10 Most Powerful Weapons In Star Trek
8. TR-116 Rifle
The Dominion War forced Starfleet to begin experimenting with advanced weapons research, propelling the field further than even the conflicts with the Klingons, Romulans and the Borg. One such innovation, designed for ground assaults, was the TR-116 rifle.
Unlike the standard phaser rifle that Starfleet utilised, this weapon was designed to fire a projectile. This had proven effective against Borg shielding and would also allow the weapon to be used where energy dampeners were in place.
The rifle featured prominently in Field of Fire, a seventh season episode of Deep Space Nine. By attaching a micro transporter to the nozzle of the gun, a Vulcan who had been driven mad by his grief had been able to murder people from a distance, leaving no trace of himself behind. This was a cold, brutal method of execution, as anyone on the station could be the next target.
Using the same weapon against him, Ezri Dax, assisted by her former host, Joran, was able to neutralise the killer. The weapon never went into full production, despite the obvious tactical advantages this offered. It was a step too far for Starfleet to take, though thankfully the war ended soon after.