User blog comment:LilyheartsLightning/The MEWiki Arsenal Awards 2012/@comment-60.240.209.220-20130124133108/@comment-24174486-20130124135605

It is indeed primarily effective against barriers and shields, and not quite as useful against anything else.

Except that the Acolyte does 500% damage against shields and barriers.

So while anti-shielding is the best thing it does, it does that job incredibly well, making it a fantastic sidearm for classes that lack anti-shield/barrier powers. (It's also a good choice for priming enemies for power combos with an appropriate ammo power/consumable.)