Learning goals
- Understand beam secondaries.
- Understand shotgun secondaries.
- Understand launcher secondaries.
- Learn how these sidearms can fill unusual loadout gaps.
- Understand ammo, range, and control tradeoffs.
Explanation
Some Secondary weapons do not feel like normal pistols. Beam secondaries damage enemies by maintaining contact and can support status or utility. Shotgun secondaries fire pellets or close-range blasts from the sidearm slot. Launcher secondaries fire explosive or area-effect shots and can add crowd help to a precision-focused loadout. Each type has tradeoffs around range, ammo, reloads, projectile behavior, and role overlap.
What should I do?
Choose based on what your Primary lacks. A slow precision Primary may pair with a fast beam or launcher sidearm. An AoE Primary may pair with a precise hand cannon. A long-range Primary may pair with a shotgun Secondary for close safety. A Primary that lacks status may pair with a beam or fast-hitting sidearm.
How to avoid wasting time
Avoid equipping two weapons that solve the same problem poorly. If your Primary already clears groups, your Secondary does not also need to be a launcher unless you have a reason.
Common mistakes
Watch for these Secondary weapon habits while testing and investing.
- Using beam weapons without staying on target.
- Using shotgun sidearms at long range.
- Ignoring ammo on launcher secondaries.
- Equipping redundant weapon roles.
- Forgetting that sidearms can be utility, not only damage.
Practical example
A sniper Primary plus a launcher Secondary can cover both precision and groups. A shotgun Primary plus a shotgun Secondary may feel redundant unless the weapons have different roles.
Key Takeaways
- Beam, shotgun, and launcher secondaries are not just gimmicks. They can fill important loadout gaps.
Practical task
Secondary weapons are excellent at covering what your Primary does not do.
- Write down your current Primary weapon role.
- Decide what it lacks: range, crowd clear, close-range safety, precision, status, or ammo sustain.
- Pick a Secondary type that could cover that weakness.
- Test it in one mission.
- Decide whether the pair feels balanced.
You can explain how your Secondary supports your Primary.