A look at the types of weapons and defensive systems used in space warfare at different technology levels.

Chainguns: The simplest weapons for space combat. At this technology level, the only practical way to hit targets at such long ranges is to fire a lot of bullets at the target. Tend to be used through to TL 9.

Nuclear missiles: Good range, but limited delta-v at low technology levels. Very destructive if they get close enough until the invention of nuclear dampers.

Railguns: Similar to chainguns, but using electromagnetic propulsion to fire a small number of rounds at very high velocity. More accurate, longer ranged, but still limited relative to higher tech alternatives.

Lasers: At TL 8 lasers are possible, but not that effective. They tend to do limited damage but have the advantage of high accuracy at longer ranges than railguns.

Sandcasters: Used for defensive purposes. They deploy fine dust particles which absorb and reflect light, used as a defence against lasers, and to some extent, particle beams.

Massdrivers: These are large, spinal mounted railguns. They cause massive damage at long range, and have greater accuracy than railguns due to their high speed, but a ship needs to be built around them.

Particle beams: Particle beams are more damaging that lasers, though aren't quite as long ranged.

Nuclear pumped x-ray lasers: Nuclear missiles which power a highly destructive x-ray laser at the target. Greater effective range than a standard nuclear missile.

Xasers: X-ray lasers. Better range characteristics than standard lasers, and these ones don't need to have a nuclear bomb behind them.

Meson guns: Make use of weird stuff to avoid armour. Tend to be only used as spinal mount weapons until much later tech levels.

Plasma cannons: Fire bolts of super heated plasma. Shorter range than lasers or particle beams, but more damage. Due to their explosive effects, tend to be good against larger targets.

Nuclear dampers: The ability to prevent nuclear explosions in close proximity.

Anti-matter particle beams: Highly destructive, dirty weapons. Have to use low density beams for safety reasons, so not as bad as they might sound, but better than standard particle beams.

Fusion cannons: Hotter, more deadly versions of plasma cannons, heating the bolts up to fusion temperatures before firing.

Gravity pulse gun: Uses a mix of repulsor/tractor technology to shake the target apart. Ignores armour, but very short range.

Grasers: Gamma ray lasers.

Plasma beams: Beam version of plasma cannon.

Fusion beams: Beam version of fusion cannon.