A directed energy weapon is a weapon that inflicts damage via a beam or pulse of electromagnetic radiation, high-energy particles, or more exotic forms of energy. In most space-faring civilizations, directed energy weaponry had replaced projectile weapons, which tended to be regarded as more "primitive". The most common types of directed energy weapon are phasers and disruptors, though a wide range of other energy-based weapons have also been developed. (TOS; TNG; DS9; ENT)
In the Alpha Quadrant, subspace weapons such isolytic bursts were forbidden by the Khitomer Accords. (Star Trek: Insurrection)
Advanced weapons existed, in the forms of the planet-destroying antiproton beam mounted on the so-called "planet killer". Federation technology had very little to match this technology when faced with one such weapon in 2267. (TOS: "The Doomsday Machine") The Xindi superweapon was another planet-killer utilizing a directed-energy beam, but it was destroyed before the Sphere Builders, manipulating the Xindi, had an opportunity to complete their plan by using the device on Earth. (ENT: "The Expanse"; ENT Season 3)
The Ennis, a Gamma Quadrant species, stopped using directed energy centuries before 2369, as it was, in Golin Shel-la's words, "not damaging enough". (DS9: "Battle Lines")
Directed energy weapons
Ship-mounted
- Antiproton beam
- Disruptor
- Energy dampening weapon
- Forced plasma beam
- Heavy graviton beam
- Laser
- Neutral particle weapon
- Neutronic weapon
- Optronic weapon
- Phase cannon
- Phased ion cannon
- Phased polaron beam
- Phaser banks
- Plasma cannon
- Plasma wave
- Proton beam
- Pulse phased weapon
- Quantum resonance charge
- Subatomic disruptor
- Subspace weapons
Planet-based
Hand-held
- Boolean gun
- Compressed teryon beam weapon
- Compressed tetryon beam weapon
- CRM 114
- Disruptors
- Energy whip
- Laser pistol
- Particle rifle
- Phase pistol
- Phasers
- Stunstick
- Thoron rifle