A3-21's plasma rifle

**A3-21's plasma rifle** is a unique weapon in *Fallout 3*.

## Background

The following section is transcluded from Plasma rifle. To modify, please edit the source page.Plasma rifles or plasma casters are high tech weapons firing superheated bolts of plasma, powered by either microfusion cells or heavy energy cells, which find numerous applications in military and industrial fields. The bolts form into toroids in the plasma chamber, which are then sent down a superconducting barrel, propelled by, and in some models stabilized by electromagnetic claws upon exiting it. However, the plasma bolt chamber can be hotwired in order to accelerate the bolt formation process, effectively turbocharging the rifle. The primary damage mechanism of plasma rifles is thermal transfer, causing serious burns to soft targets and melting hard ones. In extreme cases, the plasma can cause spontaneous dissolution of the target, including separation of soft tissues from hard ones or wholesale molecular destabilization that turns the target into a viscous green fluid.

Initially, the weapon was a bulky, industrial plasma caster, manufactured by Winchester Arms; while it performed admirably, it was expensive and required specialized training to use. However, later developments for the United States Army would lead to a more compact design that was cheaper to produce and easier to train for, perfectly suited for urban warfare.

This plasma rifle is a lightweight urban warfare weapon created as part of a desire to replace the aging Winchester P94 "Plasma Caster" design. This design was produced and fielded in number prior to the Great War of October 23, 2077. This however was not the end of the design nor manufacture of this weapon platform. Prior to the nuclear Armageddon REPCONN Aerospace – as a subsidiary of RobCo Industries – would successfully develop an improvement from their spaceflight research. With significantly advanced factions tinkering with the design post Armageddon.

## Characteristics

The A3-21's plasma rifle is an upgraded version of the normal plasma rifle. It does 5 additional points of damage at max energy weapons and condition and is significantly more durable. The weapon also has a higher critcal hit multiplier meaning it will critically hit more often. It can be repaired with normal plasma rifles, although it is very durable and will not need to be repaired often.

A3-21's plasma rifle can fire a total of 800 bolts, or about 67 full cells, before breaking.

## Location

A3-21's plasma rifle is carried by Harkness, but cannot be taken from his person. It is a quest reward received after keeping Harkness' identity safe from Zimmer.

## Notes

* Any regular plasma rifle will set Harold on fire, although Harkness' does not (no unique weapons can). It will, however, detonate gas leaks, like most other energy weapons.
* You will not be able to acquire A3-21's plasma rifle after you finish "The Replicated Man" by giving Dr. Zimmer the android component. However, it should be noted that you can receive this unique plasma rifle before giving Zimmer the component.

## Bugs

* PlayStation 3 It can turn into a normal plasma rifle, (by name on the Pipboy), but will keep the same stats.

## References

1. ↑ *Fallout* and *Fallout 2* item description: *"{1500}{}{Plasma Rifle}"*
*"{1501}{}{A Winchester Model P94 Plasma Rifle. An industrial-grade energy weapon, firing superheated bolts of plasma down a superconducting barrel. Powered by Micro Fusion Cells. Min ST: 6.}"*
*Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel* item description: *"name\_plasmaRifle = {Plasma Rifle}"*
*"desc\_plasmaRifle = {A Winchester Model P94 Plasma Rifle. An industrial-grade energy weapon, firing superheated bolts of ionised gas down a superconducting barrel. Powered by Micro Fusion Cells.}"*
(PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout), PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout 2), and Items.txt)
2. ↑ Fort Independence terminals; Research Terminal, Research Log - Plasma Rifle
3. ↑ Research Note - Plasma rifle
4. ↑ Chris Taylor interview for Vault13.net
5. ↑ *Fallout* and *Fallout 2* item description: *"{23300}{}{Turbo Plasma Rifle}"*
*"{23301}{}{A modified Winchester P94 plasma rifle. The plasma bolt chamber has been hotwired to accelerate the bolt formation process. Min ST: 6.}"*
(PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout), PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout 2), and Items.txt)
6. ↑ Weapon behavior in the game.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 The cover of the *Future Weapons Today* periodical as seen in *Fallout: New Vegas* has a section prominently promoted entitled "Urban Plasma Rifles."
8. ↑ Energy weapon forge
9. ↑ In *Fallout 3* and *Fallout 4* both the Institute and the Brotherhood of Steel are origins of such designs acquirable by the player character. See the variations list on the overview article.