Statistical Overview
The Plasma Knife is a melee weapon, likely the first a player will obtain. it does 50 base damage, the lowest of any melee weapon, but this is offset by 25 bleed, which makes it do additional damage, alongside it's high attack speed and 'magazine' size. it's small size is of little importance, as it has nearly identical range as most other melee weapons. Like all melee weapons, the knife can block incoming non-explosive damage with right-click (the aim button) which is essential for closing the gap between you and a trooper.
In-Game Behavior
Unlike it's bigger cousins, the Plasma Knife takes a minimum of 4 hits, if you aren't accounting for bleed. If one is to use this effectively, one should attempt to get the drop on the enemy, rather than to attempt to charge your way towards your target, as blocking drains the magazine at the same rate as any other melee weapon.
This weapon is much more useful when paired with EMP Pulse, allowing the player to easily kill a Marine in 1 hit and a Powersuit in 2.
Pros/Cons
Pros
- High swing speed
- It's a plasma knife come on
- Each swing takes very little from the magazine
- Bleed damage can finish off an opponent that gets out of range
- High DPS
- Sidearm, increases speed and jumpkit fuel
Cons
- Naturally abysmal range, can't catch an attentive player.
- Low damage output
- Sidearm, decreased max shield and health
- Blocking drains a lot from the magazine reserve, making it only useful against slow and weak targets.