Laser Rifle or Laser Musket?

[Artrysa]

I have seen people saying that the laser rifle, or sniper rifle is better than the musket. But from what I've seen you get the most damage per shot from the sniper version, which has to charge up which takes about 4 seconds. Within that time I got six cranks down on my musket which does over 300 damage in a single shot. Am I missing something about the laser rifle, or doing something wrong? No matter how I look at it, the musket is faster, and does way more damage. The only thing the rifle has over the musket that I could find is that it's more damage per fusion cell.

[no1schmo]

You mean for the purpose specifically of sniping? Yes, the musket is better. The laser rifle is far better overall, though, as a general use weapon, assuming you mod it correctly.

[Artrysa]

Originally posted by no1schmo:

You mean for the purpose specifically of sniping? Yes, the musket is better. The laser rifle is far better overall, though, as a general use weapon, assuming you mod it correctly.

What would be modded correctly then? Dps over damage per shot?

[Lucifer69]

That "300 damage in a single shot" is misleading in that it consumes up to 6 fusion cells to do so.

Laser Rifle - 24 damage, base
Laser Musket - 30 damage, base

With all damage related mods (sniper)
LR - 77 damage
--With beam amplifier.
LM - 35 damage (x6 = 210)
--This is with the splitter for max damage.

The Laser Musket is one of the most inefficient weapons in the game. Cost of ammo compared to weight, damage, range, etc. The Laser Rifle beats it in every way except maximum alpha strike. Granted, 77 damage with damage related perks and sneak quickly breaks 500 damage per shot. Even more insane if you stack it with instigating (which doubles damage against a target with full health).

Just mod the Laser Rifle for sniping, if you need a sniper. Otherwise, you can sacrifice a bit of range and damage for more capacity, recoil control, and fire rate.

So... it really just depends on what you want. Maximum alpha or a superior rifle in every other way.

[Artrysa]

Originally posted by Lucifer69:

That "300 damage in a single shot" is misleading in that it consumes up to 6 fusion cells to do so.

Laser Rifle - 24 damage, base
Laser Musket - 30 damage, base

With all damage related mods (sniper)
LR - 77 damage
--With beam amplifier.
LM - 35 damage (x6 = 210)
--This is with the splitter for max damage.

The Laser Musket is one of the most inefficient weapons in the game. Cost of ammo compared to weight, damage, range, etc. The Laser Rifle beats it in every way except maximum alpha strike. Granted, 77 damage with damage related perks and sneak quickly breaks 500 damage per shot. Even more insane if you stack it with instigating (which doubles damage against a target with full health).

Just mod the Laser Rifle for sniping, if you need a sniper. Otherwise, you can sacrifice a bit of range and damage for more capacity, recoil control, and fire rate.

So... it really just depends on what you want. Maximum alpha or a superior rifle in every other way.

Well the problem with that is that a laser sniper rifle needs 4 seconds to charge to do the listen damage, otherwise it does WAY less. And the beam splitter's damage is a bit higher than other mods, but that's assuming that all beams hit. That's why I don't quite understand how the laser rifle can be better if the musket is faster to "charge" a full powered shot, at more damage for the cost of a bit more ammo.

[Lucifer69]

It's only +2 damage for the laser musket and +3 damage for the laser rifle.

In any case, the laser rifle wins in 99% of the engagements. You can use it indoors, outside, at range, against groups, etc. The laser musket wins ONLY when you can spare the time needed to actually charge the thing, and ideally at range in case god forbid you miss...

Up to you though. Keep in mind you'll be using at minimum 2x more fusion cells to match the laser rifle in damage. If you don't play survival then maximizing efficiency may not matter, but for me it's means the world.

Both weapons are easily capable of one shot killing most enemies at the highest of tiers.

[Artrysa]

I haven't used the laser rifle a lot while sneaking, maybe that's where it gets even. But the musket pretty much one shots every enemy apart from legendaries or extremely tough enemies. Which creates time to crank it back up, especially if you got some kind of cover.

[CRITS Marigold]

An Instigating or two-shot Musket would balance out the ammo wastage rather nicely, but good fookin luck. Regardless it would have been better had it used an actual charge mechanic rather than ammo. (I miss the Recharger Rifle/Pistol lol)

[Alucard †]

Fusion cells are extremely common drop. At level 40-50 or so i have them by the thousands from various enemies (mostly synths , gunners , automatron robots) and Scrounger.

Laser Musket all the way for that sweet "alpha strike"

[Lucifer69]

No need to justify your choice. The thing about Fallout 4 is that quite a lot of weapons are viable, even if some may be better options than others. Well, all the weapons aside from the obvious memes (rolling pin for example, no matter how funny it is).

In this case, each has it's strengths. One is pretty much king ♥♥♥♥ in alpha strike of all the weapons in the game, the other is very well rounded (while still being able to alpha strike all trash mobs). I enjoy the laser rifle more, it's just a staple from past games. And I can use it at any range.

I'm pretty sure the laser musket has the singular highest damage in the game, even higher than the fatman (the mirv obviously wins though). At least with perks it's easily capable of 3000+ damage.

The pipe gun and revolver are the only ones that I'll say are pretty bad, at least once you have the ammo to replace them with anything else. That, or just skip them entirely with a melee/ unarmed build. .38 is pretty much a second currency for me, even at the start. Most ammo's are that aren't fusion cores.

[wtiger27]

Originally posted by Lucifer69:

No need to justify your choice. The thing about Fallout 4 is that quite a lot of weapons are viable, even if some may be better options than others. Well, all the weapons aside from the obvious memes (rolling pin for example, no matter how funny it is).

In this case, each has it's strengths. One is pretty much king ♥♥♥♥ in alpha strike of all the weapons in the game, the other is very well rounded (while still being able to alpha strike all trash mobs). I enjoy the laser rifle more, it's just a staple from past games. And I can use it at any range.

I'm pretty sure the laser musket has the singular highest damage in the game, even higher than the fatman (the mirv obviously wins though). At least with perks it's easily capable of 3000+ damage.

The pipe gun and revolver are the only ones that I'll say are pretty bad, at least once you have the ammo to replace them with anything else. That, or just skip them entirely with a melee/ unarmed build. .38 is pretty much a second currency for me, even at the start. Most ammo's are that aren't fusion cores.

Some good points. In one of my runs, I had a two shot 4 crank Laser Musket drop at level 10. I modded it out to a 6 crank and even much later at a lot higher level, that thing was a beast. But I agree for overall usage in most situations, I prefer the Laser Rifle. But if you have a good legendary effect on a 6 crank laser musket, I say keep it for those special moments.

But, I do not agree a revolver is a bad weapon. That will depend on the style you want to play and what you use them for. In one play run, I have a Explosive Western Revolver and that thing is also a beast. One shot kills with it, is common. On Very Hard. It is also great for taking out turrets if you are mainly playing a melee char.

I understand one could carry a high damage rifle and do the same thing. But I love using that revolver.

[Lucifer69]

Pipe revolver, notice the PIPE in that comment. It's pretty much trash, other than the weight and access to cheap .38 early on.

[wtiger27]

Originally posted by Lucifer69:

Pipe revolver, notice the PIPE in that comment. It's pretty much trash, other than the weight and access to cheap .38 early on.

I noticed your "The pipe gun and revolver " as if you where talking about two different weapons. And yes, I know there are revolver versions of the pipe pistol and rifle also.

But if you agree the revolver as in .44 cal usage is a good choice sometimes, then we are on the same page. :)

[Lucifer69]

I mean, I love kellog's pistol. I only hate the fact that you can't fan revolvers (in vanilla).

[Felliniesque]

i got a deadeye musket so that might be why I think musket is better, but there are both solid

[Lucifer69]

Neither is better, it just depends on what you do with it. And if you can manage close range with the musket. Legendary stuff doesn't really count because the whole system is broken. It turns some trash guns into god tier. Also, magic guns is kind of stupid.