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
- 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 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.