The Outer Worlds - Science Weapons explained, including the Prismatic Hammer, Gloop Gun and Shrink Ray

What are Science Weapons in The Outer Worlds?

Science Weapons are special weapons with unique abilities that can be found throughout The Outer Worlds galaxy during the Weapons From the Void side quest. The Mandibular Rearranger, for example, slows enemies down every time it hits them.

The duration and damage given from these special attacks depend s on your Science level.

If you have a high Science level, then the special effects from these weapons will last longer and deal more damage. If you have a low Science level, however, then Science Weapons will be less effective.

This means that you have to invest a lot of skill points into both the Tech skill set and the Science skill to unlock the full potential of the Science Weapons.

While Science Weapons exist in their own category of weapon, each one also belongs to a main weapon category. The Shrink Ray, for example, is categorised as a handgun, while the Mind Control Ray is a long gun.

You can trinket with Science Weapons to improve to the weapons stats or break it down for Weapon Parts, but you can't modify a Science Weapon.

Except for the Mandibular Rearranger and Prismatic Hammer, which are melee weapons, all the Science Weapons use Energy Cells as ammunition.

There are five Science Weapons in total in The Outer World:

• Gloop Gun
• Mandibular Rearranger
• Mind Control Ray
• Prismatic Hammer
• Shrink Ray

How to find Science Weapons in The Outer Worlds

All five Science Weapons can be found by completing the side quest, Weapons From the Void.

This side quest is available after you've completed Stranger in a Strange Land. You can start it by reading the logs on the computer terminal in the captain's quarters The Unreliable.

To fully complete this quest you must have at least started the story mission Radio Free Monarch, which grants you travel to the planet Monarch.

You must have also either started or finished both the Salvager in the Sky and Space-Crime Continuum faction quests for Sublight Salvage & Shipping.

Gloop Gun in The Outer Worlds explained

The Gloop Gun is categorised as a heavy weapon and is found in the UDL Lab, northwest of Fallbrook on Monarch during Weapons From the Void. You can find the Gloop Gun once you've completed the story mission, Passage to Anywhere.

It deals shock damage.

Gloop Gun Special Ability:

The Gloop Gun shoots out a large glob of blue goop that, if it hits an enemy, will send them soaring into the sky.

Being hit by the Gloop Gun will also shock and weaken an enemy for a short period of time.

If you raise your Science Level, then enemies will remain weaker for a longer period of time.

The Gloop Gun is great for attacking groups of enemies, because it's gloop can affect multiple foes. This means you can temporarily disarm multiple enemies by causing them to go on a short flight through the air, allowing you to quickly kill those left standing.

Gloop Gun Stats:

Mandibular Rearranger in The Outer Worlds explained

The Mandibular Rearranger is a 1-Handed Melee weapon that can be found on Scyll during Weapons From the Void. You can find the Mandibular Rearranger once you've completed, Stranger in a Strange Land.

Mandibular Rearranger Special Ability:

Using the Mandibular Rearranger will slow down your enemies and, if used on one target for a prolonged period of time, will freeze them for a slow amount of time.

If you invest in your Science skill, then you'll be able to freeze enemies for a longer period of time.

This is a great weapon to use when performing sneak attacks on enemies, because it increases your advantage by preventing them from fighting back.

Mandibular Rearranger Stats:

Mind Control Ray in The Outer Worlds explained

The Mind Control Ray is a long gun and can be found in the Rizzo Secret Laboratory in Weapons From the Void. To enter this lab you must have completed the story mission Passage to Anywhere and have started the Sublight Salvage & Shipping faction quest, Space-Crime Continuum.

Mind Control Ray Special Ability:

Holding down the attack button while using the Mind Control Ray creates a continuous beam of energy, which overpowers your targeted foes mind and causes them to attack their allies.

Increasing your Science Level will improve both the movement speed and attack rate of enemies affected by the Mind Control Ray.

This weapon is best used when travelling with companions or facing only two enemies at a time. Either way it allows you to turn your foes against one another, keeping you alive, while they kill each other.

Mind Control Ray Stats:

Prismatic Hammer in The Outer Worlds explained

The Prismatic Hammer is a 2-handed melee weapon and is located on the Groundbreaker in Weapons From the Void. You only need to have completed Stranger in a Strange Land to find this weapon.

The Prismatic Hammer deals physical damage.

Prismatic Hammer Special Ability:

The Prismatic Hammer has two different types of attacks, though you must have a high Science Level to use both of them.

The first attack type is a sweep attack, which has the ability to damage multiple foes. The second is a power attack and involves blasts of energy coming from the hammer, tossing your enemies backwards.

This hammer is great, not just because its a hammer, but because it can easily tackle multiple targets at a time. This means that if you ever feel like your getting swamped by multiple foes, you can simply whip out this hammer and create a path to freedom.

Prismatic Hammer Stats:

The Outer Worlds begins on Terra-2 where you can complete The Frightened Engineer quest and decide whether to divert power to Edgewater or the Botanical Lab. Once you’ve fixed The Unreliable, you can complete Weapons From the Void to unlock the Science Weapons.

You can crew The Unreliable with a crew of companions and manage your reputation with various factions too. Finally, if you’re ready for spoilers, we have a guide on the various endings.

Shrink Ray in The Outer Worlds explained

The Shrink Ray falls into the handgun category and is found in Phineas' Lab in Weapons From the Void, which unlocked after you complete Stranger in a Strange Land.

The Shrink Ray deals plasma damage.

Shrink Ray Special Ability:

Holding down the attack button while using the Shrink Ray creates a continuous beam of energy that will literally shrink your enemies.

Shrunk targets have their armour stats reduced and will deal lower amounts of damage.

Moving the beam away from the target will allow them to return to their original size.

Increasing your Science Level will allow you to shrink enemies to an even slower size.

The Shrink Ray is a great weapon to use while travelling with companions, because you can focus on shrinking particular enemies, lowering their stats, allowing your crew to easily kill them.

Shrink Ray Stats:

Experiment with every Science Weapon and discover which one you like best!