Players aren’t tied down to one method when it comes to dispatching enemies inMass Effect: Legendary Edition. Sometimes, getting up close and personal isn’t recommended. In those instances, having a trusty high-caliber sniper rifle by one’s side will do the trick. Sniper rifles become doubly important when playing asstealthier builds, like the Infiltrator.
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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 Editioncontains 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 June 16, 2025 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 theMass Effect Wiki.
12Javelin
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 inMass Effect 3during the mission, “Rannoch: Admiral Koris.” If players miss the Javelin during the mission, it can be purchased later at theElkoss Combine Arsenal terminal in the Presidium Commonsfor10,000 credits.
11Krysae Sniper Rifle
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 inMass Effect 3. Originally part of theFirefight PackDLC, players can purchase the weapon in theLegendary Editionfor10,000 creditsat theCipritine Armory terminal in the Presidium Commons.
10Kishock Harpoon Gun
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 inMass Effect 3. Since this weapon tends to be popular amongst the galaxy’s seedier elements, it can be purchased from theBatarian State Arms terminal on the Citadel. This kiosk can be found in theDocks: Holding Areaand comes with a price tag of10,000 credits.
9Volkov Sniper Rifle X
The firstMass Effecttitle 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 theRosenkov Materials armory licensefromOpold for 6,250 creditsis a viable strategy if players wish to purchase it from a merchant.
8Punisher Sniper Rifle X
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 anArmax armory licensefromExpat in the Upper Markets on the Citadelis recommended. The license itself will cost30,000 credits.
7M-92 Mantis
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. Headshotscan 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 bothMass Effect 2andMass Effect 3. In the former’s case,the M-92 Mantis is obtained automatically at the start of “Freedom’s Progress"when playing as aSoldierorInfiltrator. InMass Effect 3, Infiltrators receive it by default at the start of"Priority: Mars.“All other classes must loot it offa dead Alliance soldiernear the beginning of the mission.
6M-98 Widow
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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InMass 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 inMass Effect 3during"Priority: Thessia.“If players miss it, it can also bepurchased from Kassa Fabricationafter the mission’s completion.
5Black Widow
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 inMass Effect 3. It also fetches quite a pretty penny. InMass Effect: Legendary Edition,players can purchase the Black Widow from the Spectre Requisitions terminalin theCitadel Embassies. Its base cost stands at125,000 credits.
4M-97 Viper
The sniper rifles previously mentioned are great against armor. The same cannot be said aboutshields 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 inMass Effect 2andMass Effect 3. They canpick it up duringThane’s recruitment missioninMass Effect 2. InMass Effect 3, the M-97 Viper can befound on top of a crate during “Priority: Palaven.“If missed, it can also be purchased post-mission fromKassa Fabrication.
3N7 Valiant
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 inMass Effect 3. Originally, this weapon was included as a bonus item for those who purchased the Collector’s Edition of the game. However, inMass Effect: Legendary Edition, players canbuy the Valiant from the Spectre Requisitions terminalin theCitadel Embassies. Its price stands at250,000 credits.
