Joseph Orlando
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Chapter 63 - The trouble with laser weapons in Star Trek
🕑 Added 2025-09-20 01:16:57 +0000 UTCI just stumbled upon and watched TNG's Season 2, Episode 5, Loud as a Whisper and I found myself once again pondering laser weapons in the Star Trek universe and having a hard time reconciling them with the more traditional Star Trek weapons. No matter how you slice it, laser weapons, at least for anti-personnel uses, seem just superior in virtually every way.
In Star Trek, I've seen people jump out of the way of slow ass phaser beams and disrupter bolts, and shrug off stun shots. Lasers on the other hand, travel near the speed of light. We know they're deadly and effective, in this clip from the episode, a largish laser pistol (not even a rifle!) vaporizes three people in a single damn shot! Modern shields would stop them, certainly, but personnel don't have personal energy shields. Phasers are probably more versatile and can be used as tools, they can stun and heat, etc., whereas lasers don't seem to have non-lethal settings to render someone unconscious.
Given all this, I’m curious what others think. In a man-to-man combat scenario—rather than ship-to-ship—aren’t lasers, as depicted, arguably a far superior and deadlier weapon? Even considering the advanced technology in the Star Trek universe, do phasers really offer enough advantages to outweigh the raw effectiveness of lasers in direct combat?
Would love to hear your thoughts!
Comments
War sage
Considering its Starfleet that used them i would say yes. While Lasers are overall better in person to person combat just the versatility matches Starfleet so much as it be be used in many different situations as its good at all but master at none. Also to consider its just simpler to just mass produce phasers that can be used in many different situations then lasers which while great in combat don't have much use for anything else. Something to consider is that none of the major powers that are more military focused like Romulans and Klingons use not lasers but disruptors which seem to impile they may be better
