Commander Shepard certainly does not have it easy in Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. With the imminent return of the Reapers, biomechanical leviathans who seek to exterminate all life in the galaxy, Shepard definitely has his work cut out for him. Luckily, a large arsenal of weaponry is at his disposal to help get the job done.
But what is the best class of weapon to defeat a Reaper invasion? Assault rifles are generally an excellent choice when customizing one's loadout. Across all three titles of the trilogy, there are plenty of great options to choose from when selecting an assault rifle. Always be on the lookout for these overpowered dealers of death.
Updated July 15, 2022 by Mark Hospodar: When it comes to selecting a weapon loadout in Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, a trusty assault rifle can really come in handy. Across the trilogy, Commander Shepard can make use of a diverse assortment of blistering firepower to end the threat of the Reapers once and for all.
There are no incorrect options in choosing any of these intimidating battlefield implements. Furthermore, knowing which assault rifle to employ at the right time can mean a lot when the lasers start flying. Don't overlook these weapons on the next playthrough! This list has been expanded to include some useful stats as well as an upgrade section to better inform players of their potential load-outs. All stats come courtesy of the Mass Effect Wiki.
15 Particle Rifle
- Firing Mode: Automatic
- Clip Size: 100
- Reserve: Infinite
The Particle Rifle is one of the trilogy's more unique weapons. Instead of relying on traditional thermal clips, the Particle Rifle's ammunition supply never runs out. As the player sustains their rate of fire, the rifle's energy beam becomes more powerful. Thus, the Particle Rifle is an ideal weapon for combating swarms of enemies.
This assault rifle only makes an appearance in Mass Effect 3. Acquiring it, however, is relatively simple. Players need to complete the mission "Priority: Eden Prime." After doing so, the Particle Rifle becomes available for Commander Shepard to use for the rest of the game.
14 Crossfire X
- Damage: 312
- Shots Fired Before Overheating: 81
- Accuracy Rating: 57
A wide array of assault rifles can be collected throughout one's playthrough of the original Mass Effect. One brand players can't go wrong with is Armax Arsenal, specifically the Crossfire X. It inflicts respectable damage (312) while also possessing an above-average accuracy rating (57).
Like many of the weapons in Mass Effect, fans may come across the Crossfire X as random loot when Commander Shepard is near the level cap. Conversely, players can purchase an Armax Arsenal license from Expat on the Citadel for 30,000 credits.
13 Collector Assault Rifle
- Firing Mode: Automatic
- Clip Size: 28
- Reserve: 280
- Base Damage: 17.4 - Mass Effect 2
- Damage Multipliers: Armor - x1.25, Shields - x1.25, Barriers - x1.25
- Research Cost: 5,000 Iridium
The Collectors are one of the galaxy's most advanced alien races. Much of their technology is highly prized as a result. The Collector Assault Rifle is a perfect example, offering a decent amount of firepower against shields, barriers, and armor.
In Mass Effect 2, unlocking the Collector Assault Rifle requires the use of the Normandy's tech lab. There, it can be researched at the cost of 5,000 iridium.
12 Phaeston
- Firing Mode: Automatic
- Clip Size: 50
- Reserve: 300
The Phaeston is an automatic assault rifle of Turian design. The main strength of the Phaeston is its large ammo clip. It's capable of firing 50 rounds before requiring a reload. As such, taking on large groups of enemies at close range isn't a bad prospect with this weapon.
Players have two opportunities to acquire the Phaeston in Mass Effect 3. The first is in "Tuchanka: Turian Platoon," where it can be found next to a corpse near the beginning of the mission. The Phaeston can also be found during the DLC mission "Omega: Aria T'Loak" after regrouping with Nyreen.
11 Adas Anti-Synthetic Rifle
- Firing Mode: Automatic
- Clip Size: 24
- Reserve: 72
The Adas Anti-Synthetic Rifle is a Quarian weapon that utilizes electrical attacks to get the job done. This makes employing the Adas Anti-Synthetic Rifle against shields and barriers doubly effective. It also incorporates splash damage, which makes it useful for controlling large groups of foes.
The Adas Anti-Synthetic Rifle was originally included as part of the Firefight Pack for Mass Effect 3. In the Legendary Edition, players can purchase the assault rifle from the Elkoss Combine Arsenal Supplies terminal in the Presidium Commons for 10,000 credits.
10 HMWA Master Assault Rifle X
- Damage: 384
- Shots Fired Before Overheating: 77.3
- Accuracy Rating: 77
Commander Shepard isn't some average human trotting across the furthest reaches of the galaxy. He's a Spectre and as such commands a great deal of authority. Spectres also utilize the best weaponry. For assault rifles, the HMWA Master X is by far the best available in the first Mass Effect.
The top-tier version inflicts a staggering amount of damage (384) with decent accuracy (77), making it a potent weapon. However, unlocking Spectre gear isn't entirely straightforward. Shepard needs to be granted Spectre status first by the Citadel Council. This occurs as part of the main quest. To access Level X gear, the player also needs to get Shepard near the level cap, at which point the best Spectre weapons and armor become available for purchase.
9 Geth Pulse Rifle
- Firing Mode: Automatic
- Clip Size: 40 (ME2), 80 (ME3)
- Reserve: 480 (ME2), 400 (ME3)
- Base Damage: 10.8 - Mass Effect 2
- Damage Multipliers: Armor - x1.15, Shields - x1.35, Barriers - x1.35
The player can make use of Geth weaponry in all three games of the trilogy. The Geth Pulse Rifle is one of the better assault weapons Shepard can acquire in the Legendary Edition. This rifle proves doubly effective against shields and even armor, which makes it useful against some of the tougher enemies.
The Geth Pulse Rifle can be purchased when players obtain a Geth Armory License from Morlan in Mass Effect. In Mass Effect 2, it can only be acquired on Hardcore or Insanity difficulty during Tali's recruitment mission. In Mass Effect 3, it can be found during the mission "Priority: Geth Dreadnought."
8 M-96 Mattock
- Firing Mode: Semi-Automatic
- Clip Size: 16
- Reserve: 64 (ME2), 96 (ME3)
- Base Damage: 50.4 - Mass Effect 2
- Damage Multipliers: Armor - x1.3, Shields - x1.2, Barriers - x1.2
The M-96 Mattock is a reliable assault rifle that can be obtained in both Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3. It's a semi-automatic weapon that packs quite a punch against hardened targets. Although its ammo reserves are a bit lower than others, the Mattock's firepower and accuracy can typically end a fight early.
In Mass Effect 2, the M-96 Mattock can be purchased on Omega from Kenn's Salvage for 6,000 credits. In Mass Effect 3, it can be found during the "Grissom Academy: Emergency Evacuation" mission.
7 M-15 Vindicator
- Firing Mode: 3-Round Burst
- Clip Size: 24
- Reserve: 96 (ME2), 144 (ME3)
- Base Damage: 36.8 - Mass Effect 2
- Damage Multipliers: Armor - x1.25, Shields - x1.25, Barriers - x1.25
The M-15 Vindicator has plenty of stopping power, especially when aiming for headshots. The weapon fires in bursts, dealing a devastating amount of damage if fired accurately. However, the Vindicator's damage potential is offset by its small clip size, capable of firing only 24 shots before needing a reload.
Players can acquire the M-15 Vindicator after meeting Archangel in Mass Effect 2. It can also be obtained during the "Priority: Mars" mission in Mass Effect 3.
6 M-76 Revenant
- Firing Mode: Automatic
- Clip Size: 80 (ME2), 60 (ME3)
- Reserve: 480 (ME2), 320 (ME3)
- Base Damage: 21.3 - Mass Effect 2
- Damage Multipliers: Armor - x1.4, Shields - x1.2, Barriers - x1.2
The M-76 Revenant is a rather valuable assault rifle, being considered somewhat rare from the standpoint of the trilogy's lore. Boasting a huge ammo capacity, the Revenant can maintain a deadly volume of fire on an enemy. Although not terrifically accurate, its high rate of fire is useful for taking on the bigger and more well-armored enemies.
The Revenant is only available to players who choose the Soldier class in Mass Effect 2 during the Collector Ship mission. It can also be obtained in Mass Effect 3 while completing "Priority: Citadel II."