Star Trek Online Best Ground Weapons 2026: Top Picks

Which Ground Weapons Should You Choose?

The Star Trek Online best ground weapons 2026 shortlist starts with plasma rifles for accessible damage, the Phaser Full Auto Rifle (Dsc) for a premium option, and the Replica Thompson Submachine Gun for fighting Borg. The right weapon helps you clear groups, bypass troublesome shields, or deliver a heavy burst against a priority target. Your kit modules still carry much of a ground build’s damage, so choose a weapon that complements the rest of your equipment.

These are practical starting points rather than a strict damage ranking:

Weapon	Acquisition	Defining feature	Main consideration
Plasma Wide Beam Rifle	Vendors	Area-of-effect secondary Exploit attack	Benefits from plasma-focused equipment
Phaser Full Auto Rifle (Dsc)	Lobi Store	Distinctive primary attack; a standout ranged option	Costs 50 Lobi
Replica Thompson Submachine Gun	Event reclaim for owners / Captain Picard Bundle	Physical damage, shield bypass, and AoE attacks	Access can be expensive without the event unlock
TR-116B Sniper Rifle	Crafting / Exchange	Fully shield-penetrating kinetic damage	Lower DPS than the Thompson
Advanced Herald Antiproton Beam Projector	Lobi Store	Primary attack chains to two additional targets	Premium acquisition
Advanced Temporal Defense Dual Pistols	Temporal Reputation	35-meter range and multiple attack modes	Tertiary attack requires seven shots to prepare

For a weapon-focused character, attack behavior deserves close attention. For a kit-focused character, equipment bonuses and convenient cleanup attacks can matter more than buying another expensive gun.

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Accessible Plasma Rifles and Anti-Borg Weapons

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Plasma Wide Beam, Split Beam, and Piercing Beam Rifles

Plasma rifles offer an accessible route into effective ranged ground combat. Wide Beam and Piercing Beam variants come from vendors, while crafted plasma options include Split Beam Rifles.

The Plasma Wide Beam Rifle is especially useful for its secondary attack, which combines area damage with an Exploit. That gives it a practical role against clustered enemies without requiring a Lobi purchase.

Pair plasma weapons with equipment that supports their damage type. The Romulan Imperial Navy kit frame includes plasma damage and critical bonuses, while the armor strengthens secondary attacks. Both fit naturally into a character built around a plasma rifle.

Choose the rifle’s firing pattern before investing heavily in upgrades. Wide coverage is useful in crowded encounters, and an attack you consistently land has more practical value than a weapon you dislike operating.

Replica Thompson Submachine Gun

The Thompson is a standout anti-Borg weapon because its physical damage bypasses shields and Borg cannot adapt to it. Its primary attack deals area damage, and its secondary adds further AoE coverage.

That combination makes it useful beyond simply avoiding adaptation: it can damage groups while going directly after their health.

If you already earned the event reward, use the reclaim option. Otherwise, weigh the Captain Picard Bundle’s cost against how much you want this particular weapon. The Thompson also pairs well with the Covert Assault Drone kit module.

TR-116B Sniper Rifle

The TR-116B provides a crafted or Exchange alternative for shield bypass. It deals 100% shield-penetrating kinetic damage, and Borg cannot adapt to it.

Its tradeoff is lower DPS than the Thompson, balanced by longer reach. Use its secondary attack to engage distant enemies while they remain outside the range of your closer-range attacks.

Keep the exact model in mind when shopping: the TR-116B is the crafted rifle discussed here. The TR-116A is a separate legacy weapon.

Lobi Weapons Worth Considering

Phaser Full Auto Rifle (Dsc)

The Discovery variant is one of the strongest general ranged options in this selection. Its primary fire differs from the standard Phaser Full Auto Rifle, so the shared weapon category does not make them interchangeable.

The Lobi version costs 50 Lobi. Choose it when you want a conventional-looking rifle with strong weapon performance, particularly on a build that spends substantial combat time firing.

Pay attention to the full item name before purchasing. A standard full-auto phaser rifle does not automatically have the Discovery variant’s attack behavior.

MACO Pulse Rifle (22c)

The MACO Pulse Rifle is another premium rifle option. Its proc has a 5% chance to increase most ground skills by 25, giving it an additional benefit alongside its attacks.

Consider it alongside the Discovery rifle when selecting a Lobi weapon. The skill proc adds utility, but it should complement a firing style you enjoy using rather than decide the purchase by itself.

Advanced Herald Antiproton Beam Projector

The Herald projector spreads damage through its primary attack, which chains to up to two additional targets. Its secondary attack provides a larger area attack.

That makes it attractive when you want multi-target coverage during ordinary firing as well as through a secondary ability. Use it against groups where the chaining mechanic can reach additional enemies.

Boolean Heavy Cannon

The Boolean Heavy Cannon delivers heavy burst damage, primarily against a single target. Both attacks have long cooldowns, including its cylindrical secondary AoE.

Build around those pauses. Use kit modules between cannon attacks instead of expecting continuous rifle-style pressure. Its appeal is concentrated damage delivered in bursts.

Portable Phaser Cannon Special Issue

The Portable Phaser Cannon Special Issue adds a charge mechanic to its secondary attack. Hold the secondary-fire button to charge it, then release; the attack can fire up to three times, depending on the charges stored.

Choose this cannon if you enjoy manually controlling a heavy secondary attack. Practice charging and releasing it before committing upgrade resources, since that interaction is central to how the weapon plays.

Reputation Weapons and Equipment-Dependent Picks

Advanced Temporal Defense Dual Pistols

These pistols reach 35 meters, compared with the standard 25-meter range noted for dual pistols. Their secondary attack is a single-target Exploit, while their tertiary attack provides area damage after you fire seven times to prepare it.

Use the extra reach to engage distant targets, then build toward the tertiary attack through regular firing. Their range and attack sequence distinguish them from more conventional dual pistols.

Section 31 Heavy Assault Rifle

The Section 31 rifle’s sweeping secondary beam pairs particularly well with Covert Assault Drone. That interaction is a major reason to choose the weapon.

Equip the drone alongside the rifle when building around that sweeping attack. The combination offers a clearer reason to use this event weapon than judging its firing modes in isolation.

Kuumaarke Visionary Weapon

The Kuumaarke Visionary Gesture-Driven Charged Particle Conductor belongs in a discussion of the complete set. Its individual weapon performance is only part of the appeal.

The set supports powerful Kit Performance effects, including a weapon-related effect that consumes shields to deal electrical damage and grants 200 Kit Performance to the next kit module. The four-piece setup adds further benefits.

Plan the set before deciding which weapon to fire regularly. The Kuumaarke weapon can occupy the secondary slot while another weapon handles your normal attacks.

Breen Cryoshaper Thermal Depletion Pistol

The Cryoshaper pistol has an AoE secondary attack, but its defining firing-speed benefit depends on the three-piece Breen Cryoshaper set.

Use it as part of that complete setup. The pistol’s role is tied to the set bonus, especially on a cold-themed character.

Gear That Supports Your Weapon

A strong gun benefits from critical stats, appropriate damage bonuses, and equipment that keeps you attacking.

Burnham’s Armor and the Na’kuhl Two-Piece

A broadly useful combination is Burnham’s CQC Armor with the Na’kuhl Temporal Operative Shield and its matching weapon:

• Burnham’s CQC Armor: 10% Critical Hit Chance and 20% Critical Severity.
• Na’kuhl two-piece bonus: 2% Critical Hit Chance and 30% Critical Severity.
• Na’kuhl shield: temporary damage immunity through its defensive effect.

Burnham’s armor comes from the Discovery Reputation. The Na’kuhl equipment comes from “The Temporal Front.”

Slot the Na’kuhl weapon in your secondary slot to complete the two-piece bonus while using your preferred primary weapon. Secondary weapons can contribute valuable stats even when you rarely fire them.

Romulan Imperial Navy Equipment

For a plasma-focused alternative, “Uneasy Allies” provides Romulan Imperial Navy equipment. The armor grants 50% more damage to secondary attacks, and the kit frame includes plasma damage and critical bonuses.

Build around the secondary attack if you choose that armor. Its bonus gives you a specific reason to pay attention to secondary-fire cooldowns and target placement.

Skills and Specializations

Weapon-oriented ground builds benefit from Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Penetration, and Weapon Criticals. Keep Kit Performance and Kit Efficiency in the picture too: even a character focused on shooting gains substantial value from kit modules.

For dedicated ground content, Temporal Operative as the primary specialization and Commando as the secondary provide extensive offensive support. Their benefits include kit cooldown improvements and reduced secondary-firing-mode cooldowns; Commando also provides weapon damage and critical chance while aiming.

Get More From Your Attacks and Upgrades

Use Expose and Exploit Without Forcing Weapon Swaps

An Exploit attack consumes an Expose effect and adds 200% bonus damage by default. Exposed enemies display a large orange marker, and the default G key targets the nearest exposed enemy.

Take the opportunity when your equipped weapon has a suitable Exploit attack. Constantly swapping weapons to chase that interaction adds management, while kit damage and strong non-Exploit weapons remain effective.

Match Secondary Fire to the Encounter

A wide secondary attack works best when enemies are inside its coverage. A heavy cannon burst serves a different purpose from a rifle’s repeatable attacks.

Aim cone and sweeping attacks across groups. Hold charged attacks deliberately. Fill long weapon cooldowns with kit activations. Those adjustments follow the weapon’s mechanics and help you get value from equipment you already own.

Upgrade With a Specific Weapon in Mind

Weapon Mark contributes substantially to ranged ground damage. The [Dmg] modifier also supplies a 3% final damage multiplier per modifier, with multiple modifiers stacking multiplicatively.

Commit upgrades to a weapon whose attacks fit your build. When buying vendor weapons for upgrading, starting at a low Mark gives you more Mark increases during which quality can improve; those early upgrades also require fewer resources than later ones.

Compare Performance Under Consistent Conditions

Use Bug Hunt Elite or Nukara Trans-dimensional Tactics to evaluate a developed ground build with combat logging enabled. Bug Hunt Elite requires five players, and protecting the Demolitions Expert is part of completing the mission.

Keep the map, supporting gear, and kit setup consistent when comparing weapons. Check how much damage comes from the gun itself, then examine the full build’s performance—especially when testing interactions such as the Section 31 rifle with Covert Assault Drone.