No! It's not the same thing!

Let's get this out of the way early so I'm not foaming at the mouth throughout the guide, threatening to give you a case of space rabies that you probably deserve but can't afford to treat because you used all your cash on nukes and naughty bobbleheads:

The Saw Arm in Cryptark doesn't feel like a Saw Arm at all.

A glowing red circular saw is tethered to your Prioneer Suit with a strand of [broken] energy, it's swung in a short mushroom-shaped arc, obliterating any projectiles in range with dazzling sparks. It's a visual treat (at least in screenshots because the action happens so quickly), but doesn't scream "scary a$$ mech saw" when used. It works more like a maul.

The Saw Arm [SAW] can be randomly looted from any Upgrade Station found in the alien hulks. It can be equipped for $20K by browsing the [CLOSE COMBAT] tab on the Loadout page.


Alternately, you can begin using it immediately by choosing the [SALAMANDER] Pioneer Suit.

The Saw Arm doesn't grind alien metal or shred decaying xeno-flesh in a satisfying shower of flint and fire. Instead it functions like a hammer that whacks anything away, clear across the room. Plasma Bombs, enemies, rogue war mongering frogs, anything that isn't immediately smashed into scrap becomes a glorified pinball after kissing the space mace- er, saw. Whatever.

Most bullets are immediately nullified, making it a smacktastic tool to approach enemies like Pickets and Heavy Sentinels. It can be swung about as fast as a Picket can fire, but can only be used 4 times before needing to recharge. It can be swung again as soon as 25% charge is reached.

In the image below, one swing destroyed the Jackal's burst fire, deflected a Plasma Bomb, and sent the Bomber itself clear off the screen. Flung enemies do come back eventually and try to murderize you though, apparently no alien species has a sense of humor about getting disembowled by a saw.

Thanks to the bullet-smashing and enemy-repelling ability, the Saw Arm lets us use aggressive or defensive tactics when facing the hordes of undead Xenos. Players who favor melee weapons also get that much more survivability.

Not just a tool for niche utility, the Saw Arm is powerful as a standalone weapon, capable of quickly destroying even some Systems.

• The Saw Arm can multi-hit a single enemy in certain situations. For example, Alert and Sentry Systems are large enough that the Saw can completely stay inside them through the whole swing, so they're often hit twice. It makes short work of a Central Core since it can hit multiple weakpoints at once.
  
  
• Hitting Jackals or Sawblade enemies only at their edges will send them flying and deal some damage, but hitting them at point blank range will usually destroy them in one hit. Drone Factories can be destroyed in one swing! This further makes me think the Saw Arm can hit multiple times through its arc.
  
  
• Enemies can be hit through walls and closed doors. This is great for destroying Pickets/Jockeys from around a corner, and it's a free shot on any enemy behind a thin barrier. You can stay pressed against a locked door and hit alerted enemies before they can open it to attack you.
  
  
• Use the Saw Arm to safely detonate enemy mines.
  
  
• Holding down the [BUTTON] will swing the Saw continuously. That's fine against stationary targets, but you'll find it's more effective in mobile combat if you use it tactically, especially to destroy incoming bullets.
  
  
• Caskets can be damaged even when they're closed, and any emerging Hornets can be quickly swiped away.
  
  
• Heavy Sentinel purple shields are bypassed by the Saw Arm, but you'll usually end up smacking the Heavy Sentinel away rather than destroying it.
  
  
• Enemies who fire continuously, like Heavy Sentinels, Jackals, and Bullies, can be disoriented when hit by the Saw Arm. They may fire in a random direction for a short time.
  
  
• Juggernaut Bombs will explode when hit and still damage you if in range. It's possible to detonate them at the maximum range and not get hurt, but it isn't worth the effort unless it's an emergency. Juggernauts themselves can be hit and flung away like any other minion.
  
  
• The Saw Arm can directly damage most Systems, with the following speedhumps:
  
  • Central Core - Only the available weakspots can be damaged
    
  • Door Lock - All 3 gates must be open
    
  • Drone/Juggernaut Factory - Outer shell must be open
    
  • Minelayer - Hitting the armor plate on its back doesn't cause damage.
    
  • Shield Generator - You take reflected damage and are knocked far back, but the Generator also takes damage.
  
  
• Projectiles from the following are nullified on hit:
  
  • Jockey
    
  • Picket
    
  • Jackal
    
  • Drone Factory
    
  • Heavy Sentinel
  
  
• Projectiles from the following are deflected:
  
  • Bomber - The Plasma Bombs blitz away and bounce off objects like a pinball until they detonate.
  
  
• The Saw Arm has no effect on the following:
  
  • Alarm lasers (Tattletale, Trip-Laser, Alert System)
    
  • Central Core's purple force waves
    
  • Sentry System laser
    
  • Bully's air blasts
    
  • Slime/Napalm - Hitting this stuff with the Saw Arm moves the goop like a millimeter, might as well be no effect.