Rocket Launcher (UT)

If you're looking for other versions of the weapon, you might want to check Rocket Launcher.

Rocket Launcher
Game info
Type	Projectile
Appears in	Unreal Unreal Tournament Unreal Mission Pack: Return to Na Pali
Properties
Primary Fire	Up to 6 rockets
Primary Fire	Up to 6 rockets
Secondary Fire	Up to 6 grenades
Secondary Fire	Up to 6 grenades

The Rocket Launcher (also called Eightball Launcher or Eightball Gun) is a weapon in Unreal, Unreal: Return to Na Pali, and Unreal Tournament.

Overview

It is a six-barreled gun that launches explosive projectiles called "eightballs". The Eightball Gun can launch up to six rockets at once, and is very useful for knocking enemies away. However, beware of splash damage. When multiple eightballs are loaded into the barrel, they can be fired in a tight cluster by holding both the primary fire button and the secondary fire button at the same time. This is opposed to the standard firing mode, which fires rockets in a spread-out manner.

Unreal and Return to Na Pali

8-Ball Launcher
Lore info
Ammunition	Eightball Can
Game info
Type	Projectile
Properties
Primary Fire	85
Primary Fire	85
Secondary Fire	~100
Secondary Fire	~100
Ammo
Weapon Ammo	6
Weapon Ammo	6
Pickup Ammo	12
Pickup Ammo	12
Maximum Ammo	48
Maximum Ammo	48
Death messages
Weapon fire	"<Fragged> was smacked down multiple times by <Fragger>'s Eightball."
Weapon fire	"<Fragged> was smacked down multiple times by <Fragger>'s Eightball."

"The weapon of choice for the demolitionist at heart. The 8-ball launcher fires both rockets and grenades, singly or up to six at once. Rockets explode on contact, while grenades explode two to three seconds after they are launched. Center your aim on your target to initiate the 8-ball launcher’s heat-seeking lock."

– Unreal manual

Primary fire	Rocket launcher. Hold down fire button to load multiple rockets. To fire rockets in a tight circle, press both primary fire and secondary fire simultaneously and release the primary fire button as rockets are loading.
Secondary fire	Grenade Launcher. Hold down fire button to load multiple grenades.
Source: Unreal manual

The Rocket Launcher in Unreal is called the Eightball Launcher. This is due to the ammo it uses, Eightball rockets, and is based on the eight ball in pool.

The Eightball Launcher is carried by Skaarj Gunners. According to two inscriptions found within the Nali Water God Chizra's temple, the Nali found an Eightball Gun lying around sometime after Mercenary ship Terraniux crash landed on Na Pali around a nearby village, and named it the "Stick of 6 Fires", referring to the weapon's appearance and the maximum number of rockets it's able of loading and then shooting simultaneously; the fact that Prisoner 849 found two of these launchers within Terraniux's premises further strengthens the idea that the weapon is of Mercenary origin. It is very effective on Titans and many other strong enemies. It is less effective, though, on Brutes and Behemoths because of their explosion resistance. When fighting Skaarj, it is recommended to fire multiple rockets to increase the attack's explosion radius, as Skaarj have a tendency to dodge projectiles aimed towards them. It is advised to aim for the feet, because if the rocket misses, it will hit the ground and cause splash damage rather than traveling off into the distance. Alternatively, the player can launch the rockets as grenades directly at the Skaarj, as their AI has difficulty dodging projectiles with arcing trajectories.

The Eightball Launcher uses cans of 12 Eightballs for ammunition. When you get close to a can, its lid opens and five bars land on the base. After that, the lid floats down and rests on the ring of bars. As one can provides 12 Eightballs, it's a valuable pickup. It's a common item in the single player campaigns. There are usually cans of Eightballs before and after a boss fight, especially against a Titan. In the multiplayer map DmMorbias, Eightball cans are the only ammunition available.

Unreal Tournament

Rocket Launcher
Lore info
Ammunition	Rocket Pack
Game info
Type	Projectile
Properties
Primary Fire	112
Primary Fire	112
Secondary Fire	120
Secondary Fire	120
Ammo
Weapon Ammo	6
Weapon Ammo	6
Pickup Ammo	12
Pickup Ammo	12
Maximum Ammo	48
Maximum Ammo	48
Death messages
Weapon fire	"<Fragged> was smacked down by <Fragger>'s Rocket Launcher."
Weapon fire	"<Fragged> was smacked down by <Fragger>'s Rocket Launcher."

"Primary Fire: Launches rocket-propelled grenades that explode on impact.
Secondary Fire: Throws non-rocket-propelled grenades that explode after a few seconds.

Arguably the most popular devastation tool in the Tournament, the rocket launcher is an extremely versatile medium- to long-range weapon. Hold and release the primary fire to launch one to six rocket-propelled grenades in a spread formation; the grenades will explode on impact. Press and hold the primary fire, then hit the secondary fire to launch a tight circular formation. Use the secondary fire alone to kick out one to six unpropelled grenades that will detonate a few seconds after deployment. Skilled users can take advantage of the Rocket Launcher’s heat seeking feature. To use it, keep your crosshair on your opponent until it changes into a red X, then unleash your missiles and watch them home in on their prey. Note that your ammo supply is clearly marked on the top of the weapon."

– UT manual

Classification	Heavy Ballistic
Primary fire	Slow moving but deadly rockets are fired at opponents. Trigger can be held down to load up to six rockets at a time, which can be fired at once.
Secondary fire	Grenades are lobbed from the barrel. Secondary trigger can be held as well to load up to six grenades.
Techniques	Keeping this weapon pointed at an opponent will cause it to lock on, and while the gun is locked the next rocket fired will be a homing rocket. Because the Rocket Launcher can load up multiple rockets, it fires when you release the fire button. If you prefer, it can be configured to fire a rocket as soon as you press fire button down, at the expense of the multiple rocket load-up feature. This is set in the Input Options menu.
Source: UT Weapon Priority menu.

The Rocket Launcher in Unreal Tournament is the equivalent to Unreal's Eightball Launcher.

The primary fire loads up to 6 rockets. Multiple rockets are fired in a flat, horizontal spread unless the secondary fire button is pressed while they are loading; this will cause them to fire in a tight spiral formation. By keeping your crosshair on a target, the Rocket Launcher will "lock on", and the next rocket(s) fired will home onto the target.

The secondary fire loads up to 6 grenades and launches them at a target. These grenades can effectively be lobbed around corners. If the primary fire button is pressed while the grenades are loading, they will be fired in a tight cluster instead of spread out.

The Rocket Launcher uses Rocket Packs almost the same way cans of Eightballs are used in Unreal. Rocket Packs, however, no longer animate and are slimmer. They are a little more valuable, as rockets of Unreal Tournament deal somewhat more damage than Eightballs. They are very common in multiplayer maps, as they are fired quite rapidly, in a "spammy" way.

Tips and tricks

• Players in the damage radius of a rocket are lifted off the floor, preventing them from jumping or dodging. Skilled players can use this technique to predict the landing spot and send another rocket there to greet the enemy. This ability can also be used to boost players themselves, although the Impact Hammer (in UT) usually takes this role.

Gallery

First-person view (Unreal)

First-person view (Unreal Tournament)

See also

• UMS Rocket Launcher
• Rocket Launcher (U2)
• Rocket Launcher (UT200X)
• Rocket Launcher (UT3)