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.
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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 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 August 3, 2021 by Mark Hospodar: Although combat in the Mass Effect games isn't overly complicated, wading into the thick of a fight blindly typically isn't a good idea. Furthermore, when playing on the higher difficulty settings, it's worth keeping in mind the strengths and weaknesses of one's equipped gear. These sniper rifles, despite being the best of the bunch, still need to be used in the correct circumstances to maximize their effectiveness. Some are better against armored opponents, while others are great against shields and biotic barriers. It's all about knowing one's enemies and bringing the right tools for the job. Luckily, this guide should make the decision-making process a bit easier.
10 Kishock 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.
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
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
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 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
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
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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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
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
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
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 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.
2 M-90 Indra
Like the Valiant, the M-90 Indra can be thought of as a hybrid weapon. Uniquely, the M-90 Indra is a fully automatic sniper rifle. It's capable of a very high rate of fire with plenty of ammo capacity. These features offset the Indra's relatively low damage output. It's best employed at medium range, where enemies can be mowed down in rapid succession.
The M-90 Indra was also originally a bonus item for Mass Effect 3. It came as part of the Firefight Pack not long after the game hit the shelves in 2012. In Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, the M-90 Indra can simply be purchased from the Kassa Fabrication terminal in the Presidium Commons for a base cost of 10,000 credits.
1 HMWSR Master Sniper Rifle X
Spectre gear is the ultimate equipment Commander Shepard can obtain in the original Mass Effect. The X-tier Master Sniper Rifle is unrivaled in its death-dealing potential. No other weapon of its class comes close to matching its specifications. Damage output stands at 336, coupled with an 86 accuracy rating.
Don't expect to acquire this monster early. Shepard can acquire some of the lower-level gear once they become a Spectre as part of the main story. However, the X-tier weapons, including the Master Sniper Rifle, can only be obtained once the player has completed the mission on Virmire. It can then be purchased from either the Normandy or C-Sec Requisitions Officers. Be prepared to spend at least 1,200,000 credits on this beast!
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