Understand Paracyst
Useful when…
- Use the normal burst attack for repeated toxin projectile hits.
- Use the harpoon attack when its separate projectile/contact sequence suits the situation.
What are its attacks?
The normal attack is listed as a projectile at 100 m/s, dealing 33 toxin damage per attack with 10% critical chance, a 2× multiplier, and 30% status chance. The Infested Harpoon is a separate projectile with a 0.3-second charge time, 80 m/s speed, and 15 toxin damage; its listed critical chance is 0% and status chance is 30%. A distinct Harpoon Contact entry also lists 15 toxin damage and 30% status chance, with no critical chance. Do not combine the harpoon projectile and contact entries into the normal burst's damage profile.
How does it handle?
The primary trigger is burst, with a 60-round magazine, a two-second reload, and 50% listed accuracy. The detailed attack speed entry for normal fire is 8.33; the overall property lists fire rate 11.11. As the normal shot is a projectile rather than hitscan, lead moving targets. It requires Mastery 7 and has a Vazarin polarity.
What is a sensible investment?
The weapon lists 30% status chance for both the normal attack and harpoon entries, while the normal attack has 10% critical chance. Status-oriented upgrades are a reasonable consideration if you plan to use repeated toxin hits; its existing Vazarin polarity may help fit a matching mod. The harpoon's listed critical chance is zero, so critical-focused expectations should be tied to normal fire rather than assumed for that shot.
What limitations matter?
Normal fire is a projectile with only 50% listed accuracy, so it is less suited to effortless long-range precision than a hitscan attack. The harpoon takes 0.3 seconds to charge and also travels as a projectile. No pull or enemy-control effect is specified, so do not plan around one based solely on the harpoon name.
What alternatives have related mechanics?
Mutalist Quanta is described as an automatic rifle with an airborne infested mass, while Amprex is a continuous beam that arcs among nearby enemies. Harpak is described as a burst harpoon gun that can spike enemies to walls or reel them in. Harpak has explicit control behavior in its description; that should not be transferred to Paracyst's harpoon.
Limitations and tradeoffs
- Normal attack sends toxin projectiles and has a low listed critical chance.
- Harpoon is a charged projectile with separate projectile and contact entries.
- Large magazine is paired with lower listed accuracy and projectile travel.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming Paracyst's harpoon reels in or pins enemies; that behavior is only stated for the comparison Harpak.
- Treating the harpoon as hitscan or applying normal-fire critical chance to it.