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While incredibly destructive plasma weapons are a mostly lost technology from the standpoint of the contemporary [[Imperium of Man]], seen as relics of another age. Their workings are a mystery for the most part, and only a select few circles of the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] know how to construct them. Even among the [[Space Marine]] [[Chapters]] these weapons are considered uncommon, with the [[Dark Angels]] maintaining the largest inventory and the knowledge necessary to construct more; Space Marine plasma weapons also use hydrogen in higher quantum state than standard models, pushing the limits of their own resilience. Most existing plasma weapons are hundreds if not thousands of years old and those few new ones constructed are done so individually, requiring extensive blessing and rituals by the Machine God before use.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|4}}{{Fn|5}}
Imperial plasma weapons also have a number of drawbacks to their use as well, chief among which is the tremendous energy necessary to fire them; many weapons have multiple power settings whichbecause of this limitation, the heavy plasma gun has an alternative low energy setting, though less effective than a full-powered blast, allow allows for more rapid firing.{{Fn|2b}} Plasma weapons also tend to lose accuracy over long ranges,{{Fn|2a}} while the photohydrogen fuel core gives off tremendous amounts of heat when fired, requiring the firer to wait for the core to cool and recharge before firing again.{{Fn|3}} The magnetic containment field is difficult to maintain or replace, and if it fails the plasma within can become unstable and cause a catastrophic meltdown. Plasma fuel flasks are also only good for ten shots normally and cannot be reused, requiring a time-consuming process to swap them out with fresh flasks.{{Fn|1}}
==Plasma Weapons==
