Weapons

There are many weapons available for the different grinders, each with different usability features. Currently, there are three classes of weapons:
Small Weapons (3x Missiles, Minigun, Small Cannon, Small Laser, and Pulsar)
Large Weapons (Railgun, Large Cannon, Large Laser, and Scattershot)
Extra Large Weapons (Skyjacker Missiles, Hammer Missiles, and 8x Missiles)
For information about which grinders are compatible with each weapon, see the Grinders page.

## Hammer

Tips and Notes:
If you are having trouble hitting your target, try aiming for the ground next to the target. the Hammer has a large splash radius.
Be sneaky. Practice guiding the Hammer along the ground to snake around obstacles.
Be sneakier. Aim the the Hammer up to a high elevation and then release it to fire down on top of the target.
Help your teammates. Any weapon can shoot a Hammer out of the sky, some weapons are just better at it than others.
If you hear the "sonic boom" of a released Hammer nearby, take action because you are probably the target.
When using a 2 Hammer load out, space out or stagger your missiles. If they are too close together, then if one is destroyed the blast radius will destroy the other.
Additional discussion on the hammer can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/VoxMachinae/comments/i1zr0h/hammers\_this\_is\_not\_a\_guide\_but\_an\_observation/

## Minigun

It is extremely difficult to use pinpoint accuracy with this weapon as you will be hitting several armor plates at once. At first it may appear to be ineffective but after some time multiple armor plates will be stripped at once.
Miniguns make an excellent team support weapon since it is able to sweep the entire battlefield and cause targets to move.
In the hands of an experienced pilot, Miniguns can become an effective frontline weapon.

**Tips and Notes:**
Due to the noise from a constant barrage of bullets striking the GDR, Miniguns have an added psychological effect on the target, it will cause even the most experienced pilot to seek cover.
It is common for a pilot to use 1-2 Miniguns to offset the heat generated by larger weapons.
Effective at countering Drills and Hammer missiles.
They are loud in the cockpit and will make it difficult to hear anything other than your own screaming. Who cares? With heat this low just hold the triggers down and giv'em hell!

## Pulsar

**Tips and Notes:**
The Pulsar is thought of as the least effective weapon in the game right now. Hey, something must be at the bottom of a list.
Pulsars are very “floaty” and require a lot of aiming compensation to hit a target at range or while you are moving.
Maybe Pulsars need a dedicated pilot to give the weapon the time and practice needed to make more of an impact on the battlefield. Are you that pilot?

## Railgun

Unlike the other weapons, the Railgun only suffers slightl from gravity from a gravity; also there is no damage fall-off with long range shots.
**Tips and Notes:**
Rails have "breakthrough damage". If a Railgun's shot does more damage than an armor plate's hitpoints, then any remaining damage is carried through to the core.
"Leave one in the chamber". A fully charged and held Railgun shot will fire automatically upon your Grinder being destroyed.
It takes two shots to knock off a Hopper's arm, three for a Dredge's arm. The Rook's arm? Forget about those beefy arms and aim center mass. it's faster.

## Scattershot

See Goldbricker's detailed study of this weapon here: https://www.reddit.com/r/VoxMachinae/comments/iaznnp/vox\_machinae\_scattershot\_weapon\_test/

## Skyjacker

The mechanics of the Skyjacker are quite large and therefore can only be equipped by the Dredge, Catalyst and Overhaul Grinders.

Tips and Notes:
Flying, fast moving targets can prevent the Skyjacker from detonating by shutting down the GDR’s engine; either with the key or any module that shuts down the GDR.
The Worm can also cause the SJ to detonate. You can use this to “splash” any GDRs standing nearby.
**If you are running a Skyjacker, then you are the main Hammer missile defense for your team!**
Even if nobody is jumping, it is still a good idea to fire a SJ at a target to remind them to stay on the ground.

## Retired Weapons

These weapons have been removed from Vox Machinae for one reason or another.

### Flak Cannon

The Flak Cannon was scrapped and replaced by the more-specialized Scattershot and Skyjacker.

## References

* Vox Machinae Blog: The Weapons of Vox
* Vox Machinae: the exciting inciting insights of Weapon Stats
* Vox Machinae Blog: Spring Update Incoming
* Vox Machinae Blog: Summer Stylin'