diff --git a/language.version b/language.version
index cd3b90989..a036dd3ef 100644
--- a/language.version
+++ b/language.version
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 [default]
-SWWM_MODVER="\cyDEMOLITIONIST \cw1.3pre r565 \cu(Tue 11 Oct 23:39:49 CEST 2022)\c-";
-SWWM_SHORTVER="\cw1.3pre r565 \cu(2022-10-11 23:39:49)\c-";
+SWWM_MODVER="\cyDEMOLITIONIST \cw1.3pre r566 \cu(Wed 12 Oct 00:04:27 CEST 2022)\c-";
+SWWM_SHORTVER="\cw1.3pre r566 \cu(2022-10-12 00:04:27)\c-";
diff --git a/zscript/weapons/swwm_cbt.zsc b/zscript/weapons/swwm_cbt.zsc
index 09076eb39..249f37c96 100644
--- a/zscript/weapons/swwm_cbt.zsc
+++ b/zscript/weapons/swwm_cbt.zsc
@@ -260,7 +260,11 @@ Class Wallbuster : SWWMWeapon
 			// the shooting
 			if ( !st ) st = new("SpreadgunTracer");
 			st.ignoreme = self;
-			for ( int j=0; j<20; j++ )
+			// attempt to uniformize expected damage while reducing traces (mainly for performance)
+			int expecteddmg = 200;
+			int numshot = max(21-howmany,5);
+			int individualdmg = int(ceil(expecteddmg/double(numshot)));
+			for ( int j=0; j<numshot; j++ )
 			{
 				a = FRandom[Wallbuster](0,360);
 				s = FRandom[Wallbuster](0,.05+.006*howmany);
@@ -269,7 +273,7 @@ Class Wallbuster : SWWMWeapon
 				st.shootthroughlist.Clear();
 				st.waterhitlist.Clear();
 				st.Trace(origin,level.PointInSector(origin.xy),dir,8000.,TRACE_HitSky);
-				ProcessTraceHit(st,origin,dir,10,7000,bc:5+howmany/6,(howmany>1));
+				ProcessTraceHit(st,origin,dir,individualdmg,7000,bc:5+howmany/6,(howmany>1));
 			}
 			for ( int i=0; i<(16-howmany/2); i++ )
 			{