Item
Plasma Rifles
A rapid-fire energy weapon in the Doom series that shoots blue plasma bolts using energy cell ammunition.
Action
About
The Plasma Rifle is a high-tech firearm featured in Doom (1993), Doom II (1994), and Final Doom (1996). It fires rapid energy projectiles that can stunlock enemies, making it highly effective against powerful demons. It shares its cell ammunition pool with the BFG9000.
During the development of the groundbreaking first-person shooter by id Software, the weapon's visual asset was created by scanning a physical toy model, a common practice for the studio's early digital art pipeline. Sound designer Bobby Prince crafted its signature high-pitched firing audio, which became one of the most recognizable sound effects in PC gaming history.
While highly efficient in combat, the weapon imposes a brief cooldown animation when the trigger is released, momentarily preventing the player from switching weapons. This tactical drawback requires players to manage their firing bursts carefully during intense encounters.
The weapon's design evolved significantly across subsequent franchise releases. In Doom 3, it received a bulkier, industrial aesthetic and a digital ammunition counter. The 2016 reboot, Doom, introduced modification modules, allowing players to discharge accumulated heat as a devastating shockwave. For Doom Eternal, developers intentionally reverted the weapon's visual design to closely mirror the original 1993 blue-and-grey sprite, serving as a direct homage to its classic legacy.
Connections
Explore
Tap a bar to narrow the games below. Tap to switch to that page.
Platforms (2)
By decade (1)
Genres (1)
Developers (2)
Publishers (3)
Settings (2)
Mechanics (1)
Perspectives (1)
Characters (1)
Games featuring Plasma Rifles (3)
Include special editions
