Viral Proliferator

Weapon – Exotic Weapon

Requirements: Exotic Weapons 4, Research 3 (Technetium, Tellurium), (Maintenance 4, Repair 4)
Fire Modes: Anti-Annelid, Anti-Human
Ammunition Types: Worm Clusters

Unique weapon that requires you manually detonate its projectile: hold down the trigger to launch a projectile, release to detonate.

Modifications:

Upgrade 1 – Clip Size & Damage Increase
This modification brings the clip of the Viral Proliferator up to 18, and also provides a modest damage boost of 10%.

Upgrade 2 – Worm Consumption & Damage Increase
This second modfiication will make the Viral Proliferator a good deal more efficient, reducing its consumption of Worm Clusters by 50%. As per usual, you’ll also gain a damage bonus of 25%.

Analysis & Tips:

You’ll first obtain the Viral Proliferator on the Recreation deck, in the Crew Quarters area. Like other Exotic Weapons, it’s designed to fight off Annelids, but even so, the Proliferator is definitely not a normal sort of gun. It has two modes: Anti-Annelid, and Anti-Human, which do pretty much what they say. Additionally, rather than fire bullets, you’ll need to hold down the trigger to release a projectile, and let go of it to detonate at the right time.

Overall, it’s hard to pass judgement on the Viral Proliferator. It has its uses in that it can utterly destroy almost any Annelid threat in a few shots, and its unique projectiles can be guided in ways that don’t directly expose you to danger. As far as downsides go, its Anti-Human mode is deadly for you if you’re in range, it must be researched to get working, and Worm Clusters are an exceptionally rare type of ammo. If you’ve dedicated yourself to Exotic Weapons, then the Viral Proliferator is a good workhorse when dealing with Annelids… everyone else can probably leave it on the floor where it’s found.