Bolt Pistol vs. Plasma Pistol

[Dusty the TV Head Man]

Just wondering which people think is better. A lot of builds online for Heavy and Bulwark (my two main classes) recommend taking Plasma over Bolt, but I was curious if the Plasma really is the better option.

[The True Lamb]

I play bulwark and only bulwark so i have no idea of viability on other classes. On bulwark at the beginning i didn't know how to parry so i would use the plasma for charged head shots to stun the enemy. takes 2-7 depending on difficulty. but now i know how to parry i save it to headshot or just damage from afar bosses or harder enemys such as the flying types (hard to slap whats 20 feet above you). the main complaint i have is the ammo. sure there is upgrades to it but 9 shots or 10 isnt much of a dif. I personaly think its great for new players and slightly underwhelming toward the higher levels.

[CHAO$$$]

Plasma is good if you know youre going to have an ammo crate.
If you run into a random boss spawn during the regular map bolt pistol with +ammo variant is the only thing that wont make you want to pull your hair out.

[Rock]

Plasma. It ain't even close.

[Archarius]

Originally posted by Chaos:

The general rule of this game is that bolter sucks unless it is high caliber.

So for pistol, the plasma and it's charge shot wins hand down.

There is no such general rule, it's just an opinion. Will take heavy bolt rifle over plasma gun myself, but plasma pistol over bolt one, so here is an another opinion for ya.

[Ishan451]

Originally posted by Dusty the TV Head Man:

Just wondering which people think is better.

Depends on what it is complimenting and the Team composition.

If its a low ammo weapon, i go with the Bolt Pistol. If i am lacking in horde clear i am going Plasma.

Originally posted by Dusty the TV Head Man:

A lot of builds online for Heavy and Bulwark (my two main classes) recommend taking Plasma over Bolt, but I was curious if the Plasma really is the better option.

Builds online exist in a vacuum. They assume you have all the ammo, and/or will selfishly play looking out only for yourself.

If you are playing a Bulwark with a Sniper, Vanguard and or Heavy on the team, you will not have the spare ammo to go with charged shots and that alone makes the Bolt Pistol the superior choice.

If you are only out for yourself, to try and top the damage charts and will hover all the ammo boxes in the game, with no regard to your teammates, then the Plasma Gun is the objectively superior choice. However, it also makes you that D-bag on the team.

Both weapons have their place, but running out of ammo in between Ammo Caches as a Bulwark, if you are bringing the Bolt Pistol at the highest level is rare. The Plasma Gun will often result in you running dry... and not every Ammo Cache is guaranteed either... at which point you will either go dry, and thus miss a lot of opportunities (including but not limited to being unable to suppress support summons), or you will have to take ammo from a teammate that is better served having that ammo.

Ammo management for the Team is a consideration at higher difficulties and while you are missing the heavy punch of the Plasma Pistol with the Bolt Pistol, the fact that it is very hard to run out of ammo with it, is pretty much a guarantee that you'll never be out of ranged power, even if its less damage, per shot, than the Plasma Pistol.


And there is your answer: Plasma Pistol is better damage, Bolt Pistol is a reliable work horse.

[puRe]

Originally posted by Terra's goofiest ultramarine:

Originally posted by Netaris:

I pick both and go akimbo.

I wish lol

One of the voicelines of the Vanguard is like "What is better than a chainsword? Two chainswords!".
Dual wielding confirmed!

[Chaos]

Originally posted by Archarius:

There is no such general rule, it's just an opinion. Will take heavy bolt rifle over plasma gun myself, but plasma pistol over bolt one, so here is an another opinion for ya.

Idk man, the only bolter I could enjoy was either stalker or sniper one.

The rest go as following.
Melta>GL with bolter attachment>plasma=bolter

One of exception is that standard bolt pistol is pretty crap so plasma pistol win by default and heavy bolt pistol is better than standard one so that also win by default.