class weapons are prioritized so that they will always be the last weapons to be selected by your soldiers. In addition to that, there is  also a rather unusual culture amongst [[X-COM]] troops regarding pistol-type weapon distribution in general. Sometimes everyone gets the weapons, as normal. At other times, only one person will be armed with the pistol and will be carrying all the clips if applicable. This can prove to be a minor annoyance.
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Pistol-class weapons are prioritized so that they will always be the last weapons to be selected by your soldiers.  
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In addition to that, the Collectors Edition introduces a further anomaly where pistols will be armed:
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#Normally. Or;
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#Armed on only one person, with all available slots filled with clips
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==See also==
 
==See also==

Revision as of 08:09, 7 September 2011

The Plasma Pistol is the first in the alien's plasma weapon line. It is the most powerful, accurate and lightest pistol-class weapon available. While not as fast as its laser counterpart, it has the fastest auto shot in the plasma weapon line. Furthermore, being a pistol, it fits on the belt and makes a respectable sidearm for any number of squad roles.

The Plasma Pistol's biggest drawback is its limited availability as it is soon replaced by the later generation plasma weapons as the primary alien firearm. X-Com will therefore not have a reliable supply of free clips and must manufacture them for further use. This requires Elerium. It is notable that of the various elerium based ammunition clips, the plasma pistol clip makes the most efficient use of the amount of elerium used.

This weapon appears in UFO: Enemy Unknown. For the Terror from the Deep equivalent, refer to the Sonic Pistol.

Stats

Plasma Pistol:

BIGOBS32.GIF
  • Size: 2 high x 1 wide
  • Weight: 3
  • TUs:
    • Auto: 30% (Accuracy 50%)
    • Snap: 30% (Accuracy 65%)
    • Aimed: 60% (Accuracy 85%)
  • Manufacturing: $56,000 for parts, 600 Engineer Hours, 1 Alien Alloy
  • Sell Price: $84,000

Plasma Pistol Clip:

BIGOBS34.GIF
  • Power: 52 Plasma
  • Ammo: 26
  • Size: 1 high x 1 wide
  • Weight: 3
  • Manufacturing: $2,000 for parts, 60 Engineer Hours, 1 Elerium
  • Sell Price: $4,440

Recommendations

Like the Laser Pistol, the Plasma Pistol excels mainly with its auto shot attack, as it is one of its primary distinguishing features.

The Plasma Pistol's single mode attacks are unfortunately easily bested by the Plasma Rifle and Heavy Plasma as they are equally as fast but have better damage and accuracy. The plasma pistol's accuracy is still the highest of the three pistols.

The Plasma Pistol's short lived nature makes it a difficult weapon to used beyond the early stages of the game without manufacturing its ammo for continued use.

The Plasma Pistol, thanks to its high strength, can be used as a primary weapon for scouts and any other role that may require a secondary side arm. The higher accuracy helps new soldiers hit their mark better, and it is a remarkably powerful weapon in the hand of veteran soldiers. It is also a good close range weapon.

Usage notes

The following lists how many times a soldier can fire the gun by shot type continuously in any given round and the remaining percentage of any left over TUs that cannot be spent as a shot.

  • Aimed: 1 Shot, 40% Remaining TUs (enough for 1 Snap shot or 1 Auto burst)
  • Snap: 3 Shots, 10% Remaining TUs
  • Auto: 3 Bursts (9 Shots), 10% Remaining TUs

Tips

  • The lightest sidearm, weighing 6 weight units when loaded.
  • The slowest but most accurate and most powerful pistol.
  • The TUs needed for a Snapshot and the time needed for an Autofire burst are the same; this means that the only time you should NOT spray the enemy with autofire is when accuracy or ammo are a concern. The Plasma Pistol has a reasonably large ammo count.
  • This weapon will often disappear by April; if you haven't captured one by then, you won't ever get the chance.
  • If you don't intend to use the weapon, leave it unresearched until they no longer appear, so you can reap the benefit of points that you get for unresearched artefacts.

General pistol warning

This note covers the regulation Pistol, Laser Pistol and the Plasma Pistol.

Pistol-class weapons are prioritized so that they will always be the last weapons to be selected by your soldiers.

In addition to that, the Collectors Edition introduces a further anomaly where pistols will be armed:

  1. Normally. Or;
  2. Armed on only one person, with all available slots filled with clips


See also

UFO Badge X-COM: Enemy Unknown/UFO Defense: Equipment
Armour: CoverallsPersonal ArmourPower SuitFlying Suit
Weapons: PistolRifleHeavy CannonAuto-CannonRocket LauncherStun Rod
GrenadeProximity GrenadeHigh ExplosiveLaser PistolLaser RifleHeavy Laser
Plasma PistolPlasma RifleHeavy PlasmaAlien GrenadeSmall LauncherBlaster Launcher
Equipment: Smoke GrenadeMotion ScannerMedi-KitElectro-flarePsi-AmpMind ProbeElerium-115
HWPs: Tank/CannonTank/Rocket LauncherTank/Laser CannonHovertank/PlasmaHovertank/Launcher
Data Item WeightsAlien Weapon Loadouts • Armour Damage Modifiers