In the player’s journey across the Appalachia in Fallout 76, their quest for survival will force them to use a wide variety of weapons against the game’s lethal roster of enemies. Between irradiated monsters, mutants, and even raiders, players need to stay on their toes to find the best weapons to protect themselves.

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However, players who want to maximize their damage potential should consider acquiring Energy Weapons. Known for their dependence on specialized ammo like Fusion Cells, Energy Weapons can change the tide of battle provided players know how to use them properly. However, across the game’s rather vast regions, just which Energy Weapons suit a player’s capabilities?

Updated on May 15, 2024 by Rhenn Taguiam): With the Fallout series teasing the much further future of the franchise in the Los Angeles region, fans of the franchise might wonder just how much the television media’s events would affect the greater plot of the games. However, for fans who want to backtrack the series’ existing story and canon, they may want to venture into the much earlier setting of Fallout 76 - a challenge made more worthwhile as a multiplayer experience. And for players who want a more unique take on their arsenal amid their playthrough, perhaps using the right Energy Weapons can make exploring the Appalachian region much easier. However, before they even grab the first Energy Weapon they see, they may want to equip their armament with the best Mods available to them.

9 Acceptable Overkill

Legacy Weapon That Packs A Lethal Punch At A Distance

Players who want an Energy Weapon with a certain air of futurism to it would appreciate Acceptable Overkill, a modular laser rifle. Due to its nature, the weapon can be affected by the Grounded Mutation, where players get +100 Energy Resistance in exchange for dealing -50% Energy Weapon Damage. Regardless of this potential setback, the weapon does deal consistent damage on top of having a manageable firing rate, making it a desirable weapon should players acquire it even without the traditional slate of Fallout mods.

Unfortunately, Acceptable Overkill is considered a Legacy Weapon, meaning it’s currently unavailable in the current rotation. It was once a reward for Survival Mode’s weekly challenges in 2019, specifically a challenge where players need to kill “all kinds of critters.” However, collectors should be able to get the weapon from fellow traders who have them and are willing to sell them in exchange for Caps or other items.

Builds For Acceptable Overkill

Players able to acquire the Legacy Weapon should optimize its accuracy and damage potential, especially with Acceptable Overkill’s auto-firing nature. Among recommended Mods include the Calibrated Capacitor, as well as the True Automatic Barrel and True Grip for VATS. Being an auto-weapon, Acceptable Overkill can also benefit from Perks that boost overall firepower, be it in the form of regular damage or DPS: Crack Shot and Guerilla(+ Damage), Concentrated Fire (limb-targeting VATS), Glow Sight (+ Damage on Glowing), and even Bloody Mess (+ Damage, but corpses may explode on kill).

8 Mind Over Matter

ADS Bonuses Encourages Aggressive But Precision Aim

Despite taking on a smaller appearance than the Slug Buster and having an almost identical appearance to the Plasma Gun, Mind Over Matter boasts a special scope on top of its pistol format that hints at its combat capabilities. While its stats are essentially similar to its base variant, Mind Over Matter encourages manual aiming due to bonuses tied to this combat strategy. In turn, players are advised to be more tactical in their fighting approach to avoid getting off-guard when using the weapon.

Players can get Mind Over Matter in their Fallout 76 gameplay if they manage to recruit Colin Putnam during the “Field Testing” main quest from the “Steel Dawn” update. Due to this objective being optional in nature, players may potentially miss the weapon’s acquisition.

Builds For Mind Over Matter

Being a Legacy weapon, players who do have the Mind Over Matter gun may well consider adding it to their collection for display instead of in actual fights due to its limitations in overall specs. When modded, it’s recommended for Mind Over Matter to at least have a Prime Capacitor, an Aligned Automatic Barrel, and a Bruising Grip to maximize its potential as a variant Plasma Gun. However, usefulness-wise, it’s better to mod an already-available weapon instead of gunning for this Legacy content.

7 Plasma Gun

Modifiable Gun That Can Be Used As Both A Rifle And A Pistol

Perhaps the epitome of atompunk weapons, the Plasma Gun can seem small but it does pack quite a punch. Its iron-like chassis boasts gears and veins with flowing green fluid, giving it a distinct plasma feel. Changing the weapon’s stock changes its appearance and reclassifies it as a rifle, allowing players to use its decent range across different setups - making it useful across most situations when roaming outside the safety of CAMPs.

Players can get the Plasma Gun from the Whitespring Resort’s Brotherhood Vendor or the Whitespring Bunker’s MODUS. Blood Eagles may also carry the weapon. Being an Energy Weapon, the Plasma Gun can be affected by the Grounded Mutation where players get 100% Energy Damage Resistance in exchange for -50% Energy Weapon Damage.

Builds For Plasma Gun

The modular capabilities of the Plasma Gun makes it ideal to be transformed into a long-ranged firearm. An example Sniper build would need the Aligned Sniper Barrel, giving players more oomph at a distance with fast-firing shots that don’t give unnecessary delays to them. This build’s recommended Perks should have similar functionalities: Rifleman (+ Damage), Tank Killer (+ Armor Ignore, Stagger), Concentrated Fire (limb-targeting VATS), Tenderizer (+Damage on hit), Adrenaline (+Damage on kill), Gun Fu (+ Damage on kill, target-swapping on kill via VATS), Better Criticals (+ Critical Hit Damage).

6 Slug Buster

Stronger Armor Penetration, VATS Critical Shot Damage Encourage Aggressive Early-Game Plays

Essentially taking on the appearance of a modified Plasma Gun, the Slug Buster boasts a longer stock and a longer barrel alongside compatibility with other Plasma Gun Mods. However, its effects make the Fallout 76 weapon more powerful than its standard variant, particularly with extra VATS crits, armor ignorance, and even a -20% AP Cost for additional efficiency.

Players can only acquire the Slug Buster from the “Buried Treasure” in the game’s “Wastelanders” update. The weapon is specifically located on a table in the Auxiliary Operations Center in Vault 79, although this part of Fallout 76 gameplay does need players to ask Ra-Ra to explore the premises.

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Builds For Slug Buster

Thanks to the modular nature of the Slug Buster and its additional effects, players can build this weapon to wreak havoc up close without sacrificing damage potential. This is made possible by the Aligned Flamer Barrel that transforms the pistol into a flamethrower-like weapon, boosting hip-fire accuracy with a trade-off on long-range potential. Alternatively, opting for an Aligned Sniper Barrel transitions the Slug Buster into a long-range, single-firing armament. Using either configuration with the Prime Capacitor and Bruising Grip should give players the most ideal damage out of the Slug Buster.

5 Enclave Plasma Gun

Plasma Gun That Packs A Stronger Punch

What makes the Enclave Plasma Gun quite a memorable Fallout weapon is its imposing appearance. Despite technically being a modification of the original Plasma Gun, the Enclave Plasma Gun has a distinct black and silver chassis with a longer stock, as well as cyan and green patterns coursing through the weapon’s wiring. Due to only the Prime Receiving having a plan of this weapon, mods are only acquired through another Enclave Plasma Gun with random mods, vendors in specific regions (The Mire, Cranberry Bog, Savage Divide), or as random drops.

Acquiring the Enclave Plasma Gun can also be difficult, as they’re only reliably sold by the MODUS Production terminal or located in the Enclave research facility as Scorched Enclave officers carry them. Likewise, the weapon has a 50% drop rate from the “One of Us” main quest or a 30% drop rate from the “Dropped Connection” event.

Builds For Enclave Plasma Gun

Capitalizing on its nature as a modular weapon, one of the more efficient ways of building an Enclave Plasma Gun is to transform it into a Rifle-type weapon via a Stock. In this particular build, using the Stabilized Stock transitions the Enclave Plasma Gun into a Plasma Rifle, while the Aligned Flamer turns its rounds into sprays. An alternate Sniper build could be made possible by equipping a True Sniper Barrel. In turn, this EPG setup benefits the most out of Rifle-inclined Perks: Rifleman (+ Damage), Tank Killer (+ Armor Ignore, Stagger), Concentrated Fire (limb-targeted VATS), Tenderizer (+ Damage on hit), and Adrenaline (+ Damage on kill).

4 Laser Gun

Modifiable Nature Allows Players To Adapt To Various Scenarios

While boasting a similar appearance to the Ultracite Laser Gun, the default Laser Gun in a player’s Fallout 76 gameplay has a stockier appearance due to blends of brown, yellow, and red on the core stock. It has a lower firing rate than the Ultracite Laser Gun but has access to more mods, with the weapon possibly being reclassified as a rifle instead of a pistol when equipped with a stock.

Moreover, the weapon’s mod capacity is what makes the Laser Gun quite a versatile energy weapon, allowing players to adapt to most situations. Players can find the weapon in Brotherhood corpses scattered in Watoga and Fort Defiance, although they are also usually carried by Blood Eagles and Super Mutants.

Builds For Laser Gun

As a modular weapon, the Laser Gun can become a potent weapon when equipped with the Aligned Stock - essentially transforming it into a Rifle. Further improvements with the Snappy Capacitor and a True Automatic Barrel should give it enough basic firepower to reliably take on foes from afar. Given the weapon’s conversion into a Rifle, its accompanying Perks also capitalize on its newfound long-ranged finesse: Commando (+ Damage), Tenderizer (+ Damage on hit), Concentrated Fire (limb-targeting VATS), Ground Pounder (+ Reload Speed, Hip-Fire Accuracy), Tank Killer (+ Armor Ignore, Stagger), and Adrenaline (+ Damage on kill).

3 Ultracite Laser Gun

High Fire Rate Encourages Mobile Plays

Players who want an archetypal laser gun should get the Ultracite Laser Gun in their Fallout 76 gameplay. The weapon’s appearance is probably its best selling point, as the weapon’s red tones over its gray stock make it a more recognizable equipment compared to other guns that are often based in real life. It boasts decent damage at a high firing rate, making it ideal for players who want to stay mobile during their gameplay. However, it’s missing some mods that are ordinarily available to the Laser Gun.

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Interested players can get the Ultracite Laser Gun plans from Watoga Shopping Plaza’s Vendor bot Phoenix, or Whitespring Resort’s Brotherhood vendor. It may also be a rare drop from Legendary enemies and Scorchbeasts, as well as rewards from treasure maps.

Builds For Ultracite Laser Gun

The sheer firing rate and the ammo consumption of the Ultracite Laser Gun already makes a precedent of being able to chew through opponents quickly, meaning its Mods have to support maximizing damage based on existing ammo. Among recommended Mods include the Refined Beta Wave Turner, an Aligned Automatic Barrel, and Forceful Stock to make the build open for further improvements. Alongside its Mods, the Ultracite Laser Gun can become a shredder in the battlefield with the right Perks: Commando (+ Damage), Tank Killer (+ Armor Ignore, Stagger), Tenderizer (+ Damage on hit), Gun Fu (+ Damage on kill, target-swapping on kill via VATS), Adrenaline (+Damage on kill), and Concentrated Fire (limb-targeting VATS).

2 Plasma Caster

Ammo-Intensive Laser Gatling Gun Can Tear Through Enemies Quickly

Taking on the appearance of a rather large Gatling gun, the Plasma Caster doesn’t technically release bullets. When used, the Plasma Caster deals devastating damage at long ranges with a decent firing rate, although the weapon tends to cost heavily in terms of ammo. The weapon may be upgraded to drain fusion cores from power armor users, making it an exceptionally dangerous endgame weapon.

If players complete the quests for either the Raiders or the Settlers in their Fallout 76 gameplay, they can purchase plans for the Plasma Caster for 750 Gold Bullion from Regs. Players need to do this to ensure the Plasma Caster becomes a random drop from events, Legendary enemies, and Purveyor Murmrgh.

Builds For Plasma Caster

The sheer firepower of the Plasma Caster makes it rather suitable for long-range incursions - with specific Barrels capable of capitalizing on firepower at a distance. Standard builds could use the True Long Barrel to deal damage at a safer distance, with the Aligned Sniper Barrel capable of transforming it into a one-shotting killing machine. Damage output from either builds become especially more potent with the right Perks: Heavy Gunner (+ Damage), Concentrated Fire (limb-targeting VATS), Gun Fu (+ Damage on kill, target-swapping on kill via VATS), Adrenaline (+ Damage on kill), Tenderizer (+ Damage on hit), Glow Sight (+ Damage to Glowing foes), Better Criticals (+ Critical Damage).

1 Gatling Plasma

Immense Firing Rate Can Pulverize Enemies Quickly With The Right Timing

Players who want to look like they’re carrying the might of the planet’s energy potential would like toting the massive Gatling Plasma. While its status as a heavy energy weapon allows it to use both Heavy Weapon Mods and Energy Weapon Mods, the weapon uses plasma cores. Despite its high firing rate and excellent range, the Gatling Plasma does need a spin-up before the continuous fire and has a subpar reload, forcing players to be more tactical in its usage.

Given how plasma cores are normally found in high-level locations, so too is the Gatling Plasma. Players can get Gatling Plasma from high-level government aid drops, or even from the Mire’s Picklock 2 safes. Likewise, players can also go to the armory of the Whitespring Bunker and purchase it from the MODUS Armory Terminal.

Builds For Gatling Plasma

Compared to other weapons, the Gatling Plasma’s impressive firing rate make it an excellent choice for a long-ranged shredder. Using the weapon with a Prime Receiver, a Rifled Barrel, and a Beam Focuser should create a baseline for higher damage output, especially when it fit with the right Perks. Due to the nature of the Gatling Plasma as a Heavy Gun, the ideal Perks to go with its Mods should also maximize its weight: Heavy Gunner (+ Damage), Tenderizer (+ Damage on hit), Stabilized (+ Accuracy, Armor Ignore with Power Armor), Adrenaline (+ Damage on kill), and Bloody Mess (+ Damage, but corpses may explode on hit).

Fallout 76

Platform(s)

PC , PS4 , Xbox One

Released

November 14, 2018

Developer(s)

Bethesda

Genre(s)

Action , RPG