Persona monosword

For the non-persona variant of this weapon, see Monosword.

The persona monosword is a DLC melee weapon added by the Royalty DLC that does a large amount of damage, has a fairly short cooldown, and deals sharp damage, it also boasts one of the highest armor penetration values for melee weapons in the game. It is the persona weapon variant of the monosword.

Acquisition

Persona monoswords cannot be crafted. Instead, they can be purchased from any combat supplier or war merchant, at Empire faction bases, or obtained as a quest reward.

They can also be found on the following raider kinds:

Raider Kind	Chance	Average Quality	Health
Imperial Citizen	?	?	100%
Stellic Warden	?	Excellent	100%
Knight/Dame	?	Excellent	100%
Praetor	?	Excellent	100%
Baron/Baroness	?	Excellent	100%
Count/Countess	?	Excellent	100%
Duke/Duchess	?	Excellent	100%
Consul	?	Excellent	100%
Stellarch	?	Excellent	100%

Summary

Persona mechanics

Main article: Persona weapon

Persona weapons form a psychic bond with the first wielder that equips them. The weapon must be destroyed for a wielder to bond to another persona weapon. Without the Freewielder trait, the wielder must die for the weapon to be held by another. The bond remains broken if the wielder is resurrected, though they can relink with the weapon. When bonded, persona weapons have no value, both for trade and for the purposes of raid points.

Each individual persona weapon has a certain combination of traits, listed in #Persona traits. It also has a randomly generated custom name.

Persona weapons are also superior to their baseline versions in terms of combat.

Combat

Unlike other ultratech weapons, the monosword has no special mechanics. Instead it simply has excellent stats, coupled with an extraordinarily high AP for its Point and Edge attacks. Namely it has a base AP of 90%, as opposed to the 41% that would be automatically calculated from weapon damage. The AP still scales with quality, but does not scale with the Weak or Strong Melee Damage genes.

Analysis

The persona monosword is the most powerful melee weapon in the game in terms of base DPS, arguably the best overall, and a complete upgrade to regular monosword. With 90% AP on its main attack, a normal persona monosword will completely pierce any mechanoid's hide, and pretty much ignore power armor up to recon and poor marine.

Comparison to persona zeushammers

The persona zeushammer is the biggest competitor to the persona monosword for "best melee weapon". For sake of comparison, the zeushammer's EMP effects will be ignored until a footnote at the end.

When compared to the zeushammer, a persona monosword of the same quality has higher raw DPS against all mechanoids, as well as human targets up to marine armor. However, this is not the entire story. The main differences between the monosword and zeushammer are derived from their damage types: Sharp vs. Blunt. This goes beyond the usual advice of "most expected targets have much less Blunt armor than they do Sharp". Unless fighting against the empire's absolute best soldiers, both weapons' AP are so high that armor is not a concern.

While the monosword is better at pure DPS, persona zeushammers have 2 key advantages over monoswords:

One-shot potential. Zeushammers attack slower, but deal more damage per hit. A masterwork zeushammer deals just under 45 damage per swing. Note that, due to body part protection mechanics, the zeushammer cannot actually one-shot the torso, the largest body part (usually). It can still destroy large body parts like the head, arms and legs.
Overkill mechanics. If a monosword would cleanly stab off a finger, the zeushammer will smash the finger and destroy the arm in the process. While the monosword's Cut damage type can spread throughout multiple body parts, it is inferior to the zeushammer as it is less concentrated on any specific part.

While blunt damage won't cause bleeding wounds, the zeushammer is likely to destroy body parts that it hits, which will cause bleeding anyway.

Therefore, the following comparisons can be made:

At normal quality, these factors aren't too important. With a normal quality persona monosword / zeushammer, the monosword edges out against most raiders you'll see, but loses against empire cataphracts due to their sharp armor. The zeushammer, while unable to one-shot humans, can take out many body parts in 1 hit, resulting in roughly similar performance. Monoswords are definitely superior against larger targets, where organ destroying is no longer a factor. Ironically, this means that swords are better against centipedes.

But at high quality, the damage spread becomes very important. A masterwork persona zeushammer is better against non-tough humans - regardless of armor - and human-sized pawns like the scyther. This is due to a combination of overkill mechanics and the ability to one-shot. Persona monoswords of the same quality are better against larger pawns like elephants and centipedes. As these pawns are unable to be one-shot nearly as easily, the monosword's wins through its superior base DPS.

These differences are heavily exacerbated by the Strong melee damage gene, which increases the damage/hit of both weapons. While this means that the high quality monoswords can now one-shot the torso, this only makes the overkill mechanics more relevant. A zeushammer of the same quality can hit the arm, destroy the shoulder, and destroy the torso in the process. More breakpoints and numbers with and without this gene can be seen at #Further zeushammer comparison.

This comparison is largely moot, as players rarely have the choice between persona zeushammers or persona monoswords of the same quality. A weapon that's 1 quality higher will be superior in almost all cases. It can be useful for relics, which will be a legendary weapon of choice.

Considering EMP

The zeushammer's EMP, while it can be useful, it can also be counterproductive. The stun time is very short, but causes the same amount of adaptation against mechs, preventing EMP grenades or other EMP weapons from actually stunning. A melee master with a zeushammer is likely to kill or severely damage most mechanoids within its stun time, but this is worth mentioning.

Comparison to plasmaswords

A normal persona plasmasword will actually beat the same quality monosword in raw DPS, due to the fire. However, as the flame proc does not scale with quality, a higher quality monosword comes out ahead. In addition, the plasmasword has less AP, and the flame attack, 0% AP. Finally, many enemies are immune to fire or will pop a firefoam pop pack the moment they are lit on fire.

The main difference is whenever the plasmasword's fire is desirable.

Fire completely stops enemies from attacking until the fire is put out. This can be great in open combat situations. Plasmaswords come out ahead in the average human v human fight for this reason. Great when surrounded by enemies.
However, lighting your enemies on fire is actively harmful in a melee block scenario. Enemies lit on fire will ignore collision, allowing them to run behind your melee fighters, ruining the melee block setup.

Melee verb selection at high quality

Further zeushammer comparison

Regardless of the strong melee gene, the Blunt overkill damage means that the zeushammer is equal or superior against pawns with smaller health pools. A high quality monosword attack will waste damage done beyond the maximum of the limb, but a zeushammer will instead transfer that damage into the parent limb. The increase in applied damage against humanlike, combined with blunt damage's better AP against high tier armor, means that the zeushammer will perform similarly or better against any humanlike who isn't tough and robust.^{[Needs testing]} However, against enemies with high health pools, such as Centipedes, the monosword's damage will be fully utilized, and it will outperform the zeushammer.

The average humanlike bodypart has around 25hp; with a legendary persona monosword's attack damage at 44.55, you will waste around 44% of the potential damage against humanlike. With strong melee, this becomes over 50%. Meanwhile, a zeushammer will only waste damage if it was under 40% overkill, which is very unlikely at high qualities- with an attack damage of 51, and the average body part having just 25hp, overkill should always be successful, even without strong melee damage - which will increase both dps and AP by 50%.

If you are playing without Biotech, the melee verb difference does mean against high HP enemies such as centipedes, a monosword will deal 28% more damage than a zeushammer. With strong melee, a persona monosword is 10% more dps than a zeushammer if there is no overkill. Even without biotech, the zeushammer should match or outperform the monosword against humanlike, especially against high quality Cataphact Armor.

Attack table

Feature	Toggle
Attacks

Persona monosword			Handle (Blunt)					Point (Stab)					Edge (Cut)					Human: Left & right fist (Blunt)					HP	Value
Quality	DPS^[1]	AP^[1]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	HP	Value
Awful	11.63	57.6%	9.6	1.6s	14.4%	6	25%	21.6	1.6s	72%	13.5	37.5%	21.6	1.6s	72%	13.5	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	100	1500
Poor	13.08	64.8%	10.8	1.6s	16.2%	6.75	25%	24.3	1.6s	81%	15.19	37.5%	24.3	1.6s	81%	15.19	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	100	2250
Normal	14.53	72%	12	1.6s	18%	7.5	25%	27	1.6s	90%	16.88	37.5%	27	1.6s	90%	16.88	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	100	3000
Good	15.98	79.2%	13.2	1.6s	19.8%	8.25	25%	29.7	1.6s	99%	18.56	37.5%	29.7	1.6s	99%	18.56	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	100	3500
Excellent	17.44	86.4%	14.4	1.6s	21.6%	9	25%	32.4	1.6s	108%	20.25	37.5%	32.4	1.6s	108%	20.25	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	100	4000
Masterwork	24.47	130.5%	17.4	1.6s	26.1%	10.88	0%	39.15	1.6s	130.5%	24.47	50%	39.15	1.6s	130.5%	24.47	50%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	100	5000
Legendary	27.84	148.5%	19.8	1.6s	29.7%	12.38	0%	44.55	1.6s	148.5%	27.84	50%	44.55	1.6s	148.5%	27.84	50%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	100	6000

^{For the full effects of qualities, see Quality.}

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Note: This is the actual base average derived from the melee verb system updated in 1.1.2610, it may sometimes disagree with the listed value in the in-game infobox.
It may also change depending on the stats and the melee verbs available to the wielder if the weapon is wielded by some other than a baseline human.
↑ Chance for attack to be selected, assuming the weapon is wielded by a baseline human. It may change depending on the melee verbs available to the wielder

Persona traits

Persona weapons have individual traits to reflect their individual personalities. Each weapon will have one or two traits. Some traits are good, some are bad, some are just different. Traits affect the weapon's market value, so a weapon with a negative trait will be cheaper. The traits are:

Trait name	Description	Effects	Value	Exclusivity	Commonality
Psychic hypersensitizer	This weapon amplifies the wielder's psychic sensitivity by 40%. This only applies while the weapon is held.	+40% Psychic Sensitivity	0	Other Psychic Sensitivity Modifiers	0.75
Psychic sensitizer	This weapon amplifies the wielder's psychic sensitivity by 20%. This only applies while the weapon is held.	+20% Psychic Sensitivity	0	Other Psychic Sensitivity Modifiers	0.75
Psychic quiet	This weapon suppresses the wielder's psychic sensitivity by 15%. This only applies while the weapon is held.	−15% Psychic Sensitivity	0	Other Psychic Sensitivity Modifiers	0.75
Psychic fog	This weapon suppresses the wielder's psychic sensitivity by 30%. This only applies while the weapon is held.	−30% Psychic Sensitivity	0	Other Psychic Sensitivity Modifiers	0.75
Kind thoughts	This weapon's persona is kind and supportive. It whispers kind thoughts to whoever it is bonded with, increasing their mood.	+6 <NAME>'s kind thoughts mood^{[When equipped?]}	+500	Other Bonded Thought Traits Freewielder	1
Calm thoughts	This weapon's persona is relaxed and steady. It whispers calming thoughts to whoever it is bonded with, increasing their mood.	+3 <NAME>'s calm thoughts mood^{[When equipped?]}	+300	Other Bonded Thought Traits Freewielder	1
Mad muttering	This weapon's persona is neurotic and unstable. It mutters mad thoughts to whoever it is bonded with, reducing their mood.	−3 <NAME>'s muttering mood^{[When equipped?]}	-500	Other Bonded Thought Traits Freewielder	1
Mad wailing	This weapon's persona is highly disturbed and won't shut up about it. It wails mad notions to whoever it is bonded with, suppressing their mood.	−6 <NAME>'s wailing mood^{[When equipped?]}	-1000	Other Bonded Thought Traits Freewielder	1
Kill-focused	This weapon's persona focuses on deaths. If the weapon kills someone, the wielder will instantly gain 20% psyfocus.	Instantly gain +20% psyfocus on killing another pawn, including humans, animals, and mechanoids.	+500	Kill Thought Traits	1
Kill-happy	This weapon's persona loves to kill. If this weapon kills someone, its joy will transmit psychically to the wielder, making them happier for a few days.	+6 <NAME>'s kill happiness mood for 3 days after killing a pawn.^[Details]	+500	Other Kill Thought Traits	1
Kill-sorrow	This weapon's persona hates killing. If this weapon kills someone, its sorrow will transmit psychically to the wielder, reducing their mood for a few days.	−3 <NAME>'s kill sorrow mood for 3 days after killing a pawn.^[Details]	-500	Other Kill Thought Traits	1
Kill thirst	This weapon's persona find purpose in bloodshed. If it does not kill for 20 days, it will become angry and psychically complain to whoever is bonded to it.	−3 <NAME>'s kill thirst mood after 20 days without killing a pawn.^[Details]	-700	Kill Thought Traits Traits Freewielder	1
Psy-meditative	This weapon's persona is naturally meditative and helps its wielder focus in psychic meditation. The wielder gains an extra 10% psyfocus per day of meditation, as long as the weapon is held.	+10% psyfocus gain rate	+500	None	1
Painless	This weapon's persona has some method of psychically disabling pain. The one holding the weapon will feel no pain of any kind.	Psychic Painlessness: Pain is disabled by the psychic influence of a wielded weapon. 0x Pain multiplier	+400	None	1
Fast mover	This weapon's persona has a sense of motion. It confers this onto the wielder, making them move 15% faster as long as the weapon is held.	Psychic Speed: Movement is sped up by the psychic influence of a wielded weapon. +15% Moving	+600	None	1
Hunger pangs	This weapon's persona loves food, and transmits that onto whoever bonds with it. The bonded person's hunger rate will be 50% higher.	Psychic Hunger: Hunger is increased by the psychic influence of a bonded weapon. +50% Hunger Rate Factor	-600	None	1
Neural cooling	This weapon's persona has the ability to help dissipate the wielder's neural heat. The wielder's neural heat dissipation is improved by 0.15 per second.	Assisted neural cooling: Neural heat dissipation is improved by the psychic influence of a bonded weapon. +0.15/s Neural Heat Recovery Rate	+500	None	1
Freewielder	This weapon's persona does not form bonds in the normal way. Anyone can pick it up and use it.	Does not bond	0		1
Jealous	This weapon's persona becomes angry when the bonded individual uses another weapon, thus reducing their mood.	−15 <NAME>'s jealousy mood when a weapon other than the bonded weapon is equipped.	-600	Freewielder	1

Version history

Royalty DLC release - Addedas Linked monosword.
1.1.2647 - Linked monoswords renamed to persona monoswords and no longer damaged relations with the Empire without the necessary titles. Previously, a title of Knight or Dame was required.
1.2.2719 - Persona monosword damage reduced from 29 to 27.

Weapons