Disruptor

From ImperialWiki

A disruptor is a common energy weapon in Star Trek. They are the preferred weapons of the Klingon and Romulan civilizations. Disruptors are scalable, ranging in size from sidearms to primary capital ship weapons.

[edit] Nature

While their operating principles are unclear, disruptors seem to perform much like phasers. While equally effective, the damage they inflict tends to be more mechanical in nature -- ripping or tearing of affected material -- than that of phasers (TNG, "Hero Worship").

Disruptors of either scale can fire pulses or continuous beams.

[edit] Quotes

"It's not just an effective weapon. It's... vicious. It tears a body apart... and very slowly by your phaser standards."
-- Kivas Fajo describing a Veron-T disruptor, TNG "The Most Toys"