Plasmasword

For the persona variant of this weapon, see Persona plasmasword.

The Plasmasword is a melee weapon added by the Royalty DLC that does a decent amount of damage, has a medium cooldown, and deals sharp damage with the bonus of frequently setting the opponent on fire.

Acquisition

Plasmaswords cannot be crafted, instead they can only be purchased from Outlander and Empire combat suppliers and faction bases, or received as a quest reward.

They can also be obtained from the following raider types:

Raider Kind	Chance	Average Quality	Health
Champion	?%	?	70-230%
Nobles (All)	?%	Excellent	100%

Summary

Plasmaswords perform largely the same as any other melee weapon, with one primary difference. When performing the Cut and Stab attacks, a successful strike has a 50% chance to do an extra 10 Flame damage. As with all Flame damage, this damage has no AP and if it successfully damages the target, there is a chance to set them on fire.

Pyromaniac pawns receive a +5 Pyromaniac has incendiary weapon mood buff while equipped with an incendiary launcher. Note that it must be equipped, not merely carried.

Analysis

The plasmasword will often set enemies on fire. Enemies on fire will run around wildly and are unable to fight back. This makes the plasmasword dominant in a 1v1 fight, or in any melee fight out in the open. However, the fire can end up being a major drawback. Enemies on fire will ignore collision, meaning that they will run right past a melee block, end up behind your colonists, attack from the back, and ruin your formation.

Mechanoids are completely immune to fire or heat, so other ultratech weapons or even a plasteel longsword are superior in those situations. In addition, outlanders and pirates will often carry firefoam pop packs. Firefoam packs will activate when its user is set on fire, immediately extinguishing them. Any pawn inside the leftover firefoam is immune to ignition.

If you have the option, buying any of the other ultratech melee weapons tends to be more generally useful.

Attack table

Feature	Toggle
Attacks

Plasmasword			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	6.03	22.4%	9.6	2s	14.4%	4.8	8.33%	16.8	2.6s	25.6%	6.46	37.5%	16.8	2.6s	25.6%	6.46	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	1000
Poor	6.71	24.95%	10.8	2s	16.2%	5.4	8.33%	18.9	2.6s	28.8%	7.27	37.5%	18.9	2.6s	28.8%	7.27	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	1500
Normal	7.39	27.5%	12	2s	18%	6	8.33%	21	2.6s	32%	8.08	37.5%	21	2.6s	32%	8.08	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	2000
Good	8.08	30.05%	13.2	2s	19.8%	6.6	8.33%	23.1	2.6s	35.2%	8.88	37.5%	23.1	2.6s	35.2%	8.88	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	2500
Excellent	8.76	32.6%	14.4	2s	21.6%	7.2	8.33%	25.2	2.6s	38.4%	9.69	37.5%	25.2	2.6s	38.4%	9.69	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	3000
Masterwork	10.47	38.98%	17.4	2s	26.1%	8.7	8.33%	30.45	2.6s	46.4%	11.71	37.5%	30.45	2.6s	46.4%	11.71	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	4000
Legendary	12.63	47.03%	19.8	2s	29.7%	9.9	25%	34.65	2.6s	52.8%	13.33	37.5%	34.65	2.6s	52.8%	13.33	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	100	5000

^{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

Note that DPS does not take the chance of Flame damage into account.

Version history

Royalty DLC Release - Added.
1.2.2719 - Damage increased from 19 to 20, extra flame damage chance increased from 30% to 50%.
1.4.3523 - Now provides pyromaniacs a mood buff, like other incendiary weapons.

Weapons