Adepts, Engineers, and Sentinels start the game with pistols and SMGs.Vanguards start the game with shotguns, SMGs, and pistols.
Infiltrators start the game with sniper rifles, SMGs, and pistols.
Soldiers start the game with assault rifles, pistols, shotguns, and sniper rifles.
All classes can use heavy weapons.
In ME1, weapons overheated. In ME2, this has been changed to a thermal clip system which works like other guns in most shooters: each gun as a set clip size and when you run out of ammo for the clip, you reload.
Weapons have damage modifiers against different enemy defenses, which mean certain weapons deal more damage when used against certain defenses:
- SMGs and shotguns deal a lot more more damage to shields and barriers
- Pistols and Sniper Rifles deal a lot more more damage to armor
- Assault Rifles deal a bit more damage to shields and barriers.
Weapon modifier values listed here. You can research upgrades which will make weapons even more effective against defenses.
Starting weapons (non-DLC):
- Predator pistol
- Mantis sniper rifle
- Katana shotgun
- Shuriken SMG
- Avenger Assault rifle
- Collector Assault Rifle (Digital Edition only)
Weapons you can find later in the game:
- Scimitar shotgun
- Carnifex pistol
- Tempest SMG
- Locust SMG (DLC)
- Viper sniper rifle
- Vindicator assault rifle
DLC pack weapons:
- Incisor sniper rifle
- Phalanx pistol
- Geth Plasma Shotgun
- Mattock assault rifle
- Eviscerator shotgun
Heavy weapons:
- Grenade Launcher (starting)
- Missile Launcher
- Avalanche
- Beam Rifle
- Cain
- Arc Projector (DLC)
- Blackstorm (pre-order bonus/DLC)
Partway through the game, you can pick up a class-exclusive weapon, or add another weapon category to your class:
- Adepts, Engineers, and Sentinels can pick up assault rifle training, shotgun training, or sniper rifle training
- Vanguards can pick up assault rifle training, sniper rifle training, or the Claymore shotgun
- Infiltrators can pick up assault rifle training, shotgun training, or the Widow sniper rifle
- Soldiers can pick up the Revenant assault rifle, Claymore shotgun, or Widow sniper rifle