Laser EW

Simplest and oldest type of energy weapon, one whose creations far predates Magnetic Acceleration Weaponry [MAW]. It is still in use, even if its output is truly trivial and pitiful when compared to its successors.
Lasers can be built even by the poorest states and can be freely considered one of the most widespread type of weaponry in the Galaxy, since they can even be used in the ground warfare (as AA weaponry, tank guns and even very expensive and complicated (although deadly) sniper rifles.
They work by focusing and firing visible light. The damage is negligible, but so is energy requirement, not to mention having very high rate of fire. They can be found on pretty much every class of space ships - in fighters/interceptors as weapon to take down other fighters, while in corvettes to dreadnoughts as basis of AV Defense.