How do I Plasma?

[SievertChaser]

I'm starting to think I don't understand those weapons much. I took a glance at this:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3342567260
For pistols and rifles, the single shots sit in between regular pistols and rifles, and the heavy pistol/Stalker bolter, but without the benefit of headshot bonuses. This alone tells me that the heavy bolter pistol has a notionally greater damage potential.

Moving on. The charged shots. On pistols and rifles, charged shots allow you to rapidly output more damage than 10 individual shots would, although not by that much. There is some AOE, but it seems to be a secondary feature. The mechanic is different for the plasma cannon, where the charged shot is weaker than 5 individual shots, but AOE is the name of the game.

In essense, I can't understand the niche for the plasma pistol when the principal target - the Zoanthrope - is all head. Nor do I understand why I should pick a Plasma Incinerator over a Heavy Bolt Rifle or Stalker Bolter. Are there more mechanics I'm missing, or do these weapons rely on Operations perks? (which are absent in Campaign, BTW)

[dyne2alex]

yeaa just wait for operations. campaign is like a tutorial

[Rethias]

You run a Plasma hot. If you are firing shots sub 50% heat (w/perks) you're wasting ammo.

Seriously, canon or game, you run a plasma as hot as it can be to be the most effective. Or until it goes supernova and craters the surroundings in hellfire.

[Kobi]

Ranged enemies take more damage from ranged weapons. Also when using plasma you don't have to aim for the head, so that's an advantage. Combine that with the aoe and you melt through ranged majoris tyranids and rubricae, especially when they're clustered. Use only charged shots on pistol and regular incinerator (heavy inc. is situational). Gunstrikes on plasma pistol use charged shot, so you also get some aoe on gunstrike.

[Ivo]

Plasma also is really good for flat burst damage. Sure, pistols are much more efficent ammo wise, but plasma weapons can either clear out hordes fast with a charge or dump a large amount of damage (less so for the plasma for heavy, forget the specific name but i havent maxed it yet so maybe that changes)

For example i recently got the plasma pistol to relic. With just the 20 percent charge speed buff (can get 40 but i pref the -2 ammo cost) it becomes comparable to your primary weapon.

I don’t think i’d run it on bulwark due to ammo, but i would with heavy for example to have fast damage that i dont need to slow down to use.

[retro wave]

Originally posted by Ivo:

Plasma also is really good for flat burst damage. Sure, pistols are much more efficent ammo wise, but plasma weapons can either clear out hordes fast with a charge or dump a large amount of damage (less so for the plasma for heavy, forget the specific name but i havent maxed it yet so maybe that changes)

For example i recently got the plasma pistol to relic. With just the 20 percent charge speed buff (can get 40 but i pref the -2 ammo cost) it becomes comparable to your primary weapon.

I don’t think i’d run it on bulwark due to ammo, but i would with heavy for example to have fast damage that i dont need to slow down to use.

you can build plasma pistol to have 144 ammo and have charged shots only take 8 ammo to use with appropriate perks, also plasma pistol is technically more ammo efficient since it takes 4-5 charged shots to finisher state a majoris on lethal (32 and 40 ammo respectively) whereas it takes well over that for bolt pistol and damn near triple that for volkite (although volkite has like 700+ ammo when using BIS), additionally, you shouldnt be using plasma pistol on minoris hordes unless you have to because you have the emperors gift to mankind: the power sword

plasma pistol also serves as a reinforcement interrupter and easy high damage when enemies arent doing attacks you can parry as bulwark (or for helping teammates kill a majoris so you can banner heal them); plasma pistol is essential for heavy as its his only melee range option that doesnt suck unless youre using multi-melta

heavy plasma cannon is for massive aoe damage or for pretending this is a max payne game and spitting out plasma balls while dodge rolling before finishing with plasma pistol (which works ridiculously well and has zero right doing so)

[SievertChaser]

Originally posted by retro wave:

plasma pistol also serves as a reinforcement interrupter

Real.

[SievertChaser]

Originally posted by Rethias:

You run a Plasma hot. If you are firing shots sub 50% heat (w/perks) you're wasting ammo.

But that's just the Tactical's perk, no? And this comes at the cost of numerous nasty headshot perks later on.

[SievertChaser]

Can someone please address the Bulwark's elephant in the room: the Zoanthrope?

[w10-20-2000]

Wiki information is easier to digest and more up to date
https://spacemarine2.fandom.com/wiki/Heavy_Bolt_Rifle

[retro wave]

Originally posted by SievertChaser:

Can someone please address the Bulwark's elephant in the room: the Zoanthrope?

teammates while you use your quickstep and shield to bait and tank attacks, neo volkite if you absolutely must play solo

when playing with people plasma pistol is more than adequate

[Chaoslord 87]

Originally posted by w10-20-2000:

Wiki information is easier to digest and more up to date
https://spacemarine2.fandom.com/wiki/Heavy_Bolt_Rifle

I would take that fanwiki with a grain of Salt since the Bolt Sniper there is depicted with the Statlines and Perktree of the Bolt Rifle.

[w10-20-2000]

Originally posted by Chaoslord 87:

Originally posted by w10-20-2000:

Wiki information is easier to digest and more up to date
https://spacemarine2.fandom.com/wiki/Heavy_Bolt_Rifle

I would take that fanwiki with a grain of Salt since the Bolt Sniper there is depicted with the Statlines and Perktree of the Bolt Rifle.

The only better way is to look in the files yourself, i don't think any guides been updated

[SievertChaser]

Originally posted by retro wave:

Originally posted by SievertChaser:

Can someone please address the Bulwark's elephant in the room: the Zoanthrope?

teammates while you use your quickstep and shield to bait and tank attacks, neo volkite if you absolutely must play solo

Hm, I guess it's time to practice with that redheaded stepchild after all...

[retro wave]

Originally posted by SievertChaser:

Hm, I guess it's time to practice with that redheaded stepchild after all...

you shouldve anyways for vanguard

[Rethias]

Originally posted by SievertChaser:

Originally posted by Rethias:

You run a Plasma hot. If you are firing shots sub 50% heat (w/perks) you're wasting ammo.

But that's just the Tactical's perk, no? And this comes at the cost of numerous nasty headshot perks later on.

The only other class with a plasma main weapon? Yes.

Splash damage + charged shots at +50% heat = Busted mobs and no need to headshot