Machine Gun (Rapture)

The Machine Gun is a weapon that appears in BioShock, BioShock 2, and BioShock 2 Multiplayer. Jack and the characters in multiplayer use a version that resembles a Thompson submachine gun, but Alpha Series such as Subject Delta and Subject Sigma use a Machine Gun that is actually a form of Gatling gun.

BioShock
The Machine Gun is the second ranged weapon obtained in BioShock, and is located in the Medical Pavilion. It fires a rapid spray of Auto Rounds, each doing a moderate amount of damage. Its main weaknesses are heavy recoil and low accuracy. Its main advantages are large ammo capacity and higher damage-per-second, ignoring headshot bonuses and better specialty ammo enjoyed by the Pistol and Crossbow. The damage can be increased and the recoil reduced with upgrades at a Power to the People station, increasing the Machine Gun's effectiveness. There is no hit location damage bonus when using this weapon; bullets do the same amount of damage no matter where the target is hit.

Power to the People Upgrades

 * Recoil Reduction
 * 25% Damage Increase

Ammunition Types - Machine Gun

 * Standard Auto Round - Standard ammunition for the Machine Gun, deals a moderate amount of (piercing) damage.
 * Antipersonnel Auto Round - Uncommon ammunition for the Machine Gun, deals a high amount of (piercing) damage against Splicers.
 * Armor-Piercing Auto Round - Rare and inventable ammunition for the Machine Gun, deals a high amount of (piercing) damage against Security Devices and Big Daddies.

Strategy

 * This weapon is particularly effective for targeting multiple enemies or if the player is not very accurate, since it has the ammo capacity and rate-of-fire to sweep the area at close to mid-range. However, aiming for targets at long range becomes ineffective, as the bullet scatter radius makes shot placement very inaccurate.
 * It is recommended to take the recoil reduction upgrade before the damage upgrade, unless the player has advanced significantly in the game. This is because the Machine Gun is capable of mowing down any low-level enemy in seconds, even with standard ammo, and its recoil can become quite problematic after firing non-stop. Be aware that recoil reduction will not tighten the Machine Gun's bullet scatter radius.
 * If the player is willing to deal with repetitive motion, the recoil reduction upgrade can be achieved manually. Repeatedly tapping the trigger, proving it is done slowly enough, can reduce the recoil to zero, it does however increase the amount of time needed to spend one’s ammo clip, by 40% (Approximately from 5 to 7seconds), decreasing damage per second.   A middle ground can be achieved by balancing damage per second to the player’s desire by increasing the frequency of trigger pulls. This can be easy to forget in combat, though.
 * When the player has acquired enough Antipersonnel Auto Rounds, it is recommended to keep it as the main ammunition for the Machine Gun, except if the player wishes to use it against Security Devices or Big Daddies.

Recommended Plasmids

 * Target Dummy will distract all nearby enemies, ensuring the player doesn't get attacked while dealing damage.
 * Winter Blast will freeze enemies in place and increase their vulnerability to damage. On the other hand, shooting a frozen enemy will shatter them, leaving no loot.
 * Incinerate! will deal damage over time, costing the player less bullets in exchange for some EVE.
 * Insect Swarm will deal damage over time and temporarily distract enemies, giving the player time to move to cover or land the killing blow.
 * Sonic Boom will knock enemies to the ground, allowing the player to rush forward and unload on them at point blank range while the enemy is slowly trying to get back on their feet. This strategy works best on single targets as opposed to groups, but with a distraction like Target Dummy can be just as effective against crowds of foes.

Recommended Tonics

 * Natural Camouflage will help the player stage an ambush against enemies.
 * The Damage Research line of Tonics will significantly increase damage against researched enemies.
 * The Machine Buster line of Tonics will increase damage versus machinery.
 * The Armored Shell line of Tonics will greatly reduce physical damage received by the player.
 * The SportBoost line of Tonics will grant the player more of a chance to dodge enemy shots, as well as maneuver around them.

Behind the Scenes

 * This weapon is seen again in BioShock 2 in the hands of certain Leadhead Splicers. However, these new guns use .50 Caliber Rounds instead of standard Auto Rounds, and cannot be collected by Subject Delta. It also returns in the multiplayer under the name "Tommy Gun", which was the Thompson machine gun's nickname.

BioShock 2


The Machine Gun is the fourth weapon acquired by Subject Delta, and is first picked up in Ryan Amusements. However, the Machine Gun in BioShock 2 is a Gatling Gun instead of a Tommy Gun like the ones used in the first game.

Basic Upgrades
Reinforced barrels allow for increased muzzle pressure and a higher damage output.
 * Increased Damage
 * This upgrade adds tempered, heavy-gauge steel barrels and a re-enforcing pin to the Machine Gun, which increases the damage of the ammunition fired.

A stabilization cylinder reduces the kickback of the Machine Gun, resulting in more accurate fire.
 * Recoil Reduction
 * A flash suppression vent is added to the end of the Machine Gun, directing propellant gas upwards which counteracts the gun's kickback.

Final Upgrade
A high density electrical field prevents shots from breaking up on first impact, causing them to ricochet.
 * Ricochet Enhancement
 * This upgrade adds a magnetic coil assembly to the Machine Gun, causing the bullets fired to ricochet once off of any solid surface they hit. Note that enemies do not cause bullets to ricochet.

Ammunition Types - Machine Gun

 * .50 Caliber Rounds - Base ammunition for the Machine Gun. Deal a moderate amount of piercing damage.


 * Anti-Personnel Rounds - Alternate ammunition for the Machine Gun. Deal a high amount of piercing damage against Splicers.


 * Armor-Piercing Rounds - Alternate ammunition for the Machine Gun. Deal a high amount of piercing damage against Security Devices, Big Daddies, and Big Sisters. Will pierce through multiple Splicers.

Strategy

 * Continuous, sustained firing will cause the Machine Gun to have increased recoil and decreased accuracy until paused manually or for reloading. When facing lone Splicers, burst-firing the Machine Gun results in more efficient way to kill as it saves ammo. Continuous, automatic firing is better suited for larger opponents such as Big Daddies and Brute Splicers, or for groups of enemies.
 * Even if the player favors the Gatling Gun, it is advised to avoid the Ricochet Upgrade. Its usefulness extends to very few situations, and would likely be a regrettable use of the limited number of Power to the People stations.
 * In the event that the player has purchased the Ricochet Upgrade, it can be used to ambush enemies from around corners and will help if the player isn't accurate.
 * Intentionally calling in and destroying Security Bots will allow the player to stock up on Machine Gun ammunition without having to buy any.

Why Specialize?
''Unlike the original game, it is impossible to fully upgrade every weapon through the course of the campaign. Each upgrade choice will affect the player's experience, and may or may not be suited to their combat style. The following is a brief guide to the strategic advantages and disadvantages associated with this weapon:''

Advantages

 * The Machine Gun is the best anti-group weapon, capable of killing individual Splicers rapidly and firing for a prolonged span of time without having to reload.
 * .50 Cal Rounds are somewhat common throughout the game, and can be looted off of Leadhead Splicers and Security Bots.
 * Upgrading this weapon allows the player to tackle groups with even greater ease, as well as save up on ammunition.
 * Alternate ammo types are specifically geared towards a particular type of enemy, allowing the player to take them down more easily.
 * The Machine Gun is the easiest weapon to use, with a wide spray and enough range to cover most of the rooms in the game.
 * High damage output allows the player to dispose of tougher enemies relatively quickly.

Disadvantages

 * Very high ammo consumption.
 * Alternate ammunition is both scarce in the environment and expensive.
 * Ineffective at long ranges due to its inaccuracy.
 * The Ricochet Enhancement upgrade is the most useless in the game, as the bullets' bounce angle means almost none of them will hit a target after ricocheting.
 * It's impossible to directly enhance the weapon's power through Plasmids or Gene Tonics.
 * Its low skill ceiling means that, unlike most other weapons, advanced tactics won't greatly enhance the Machine Gun's effectiveness.

Summary
The Machine Gun is a powerful and easy-to-use weapon, effective both against small groups and single tough enemies. On the other hand, the player has to be careful not to run out of ammunition, and the weapon's final upgrade is next to useless. Although recommended for less experienced players and those willing to have a strong anti-group tool, it is strongly advised to not pick the Ricochet Enhancement upgrade, and instead use the Power to the People station to craft a more useful enhancement.

Recommended Plasmids

 * Decoy will distract enemies, allowing the player to concentrate fire on them with impunity.
 * Winter Blast will freeze the target in place, allowing the player to kill them in seconds. When upgraded, it can be used against entire groups at a time.
 * Incinerate! will deal damage over time, saving ammo. If upgraded, it'll allow the player to finish off multiple Splicers simultaneously.
 * Insect Swarm will stun enemies as well as deal damage over time. At higher levels, it can also target several enemies at once.

Recommended Gene Tonics

 * Damage Research increases the effect of damage bonuses earned through research.
 * Arms Race will help the player recover more ammunition after a fight.
 * The Armored Shell line of Tonics will reduce physical damage taken by the player when in combat.

Behind the Scenes

 * Originally the designers intended for the player to find the Machine Gun by breaking it off of a makeshift turret. The circle of broken glass on top of the Machine Gun was from one of the turret's alarm lights, and the handle that the player uses to hold it is actually the metal rod that the turret was mounted on. The metal bars that the player character braces against his arm while holding the gun would have been hand holds used to aim the turret while it was mounted. The method of finding the Machine Gun was eventually changed, but the model design remained the same.
 * On the original promotional art, it appears that Subject Delta is holding the Machine Gun from the inside, similar to holding the Drill. This appears to be altered, since the Alpha Series wields the Machine Gun by the handle attachment below.

BioShock 2 Multiplayer
The original Machine Gun returns as a usable weapon in multiplayer, now referred to as the Tommy Gun. It is unlocked at Rank 2.

Multiplayer Upgrades

 * Fire Rate Increase: unlocked at Rank 2 with Sinclair Solutions Tester Pack. Increases fire rate, but creates bigger spread.


 * 33% Clip Increase: unlocked at Rank 13. Increases the Tommy Gun's clip from thirty to forty rounds before having to reload.


 * Recoil Decrease: unlocked at Rank 31. Decreases the Tommy Gun's recoil when firing, but slows its rate of fire.

Strategy

 * To counter the weapon's high amount of recoil, simply aim downwards when firing, while trying to maintain one's aim on the target's torso.
 * Although not as potent as the Nail Gun, the Tommy Gun is capable of dealing large amounts of damage versus Big Daddies. Their large size also makes the weapon's kickback irrelevant.
 * If the player is good enough with this weapon, it can also be used against groups. To do so, try to align the targets so that the gun will immediately start shooting the second target after killing the first.
 * When aiming at long-range targets, the best way to attack them is to fire the weapon in bursts of four or five.
 * The Tommy Gun's Clip Increase upgrade is recommended for players who spray most of their shots, as well as those able to master the weapon's recoil. In addition, it presents no disadvantages, and allows the player to deal more damage versus Big Daddies in one clip.
 * The Tommy Gun's Recoil Decrease upgrade is only recommended for those who have a hard time controlling the weapon's kickback. For anyone else, this weapon will only decrease combat effectiveness overall. Its only application would be towards long-range combat, where the player would be able to lay down sustained fire without too much trouble.
 * The Tommy Gun's Fire Rate Increase upgrade will drastically increase combat effectiveness at close ranges. On the other hand, the weapon's decreased accuracy and increased recoil due to the higher rate of fire make it impractical even at mid-range combat.

Complementary Weapons

 * The Grenade Launcher's ability to lay down bursts of damage will offer an alternative to the Tommy Gun's continuous stream of bullets. In addition, the versatility of both weapons make this a safe combination for pretty much any map.
 * The Crossbow is effective both at long-range and at short-range combat, while the Machine Gun patches up its ineffectiveness at medium ranges.
 * The Elephant Gun is extremely effective at mid- to long-range combat, thus complementing the Machine Gun's potency in medium to close ranges.

Recommended Plasmids

 * Winter Blast will decrease the amount of bullets needed to kill the target from ten to six, saving both time and ammunition.
 * Incinerate! will decrease the amount of bullets needed to kill the target in a similar fashion. A fully charged blast of this Plasmid will allow the player to kill the victim in four shots.
 * Houdini will give the player the chance to escape from difficult situations as well as reappear behind enemies.

Recommended Tonics

 * Big Game Hunter will increase this weapon's effectiveness versus Big Daddies. If the player has the Clip Increase upgrade, one will be able to kill a Big Daddy while only having to reload once.
 * Headhunter might come in handy, as the Tommy Gun's recoil means that some shots will invariably hit the target's head.
 * Speedy Recovery is heartily recommended, as most fights involving the Tommy Gun will come at a cost to the player's health.

Burial at Sea


In BioShock Infinite's DLC Burial at Sea, the player has access to the Tommy Gun. However, likewise to the rest of the weapons featured in this DLC, the ammo capacity and availability is limited. The player has access to a maximum of 2 clips, 35 bullets each, so the gun must be used sparingly whenever possible to conserve ammo.

Behind the Scenes

 * Despite the wieldable model being a Tommy Gun, the Machine Gun tears that Elizabeth brings in seem to contain Triple R's from Columbia - a completely different weapon in make, origin, internal components, and round used.
 * Unlike the Machine Gun found in BioShock and the Tommy Gun found in Fall of Rapture, the Burial at Sea Tommy Gun appears to have a horizontal barrel grip.
 * The box of Tommy Gun ammunition looks like the one for the Machine Gun, with only the icon changed.