In Stellaris, weapons play a crucial role in ship-to-ship combat, determining the effectiveness of your fleets in battles. There are several types of weapons in the game, each with its own characteristics and advantages. Here are the main types of weapons in Stellaris:
- Kinetic Weapons: These weapons use physical projectiles to damage enemy ships. Examples include autocannons, kinetic artillery, and mass drivers. Kinetic weapons are effective against enemy armor but less effective against shields.
- Energy Weapons: Energy weapons use directed energy beams or pulses to damage enemy ships. Examples include lasers, plasma cannons, and disruptors. Energy weapons are effective against enemy shields but less effective against armor.
- Missiles: Missiles are self-propelled projectiles that target enemy ships. They come in different types such as nuclear missiles, swarm missiles, and torpedoes. Missiles are versatile and can bypass both shields and armor, making them effective against all types of enemy defenses.
- Strike Craft: Strike craft are small fighter and bomber squadrons that engage enemies at close range. They can be equipped with different types of weapons, and their effectiveness depends on the composition of the enemy fleet.
- Point Defense: Point defense systems are used to shoot down incoming missiles and strike craft. They are essential for protecting your ships against missile-heavy or strike craft-heavy enemy fleets.
- Titan Weapons: Titans are massive ships introduced in the Apocalypse expansion. They have unique, powerful weapons that can deal significant damage to enemy fleets.
- Colossus Weapons: Colossus ships, introduced in the Apocalypse expansion, are specialized for planetary destruction. They are equipped with planet-killer weapons that can eradicate entire worlds.
Each weapon type has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the choice of weapons depends on your enemy’s ship composition and your fleet strategy. Stellaris allows for extensive ship customization, enabling players to design ships with specific weapon loadouts tailored to different situations.