Starfield is a game title that has a lot to offer its players, from worlds to explore and ships to build to energy weapons that fend off your foes. Each unique energy weapon feels different in some way than their counterparts as no two are identical. Luckily, it seems like Bethesda has altered the landscape of its energy weapon repertoire from titles like Fallout. Adding a new and unique variety of energy weapons like particle beams and electromagnetic weaponry. Of course, with all of these updates to the Starfield arsenal, it can be hard to know which weapons are better for what. With a little bit of research and playtime, you can easily find the hierarchy and what will work best for you!
Energy weapons come in a bunch of different flavors, both damage-wise and weapon-wise. You have everything from lasers and plasma to particle beams and EM which can honestly level the playing field. Beyond this, you have access to a slew of different weapon formats from handguns and submachine guns to rifles and shotguns. This amount of versatility gives the player much more feasibility when they’re fighting with them. It also makes the Starfield landscape feel a bit more complete as an upward competitor in science fiction.
No matter how you choose to play Starfield, you’ll come across energy weapons at some point in your playthrough. This means you can potentially make a huge profit off of these better weapons should you get the opportunity to collect them. Just keep in mind they have a few drawbacks including expensive ammunition and low ranges.
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Orion
The Orion is one of the least effective energy weapons due to its low fire rate. It acts like a better weapon yet has virtually the same stats as the base Equinox. Because of this, the only reason why Orion rifles are good to grab is in order to sell. You can’t really use them very effectively unless at a medium distance. Once you cross the threshold of being too close, the weapon’s single-fire capacity feels odd.
An Orion deals base damage of 27 and uses the 3 KV LZR ammunition type which is luckily abundant. That being said, they have a magazine of 35 which makes them a little better ammunition-wise than the Equinox. However, this is completely circumvented by its incredibly slow fire rate which is below that of its competitor. It does damage the enemy with two beams rather than one, which grants the Orion some level of creditability. That being said, with a sell price of over 5,000 credits, why waste time using them? The price of one Orion can fund both the player and their companion a much better Equinox rifle.
Weighing 5.25 mass, the Orion can definitely feel like a weapon that’s overly cumbersome to even carry with you. This, especially for a single-fire weapon can become a massive issue when there are lighter and better available. Despite that, if you need high accuracy and medium damage, the Orion is perfect for you. It can be upgraded with seven different modifications as well as with the energy weapons perk.
Orion #10
Solstice
The Solstice pistol is one of the better models early on, however, it trails off as you progress in the game. Primarily it deals ten energy damage and uses 1.5 KV LVR ammunition. This allows the weapon to stay lightweight at about 1.30 mass. Having seven available modifications, this weapon can be incredibly valuable at almost 2,000 credits when new. These weapons also have a decent fire rate, however, they are limited to single fire. The real problem with the solstice is its lack of damage unless modified.
Being above average in terms of accuracy, these pistols are great for gunslingers and pistol-wielders alike. The main drawback to these weapons is that they have a funky fire rate which forces you to take your time. This can be especially anxiety-ridden when trying to establish a context of urgency. Besides this, it can be a great weapon to modify or sell, as its versatility is unique. As far as energy pistols go, the Solstice is unfortunately one of the least useful as it has the slowest fire rate to ammunition capacity available.
However, with their low weight and easy modification these pistols make great companion weapons early on in your playthrough. Because of this, it’s easy to stock up on them. Boosted and enhanced versions of the solstice can even be quite useful mid-game, but always fall short of other boosted equipment. Nonetheless, it finds its way as one of the more interesting weapons on the list with its unique reloading system. Fortunately, the Solstice has a decent magazine size to carry you through any fight you come across.
Solstice #9
Arc Welder
Being the only major heavy energy weapon in Starfield, the arc welder is a great method of dealing with close-quarters combat. Unfortunately, they are fairly inaccurate which makes them troublesome to use along with their hefty weight. The arc welder weighs about 4.2 mass which leaves the weapon with enough heft to match the microgun. While the weapon may be heavy, when dealing with aliens or melee combatants it releases a high rate of fire up to twenty meters away from itself. That being said, you have to be careful as this arc will bend and rotate as you fire which makes it hard to aim at.
Arc welders utilize a 3KV LZR cartridge which gives it a high load of 100 shots before reloading. Each shot is really just a tick in the beam of this weapon’s path as it gives a constant directed stream of energy until stopped. This weapon can be found in most vending areas and can be especially useful early on, however, it diminishes over time. Unfortunately, it is no rivet gun as the cap in range and frequency of use make the weapon a gruel to use. However, if you enjoy being up close and personal, the arc welder is a fine energy weapon for your collection.
The arc welder’s main problems are its weight and its ability to burn through ammunition quickly. Up close, they’re like an improved cutter, but beyond 20 meters, they can’t handle robots. Due to this, the arc welder is one of the more situational energy weapons, despite its quickness. Due to its low damage output, this item is primarily intended for construction and repair. The arc welder is a heavy load, but at least it sells for almost 2,500 credits!
Arc Welder #8
Equinox
The Equinox is by far one of the most useful weapons you can find early on. Having a base damage of 13, the Equinox uses 3KV LZR ammunition in order to inflict good damage from a distance. Being incredibly accurate with a decent range akin to the Orion, it makes it the superior choice for any marksman. What makes the Equinox more useful is the easy mass of 3.2 which goes well with its high rate of fire. The best part of the weapon is the 20-shot capacity when paired with single or automatic fire, as it helps with ammunition conservation.
An Equinox can fall out without modifications, however, it is a common weapon throughout Starfield. That being said, the Equinox is especially stringent among spacers as they tend to enjoy the hefty firepower. This means that the weapon will be easy to find and sell, as they go for nearly 2,500 credits overall. Additionally being a mid-range weapon, they can fare better during long-range engagements than other weapons you may come across. The main problem with the equinox is that over time, it will fall out over the use of other weapons such as the Beowulf or even other energy weapons.
Equinox falls short in damage per reload time, which is significantly lower than other energy weapons. In single-fire configurations, this weapon can be hard to use against enemies with explosives. While it does a lot of damage, it’s never enough to kill an opponent outright. It’s a strange firing system that tries to feel rewarding but is often just a hassle to use. With the energy weapons upgrade perk, this weapon can be a great companion item.
Equinox #7
Cryogenic and Inferno Mines
The two energy weapon mines that deal the best damage are by far the cryogenic and inferno mines. They both have the same damage output though one freezes while the other burns. Very simply put you can manipulate these weapons into dealing massive damage in low-gravity areas. Additionally, by causing these status effects you naturally weaken your enemies to the point of mediocre defense. Freezing your opponents is a great way to get more hits on them Before they can retaliate. On the flip side, burning your opponents can cause damage over time that really ends your opponents quickly.
Both mine types weigh .4 mass and can be sold for over 5 hundred credits at a time. This makes them a substantial profit when grouped in high volumes. Fortunately, mines and grenades can be found throughout the galaxy almost as often as food and medical items. Making them a great source of revenue if you have a house to pay off. And in the off chance that something comes to kill you, there’s the profit of not dying by creating a minefield. There are a few drawbacks to these explosives though as they can be extremely limited in their use.
While in outer space or without gravity these mines can be free-floated at an enemy, in an atmosphere they will be limited to the ground. You can throw a mine, but its distance is intensely limited to your strength and skill with explosives. That makes these high-damage party favors hard to use in a traditional sense, however, in ship raiding they can be phenomenal. Both grenades deal around 35 damage plus their elemental effects which can greatly weaken a threat. Overall, while not the best, you should carry both on you as often as possible!
Cryogenic/Inferno Mines #6
Novalight
The Novalight is one of the better energy pistols you can acquire at the start of the game. Dealing with the right physical damage and 25 energy damage, it’s one of our first hybrids on the list. Using a light frame and a decent fire rate, the novalight seeks to impress any energy weapons gunslinger. It weighs about 1.35 mass and can sell for upwards of 4650 credits when brand new. Beyond this, they are highly modifiable which makes the novalight usable throughout the whole game. It utilizes the light fuse and gives the player a solid chance of defeating the target from up close.
Despite these weapons being incredibly potent against your average spacer, they are particularly abundant in quantity. There’s a fair amount of them floating around in circulation which makes their ammunition easy to find. The best bet for these pistols is to upgrade your energy weapons perk and the handgun perk as both will make the novalight more effective. Just remember that despite how useful the novalight may be, they are a great item to stack for merchant sales. Finally, don’t forget that with all of their benefits, they have the flaw of being a close-range weapon.
The drawbacks of the novalight include the lack of range beyond thirty meters and a hefty recoil. It’s good to note that with perks this can be reduced, but otherwise, you run the risk of missing your shots. That being said, the beam will go exactly where it’s lined up with, having minimal deviation. It’s this bump effect of the recoil that makes the novalight slightly unwieldy to use.
Novalight #5
Va’Ruun Starshard
The starshard is one of those weapons that once acquired, you immediately understand its abject rarity. Dealing with a hulking 26 physical damage, and 80 energy damage per shot is not much that can match it. Fortunately, it has the same magazine size of twelve as the novalight, and requires the same light fuse ammunition as it. For this reason, you could consider the starshard to be an immediate upgrade to the novalight once obtained. That being said it has a mass of one and a value of 18,250 credits. It acts as the perfect dueling pistol or backup weapon when you get into hot water.
Although Starshard has high accuracy and slow fire rate, it’s limited to the same thirty-foot range. Anything that gets too close can get over 100 damage without mods or perks. Upgrades like the handgun perk and energy weapons perk make gameplay much smoother. Last but not least, this weapon can be modified a lot. It can carry you all the way to the end. When you consider the problems with it, they’re hard to outweigh.
The starshard is set up to be like a heavy revolver, just without the range. This weapon is good up close, and at a low middle range, but any further and it falls short. Because of its slow rate of fire and close-range requirements, it can often be replaced with something better. There’s nothing in the pistol class that hits harder than this Va’Ruun!
Va’Ruun Starshard #4
Va’Ruun Inflictor
Inflictor is another Va’Ruun weapon that deals a lot of damage. With heavy fuses, I dealt 38 physical damage and 113 energy damage. As its six modifications can improve the overall quality of its design, this weapon is incredible. With 25 shots per heavy fuse, it’s pretty accurate for its firepower. With a range of fifty, it fixes the issues with the previous energy weapons. They cost about 22500 credits brand new at 3.75 mass. This is why they’re one of the hardest weapons to get.
Inflictors will easily devastate most enemies by the time you get your hands on it, leaving destruction in your wake. The only thing you’ll need to keep in mind is that it can be upgraded via the energy weapons perk. Unfortunately, it is a form of automatic submachine gun rather than a handgun, so no perk equations there. On the flip side though, these weapons are great for ship-to-ship combat and pair well with any assault build. If you prefer up close and personal combat, the Inflictor is definitely the weapon for you!
The drawbacks of the inflictor really are that the ammunition you’ll need to keep it supplied will cripple your wallet. A heavy fuse can be one of the hardest ammunition types to get your hands on and is quite expensive. Besides this, it is one of the heavier weapons on the list, and being a submachine gun it will run dry quickly. These drawbacks mount up quickly when you run out of ammunition and have a nearly four-pound paperweight. With all of this in mind, the inflictor is a great weapon to use so long as you can keep it full of ammunition for your fights to come.
Va’Ruun Inflictor #3
Big Bang
Being the only shotgun on the list, Big Bang is a form of particle beam weapon that deals massive damage. With 32 physical and 94 energy damage it can make anyone foolish to get too close very dead very quick. The important thing to remember with this weapon is that it has a very limited range, but can hit multiple opponents. For that reason, you can use Big Bang in such a way that swarms of enemies get taken down. Alternatively, it makes a wonderful assault shotgun for anyone running an energy weapons build. It weighs seven pounds, and has a magazine of fourteen, using heavy fuses as ammunition.
This weapon’s particle beams can be affected by the energy weapon’s perk and the shotgun improvement perk. Like handguns, this weapon has multiple perks so you can make the most of it. Keeping this in mind, your big bang will be a costly weapon, costing 12,870 credits. Due to the weapon’s unique range, it’s great for ship-based combat and ruins because it’s essentially a very heavy energy shotgun.
The many drawbacks of this weapon come from its ammunition type, weight, and range. Up close, the weapon will easily shred most opponents however at a distance it becomes useless. Following this is the fact it is single-handedly the most heavy energy weapon you can field, with expensive ammunition to feed it. The heavy fuses are incredibly hard to find and make this weapon hard to actually field. If you do end up buying all of the ammo you can for this weapon, you’ll be spending thousands of credits easily. Because of this, it falls short of being the absolute best, however, it certainly is one of the best weapons for your arsenal!
Big Bang #2
Novablast Disruptor
Finally, the novablast disruptor is the best energy weapon in Starfield. This weapon is like a big brother to the novalight, designed specifically for capturing targets. It’s perfect for bounty hunting, xenology, and dealing with aggressive targets like spacers. Although it has a limited range, it’s the only electromagnetic weapon in Starfield. Due to its stunning effect, it’s good for dealing with nearly any threat you may encounter. The weapon uses the ever-rare heavy fuse ammunition type but at a lower rate.
Weighing 2.70 mass, the novablast disruptor can be a great item to keep on yourself or a companion. It has a maximum range of 30 feet which can seem small but in ship raids or against xenos it can prove vital. Importantly, these novablast disruptors are able to deal 100 emp damage in a shot instantly stunning unarmored targets. This makes the novablast disruptor essential for any build style as you’ll be able to stun enemies before they deal damage to you. On top of this, it can make a great weapon to stock up on for sale as they run for about 5,000 credits a piece. Overall, there’s nothing like a good stun gun, and the novablast disruptor does this in spades.
There are plenty of reasons why the novablast is a decent rifle, but it still has a few major drawbacks. You can’t actually kill your enemies with this weapon because it’s instinctively nonlethal. Second, it has a short maximum distance, so you have to interact with the enemy head-on. Lastly, it uses one of the most expensive energy ammunition types. Despite its flaws, the novablast disruptor is one of the best energy weapons available. If you need to upgrade it further, both energy weapons and EM weapons perks can affect it.
-source: WEAPONS FROM GAMES
Energized Onslaught
No matter what energy weapon you choose to take on the list, you’ll have a fun time taking down your enemies. There really is no right or wrong answer in the galaxy of Starfield due to how diverse the modification system really is. Fortunately for the player, you can make the most of any weapon so long as you have enough time to train them. You’ll need modifications, perks, and a lot of credits to play with these kinds of builds but the payoff is monumental. Just remember, even if you don’t choose to use them they can make a great means of making a profit when sold!
One of the best weapons in the game, and the only natural EM weapon you can find as the best on our list!
