Rocket Launchers shoot self-propelled grenades across long distances at subsonic speeds. They are characterized by having extremely small internal magazines, high to very high damage ratings at the site of impact, and additional area-of-effect or "splash" damage. There are four major types, although all of them tend to have slow reload speeds ranging from 2 to 3 seconds.
There are highly accurate single-shot Rocket Launchers that typically carry 1-3 rockets before reload, have an excessively powerful impact damage, and a better than decent splash radius.
Burst-fire Rocket Launchers let loose 3-5 rockets in a roughly straight line (due to recoil), one after the other in rapid succession, for every pull of the trigger. They typically carry 3-5 rockets; however it should be noted that because such launchers actually fire the number of rockets they carry, they are only truly good for one shot before reloading is necessary.
Spread Rocket Launchers are like the burst-fire variety in almost every regard, except that they launch their payload in a horizontal line (due to recoil) spreading out from the launcher muzzle.
Helix Rocket Launchers are a bit like Shotguns in that they can turn one unit of launcher ammo into several smaller projectiles. With every firing, a single rocket is expended and what is launched is a trio of tightly spiraling mini-rockets that maintain their spiral radius. Because these rockets are smaller, they tend to sport a sharply decreased blast radius.
Strategy
Single-Shot Strategy
Single-shot Rocket Launchers are your standard portable mayhem and should be treated as such. They launch a single, slow-moving rocket and care should be taken to avoid being close to the target when it explodes. Trying to hit targets directly is not recommended, because rockets move so slowly that even a Bruiser can be easily missed. Instead, lead the target, aiming at the ground where the enemy is most likely to be when the rocket arrives. To maximize the chance of getting the blast radius where it's most effective, fire from a raised position. Rocket Launchers are most useful against clusters of fragile targets, where the blast effect can damage or kill multiple enemies. They are not so effective against Badass enemies due to Badass's inherent fortitude and the lack of any real benefit for the blast area. When using them in a firefight, a good strategy to shoot enemies behind cover is to shoot a wall behind the enemy so that the splash damage hits them.
When looking for a good single-shot Rocket Launcher, pay attention to four things: magazine, firepower, accuracy, and scope. While firepower and accuracy are self-explanatory they are not more important than magazine size. A single-shot Rocket Launcher that can only hold 1 rocket will do less carnage in a protracted firefight than a Rocket Launcher of half the damage with a 3-shot magazine. Scopes are useful because they allow for deadly accurate bombardment of static targets like Gatling Turrets.
All Elemental Rocket Launchers will have a x4 multiplier and the elemental effect will always trigger upon impact. Explosive damage is the default effect, so if there is no element listed the rocket launcher will deal Explosive damage.
Rocket Launchers deal extra damage to vehicles and turrets. Corrosive Rocket Launchers are particularly well-suited for this purpose since they are effective against armour.
Burst-Fire Strategy
Many of the strategies for single-shot Rocket Launchers apply to the burst-fire type. Raised positions and letting enemies walk into the explosions still work, however a player should keep an eye on their ammo reserve, and be prepared to take immediate cover after firing. This is because burst-fire launchers are essentially capable of only a single, devastating shot before they have to reload. Again, all types of regular enemies should be targeted with the exception of Scythid, which are not only resistant to area-of-effect weapons, but also tend to be too fast to get hit with all of the rockets. Spiderants are viable targets, but only the smaller breeds. Bruisers, Badass enemies of every type, and distant targets should be avoided.
Two types of Burst-Firing Rocket Launchers are available, these can be determined by their Burst Fire rating in their item card, three-shot and five-shot. A three-shot Rocket Launcher will be noted with a Burst Fire rating of 300%, this weapon simply fires all three rockets in the direction the user is pointing it, with recoil and accuracy in play. A five-shot Rocket Launcher will be noted with a 500% Burst Fire rating, and fires in an alternating horizontal spread, starting with the center rocket first, then oscillating between left and right.
When looking for a good burst-fire Rocket Launcher two things should be listed on the item card: recoil reduction and firepower. Recoil reduction is essential for a burst launcher because that particular quality will dictate the effective maximum range of the launcher. Firepower is obvious; a player wants the blast to be as damaging as possible.
Note that the slow Burst Fire of such Launchers can be interrupted by reloading or using a melee attack. This is useful if your target is weak or badly injured and you don't want to fire an entire salvo of rockets.
Helix Strategy
Helix Rocket Launchers are a totally different breed of explosive devastation. With every pull of the trigger, one unit of launcher ammo is used to fire a salvo of three spiralling rockets. Orbiting each other in a tight spiral that does not expand, helix launchers are a hybrid of accurate efficiency and chaotic mayhem.
There is no helix launcher that doesn't have a relatively ample 3-shot magazine, which makes these launchers extremely good to take into bandit camps, where they can wreak mayhem upon tightly clustered firing lines, or Bandit Raiders trying to break from cover. Helix launchers are good against clustered groups of any type of enemy, including scythid which are normally resistant to rocket launcher attacks. Against single targets, however, the effectiveness of a helix rocket launcher is almost entirely dependant upon range and how accurately a player can center the clustered blast. Badass enemies are still best avoided.
It's worth noting that individual helix launcher rockets do not have a very large splash radius, allowing one to use it up close if not personal. However this also means that rockets may spiral past smaller enemies and do relatively little damage. As with normal Rocket Launchers aiming for surfaces near the target is recommended.
When looking for a good helix Rocket Launcher, pay attention to firepower, rate of fire, accuracy, and scope. The first three qualities are intuitive, as a player wants to hit hard, cause as much carnage as fast as possible, and cause it where the player wants it to be. Scopes with a dot-sight make all that easier, and if one can find a launcher with a good scope but slightly reduced firepower compared to what they already have, they would do well to get the scoped launcher anyway.
Helix launchers are excellent elemental weapons, especially of the Incendiary variety. Direct hits that cause elemental triggers are more likely with Helix launchers because they will never hit the exact spot a player aims them at, but rather the area immediately around that spot. This means that leading targets and letting them walk into the blast often results in an unintentional direct hit.
Orange Rocket Launcher strategies
The Orange (rare) rocket launchers have unique detonation patterns that require special strategies to use them to their fullest capacity:
- Hyperion Nidhogg: Due to the way Nidhogg rockets work, it is advisable to target enemies at the edge of its range and aim slightly above them. Move toward or away from the target(s) as neccessary to achieve the proper firing range. A perfectly placed primary explosion just above the target's head will inflict heavy splash damage, while all the secondary submunitions will also inflict direct hits or splash hits, easily causing four to five (or more) times the Nidhogg's already considerable listed damage; these massive, linear cluster explosions are capable of wiping out even some of the most difficult enemies in a single shot. Alternatively, adjusting the height of the explosion higher will instead cover a larger area, an approach suited for killing groups of multiple weak enemies.
- Maliwan Rhino: Rhino rockets erupt repeatedly while in flight, making them well-suited to eliminating enemies that are lined up. This is particularly useful in narrow corridors. Because the rocket warps forward, firing directly at an enemy will often cause the rocket to damage that enemy and continue forth. Always ensure at least one extra target in line behind the first, preferrably more. As with the Nidhogg, finding the correct firing position will maximize the total damage inflicted on groups of multiple foes, totalling up to many times the launcher's item card-listed damage.
- Vladof Mongol: The Mongol's rocket-spray effect makes it particularly well suited for grouped enemies. Firing just above groups should ensure that they receive some of the rocket's devastating blast while allowing that rocket to continue on and wipe out anything behind them. Jumping up and firing the initial shot parallel to the ground will achieve optimal spread coverage in a planar zone just above head level.
- Torgue Redemption: The Redemption has the largest splash radius in the game and should be used to take advantage of that. Compared to the other launchers discussed, using a Redemption is relatively straightforward. Place the shots to include the maximum possible number of targets in the blast zone, centering it on the toughest targets if possible. Firing between groups of enemies will often result in mass deaths. Place your shots carefully, as the low effective rate of fire (frequent reloading) and heavy launcher ammo consumption makes misplaced shots rather costly. Also note that you will need to lead your shots well in advance of moving targets, as these rockets move much slower than normal.
- Torgue Undertaker: The Undertaker's boosted splash radius and damage are not as great as the Redemption, but the large magazine and lower ammo consumption mean an increase in flexibility when targeting both single enemies and groups. Normal rocket velocity also aids the ease of use of this launcher, making it the easily the most straightfoward to use. Otherwise, keep in mind the same shot placement factors discussed in the Redemption strategy section.
Class Info
- Brick is the specialist in explosive weapons and has skills and class mods that increase the magazine size, damage, reload speed, area of effect elemental trigger chance, and provide ammo regeneration for launchers.
- Roland's skills and class mods as a generalist soldier also provide increased magazine size, area of effect elemental trigger chance, and damage increases to Shock effect launchers and ammo regeneration. Roland also has the class mod "Marine"(only available after downloading the General Knoxx DLC) made for rocket launchers. This class mod can increase reload speed, ammo regeneration and fire rate for rocket launchers.
- Being an elemental weapon specialist, Lilith's skills and class mods can provide substantial increases to elemental trigger effect chance and severity, as well as increases to damage with specific or blanket elemental effects. The Siren can also speed up the travel speed for rockets.
- Mordecai's skills and class mods can make good use of single-shot rocket launchers, increasing reload speed, damage, and accuracy. Class mods for the Hunter can also increase the viability of Corrosive launchers.
Varieties
- Rocket Launcher - Balanced.
- Destructor - Increased damage and blast radius.
- Harpoon - Increased accuracy, rocket travel speed, but with a slightly decreased radius.
Unique Drops and Rewards:
- Leviathan "It rises!" - Quest reward from Wanted: Fresh Fish, fires rockets in an arc with increased (1.2) firerate.
- The Roaster "Gonna cook someone today" - Unique weapon used by Taylor Kobb. Very high chance to set targets on fire and increased blast radius.
Legendary:
- Vladof Mongol "Beware the Horde!" - Sends out smaller rockets at various angles as it flies. Uses 3 ammo per shot.
- Hyperion Nidhogg "Death rains from above" - Breaks into smaller downward traveling rockets at a specific distance.
- Maliwan Rhino "The Unstoppable Force" - Explodes repeatedly along its flightpath. Always x4 Incendiary, Corrosive or Shock.
- Torgue Redemption "Monster Kill!" -Very high damage and large blast radius, but slow. Uses 4 ammo per shot.
Pearlescent:
- Torgue Undertaker "Take 'em UNDER." - Increased magazine capacity, damage, firerate and blast radius.
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