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The AER9 laser rifle is a weapon in Fallout 3.

Background[]

This section is transcluded from Laser rifle. To change it, please edit the transcluded page.

The AER9 features a titanium housed crystal array which proved to withstand long years of exposure to the elements much better than the gold alloy housing of the later models. As a result, the crystal arrays stayed focused within operating parameters, rather than falling completely out of focus like the newer models.[1] Power is drawn from microfusion cells and processed through a wave/particle diverter manufactured by General Atomics International. The diverters are protected by a carbon-fiber housing, preventing frequent malfunction, but when a diverter fails the weapon becomes unusable.[2]

General Atomics ad featuring the AER9

The AER9 was actually not the top laser rifle in service at the time of the Great War. The model line went up to the state-of-the-art AER12, which saw service in a handful of specialty units. The AER9 is much more commonly found due to being much sturdier and more reliable than the models that followed.[1] A new model, the AER14, was in development prior to the War, with at least one prototype surviving in Vault 22.

Characteristics[]

The laser rifle performs admirably at medium and long ranges, where its accurate semi-automatic fire combined with its large ammunition capacity makes short work of most opponents. Its semi-automatic nature prevents it from being a viable close quarters combat weapon. As such, the laser rifle is a good weapon for traveling through the open wastelands where dispatching enemies at a distance is a frequent opportunity. Its rapid semi-automatic fire, sizable magazine, the minimum spread of 0 (meaning potentially perfect accuracy), extremely effective range, and exceptionally low AP cost allows the laser rifle to really stand out. A deadly critical hit from this weapon, as with other laser weapons, will not only kill enemies but also turn them into a pile of colored sparkling ashes, which can still be looted as normal.

Durability[]

A fully repaired laser rifle can fire 1086 bolts, about 46 full cells, from full condition before breaking.

Variants[]

  • Wazer Wifle - This unique variant of the AER9 has higher damage and durability, as well as a larger magazine. It is obtained from Biwwy in Little Lamplight for five hundred caps, for two hundred and fifty caps with a Barter skill check, or free with the Child at Heart perk.
  • The Pitt (add-on) Metal Blaster - This unique variant of the AER9 fires nine beams at once, using one microfusion cell similar to the Protectron's Gaze laser pistol. This feature, coupled with its remarkably high damage-per-shot makes it a devastating short to close-range weapon, though its effectiveness greatly diminishes at a range with the "shotgun effect." It can be obtained by bringing fifty steel ingots to Everett in The Pitt.
  • Broken Steel Tri-beam laser rifle - The tri-beam laser rifle is a variant of the AER9 that fires three high-powered beams per shot - similar to the Metal Blaster - though it does require three microfusion cells every time the trigger is pulled. This weapon is not unique and is dropped by super mutant overlords but is not repairable with anything but other tri-beam laser rifles. It was first made available in Broken Steel.
  • The Operation: Anchorage add-on includes an unused DLC-specific version of the laser rifle. It is identical to the normal laser rifle in both statistics and appearance. Its intended purpose in the DLC is unknown and it was cut from the final release, rendering it accessible only through the use of console commands.
  • A "demo" version of the laser rifle is included in Fallout 3, presumably left from the game's E3 demo. It does one point less damage per shot and less than half the critical damage than the standard variant but has a much higher critical chance percentage. It is not used anywhere in the game and is only accessible through the use of console commands.
  • The lightning gun is a version of the laser rifle that was cut from the Broken Steel add-on. Upon firing, it creates a natural gas cloud, then shoots a second laser, possibly igniting the gas. Due to this weapon being cut, it can only be obtained through console commands.

Comparison[]

Legend 
Weapon name (current weapon is highlighted)- Weapon name (melee or unarmed)Attacks in V.A.T.S.- Attacks in V.A.T.S.
Weapon name (current weapon is highlighted)- Weapon name (gun, energy or explosive)Action point cost- Action point cost
Damage per attack (damage per projectile)- Damage per attack (damage per projectile)Damage per action point- Damage per action point
Damage per second- Damage per secondWeapon spread- Weapon spread
Area of effect damage- Area of effect damageMagazine capacity (shots per reload)- Magazine capacity (shots per reload)
Effect damage & duration- Effect damage & durationDurability (number of attacks before breaking)- Durability (number of attacks before breaking)
Bonus effects- Bonus effectsWeight- Weight
Attacks per second- Attacks per secondValue in caps- Value in caps
Critical chance % multiplier- Critical chance % multiplierValue to weight ratio- Value to weight ratio
Critical damage- Critical damageSkill required- Skill required
Critical effect damage & duration- Critical effect damage & durationStrength required- Strength required
With all mods attached- With all mods attached
Weapon name (current weapon is highlighted)Damage per attack (damage per projectile)Damage per secondAttacks per secondCritical Chance % multiplierCritical damageAction Point costDamage per action pointWeapon spreadMagazine capacity (shots per reload)Durability (number of attacks before breaking)WeightValue in capsValue to weight ratio
Laser rifle 23
472.05x1.522171.40.024108781000125
Metal Blaster The Pitt (add-on)55
(6.1x9)
112.52.05x1.527173.22.52445581000125
Wazer Wifle 29
59.32.05x1.528171.70.03015528900112.5
Tri-beam laser rifle Broken Steel75
(25x3)
204.52.73x1.515233.32.024(8)33391000111.1

Locations[]

Notes[]

  • While exploring Fort Independence, one will come across a terminal in the weapon research room near the armory room which says the AER9 will overheat after numerous shots. It says that it is only supposed to be able to fire 12 to 13 shots per microfusion cell, when it can shoot 24 (or 30 with the Wazer Wifle) lasers per cell. A terminal in the Citadel laboratory likewise describes the model for being notorious for overheating.
  • A very useful trait about this weapon is that, with a high enough Repair skill, one can repair them to 100%, giving them the sizable value of 999 caps. Meaning at 100 Barter skill, one can usually sell the rifle for around 890 to 950 caps, depending on the vendor.

Behind the scenes[]

On the barrel, there is a warning that reads, "caution: laser radiation." It's also rated as a "Class 6" laser, which may be a subtle reference to the internationally used laser class rating system, which currently rates the strongest industrial lasers as Class 5.

Sounds[]

SingleShotVB ReloadVB
JamVB

Gallery[]

References[]

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