The Plasma Pistol in Halo Infinite has been a staple throughout the Halo series. This standard Covenant pistol has seen very few design changes as well. Honestly, this weapon has functioned the same for the past 20 years. Only a few things have changed throughout the games. This gun has seen changes in how much damage it does, firing rate, charged shot accuracy, and other small mechanics.
This is true for the weapon in Halo Infinite as well. The Plasma Pistol is the same weapon it has always been. There is one big change that players weren’t happy with. The Plasma Pistol no longer stuns vehicles like it used to. Only shock weapons can do this now. This makes the Plasma Pistol less useful in the long run, making it a one-trick pony.
Let’s dive deeper into the Plasma Pistol and discuss all of its properties.
Plasma Pistol General Information
- Weapon Type: Pistol
- Manufacturer: Iruiru Armory
- Ammunition Type: Plasma
- Magazine Size: 100% (This weapon can overheat)
- Rate of Fire: Semi-Automatic, Charge
- Perfect Time To Kill (Multiplayer): 12 Shots ( 7 to the body and 5 to the head). 6 Shots (1 charged shot and 5 to the head)
The Plasma Pistol is a Covenant semi-automatic plasma pistol. Halo Infinite’s Plasma Pistol functions almost identically to other Halo games. It doesn’t have a magazine, it just has a certain amount of energy before it becomes useless. However, it can overheat when firing too fast, making the weapon “jam” for a second or two.
The special mechanic of this weapon is the ability to charge up a shot. This will break an enemy’s shield, making them very vulnerable. The Plasma Pistol is similar to the Ravager plasma weapon in Halo Infinite in that it can also fire a charged ball of plasma energy.
Keep in mind that the Plasma Pistol’s charge time is about 2 seconds. You are very vulnerable while charging up your shot. Try to find cover before you start charging your shot. Once you have charged your shot, get out of cover and let the enemy have it.
This weapon should not be used as a damage-dealing weapon. It used to break shields, nothing more. At this time, the Plasma Pistol is one of the weakest weapons Halo Infinite has to offer. In fact, it will take a total of 12 shots to kill an opponent or 6 shots if you use the charged shot. These are still unreliable tactics.
Best Halo Infinite Maps to Use the Plasma Pistol
The Plasma Pistol is best used on smaller maps. Halo Infinite’s multiplayer maps are very large and open. This makes the Plasma Pistol much harder to use effectively. The charge shot becomes harder to land and your target will more than likely be out of your line of sight before you can find them again.
This weapon is situational at best. If you’re up against a player with no shields, then the Plasma Pistol isn’t going to do much for you. This is why I recommend using this weapon on smaller maps where there are more close-quarters engagements. You want maps with narrow corridors where there isn’t much strafing room.
You can most certainly try to use this weapon on Big Team Battle maps, but you are likely going to be picked off before you will be able to get close enough for the charged shot.
Plasma Pistol Tips and Tricks in Halo Infinite
This weapon has very little things to know about it. You will use it to destroy shields then switch to a weapon that will kill the opponent with a headshot. It is as simple as that. But if you want to know just a bit more about the weapon, then these tips will help.
Use Only To Break Shields
This is the number one tip I can give you. In Halo Infinite, the Plasma Pistol is not meant as a primary weapon, but more of a support for your kinetic-type weapons. Mixing damage types in Halo Infinite is a great way to quickly overcome your enemies. It is only used to break an opponent’s shields so you can kill them with another weapon. Do not try to use this weapon as your primary damage dealer.
Charged Shot Has Slight Tracking
You might not have known this, but the Plasma Pistol’s charged shot has a very small amount of tracking. This can be useful if your target is moving. The shot won’t track as well as in past Halo games, but it will still hit your target if they are moving from time to time.
Charged Shot Will Overheat The Weapon
The Plasma Pistol’s charged shot will automatically overheat the weapon. When this happens, the weapon will be useless for a few seconds. This is why it is important to use the charged shot wisely. Whenever you use the charged shot, immediately switch to another weapon, even before you know if it hits someone or not.
Constant Charging Wastes Energy/Ammo
You can hold the Plasma Pistol’s charged shot for as long as you like. However, while charging, you will be wasting energy every second. While it isn’t very drastic, you usually want to use your ammo wisely. Holding the charge shot from your spawn and trying to make your way through the map is not ideal. Use it when the situation calls for it.
Related Guide: How to Use the Heatwave in Halo Infinite
The Plasma Pistol No Longer Stuns Vehicles in Halo Infinite
The Plasma Pistol used to be able to stun vehicles. This is no longer the case in Halo Infinite. A lot of returning players, including myself, have gotten run over by vehicles thinking that this weapon would stop dead in its tracks when it with a charged shot. It does not.
How to Charge the Plasma Pistol in Halo Infinite
To charge the Plasma Pistol in Halo Infinite, simply hold down the trigger. That will slowly charge it over a couple of seconds. Once charged, release the trigger to deal more damage with a large blast.
Conclusion
In short, the Plasma Pistol is the ultimate support weapon and shield breaker in Halo Infinite. This is the only reason you be using this weapon. You will rarely get a kill with this weapon, the damage is way too low to reliably get kills with it. It is best paired with a kinetic weapon like the VK78 Commando Rifle that can kill a player with one shot to the head.
Since it no longer stuns vehicles, the utility of this weapon dropped a bit. The Plasma Pistol still serves a purpose, but it isn’t what it used to be. The tracking is worse also. Pick up this weapon if you know you can hit your charged shots; if not, leave it be. The reboot of this iconic weapon has gone just as poorly as the reboot of the hit game Destroy All Humans! 2.
What are your thoughts? Do you think the Plasma Pistol in Halo Infinite should be buffed? If so, what would you change? Let us know in the comment section below.
Check out our ranked tier list of all of the weapons in Halo Infinite to find out which weapons are currently top-tier and will help you dominate in multiplayer!
