Star Wars: Dark Forces/Weapons

Kyle Katarn may start with just a pistol and 100 energy units, but more ammunition and weapons can be picked up during missions, with a new weapon auto-mounted by default. Weapons controls allow you to change this, as well as cycle between your current and last weapon, and all weapons picked up, while specific weapons can be selected when using a keyboard. A weapon can also be holstered so it doesn't obstruct the view when looking around. All weapons have a primary fire mode, but only some have a different secondary fire mode.

All weapons picked up are shown on the Personal Data Assistant's Weapons screen:

The PDA's Weapons screen (DOS)

The bottom left number shows the key pressed to select that specific weapon, while any bottom right text shows the type of ammunition used by that weapon ((EN)ergy Units, (PO)wer Cells, (PL)asma or (MIS)siles). The bottom right number on the Status Display (HUD) shows any ammunition or amount for the mounted weapon.

Ammunition	Maximum	Weapon(s)
Energy Units	500	Modified Bryar Pistol Stormtrooper Rifle
Power Cells	500	Imperial Repeater Rifle Jeron Fusion Cutter Stouker Concussion Rifle
Plasma Cartridges	400	Assault Cannon

Ammunition	Maximum	Weapon(s)
Thermal Detonator(s)	50	Thermal Detonator
IM Mines	30	I.M. Mine
Mortar Shells	50	Packered Mortar Gun
Missiles	20	Assault Cannon

Ammunition can be found during missions, and it can also be dropped by enemies: for example, Interrogation Droids and Probe Droids always drop 10 Power Cells (even if you don't have a weapon that uses them yet).

Fist

Key	Fire	Ammunition	Maximum	Per use	Action	Max damage	Punch rate
1	Both	---	---	---	Punch	15	2 per second

If you run out of ammunition or get the chance to sneak up on an enemy, then you can resort to hand-to-hand combat. Maximum damage may not be inflicted by a glancing blow, but it's normally better to move back and forth in speed mode rather than go toe-to-toe.

Pistol

Key	Fire	Ammunition	Maximum	Per use	Action	Max damage	Firing rate
2	Both	Energy Units	500	1	Single shot	10	2 per second

The Modified Bryar Pistol is yours from the beginning of the very first mission. It inflicts the same damage as a Rifle with greater accuracy and economy, but with a much slower firing rate. It's best used against one or two weaker enemies, particularly at medium to long range (although less damage is inflicted), but the rifle is preferred against more enemies at closer range unless you're running low on energy units and need to conserve ammunition.

Rifle

Key	Fire	Ammunition	Maximum	Per use	Action	Max damage	Firing rate
3	Both	Energy Units	500	2	Single shot	10	7 per second

The Stormtrooper Rifle (always loaded with 15 Energy Units) can be picked up in the very first mission, dropped by any Stormtrooper or Commando killed. Although it inflicts the same damage as the Pistol but for twice as many energy units, it makes up for it with a much higher firing rate (3.5 times faster), making it a better weapon to use against many enemies at closer range. Like the pistol it loses damage over distance, but it's also less accurate, making it less suitable for sniping.

Thermal Detonator

Key	Fire	Ammunition	Maximum	Per use	Action	Max damage	Throw rate
4	Primary	Thermal Detonator(s)	50	1	Explode on impact	45
	Secondary				Explode after 3 seconds

Thermal Detonators are explosive grenades, first picked up individually and in belts of five in Anoat City (Mission III) and used by the Gran, who always drop a belt of five. Holding fire for up to two seconds before releasing increases distance thrown: looking up or down has no effect on distance thrown, but may affect targeting. Maximum damage is only inflicted by a direct hit, with less inflicted further from impact.

Primary fire explodes on impact, damaging everything in its blast radius, including the user.

Secondary fire explodes after a three second delay, allowing more time to get out of its blast radius. The detonator can also bounce around, traveling further and allowing it to be thrown around a corner by bouncing it off a wall.

Repeater

Key	Fire	Ammunition	Maximum	Per use	Action	Max damage	Firing rate
5	Primary	Power Cells	500	1	Single shot	10	5 per second
	Secondary			3	Triple shot	10 * 3	4 per second

The Imperial Repeater Rifle is first picked up (always loaded with 30 Power Cells) in the Imperial Weapons Research Facility on the planet Fest (Mission IV). Primary fire combines the economy, accuracy and damage of the Pistol, but it's 2.5 times faster: once you have it, the only reason to use the pistol is if you're running low on power cells. Although the Stormtrooper Rifle is less economical and accurate, it's still 40% faster than the repeater, so the rifle remains a better weapon against many enemies at closer range.

Secondary fire is a slower three-bolt triangular cluster which spreads out over distance, so it can be used like a shotgun at close range and in confined spaces.

Fusion Cutter

Key	Fire	Ammunition	Maximum	Per use	Action	Max damage	Firing rate
6	Primary	Power Cells	500	1	Single barrels	15	4 per second
	Secondary			8	Four barrels	15 * 4	2 per second

The Jeron Fusion Cutter is a four-barreled tool which can be first picked up (always loaded with 50 Power Cells) in the Gromas Mines (Mission V) and used as a weapon.

Primary fire shoots each barrel in turn. Each bolt inflicts up to 50% more damage than the Repeater at 80% of its firing rate for the same cost, so on paper it seems like a straight upgrade: however, it's less accurate and its bolts travel much slower, lessening its damage potential at longer range, particularly against moving targets.

Secondary fire shoots all four barrels at once in a horizontal line, at half primary fire rate (albeit 8 (4 * 2) per second is twice as much as 4 (1 * 4) per second) and double its cost per bolt. This is worse against single smaller targets, but it can be devastating when used against large targets at close range, or crowds.

Mine

Key	Fire	Ammunition	Maximum	Per use	Action	Max damage	Set rate
7	Primary	IM Mines	30	1	Explode after 3 seconds	90	2 per second
	Secondary				Explode on proximity

IM Mines are first picked up individually or in packs of five in the Imperial Detention Center on Orinackra (Mission VI). Maximum damage is only inflicted by a direct hit, with less inflicted further from impact. Mines can inflict up to twice the damage of Thermal Detonators within a larger blast radius, but this can be overkill against lesser enemies.

Primary fire explodes after a three second delay, giving you (but also enemies) more time to get out of its blast radius.

Secondary fire explodes on proximity, activated one second after placement. Mines placed by you or enemies (often booby-trapping doors and items) will beep when their motion sensors are triggered, but you can get out of the blast radius by running in speed mode. Mines can also be triggered by other explosives or a Concussion Rifle's shock wave.

Mortar Gun

Key	Fire	Ammunition	Maximum	Per use	Action	Max damage	Firing rate
8	Both	Mortar Shells	50	1	Single shell	45	1.5 per second

The Packered Mortar Gun can be first picked up (always loaded with 3 Mortar Shells) in the Imperial Detention Center on Orinackra (Mission VI). It's effectively a grenade launcher, lobbing shells that explode on impact, inflicting the same damage as a Thermal Detonator but at a faster rate than its primary fire. Maximum damage is only inflicted by a direct hit, with less inflicted further from impact. Looking up (or down) increases (or decreases) the range of its shells... although this also obstructs more of the view, and increases the chance of hitting a ceiling.

Concussion Rifle

Key	Fire	Ammunition	Maximum	Per use	Action	Max damage	Firing rate
9	Both	Power Cells	500	4	Single shot	30	1.25 per second

The Stouker Concussion Rifle is first picked up in Nar Shaddaa (Mission IX), dropped by any Trandoshan killed (always loaded with 100 Power Cells). It fires compressed bullets of ionized air that explode in shock waves: unlike explosives, damage inflicted doesn't decrease as distance from impact increases. It fires even slower than a Pistol but inflicts three times the damage within its blast radius, so as long as it's properly aimed its lack of speed isn't normally an issue: slow, but sure.

The other main downside is that, unlike Trandoshans, you aren't immune to its shock waves so it's a bad idea to use it at close range or in confined spaces: however, at longer range it's likely to become the weapon of choice once you have it.

Assault Cannon

Key	Fire	Ammunition	Maximum	Per use	Action	Max damage	Firing rate
0	Primary	Plasma Cartridges	400	1	Single shot	30	4 per second
	Secondary	Missiles	20	1	Single missile	60	1 per second

The Assault Cannon is first picked up (always loaded with 30 Plasma Cartridges) in the Imperial City, Coruscant (Mission XI). Phase Two Dark Troopers use it but don't drop it, only 20 Plasma Cartridges and 5 Missiles. Scarcity of ammunition means that despite its strength, it's best saved for the toughest enemies.

Summary

Key	Weapon	Fire	Ammunition	Max	/ Use	Action	Max Dmg	Rate
1	Fist	Both	---	---	---	Punch	15	2 / s
2	Pistol	Both	Energy Units	500	1	Single shot	10	2 / s
3	Rifle	Both	Energy Units	500	2	Single shot	10	7 / s
4	Thermal Detonator	Primary	Thermal Detonator(s)	50	1	Explode on impact	45
		Secondary				Explode after 3 seconds
5	Repeater	Primary	Power Cells	500	1	Single shot	10	5 / s
		Secondary			3	Triple shot	10 * 3	4 / s
6	Fusion Cutter	Primary	Power Cells	500	1	Single barrels	15	4 / s
		Secondary			8	Four barrels	15 * 4	2 / s
7	Mine	Primary	IM Mines	30	1	Explode after 3 seconds	90	2 / s
		Secondary				Explode on proximity
8	Mortar Gun	Both	Mortar Shells	50	1	Single shell	45	1.5 / s
9	Concussion Rifle	Both	Power Cells	500	4	Single shot	30	1.25 / s
0	Assault Cannon	Primary	Plasma Cartridges	400	1	Single shot	30	4 / s
		Secondary	Missiles	20	1	Single missile	60	1 / s

Maximum damage is only inflicted by blaster bolts on a direct hit at close range, and by explosives at trigger point.

Rates are approximate, for ease of comparison rather than accuracy.