Phalanx Particle Cannon

 

Phalanx Particle Cannon
Production information
Technical specifications
Damage Per Hit	150 (total) 75 (2 shots) 0-20 (splash damage)
Maximum Ammunition	50 rounds Bandolier: 75 rounds Ammo Pack: 100 rounds
Fire Mode	Pump-action
Ammunition Type	Mag Slugs
Rate of Fire	38 shots per minute
Usage
Era(s)	Quake II: The Reckoning Call of the Machine
Counterpart	Railgun
[Source]

“	The Phalanx Particle Cannon emits two quantum accelerated magnesium slugs at unsuspecting foes. This weapon delivers heavy firepower, but should be used with extreme caution at close range.	”
—The Reckoning Manual

The Phalanx Particle Cannon is a new weapon introduced in The Reckoning. It's a pump-action double-barrelled slug launcher. It fires projectiles in a direct trajectory towards its target, like the Rocket Launcher, but it fires two projectiles per shot (two projectiles per single unit of ammunition), one projectile a brief moment after the other, and fires less accuracy than the Rocket Launcher. If both projectiles hit, it deals a total of 150 damage - more than a single rocket would inflict, and equal to a shot from the Railgun. The slugs deal splash damage as well, but considerably less than the Rocket Launcher does. Its rate of fire is roughly the same as that of the Railgun.

In the 2023 remaster, its splash damage has been significantly increased - both slugs combined dealing a roughly similar amounts of the damage as the Rocket Launcher. Furthermore, in the 2023 remaster, the Power Shield and Power Screen are depleted more quickly by energy weapons, and the Phalanx is classed as an energy weapon, which makes it more effective against the Beta Class Gladiator and the Beta Class Super Tank. For example, a it takes eight shots from the Railgun to kill a Beta Class Gladiator in the 2023 remaster (a total output of 800 damage), but only four shots from the Phalanx (a total output of 600 damage).

It appears again in Call of the Machine.

Strategy

• All considered, the Phalanx can be viewed as an inferior version of the Rocket Launcher. Its mechanics are most similar to the Rocket Launcher, but the Rocket Launcher has a much better rate of fire and better accuracy. The only advantage of the Phalanx is it is capable of more damage per shot, assuming both projectiles connect. It's therefore suited to situations in which you'd use cover to your advantage before peeking out to take a pot-shot, preferably at larger or slower-moving enemies such as Tanks or the Beta Class Super Tank. Admittedly the Railgun does that job better in the original game, having the same damage output and hitting its target instantly with better accuracy, so the Phalanx could be used in less dangerous situations, to save ammo for the Railgun. It is a good option against the two Beta Class Super Tanks encountered in the Industrial Facility, since the Railgun is not available yet at that point. In the 2023 remaster, the Railgun's damage has been decreased so the Phalanx becomes comparatively more useful for taking potshots from cover, and the Phalanx is now classed as an energy weapon which improves its efficacy against power shields, making it a more attractive choice against Beta Class Super Tanks and Beta Class Gladiators than it was before.

Trivia

The Phalanx emits a constant sound while the player has it equipped, as do the Railgun and BFG10k. Thankfully the sound isn't loud enough to alert nearby Strogg to your sheer presence in single-player. However, the Phalanx wielded by the Beta Class Gladiator emits the same sound, which might alert a wary player to the Gladiator's presence.

Gallery

Phalanx Cannon in first-person view.