M-3 Predator

The M-3 Predator is a heavy pistol in Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, and a pistol in Mass Effect: Andromeda.

Mass Effect 2

M-3 Predator
General Stats
Type	Heavy Pistol
Location	Prologue: Awakening
Accuracy	Moderate
Recoil	High
Fire Mode	Semi-Automatic
Fire Rate	300 RPM
Reload Time	1.43
Ammo Per Clip	12
Damage & Bonus Multipliers
Base	37.2
Armor	×1.5
Shields	×1.0
Barrier	×1.0
Spare Ammo Capacity
Default	60
Armor Pack	66
Upgraded	N/A
Both	N/A
Pickup Amount (Min - Max)	11 - 33

Description

Reliable, accurate sidearm. Effective against armor; weak against shields and biotic barriers.

Manufactured by Elanus Risk Control, the Predator is valued as a powerful, deadly, and relatively inexpensive weapon. While it is not generally deployed in the military, where kinetic barriers are common, it’s still very popular in the Terminus Systems where these defenses are less common.

Acquisition

This weapon is obtainable in a locker at the start of Prologue: Awakening.

Squad Use

This weapon can be used by Jack, Jacob, Miranda, Mordin, Tali, Kasumi, Liara, Dr. Amanda Kenson, and Wilson.

Player Notes

• While putting out less damage than the M-6 Carnifex or M-5 Phalanx, the Predator fires four times as fast as the latter and twice as fast as the former.
• Despite not having the damage or accuracy of other heavy pistol models, like them, the Predator does have a very high likelihood of triggering the effects of ammo powers, such as the weapon overheating effects of high-level Disruptor Ammo or the freezing effect of Cryo Ammo, typically requiring only one shot against most unprotected enemies. This is particularly useful for squadmates due to their higher rate of fire with this pistol compared to the M-5 Phalanx and their high accuracy with weapons generally.

Mass Effect 3

M-3 Predator
Type	Heavy Pistol
Location	Prologue: Earth
Fire Mode	Semi-Automatic
Weight	18%
Capacity	33%
Fire Rate	25%
Damage	20%
Accuracy	55%
Ammunition
Clip Size	15
Reserve	90
Type	Heavy Pistol
Location	Starter weapon
Fire Mode	Semi-Automatic
Weight	18%
Capacity	33%
Fire Rate	25%
Damage	20%
Accuracy	55%
Ammunition
Clip Size	15
Reserve	90

Description

A reliable, accurate sidearm. Manufactured by Elanus Risk Control, the Predator is valued as a powerful, deadly, and relatively inexpensive weapon. While it is not generally deployed in the military, it's still very popular in the Terminus Systems.

Acquisition

Singleplayer

The Predator is given to Shepard by Admiral Anderson when the Reapers reach Earth.

Multiplayer

The M-3 Predator is one of the five starter weapons. Upgrades are randomly rewarded through purchases of item packs. The Predator is categorized as common.

Player Notes

• Singleplayer
• Multiplayer

Singleplayer

• The Predator is lightweight, meaning it is suitable for people who like to use their powers frequently.
• It has a decent clip size, with a default of 15 rounds. It also has a very fast fire rate, and is fairly accurate at all ranges, as long as you can deal with the (relatively low) recoil.
• Its main downside is its very low damage compared to other heavy pistols.
• However, it is a decent back-up weapon when you don't have time to switch to another weapon.
• The Predator's low damage is partially made up for with a very fast reload speed, on par with that of the M-4 Shuriken.
• When the M-3 Predator is received again through an imported Mass Effect 3 save in single-player, it is not automatically upgraded three levels as other weapons are, and the missing levels (from VIII to X) cannot be obtained through the upgrade terminal either.

Multiplayer

• Although most players ditch this gun as soon as they get an M-6 Carnifex or an M-5 Phalanx, the Predator can be a very effective gun, even on Silver. A solid fire rate, fast reload speed, and good stability can lead to a rapid succession of headshots.
• Higher damage and lower kickback than most SMGs can also make it a better secondary weapon for snipers.
• When paired with the Pistol Piercing Mod, the Predator becomes very effective at taking down Guardians at close range, with only 7 headshots required on Bronze. This is very useful for low level players who cannot carry a heavier weapon nor use their powers to damage them to defeat them easily.

Mass Effect: Andromeda

M-3 Predator
General Info
Category	Pistols
Rarity	Common (I-X) Rare (S)
Tech Type
Mod Slots	2
Base Stats
Damage	34-58
Rate of Fire	500
Max Clip Size	15
Max Ammo	105-131
Accuracy	52-65
Weight	5-3
Base Stats
Damage	57-76
Rate of Fire	450
Max Clip Size	15
Max Ammo	105-131
Accuracy	52-65
Weight	5-3
Special Edition Stats
Damage	94-113
Rate of Fire	500
Max Clip Size	20-24
Max Ammo	115-144
Accuracy	52-65
Weight	5-3
Bulwark
Damage Resistance (1 Ally): 15-25 Damage Resistance (2 Allies): 22-37 Damage Resistance (3 Allies): 30-50
Concussive
Area Damage: 800-1500 Radius (m): 7.50
Siphon
% Damage Returned as Health: 3-3.75 % Heal Bonus per kill: 4.5 Kill Streak Duration (s): 7 Max. Kill Bonus: 3

Description

A reliable semi-automatic pistol. Originally manufactured by Elanus Risk Control, the rapid-fire Predator is a deadly and inexpensive weapon. Although Milky Way militaries generally avoided using the Predator, the Andromeda Initiative obtained and adjusted several hundred of them.

Features

The rapid-fire Predator also has a rapid reloading rate.

According to post-launch balance updates, the Predator also benefits from the rate of fire adjustment bestowed to the Mattock. However, its rate of fire has been reduced. It also saw multiple adjustments to damage. The multiplayer base Predator also increased the force impacted by its bullets.

The multiplayer S variant gained improvements to damage, rate of fire, clip size, reload size, and total ammo as of the very last update.

Strategies

• The Predator is at best a sidearm, as skill-focused classes can take out enemies more with their powers than with the gun. It has some use as additional (but negligible) DPS while waiting for skills to cool down.
• Another way to wring some utility from the weapon is to use it as a combo primer in conjunction with ammo consumables or boosters for classes with detonator skills.

Stats

• Singleplayer
• Multiplayer I-X
• Multiplayer S

Singleplayer

Rank	Damage	Rate of Fire	Max Clip Size	Max Ammo	Accuracy	Weight
I	34	500	15	105	52	5
II	37	500	15	108	56	5
III	39	500	15	111	58	4
IV	42	500	15	114	60	4
V	45	500	15	117	61	4
VI	47	500	15	119	62	4
VII	50	500	15	122	63	3
VIII	53	500	15	125	64	3
IX	55	500	15	128	64	3
X	58	500	15	131	65	3

Multiplayer I-X

Rank	Damage	Rate of Fire	Max Clip Size	Max Ammo	Accuracy	Weight
I	57	450	15	105	52	5
II	59	450	15	108	56	5
III	61	450	15	111	58	4
IV	63	450	15	114	60	4
V	65	450	15	117	61	4
VI	67	450	15	119	62	4
VII	69	450	15	122	63	3
VIII	71	450	15	125	64	3
IX	73	450	15	128	64	3
X	76	450	15	131	65	3

Multiplayer S

Rank	Damage	Rate of Fire	Max Clip Size	Max Ammo	Accuracy	Weight
I	94	500	20	115	52	5
II	96	500	20	118	56	5
III	97	500	20	121	58	4
IV	99	500	21	124	60	4
V	101	500	21	127	61	4
VI	103	500	22	129	62	4
VII	104	500	22	132	63	3
VIII	106	500	23	135	64	3
IX	108	500	23	138	64	3
X	113	500	24	144	65	3

Development

Rank	Blueprint Unlocked	Omni-Gel Canister	Copper	Nickel	Element Zero	Augmentation Slots
I	Level 1	20	80	40	10	0
II	Level 6	20	90	40	10	2
III	Level 11	20	100	50	10	2
IV	Level 21	30	110	50	10	2
V	Level 31	30	130	60	20	2
VI	Level 41	30	140	70	20	2
VII	Level 51	30	145	70	20	2
VIII	Level 61	40	150	70	20	2
IX	Level 71	40	155	70	20	2
X	Level 81	40	160	80	20	2
Total	N/A	300	1260	600	160	N/A

Trivia

• The appearance of the M-3 Predator is based on the default pistol in Mass Effect.
• In Mass Effect 3, several cutscenes show Shepard and the squad equipped with the M-3 Predator, regardless of whether the character actually uses a pistol as a weapon or has a different pistol equipped.