How does Plasma Rifle damage work?

[Sashaa28]

Lets say my plasma rifle had 40 balistic damage and 40 energy damage. Do those two numbers added together provide the total damage? For example, if my combat rifle did 70 damage, would my plasma theoretically do more because it is 40 and 40?

[Chaosium]

Yes, it adds up. They are usually pretty good because even if the target has high ballistic resistance, the energy component will still be effective, and vice versa.

[Charon]

The plasma weapon in your example deals 40 balistic damage that has to overcome the balistic damage resistance and 40 energy damage that has to overcome the energy damage resistance. Against an enemy with high balistic damage resistance the plasma weapon will do more damage and against an enemy with high energy damage resistance the combat rifle would maybe do more damage.

Main drawback of the plasma gun are the slow moving plasma projectiles outside VATS which makes it hard to hit anything (can be modded for more plasma fun :D ). But in higher tiers plasma weapons outclass any rifle when it comes to raw damage potential.

[kaffekoppen]

Originally posted by Charon:

But in higher tiers plasma weapons outclass any rifle when it comes to raw damage potential.

Except the gauss rifle... and for DPS probably some other weapons like a handmade rifle.

[Bandy]

Use plasma for close-in fun when projectile velocity not much of an issue...

[illgib]

Originally posted by kaffekoppen:

Originally posted by Charon:

But in higher tiers plasma weapons outclass any rifle when it comes to raw damage potential.

Except the gauss rifle... and for DPS probably some other weapons like a handmade rifle.

I tried the gauss rifle that the railroad doc gave me, but even full modded the accuracy it's too low making it almost impossible to hit anything even at close range.
I stick with my fully modded sniper plasma rifle.

[Iron Knights]

Plasma on Auto sounds like the best MG ever.

[Eminem]

Originally posted by illgib:

Originally posted by kaffekoppen:

Except the gauss rifle... and for DPS probably some other weapons like a handmade rifle.

I tried the gauss rifle that the railroad doc gave me, but even full modded the accuracy it's too low making it almost impossible to hit anything even at close range.
I stick with my fully modded sniper plasma rifle.

yep the eye candy with the gauss rifle is great but when it comes to bang for the buck and killing stuff fast, nothing compares to my trusty Overseer Guardian, lol

[Iron Knights]

Gauss Rifle can hit fine, but it's a time to next shot problem. Rapid fire can stagger enemies and get aggro fast without any perks or special powers assigned.

[JobeGardener]

When the baddie can go from out in the open to hiding behind cover in the blink of an eye...
get a Missile Launcher.

[Iron Knights]

M.I.R.V. is a wonderful weapon, nothing like cluster mini-nukes, when they take ruined homes for cover or concealment. Nothing in today's buildings are much cover from military weapons though, much less burned out husks, but that's reality not the game.

[kharille]

Obsessed with Plasma rifiles. I think my ultimate aim is to build 1 or 2 of those Vault tec power reactors at every settlement on my 2nd playthrough. And arm every last settler with an overcharged plasma rifle.

[Emmental]

Energy damage is bugged/broken, ballistic weapons are the most powerful in the game. A shame as i love the sound effect of a semi auto laser rifle.

[Bandy]

Originally posted by Dave:

Energy damage is bugged/broken, ballistic weapons are the most powerful in the game. A shame as i love the sound effect of a semi auto laser rifle.

Simply mod your game then, to your liking.

[The Inept European]

Back to your combat rifle 70 DMG vs Plasma rifle 40 + 40 DMG

The plasma rifle will do more total damage (80) only against a target with extremely weak DR and ER. In most actual cases the combat rifle will do more damage. Why? Because the DMG is also the armour penetration characteristic, and armour penetration is highly non-linear. (And because almost nothing in the game has very high DR but really really low ER. Which is what it would take for your plasma rifle to do more damage than your combat rifle. )

So outside of a few very special cases, plasma weapons are a kind of cop out weapon, that will never be the best weapon for the job but will usually avoid being the worst.

The general rule in this game is: go ballistic.

[Iron Knights]

Dave - tried the plasma in auto mode ? Sounds like a good M-240B.
For sniping damage resistant enemies, my go to plasma is the Irradiated Plasma Sniper rifle, all the range I need but 66 Damage + 66 Energy + 50 Radiation. Doesn't beat Gauss in one shot but the rate of fire is much faster.