Players aren't tied down to one method when it comes to dispatching enemies in Mass 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 as stealthier builds, like the Infiltrator.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.