Plasma Weapon

Plasma weapons fire concentrated bolts of superheated plasma at targets, delivering both thermal and kinetic damage. Unlike phasers or disruptors which use particle beams, plasma weapons propel actual matter in an ionized state, making them devastating against both shields and unprotected hulls.

Romulan plasma torpedoes are particularly fearsome, consisting of contained plasma suspended in a magnetic envelope and propelled toward targets at sublight speeds. The plasma bolt maintains coherence through magnetic containment until impact, when the envelope collapses and releases tremendous thermal energy. While highly destructive, plasma weapons are generally slower than beam weapons and consume significant power. Cardassian spiral-wave disruptors combine plasma technology with phase technology for enhanced effectiveness.