Impulse Rifle

Description
The Impulse Rifle is the third weapon upgrade available in the game once the player reaches level 5. In the game files it is named "impulse1".

Uses the piercing mechanic of the game by shooting a high-damage bullet which can destroy several enemies with ease as long as they are in line formation or close enough to each other.

Similar to the Default Cannon, the projectile is a white ball, however it now emits a white light.

Upgrades
It has a slightly faster fire rate than the Default Cannon, but the actual highlights are both the Damage output and the Bullet Speed, since both stats are the highest of all tier 1 weapons.

As the bullet has such high damage, it has no problem going through enemies and their bonuses. The Bullet Speed combined with the Recoil and Recover stats make a very reliable weapon for hitting from afar. however it does share the Default Cannon's Reload Time, perhaps making it difficult to keep up with several dispersed enemies.

Although any projectile and weapon is capable of piercing through enemies, the Impulse Rifle is the only one with enough damage to warrant the player this option at the start of a level.

Once Impulse Rifle is acquired, Tier 2 of the Impulse weapons becomes available for the next time the player opens the Upgrade Screen.

Strategy
There are several levels designed specifically for this weapon, which of course can be done with any other as well, but the piercing mechanic does shine with the Impulse weapons.

To maximize the effectiveness this, the player has to position the ship in front of an enemy or at a certain angle around the planet, taking in consideration other targets that are behind the first one. If used correctly, it can pierce through a maximum of 9 objects with 5 damage to spare for the next one.

It can be tricky, but given plenty of enemies drop something, whether it being bonuses or an explosive barrel, the Impulse Rifle can deal with a lot of targets at times.

Piercing through bosses is not possible since such have a lot of health, however an upgraded Impulse Rifle can deal a lot of damage to them.

Ideal upgrades for this weapon are Reload Time and Fire Rate. In most of the levels Damage is not needed, and much less Bullet Speed. Clipsize can be a good alternative to Reload Time as well unless there are fast enemies in the level.