Energy weapons still worth it after grounded mutation?

[Uncanny Moskvich]

Im using class freak so I only lose 12% damage instead of 50%. Also what would be a good god roll for the Laser rifle?

[PotatoBasket]

You can certainly still use them effectively, but you will NEVER maximize damage. If you're ok with that, sure. If you're an energy gun lover, however, I would never do it. You'll be punching yourself every time you fire/swing it.
*"god roll" on a laser rifle depends on your build. Since you're not going for max damage if you Ground yourself it likely won't be the same as for a build that is.

[Razer]

Damage resistance has deminishing returns. The boost you get from the mutation is nice, but it's not necessary to keep you alive really. Most enemies deal physical damage anyway. So you effectively gimp yourself in most occassions. I would not go for it. I don't even put it on my melee character knowing I may switch to an energy weapon at some point.

[m142]

it's one 3* perk in str/perception instead of 1* not much change.
with legendary perks you can get up to 30 perk points so that's low price to pay.
as for mutation defence scale skin with bird bones and 3*perk in endurance is better but ohh well , guess you can stac them up neatly , ower all it's good trade even for energetic gattlings

[Mystic Zinja]

Originally posted by Uncanny Moskvich:

Im using class freak so I only lose 12% damage instead of 50%. Also what would be a good god roll for the Laser rifle?

QUAD
I would say 2 Shot, but I think there nerfing it the next update
Also 90% reduced weight, or vats is good to on it
I use the Quad Ultracite Laser which is amazing

[PotatoBasket]

Originally posted by Razer:

Damage resistance has diminishing returns. The boost you get from the mutation is nice, but it's not necessary to keep you alive really. Most enemies deal physical damage anyway. So you effectively gimp yourself in most occasions. I would not go for it. I don't even put it on my melee character knowing I may switch to an energy weapon at some point.

**OP, if you're going for damage reduction outside of armor (so, perk and mutation based) it's really pointless unless you get ALL the damage reduction - Barbarian, Blocker, Evasive, the energy res, etc etc. A non-PA tank build is NOT the most efficient, though it is pretty diverse in usage and you will noticeably survive more often. Armor piercing attacks at high levels completely negate armor, so if you go this route you can shave off a couple perk defense boosts to tailor your build more as you progress in level. A PA tank is always going to be tougher, also, anyway.

[insert food here]

The way the damage formula works if you have somewhere around 300 DR you need to basically double it to see a small further 10% reduction to incoming damage. Going from memory here so might not be 100% correct. Even though damage reductions are applied after resistances, % damage reductions are always going to be far better than slightly increasing your DR and ER.

So if you are close to or over 300 DR it is far better to invest in damage reduction perks and damage reduction armour prefixes than trying to increase DR and ER.

Perks like dodgy, serendipity, ricochet and blocker as well as armour prefixes that reduce incoming damage are what you want for taking less damage.

[Mooman]

Get rid of grounded, not worth it. In PA energy damage resistance is pointless due to legendary perk Electric Absorption. Without PA stimpacks and healing are a thing.

For lasers I enjoy my Quad FFR as it turns it into a mini Gatling Laser, free aim/hip fire only.

Lasers don't work well in VATS due to high AP drain that can't be reduced as much as ballistics. If you spam consumables (canned coffee, nuka colas etc.) this is less of an issue.

If you use a splitter it messes up the crit damage to almost nothing. Splitters though apparently boost the damage of the fire proc from beta/gamma wave capacitors, though that may change next patch. They do boost healing from vampires effect.

In a round about way I'm saying forget lasers. If you want a light show go heavy guns with (Ultracite) Gatling Laser.

[J!nx]

Iam running grounded with plasma caster and iam still one shotting lv 100 SuperMutants at Wes Tek with ease. Class Freak maxed out reduces the energy damage reduction from 50% to 12% which is very acceptable so i think it's still workable.

[nordmeyerx]

I find this topic shocking.

[TheLoveMummy]

Prime caster and gatling plasma shouldnt suffer much. Got rid of the mutation with secret service armor and scaly skin. Hordes of liberator drones are rare. Just add a piece of troubleshooter armor and call it a day.