Marine School of Tactics: Weapon Damage Types

ShadowFX · Joined: 30 Jan 2010 Posts:

Because there were many discussion weapon damage types the other day during their respec, I noticed many people have inaccurate information on what the different types of weapon damage are and their differences. So I will Clarify:

Phaser Energy Damage
Phaser damage is displayed as an orange colored beam. It is a directed energy primarily used by the Federation for both ground and space weaponry, although in-game any race or faction can use Phaser energy weapons. The term "phaser" is an acronym for Phased Energy Rectification. Player-acquired starships for the Federation by default come with Phaser energy weapons. Shields and armor with the [Pha] suffix modifier take 20% less Phaser damage than usual.

Energy bonus: 2.5% Chance: Disable 1 Subsystem for 5 seconds (Space) / 5% Chance: +2 Hold

Disruptor Energy Damage
Disruptors are a type of directed energy used in weapons, and are green or dark green in color. They are used by races such as the Romulans, Klingons, Gorn and Orions. There are multiple types of Disruptor energy ranging from Type 1 to Type 3, although in-game there doesn't appear to be any difference between Disruptor energy weapons. Disruptors cause damage to the target by breaking the bonds of atoms. Shields and armor with the [Dis] suffix modifier take 20% less Disruptor damage than usual.

Energy bonus: 2.5% (Space) / 5% (Ground): 10% Damage Resistance Debuff

Plasma Energy Damage My personal Fav
Plasma energy beams are aqua in color. Plasma projectiles are typically seen in use by Romulan, Cardassian and Borg vessels and weapons platforms. High-yield Plasma projectiles are extremely powerful. Focused beam Plasma energy is not directly used by any one race or faction in the game. Shields and armor with the [Pla] suffix modifier take 20% less Disruptor damage than usual.

Energy bonus: 2.5% (Space) / 5% (Ground) Chance: Applies a non-stacking DoT

Tetryon Energy Damage
Tetryon energy beams are blue in color. Tetryon weapons are not specifically used by any race or faction, but they are available to anyone. Tetyrons are subatomic particles that exist outside of normal space. When brought into normal space from subspace (artificially or naturally) they become highly unstable. Shields and armor with the [Tet] suffix modifier take 20% less Tetryon damage than usual.

Energy bonus: Bonus damage to Shields (Ground and Space)

Polaron Energy Damage
Polaron directed energy was heavily utilized by the Jem'Hadar during the Dominion war on both their starship and ground weapons. In Star Trek Online they are pink/purple in color and are available to all races and factions. They are first available to players at the Captain rank (Mk VIII). Polaron ground weaponry typically leaves an anticoagulant behind, although this isn't the case in the game. Shields and armor with the [Pol] suffix modifier take 20% less Polaron damage than usual.

Energy bonus: 2.5% Chance: -25 power to all Subsystems (Space) / 5% Chance: Weapons Malfunction for 5 sec (Ground)

Antiproton Energy Damage
Antiprotons, when confined into a beam, are normally yellow in color; however, in Star Trek Online it appears near identical at distance to Phaser energy [1] and the differences are only apparent up close. [2] Up close, the energy looks a lot more unstable, similar to Plasma and Tetyron energy. Antiproton beams were used by the planet-destroying Doomsday Machine. In the game, Antiproton energy is used on end-game weaponry. Shields with the [Ap] suffix modifier take 20% less Antiproton damage than usual.

Energy Bonus: 2.5% critical chance +40 critical severity

I will research Kinetic more and do an in depth post on that like this as well.

Notes
↑ Cryptic Studios cloned the Phaser weapons in the game to make Antiproton weapons. As a result, there is a chance that the near-identical energy color is a bug.
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Most of this information was Taken from the ST:O Wiki.