Mass Effect 2
62 Achievements
1,355
55-70h
Weapon Specialist
Fully upgrade a weapon
15
How to unlock the Weapon Specialist achievement in Mass Effect 2 - Definitive Guide
http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Upgrade_guide
I do not take any credit for this guide.
Each weapon has five or six damage upgrades as well as a two other enhancements that can be added on. The Heavy Weapons have ammo upgrades instead of damage upgrades. They can be either found during missions, purchased on Illium, the Citadel, Tuchanka, and Omega, or given after completing a mission. If you purchase them, then you won’t have to do anymore research. The found upgrades require research however. See Prospector for more information. Complete information about the upgrades can be found below.
Assault Rifle
(Upgrade Name) – (Cost) – (Acquisition)
Damage Upgrade 1 – 2,500 Iridium – Mordin recruitment mission (Just past the mercenary barricade)
Damage Upgrade 2 – 5,000 Iridium – Tali recruitment mission (In a room blocked by a pillar)
Damage Upgrade 3 – 7,500 Iridium – Samara loyalty mission (On a wall in Morinth’s apartment)
Damage Upgrade 4 – 10,000 Iridium – Zaeed loyalty mission (After doing the renegade choices)
Damage Upgrade 5 – 60,000 Credits – Gateway Personal Defense, Illium
Damage Upgrade 6 – 60,000 Credits – Fortack’s Database, Tuchanka
+25% Penetration – 15,000 Iridium – Unlocked after two damage upgrades
Accuracy Improvement – 25,000 Iridium – Unlocked after three damage upgrades
SMG
Damage Upgrade 1 – 2,500 Iridium – Garrus recruitment mission
Damage Upgrade 2 – 5,000 Iridium – Thane recruitment mission
Damage Upgrade 3 – 7,500 Iridium – Miranda loyalty mission
Damage Upgrade 4 – 60,000 Credits – Rodam Expeditions, the Citadel
Damage Upgrade 5 – 60,000 Credits – Gateway Personal Defense, Illium
+50% Shield Piercing – 15,000 Iridium – Unlocked after two damage upgrades
+50% Extra Rounds – 15,000 Iridium – Unlocked after three damage upgrades
Heavy Pistol
Damage Upgrade 1 – 2,500 Palladium – Tali recruitment mission
Damage Upgrade 2 – 5,000 Palladium – Thane loyalty mission
Damage Upgrade 3 – 7,500 Palladium – Jacob loyalty mission
Damage Upgrade 4 – 60,000 Credits – Rodam Expeditions, the Citadel
Damage Upgrade 5 – 60,000 Credits – Fortack’s Database, Tuchanka
+50% Armor Piercing – 15,000 Palladium – Unlocked after two damage upgrades
Critical – 25,000 Palladium – Unlocked after three damage upgrades
Shotgun
Damage Upgrade 1 – 2,500 Platinum – Jack recruitment mission
Damage Upgrade 2 – 5,000 Platinum – Grunt loyalty mission
Damage Upgrade 3 – 7,500 Platinum – Derelict Collector ship mission
Damage Upgrade 4 – 60,000 Credits – Kenn’s Salvage, Omega
Damage Upgrade 5 – 60,000 Credits – Fortack’s Database, Tuchanka
+50% Shield Piercing – 15,000 Platinum – Unlocked after two damage upgrades
+100% Extra Rounds – 15,000 Platinum – Unlocked after three damage upgrades
Sniper Rifle
Damage Upgrade 1 – 2,500 Platinum – Grunt recruitment mission
Damage Upgrade 2 – 5,000 Platinum – Garrus loyalty mission
Damage Upgrade 3 – 7,500 Platinum – Derelict Collector ship mission
Damage Upgrade 4 – 60,000 Credits – Rodam Expeditions, the Citadel
Damage Upgrade 5 – 60,000 Credits – Omega Market, Omega
+50% Armor Piercing – 15,000 Platinum – Unlocked after two damage upgrades
+50% Headshot Damage – 25,000 Platinum – Unlocked after three damage upgrades
Heavy Weapon
Ammo Upgrade 1 – 2,500 Iridium – Freedom’s Progress mission
Ammo Upgrade 2 – 5,000 Iridium – Mordin loyalty mission
Ammo Upgrade 3 – 7.500 Iridium – Zaeed loyalty mission
Ammo Upgrade 4 – 10,000 Iridium – N7: Blood Pack Base side mission
Ammo Upgrade 5 – 30,000 Credits – Kenn’s Salvage, Omega
Ammo Upgrade 6 – 30,000 Credits – Ratch’s Wares, Tuchanka
Additional Weapons
M-15 Vindicator – Assault rifle – Garrus recruitment mission (On a couch in the room Garrus is in)
M-76 Revenant – Assault rifle – Collector ship (Next to the collector being experimented on, Soldier class only)
Geth Pulse Rifle – Assault rifle – Tali recruitment mission (Just past the Colossus, only on Hardcore or Insanity)
M-9 Tempest – SMG – Tali recruitment mission
M-12 Locust – SMG – Kasumi loyalty mission (Next to Keiji’s greybox)
M-6 Carnifex – Heavy pistol – Mordin recruitment mission (Given for talking to Mordin)
M-27 Scimitar – Shotgun – Samara recruitment mission
M-300 Claymore – Shotgun – Collector ship (Soldier and vanguard only)
M-97 Viper – Sniper rifle – Thane recruitment mission
M-98 Widow – Sniper rifle – Collector ship (Soldier and infiltrator only)
Once you have recruited Mordin, you can complete Research Projects at the station in the Tech Lab. Go to the weapons and it will show you what upgrades you can make. You will find these upgrades during missions, which will then be available to create.
Along with finding upgrades throughout missions, you can purchase upgrades on Omega, The Citadel, Illium and Tuchanka. The in-game achievement tracker as well as the ‘check upgrades’ station next to the research station will let you know how many you have left on a specific weapon after upgrading it. Each weapon has 5 damage upgrades and various miscellaneous ones. In order to research certain upgrades, you will need to have a certain amount of damage upgrades completed.
Note: Purchased upgrades will directly count; you don’t need to research them, unlike the ones you pick up.
Purchasable Weapon Upgrades:
Kenn’s Salvage - Omega - Shotgun damage upgrade
Omega Market - Omega - Sniper rifle damage upgrade
Rodam Expeditions - The Citadel - Heavy pistol damage upgrade, Sniper rifle damage upgrade, Submachine gun upgrade
Gateway Personal Defense - Illium - Assault rifle damage upgrade, Submachine gun damage upgrade
Fortack’s Database - Tuchanka - Assault rifle damage upgrade, Heavy pistol damage upgrade, Shotgun damage upgrade
Assault Rifle
(Upgrade Name) – (Cost) – (Acquisition)
Damage Upgrade 1 – 2,500 Iridium – Mordin recruitment mission (Just past the mercenary barricade)
Damage Upgrade 2 – 5,000 Iridium – Tali recruitment mission (In a room blocked by a pillar)
Damage Upgrade 3 – 7,500 Iridium – Samara loyalty mission (On a wall in Morinth’s apartment)
Damage Upgrade 4 – 10,000 Iridium – Zaeed loyalty mission (After doing the renegade choices)
Damage Upgrade 5 – 60,000 Credits – Gateway Personal Defense, Illium
Damage Upgrade 6 – 60,000 Credits – Fortack’s Database, Tuchanka
+25% Penetration – 15,000 Iridium – Unlocked after two damage upgrades
Accuracy Improvement – 25,000 Iridium – Unlocked after three damage upgrades
SMG
Damage Upgrade 1 – 2,500 Iridium – Garrus recruitment mission
Damage Upgrade 2 – 5,000 Iridium – Thane recruitment mission
Damage Upgrade 3 – 7,500 Iridium – Miranda loyalty mission
Damage Upgrade 4 – 60,000 Credits – Rodam Expeditions, the Citadel
Damage Upgrade 5 – 60,000 Credits – Gateway Personal Defense, Illium
+50% Shield Piercing – 15,000 Iridium – Unlocked after two damage upgrades
+50% Extra Rounds – 15,000 Iridium – Unlocked after three damage upgrades
Heavy Pistol
Damage Upgrade 1 – 2,500 Palladium – Tali recruitment mission
Damage Upgrade 2 – 5,000 Palladium – Thane loyalty mission
Damage Upgrade 3 – 7,500 Palladium – Jacob loyalty mission
Damage Upgrade 4 – 60,000 Credits – Rodam Expeditions, the Citadel
Damage Upgrade 5 – 60,000 Credits – Fortack’s Database, Tuchanka
+50% Armor Piercing – 15,000 Palladium – Unlocked after two damage upgrades
Critical – 25,000 Palladium – Unlocked after three damage upgrades
Shotgun
Damage Upgrade 1 – 2,500 Platinum – Jack recruitment mission
Damage Upgrade 2 – 5,000 Platinum – Grunt loyalty mission
Damage Upgrade 3 – 7,500 Platinum – Derelict Collector ship mission
Damage Upgrade 4 – 60,000 Credits – Kenn’s Salvage, Omega
Damage Upgrade 5 – 60,000 Credits – Fortack’s Database, Tuchanka
+50% Shield Piercing – 15,000 Platinum – Unlocked after two damage upgrades
+100% Extra Rounds – 15,000 Platinum – Unlocked after three damage upgrades
Sniper Rifle
Damage Upgrade 1 – 2,500 Platinum – Grunt recruitment mission
Damage Upgrade 2 – 5,000 Platinum – Garrus loyalty mission
Damage Upgrade 3 – 7,500 Platinum – Derelict Collector ship mission
Damage Upgrade 4 – 60,000 Credits – Rodam Expeditions, the Citadel
Damage Upgrade 5 – 60,000 Credits – Omega Market, Omega
+50% Armor Piercing – 15,000 Platinum – Unlocked after two damage upgrades
+50% Headshot Damage – 25,000 Platinum – Unlocked after three damage upgrades
Heavy Weapon
Ammo Upgrade 1 – 2,500 Iridium – Freedom’s Progress mission
Ammo Upgrade 2 – 5,000 Iridium – Mordin loyalty mission
Ammo Upgrade 3 – 7.500 Iridium – Zaeed loyalty mission
Ammo Upgrade 4 – 10,000 Iridium – N7: Blood Pack Base side mission
Ammo Upgrade 5 – 30,000 Credits – Kenn’s Salvage, Omega
Ammo Upgrade 6 – 30,000 Credits – Ratch’s Wares, Tuchanka
Additional Weapons
M-15 Vindicator – Assault rifle – Garrus recruitment mission (On a couch in the room Garrus is in)
M-76 Revenant – Assault rifle – Collector ship (Next to the collector being experimented on, Soldier class only)
Geth Pulse Rifle – Assault rifle – Tali recruitment mission (Just past the Colossus, only on Hardcore or Insanity)
M-9 Tempest – SMG – Tali recruitment mission
M-12 Locust – SMG – Kasumi loyalty mission (Next to Keiji’s greybox)
M-6 Carnifex – Heavy pistol – Mordin recruitment mission (Given for talking to Mordin)
M-27 Scimitar – Shotgun – Samara recruitment mission
M-300 Claymore – Shotgun – Collector ship (Soldier and vanguard only)
M-97 Viper – Sniper rifle – Thane recruitment mission
M-98 Widow – Sniper rifle – Collector ship (Soldier and infiltrator only)
Once you have recruited Mordin, you can complete Research Projects at the station in the Tech Lab. Go to the weapons and it will show you what upgrades you can make. You will find these upgrades during missions, which will then be available to create.
Along with finding upgrades throughout missions, you can purchase upgrades on Omega, The Citadel, Illium and Tuchanka. The in-game achievement tracker as well as the ‘check upgrades’ station next to the research station will let you know how many you have left on a specific weapon after upgrading it. Each weapon has 5 damage upgrades and various miscellaneous ones. In order to research certain upgrades, you will need to have a certain amount of damage upgrades completed.
Note: Purchased upgrades will directly count; you don’t need to research them, unlike the ones you pick up.
Purchasable Weapon Upgrades:
Kenn’s Salvage - Omega - Shotgun damage upgrade
Omega Market - Omega - Sniper rifle damage upgrade
Rodam Expeditions - The Citadel - Heavy pistol damage upgrade, Sniper rifle damage upgrade, Submachine gun upgrade
Gateway Personal Defense - Illium - Assault rifle damage upgrade, Submachine gun damage upgrade
Fortack’s Database - Tuchanka - Assault rifle damage upgrade, Heavy pistol damage upgrade, Shotgun damage upgrade
1. Increased damage - Mordin recruitment mission (behind the mercenary barricades in front of the hospital)
2. Increased damage - Tali recruitment mission (in the room behind the column that you mined)
3. Increased penetration ability - will open after the first two damage upgrades
4. Increased damage - shop on Illium
5. Increased shooting accuracy - unlocked after three damage upgrades
6. Increased damage - shop on Tuchanka
7. Increased damage - mission for Samara’s loyalty (in Morinth’s house there is a machine gun on the wall, you take the schematic from it and I earned a like :8)
(Upgrade name) – (Price) – (Location)
Damage Upgrade 1 – 2, 500 iridium – Mordin recruitment mission (behind the mercenary barricades)
Damage Upgrade 2 – 5,000 iridium – Tali recruitment mission (in a room blocked by a pillar)
Damage Upgrade 3 – 7, 500 iridium – Samara loyalty mission (Morinth apartments)
Damage Upgrade 4 – 10,000 iridium – mission for Zaid’s loyalty (after some dialogue in which you have to make a choice about what to do)
Damage Upgrade 5 – 60,000 credits – Gateway Personal Defense, Illium
Damage Upgrade 6 – 60,000 credits – Fortack's Database, Tuchanka
+25% Penetration – 15,000 Iridium – unlocked after two damage upgrades
Accuracy Improvement – 25,000 Iridium – Unlocks after three damage upgrades
SMG
Damage Upgrade 1 – 2, 500 iridium – Archangel recruitment mission
Damage Upgrade 2 – 5,000 Iridium – Thane Recruitment Mission
Damage Upgrade 3 – 7, 500 iridium – Miranda loyalty mission
Damage Upgrade 4 – 60,000 credits – Rodam Expeditions, Citadel
Damage Upgrade 5 – 60,000 credits – Gateway Personal Defense, Illium
+50% Shield Piercing – 15,000 Iridium – unlocks after two damage upgrades
+50% Extra Rounds – 15,000 Iridium – unlocked after three damage upgrades
Heavy Pistol
Damage Upgrade 1 – 2, 500 palladium – Tali recruitment mission
Damage Upgrade 2 – 5,000 palladium – Thane’s loyalty mission
Damage Upgrade 3 – 7,500 palladium – Jacob’s loyalty mission
Damage Upgrade 4 – 60,000 credits – Rodam Expeditions, Citadel
Damage Upgrade 5 – 60,000 credits – Fortack's Database, Tuchanka
+50% Armor Piercing – 15,000 palladium – unlocked after two damage upgrades
Critical – 25,000 palladium – unlocked after three damage upgrades
Shotgun
Damage Upgrade 1 – 2, 500 Platinum – Jack Recruitment Mission
Damage Upgrade 2 – 5,000 platinum – Grunt’s loyalty mission
Damage Upgrade 3 – 7,500 platinum – abandoned collector ship (mission)
Damage Upgrade 4 – 60,000 credits – Kenn's Salvage, Omega
Damage Upgrade 5 – 60,000 credits – Fortack's Database, Tuchanka
+50% Shield Piercing – 15,000 platinum – unlocks after two damage upgrades
+100% Extra Rounds – 15,000 platinum – unlocked after three damage upgrades
Sniper Rifle
Damage Upgrade 1 – 2, 500 platinum – Grunt recruitment mission
Damage Upgrade 2 – 5,000 Platinum – Garrus Loyalty Mission
Damage Upgrade 3 – 7,500 platinum – abandoned collector ship (mission)
Damage Upgrade 4 – 60,000 credits – Rodam Expeditions, Citadel
Damage Upgrade 5 – 60,000 credits – Omega Market, Omega
+50% Armor Piercing – 15,000 platinum – unlocked after two damage upgrades
+50% Headshot Damage – 25,000 platinum – unlocked after three damage upgrades
Heavy Weapon
Ammo Upgrade 1 – 2, 500 iridium – Freedom's Progress mission
Ammo Upgrade 2 – 5,000 Iridium – Mordin Loyalty Mission
Ammo Upgrade 3 – 7,500 Iridium – Zaid’s loyalty mission
Ammo Upgrade 4 – 10,000 Iridium – N7: Blood Pack Base side missions
Ammo Upgrade 5 – 30,000 credits – Kenn's Salvage, Omega
Ammo Upgrade 6 – 30,000 credits – Ratch’s Wares, Tuchanka