Mass-effect – What are all the different categories of weapons and what upgrades are available for them

mass-effect-3

In Mass Effect 2, weapons fell into six categories:

  • Assault Rifles
  • Shotguns
  • Sniper Rifles
  • Submachine Guns
  • Heavy Pistols
  • Heavy Weapons

Are these types the same in Mass Effect 3? Are there new weapon types?

Also, upgrades in Mass Effect 2 are not weapon-specific modifications. Instead, the player obtains upgrades through research which apply across an entire weapon type. For example, an Assault Rifle Damage upgrade will boost the damage output of all assault rifles that the player owns, not just a specific model.

Does this research oriented system exist in ME3 or are they only weapon specific?

Best Answer

The 5 basic weapon categories(Rifle, Sniper, Sub, Pistol, and Shotgun) are unchanged, but you get a lot more of each of them. You can now carry one of each of them provided you have enough carry capacity.

Heavy weapons are still around, but they are temporary pickups in certain missions.

They dropped the weapon research mechanism as it worked in ME2.

Now each weapon has two upgrade slots similar to ME1, but much more streamlined. You can also upgrade each weapon individually. I.E. Upgrade a Mantis I to a Mantis II to get slight stat bonuses. This can all be done from the Shuttle Bay on the Normandy.