Mass Effect Edit

Sniper Rifles refers to both a type of weapon and its corresponding unlockable combat-oriented talent, available to Soldiers, Infiltrators, and the Turian Agent. The talent increases accuracy and damage with sniper rifles, and grants the Assassination ability.

Sniper rifles are slow and usually overheat after two shots in quick succession. However, they make up for this in range and damage - higher-level sniper rifles retain accuracy at incredible ranges, and they will often kill weaker enemies in one shot. Beware, though; close-range encounters are not recommended, due to the fact that you will more than likely miss any shots in close combat. To counter this inaccuracy at close range, kneel but do not zoom in, and then fire when the reticle turns red.

Tapping the "use" button ("E" on the PC) will zoom your view. It should be noted that the close-in view from a sniper rifle makes an excellent telescope, useful for scouting out enemies at a distance whether you fire at them or not.

Sniper rifles have a rate of fire of 0.6, i. e. one shot every 1.67 seconds.

See also: Sniper Guide

Talent LevelsEdit

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

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

Level 3: Assassination

Level 4: Increases damage by 10%. Increases accuracy by 17%

Level 5: Increases damage by 12%. Increases accuracy by 20%

Level 6: Increases damage by 14%. Increases accuracy by 22%

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

Level 8: Advanced Assassination

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 Assassination

Assassination Edit

Assassination is a powerful damage boost to the next shot from the sniper rifle. This can quickly dispatch enemies which would normally take two or three shots with a single round. While this skill is active your sniper rifle scope will have no sway, allowing you to accurately place a shot. Though slow, this attack is deadly when combined with the right ammunition. While lining it up, direct your squad members to give you cover, or use Lift to bring enemies out for a clear shot.

Some enemies, such as mercenaries, Geth Hoppers or Geth Snipers, also use Assassination. This is characterised by a distinct red beam just before they fire. On higher difficulty settings, or if your shields are already damaged, one shot can kill you instantly. Once you see the red beam, either get behind cover, put up a Barrier or Shield Boost, or take down the attacker before they have time to fire.

Assassination Edit

Only available when using sniper rifles.

• Next shot will inflict weapon damage +50%
• Duration: 20s
• Recharge time: 45s.

Advanced Assassination Edit

Only available when using sniper rifles.

• Next shot will inflict weapon damage +125%
• Duration 20s
• Recharge time: 45s.

Master Assassination Edit

Only available when using sniper rifles

• Next shot will inflict weapon damage +225%
• Duration 20s
• 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 Sniper Rifles talent:

• Infiltrator Unlockable
• Soldier Unlockable
• Turian Agent Unlockable

Sniper Rifle types Edit

Below is a list of types of Sniper Rifles and their base stats:

Naginata line of Sniper Rifles

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Ariake Technologies
Damage:	-	-	-	166	180	194	209	223	238	252
Shots Before Overheat:	-	-	-	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.6	1.6	1.6
Accuracy Rating:	-	-	-	55	56	57	58	59	60	61

Punisher line of Sniper Rifles

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Armax Arsenal
Damage:	-	-	-	-	-	-	226	242	257	273
Shots Before Overheat:	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.8	1.9	2.0	2.0
Accuracy Rating:	-	-	-	-	-	-	72	72	73	74

Lightning Strike line of Sniper Rifles

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Batarian State Arms
Damage:	102	114	126	138	150	162	174	186	198	210
Shots Before Overheat:	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4
Accuracy Rating:	41	42	44	45	46	47	48	50	51	52

The Lightning Strike sniper rifles can only be acquired through console commands.

Titan line of Sniper Rifles

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Cerberus Skunkworks
Damage:	143	160	176	193	210	227	244	260	277	294
Shots Before Overheat:	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4
Accuracy Rating:	82	83	83	83	84	85	85	85	85	86

The Titan sniper rifles can only be acquired through console commands.

Striker line of Sniper Rifles

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Devlon Industries
Damage:	-	-	-	152	165	178	191	205	218	231
Shots Before Overheat:	-	-	-	1.5	1.6	1.6	1.6	1.7	1.7	1.8
Accuracy Rating:	-	-	-	59	60	60	61	62	63	64

Hammer line of Sniper Rifles

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Elanus Risk Control Services
Damage:	92	103	113	124	135	146	157	167	178	189
Shots Before Overheat:	1.2	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.4
Accuracy Rating:	35	37	38	39	41	42	43	45	46	47

Pulse Rifle line of Sniper Rifles

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Geth Armory
Damage:	143	160	176	193	210	227	244	260	277	294
Shots Before Overheat:	1.5	1.5	1.6	1.6	1.6	1.7	1.7	1.8	1.8	1.9
Accuracy Rating:	84	85	85	85	86	86	86	87	87	87

The Geth sniper rifles can only be acquired through console commands.

Avenger line of Sniper Rifles

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Hahne-Kedar
Damage:	82	91	101	110	120	130	139	149	158	168
Shots Before Overheat:	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4
Accuracy Rating:	41	42	44	45	46	47	48	50	51	52

Python line of Sniper Rifles

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Hahne-Kedar Shadow Works
Damage:	112	125	139	152	165	178	191	205	218	231
Shots Before Overheat:	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.6	1.6
Accuracy Rating:	47	48	49	50	51	52	54	55	56	57

The Python sniper rifles can only be acquired through console commands.

Equalizer line of Sniper Rifles

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Haliat Armory
Damage:	133	148	164	179	195	211	226	242	257	273
Shots Before Overheat:	1.3	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5
Accuracy Rating:	47	48	49	50	51	52	54	55	56	57

Helix line of Sniper Rifles

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Jormangund Technology
Damage:	122	137	151	166	166	194	209	223	238	252
Shots Before Overheat:	1.6	1.6	1.7	1.7	1.7	1.8	1.8	1.9	2	2
Accuracy Rating:	71	71	72	72	72	74	74	75	75	76

The Helix sniper rifles can only be acquired through console commands.

Harpoon line of Sniper Rifles

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Kassa Fabrication
Damage:	-	-	-	-	-	-	244	266	277	294
Shots Before Overheat:	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.7	1.8	1.8	1.9
Accuracy Rating:	-	-	-	-	-	-	69	70	70	71

Volkov line of Sniper Rifles

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Rosenkov Materials
Damage:	-	-	-	-	-	-	261	279	297	315
Shots Before Overheat:	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.6	1.7	1.7	1.8
Accuracy Rating:	-	-	-	-	-	-	66	67	68	69

Reaper line of Sniper Rifles

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Elkoss Combine
Damage:	102	114	126	138	150	162	174	186	198	210
Shots Before Overheat:	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3
Accuracy Rating:	24	25	27	28	30	31	33	34	36	38

HMWSR Basic line of Sniper Rifles

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Spectre Gear
Damage:	102	114	126	138	150	162	-	-	-	-
Shots Before Overheat:	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.4	-	-	-	-
Accuracy Rating:	41	42	44	45	46	47	-	-	-	-

The HMWSR Basic Sniper Rifle can only be acquired through console commands.

HMWSR Advanced line of Sniper Rifles

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Spectre Gear
Damage:	-	120	132	145	158	170	183	195	-	-
Shots Before Overheat:	-	1.4	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.6	1.6	-	-
Accuracy Rating:	-	45	46	48	49	50	51	52	-	-

The HMWSR Advanced Sniper Rifle can only be acquired through console commands.

HMWSR Master line of Sniper Rifles

Weapon Level:	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
Manufacturer:	Spectre Gear
Damage:	-	-	-	221	240	259	278	298	317	336
Shots Before Overheat:	-	-	-	1.7	1.7	1.7	1.8	1.8	1.9	2
Accuracy Rating:	-	-	-	83	84	84	85	85	85	86

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

Mass Effect 2 Edit

Sniper rifles are powerful, long-ranged weapons with built in scopes. None of the sniper rifles in Mass Effect 2 possess any sort of short-range damage bonuses. At the start of the game, they are available only to the Infiltrator and Soldier player classes. Other player classes can choose to train in sniper rifles later during the game. The following squadmates utilize sniper rifles: Garrus, Legion, Thane, and Zaeed.

Sniper Rifle Models Edit

Below is a list of the types of sniper rifles in Mass Effect 2 and their base stats:

M-29 Incisor Edit

• Manufacturer: Unknown
• Base Damage: 53.6
• Damage Multipliers (Armor / Barriers / Shields): x1.25 / x1.25 / x1.25
• Default ammo: 15 / 30
• Acquisition: Aegis Pack DLC or Digital Deluxe Edition.

M-92 Mantis Edit

• Manufacturer: Devlon Industries
• Base Damage: 263.1
• Damage Multipliers (Armor / Barriers / Shields): x1.5 / x1.0 / x1.0
• Default ammo: 1 / 9
• Acquisition: Default starting weapon.

M-97 Viper Edit

• Manufacturer: Rosenkov Materials
• Base Damage: 81.9
• Damage Multipliers (Armor / Barriers / Shields): x1.35 / x1.15 / x1.15
• Default ammo: 12 / 48
• Acquisition: Dossier: The Assassin

M-98 Widow Edit

• Manufacturer: Unknown
• Base Damage: 368.3
• Damage Multipliers (Armor / Barriers / Shields): x1.5 / x1.0 / x1.0
• Default ammo: 1 / 12
• Acquisition: Collector Ship (mission) (Infiltrator or Soldier only). Research Project for Legion.

Upgrades Edit

See also: Upgrade Guide, section on Sniper Rifle upgrades, Research

• AP Sniper Rifle (Tungsten Sabot Jacket)

Increases damage by +50% against armor.

• Sniper Headshot Damage (Combat Scanner)

Sniper rifles deal +50% headshot damage.

• Sniper Rifle Damage 1 - 6 (Scram Pulsar)

Provides +10% sniper rifle damage.

Mass Effect 3 Edit

Sniper Rifles are on the heavier side of the weight spectrum, but can provide players with much needed long range firepower. Typically, the less magnified the gun's scope is, the higher its rate of fire. The following squadmates utilize sniper rifles: Ashley and Garrus.

Sniper Rifle Models Edit

Below is a list of the types of sniper rifles in Mass Effect 3 and their base stats. Note that WCFDA stands for weight, capacity, fire rate, damage, and accuracy. The relevant values for those statistics are presented in that order.

Black Widow Edit

• Manufacturer: Systems Alliance
• Base WCFDA: 98 / 14 / 6 / 66 / 80
• Default ammo: 3 / 15
• Fire mode: Semi-Automatic
• Acquisition: Spectre Requisitions

Collector Sniper Rifle Edit

• Manufacturer: Collector
• Base WCFDA: 57 / 100 / 80 / 20 / 40
• Default ammo: 25 / ∞
• Fire mode: Fully-Automatic (Beam)
• Acquisition: Retaliation

Javelin Edit

• Manufacturer: Geth Armory
• Base WCFDA: 99 / 12 / 2 / 75 / 80
• Default ammo: 1 / 9
• Fire mode: Charged Single Shot
• Acquisition: Rannoch: Admiral Koris or Elkoss Combine Arsenal Supplies

Kishock Harpoon Gun Edit

• Manufacturer: Batarian
• Base WCFDA: 80 / 15 / 3 / 85 / 75
• Default ammo: 1 / 15
• Fire mode: Charged Single Shot
• Acquisition: Resurgence Pack (multiplayer); Groundside Resistance Pack (single-player)

Krysae Sniper Rifle Edit

• Manufacturer: Turian
• Base WCFDA: 75 / 10 / 2 / 60 / 75
• Default ammo: 3 / 9
• Fire mode: Semi-Automatic
• Acquisition: Rebellion Pack (multiplayer), Firefight Pack (single-player)

M-13 Raptor Edit

• Manufacturer: Cerberus
• Base WCFDA: 68 / 37 / 56 / 28 / 68
• Default ammo: 15 / 105
• Fire Mode: Semi-Automatic
• Acquisition: Priority: Sur'Kesh or Batarian State Arms

M-29 Incisor Edit

• Manufacturer: Unknown
• Base WCFDA: 42 / 35 / 41 / 23 / 66
• Default ammo: 15 / 120
• Fire mode: Three-round burst
• Acquisition: Tuchanka: Bomb or Kassa Fabrication

M-90 Indra Edit

• Manufacturer: Unknown
• Base WCFDA: 65 / 50 / 50 / 20 / 70
• Default ammo: 25 / 180
• Fire mode: Automatic
• Acquisition: Bonus item or Firefight Pack (single-player), multiplayer

M-92 Mantis Edit

• Manufacturer: Devlon Industries
• Base WCFDA: 68 / 11 / 2 / 66 / 74
• Default ammo: 1 / 9
• Fire mode: Single Shot
• Acquisition: Priority: Mars

M-97 Viper Edit

• Manufacturer: Rosenkov Materials
• Base WCFDA: 49 / 18 / 9 / 41 / 83
• Default ammo: 6 / 36
• Fire mode: Semi-Automatic
• Acquisition: Priority: Palaven or Kassa Fabrication

M-98 Widow Edit

• Manufacturer: Unknown
• Base WCFDA: 99 / 7 / 2 / 75 / 75
• Default ammo: 1 / 7
• Fire mode: Single Shot
• Acquisition: Priority: Thessia or Kassa Fabrication

N7 Valiant Edit

• Manufacturer: Systems Alliance
• Base WCFDA: 60 / 15 / 10 / 50 / 75
• Default ammo: 3 / 30
• Fire mode: Semi-Automatic
• Acquisition: N7 Collector's Edition Pack or multiplayer

Weapon Modifications Edit

See also: Weapon Mods, Equipment Guide, section on Sniper Rifles

• Sniper Rifle Concentration Mod I - V (Single-player only)

Biometric sensors and auto-targeting software adjust to the user's pulse and breath rate, assisting aim.

• Sniper Rifle Spare Thermal Clip I - V

Adds sockets to increase thermal clip capacity, increasing number of spare shots.

• Sniper Rifle Extended Barrel I - V

Lengthens barrel, creating greater bullet velocity and impact.

• Sniper Rifle Piercing Mod I - V

Capacitor boosts kinetic coil generators, increasing shot penetration.

• Sniper Rifle Enhanced Scope I - V

Stability-enhancing scope increases accuracy while moving and taking damage. Highlights targets through smoke.

• Sniper Rifle High-Velocity Barrel I - V (Requires Retaliation for multiplayer.)

Superior kinetic coils increase shot penetration.

• Sniper Rifle Thermal Scope I - V (Requires Retaliation for multiplayer.)

Reveal enemies through walls and smoke with a 4x optical scope and enhance stability and accuracy while zoomed.

See Also Edit

• Assault Rifles
• Equipment
• Heavy Pistols
• Heavy Weapons
• Pistols
• Shotguns
• Submachine Guns