Pistols

This article is about pistol weapons in Mass Effect and Mass Effect: Andromeda. For the skill in Mass Effect: Andromeda, see Pistols (skill). For pistols in Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, see Heavy Pistols.

Mass Effect

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, 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

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

For the Marksman power in Mass Effect 3, 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.

Marksman

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

Duration: 10s.

Advanced Marksman

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

Duration: 13s.

Recharge Time: 45s.

Master Marksman

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

Duration: 16s.

Recharge Time: 45s.

Specialization

Commandos gain Assassin Specialization at level 12.

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

Classes

These classes have access to the Pistols talent:

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

The Sentinel, Asari Scientist and Turian Agent classes can also use pistols, but 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

Raikou line of Pistols

Raikou Pistol

Manufacturer:	Ariake Technologies
Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
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

Brawler Pistol

Manufacturer:	Armax Arsenal
Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Damage:	-	-	-	-	-	-	208	218	229	239
Shots Before Overheat:	-	-	-	-	-	-	24.6	26.3	28.3	30.5
Accuracy Rating:	-	-	-	-	-	-	77	77	78	79

 

Judgement line of Pistols

Judgement Pistol

Manufacturer:	Batarian State Arms
Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
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

Harpy Pistol

Manufacturer:	Cerberus Skunkworks
Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
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

Stinger Pistol

Manufacturer:	Devlon Industries
Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Damage:	-	-	-	150	158	167	176	185	194	202
Shots Before Overheat:	-	-	-	18.6	19.5	20.6	21.7	23	24.5	26.2
Accuracy Rating:	-	-	-	66	67	68	69	69	70	71

 

Striker line of Pistols

Striker Pistol

Manufacturer:	Elanus Risk Control Services
Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Damage:	101	108	115	122	130	137	144	151	158	166
Shots Before Overheat:	13.9	14.4	14.9	15.5	16.1	16.8	17.6	18.4	19.3	20.3
Accuracy Rating:	47	48	49	51	52	53	54	55	56	57

Legendary Edition: The Striker has the lowest stats among the three three-round-burst pistols available.

 

Kessler line of Pistols

Kessler Pistol

Manufacturer:	Hahne-Kedar
Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Damage:	90	96	102	109	115	122	128	134	141	147
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

 

Cobra line of Pistols

Cobra Pistol

Manufacturer:	Hahne-Kedar Shadow Works
Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
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

Stiletto Pistol

Manufacturer:	Haliat Armory
Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
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

Pinnacle Pistol

Manufacturer:	Jormangund Technology
Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Damage:	134	144	154	163	173	182	192	202	211	221
Shots Before Overheat:	17.9	18.7	19.6	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

Razer Pistol

Manufacturer:	Kassa Fabrication
Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Damage:	-	-	-	-	-	-	224	235	246	258
Shots Before Overheat:	-	-	-	-	-	-	23.1	24.5	26.2	28.2
Accuracy Rating:	-	-	-	-	-	-	75	75	76	77

Legendary Edition: The Razer has the highest stats among the three three-round-burst pistols available.

 

Karpov line of Pistols

Karpov Pistol

Manufacturer:	Rosenkov Materials
Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Damage:	-	-	-	-	-	-	240	252	264	276
Shots Before Overheat:	-	-	-	-	-	-	21.7	23	24.5	26.2
Accuracy Rating:	-	-	-	-	-	-	73	73	74	75

 

Edge line of Pistols

Edge Pistol

Manufacturer:	Elkoss Combine
Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Damage:	112	120	128	136	144	152	160	168	176	184
Shots Before Overheat:	13.4	13.8	14.3	14.9	15.5	16.1	16.8	17.5	18.4	19.3
Accuracy Rating:	38	39	40	42	43	44	45	47	48	49

 

HMWP Basic line of Pistols

HMWP Basic Pistol

Manufacturer:	Spectre Gear
Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
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

HMWP Advanced Pistol

Manufacturer:	Spectre Gear
Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
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

HMWP Master Pistol

Manufacturer:	Spectre Gear
Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Damage:	-	-	-	218	230	243	256	269	282	294
Shots Before Overheat:	-	-	-	20.1	21.2	22.4	23.8	25.4	27.2	29.3
Accuracy Rating:	-	-	-	87	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.
Legendary Edition: This is the only fully-automatic pistol naturally obtainable in-game.

 

Mass Effect: Andromeda

A mixture of "hand cannons" and submachine guns (SMGs), pistols are generally the lightest weapons on the battlefield. This light weight allows more frequent use of powers. Single-shot postols tend to be more effect against armor than SMGs, but require careful aim.

In Mass Effect: Andromeda, Pistols and Submachine Guns (SMGs) were combined into a single Pistols category. Even if the in-game names and descriptions of some weapons specifically call out the weapon as an SMG (e.g. Charger), the weapon is classified as a "Pistol". The "Heavy" designation seen in Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 that was used for pistols was dropped in Mass Effect: Andromeda.

Weapon Models

M-3 Predator

• Tech Type: Milky Way
• Damage: 34-58
• Rate of Fire: 500
• Max Clip Size: 15
• Max Ammo: 105-131
• Accuracy: 52-65
• Weight: 5-3

M-5 Phalanx

• Tech Type: Milky Way
• Damage: 86-141
• Rate of Fire: 260
• Max Clip Size: 12
• Max Ammo: 84-105
• Accuracy: 52-65
• Weight: 10-5

M-25 Hornet

• Tech Type: Milky Way
• Damage: 55-87
• Rate of Fire: 950
• Max Clip Size: 24
• Max Ammo: 192-240
• Accuracy: 50-63
• Weight: 15-8

Carnifex

• Tech Type: Milky Way
• Damage: 190-311
• Rate of Fire: 100
• Max Clip Size: 8
• Max Ammo: 56-70
• Accuracy: 57-71
• Weight: 10-5

Charger

• Tech Type: Milky Way
• Damage: 19-32
• Rate of Fire: 650
• Max Clip Size: 50
• Max Ammo: 400-500
• Accuracy: 45-56
• Weight: 15-8

Equalizer

• Tech Type: Remnant
• Damage: 36-57
• Rate of Fire: 600
• Max Clip Size: 25-53
• Max Ammo: 1 (∞)
• Accuracy: 64-80
• Weight: 20-10

N7 Eagle

• Tech Type: Milky Way
• Damage: 57-88
• Rate of Fire: 450
• Max Clip Size: 24
• Max Ammo: 192-240
• Accuracy: 55-69
• Weight: 15-8

N7 Hurricane

• Tech Type: Milky Way
• Damage: 24-37
• Rate of Fire: 925
• Max Clip Size: 40
• Max Ammo: 280-350
• Accuracy: 45-56
• Weight: 25-13

Pathfinder Ranger

• Tech Type: Milky Way
• Damage: 25-32
• Rate of Fire: 700
• Max Clip Size: 75
• Max Ammo: 225-250
• Accuracy: 45-53
• Weight: 20-16

Rozerad

• Tech Type: Heleus
• Damage: 17-26
• Rate of Fire: 225
• Max Clip Size: 70
• Max Ammo: 420-525
• Accuracy: 45-56
• Weight: 10-5

Scorpion

• Tech Type: Milky Way
• Damage: 315-497
• Rate of Fire: 75
• Max Clip Size: 4
• Max Ammo: 28-35
• Accuracy: 40-50
• Weight: 30-15

Sidewinder

• Tech Type: Milky Way
• Damage: 99-157
• Rate of Fire: 380
• Max Clip Size: 6
• Max Ammo: 60-75
• Accuracy: 45-56
• Weight: 10-5

Talon

• Tech Type: Milky Way
• Damage: 315-497
• Rate of Fire: 75
• Max Clip Size: 4
• Max Ammo: 28-35
• Accuracy: 40-50
• Weight: 30-15

Ushior

• Tech Type: Heleus
• Damage: 500-769
• Rate of Fire: 70
• Max Clip Size: 2
• Max Ammo: 20-25
• Accuracy: 60-75
• Weight: 20-10

Pistols Customization

Pistols can be customized by two different methods in Mass Effect: Andromeda.

Weapon Modifications

Main article: Mods

Mods are customizations that are exclusive to weapons only in Mass Effect: Andromeda. Mods use round-shaped sockets on a weapon and can only be changed at a Loadout terminal.

Weapon Augmentations

Main article: Augmentations

Augmentations are semi-permanent customizations to crafted weapons or armor in Mass Effect: Andromeda. When a weapon is created during Development (crafting), hexagonal-shaped sockets are available to add augmentations to the weapon. These augmentations cannot be changed like weapon Mods and stay part of that weapon until it is deconstructed.

See Also

• Assault Rifles
• Equipment
• Heavy Pistols
• Heavy Weapons
• Pistol Guide
• Shotguns
• Sniper Rifles
• Submachine Guns
• Upgrade Guide