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Energy Weapon Type Choice guide
captainpirko
Member Posts: 270 Arc User
Choosing an energy type is sometimes a challenge, especially if new to the game. To make this a bit easier, i've spent a while hunting through several sources to collect a list of all the items that would make one energy type better then another.
Hopefully this helps a few people decide faster. if you've already decided, this list can help you find additional items to make your current energy type more powerful (every little bit helps)
Phaser Energy
to target: 2.5% Chance: Disable 1 Subsystem for 5 sec
Tactical console - Phaser Relay (+30% at MK12 purple each)
Comes with quad cannon variant (C-store Defiant unlock)
Disruptor Energy
to target: 2.5 Chance: 10% Damage Resistance Debuff for 15 sec
Tactical console - Disruptor Induction Coil (+30% at MK12 purple each)
comes with quad cannon variant (c-store Ning'tao Bird of Prey unlock)
Silent enemy Space set - 2 piece set bonus (+7.6% Disruptor Damage)
Polaron energy
to target: 2.5% Chance: -25 All Current Power Levels
Tactical console - Polaron Phase Modulator (+30% at MK12 purple each)
Science console - Flow Capacitor (increases power drain)
Jem'hadar Space set - 2 piece set bonus (+8.1% Polaron Damage (+13.1% Mk XII))
Jem'hadar Space set - 3 piece set bonus (1% chance to strip one buff while using Polaron Weaponry (NOTE: *only works on Jem'Hadar Vessels and Cardassian Galor))
Plasma energy
to target: 2.5% to apply Plasma DoT (Damage over Time)
Tactical console - Plasma Infuser (+30% at MK12 purple each)
Science console - Threat scaling science consoles (+9.6% at MK12 each)
Science console - Particle generators (increases DoT damage)
Romulan Singularity Harness - 2 piece set bonus (+7.6% Plasma Damage)
Tetryon Energy
to target: 2.5% Chance: small amount of damage to all shields
Tactical console - Tetryon Pulse Generator (+30% at MK12 purple each)
Science console - Flow Capacitor (increases shield damage)
Nukara Appropriated Munitions - 2 piece set bonus (+7.6% Teryon Damage)
Apex Predator - 2 piece set bonus (+7.6% Tetryon Damage)
Apex predator - 2 piece set bonus (+15.2 Flow Capacitor, increases shield damage)
Antiproton Energy
+20 Crit Severity Bonus
Tactical console - Antiproton Mag Regulator (+30% at MK12 purple each)
Ancient Obelisk Technology - 2 piece set bonus (+10% Antiproton Damage)
All energy bonuses
Consoles/devices/sets that boost all energy types:
Universal console - Assimilated Module (+0.92% Critical Chance. +9.2% Critical Severity.)
Universal console - Tachyokinetic Converter (+0.76% Critical Chance. +7.6% Critical Severity.)
Universal console - Zero-Point Energy Conduit (+1.8% Critical Chance.)
Universal console - Nukara Particle Converter (+10% Beam Accuracy)
Omega force space set - 2 piece set bonus (Adds -1.2 Shield Drain to all energy weapon attacks)
Protonic Arsenal space set - 2 piece set bonus (+3% Critical Chance)
Note: tactical consoles that benefit 'all beams' or 'all cannons' are specifically not listed here as their bonuses arent as high as energy specific consoles. at MK12 purple, 4 energy specific consoles would give you +120% damage, whereas 'all beam' or 'all cannon' consoles like "Directed Energy Distribution Mainfold" will only give you +80%. it'd take 6 beam consoles to equal the rewards that 4 energy specific give you. therefore: dont bother.
using this, you can decide which energy type best fits your ship.
if you're running a science ship, polaron or plasma would suit you best, do to science consoles benefiting those energy types, and with you being short on tactical consoles in a science ship, using your science console slots as makeshift tactical consoles will help boost your effectiveness in combat.
if you're running a cruiser, antiproton or tetryon would be good choices. antiproton is because it has the highest % increase with it's sets and tactical consoles. whereas tetryon is good as the console that is part of the nukara weapons set increases beam accuracy. combine the console with the refracting tetryon weapons, and you not only increase your accuracy, but you also increase your tetryon damage as well. not to mention the refracting tetryon beams are great for agro builds, as the beams have a chance to bounce between targets, causing you to generate more agro.
if you fly an escort, basically all these energy types will yield you good results, with variations in effectiveness based on playstyle and ship setup. do to my high crit chance and crit severity, i stick with antiproton. as a 5 tactical console escort, it is quite easy for me to get a much higher antiproton damage %, and the omni directional beam+ warpcore adds a sweet addition to damage, without taking away anything i need for surviving (ex. a decent shield/deflector/engine set, or science consoles for shields.)
If you made it all the way through this guide, give yourself a cookie!
if you feel i missed something, or something really important should be added to this, leave it in the comments, i read the forums basically every evening and will try to edit it in.
note: i'm not going to bring up Boff bonuses, traits, Boff powers, or anything like that. this is only stuff that you slot into your ship's equipment screen, not any of the many other mechanics in the game for adding something different to your ship/crew.
Hopefully this helps a few people decide faster. if you've already decided, this list can help you find additional items to make your current energy type more powerful (every little bit helps)
Phaser Energy
to target: 2.5% Chance: Disable 1 Subsystem for 5 sec
Tactical console - Phaser Relay (+30% at MK12 purple each)
Comes with quad cannon variant (C-store Defiant unlock)
Disruptor Energy
to target: 2.5 Chance: 10% Damage Resistance Debuff for 15 sec
Tactical console - Disruptor Induction Coil (+30% at MK12 purple each)
comes with quad cannon variant (c-store Ning'tao Bird of Prey unlock)
Silent enemy Space set - 2 piece set bonus (+7.6% Disruptor Damage)
Polaron energy
to target: 2.5% Chance: -25 All Current Power Levels
Tactical console - Polaron Phase Modulator (+30% at MK12 purple each)
Science console - Flow Capacitor (increases power drain)
Jem'hadar Space set - 2 piece set bonus (+8.1% Polaron Damage (+13.1% Mk XII))
Jem'hadar Space set - 3 piece set bonus (1% chance to strip one buff while using Polaron Weaponry (NOTE: *only works on Jem'Hadar Vessels and Cardassian Galor))
Plasma energy
to target: 2.5% to apply Plasma DoT (Damage over Time)
Tactical console - Plasma Infuser (+30% at MK12 purple each)
Science console - Threat scaling science consoles (+9.6% at MK12 each)
Science console - Particle generators (increases DoT damage)
Romulan Singularity Harness - 2 piece set bonus (+7.6% Plasma Damage)
Tetryon Energy
to target: 2.5% Chance: small amount of damage to all shields
Tactical console - Tetryon Pulse Generator (+30% at MK12 purple each)
Science console - Flow Capacitor (increases shield damage)
Nukara Appropriated Munitions - 2 piece set bonus (+7.6% Teryon Damage)
Apex Predator - 2 piece set bonus (+7.6% Tetryon Damage)
Apex predator - 2 piece set bonus (+15.2 Flow Capacitor, increases shield damage)
Antiproton Energy
+20 Crit Severity Bonus
Tactical console - Antiproton Mag Regulator (+30% at MK12 purple each)
Ancient Obelisk Technology - 2 piece set bonus (+10% Antiproton Damage)
All energy bonuses
Consoles/devices/sets that boost all energy types:
Universal console - Assimilated Module (+0.92% Critical Chance. +9.2% Critical Severity.)
Universal console - Tachyokinetic Converter (+0.76% Critical Chance. +7.6% Critical Severity.)
Universal console - Zero-Point Energy Conduit (+1.8% Critical Chance.)
Universal console - Nukara Particle Converter (+10% Beam Accuracy)
Omega force space set - 2 piece set bonus (Adds -1.2 Shield Drain to all energy weapon attacks)
Protonic Arsenal space set - 2 piece set bonus (+3% Critical Chance)
Note: tactical consoles that benefit 'all beams' or 'all cannons' are specifically not listed here as their bonuses arent as high as energy specific consoles. at MK12 purple, 4 energy specific consoles would give you +120% damage, whereas 'all beam' or 'all cannon' consoles like "Directed Energy Distribution Mainfold" will only give you +80%. it'd take 6 beam consoles to equal the rewards that 4 energy specific give you. therefore: dont bother.
using this, you can decide which energy type best fits your ship.
if you're running a science ship, polaron or plasma would suit you best, do to science consoles benefiting those energy types, and with you being short on tactical consoles in a science ship, using your science console slots as makeshift tactical consoles will help boost your effectiveness in combat.
if you're running a cruiser, antiproton or tetryon would be good choices. antiproton is because it has the highest % increase with it's sets and tactical consoles. whereas tetryon is good as the console that is part of the nukara weapons set increases beam accuracy. combine the console with the refracting tetryon weapons, and you not only increase your accuracy, but you also increase your tetryon damage as well. not to mention the refracting tetryon beams are great for agro builds, as the beams have a chance to bounce between targets, causing you to generate more agro.
if you fly an escort, basically all these energy types will yield you good results, with variations in effectiveness based on playstyle and ship setup. do to my high crit chance and crit severity, i stick with antiproton. as a 5 tactical console escort, it is quite easy for me to get a much higher antiproton damage %, and the omni directional beam+ warpcore adds a sweet addition to damage, without taking away anything i need for surviving (ex. a decent shield/deflector/engine set, or science consoles for shields.)
If you made it all the way through this guide, give yourself a cookie!
if you feel i missed something, or something really important should be added to this, leave it in the comments, i read the forums basically every evening and will try to edit it in.
note: i'm not going to bring up Boff bonuses, traits, Boff powers, or anything like that. this is only stuff that you slot into your ship's equipment screen, not any of the many other mechanics in the game for adding something different to your ship/crew.
[SIGPIC]Timelords Fleet [/SIGPIC]
Post edited by captainpirko on
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Comments
All i would probably add ...
AP is good for high DPS single player single target damage - essentially PvP, where as things such as Plasma or Disruptor are good for there "long tern" or DoT (Damage over time) effects.
Any weapon that has the chance to disable or reduce an enemy targets ability to damage you or the team, is therefore good in STF's ...
The list also doesn't include some of the better "hybrid" weapons that have 2 weapon procs combined, although they will usually lose one [modifier] due to the double proc., but can still be devastating in the right build ...
Plasma Disruptor - Mission Reward = "Free" and a good all round weapon until you can get the XII weapons. They have both the Plasma And Disruptor procs, but has no modifiers except a built in [acc] bonus of 7.5 - Base damage is Disruptor Damage so Disruptor Induction Coils are the best console, although a Plasma Console will make the DoT Plasma Burn deal slightly more damage. - They can only be gotten in a maximum XI version through mission replay. - Can only be taken as either Beam Array's or Dual Heavy Cannons.
Phased Polaron /Tetryon - Lockbox drops/Exchange = These offer both the the 'X' Subsystem offline of Phasers plus the -25 Power system or Shield Drain respectively - A reasonable choice for "Party" play and solo play, they have only 2 [modifiers] and can be hard to find + expensive on the exchange. - Console wise you want either Polaron or Tetryon respectively - The 2 pce Jem'Hadar space set also gives a bonus to Polaron Damage. - Can be found in most weapon type variants, though the popular ones i.e. Beam Array's, DHC's and Turrets are very expensive.
Romulan Plasma - Romulan Reputation = Arguably the best non fleet weapons available.
These offer the same 2 procs. as the Plasma Disruptor, except they are the other way around = Base damage is Plasma, so Plasma boosting consoles and gear are best, however unlike the the 'Free" versions, these actually have a choice of [modifiers] and can also be obtained in XII versions. - Can be gotten in all weapon types, with various [modifiers]
Protonic Polaron - Dyson Reputation = These are a quite achiever, and often overlooked. The base damage type is Polaron with it's -25 to Power Levels which currently isn't as "in vogue' as AP, Plasma or Disruptor. However, the second proc is a Proton Damage bonus, and this damage is applied directly to the enemies hull, completely ignoring shields, on a Critical Hit. Now although the Tool Tip makes the damage seem small, it can actually be quite devastating, and there are several consoles and equipment combo's that enhance Proton Damage and Critical chance ... So don't right them off - Can be gotten in various weapon types up to XII
Just a note on the Jem'Hadar Space set ...
the 2 pce % bonus to Polaron damage works on ANY ship ... The 3 pce bonus which is the extra 1% chance to strip 1 buff is only useable on certain ships.
Great info, thanks!.
i believe what you are thinking of is old information. i remember the crew bracing as well, however, to make sure my facts were right i replayed the missions to give me the set again, and found that the 2 piece set bonus is indeed called "dominion synergy". this bonus does apply to ALL ships, and gives:
+8.1% Polaron Damage
+15.2 Starship Power Insulators
the 3 piece set bonus is the Antiproton Sweep, which disables cloak and pokes at shields within it's cone radius.
i will edit the main post however to indicate that the stripping buff "victory is life" is only granted on Jem'Hadar Vessels and Cardassian Galors.
Just look at what's been said in this post:
"if you're running a science ship, polaron or plasma would suit you best..."
"if you're running a cruiser, antiproton or tetryon would be good choices."
"AP is good for high DPS single player single target damage - essentially PvP, where as things such as Plasma or Disruptor are good for there "long tern" or DoT (Damage over time) effects.
Any weapon that has the chance to disable or reduce an enemy targets ability to damage you or the team, is therefore good in STF's."
At no point is "Phaser" mentioned.
Then look at how many items (beyond the related tactical console) can affect the output or affect of all the other weapon types:
Disruptor = +1 (Silent Enemy Space set 2 piece bonus)
Polaron = +2 (Jem'Hadar Space set 2 piece bonus AND Science Console - Flow Capacitor)
Plasma = +3 (Threat scaling science consoles and Science Console - Particle Generators AND Romulan Singularity Harness - 2 piece set bonus)
Tetryon = +2 (Science console - Flow Capacitor AND Nukara Appropriated Munitions - 2 piece set bonus)
Antiproton = +1 (Ancient Obelisk Technology Space set 2 piece bonus)
Phaser = +0
Phasers are the canon energy weapon of Starfleet, but because they're so weak in comparison to everything else the percentage of player controlled Starfleet vessels in the game equipped with Phasers is extremely lacking.
In my opinion, something like this would be much better -
to target: 2.5% Chance: Disable 1 Subsystem for 15 sec (5 sec against player)
Tactical console - Phaser Relay (+30% at MK12 purple each)
?Aegis? Space Set - 2 piece set bonus (+2.5% Chance: Disable 1 Subsystem for 15 sec (5 sec against player) making 5% in total)
?"Starfleet Captain" Character Trait? (+5% Phaser damage)
yes, it was my mistake. I meant that the first piece gives you the jem hadar crew bracing and the second one the polaron boost. I never used the third piece so, that was my knowledge so far about it lol.
I also didnt know that particle generators increases plasma DoT o_O, good to know lol.
so that's 15.2% to base dmg with both Nukara and Hirogen sets equipped.
still, nothing beats the 10% to total dmg (ie-after buffs/mods) the obelisk set gives.
[Dmg] x2, [Acc] x2, Phaser and Disruptor Procs as above.
Found only on Galor Cruiser from the Ferengi Lockbox but opens purchase from the Lobi store for more.
i agree, phasers are a bit underpowered. though the main issue i think is that if they buff phasers too much, console based weapons like the andorian set, the galaxy beam, and maybe even auxilery cannons will be alot more powerful then intended, meaning those console would either have to be nerfed for oneshotting tactical cubes, or left in such an unstably high form. think about it, the andorian overload console of the kunari with full phaser setup, 5 tactical consoles, attack pattern omega, rapid fire, beam overload, emergency power to weapons, directed energy modulation, and maybe even a torpedo spread, and you have more forward burst damage then the famous "invisitorp" of STFs.
I don't recall phasers having the specific ability of knocking out sub systems though... at least not based on the Star Trek episodes I remember. I think I only watched season 1 of Enterprise though...
Should be fun to use in those elite PvE missions.
Same. I just think it's a shame that in any team space PvE and I'm the only one using phasers, I'm therefore usually the one doing the least damage (because everyone else is either using special weapons like the hybrids, or Antiprotons/Plasma/Disruptors).
Elachi weapons do not have a disruptor proc only a bypass shield and 50% of targets DR on the 1st shot of the cycle, but the 5 sec lockout was removed in the last patch so any of your elachi weapons now have a chance to directly damage hull without worrying about an elachi turret proc'g the lockout.
Oddly enough in the past 2 weeks I noticed that I earned 3rd place 3 times in those mass PvE missions like Starbase 24. Well, at least that I've noticed 'cause I usually do not pay attention to those damn stupid green messages that scroll across the screen. I wish I to deactivate them.
You can deactivate them. Either the bottom right menu clicker on the chat menu, or the pulldown under the minimap, can let you access Notification Settings. You can change the Notification Settings to turn off the "flyover" text messages that scroll across your screen. There are different categories, so you can still see Duty Officer mission completion (for example), while never seeing "So and So just received a Jem'Hadar Attack Ship!"
could anyone else provide specifics on this? i dont have the money to get this ingame, and the wiki doesnt seem to have the hirogen stuff yet. i'd like to have more information before i update this guide, such as what the set's actually called, confirmation that it is 7.6%, and if there's any other benefits that this set gives towards tetryon.
btw, i'm not going to update this guide for hybrid weapons. there's WAAAAAY to many hybrid weapons in the game to even attempt to keep up with a organized guide. besides, if you're interested in one of those special energy types, this guide will still help. if your using phased polaron, everything that helps polaron will still help your phased polarons. therefore i dont really see much of a need to add clutter to the list, when the guide will still help anyone who's using hybrids.
if you dont know what energy type your weapons do, check its tooltip for where it says "to target: XX _____ damage". that'll tell you the energy type it uses.
Apex Predator set from Lobi store:
Long-Range Destabilized Tetryon Heavy Cannon
Tethered Quantum Mine Launcher
Threat Analysis Matrix Console
Set 2: Destabilizing Emitters - +7.6% Tetryon Damage
+15.2 Flow Caps
okay thanks! main post has been updated.