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Mass Effect: Legendary Editionsees players take on the Reapers once again as they fight to protect the galaxy from a cycle of extermination millions of years in the making. There’s no fight without weapons, however, and fans who want the best shot at beating the Reapers need to know which guns are better than others.
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Mass Effect: Legendary Editionpossesses a dizzying variety of weapons spread throughout all three games. As such, when ranking theLegendary Edition’s weapons by tier, each tier also has to be distinguished by game. Although there isn’t room for all of the available weapons in the trilogy, here are the rankings for the best guns in eachMass Effectgame.
Updated June 16, 2025 by Mark Hospodar:In Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, not every weapon is made equally. A diverse array of firearms stands ready at the player’s disposal. However, for new players especially, knowing which weapons are the best is certainly handy information.
This guide has been broken down into four tiers composed of some of the best weaponry in the trilogy. For a more in-depth look into the trilogy’s best weapons and how to get them, check out these regardingPistols,Shotguns,Assault Rifles,Sniper Rifles, andHeavy Weapons.
S-Tier Weapons
The S-Tier represents the cream of the crop regarding the trilogy’s huge selection of weapons. Obviously, these beasts should be prioritized above all other choices when it comes to Shepard’s loadout. However, acquiring the best firearms isn’t always quick or easy. Players will need patience (and sometimes deep pockets) before putting these weapons to work.
Mass Effect 1
In the case of the firstMass Effectgame, the S-Tier weapons primarily consist of X-Level Spectre gear. Fans can get their hands on these weapons from theRequisitions Officer on the Normandyor theC-Sec Academyafter completing the main story mission on Virmire. However, these weapons are quite expensive, so players should save as many credits as possible before heading to Virmire.
Mass Effect 2
Shepard’s arsenal of weaponry is no less diverse inMass Effect 2. Players should keep their eyes peeled for these weapons, as some of them can be found during missions. Failing that, they can always be purchased from one of the many terminals on the Citadel, although be prepared to spend some money.
Mass Effect 3
InMass Effect 3, Shepard faces the fullonslaught of the Reapershead-on in a desperate struggle for survival. Like the previous entry, many of the S-Tier weapons can be found during the course of a mission or purchased afterward. These represent some of thebest weapons inME3.
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A-Tier Weapons
The A-Tier weapons ofMass Effect: Legendary Editionrepresent excellent firearms capable of getting any job done. The line between S-Tier and A-Tier can often be blurry. As such, players should think of these weapons as suitable alternatives before upgrading to the S-Tier.
If players find themselves either unwilling or unable to capture the primo Spectre gear, plenty of other great X-Level alternatives exists. These weapons can be purchased, althoughbuying the requisite armory license firstis typically required. Players can alsofind these weaponsas random loot. Nevertheless, Shepard will need to be close to the level cap before these weapons start to spawn.
Attaining the A-Tier gear inMass Effect 2works no differently than their S-Tier counterparts. The vast majority of these weapons will have to either be purchased and/orresearched on the Normandybefore becoming available to the player.
The A-Tier weapons ofMass Effect 3perform admirably when pitted against the Reaper threat. Once again, players should get into the habit of saving their money since most of these weapons, with the exception of the M-358 Talon and Reaper Blackstar, must be purchased.
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B-Tier Weapons
B-Tier weaponry isn’t quite as special as those found in the previous tiers. These firearms are a bit less unique, although they still have their uses. Players a tad short on credits and/or resources can still utilize these competent weapons in battle without sacrificing too much in the process.
The stats for these weapons are still significant, although they remain inferior to the top-of-the-line Spectre gear. Some are better at dealing damage, while others tend to favor accuracy. As always, it’s important to be aware of a weapon’s strengths and limitations before equipping it.
It’s worth mentioning here that the M-76 Revenant assault rifle is only available to players who have chosen the Soldier class inMass Effect 2. All of the other weapons can be found throughout the course of various quests,notably recruitment/loyalty missions.
The Executioner Pistol and Graal Spiker Thrower costs a modest sum of credits: 10,000 and 7,000 respectively. Fans, however, can acquire the Spike Thrower for free during"Priority: Tuchanka.“The N7 Valiant, however, will fetch a high price at 250,000 credits.
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C-Tier Weapons
C-Tier weapons are the final class of firearms that can still be considered the “best” the trilogy has to offer. Although there’s always room for some argument, these weapons find it tougher to compete with their beefier and more valuable cousins.
Players who don’t feel like waiting around for the X-Level gear to spawn should consider investing in the VII-Level Spectre weapons. These firearms areunlocked after Shepard is made a Spectrerelatively early in the main story. Fans can still utilize these weapons for quite some time before they eventually become obsolete with the higher-level gear.
The M-300 Claymore, like many other weapons in the trilogy, appears in bothMass Effect 2andMass Effect 3. It’s worth noting that in the second entry, onlySoldiers and Vanguardscan acquire a Claymore, which occurs during the Collector Ship mission.
Unlike the vast majority of the other weapons in this guide, the M-99 Saber can’t actually be purchased ifShepard happens to miss itduring"Priority: Horizon.“It’s locked inside a pod that players will have to open by accessing a holographic terminal nearby.
Mass Effect: Legendary Editionis currently available on PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One.
