EMP shell

EMP shell

A shell filled with batteries and antennas, for generating an electromagnetic pulse when detonated. Electromagnetic pulses temporarily disable electrical devices and mechanoids. Can be fired from mortars or installed as a trap. Explodes when damaged.

Base Stats

Type

Crafted Resources – Mortar shell

Market Value

55 

Stack Limit

25

Mass

1.25 kg

HP

60

Deterioration Rate

1.5

Flammability

100%

Path Cost

15 (46%)

Ranged Combat

Damage

50 dmg (EMP)

Velocity

41 (m/s)

Blast Radius

8.9

Creation

Crafted At

Required Research

Microelectronics

Skill Required

Crafting 4

Work To Make

800 ticks (13.33 secs)

Resources to make

15 + 2

Technical

defName

Shell_EMP

thingCategories

MortarShells"MortarShells" is not in the list (Armor, Art, Artifact, BasicClothing, Clothing, ExoticMisc, ImplantEmpireCommon, ImplantEmpireRoyal, MortarShell, PsychicApparel, ...) of allowed values for the "TradeTags" property.

tradeTags

MortarShells

The EMP shell is a type of mortar shell that upon exploding in an EMP burst.

Acquisition

EMP shells are made using 15 steel and 2 components at a machining table and requires Microelectronics to be researched. Requires a Crafting skill of at least 4. The steel cost is increased to 25 if the Classic Mortars difficulty option is enabled.

They can also be purchased from traders.

Summary

When fired from a mortar, emp shells deal 50 EMP damage in a 8.9 tile radius, stunning mechanoids, turrets and other mortars for 25 seconds, and instantly but temporarily downing shield belts, low-shield packs , mech low shields and mech high shields.

After being stunned, mechanoids become 'Adapted' and gain immunity against further stuns for 2,200 ticks (36.67 secs). Immunity is applied on stun, and will not be extended by stunning an adapted or already stunned mechanoid.

When damaged beyond 70% of its health, it will explode after between 30 ticks (0.5 secs) and 60 ticks (1 sec), dealing 50 EMP damage in a radius around itself. The radius depends on the quantity in the stack, with a single shell covering a 11.9 tile radius, and expanding this radius proportional to the square root of the stack size times 0.4 up to a maximum radius of 15 tiles at a full stack of 25.

Analysis

It is a niche weapon that is extremely good at whatever it does- downing shields and stunning mechanoids. Because of this, it finds really good value even though it deals no physical damage whatsoever.

Due to its large blast radius, only a few shells are usually required for each barrage to hit all enemies. Given that, as well as its combat effectiveness, it is a very cost-efficient choice, despite requiring components to make.

The radius from an exploding EMP shell is significantly larger than that of a fired EMP shell. Depending on the purpose, placing a single shell and causing it to explode may be more efficient than firing it from a mortar.

Version history

In 1.1 its crafting cost was increased (20 --> 25 steel, 1 --> 2 components).

• 1.3.3066 - Steel requirement decreased from 25 -> 15 unless Classic Mortar difficulty option enabled.