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This topic has moved here: Subject: Plasma rifle vs Plasma pistol
  • Subject: Plasma rifle vs Plasma pistol
Subject: Plasma rifle vs Plasma pistol

Halo 2 > Halo 3 > Halo 3 ODST > Halo Reach > Halo CE

Based on campaigns.

It's been bugging me for a while now. What is the point of the plasma rifle when the plasma pistol is so much better than it?

Plasma rifle has 200 shots, the plasma pistol has 500

The plasma pistol does more damage

The plasma pistol has overcharge

The plasma pistol is slightly more accurate over longer ranges


So with all the advantages the plasma pistol has over the plasma rifle, what good is the plasma rifle in this game really, apart from being automatic?

  • 05.06.2012 9:55 AM PDT

Name's John. I'm a 21-year-old firefighter/EMT from lolhio who doubles as a die-hard Halo fan. I've been enjoying the franchise since 2001. My favorite iteration of Halo would have to be Halo 2 simply because I never got to experience the joy of a full-on Halo: CE LAN.


If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Oh yeah, and boot Zome.

The plasma rifle is for those without paintball trigger fingers.

If you can't pull the trigger very fast, the plasma rifle is the better choice for most enemies.

  • 05.06.2012 10:16 AM PDT

Very easy to control in hectic situations (whereas my trigger finger is often a bit inconsistant with the PP), has a very high muzzle velocity, and is just generally great at stunning dangerous enemies while you charge at their face.

It's definitely not as general-purpose as the plasma pistol is. But when you're pinned down and need to just lay into a red elite on legendary, it makes sense.

  • 05.06.2012 10:24 AM PDT
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The plasma rifle's rof made it's stun more effective.

Also, the plasma rifle is better when it comes to medium range, if you can get all the shots.

Overcharge is cheap, a massive waste of battery, and it just doesn't feel satisfying to take out shields with it (killing with it is quite satisfying though).

[Edited on 05.06.2012 12:56 PM PDT]

  • 05.06.2012 12:02 PM PDT

Halo 2 > Halo 3 > Halo 3 ODST > Halo Reach > Halo CE

Based on campaigns.

I see

I guess I'll stick with the plasma pistol since I can rapid fire the mouse quite fast. Maybe I'll use a PRnas secondary

  • 05.06.2012 1:41 PM PDT

When you play multiplayer as well, the plasma rifle in close rang to medium range is very effective, because it slows a players movement down, so you can be firing the plasma rifle and go around behind them and instant kill them taking very little damage.

  • 05.06.2012 7:12 PM PDT
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Must agree with OP's initial totally.
Plasma pistol is possibly the greatest general purpose weapon in the Halo arsenal. Is far more accurate than the rifle over range, and it's everywhere. Every frickin enemy has one. The Elite/Jackal shield rip aside, is the most underrated/useful weapon in the series.

  • 05.06.2012 8:19 PM PDT
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Sometimes, I dream about cheese.


Posted by: Sliding Ghost
better when it comes to medium range
strange how that elite just stood there and let your shots come at him

Posted by: Bardan Jusik
When you play multiplayer as well, the plasma rifle in close rang to medium range is very effective, because it slows a players movement down, so you can be firing the plasma rifle and go around behind them and instant kill them taking very little damage.
interesting, never knew it could slow a player down, thought it was completely useless like Mark V guy all this time lol

[Edited on 05.06.2012 8:47 PM PDT]

  • 05.06.2012 8:47 PM PDT
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Posted by: path1k

Posted by: Sliding Ghost
better when it comes to medium range
strange how that elite just stood there and let your shots come at him
Works with any weapon actually.

Here's why it works.

Elites like to stand in place firing their gun. Usually, firing at them will make them do their evasive maneuvers. But because I'm not moving, the Elites don't have any reason to do their strafe.

Either that or the Ghost is somehow affecting them. Maybe by intimidation. :P

Anyways, I'm just showing that the plasma rifle can drop shields really quickly. You can also get kills with it this way. I just chose not to.

[Edited on 05.07.2012 12:13 AM PDT]

  • 05.07.2012 12:01 AM PDT
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Sometimes, I dream about cheese.


Posted by: Sliding Ghost
Elites like to stand in place firing their gun
they only remain stationary and fire their weapon unless you're also stationary, correct?

  • 05.07.2012 9:57 PM PDT

Black Ops 2 I run two accounts warmup only at 1.97kdr...real is at 3.77. i'm in master division 4 league play. pm 4 clan inv...must have 2.5 kdr or better


Posted by: path1k

Posted by: Sliding Ghost
better when it comes to medium range
strange how that elite just stood there and let your shots come at him

Posted by: Bardan Jusik
When you play multiplayer as well, the plasma rifle in close rang to medium range is very effective, because it slows a players movement down, so you can be firing the plasma rifle and go around behind them and instant kill them taking very little damage.
interesting, never knew it could slow a player down, thought it was completely useless like Mark V guy all this time lol


I just made a thread on the halo 2 forum about the plasma pistol slowing a player down.

  • 05.10.2012 9:08 PM PDT
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Sometimes, I dream about cheese.


Posted by: shortD42 is aBK
I just made a thread on the halo 2 forum about the plasma pistol slowing a player down.
kinda off topic lol

  • 05.10.2012 10:04 PM PDT

"To me, a nice triple kill with the sniper is infinitely more impressive than any Living Dead Killionaire"

Does flaming people on forums count as an esport?

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PP all day. It's so overpowered. In CEA, an overcharge can kill a grunt, jackal, unshielded elite, flood combat form, literally anything. I like how in H2 and later they dumbed it down so it's really only effective at removing shields and not just a constantly-replaceable-battery-hog-death-machine.

  • 05.12.2012 12:17 AM PDT

Halo 2 > Halo 3 > Halo 3 ODST > Halo Reach > Halo CE

Based on campaigns.


Posted by: MisguidedDrake4
PP all day. It's so overpowered. In CEA, an overcharge can kill a grunt, jackal, unshielded elite, flood combat form, literally anything. I like how in H2 and later they dumbed it down so it's really only effective at removing shields and not just a constantly-replaceable-battery-hog-death-machine.


Yeah, although in Halo Reach they kind of made it likes this again by giving it a lot more power.

I like Halo 3s the best

  • 05.12.2012 3:50 AM PDT

But it's still virtually useless in Halo 3.

  • 05.12.2012 8:35 AM PDT

Halo 2 > Halo 3 > Halo 3 ODST > Halo Reach > Halo CE

Based on campaigns.


Posted by: chickenlittle
But it's still virtually useless in Halo 3.


Actually it's a pretty good multi purpose weapon. On easy you can do the whole campaign with nothing but plasma pistols

  • 05.12.2012 9:11 AM PDT


Posted by: Mark V guy

Posted by: chickenlittle
But it's still virtually useless in Halo 3.


Actually it's a pretty good multi purpose weapon. On easy you can do the whole campaign with nothing but plasma pistols

That's like saying you're an excellent athlete because you got out of bed this morning. You sure can go through Halo 3's campaign on easy with nothing but PP's; you can also go through most of Halo 3's campaign on easy no-shot while walking backwards.

I'll agree that Halo 3's PP isn't useless, but it's mostly just a shield dropper. Using it in most other ways, it's far inferior to most other weapons.

  • 05.12.2012 10:34 AM PDT

Halo 2 > Halo 3 > Halo 3 ODST > Halo Reach > Halo CE

Based on campaigns.


Posted by: sdnomdE

Posted by: Mark V guy

Posted by: chickenlittle
But it's still virtually useless in Halo 3.


Actually it's a pretty good multi purpose weapon. On easy you can do the whole campaign with nothing but plasma pistols

That's like saying you're an excellent athlete because you got out of bed this morning. You sure can go through Halo 3's campaign on easy with nothing but PP's; you can also go through most of Halo 3's campaign on easy no-shot while walking backwards.

I'll agree that Halo 3's PP isn't useless, but it's mostly just a shield dropper. Using it in most other ways, it's far inferior to most other weapons.


Yeah I guess, although when dual wielded they kill brutes pretty fast

  • 05.12.2012 11:11 AM PDT
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Posted by: Mark V guy

Posted by: MisguidedDrake4
PP all day. It's so overpowered. In CEA, an overcharge can kill a grunt, jackal, unshielded elite, flood combat form, literally anything. I like how in H2 and later they dumbed it down so it's really only effective at removing shields and not just a constantly-replaceable-battery-hog-death-machine.

Yeah, although in Halo Reach they kind of made it likes this again by giving it a lot more power.
Damage is pointless if the effective range is nerfed.

CE's plasma pistol overcharge had better damage (killed Grunt minors on Easy with 1 hit) and though it did not have that good tracking (after hitting an Elite over long range with an overcharged bolt, you're not going to be able to hit him with another if he has a tree or is strafing), that tracking worked over an impressive range. It was very useful.

H2's overcharge also had this but it had better tracking. It was kinda op. Reach only re-added damage and improved the tracking. It failed to restore the range. Plus, the Reach pp is op when used by enemies: quick overcharge time and slow waiting time after overcharge + good tracking = spamming. If you're in a vehicle and against a bunch of Jackals, you're pretty much a sitting duck. But when in the hands of the player, the overcharged bolt is only good for Elite shields. Against Jackals, it will only cause them to expose their head.

H3 and Reach's overcharged bolts. They're pathetic.

Posted by: Mark V guy

when dual wielded they kill brutes pretty fast
Dual wielding in H3 makes guns weaker unless you fire both simultaneously. Besides, one H3 plasma pistol is sufficient for dropping shields, especially with Tilt on.

I also agree that the H3 plasma pistol isn't useless. It's just that it's bolts are so slow that it feels useless. IIRC, the H2 one may be worse.

  • 05.12.2012 2:41 PM PDT
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Posted by: Sliding Ghost
the H2 one is worse.
fixed

  • 05.12.2012 3:51 PM PDT


Posted by: nesteggfailure
Must agree with OP's initial totally.
Plasma pistol is possibly the greatest general purpose weapon in the Halo arsenal. Is far more accurate than the rifle over range, and it's everywhere. Every frickin enemy has one. The Elite/Jackal shield rip aside, is the most underrated/useful weapon in the series.

A friend asked what weapon I could use from Halo. I quite simply say the plasma pistol. It is simply an all purpose gun, jack of few trades. The attitude of "it's too weak!" ruins the reputation of the PP, as it isn't supposed to be a straight forward weapon.

  • 05.13.2012 5:34 PM PDT

Vengeance only leads to an ongoing cycle of hatred.

Plasma Pistol.

  • 05.13.2012 7:47 PM PDT

Games I like:,
Half-Minute Hero
MBU
Portal
Halo 3 is the best Halo ever
Maps I like: Turf, Avalanche, Pylon, Sandbox, Breakpoint and many more.

Brute Plasma Rifle master race.


OT: The Plasma Rifle stuns enemies.

  • 05.19.2012 4:07 PM PDT

Games I like:,
Half-Minute Hero
MBU
Portal
Halo 3 is the best Halo ever
Maps I like: Turf, Avalanche, Pylon, Sandbox, Breakpoint and many more.


Posted by: path1k

thought it was completely useless like Mark V guy all this time lol


LOL

  • 05.19.2012 4:10 PM PDT


Posted by: nesteggfailure
is the most underrated/useful weapon in the series.


I wouldn't call it underrated.

  • 05.21.2012 7:52 AM PDT