Heavy Weapons are the third weapon class in System Shock 2. Heavy Weapons are distinguished by their low ammo capacity, and a very powerful high amount of damage (aside from the Statis Field Generator).
Three weapons exist in the class:
It is also a combat skill in the game, and depending on the difficulty, one can normally specialize in 1-2 combat skills in a game.
Damage bonus[]
Whenever a player upgrades a combat skill by one level, each weapon of the same type below that level gains a bonus damage of 15%. For example, when a combat skill reaches level 2 , weapons that required level 1 will gain a 15% extra damage, and weapons that required level 3-6 cannot get any bonus, of course. One should note that level 6 weapons will never obtain any bonus from combat skills.
Requirements[]
Some weapons require minimum statistics or skill levels to equip and use.
Weapon | Minimum Skills | Minimum Statistics |
TC-11 "Brick" Grenade Launcher | Heavy Weapons: 1 | - |
Stasis Field Generator | Heavy Weapons: 3 | Strength: 3 |
TC-5 Fusion Cannon | Heavy Weapons: 6 | Strength: 4 |
Specializing in Heavy Weapons[]
Advantages[]
- The Grenade Launcher is the most deadly weapon in the game, while the Fusion Cannon is also one of the most powerful weapons.
- The Grenade Launcher can apply bonus damage to nearly every type of enemies, and hence will reduce the overall difficulty of the game.
- Nothing can survive two shots from a fully-upgraded, fully-modified Grenade Launcher.
- Prisms, which are used by both the Stasis Field Generator and the Fusion Cannon, are very inexpensive to purchase. In fact, only standard bullets are cheaper than prisms.
- Prisms are common once the player enters the Command Deck.
Disadvantages[]
- Grenades are relatively rare to find, while prisms-using weapons appear late. Hence, the player must also rely on Standard Weapons on early levels to survive.
- Grenades are very expensive to purchase, therefore running low of grenades could be fatal, especially on higher difficulties.
- The Heavy Weapons skill tree is the only one in the game that does not include a melee weapon; Heavy Weapons specialists can of course still rely on the Wrench for melee, but will not receive bonus skill damage for it unless they specialize in Standard Weapons as well.
System Shock 2 Character Build | ||
---|---|---|
Classes | Marine • Navy Sailor • OSA Agent | |
Statistics | Strength • Endurance • Psionic Ability • Agility • Cybernetic Affinity | |
Technical Skills | Hacking • Repair • Modify • Maintenance • Research | |
Weapon Skills | Standard Weapons • Energy Weapons • Heavy Weapons • Exotic Weapons | |
O/S Upgrades | Cyber-Assimilation • Cybernetically Enhanced • Lethal Weapon • Naturally Able • Pack-Rat • Pharmo-Friendly •Power Psi • Replicator Expert • Security Expert • Sharpshooter • Smasher • Spatially Aware • Speedy • Strong Metabolism • Tank • Tinker |