[Top 10] Mass Effect Andromeda Best Weapons (And How To Get Them)

Mass Effect Andromeda 2017, Best Weapons

Updated:

19 Feb 2022

The Best of the Best when it comes to weapons of mass destruction:

Mass Effect Andromeda, the fresh start to the Mass Effect series made by Bioware in 2017, was widely popular at launch for its ability to progress Ryder into whatever class you wanted. This also included the endless possibility to specialize in whatever weapon class your heart desired. With all the new options available, it's impossible to decide what weapon will help you fight and destroy the Kett threat. This article will help you navigate the best weaponry offered to our favorite Pathfinder in Andromeda.

SCORPION PISTOL: Mini. Grenade. Launcher!

Need I say more? The Scorpion has a few setbacks that make this Rare weapon slide on the back burner for many players. Don't let the slow rate of fire and small ammo clip size dissuade you though. The Scorpion offers a heavy punch with sticky projectiles made for destruction.

Weapon in use: Scorpion

WEAPON STATS:

Weapon Damage: 278-440
Rate of Fire: 74-80
Max Clip Size: 4
Max Ammo: 24-27
Accuracy: 40-50

WHY THE SCORPION IS THE BEST:

The Scorpion is great for getting enemies behind cover- offering a good deal of radius damage even when not directly impacting enemies.
Mini. Grenade. Launcher!

HOW TO GET IT:

This is a Rare Blueprint acquired through the Buy/Sell Kiosk- Research Room, Tempest (Milky Way)
- Requires 125 research data to craft (increasing in increments of 15 with every additional level).
  - What you will need to develop this weapon further:
    - Omni-Gel Canisters
    - Graphite
    - Lithium
    - Element Zero

N7 VALKYRIE: Double shot mayhem!

There’s nothing better than a weapon that brings you a bit closer to Commander Shepard- and this one does it for sure. The N7 Valkyrie takes the cake in Andromeda with this high-powered two-round burst, thermal clip assault rifle. This weapon is craftable, buyable as well as being lootable on Eos. The beauty of this weapon is how well the dual shots get through armor as well as the power it packs otherwise!

Video: Weapon in use and where to find an N7 Valkyrie IV on Eos

WEAPON STATS:

Weapon Damage: 105-168
Rate of Fire: 500
Max Clip Size: 20
Max Ammo: 140-175
Accuracy: 65-81

WHY THE N7 VALKYRIE IS THE BEST:

Heavy damage with a good accuracy rating
Makes quick work of enemy armor and shields

HOW TO GET IT:

Purchase from Cal - Atrium, Port Meridian

Loot found on Eos - Just North of Prodromos

Buy/Sell Kiosk - Research Room, Tempest (Milky Way)
- This is an Ultra Rare Blueprint
  - Requires 150 research data to craft (increasing in increments of 25 with every additional level).
  - What you will need to further develop this weapon:
    - Omni-Gel Canister
    - Iron
    - Lithium
    - Element Zero

BLACK WIDOW SNIPER RIFLE: Heavy headshot damage from the start!

We all love a good sniper rifle, and while the Black Widow may be smaller in size to other snipers you may find in-game, don’t let that stop you from the potential of this weapon. The Black Widow at base level packs enough headshot damage to give you an edge in battle. Hitting that weak point on the enemy drops them in a heartbeat with this sniper.

Weapon in use: Black Widow Sniper Rifle

WEAPON STATS:

Weapon Damage: 465-715
Rate of Fire: 65
Max Clip Size: 3
Max Ammo: 24-30
Accuracy: 68-85

WHY BLACK WIDOW SNIPER IS THE BEST:

Classic, easy to control sniper
Clip size to damage ratio is relatively good

HOW TO GET IT:

Arms Dealer - Kadara Market, Kadara

Relia Ythos - Kadara Market, Kadara

Buy/Sell Kiosk - Research Room, Tempest (Milky Way)
- This is an Ultra Rare Blueprint
  - Requires 150 research data to craft (increasing in increments of 25 with every additional level).
  - What you will need to develop this weapon further:
    - Omni-Gel Canisters
    - Beryllium
    - Lithium
    - Element Zero

ASARI SWORD:

This is most certainly the coolest melee weapon available to Ryder. The short-range, biotically charged blink motion of this weapon allows for heavy damage. When actively blinking towards a target, you become invulnerable to all incoming damage. The Asari knew what they were doing when they made this weapon for their huntresses.

Weapon in use: Asari Sword

WEAPON STATS:

Weapon Damage: 400-880

WHY THE ASARI SWORD IS THE BEST:

100% The invulnerable blink- this will come in handy in a pinch.

HOW TO GET IT:

Buy/Sell Kiosk- Research Room, Tempest (Milky Way)
- This is an Ultra Rare Blueprint:
  - Requires 150 research data to craft (increasing in increments of 25 with every additional level).
  - What you will need to develop this weapon further:
    - Omni-Gel Canisters
    - Beryllium
    - Fluorite
    - Vanadium

REEGAR CARBINE:

I have a hard time considering this to be a shotgun with how this weapon fires with an arc of electric energy. This is by no means discrediting it from this list as it is a fantastic weapon for shields and even has a radial effect if the enemies you’re targeting are tightly grouped. If this isn’t in your arsenal- you need to RUN and get it. Another interesting, and heartwarming, tidbit about this weapon is that it was named after Kal’Reegar, the Quarian Marine you meet in Mass Effect 2 who sacrificed his life on Palaven in Mass Effect 3.

Weapon in use: Reegar Shotgun

WEAPON STATS:

Weapon Damage: 52-82
Rate of Fire: 525
Max Clip Size: 36
Max Ammo: 216-270
Accuracy: 50-63

WHY THE REEGAR IS THE BEST:

Gives the effect of a shotgun when dealing radial damage to others- but in a way that’s cooler than a traditional shotgun

HOW TO GET IT:

Cal- Atrium, Port Meridian

Buy/Sell Kiosk- Research Room, Tempest (Milky Way)
- This is a Rare Blueprint:
  - Requires 125 research data to craft (increasing in increments of 15 with every additional level).
  - What you will need to develop this weapon further:
    - Omni-Gel Canisters
    - Copper
    - Fluorite
    - Element Zero

CARNIFEX:

For being the only uncommon-ranked weapon on this list, it packs a punch worth mentioning. The Carnifex is a heavy semi-automatic pistol that deals a good bit of damage at base. Unlike some of the other weapons on this list, this pistol can be bought on Eos from a merchant and crafted on the Tempest.

Weapon in use: Carnifex

WEAPON STATS:

Weapon Damage: 190-311
Rate of Fire: 100
Max Clip Size: 8
Max Ammo: 56-70
Accuracy: 57-71

WHY THE CARNIFEX IS THE BEST:

Damage per clip is over 1500- impressive for such a small gun
One of the few pistols in the game that is just that- a pistol, without the extra flair

HOW TO GET IT:

Merchant, Prodromos, Eos

Buy/Sell Kiosk- Research Room, Tempest (Milky Way)
- This is an Uncommon Blueprint that is unlocked automatically when the Research Center on the Tempest is activated or at Site 1 on Eos.
  - What you will need to develop this weapon further:
    - Omni-Gel Canisters
    - Iron
    - Lithium
    - Element Zero

X5 GHOST:

Circling back to the Avenger, we have the X5 Ghost. The style of this assault rifle certainly gives the impression that they used the Avenger as their design medium. This weapon is a step better than the Avenger in every category though. It certainly earned its place on the list among the best weapons. There are also plenty of upgrades that can be made to this gun as you progress.

Weapon in use: X5 Ghost

WEAPON STATS:

Weapon Damage: 40-81
Rate of Fire: 600
Max Clip Size: 75
Max Ammo: 450-640
Accuracy: 52-65

WHY THE X5 GHOST IS THE BEST:

Anything is better than the M8 Avenger (sorry Avenger fans!) and these stats alone prove that
Upgrade potentials mid-game.

HOW TO GET IT:

This is a Rare Blueprint acquired through the Buy/Sell Kiosk- Research Room, Tempest (Milky Way)
- Requires 125 research data to craft (increasing in increments of 15 with every additional level).
  - What you will need to develop this weapon further:
    - Omni-Gel Canisters
    - Iron
    - Cadmium
    - Element Zero

SHADOW:

Laser. Beam. Sniper. Rifle. There are too many things I loved about this weapon- and why it was a no-brainer for this list. The Shadow is reminiscent of the Collector Particle Beam in Mass Effect 2 but with a scope. This sniper also has infinite ammo- bonus!

Weapon in use: Shadow Sniper Rifle

WEAPON STATS:

Weapon Damage: 64-101
Rate of Fire: 600
Max Clip Size: 20-30
Max Ammo: Infinite
Accuracy: 65-81

WHY THE SHADOW IS THE BEST:

Keep steady aim and you can decimate enemies with this continuous beam in seconds.

HOW TO GET IT:

This is a Rare Blueprint acquired through the Buy/Sell Kiosk- Research Room, Tempest (Remnant)
- Available after activating the Northern Monolith during A Better Beginning, a priority mission given by Jarun Tann on the Nexus
- Requires 125 research data to craft (increasing in increments of 15 with every additional level).
  - What you will need to develop this weapon further:
  - Remnant Polymer
  - Silicon
  - Lithium
  - Element Zero

KETT VAKRASH:

The damage per hit with the Kett Vakrash is nothing compared to the Krogan Hammer. The only thing that made this sword come out on top was the burning damage that’s done to targets over time. If you end up needing to shoot anyone that you’ve hit with the Kett Vakrash while the burning damage is still in effect, and you have incendiary rounds primed, the target is already prepared for a fire combo.

Weapon in use: Kett Vakrash

WEAPON STATS:

Weapon Damage: 300-660
Burn Damage per second: 110-242

WHY THE KETT VAKRASH IS THE BEST:

The total damage this weapon does per second nearly trumps any other melee weapon in the game
If the enemy is low enough health, you can take a swipe at them and move on to the next target- let the burning damage over time do the rest.

HOW TO GET IT:

This is an Ultra Rare Blueprint acquired through the Buy/Sell Kiosk- Research Room, Tempest (Heleus)
- Requires 150 research data to craft (increasing in increments of 25 with every additional level).
  - What you will need to develop this weapon further:
    - Kett Alloy
    - Cooper
    - Cadmium
    - Element Zero

N7 PIRANHA:

I swear that there are normal shotguns in this game. However, the N7 Piranha is not one of them. The rate of fire of this shotgun makes it feel more like an automatic assault rifle. Be sure not to try and use this weapon like an assault rifle though, the heavy damage this weapon deals with is best for the up close and personal times in a battle.

Weapon in use: N7 Piranha

WEAPON STATS:

Weapon Damage: 328-504
Rate of Fire: 165
Max Clip Size: 8
Max Ammo: 48-60
Accuracy: 22-28

WHY THE PIRANHA IS THE BEST:

Quickfire rate with heavy damage to boot.
A go-to to pull out when you're needing to get out of close combat with multiple enemies at once.

HOW TO GET IT:

This is a Rare Blueprint acquired through the Buy/Sell Kiosk- Research Room, Tempest (Milky Way)
- Requires 125 research data to craft (increasing in increments of 15 with every additional level).
  - What you will need to develop this weapon further:
    - Omni-Gel Canister
    - Cooper
    - Lithium
    - Vanadium