Mass Effect 2 Guide Essentials UPGRADES AND RESEARCH PROJECTS

Weapon Upgrades

Weapons Found on Missions

Shepard will sometimes obtain new weapons while on missions.

Once these weapons are obtained, Shepard’s entire squad will immediately start using the new weapon if possible.

New weapons are always upgrades over stock Cerberus weapons. If you obtain a new weapon but would prefer to use a previous weapon, access a weapons locker to switch back to your old weapon.

Weapon Upgrades

Weapon upgrades improve the quality of Shepard’s existing weapons. The most common upgrades are damage upgrades, but more advanced upgrades can be developed with research.

Most weapons have five damage upgrades available and two advanced upgrades that improve the weapon on a more fundamental level.

All upgrades are cumulative. For example, if you have two assault rifle damage upgrades you will get +20% assault rifle damage. If you acquire a third the bonus increases to +30%.

Upgrades affect all weapons of the appropriate type in Shepard’s squad.

Heavy Pistol

Technology Name	Upgrade	Description	Upgrade Level Required	Research Cost	Location
Titan Pulsar	Heavy Pistol Damage	+10% heavy pistol damage	None	2,500 palladium	Tali mission
Titan Pulsar	Heavy Pistol Damage	+10% heavy pistol damage	None	5,000 palladium	Thane’s loyalty mission
Titan Pulsar	Heavy Pistol Damage	+10% heavy pistol damage	None	7,500 palladium	Jacob’s loyalty mission
Titan Pulsar	Heavy Pistol Damage	+10% heavy pistol damage	None	10,000 palladium	Lair of the Shadow Broker mission
Titan Pulsar	Heavy Pistol Damage	+10% heavy pistol damage	None	60,000 credits	Shop: Rodam Expeditions (Citadel)
Titan Pulsar	Heavy Pistol Damage	+10% heavy pistol damage	None	60,000 credits	Shop: Fortack’s Database (Tuchanka)
Sabot Jacketing	Heavy Pistol Penetration	+50% heavy pistol damage against armor	Heavy Pistol Damage Level 2	15,000 palladium	Unlocked after 2 damage upgrades
Smart Rounds	Heavy Pistol Critical	Heavy pistols sometimes deal double damage	Heavy Pistol Damage Level 3	25,000 palladium	Unlocked after 3 damage upgrades

SMG

Technology Name	Upgrade	Description	Upgrade Level Required	Research Cost	Location
Microfield Pulsar	Submachine Gun Damage	+10% submachine gun damage	None	2,500 iridium	Archangel mission
Microfield Pulsar	Submachine Gun Damage	+10% submachine gun damage	None	5,000 iridium	The Assassin mission
Microfield Pulsar	Submachine Gun Damage	+10% submachine gun damage	None	7,500 iridium	Miranda loyalty mission
Microfield Pulsar	Submachine Gun Damage	+10% submachine gun damage	None	10,000 iridium	Lair of the Shadow Broker mission
Microfield Pulsar	Submachine Gun Damage	+10% submachine gun damage	None	60,000 credits	Shop: Rodam Expeditions (Citadel)
Microfield Pulsar	Submachine Gun Damage	+10% submachine gun damage	None	60,000 credits	Shop: Gateway Personal Defense (Illium)
Phasic Jacketing	Submachine Gun Penetration	+50% submachine gun damage against shields and biotic barriers	SMG Damage Level 2	15,000 iridium	Unlocked after 2 damage upgrades
Heat Sink Capacity	Submachine Gun Extra Rounds	10% submachine gun rounds	SMG Damage Level 3	25,000 iridium	Unlocked after 3 damage upgrades

Assault Rifle

Technology Name	Upgrade	Description	Upgrade Level Required	Research Cost	Location
Kinetic Pulsar	Assault Rifle Damage	+10% assault rifle damage	None	2,500 iridium	The Professor mission
Kinetic Pulsar	Assault Rifle Damage	+10% assault rifle damage	None	5,000 iridium	Tali mission
Kinetic Pulsar	Assault Rifle Damage	+10% assault rifle damage	None	7,500 iridium	Samara’s loyalty mission
Kinetic Pulsar	Assault Rifle Damage	+10% assault rifle damage	None	10,000 iridium	Zaeed’s loyalty mission
Kinetic Pulsar	Assault Rifle Damage	+10% assault rifle damage	None	12,500 iridium	Lair of the Shadow Broker mission
Kinetic Pulsar	Assault Rifle Damage	+10% assault rifle damage	None	60,000 credits	Shop: Gateway Personal Defense (Illium)
Kinetic Pulsar	Assault Rifle Damage	+10% assault rifle damage	None	60,000 credits	Shop: Fortack’s Database (Tuchanka)
Targeting VI	Assault Rifle Accuracy	+25% assault rifle damage against armor, shields, and biotic barriers	Assault Rifle Damage Level 2	15,000 iridium	Unlocked after 2 damage upgrades
Tungsten Jacket	Assault Rifle Penetration	Increases assault rifle accuracy	Assault Rifle Damage Level 3	25,000 iridium	Unlocked after 3 damage upgrades

Shotgun

Technology Name	Upgrade	Description	Upgrade Level Required	Research Cost	Location
Synchronized Pulsar	Shotgun Damage	+10% shotgun damage	None	2,500 platinum	The Convict mission
Synchronized Pulsar	Shotgun Damage	+10% shotgun damage	None	5,000 platinum	Grunt’s loyalty mission
Synchronized Pulsar	Shotgun Damage	+10% shotgun damage	None	7,500 platinum	IFF mission
Synchronized Pulsar	Shotgun Damage	+10% shotgun damage	None	10,000 platinum	Lair of the Shadow Broker mission
Synchronized Pulsar	Shotgun Damage	+10% shotgun damage	None	60,000 credits	Shop: Kenn’s Salvage (Omega)
Synchronized Pulsar	Shotgun Damage	+10% shotgun damage	None	60,000 credits	Shop: Fortack’s Database (Tuchanka)
Microphasic Pulse	Shotgun Penetration	+50% shotgun damage against shields and biotic barriers	Assault Rifle Damage Level 2	15,000 platinum	Unlocked after 2 damage upgrades
Thermal Sink	Shotgun Extra Rounds	Doubles carried rounds	Assault Rifle Damage Level 3	25,000 platinum	Unlocked after 3 damage upgrades

Sniper Rifle

Technology Name	Upgrade	Description	Upgrade Level Required	Research Cost	Location
Scram Pulsar	Sniper Rifle Damage	+10% sniper rifle damage	None	2,500 platinum	The Warlord mission
Scram Pulsar	Sniper Rifle Damage	+10% sniper rifle damage	None	5,000 platinum	Garrus’s loyalty mission
Scram Pulsar	Sniper Rifle Damage	+10% sniper rifle damage	None	7,500 platinum	IFF mission
Scram Pulsar	Sniper Rifle Damage	+10% sniper rifle damage	None	10,000 platinum	Lair of the Shadow Broker mission
Scram Pulsar	Sniper Rifle Damage	+10% sniper rifle damage	None	60,000 credits	Shop: Rodam Expeditions (Citadel)
Scram Pulsar	Sniper Rifle Damage	+10% sniper rifle damage	None	60,000 credits	Shop: Omega Market (Omega)
Tungsten Sabot Jacket	Sniper Rifle Penetration	Increases damage by +50% against armor	Sniper Rifle Damage Level 2	15,000 platinum	Unlocked after 2 damage upgrades
Combat Scanner	Sniper Headshot Damage	Sniper rifles deal +50% headshot damage	Sniper Rifle Damage Level 3	25,000 platinum	Unlocked after 3 damage upgrades

Heavy Weapons

You receive your first taste of heavy weapons without having to do any additional research.

However, to obtain several pieces of hardcore firepower, you must commission a series of research projects.

Heavy weapon prototypes are not available unless you start pursuing heavy weapon ammo upgrades.

Technology Name	Upgrade	Description	Upgrade Level Required	Research Cost	Location
ML-77 Missile Launcher	New Heavy Weapon	Rapid-fire missile launcher with seeking projectiles	Heavy Weapon Ammo Level 1	5,000 iridium	Unlocked after 1 ammo upgrade
M-622 Avalanche	New Heavy Weapon	Cryo Round technology is used to modify standard weapon slugs into freezing rounds	Heavy Weapon Ammo Level 3	15,000 iridium	Unlocked after 3 ammo upgrades
M-920 Cain	New Heavy Weapon	High-explosive matrix generates an archetypical mushroom cloud on impact; inflicts high damage with a large area of effect	Heavy Weapon Ammo Level 4	25,000 iridium	Unlocked after 4 ammo upgrades
M-451 Firestorm	New Heavy Weapon	Flame thrower with short range	None	None	Zaeed’s loyalty mission
Microfusion Array	Heavy Weapon Ammo	+15% heavy weapon ammo	None	2,500 iridium	Freedom’s Progress mission
Microfusion Array	Heavy Weapon Ammo	+15% heavy weapon ammo	None	5,000 iridium	Mordin’s loyalty mission
Microfusion Array	Heavy Weapon Ammo	+15% heavy weapon ammo	None	7,500 iridium	Zaeed’s loyalty mission
Microfusion Array	Heavy Weapon Ammo	+15% heavy weapon ammo	None	10,000 iridium	N7: Blood Pack Base mission
Microfusion Array	Heavy Weapon Ammo	+15% heavy weapon ammo	None	30,000 credits	Shop: Kenn’s Salvage (Omega)
Microfusion Array	Heavy Weapon Ammo	+15% heavy weapon ammo	None	30,000 credits	Shop: Ratch’s Wares (Tuchanka)