Plasma rifle (Doom Eternal)



The plasma rifle returns as a weapon in Doom Eternal, with a new design that draws heavily from the original plasma gun. The overall function of the weapon appears to be unchanged, firing small bright blue compact orbs of plasma at a rapid rate. It is confirmed to have mods, including the Microwave Beam mod that stuns a monster before it explodes, and the Heat Blast mod (now using red plasma) from its previous iteration.

Tactical analysis
The Heat Blast now features a new effect where enemies that are hit by several plasma orbs within a short time will explode in a burst of energy, like the needler of the Halo series. It also has an altered area of effect, firing in a cone rather than in a circle around the player.

Energy shields like the ones used by the shield soldier and carcass will overload and explode if hit by plasma rifle fire, killing the shield's user and damaging other enemies nearby. It can also disable the Doomhunter's body shield, exposing it to damage.

Modifications

 * Heat Blast
 * The same as Heat Wave from Doom (2016), but now firing in a cone ahead of the gun rather than in a circle centered on the player. It has three levels of charge, designated by the color of the coolant sheath. At least one level of charge must be built up to fire the Heat Blast.


 * Microwave Beam
 * Following a short spin-up time, fires a concentrated, short-ranged beam of plasma energy that locks onto and immobilizes an enemy as long as the beam is maintained; sufficient exposure to the beam will kill the enemy, causing it to explode and deal damage to others nearby. The explosion size is dependent on how large the slain enemy was.

Heat Blast

 * Quick Fire
 * Super Heated Rounds
 * Mastery - Power Surge
 * After firing a fully charged Heat Blast, the Plasma Rifle's shots will deal more damage for a short time.
 * Mastery - Power Surge
 * After firing a fully charged Heat Blast, the Plasma Rifle's shots will deal more damage for a short time.

Microwave Beam

 * Faster Beam Charge
 * Cost: 3 weapon points.


 * Increased Range
 * Cost: 6 weapon points.


 * Mastery - Concussive Blast
 * Unlocked by purchasing all upgrades.