LAM

The Lightweight Attack Munition (LAM) is a demolition skill weapon in Deus Ex.

Background
The LAM is a multi-functional explosive with electronic priming system that can either be thrown or attached to any surface with its polyhesive backing and used as a proximity mine. Even though it is quite easy to defuse the explosive for a person who is trained in demolition, it is very popular (for instance, the gangster El Rey calls them "hardcore munitions").

Game unit
LAMs can be found in the Statue of Liberty, and are uncommon throughout the game. Troops of all types have the ability to use LAMs as grenades, but UNATCO and MJ-12 troops tend to do so more than NSF troops.

The LAM is one of the most versatile weapons in the game. It can be used as a mine, an anti-personnel grenade, a door-breacher and as a robot-destroyer.

As a mine, it should be placed in either areas where enemies are clustered together, or in a tight hallway. The more enemies you can get caught in a blast, the less enemies you'll have to gun down. You can position your opponents a little by allowing or breaking line of sight: they will close if they can't see you and stop to open fire if they can. Placing a LAM at a corner and luring your targets around it will make them blow up as they come around the corner and see you.

As an anti-personnel grenade, it can kill all human enemies in one shot, and severely injure monsters. Remember that you can't prime the LAM, so make sure you have a good chance of hitting your target when you hit the fire key.

As a door-breacher, just throw it near a door that can be blown up. It'll destroy any type of door as long as its strength is not infinite. Remember that enemies can hear the explosion, so be careful.

As a robot-destroyer, it can take out small and medium robots in one hit, and destroy large ones in two. Throwing LAMs at them is the easier way to destroy them, but you can plant them on walls if you have the chance. Using one as a mine will allow you to follow up with a tossed one if it survives the initial LAM.

Characters and LAMs

 * A junkie called Lenny in the men's bathroom at Brooklyn Station has got a LAM. He wants to trade it for a vial of zyme.
 * The gangster El Ray at Brooklyn Station has got one for sale. The junkies found a whole box of them. If you kill the dealer downstairs you get it for free. If you then kill all of his gang, the Rooks, he will offer you a second one in exchange for his safety. Kill him anyway and a third one can be found on his body.
 * Smuggler in Hell's Kitchen has 5 LAMs for sale when you return from Hong Kong. He wants 3500 credits for the set.
 * Howard Strong throws LAMs at you when he sees you.

Behind the scenes

 * There is a real world multi-purpose mine called SLAM (Selectable Lightweight Attack Munition), that possibly was an inspiration for a LAM.

Granat LAM