Daniel's UT Weaponry Handbook

A simple guide detailing each weapon found within the game.

Welcome

This guide is intended to help relatively new players use the various weapons within Unreal Tournament. Throughout the guide I'll be describing each weapon, how the firing modes work and offer some advice on using them.

If you've managed to open this guide, I'm going to assume you have some form of cognitive ability required to understand many of the terms used throughout.

Impact Hammer

The Impact Hammer was originally designed for use as a mining tool, allowing deep space miners to shatter rocks using a piston that was powered only by compressed air. Utilised properly, it can also shatter your opponents with ease.

Firing Modes

• Primary Fire: Holding down the primary fire key will charge the Impact Hammer. During or after charging, run into another combatant to let the piston activate. Remember that part about shattering opponents? I wasn't kidding. This thing makes a VERY bloody mess out of anyone on the receiving end. Pray that it isn't you.
  
• Secondary Fire: Tapping the secondary fire key will use a small amount of compressed air to activate the piston, doing a small amount of damage. However, it can be held down to be used rapidly. It also has the ability to reflect projectiles such as rockets provided you time it right.

Advised Usage
Being a melee weapon, you'll have to get in pretty close for it to be of any real use. If you can ambush someone though, you have the potential to deal huge damage in a single strike. Just be aware that the sound of an Impact Hammer being charged can be heard by anyone near you.
The primary fire can also be used to boost your jumps. Hold down the primary fire key, get a running start then release the key while looking at the ground and jumping. You'll take some damage, but it's a good way to propel yourself around the arena.

Translocator

The Translocator is a handheld teleportation device, allowing the user to instantly warp from one location to another. A pretty nifty device, it also has a limited (but deadly) offensive capability.

Firing Modes

• Primary Fire: Using the primary fire will launch a disc from the front of the Translocator. Upon settling on the ground, a small antenna will activate and light up. This signals that the device is ready for use.
  
• Secondary Fire: After launching a disc with the primary fire, press the secondary fire key to teleport to your Translocator disc module. Teleportation made easy.

Advised Usage
When you need to get around in a flash, look no further. You can fire a module and wander off somewhere else, then select the Translocator and teleport back when needed.
The Translocator disc modules do have a major design flaw though. If an opponent should happen to notice your little beeping teleportation module, they can shoot at it to damage it. Attempting to teleport to a damaged module will result in instant death for the user. If you're playing a Capture The Flag match, you also cannot teleport while holding the enemy team's flag. Doing so will cause the flag to fall to the ground at the spot you once stood at.
A neat little trick you can do is to press the primary fire key while activating the Translocator with the secondary fire. This will teleport you to your destination and quickly equip the last weapon you were holding.
The Translocator can also be used to instantly kill another combatant. Launch a teleportation module at an opponent, then activate it when it hits them. Warping to the location your opponent occupies will shred them to pieces. Very messy, but very amusing.

Enforcer & Double Enforcers

The Enforcer is your standard FPS handgun that every player spawns with. It might not look intimidating, but can be quite effective when used correctly. Killing another person and taking their Enforcer, or finding one around the map, will allow you to dual wield them for increased damage.
This weapon, along with the Sniper Rifle, has 2 ammo types; a box of bullets that provides 50 shots, and Enforcer clips that give you 30 bullets.

Firing Modes

• Primary Fire: The primary fire does what you'd expect of a pistol. It's also rather accurate, though slow.
  
• Secondary Fire: Using the secondary fire will turn your Enforcer(s) sideways, 'gangsta' style. This will fire the weapon at twice the speed of the primary fire, but it'll be largely inaccurate.

Advised Usage
For a default weapon that everyone gets on respawn, you'd think the Enforcer would be a second-rate weapon. In reality, it packs quite a punch and has the advantage of hitting the target instantly. One Enforcer shot deals 25 damage. That's right, this thing can kill an unarmoured opponent in just 4 hits (provided they have 100 or less health).
As mentioned before, picking up a second Enforcer will give you two of them. The main advantage here is an increased attack rate which in turn leads to a better damage output.
At close range, you may want to use the secondary fire. Being closer to your target will make accuracy less of an issue, allowing you to take advantage of the increased firing speed.

GES Bio Rifle

The Bio Rifle uses highly toxic Tarydium biosludge as an ammo source. I'm not sure how this thing is even legal, but when it can be used to create traps you can't really complain. A solid weapon for attacking or defending a location.

Firing Modes

• Primary Fire: The primary fire will rapidly launch globs of biosludge which will stick to any surface. When someone runs through it, or after an amount of time has passed, the globs will explode dealing damage to anyone nearby.
  
• Secondary Fire: Hold down the secondary fire key to charge up a larger amount of biosludge. Release the key to fire it. Depending on how long you charged it up, a big glob of toxic sludge will be launched from the weapon. Upon contact with a solid surface, the glob splits into smaller wads of biosludge.

Advised Usage
This weapon can be great for base defence during team games, but is a good all-round weapon in general. Fire a few wads of Tarydium sludge around a choke point or create a small ambush to lock down a particular location.
If a fully charged glob of biosludge is shot at someone with the secondary fire, it will deal a huge amount of damage to whoever happens to be in the way. Just don't use it at close range.

ASMD Shock Rifle

The Shock Rifle is a rather versatile energy weapon, useful at pretty much any range. Think of it as the semi-automatic rifle of the future. Because everything is better with lasers.

Firing Modes

• Primary Fire: The primary fire key will shoot a beam of concentrated energy that will instantly strike anything you're aiming at.
  
• Secondary Fire: Pressing the secondary fire key will launch a plasma ball that is slow moving but deals a bit more damage than the beam.

Advised Usage
The true strength of this weapon lies in it's 'combo attack'. Shooting a secondary fire plasma ball with a primary fire energy beam will result in a devastating explosion, dealing heavy damage to anyone in the vicinity.
Both firing modes cause knockback on your target. Use this to your advantage when focusing on someone near an environmental hazard.

Pulse Gun

The Pulse Gun fills the role of 'assault rifle', being useful at close to medium range.

Firing Modes

• Primary Fire: The primary fire shoots small plasma balls at a fast rate of fire.
  
• Secondary Fire: Holding down the secondary fire key will shoot a stream of plasma up to 100 meters. Sustaining this on a target can deal decent damage.

Advised Usage
Both of the firing modes used by this weapon will make your position immediately obvious to everyone. It's important to move about whilst firing.
The secondary plasma stream may look like it has a long range, but it will not hit distant targets. Use it at close range to make short work of your opponent.

Ripper

The Ripper shoots bladed discs that can easily mutilate enemies. We need police forces using stuff like this; riots would quickly subside when the threat of death by razor disc is thrown at the suspects

Firing Modes

• Primary Fire: Hitting the primary fire key will launch a razor sharp metal disc at a pretty good speed. The discs will ricochet of a few surfaces before disappearing. Take care, as there is nothing stopping them from bouncing back straight into you.
  
• Secondary Fire: The secondary fire shoots explosive metal discs, giving the weapon a small area-of-effect capability. These discs will not ricochet though as they detonate on impact with anything.

Advised Usage
Razor sharp discs. Your opponent's neck. See the connection here? Well they'll certainly feel it if you can score a shot like that.
The ricochet provided by the primary fire can be used to bounce shots off of walls and around corners. If someone is chasing you through a narrow hallway, let loose a few of these to keep any pursuers back.
The explosive discs can't make headshots, but they provide some good knockback.

Minigun

The Minigun is exactly what you think it is. 1000 rounds per minute never looked so beautiful. Or deadly for that matter, yes, very deadly.

Firing Modes

• Primary Fire: This shoots bullets at a fast rate. It's also pretty accurate for a rotary cannon.
  
• Secondary Fire: Even faster firing at the expense of some accuracy. And uses a hell of a lot of ammo.

Advised Usage
The Minigun makes static defence or base assault so much easier. Thanks to the decent accuracy provided by the primary firing mode and the very fast speed of the secondary, it's hard to find a situation where the Minigun isn't useful.
Always be sure to watch your ammo counter. You'll run dry faster than you think.

Flak Cannon

The Flak Cannon fires jagged chunks of scrap at your enemy. Not exactly useful at long range, this weapon is more suited for close combat.

Firing Modes

• Primary Fire: Pressing the primary fire key will shoot white hot scrap metal like a shotgun at whatever is in front of you. Makes a large mess at close range.
  
• Secondary Fire: The secondary fire functions like a grenade launcher, shooting a shrapnel bomb at your target. On contact with anything, the bomb explodes and sends chunks of metal flying in all directions.

Advised Usage
The combination of spread-shot and explosive round firing modes will largely limit this weapon to close-medium range. Trying to hit anything at a long distance is pretty much the definition of 'exercise in futility'.
If you get caught in a tight hallway, use the primary fire. The shrapnel will ricochet off the walls and is nearly impossible to dodge.
The splash damage provided by the secondary fire can launch opponents around, use this to your advantage when facing dangerous hazards such as slime or lava.

Rocket Launcher

The Rocket Launcher is quite possibly the staple of any arena-based FPS. In the right hands it can cause overwhelming damage very quickly. Expect to see this heavily used by everyone during online matches.

Firing Modes
NOTE: The Rocket Launcher is capable of loading up to 6 rounds with each firing mode. If you want to fire single rounds by holding a firing key down, go to your Preferences and activate Instant Rockets.

• Primary Fire: Tap the primary fire key to launch an explosive rocket or hold it down to chamber up to 6 rockets that are fired simultaneously. The rockets move at an average speed and deal moderate damage on impact with a target.
  
• Secondary Fire: Tap the secondary fire key to launch an unpowered rocket as a grenade, or hold it down to load up to 6 that are fired all at once. Grenades detonate after a few seconds or on contact with another player.

Advised Usage
Knowing how to effectively use this weapon will decide whether you rule the arena or crash and burn. Always keep in mind that the Rocket Launcher is capable of splash damage, meaning you can injure yourself if you aren't careful.
When using the primary fire, you should try to aim at the ground near your target, causing damage from the explosion while giving you a better chance to hit them.
The secondary grenades are best used when trying to hold a location from attackers or assisting in an escape. Lobbing a few bombs behind you will quickly dispatch any persuers giving you a few more seconds to think.
It's worth noting that the Rocket Launcher is capable of locking on to opponents. Hold your crosshair over an enemy for a moment and it will turn red. This indicates that your primary rockets will track the target. The best way to use this is to load a full compliment of 6 rockets while locked on to an enemy and firing them all at once. Guaranteed to either severely injure or maim your opponent.

Sniper Rifle

The Sniper Rifle is the ultimate long range weapon. Every bullet that hits an opponent will deal large damage, but if you can make a headshot it's certain to be an instant kill.
This weapon, along with the Enforcer, has 2 ammo types; a box of rifle rounds that provides 10 shots, and single rifle rounds that give you 1 per pickup.

Firing Modes

• Primary Fire: Hitting the primary fire key will fire a hitscan bullet towards, well, wherever you're aiming. Headshots on unshielded opponents are guaranteed to kill them.
  
• Secondary Fire: Holding the secondary fire key will allow you to zoom the rifle in. The scope can be used to reach a magnification level of x8.3. Hit the secondary fire key again to unzoom.

Advised Usage
Obviously this weapon dominates the battlefield at long ranges, that's what it was designed for after all. However, if you're well-versed in the art of shooting straight, the firing rate for this weapon makes it effective at medium ranges as well.
As noted above, scoring a headshot will net you an instant kill, UNLESS your intended victim is protected by a shield belt. Their shield will take a good amount of damage, but they will be otherwise unharmed and probably annoyed.
Unlike the long range weapons of later Unreal Tournament games, shots fired leave no tracer or other indication of your position. Using this to your advantage will make you nearly unstoppable.

Redeemer

The Redeemer. This right here is the big one, the superweapon, the very nightmare of any arena combatant. It uses bulky thermonuclear missiles for ammunition. As such, you can only ever carry 2 missiles for it at one time (unless you use a certain cheat command...).

Firing Modes

• Primary Fire: Pull the trigger and watch the world burn; this fires a thermonuclear warhead that will explode on contact with a wall or a person. Upon detonation, a massive shockwave will be emitted that instantly vaporizes anything unlucky enough to even brush against it.
  
• Secondary Fire: Using the secondary fire does the same as the primary fire, but you are given control of the missile. This allows you to fly it around corners and into hard-to-reach locations. Press the primary fire key to detonate the warhead mid-flight.

Advised Usage
Oh boy, where to begin? This is pretty much an anti-everything weapon. Just shoot it at something you want dead, preferably a large group of enemies, and watch the ensuing bloodbath. Bonus points if you laugh manically.
One little important piece of information is that the missiles can be prematurely detonated by a well-placed shot. This destroys the missile in a very harmless explosion, so try to use the secondary fire whenever possible.
Guiding missiles with the secondary fire is definitely awesome, however it leaves you very vulnerable and open to attack because you'll be forced to stand still for the duration. If you can't safely use the secondary fire, just shoot an unguided missile. Besides, nothing says 'ominous death approaching' like a huge nuclear warhead heading straight for that box you were using as cover.

Chainsaw

The Chainsaw is something you most likely won't see a lot of. The only way to acquire it is to use one of the chainsaw mutators, or play on a map that has the chainsaw spawn as a weapon pickup. Functionally it serves as a very powerful and messy melee weapon.

Firing Modes

• Primary Fire: Holding down the primary fire key will rev up the Chainsaw and hold it out in front of you. Anyone that comes into contact with it will take a large amount of damage until they move out of range or die.
  
• Secondary Fire: Pressing the secondary fire key will swing the Chainsaw horizontally, decapitating your target which counts as a headshot.

Advised Usage
Unlike the Impact Hammer, this weapon makes a distinct noise anytime you are holding it. If you're going for stealth, be sure to kill your opponent quickly.
The secondary attack, no matter where it lands on your target, will ALWAYS be an instant kill unless they have a shield belt equipped.
This weapon carries the fear factor of the average 'chainsaw massacre' horror tale. If you saw someone charging towards you with a chainsaw, you'd be pretty freaked out too.

Conclusion

Hopefully you found this guide to be useful, or at least a little interesting. If you have any favourite strategies conerning any of the weapons above, send them to me and I'd be happy to include them in the guide and credit you for it.

Keep on fragging!

[ダニエル]

Sure why not

[EmperorLol]

You... you think cops should have rippers? And you think they should fire them into crowds of people? O_O

[vee-kay]

@Donut: Instagib matches (ASMD Shock Rifle) with the Ultra Gore mod, are pure mayhem fun!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ0MWCig1QQ

Ultra Gore (requires NW3 SSE):
https://unrealarchive.org/mutators/unreal-tournament/U/ultra-gore-nw3-sse_180a2de5.html

Nali Weapons 3 Special Edition (NW3 SSE) Mod:
https://www.moddb.com/groups/unreal-cant-die/downloads/nw3-ultra-gore-sse

[vee-kay]

There are couple of nice mutators for Impact Hammer (which typically tends to be merely an afterthought in UT99 fragfests, as it's used just for close combat takedowns of weak or injured players)..

Freeze Gun (replaces ASMD Shock Rifle, freezes the target temporarily, and enables 10x damage from an Impact Hammer):
https://unrealarchive.org/mutators/unreal-tournament/F/freeze-gun_62e76e49.html

Disgraced (Creates "Head-Shot" like messages for whenever someone gets a frag with the Impact Hammer; also has humiliation messages for the person who was fragged. Includes voices):
https://unrealarchive.org/mutators/unreal-tournament/D/disgraced_dc34e0f6.html

[vee-kay]

@Donut: There's no Instagib weapon. You mean the ASMD Shock Rifle, which is used in matches with Instagib mutator enabled, so that weapon becomes a one-shot killer - such Instagib matches have no other weapons, so everyone uses the same weapon for instakills, hence match becomes a lot more frenetic, twitch-finger-frenzy, fragfest fun!

[vee-kay]

@ダニエル : Excellent guide, thanks!

[Elder Ning]

any1 buy the goty version without any goty weapons?

[Johnny Paquet]

Also about the Impact Hammer: Against A.I. they'll switch to theirs as well. They're like "Oh yeah, wanna play like that?"

[breenus]

The Rocket Launcher can also shoot a barrage of rockets in a spiral if you hold Mouse2 while loading up rockets.

[Unison Phoenix]

on the Rocket Launcher, if you hold down the Alt Fire button while stocking shots for your Primary Fire, you'll launch all the stocked Rockets in the same direction. if you're a good shot, you can stock 2-3 rockets and wreck even a Shield Belt target.