See also: Heavy Pistols, Pistol Guide

Pistols refers to both a type of weapon and the talent that gives proficiency in them. Pistols are close- and mid-range weapons designed for a variety of situations, particularly shooting on the move. They lack the automatic fire of assault rifles, and do less damage compared to shotguns or sniper rifles.

This talent is available to all classes except Sentinels, who get bonuses to pistol proficiency from their class skill (see below), Asari Scientist, who has no weapon talents whatsoever, and Krogan Battlemaster and Turian Agent, which instead use assault rifles as their "basic" weapon.

However, even with a low number of points or none whatsoever, pistols are significantly more accurate than any of the other weapons. For this reason they are generally reserved as backup weapons for biotic and tech specialists as their main skills recharge. Moreover their high accuracy, particularly in the early levels, should not be overlooked by Soldiers as an alternative to assault rifles, especially if the Shotgun talent is going to gain investment much later in the game.

Pistols have a rate of fire of 4 shots per second. When Master Marksman is active, they will out-perform assault rifles of the same rank.

Talent Ranks Edit

Level 1: Increases damage by 5%. Increases accuracy by 10%.

Level 2: Increases damage by 8%. Increases accuracy by 14%.

Level 3: Marksman

Level 4: Increases damage by 10%. Increases accuracy by 17%. Unlocks Shotguns (Soldier).

Level 5: Increases damage by 12%. Increases accuracy by 20%. Unlocks Sniper Rifles (Infiltrator).

Level 6: Increases damage by 14%. Increases accuracy by 22%. Unlocks Shotguns (Vanguard, Quarian Machinist), Basic Armor (Engineer).

Level 7: Increases damage by 16%. Increases accuracy by 24%.

Level 8: Advanced Marksman

Level 9: Increases damage by 18%. Increases accuracy by 26%.

Level 10: Increases damage by 19%. Increases accuracy by 28%.

Level 11: Increases damage by 20%. Increases accuracy by 30%.

Level 12: Master Marksman

Marksman Edit

For the Mass Effect 3 power, see Marksman.

Marksman is a talent gained from the Pistols skill tree. It improves the weapon's fire rate and accuracy, as well as reducing overheating.

MarksmanEdit

Boosts accuracy by 60%, increases rate of fire 1 round/sec, reduces heat 30% to compensate.

Duration: 10s.

Advanced MarksmanEdit

Boosts accuracy by 60%, increases rate of fire 1.5 rounds/sec, reduces heat 40% to compensate.

Duration: 13s.

Recharge Time: 45s.

Master MarksmanEdit

Boosts accuracy by 60%, increases rate of fire 2 rounds/sec, reduces heat 50% to compensate.

Duration: 16s.

Recharge Time: 45s.

Specialization Edit

Commandos gain Assassin Specialization at level 12.

Level 12: Assassin Specialization: Reduces the recharge time on Assassination and Marksman by 25%.

Classes Edit

These classes have access to the Pistols talent:

• Adept Unlockable
• Engineer
• Infiltrator
• Soldier
• Vanguard
• Quarian Machinist

The Sentinel class can also use pistols, but Sentinels do not have access to the specific Pistols talent. The Sentinel class talent provides smaller bonuses to pistol accuracy and damage, and at level 6 provides the first level of Marksman (for Shepard, though not for Kaidan).

Pistol types Edit

Raikou line of Pistols

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Ariake Technologies
Damage:	-	-	-	163	173	182	192	202	211	221
Shots Before Overheat:	-	-	-	17.7	18.6	19.5	20.5	21.7	23	24.4
Accuracy Rating:	-	-	-	63	64	65	66	66	67	68

Brawler line of Pistols

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Armax Arsenal
Damage:	-	-	-	-	-	-	208	218	229	239
Shots Before Overheat:	-	-	-	-	-	-	24.6	26.3	28.0	31.0
Accuracy Rating:	-	-	-	-	-	-	77	77	78	79

Judgement line of Pistols

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Batarian State Arms
Damage:	112	120	128	136	144	152	160	168	176	184
Shots Before Overheat:	14.4	15	15.5	16.2	16.9	17.6	18.5	19.4	20.4	21.5
Accuracy Rating:	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60	61

The Judgement pistols can only be acquired through console commands.

Harpy line of Pistols

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Cerberus Skunkworks
Damage:	157	168	179	190	202	213	224	235	246	258
Shots Before Overheat:	14.4	15	15.5	16.2	16.9	17.6	18.5	19.4	20.4	21.5
Accuracy Rating:	86	86	86	87	87	87	87	88	88	88

The Harpy pistols can only be acquired through console commands.

Stinger line of Pistols

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Devlon Industries
Damage:	-	-	-	150	158	167	176	185	194	202
Shots Before Overheat:	-	-	-	19	20	21	22	23	25	26
Accuracy Rating:	-	-	-	66	67	68	69	69	70	71

Striker line of Pistols

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Elanus Risk Control Services
Damage:	101	108	115	122	130	137	144	151	158	166
Shots Before Overheat:	14	14	15	16	16	17	18	18	19	20
Accuracy Rating:	47	48	49	51	52	53	54	55	56	57

Kessler line of Pistols

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Hahne-Kedar
Damage:	90	96	102	109	115	122	128	134	141	147
Shots Before Overheat:	14	15	16	16	17	18	19	19	20	22
Accuracy Rating:	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60	61

Cobra line of Pistols

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Hahne-Kedar Shadow Works
Damage:	123	132	141	150	158	167	176	185	194	202
Shots Before Overheat:	15.3	15.9	16.6	17.3	18.1	19	19.9	21	22.3	23.6
Accuracy Rating:	57	58	59	60	60	61	62	63	64	65

The Cobra pistols can only be acquired through console commands.

Stiletto line of Pistols

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Haliat Armory
Damage:	146	156	166	177	187	198	208	218	229	239
Shots Before Overheat:	15	15.6	16.2	16.9	17.7	18.5	19.4	20.5	21.6	22.9
Accuracy Rating:	57	58	59	60	60	61	62	63	64	65

Pinnacle line of Pistols

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Jormangund Technology
Damage:	134	144	154	163	173	182	193	202	211	221
Shots Before Overheat:	17.9	18.7	17.6	20.7	21.8	23.1	24.6	26.3	28.3	30.5
Accuracy Rating:	76	77	77	78	78	79	79	80	80	81

The Pinnacle pistols can only be acquired through console commands.

Razer line of Pistols

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Kassa Fabrication
Damage:	-	-	-	-	-	-	224	235	246	258
Shots Before Overheat:	-	-	-	-	-	-	23	25	26	28
Accuracy Rating:	-	-	-	-	-	-	75	75	76	77

Karpov line of Pistols

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Rosenkov Materials
Damage:	-	-	-	-	-	-	240	252	264	276
Shots Before Overheat:	-	-	-	-	-	-	22	23	25	26
Accuracy Rating:	-	-	-	-	-	-	73	73	74	75

Edge line of Pistols

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Elkoss Combine
Damage:	112	120	128	136	144	152	160	168	176	184
Shots Before Overheat:	13	14	14	15	16	15	17	17	18	19
Accuracy Rating:	38	39	40	42	43	44	46	47	48	49

HMWP Basic line of Pistols

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Spectre Gear
Damage:	112	120	128	136	144	152	-	-	-	-
Shots Before Overheat:	14.4	15	15.5	16.2	16.9	17.6	-	-	-	-
Accuracy Rating:	52	53	54	55	56	57	-	-	-	-

The HMWP Basic Pistol can only be acquired through console commands.

HMWP Advanced line of Pistols

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Spectre Gear
Damage:	-	126	134	143	151	160	168	176	-	-
Shots Before Overheat:	-	16.6	17.3	18.1	19	20	21.1	22.3	-	-
Accuracy Rating:	-	55	56	57	58	59	60	61	-	-

The HMWP Advanced Pistol can only be acquired through console commands.

HMWP Master line of Pistols

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Spectre Gear
Damage:	-	-	-	218	230	243	256	269	282	294
Shots Before Overheat:	-	-	-	20.1	21.2	22.4	24	25.4	27.2	29
Accuracy Rating:	-	-	-	87	87	87		88	88	88

Only The HMWP Master Pistol VII and X sophistication level can be found in-game. The rest can be acquired through console commands.

See Also Edit

• Pistol Guide
• Equipment
• Assault Rifles
• Shotguns
• Sniper Rifles
• Heavy Pistols