The best Mass Effect 2 weapons: guide

There is a wide range of weapons in Mass Effect 2 that you can use during your play-through. Depending on your preferred play style and character class there are certain weapons that are stronger than others in different situations. In this article we will showcase a selection of the best weapons in Mass Effect 2.

Assault Rifles

M-8 Avenger

• Description: Standard issue rifle with balanced stats.
• Attributes: Balanced between rate of fire, accuracy, and damage.
• Play Style: Versatile and suitable for any play style.
• Character Class: All classes.

M-15 Vindicator

• Description: Burst-fire rifle with good accuracy.
• Attributes: Fires in three-round bursts, higher accuracy than Avenger.
• Play Style: Effective for mid-range combat and accuracy-focused gameplay.
• Character Class: Soldier, Infiltrator.

M-76 Revenant

• Description: Fully automatic rifle with high rate of fire.
• Attributes: High rate of fire, moderate accuracy, sustained damage.
• Play Style: Well-suited for sustained fire, suppressive fire, and close to medium range.
• Character Class: Soldier.

Geth Pulse Rifle

• Description: High-damage pulse rifle with overheat mechanics.
• Attributes: Fires charged shots, high damage, overheats quickly.
• Play Style: Effective at dealing burst damage, good for medium range.
• Character Class: Infiltrator.

Collector Assault Rifle (DLC: Aegis Pack)

• Description: Advanced rifle used by Collector enemies.
• Attributes: Precise, high damage, unique appearance.
• Play Style: Versatile and effective in various combat scenarios.
• Character Class: All classes.

Sniper Rifles

M-92 Mantis

• Description: Standard sniper rifle with single-shot mechanics.
• Attributes: High damage per shot, slow rate of fire.
• Play Style: Suited for patient players who prefer precision shots.
• Character Class: Infiltrator.

M-97 Viper

• Description: Semi-automatic sniper rifle.
• Attributes: Faster rate of fire, lower damage compared to Mantis.
• Play Style: Good for players who want a balance between damage and rate of fire.
• Character Class: Infiltrator.

M-98 Widow

• Description: High-caliber bolt-action sniper rifle.
• Attributes: Extremely high damage per shot, slowest rate of fire.
• Play Style: Designed for taking out high-priority targets with precision.
• Character Class: Infiltrator.

Geth Pulse Sniper Rifle

• Description: Charged pulse sniper rifle with overheat mechanics.
• Attributes: Charged shots, high damage, overheats quickly.
• Play Style: Burst damage at long range, useful against shields and armor.
• Character Class: Infiltrator.

Kishock Harpoon Gun (DLC: Firepower Pack)

• Description: Fires harpoons that explode on impact.
• Attributes: Explosive, limited ammo, high impact force.
• Play Style: Unique, suited for players who enjoy unconventional weapons.
• Character Class: All classes.

Shotguns

M-23 Katana

• Description: Basic shotgun with moderate damage and spread.
• Attributes: Medium damage, moderate spread, reliable.
• Play Style: Effective in close-quarters combat.
• Character Class: Vanguard, Soldier.

M-27 Scimitar

• Description: Semi-automatic shotgun.
• Attributes: Moderate damage, faster rate of fire than Katana.
• Play Style: Versatile, suitable for players who like semi-automatic shotguns.
• Character Class: Vanguard, Soldier.

M-300 Claymore

• Description: High-damage pump-action shotgun.
• Attributes: High damage, slow rate of fire, wide spread.
• Play Style: Devastating at close range, requires careful timing.
• Character Class: Vanguard.

Geth Plasma Shotgun

• Description: Fires charged plasma bolts in a wide arc.
• Attributes: Charged shots, high damage, close-quarters effectiveness.
• Play Style: Excellent for dealing area damage to groups of enemies.
• Character Class: Vanguard.

M-22 Eviscerator (DLC: Cerberus Weapon and Armor Pack)

• Description: Pump-action shotgun with armor-piercing capabilities.
• Attributes: High damage, armor-piercing, slower rate of fire.
• Play Style: Effective against armoured targets and close-range combat.
• Character Class: Vanguard, Soldier.

Disciple (DLC: Firepower Pack)

• Description: High-capacity shotgun with moderate damage.
• Attributes: Moderate damage, higher capacity, versatile.
• Play Style: Balanced shotgun for various combat situations.
• Character Class: Vanguard.

Heavy Pistols

M-3 Predator

• Description: Standard-issue heavy pistol with a sleek design.
• Attributes: Moderate damage, good accuracy, reliable performance.
• Play Style: Versatile and effective in various combat situations.
• Character Class: All classes.

M-6 Carnifex

• Description: Heavy pistol with a high caliber for increased stopping power.
• Attributes: High damage, good accuracy, slower rate of fire.
• Play Style: Effective for precise shots and taking down tougher enemies.
• Character Class: All classes, especially Infiltrator and Sentinel. 

Geth Plasma Pistol

• Description: Plasma-based pistol that fires charged shots.
• Attributes: Charged shots, high damage, overheats quickly.
• Play Style: Burst damage against shields and armor.
• Character Class: All classes. 

Arc Pistol (DLC: Firepower Pack)

• Description: Fires electrified projectiles that chain between targets.
• Attributes: Charged shots, electric arcs, moderate damage.
• Play Style: Crowd control and chaining damage to multiple enemies.
• Character Class: All classes.

Submachine Guns

M-4 Shuriken

• Description: Compact submachine gun with a lightweight design.
• Attributes: Low to moderate damage, high rate of fire, moderate accuracy.
• Play Style: Mobile combat and close-quarters engagement. Hit-and-run tactics, rapid movement.
• Character Class: Infiltrator. 

M-9 Tempest

• Description: Fully automatic submachine gun known for its rapid fire.
• Attributes: Moderate damage, high rate of fire, moderate accuracy.
• Play Style: Close-quarters combat and suppressing fire. Aggressive close-range engagements.
• Character Class: All classes. 

M-12 Locust (DLC: Firepower Pack)

• Description: Precision submachine gun known for its accuracy.
• Attributes: Moderate damage, high rate of fire, good accuracy.
• Play Style: Versatile and effective in mid-range combat. Controlled bursts, accurate shots.
• Character Class: Infiltrator. 

M-25 Hornet (DLC: Cerberus Weapon and Armor Pack) Description: Burst-fire submachine gun with high fire rate. Attributes: Fires in bursts, moderate damage, good accuracy. Play Style: Burst damage at close to mid-range. Character Class: Infiltrator. Suited Play Style: Controlled bursts and high mobility.

Heavy Weapons

M-100 Grenade Launcher

• Description: Fires explosive grenades at enemies.
• Attributes: High explosive damage, area of effect, limited ammo capacity.
• Play Style: Situational use against groups of enemies or shielded foes. Strategic positioning, crowd control.
• Character Class: All classes.

M-451 Firestorm (DLC: Equalizer Pack)

• Description: Heavy weapon that shoots fiery projectiles.
• Attributes: High fire damage, AoE effect, limited ammo capacity.
• Play Style: Area denial and crowd control. Controlling enemy movement and positioning.
• Character Class: All classes.

M-490 Blackstorm Projector (DLC: Equalizer Pack)

• Description: Fires concentrated dark matter at enemies.
• Attributes: High damage over time, limited ammo capacity.
• Play Style: Continuous damage to enemies, good against armor. Disabling enemies and dealing damage over time.
• Character Class: All classes.

M-622 Avalanche (DLC: Equalizer Pack)

• Description: Fires cryo rounds that freeze enemies on impact.
• Attributes: Cryo damage, freezes enemies, limited ammo capacity.
• Play Style: Slowing and immobilizing enemies, crowd control.
• Character Class: All classes. 

Collector Particle Beam (DLC: Arrival)

• Description: Fires a sustained beam of energy at enemies.
• Attributes: Continuous damage, effective against barriers and armor.
• Play Style: Sustained damage output against tougher targets.
• Character Class: All classes.

Arc Projector (DLC: Overlord)

• Description: Fires a bolt of electricity that chains between targets.
• Attributes: Electric arcs, high damage, chain effect.
• Play Style: Crowd control and chaining damage to multiple enemies.
• Character Class: All classes.

M-920 Cain (DLC: Cerberus Weapon and Armor Pack)

• Description: Powerful heavy weapon that fires a high-explosive projectile.
• Attributes: Extremely high damage, limited ammo capacity.
• Play Style: Devastating firepower against bosses or large groups.
• Character Class: All classes. 

What are the best weapons in Mass Effect 2?

Here is our selection of the best weapons in Mass Effect 2:

• M-76 Revenant (Assault Rifle): This fully automatic assault rifle has a high rate of fire and moderate accuracy. It's great for dealing sustained damage to enemies at medium range.
• M-98 Widow (Sniper Rifle): The Widow is a powerful sniper rifle that deals massive damage per shot. It has a slow firing rate, but it's excellent for taking out high-value targets with precision.
• M-6 Carnifex (Heavy Pistol): The Carnifex is a heavy pistol that offers high damage and accuracy. It's a versatile sidearm that can be effective in the hands of any class.
• Claymore Shotgun: This shotgun delivers devastating damage at close range. It has a slow rate of fire but can eliminate enemies quickly, making it ideal for close-quarters combat.
• Geth Plasma Shotgun: This shotgun fires charged plasma bolts that can deal substantial damage to multiple enemies. Its unique mechanics make it a potent choice for taking on groups of foes.
• Collector Particle Beam (Heavy Weapon): While not a conventional weapon, the Collector Particle Beam is a heavy weapon that can be obtained during the mission "The Arrival." It's incredibly powerful and can melt through enemy shields and armor.
• Arc Projector (Heavy Weapon): Another heavy weapon, the Arc Projector, shoots an electric arc that can chain between enemies. It's effective at crowd control and dealing damage to groups.
• M-12 Locust (Submachine Gun): The Locust is a lightweight submachine gun with a high rate of fire and good accuracy. It's useful for characters who prefer a more mobile play-style.