The Vault Quartz Energy SMG in Star Citizen is a compact, high-damage close-quarters weapon with a short effective range of about 50 meters, ideal for rapid eliminations in tight spaces. Its manageable recoil and overheating, combined with multiple aesthetic variants, make it a powerful and versatile choice for aggressive gameplay and PvP encounters.
The video provides an in-depth review and testing of the new Vault Quartz Energy SMG in Star Citizen, introduced in the 4.1.1 PTU. Officially called the Quartz Energy SMG, it is manufactured by Vault and is a small, lightweight energy weapon that fires a short-range beam which fractures into multiple beams over time, making it highly effective for close-quarters combat. The gun is compact, with a volume of only 7500 micro SCU, and is a size two weapon, allowing it to fit into most ship weapon racks and backpack slots without adding significant weight or hindering movement.
The Quartz SMG has a magazine capacity of 45 rounds, and it can accept two attachments: a size one optics and a size one under-barrel attachment. It does not support barrel attachments like silencers or compensators due to its beam-based firing mode. The weapon features a single firing mode—beam fire—and offers four different color variants, including a default blue, military green (Deadfall edition), black op, and a white version. These skins can be looted from various facilities or obtained through the Wikilo collector, providing players with multiple aesthetic options.
Performance-wise, the Quartz SMG boasts impressive damage output, with both sustained and burst DPS exceeding 200 hit points per second. However, its effectiveness is limited by recoil, overheating, and range restrictions. The recoil is notable but manageable, even with continuous fire, and overheating occurs after firing about 15 rounds in two seconds, with a cooling time of roughly one second. Interestingly, during testing, a bug caused the overheating to not trigger when the weapon’s temperature was kept below 100°C, allowing for continuous firing until the temperature rose naturally. The primary limitation is its short effective range of about 50 meters, with damage dropping off sharply beyond 20 meters, making it ideal for close combat.
In practical combat scenarios, the Quartz SMG excels at close range, capable of quickly eliminating groups of NPCs or opponents in PvP. It is highly effective within 20 meters, delivering rapid kills on both armored and unarmored targets, including players and NPCs. Its high damage output and quick kill times make it a deadly weapon for sneaky, close-quarters engagements, especially when used to ambush clustered enemies. The reviewer also demonstrated its effectiveness against a Gladius ship and in PvP encounters, highlighting its power and suitability for aggressive playstyles.
Overall, the Quartz Energy SMG is a powerful, fun-to-use close-quarters weapon with impressive damage and compact design. Its limitations—mainly range and recoil—are manageable for experienced players, making it ideal for aggressive combat, stealth attacks, and quick eliminations in tight spaces. While it may not be suitable for long-range engagements, its effectiveness in close combat and PvP scenarios makes it a valuable addition to any arsenal, especially for players who enjoy fast-paced, high-damage encounters.