Short Circuit
| Short Circuit | |
|---|---|
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| Kill Icon | |
| Basic Information | |
| Used by: | Engineer |
| Slot: | Secondary |
| Contributed by: | Larolaro Mr. Bunce |
| Released: | August 18, 2011 Patch (Manno-Technology Bundle) |
| Availability: | Promotional, Drop, Craft, Purchase or Chemistry Set (Collector's) |
| Tradable: | Yes |
| Giftable: | Yes |
| Craftable: | Yes |
| Nameable: | Yes |
| Craft No.?: | Yes |
| Medieval: | No |
| Ammo | |
| Ammo loaded: | 1 per 5 Metal |
| Ammo carried: | 200 Metal (allows 40 uses) |
| Reload type: | No Reload |
| Available Qualities | |
| Loadout Stats | |
 Short Circuit |
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| “ | That wasn't even close.
Click to listen
— The Engineer destroying projectiles
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” |
The Short Circuit is a promotional secondary weapon for the Engineer. It is a futuristic electrical device consisting of two probes and rubber sealing, with two large, thick yellow cables extending from a black base piece, connected to a clamp bolted shut over one of the probes. Two orange and grey shell-like pieces extended out over the base and part of the rubber sealing, appearing to be parts of the Engineer's rubber glove. The weapon replaces the Engineer's right arm.
The Short Circuit does not require reloading and instead draws ammunition directly from the Engineer's metal supply. Primary fire unleashes a short-ranged burst of electrical energy at the same rate as the Pistol, which deals 10 damage to enemies at the expense of 5 metal. Despite its looks, the burst only deals damage at point blank and becomes harmless at range.
Secondary fire fires an orb of electricity that slowly travels forward and destroys all enemy projectiles (with the exception of the Righteous Bison and the Pomson 6000) in its path. Each shot costs 65 metal and has a 0.5 second delay between each shot. Unlike most projectiles, the energy orb has limited range and can hit targets multiple times. Each hit dealing 15 damage along with briefly stunning and the first victim usually being dealt 35 damage. If the player has less than 65 metal, secondary fire will not work. Similar to many other projectiles, Pyros can reflect the energy orbs. If the energy orb hit the opposite team's orb, both energy orbs will be destroyed.
If the player uses the secondary fire while looking at the ground whilst in point blank distance with an enemy, the Engineer can perform a blast jump almost equal in power to a rocket jump.
When the Short Circuit is the active weapon, the Engineer cannot move buildings. Both primary and secondary fire are also unable to damage enemy buildings, operate underwater, or deal full critical hits through any means other than against stunned Merasmus.
Enemies killed by the Short Circuit's primary or secondary fire suffer a distinctive death by vaporization: they turn black, hover in mid-air while surrounded by team-colored particles, and then disappear into ashes while a loud, distinct vaporization sound plays. Like backstabs and headshots, there is a 25% chance that opponents will perform a specific disintegration animation if killed in this way.
This item was awarded in Genuine quality to players who pre-ordered Deus Ex: Human Revolution before August 26, 2011.
The kill icon for the Short Circuit was contributed by Ani .
Contents
Damage and function times
Primary Fire
| Damage and function times | ||
|---|---|---|
| Shot type | Area of Effect | |
| Damage type | Bullet | |
| Ranged or Melee damage? | Ranged | |
| Damage | ||
| Base damage | 100% | 10 |
| Critical | 21 | |
| Mini-crit | 14 | |
| Function times | ||
| Attack interval | 0.15 s | |
| Values are approximate and determined by community testing. | ||
Secondary Fire
| Damage and function times | ||
|---|---|---|
| Shot type | Area of Effect | |
| Damage type | Projectile | |
| Ranged or Melee damage? | Ranged | |
| Damage | ||
| Base damage | 100% | 35 |
| Critical | 105 | |
| Mini-crit | 61 | |
| Function times | ||
| Attack interval | 0.5 s | |
| Values are approximate and determined by community testing. | ||
Demonstration
Crafting
Blueprint
| Reclaimed Metal | Scrap Metal | Gunslinger | Short Circuit | |||
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| Class Token - Engineer | Slot Token - Secondary | Scrap Metal | Possible Results | |||||||||||||||||||
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As a crafting ingredient
| Reclaimed Metal | Righteous Bison | Short Circuit | Pomson 6000 | |||
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Update history
- The Short Circuit was added to the game.
- Fixed the Short Circuit attacking friendly projectiles.
- Fixed the Short Circuit being hidden when the Engineer taunts.
- [Undocumented] The Short Circuit was added to the crafting blueprint for the Pomson 6000.
- [Undocumented] The Short Circuit now makes robotic noises when moved around in the backpack.
- Fixed projectiles not being cleared if they were blocked by buildings or other projectiles.
- Fixed not incrementing the "How the Pests Was Gunned" achievement for destroyed stickies.
- Changed attributes:
- Ammo cost reduced when an attack destroys a projectile.
- Ammo cost of firing reduced to -18 metal.
- [Undocumented] Ammo cost increased to -36 metal when an attack does not destroy a projectile or hit a player.
- [Undocumented] Increased firing speed by +25%.
- [Undocumented] The Short Circuit's muzzle now emits a spark effect when fired.
- [Undocumented] Fixed attack arcing to nearby teammates as if they were enemies.
- Updated the Short Circuit description to match the updated gameplay.
- Added Collector's quality.
- Changed attributes:
- Attack speed up greatly.
- Ammunition cost has been lowered to 5 metal per attack.
- Players and Buildings are only targeted if in range and in front of attacking player.
- Improved visual effects.
- Changed attributes:
- Damage lowered.
- Consumes 15 metal per projectile destroyed.
- Can no longer fire underwater.
- Fixed a bug with orphaned particles.
- Fixed the Short Circuit particles not always being removed on player death.
- Updated the Short Circuit to use the Engineer's melee taunt.
- Changed attribute:
- Added No longer gain metal from Dispensers when active.
- Fixed the Short Circuit creating its firing effects when being deployed.
July 2, 2015 Patch #1 (Gun Mettle Update)
- Changed attributes:
- Projectile destruction has been moved to alt-fire at the cost of -15 per shot. There is a 0.5s cool down between attempts and refire.
- Cannot pick up buildings when the Short Circuit is deployed.
- Fixed missing secondary attack animations for the Short Circuit.
July 7, 2016 Patch (Meet Your Match Update)
- Changed attribute:
- Base projectile attack is -10 metal (hit or miss) and then add -5 metal for each projectile destroyed (sometimes a buff, sometimes a nerf).
- Fixed the Short Circuit causing lag compensation problems on the server.
- Updated the description for the Short Circuit to match the current behavior.
- Alt-fire attack changed to launch a medium-range, projectile-destroying energy ball. Requires 65 metal.
- Fixed the Short Circuit still performing its old area-of-effect attack when firing.
- Fixed the Short Circuit orb not changing particle color after being deflected
- Fixed the Short Circuit orb not being able to destroy rockets/grenades during the first 0.25 seconds of their lifetime
- Added self-damage when using the Short Circuit's orb to attack an enemy at close range.
Bugs
- The attribute Cannot deal Critical hits is missing.
- The Engineer achievements How the Pests was Gunned cannot be earned with the Short Circuit, despite it being able to destroy projectiles.
- The alt-fire will Haul for approximately 2/3 of a second after weapon switch, instead of firing a energy orb.
- If the player picks up another dropped secondary weapon with the Short Circuit equipped, the Engineer's right hand will always remain invisible regardless of what weapon that player is using until the player re-equips the Short Circuit.
- The secondary fire uses the generic skull in the kill feed.
- If the Engineer fires a energy orb at a wall, corner or beside a wall, metal will be used, but the energy orb won't launch.
- The energy orb does not deal damage to the Horseless Headless Horsemann, Monoculus, Merasmus, or the Skeleton King
- Sometimes, a energy orb will stay stuck in midair for client view, This orb does no damage and doesn't destroy projectiles.
- This can be fixed by rejoining the server.
- If the Engineer is killed by the energy orb's self damage, it will count as a suicide.
- If a enemy has dealt damage to the Engineer and the Engineer is still killed by the self damage, it will count as a world kill.
Trivia
- During development, the Short Circuit was going to be a minigun that opened up from Engineer's glove. Valve, however, told the creator they wanted a less-powerful electric based weapon, so it was changed to the current design.[1]
- A short circuit is a malfunction in a circuit that allows a current to travel on an unintended path.
- The filenames for this weapon's sounds within the VPK files reference Lawrence Barrett, a character from the Deus Ex: Human Revolution title known for his gun-arm.
- The item cannot be crit but can be mini-crit.
Gallery
First-person view.
Short Circuit concept art.
Short Circuit concept art.
References
See also
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