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Commander Shepard doesn’t have to look very far to find one of these weapons. However, the trick lies in finding the best available. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition contains a huge arsenal of weaponry, so the selection process can often be difficult. No matter how gamers choose to play, hanging on to these deadly implements is always a good idea.

Updated July 15, 2022 by Mark Hospodar: With the summer in full swing, now has never been a better time to revisit Mass Effect: Legendary Edition and fire up the engines on the Normandy one more time. Of course, knowing which weapons to bring to battle is worthwhile information.

Fans who prefer to use sniper rifles certainly don’t lack options. Although no weapon in the game can be considered useless, some are still better than others. Regarding sniper rifles, this list has been expanded to include an easy-to-read collection of stats as well as a section on sniper rifle upgrades for Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3. All stats come courtesy of the Mass Effect Wiki.

12 Javelin

Firing Mode: Charged Single Shot Clip Size: 1 Reserve: 5

The Javelin is one of the deadliest sniper rifles in the trilogy. A weapon of Geth design, the Javelin fires a bright beam of energy capable of penetrating through cover. When upgraded with mods, practically nothing can stop a shot from the Javelin. Its thermal scope also allows players to see through cover and pinpoint exactly where their enemies are located. It’s also worth keeping in mind that this weapon has a slight charge time before it fires.

Players can find the Javelin in Mass Effect 3 during the mission, “Rannoch: Admiral Koris.” If players miss the Javelin during the mission, it can be purchased later at the Elkoss Combine Arsenal terminal in the Presidium Commons for 10,000 credits.

11 Krysae Sniper Rifle

Firing Mode: Semi-Automatic Clip Size: 3 Reserve: 9

The Krysae Sniper Rifle is a weapon of Turian design. It fires explosive, armor-penetrating rounds that are particularly lethal to hordes of Reaper enemies. As such, this sniper rifle comes in handy whenever fans want to unleash some area-of-effect damage on clumps of foes.

Once again, the Krysae Sniper Rifle is found only in Mass Effect 3. Originally part of the Firefight Pack DLC, players can purchase the weapon in the Legendary Edition for 10,000 credits at the Cipritine Armory terminal in the Presidium Commons.

10 Kishock Harpoon Gun

Firing Mode: Charged Single Shot Clip Size: 1 Reserve: 15

The Kishock Harpoon Gun is a sniper rifle often favored by slavers and mercenaries. Unlike more normal projectiles, the Kishock fires a spike in the manner of a harpoon, which causes residual bleeding damage. The rifle can also be charged, which can make a single headshot extremely deadly no matter an enemy’s defenses.

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The Kishock Harpoon Gun can only be acquired in Mass Effect 3. Since this weapon tends to be popular amongst the galaxy’s seedier elements, it can be purchased from the Batarian State Arms terminal on the Citadel. This kiosk can be found in the Docks: Holding Area and comes with a price tag of 10,000 credits.

9 Volkov Sniper Rifle X

Damage: 315 Shots Fired Before Overheating: 1. 8 Accuracy Rating: 69

The first Mass Effect title offers a dizzying amount of weapons of all types. For sniper rifles, players can’t go wrong with the Volkov brand. Produced by Rosenkov Materials, the X-tier inflicts a significant amount of damage (315), the second-highest of its class. With an accuracy rating of 69, it’s still lethally precise at long range.

Players will have to be patient to acquire the best Volkov rifle. The X-tier equipment only starts to spawn once Shepard reaches a high enough level. In addition, purchasing the Rosenkov Materials armory license from Opold for 6,250 credits is a viable strategy if players wish to purchase it from a merchant.

8 Punisher Sniper Rifle X

Damage: 273 Shots Fired Before Overheating: 2. 0 Accuracy Rating: 74

As an alternative to the Volkov, players may want to consider the Punisher brand, produced by Armax Arsenal. The X-tier version still packs a respectable punch of 273 points of damage. In fact, the Punisher outperforms the Volkov in terms of accuracy, possessing a higher rating of 74.

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As with all the best weapons, players will have to wait a bit before getting their hands on the best gear. Purchasing an Armax armory license from Expat in the Upper Markets on the Citadel is recommended. The license itself will cost 30,000 credits.

7 M-92 Mantis

Firing Mode: Single Shot Clip Size: 1 Reserve: 9 Base Damage: 263. 1 - Mass Effect 2 Damage Multipliers: Armor - x1. 5, Shields x1. 0, Barriers - x1. 0

The M-92 Mantis is an extremely accurate and deadly weapon. Its rate of fire is slow, only discharging one shot at a time, but that’s usually enough to get the job done. Headshots can down most common enemies instantly, even when wearing armor. It’s one of the best long-range weapons Shepard can acquire in the trilogy.

Players can acquire this rifle in both Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3. In the former’s case, the M-92 Mantis is obtained automatically at the start of “Freedom’s Progress” when playing as a Soldier or Infiltrator. In Mass Effect 3, Infiltrators receive it by default at the start of “Priority: Mars.” All other classes must loot it off a dead Alliance soldier near the beginning of the mission.

6 M-98 Widow

Firing Mode: Single Shot Clip Size: 1 Reserve: 13 (ME2), 7 (ME3) Base Damage: 368. 3 - Mass Effect 2 Damage Multipliers: Armor - x1. 5, Shields - x1. 0, Barriers - x1. 0

The M-98 Widow is essentially an upgraded version of the M-92 Mantis. As such, it shares many of the previous entry’s characteristics. It’s a single-shot weapon, although it’s even deadlier than its predecessor. The M-98 Widow incorporates higher base damage and is still very effective against armor.

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In Mass Effect 2, only Soldier and Infiltrator classes can obtain the M-98 Widow. It’s offered during the Collector Ship mission. This sniper rifle makes a reappearance in Mass Effect 3 during “Priority: Thessia.” If players miss it, it can also be purchased from Kassa Fabrication after the mission’s completion.

5 Black Widow

Firing Mode: Automatic Clip Size: 3 Reserve: 15

Could the M-98 Widow possibly get any better? Yes, and its name is the Black Widow. Considered a Spectre requisitions weapon, the Black Widow is extremely rare. Capable of firing three shots before reloading instead of one, this rifle improves upon the shortcomings of its predecessors. It’s a combination of the M-92 and the M-98 in one package.

The Black Widow is only available in Mass Effect 3. It also fetches quite a pretty penny. In Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, players can purchase the Black Widow from the Spectre Requisitions terminal in the Citadel Embassies. Its base cost stands at 125,000 credits.

4 M-97 Viper

Firing Mode: Semi-Automatic Clip Size: 12 (ME2), 6 (ME3) Reserve: 48 (ME2), 36 (ME3) Base Damage: 81. 9 - Mass Effect 2 Damage Multipliers: Armor - x1. 35, Shields - x1. 15, Barriers - x1. 15

The sniper rifles previously mentioned are great against armor. The same cannot be said about shields and biotic barriers. However, that’s where the strength of the M-97 Viper comes into play. Although not quite as powerful as the M-98 Widow, the Viper inflicts increased damage to enemies using shields and kinetic barriers. It also utilizes a rapid rate of fire, allowing it to down enemies relatively quickly.

Players can find the M-97 Viper in Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3. They can pick it up during Thane’s recruitment mission in Mass Effect 2. In Mass Effect 3, the M-97 Viper can be found on top of a crate during “Priority: Palaven.” If missed, it can also be purchased post-mission from Kassa Fabrication.

3 N7 Valiant

Firing Mode: Semi-Automatic Clip Size: 3 Reserve: 30

The N7 Valiant is yet another rare weapon that proves to be a boon when acquired. The Valiant is semi-automatic, able to squeeze off multiple shots in quick succession. It has low recoil coupled with high accuracy, making it a sort of sniper/assault rifle hybrid. Thus, the N7 Valiant is incredibly versatile for a myriad of different situations.

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The N7 Valiant only makes one appearance, and that’s in Mass Effect 3. Originally, this weapon was included as a bonus item for those who purchased the Collector’s Edition of the game. However, in Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, players can buy the Valiant from the Spectre Requisitions terminal in the Citadel Embassies. Its price stands at 250,000 credits.

2 M-90 Indra

Firing Mode: Automatic Clip Size: 25 Reserve: 180

Like the Valiant, the M-90 Indra can be thought of as a hybrid weapon. Uniquely, the M-90 Indra is a fully automatic sniper rifle. It’s capable of a very high rate of fire with plenty of ammo capacity. These features offset the Indra’s relatively low damage output. It’s best employed at medium range, where enemies can be mowed down in rapid succession.

The M-90 Indra was also originally a bonus item for Mass Effect 3. It came as part of the Firefight Pack not long after the game hit the shelves in 2012. In Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, the M-90 Indra can simply be purchased from the Kassa Fabrication terminal in the Presidium Commons for a base cost of 10,000 credits.

1 HMWSR Master Sniper Rifle X

Damage: 336 Shots Fired Before Overheating: 2 Accuracy Rating: 86

Spectre gear is the ultimate equipment Commander Shepard can obtain in the original Mass Effect. The X-tier Master Sniper Rifle is unrivaled in its death-dealing potential. No other weapon of its class comes close to matching its specifications. Damage output stands at 336, coupled with an 86 accuracy rating.

Don’t expect to acquire this monster early. Shepard can acquire some of the lower-level gear once they become a Spectre as part of the main story. However, the X-tier weapons, including the Master Sniper Rifle, can only be obtained once the player has completed the mission on Virmire. It can then be purchased from either the Normandy or C-Sec Requisitions Officers. Be prepared to spend at least 1,200,000 credits on this beast!

HMWSR Master Sniper Rifle VII: A Useful Alternative

Obtaining the Level-X Spectre sniper rifle takes a lot of time, not to mention a significant monetary investment. For players who neglect to save their money or simply don’t want to wait, the Level-VII version of the weapon is a worthy alternative. Although fans still have to pay for it, players can obtain Level-VII gear after gaining Spectre status early in the main story.

This is worth keeping in mind since players may ultimately end up using the Level-VII version more often than its beefier counterpart. Level-X Spectre gear only becomes available towards the end of the main story. Furthermore, the Level-VII sniper rifle has a damage rating of 278 and an accuracy value of 85, making it a rather comparable alternative.

Sniper Rifle Upgrades In Mass Effect 2

In Mass Effect 2, Commander Shepard has resources and credits to burn. Although a plethora of upgrades can be made, players who favor the sniper rifle as their primary weapon should devote a good chunk of their resources toward making it better. When fans get the chance, purchasing these upgrades is typically a wise idea:

Sniper Rifle Damage 1-6 (Scram Pulsar): +10% Sniper Rifle Damage AP Sniper Rifle (Tungsten Sabot Jacket): +50% Damage against Armor Sniper Headshot Damage (Combat Scanner): +50% Headshot Damage

These upgrades don’t come cheap, however. Players will have to invest much of their raw materials in these upgrades at the Normandy Tech Lab. Nevertheless, any marksman looking to make their skills even deadlier should pay the price. They won’t be disappointed!

Cost of Scram Pulsar: 2,500/5,000/7,500/10,000 Platinum or 60,000 Credits at Omega Market Cost of Tungsten Sabot Jacket: 15,000 Platinum Cost of Combat Scanner: 25,000 Platinum

Sniper Rifle Upgrades In Mass Effect 3

To help combat the Reaper invasion, Commander Shepard can utilize several weapon mods and attachments to increase the effectiveness of his/her weapons. If fans intend on using a sniper rifle as their primary weapon, these handly tools are worth their weight in gold.

Concentration Mod: Increases Time Dilation and Damage Spare Thermal Clip: Increases Spare Shot Capacity Extended Barrel: Increases Damage (mutually exclusive with High-Velocity Barrel) Piercing Mod: Increases Shot Penetration Enhanced Scope: Increases Accuracy (mutually exclusive with Thermal Scope) Thermal Scope: Increases Accuracy (mutually exclusive with Enhanced Scope) High-Velocity Barrel: Increases Shot Penetration (mutually exclusive with Extended Barrel) Ultralight Materials: Reduces Weapon Weight

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is currently available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

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