The plasma caster is a heavy gun in Fallout 76, introduced in the Wastelanders update.
Contents
Background
Plasma rifles or plasma casters are high tech weapons firing superheated bolts of plasma, powered by either microfusion cells, heavy energy cells, plasma cartridges, or plasma cores which find numerous applications in military and industrial fields. The bolts form into toroids in the plasma chamber, which are then sent down a superconducting barrel,[1][2][3] propelled by, and in some models stabilized by, electromagnetic claws upon exiting it.[4] However, the plasma bolt chamber can be hotwired in order to accelerate the bolt formation process, effectively turbocharging the rifle.[5] The primary damage mechanism of plasma rifles is thermal transfer, causing serious burns to soft targets and melting hard ones. In extreme cases, the plasma can cause spontaneous dissolution of the target, including separation of soft tissues from hard ones or wholesale molecular destabilization that turns the target into a viscous green fluid.
Initially, the weapon was a bulky, industrial plasma caster, manufactured by Winchester Arms; while it performed admirably, it was expensive and required specialized training to use. However, later developments for the United States Army would lead to a more compact design that was cheaper to produce and easier to train for, perfectly suited for urban warfare.[6] An additional model known as the Gatling plasma, made in a similar fashion to the Gatling laser, would also come into use.
Characteristics
The plasma caster is a powerful energy weapon similar in fire rate and range to the ballistic Gatling gun. The plasma caster deals considerably more damage than other energy weapons but suffers from a low magazine size and fire rate. It can be further upgraded to drain enemy fusion cores with each hit. When crafted, plasma casters use legendary modules, becoming legendary weapons with randomly determined effects. As with other weapons only available after the main questline of Wastelanders, plasma casters cannot be traded, dropped, or sold to vendors.
Crafting
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Plasma casters are always crafted at the maximum level available to the player character. The weapon will be a one-star, two-star, or three-star legendary weapon with randomly determined effects.
| Materials: | Requirements: | Produces: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adhesive (2) Circuitry (2) Fiber optics (2) Glass (2) Legendary module (2) Nuclear material (2) Screw (6) Steel (21) |  | Build at: Learn Method: Learned from plan/recipe Plan: Plasma caster Perks: Science 1 |  | Plasma Caster (1) |
Weapon modifications
Weapon mods can only be crafted if the corresponding plan is known. Mod plans for the plasma caster are bought from Regs for 
gold bullion and cannot be learned from scrapping plasma casters.
Location
- The plasma caster can be crafted at a weapons workbench if the corresponding plan is known. The plan can be bought from Regs for 750 gold bullion after the completion of the main questline for the Settlers or Raiders.
- Once the plan is known, plasma casters can be randomly given as legendary items from event rewards or from Purveyor Murmrgh. Even after learning the plans, the item can NOT be found on legendary enemies.
Notes
The plasma caster is affected by the Grounded mutation.
Behind the scenes
Joon Choi drew concepts of the weapon, including two modifications for the barrel,[Non-game 1] taking inspiration from the Fallout and Fallout: New Vegas designs, as well as the Fallout 4 plasma pistol configuration.[Non-game 2]
Gallery
References
- ↑ Fallout and Fallout 2 item description: "{1500}{}{Plasma Rifle}"
"{1501}{}{A Winchester Model P94 Plasma Rifle. An industrial-grade energy weapon, firing superheated bolts of plasma down a superconducting barrel. Powered by Micro Fusion Cells. Min ST: 6.}"
Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel item description: "name_plasmaRifle = {Plasma Rifle}"
"desc_plasmaRifle = {A Winchester Model P94 Plasma Rifle. An industrial-grade energy weapon, firing superheated bolts of ionised gas down a superconducting barrel. Powered by Micro Fusion Cells.}"
(PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout), PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout 2) and Items.txt) - ↑ Fort Independence terminal entries; research terminal, research log - plasma rifle
- ↑ Research note - plasma rifle
- ↑ Chris Taylor interview for Vault13.net
- ↑ Fallout and Fallout 2 item description: "{23300}{}{Turbo Plasma Rifle}"
"{23301}{}{A modified Winchester P94 plasma rifle. The plasma bolt chamber has been hotwired to accelerate the bolt formation process. Min ST: 6.}"
(PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout), PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout 2) and Items.txt) - ↑ The cover of the Future Weapons Today periodical as seen in Fallout: New Vegas has a section prominently promoted entitled "Urban Plasma Rifles."
Non-game
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