A cutting blaster was designed to be used to clear trails in dense environments. It was not as accurate as a standard blaster, and therefore was not as heavily restricted as weapons-quality blasters. The cutting blaster produced a "cold blast" of energy which lasted for a second and half and was capable of cutting down brush and small trees. It was referred to as a cold blast as the pulse was unlikely to produce a spark or start a fire. The weapon needed around four hours to charge off of a standard starship's power systems.