Commander Shepard certainly does not have it easy inMass Effect: Legendary Edition. With the imminent return of the Reapers, biomechanical leviathans who seek to exterminate all life in the galaxy, Shepard definitely has his work cut out for him. Luckily, a large arsenal of weaponry is at his disposal to help get the job done.
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But what is the best class of weapon to defeat a Reaper invasion? Assault rifles are generally an excellent choice when customizing one’s loadout. Across all three titles of the trilogy, there are plenty of great options to choose from when selecting an assault rifle. Always be on the lookout for these overpowered dealers of death.
Updated June 30, 2025 by Mark Hospodar:When it comes to selecting a weapon loadout inMass Effect: Legendary Edition, a trusty assault rifle can really come in handy. Across the trilogy, Commander Shepard can make use of a diverse assortment of blistering firepower to end the threat of the Reapers once and for all.
There are no incorrect options in choosing any of these intimidating battlefield implements. Furthermore, knowing which assault rifle to employ at the right time can mean a lot when the lasers start flying. Don’t overlook these weapons on the next playthrough! This list has been expanded to include some useful stats as well as an upgrade section to better inform players of their potential load-outs. All stats come courtesy of theMass Effect Wiki.
15Particle Rifle
The Particle Rifle is one of the trilogy’s more unique weapons. Instead of relying on traditional thermal clips, the Particle Rifle’s ammunition supply never runs out. As the player sustains their rate of fire, the rifle’s energy beam becomes more powerful. Thus, the Particle Rifle is an ideal weapon for combating swarms of enemies.
This assault rifle only makes an appearance inMass Effect 3. Acquiring it, however, is relatively simple. Players need to complete the mission “Priority: Eden Prime.” After doing so, the Particle Rifle becomes available for Commander Shepard to use for the rest of the game.
14Crossfire X
A wide array of assault rifles can be collected throughout one’s playthrough of the originalMass Effect. One brand players can’t go wrong with is Armax Arsenal, specifically the Crossfire X. It inflicts respectabledamage (312)while also possessing an above-averageaccuracy rating (57).
Like many of the weapons inMass Effect, fans may come across the Crossfire X as random loot when Commander Shepard is near the level cap. Conversely, players can purchase anArmax Arsenal license from Expaton the Citadel for30,000 credits.
13Collector Assault Rifle
The Collectors are one of thegalaxy’s most advanced alien races. Much of their technology is highly prized as a result. The Collector Assault Rifle is a perfect example, offering a decent amount of firepower against shields, barriers, and armor.
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InMass Effect 2, unlocking the Collector Assault Rifle requires the use of theNormandy’s tech lab. There, it can be researched at the cost of5,000 iridium.
12Phaeston
The Phaeston is an automatic assault rifle of Turian design. The main strength of the Phaeston is its large ammo clip. It’s capable of firing 50 rounds before requiring a reload. As such, taking on large groups of enemies at close range isn’t a bad prospect with this weapon.
Players have two opportunities to acquire the Phaeston inMass Effect 3. The first is in “Tuchanka: Turian Platoon,” where it can be found next to a corpse near the beginning of the mission. The Phaeston can also be found during the DLC mission “Omega: Aria T’Loak” after regrouping with Nyreen.
11Adas Anti-Synthetic Rifle
The Adas Anti-Synthetic Rifle is a Quarian weapon that utilizes electrical attacks to get the job done. This makes employing the Adas Anti-Synthetic Rifle against shields and barriers doubly effective. It also incorporates splash damage, which makes it useful for controlling large groups of foes.
The Adas Anti-Synthetic Rifle was originally included as part of theFirefightPackforMass Effect 3. In theLegendary Edition, players can purchase the assault rifle from theElkoss Combine Arsenal Supplies terminalin the Presidium Commons for10,000 credits.
10HMWA Master Assault Rifle X
Commander Shepard isn’t some average human trotting across the furthest reaches of the galaxy. He’s a Spectre and as such commands a great deal of authority. Spectres also utilize the best weaponry. For assault rifles, the HMWA Master X is by far the best available in the firstMass Effect.
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The top-tier version inflicts a staggering amount ofdamage (384)with decentaccuracy (77), making it a potent weapon. However,unlocking Spectre gear isn’t entirely straightforward. Shepard needs to begranted Spectre statusfirst by the Citadel Council. This occurs as part of the main quest. To access Level X gear, the player also needs toget Shepard near the level cap, at which point the best Spectre weapons and armor become available for purchase.
9Geth Pulse Rifle
The player can make use of Geth weaponry in all three games of the trilogy. The Geth Pulse Rifle is one of the better assault weapons Shepard can acquire in theLegendary Edition. This rifle proves doubly effective against shields and even armor, which makes it useful against some of the tougher enemies.
The Geth Pulse Rifle can be purchased when players obtain aGeth Armory License from MorlaninMass Effect. InMass Effect 2, it can only be acquired onHardcore or Insanity difficultyduringTali’s recruitment mission. InMass Effect 3, it can be found during the mission “Priority: Geth Dreadnought.”
8M-96 Mattock
The M-96 Mattock is a reliable assault rifle that can be obtained in bothMass Effect 2andMass Effect 3. It’s a semi-automatic weapon that packs quite a punch against hardened targets. Although its ammo reserves are a bit lower than others, the Mattock’s firepower and accuracy can typically end a fight early.
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InMass Effect 2, the M-96 Mattock can be purchased onOmega from Kenn’s Salvagefor6,000 credits. InMass Effect 3, it can be found during the “Grissom Academy: Emergency Evacuation” mission.
7M-15 Vindicator
The M-15 Vindicator has plenty of stopping power, especially when aiming for headshots. The weapon fires in bursts, dealing a devastating amount of damage if fired accurately. However, the Vindicator’s damage potential is offset by its small clip size, capable of firing only 24 shots before needing a reload.
Players can acquire the M-15 Vindicatorafter meeting ArchangelinMass Effect 2. It can also be obtained during the “Priority: Mars” mission inMass Effect 3.
6M-76 Revenant
The M-76 Revenant is a rather valuable assault rifle, being considered somewhat rare from the standpoint of the trilogy’s lore. Boasting a huge ammo capacity, the Revenant can maintain a deadly volume of fire on an enemy. Although not terrifically accurate, its high rate of fire isuseful for taking on the bigger and more well-armored enemies.
The Revenant is only available toplayerswho choose the Soldier classinMass Effect 2during theCollector Ship mission. It can also be obtained inMass Effect 3while completing “Priority: Citadel II.”
