Legendary Edition bundles Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 into one launcher with more than 40 pieces of DLC, and BioWare released it on 14 May 2021. Only Pinnacle Station is missing, because its source data was corrupt, and the Mass Effect 3 multiplayer was left out entirely. Powers, ammunition and weapon rules differ between the three games, so a plan built in the first one does not carry forward unchanged.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assault rifles | S | Soldiers and anyone who wants steady damage without positioning tricks | The mid range default, from the M-8 Avenger onward. |
| Sniper rifles | A | Infiltrators, and any class that opens fights from cover at long range | The highest per shot damage in the trilogy, headlined by the M-92 Mantis, the M-98 Widow and its Black Widow variant. |
| Shotguns | A | Vanguards and Soldiers who fight at contact range | Close range burst damage, with the M-300 Claymore hitting hardest and reloading slowest. |
| Heavy pistols | B | Adepts, Engineers and Sentinels who need cooldowns more than bullets | Light sidearms such as the M-6 Carnifex. |
| Submachine guns | B | Power focused classes needing something to fire between cooldowns | Introduced in Mass Effect 2 as a light, high rate of fire option that strips shields quickly and struggles against armour. |
S-Tier: Assault rifles
The mid range default, from the M-8 Avenger onward. In the first game they overheat instead of reloading, and from Mass Effect 2 they burn thermal clips at the fastest rate of any category.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Soldiers and anyone who wants steady damage without positioning tricks |
| Key Mechanic | Six classes across all three games |
| Recommended Build | Soldier |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Assault rifles: Pairs naturally with Soldier thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Sniper rifles
The highest per shot damage in the trilogy, headlined by the M-92 Mantis, the M-98 Widow and its Black Widow variant. They are heavy, which slows power recharge in Mass Effect 3.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Infiltrators, and any class that opens fights from cover at long range |
| Key Mechanic | Power Combos from primer and detonator |
| Recommended Build | Infiltrator |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Sniper rifles: Pairs naturally with Infiltrator thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Shotguns
Close range burst damage, with the M-300 Claymore hitting hardest and reloading slowest. They pair naturally with Biotic Charge because both want you inside the enemy formation.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Vanguards and Soldiers who fight at contact range |
| Key Mechanic | Overheating guns then thermal clips |
| Recommended Build | Vanguard |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Shotguns: Pairs naturally with Vanguard thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Heavy pistols
Light sidearms such as the M-6 Carnifex. Their low weight is the point in Mass Effect 3, where a light loadout keeps power cooldowns short.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Adepts, Engineers and Sentinels who need cooldowns more than bullets |
| Key Mechanic | Paragon and Renegade with imported saves |
| Recommended Build | Adept |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Heavy pistols: Pairs naturally with Adept thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Submachine guns
Introduced in Mass Effect 2 as a light, high rate of fire option that strips shields quickly and struggles against armour.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Power focused classes needing something to fire between cooldowns |
| Key Mechanic | War Assets and Effective Military Strength |
| Recommended Build | Engineer |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Submachine guns: Pairs naturally with Engineer thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Eden Prime
- Sniper rifles → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Shotguns → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Assault rifles → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Commit to Paragon or Renegade rather than splitting the difference. The two bars fill independently, and the biggest conversation checks in Mass Effect 2 and 3 need one bar high rather than two bars halfway.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Mass Effect Legendary Edition Guides
- Mass Effect Legendary Edition Mass Effect Legendary Edition Overview
- Mass Effect Legendary Edition Best Builds
- Mass Effect Legendary Edition Tier List
- Mass Effect Legendary Edition Walkthrough
- Mass Effect Legendary Edition Beginner's Guide
- Mass Effect Legendary Edition Tips & Tricks
- Mass Effect Legendary Edition Combat Guide
- Mass Effect Legendary Edition Boss Guide
- Mass Effect Legendary Edition Maps & Locations
- Mass Effect Legendary Edition Crafting Guide
- Mass Effect Legendary Edition Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Mass Effect Legendary Edition, check out these related guides:
- Elden Ring Weapons Guide: rpg game with similar mechanics
- Baldur's Gate 3 Weapons Guide: rpg game with similar mechanics
- Cyberpunk 2077 Weapons Guide: rpg game with similar mechanics
