Plasma rifle Plasma rifles or plasma casters are energy based weapons that appear in " Fallout " , " Fallout 2 " , " Fallout 3 " , " " , " Fallout Shelter " , " Fallout 4 " , " " and " " . Background . < section begin = " Background " / > Plasma rifles or plasma casters are high - tech weapons which find numerous applications in military and industrial fields . They fire superheated bolts of plasma powered by either microfusion cell s , heavy energy cell s or plasma cartridge s . The bolt forms in a special chamber , which is then sent down a superconducting barrel , propelled by , and in some models stabilized by electromagnetic claws upon exiting it . The plasma bolt is a toroid of superheated hydrogen gas that delivers high levels of both thermal and kinetic energy damage to the target , melting through most types of armors and causing massive 3rd - degree and 4th - degree burns . Initially , these weapons were bulky , industrial plasma casters designed to be an industrial welding tool rather than a weapon , manufactured by Winchester Arms ; while it performed admirably as a welding tool , it was expensive and required specialized training to use . However , later developments for the US Army would lead to a more compact and smaller designs , such as the plasma pistol and plasma rifle , that was cheaper to produce and easier to train for , perfectly suited for urban warfare . Regardless , all types of plasma weapons have a common feature : when a Critical Hit is delivered , they can literally melt down enemies . While most industrial casters aren ' t powerful enough to dissolve bones too , subsequent models have no problem converting the target into a puddle of goo . < section end = " Background " / > Models . Winchester P94 . < section begin = " Winchester P94 " / > The Winchester Model P94 is a bulky , industrial - grade energy caster , firing superheated bolts of plasma down a superconducting barrel , ending in electromagnetic claws helping to stabilize the plasma bolt . Interestingly , in an interview for " Future Weapons Today " , US Army Colonel Moretti slammed the design , likely for being bulky and outdated . < section end = " Winchester P94 " / > Winchester P94 turbo . < section begin = " Turbo plasma rifle " / > It ' s a modified version of the Winchester P94 plasma rifle . The plasma bolt chamber has been hotwired to accelerate the bolt formation process , resulting in an increase in the rate of fire . < section end = " Turbo plasma rifle " / > The Smitty Special . < section begin = " Smitty Special " / > The Smitty Special is a heavily modified Winchester P94 which was first created by the legendary Smitty , the blacksmith of the Adytum , Boneyard in 2161 , who was also the only one able to improve the Winchester P94 into a turbo version at that time , with a higher rate of fire . < section end = " Smitty Special " / > Winchester P94 military . In the military version , the company has downsized the weapon and revamped its design , making it a more portable energy rifle , complete with a stock , pistol grip and carry handle which can , presumably , also mount optics . Urban plasma rifle . < section begin = " Urban plasma rifle " / > This plasma rifle is a lightweight urban warfare weapon created by REPCONN Aerospace for the US Army based on engine parts from the failed Z43 - 521P - " Green Bean " plasma - powered rocket . Like the AER9 laser rifle , it uses a microfusion cell as its power supply . It taps into the cell , essentially a small fusion reactor , to produce a toroid of plasma that is ejected down a superconducting barrel . In contrast to the Winchester P94 , it does not have the electromagnetic claws . As of 2277 , these plasma rifles can usually be found in use by Enclave soldiers on the East Coast . By 2281 , they can be found less commonly throughout the Mojave Wasteland . < section end = " Urban plasma rifle " / > V . 32 Quantum plasma modulation matter injection rifle . Version : 32 Status : Failure Notes : While v . 32 didn ' t have the power yield of the v . 31 or v . 30 , we managed to increase the stabilization threshold by approximately 27 . 35 % . This is promising , however we still have yet to come up with a solution for the matter inversion issues . V . 33 Quantum plasma modulation matter injection rifle . Version : 33 Status : Failure Notes : Lab destroyed . Data Lost . V . 34 Quantum plasma modulation matter injection rifle . Version : 34 Status : Failure Notes : Interesting . I ' m not sure where we got this data from , it is a completely different direction from what we ' ve been working on . We managed to cycle the matter inversion using a polarized quantum spin . I think that we solved the issue with the Compensation field , I have high hopes for the next weapon . V . 35 Quantum plasma modulation matter injection rifle . < section begin = " Q - 35 matter modulator " / > Also known as the Q - 35 matter modulator , the V . 35 Quantum plasma modulation matter injection rifle was created by REPCONN Aerospace engineers as part of " " Project : Quantum Plasma Modulation Matter Injection Rifle , " " a research program overseen by Colonel Moretti of the US Army , who was looking for a replacement for the aging plasma rifle designs , most importantly the Winchester P94 . The prototype was created by a team of engineers under the lead of Senior Staff Engineer Xuan Duong , using design specifications stolen from Poseidon Energy for the canceled plasma rifle project SEMELE , along with data recovered from a sabotaged REPCONN launch . This data allowed REPCONN to create a functional prototype after thirty - four failures . While prototype materials make it unsuitable for prolonged field use , the Q - 35 has a longer refire rate on average - but a more consistent delay between shots , an increase in active bolt charge time , increased accuracy and a 30 % increase in bolt energy . When the prototype was completed , unknown individuals conspired with REPCONN Julia Masters to intercept and secure the prototype while it was in transit to the Department of Defense . < section end = " Q - 35 matter modulator " / > Multiplas rifle . < section begin = " Multiplas rifle " / > The multiplas rifle ( a " " of " multiple " and " plasma " ) is based on the urban plasma rifle design . It is a sort of " plasma shotgun , " firing three rounds of plasma in a volley , at the cost of a massive drain on the microfusion cell . < section end = " Multiplas rifle " / > Electric plasma rifle . < section begin = " Electric plasma rifle " / > The electric plasma rifle appears only in the city of Los and the Secret Vault . It ' s to be manufactured using technology contained in the Secret Vault . It ' s equipped by the most important ghouls of the Church of the Lost and some super mutant s of Attis ' army . < section end = " Electric plasma rifle " / > Turbo electric plasma rifle . < section begin = " Turbo electric plasma rifle " / > The turbo electric plasma rifle is a upgraded version of the electric plasma rifle , and is found only in the Secret Vault . It ' s to be manufactured using technology contained in the Secret Vault . It ' s equipped by the most important super mutant s of Attis ' army and by the champion of the Gladiator Pit in Los , the wasteland stranger . < section end = " Turbo electric plasma rifle " / >