Mass Effect 3 Guide Essentials Armaments and Armour

Weapon Mods

Returning to Mass Effect 3 is the ability to customize your guns with specialized modifications that boost various stats or add special melee attachments.

Mods can be used to enhance a weapon in ways that may help cover for their deficiencies or complement a given play style.

They are available for both single- and multiplayer and can be a deciding factor for survival in either mode. Generally, mods appear in both modes, but some mods are exclusive to one mode or the other.

Certain effects present in single-player will not be in multiplayer. Mods are not universal; each weapon will have its own set to find and choose from.

During a first playthrough, it’s recommended you focus on weapons you intend to use the most. There’s only so much money to be made during an initial playthrough, and even imported Shepards may not have enough money to buy absolutely everything.

Similar to weapons, mods can be leveled up with successive purchases or pick-ups of a given mod, up to a maximum of Level 5.

Assault Rifle Mods

Name	Description	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4	Level 5
Assault Rifle Stability Damper	Distributes recoil with sliding system of counterweights compatible with kinetic coil generators. Reduces weapon kickback.	Increases Weapon Stability by 30%	Increases Weapon Stability by 40%	Increases Weapon Stability by 50%	Increases Weapon Stability by 60%	Increases Weapon Stability by 70%
Assault Rifle Magazine Upgrade	Increases magazine capacity, allowing more shots before a reload.	Increases rounds per magazine by 40%	Increases rounds per magazine by 50%	Increases rounds per magazine by 60%	Increases rounds per magazine by 70%	Increases rounds per magazine by 80%
Assault Rifle Piercing Mod	Capacitor boosts kinetic coil generators, increasing shot penetration.	Allows bullets to pierce .50 meter thick objects, at 60% reduced damage. Ignores 25% defense of armored targets.	Allows bullets to pierce .65 meter thick objects, at 55% reduced damage. Ignores 35% defense of armored targets.	Allows bullets to pierce .80 meter thick objects, at 50% reduced damage. Ignores 45% defense of armored targets.	Allows bullets to pierce .95 meter thick objects, at 45% reduced damage. Ignores 55% defense of armored targets.	Allows bullets to pierce 1.10 meter thick objects, at 40% reduced damage. Ignores 65% defense of armored targets.
Assault Rifle Extended Barrel	Lengthens barrel, creating greater bullet velocity and impact.	Increases damage by 15%	Increases damage by 17.5%	Increases damage by 20%	Increases damage by 22.5%	Increases damage by 25%
Assault Rifle Precision Scope	Simple 4x optical scope to enhance stability while zoomed. Increases accuracy while moving and taking damage.	Increases accuracy by 15%	Increases accuracy by 20%	Increases accuracy by 25%	Increases accuracy by 30%	Increases accuracy by 35%

Heavy Pistol Mods

Name	Description	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4	Level 5
Pistol Melee Stunner	Small attachment to muzzle, causing massive damage to meleed targets.	Increases melee damage by 15%	Increases melee damage by 17.5%	Increases melee damage by 20%	Increases melee damage by 22.5%	Increases melee damage by 25%
Pistol Piercing Mod	Capacitor boosts kinetic coil generators, increasing shot penetration.	Allows bullets to pierce .50 meter thick objects, at 60% reduced damage. Ignores 25% defense of armored targets.	Allows bullets to pierce .50 meter thick objects, at 60% reduced damage. Ignores 25% defense of armored targets.	Allows bullets to pierce .80 meter thick objects, at 50% reduced damage. Ignores 45% defense of armored targets.	Allows bullets to pierce .95 meter thick objects, at 45% reduced damage. Ignores 55% defense of armored targets.	Allows bullets to pierce 1.10 meter thick objects, at 40% reduced damage. Ignores 65% defense of armored targets.
Pistol Magazine Upgrade	Increases magazine capacity, allowing more shots before a reload.	Increases rounds per magazine by 40%	Increases rounds per magazine by 50%	Increases rounds per magazine by 60%	Increases rounds per magazine by 70%	Increases rounds per magazine by 80%
Pistol High-Caliber Barrel	Allows wider projectiles, causing more trauma on impact. Ballistically optimized to maintain penetrative power.	Increases damage by 15%	Increases damage by 17.5%	Increases damage by 20%	Increases damage by 22.5%	Increases damage by 25%
Pistol Scope	Simple 2x optical scope to enhance stability while zoomed. Increases accuracy while moving and taking damage.	Increases accuracy by 15%	Increases accuracy by 20%	Increases accuracy by 25%	Increases accuracy by 30%	Increases accuracy by 35%

Shotgun Mods

Name	Description	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4	Level 5
Shotgun Smart Choke	Servo motors hooked up to adjustable system tighten or loosen pellet spread for maximum accuracy.	Increases accuracy by 30%	Increases accuracy by 35%	Increases accuracy by 40%	Increases accuracy by 45%	Increases accuracy by 50%
Shotgun Spare Thermal Clip	Adds sockets to raise thermal clip capacity, increasing number of spare shots.	Increases spare shot capacity by 50%	Increases spare shot capacity by 60%	Increases spare shot capacity by 70%	Increases spare shot capacity by 80%	Increases spare shot capacity by 90%
Shotgun Shredder Mod	Capacitor boosts kinetic coil generators, increasing shot penetration.	Allows bullets to pierce .25 meter thick objects, at 60% reduced damage. Ignores 25% defense of armored targets.	Allows bullets to pierce .35 meter thick objects, at 55% reduced damage. Ignores 35% defense of armored targets.	Allows bullets to pierce .45 meter thick objects, at 50% reduced damage. Ignores 45% defense of armored targets.	Allows bullets to pierce .55 meter thick objects, at 45% reduced damage. Ignores 55% defense of armored targets.	Allows bullets to pierce .65 meter thick objects, at 40% reduced damage. Ignores 65% defense of armored targets.
Shotgun Blade Attachment	Tungstent carbide bayonet with recessed edge for increased melee damage.	Increases melee damage by 15%	Increases melee damage by 17.5%	Increases melee damage by 20%	Increases melee damage by 22.5%	Increases melee damage by 25%
Shotgun High-Caliber Barrel	Allows wider projectiles, causing more trauma on impact. Ballistically optimized to maintain penetrative power.	Increases damage by 15%	Increases damage by 17.5%	Increases damage by 20%	Increases damage by 22.5%	Increases damage by 25%

Sniper Rifle Mods

Name	Description	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4	Level 5
Sniper Rifle Concentration Mod	Biometric sensors and auto-targeting software adjust to the user's pulse and breath rate, assisting aim.	Increases damage by 5%, speeds perception by 25%, enhancing aim for a brief time.	Increases damage by 7.5%, speeds perception by 27.5%, enhancing aim for a brief time.	Increases damage by 10%, speeds perception by 30%, enhancing aim for a brief time.	Increases damage by 12.5%, speeds perception by 32.5%, enhancing aim for a brief time.	Increases damage by 15%, speeds perception by 35%, enhancing aim for a brief time.
Sniper Rifle Spare Thermal Clip	Adds sockets to raise thermal clip capacity, increasing number of spare shots.	Increases spare shot capacity by 50%	Increases spare shot capacity by 60%	Increases spare shot capacity by 70%	Increases spare shot capacity by 80%	Increases spare shot capacity by 90%
Sniper Rifle Extended Barrel	Lengthens barrel, creating greater bullet velocity and impact.	Increases damage by 15%	Increases damage by 17.5%	Increases damage by 20%	Increases damage by 22.5%	Increases damage by 25%
Sniper Rifle Piercing Mod	Capacitor boosts kinetic coil generators, increasing shot penetration.	Allows bullets to pierce .75 meter thick objects, at 50% reduced damage. Ignores 25% defense of armored targets.	Allows bullets to pierce .90 meter thick objects, at 45% reduced damage. Ignores 35% defense of armored targets.	Allows bullets to pierce 1.05 meter thick objects, at 40% reduced damage. Ignores 45% defense of armored targets.	Allows bullets to pierce 1.2 meter thick objects, at 35% reduced damage. Ignores 55% defense of armored targets.	Allows bullets to pierce 1.35 meter thick objects, at 30% reduced damage. Ignores 65% defense of armored targets.
Sniper Rifle Enhanced Scope	Stability-enhancing scope increases accuracy while moving and taking damage. Highlights targets through smoke.	Increases accuracy by 15% and helps aim through smoke.	Increases accuracy by 20% and helps aim through smoke.	Increases accuracy by 25% and helps aim through smoke.	Increases accuracy by 30% and helps aim through smoke.	Increases accuracy by 35% and helps aim through smoke.

Submachine Gun Mods

Name	Description	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4	Level 5
SMG Ultralight Materials	Superior lightweight alloys replace weapon parts, making weapon less obtrusive and easier to handle.	Reduces weapon weight by 50%	Reduces weapon weight by 60%	Reduces weapon weight by 70%	Reduces weapon weight by 80%	Reduces weapon weight by 90%
SMG Magazine Upgrade	Increases magazine capacity, allowing more shots before a reload.	Increases rounds per magazine by 40%	Increases rounds per magazine by 50%	Increases rounds per magazine by 60%	Increases rounds per magazine by 70%	Increases rounds per magazine by 80%
SMG High-Caliber Barrel	Allows wider projectiles, causing more trauma on impact. Ballistically optimized to maintain penetrative power.	Increases damage by 15%	Increases damage by 17.5%	Increases damage by 20%	Increases damage by 22.5%	Increases damage by 25%
SMG Heat Sink	Increases heat conductivity of thermal clip receiver. Negates heat generated by some shots.	Every round has a 25% chance of not using up the thermal clip.	Every round has a 30% chance of not using up the thermal clip.	Every round has a 35% chance of not using up the thermal clip.	Every round has a 40% chance of not using up the thermal clip.	Every round has a 45% chance of not using up the thermal clip.
SMG Scope	Simple 2x optical scope to enhance stability while zoomed. Increases accuracy while moving and taking damage.	Increases accuracy by 15%	Increases accuracy by 20%	Increases accuracy by 25%	Increases accuracy by 30%	Increases accuracy by 35%