An antiquated weapon design with high per-shot damage for its size. The kinetic shells are especially effective versus enemy shields.
Heavier patrol craft at the time of the Collapse were mostly fitted with the Arbalest Mk I weapons platform; this likely explains why the Arbalest is claimed to be among the most scavenged ship weapon systems in the Sector. The primitive cooling system and a lack of an autoejector hamper rate of fire and reliability.
The only redeeming feature is the ubiquity of blueprints for the arbalest round, which is effective at bringing down enemy shields. The effectiveness of the shells is poorly understood, and is suspected to lie in the unintended electromagnetic properties of the shell jackets.
–In-Game Description
The Arbalest Autocannon is a cheap, common medium ballistic weapon. It has less DPS and range than its peers the Heavy Autocannon and Heavy Needler, but is more flux efficient, has a lower OP cost and is more effective versus armor.
On some builds it may actually be favourable to install a Railgun instead of a Arbalest, as they both have the same OP cost and DPS. The Railgun however is less efficient and has considerably less per shot damage, making it less effective against armour, but a faster projectile speed and better accuracy.
Notes[]
Pairs well with Heavy Mortar due to both weapons having the same range.
Increased refire delay to 1.2 seconds (was: 1 second)
0.9
Reduced flux cost per shot to 120 (was: 170)
Only up to date for version 0.95.1. It is likely still broadly correct but not verified for the most up to date data yet. Please double check the Version History.
