Weapon Weight Strategy

Different skills, weapon mods, and armor supposedly have an effect on weapon weight and carrying capacity. The exact effects aren’t explained well with the in-game text.

This strategy guide shows all of the possibilities for weight reduction / weight increase and to confirm / deny all weight claims.

Some of the questions are:
1. Are the weight reductions / increases accurate? If it says 25% reduction – is it really 25%?
2. Are the weight reductions / increases points based or actual percentages?
3. Will the weight reducing armor pieces reduce weight correctly separately and/or combined together as a set?

Overview

Positive Power Recharge Speed

Negative Power Recharge Speed

The weight bar in the loadout screen is a visual display of the current power recharge speed based on the amount of weight the player is currently carrying. Equipping a weapon, changing an existing weapon to a different weapon, or removing a weapon changes that bar positive or negative due to the addition or reduction of weight.

Certain skills, weapon mods, and armor can affect how much a “weapon” weighs.

There is a small black line on the weapon weight bar. This black line indicates where the +100% power recharge speed blue zone stops and the red penalty zone starts. Increasing weapon weight capacity will move this black line to the right.

Mechanics

Weapon weight percentage ranges from 100% to -100%. Each 1 percent can be considered a “weight point”. So if a weapon weighs 43 – that’s 43 weight points or 43%.
30 weight points is the base level - using Tier I Initiative Armor - no skill points spent – Soldier profile in use.
The full base range of weight points is 130. That is 30 weight points in the blue zone and 100 weight points in the red zone.

• A Pathfinder Deep Impact I weights 30 and power recharge speed is 100% blue.
• A Raptor V weighs 31 and shows power recharge speed as red with -1%.
• -100% red is the highest the weight number can go. Equipping four Widow I's has the most weight possible and the -100% was reached with only three Widows. The fourth does nothing.

Testing Methodology

A Pathfinder Observer I weighs 50 points. So if 2 Pathfinder Observers I's are equipped, this will give -70% red. That's 100 total weight points. Some of the smaller weight weapons are light enough that they don’t go over the 30 weight point limit so no change can be seen with a single weapon.
A Soned I weighs 60 points. Two Soneds I's were used to confirm if percentages vs points reduction was being used. 40% of 120 weight points is 48 and not 40. This allows seeing differences easily. Weapon specific skills were tested with a single weapon as well to rule out rounding errors.
Different weapons and weapon weights were used as needed for specific weapon mods.
All weapons listed below are Tier I - no mods or augmentations used - unless otherwise specified.

Skills Results

Skills	Skill Rank	Supposed Benefit	Findings
Auxiliary Systems	Rank 4A	+40% Weapon Weight Capacity	40 weight points of reduction.
Barrier	Rank 5B	+10% Weapon Weight Capacity	10 weight points of reduction.
Combat Fitness	Rank 3	+25% Weapon Weight Capacity	25 weight points of reduction.
Combat Fitness	Rank 5A	+25% Weapon Weight Capacity	25 weight points of reduction (50 total as Rank 3 is required).
Assault Rifles	Rank 4A	-25% Assault Rifle Weight	20% decrease - Not weight points.
Pistols	Rank 4A	-30% Pistol Weight	23-24% decrease - Not weight points.
Shotguns	Rank 4A	-25% Shotgun Weight	20% decrease - Not weight points.
Sniper Rifles	Rank 4A	-25% Sniper Rifle Weight	20% decrease - Not weight points.

Auxiliary Systems

Double Soned

Double Soned With Auxiliary Systems

Weapon	Skill	Supposed Benefit	Weight Before	Weight After
Double Pathfinder Observer	Auxiliary Systems	+40% Weapon Weight Capacity	-70%	-30%
Double Soned	Auxiliary Systems	+40% Weapon Weight Capacity	-90%	-50%

40% of 120 weight points for the double Soned would be 48 weight points but this isn't what is showing. Instead it is 40 weight points of reduction.

Barrier

Double Soned

Double Soned With Barrier

Weapon	Skill	Supposed Benefit	Weight Before	Weight After
Double Pathfinder Observer	Barrier	+10% Weapon Weight Capacity	-70%	-60%
Double Soned	Barrier	+10% Weapon Weight Capacity	-90%	-80%

10 biotic points had to be spent to unlock barrier. The first 4 Ranks of Nova were chosen and the weight numbers did not change with these skill points spent. 10% of 120 weight points for the double Soned would be 12 weight points but this isn't what is showing. Instead it is 10 weight points of reduction.

Combat Fitness Rank 3

Double Soned

Double Soned With Combat Fitness Rank 3

Weapon	Skill	Supposed Benefit	Weight Before	Weight After
Double Pathfinder Observer	Combat Fitness Rank 3	+25% Weapon Weight Capacity	-70%	-45%
Double Soned	Combat Fitness Rank 3	+25% Weapon Weight Capacity	-90%	-65%

25% of 120 Weight points for the double Soned would be 30 weight points but this isn't what is showing. Instead it is 25 weight points of reduction.

Combat Fitness Rank 5A

Double Soned

Double Soned With Combat Fitness Rank 5A

Weapon	Skill	Supposed Benefit	Weight Before	Weight After
Double Pathfinder Observer	Combat Fitness Rank 5A	+25% Weapon Weight Capacity	-70%	-20%
Double Soned	Combat Fitness Rank 5A	+25% Weapon Weight Capacity	-90%	-40%

50% of 120 weight points for the double Soned (25% from Rank 3 and 25% from Rank 5) would be 60 weight points but this isn't what is showing. Instead it is 25 weight points (50 total) of reduction.

Assault Rifles

File:Weapon Weight Strategy - Double Cyclone.png

Double Cyclone

File:Weapon Weight Strategy - Double Cyclone With Assault Rifles.png

Double Cyclone With Assault Rifles

Weapon	Skill	Supposed Benefit	Weight Before	Weight After
Double Soned	Assault Rifles	-25% Assault Rifle Weight	-90%	-66%
Single Soned	Assault Rifles	-25% Assault Rifle Weight	-30%	-18%
Double Cyclone	Assault Rifles	-25% Assault Rifle Weight	-40%	-26%
Single Cyclone	Assault Rifles	-25% Assault Rifle Weight	-5%	+100%

Assault Rifles

• The Soned weighs 60 before the Assault Rifles skill and 48 after the skill. This is a 20% decrease.
• The Cyclone weighs 35 before the Assault Rifles skill and 28 after the skill. This is a 20% decrease.

This is not a weight point decrease but a percentage decrease. However, it is not a 25% decrease. The Soned should weight 45 and the Cyclone should weigh 26.25 (26 likely) for a 25% decrease. These are not the numbers found.

Pistols

Double Talon

Double Talon With Pistols

Weapon	Skill	Supposed Benefit	Weight Before	Weight After
Double Talon	Pistols	-30% Pistol Weight	-30%	-16%
Single Talon	Pistols	-30% Pistol Weight	+100%	+100%
Double N7 Hurricane	Pistols	-30% Pistol Weight	-20%	-8%
Single N7 Hurricane	Pistols	-30% Pistol Weight	+100%	+100%

Pistols

• The Talon weighs 30 before the Pistols skill and 23 after the skill. This is an ~23% decrease.
• The N7 Hurricane weighs 25 before the Pistols skill and 19 after the skill. This is a 24% decrease.

This is not a weight point decrease but a percentage decrease. However, it is not a 30% decrease. The Talon should weight 21 and the N7 Hurricane should weigh 17.5 (18 likely) for a 30% decrease. These are not the numbers found.

Shotguns

Double Hesh

Double Hesh With Shotguns

Weapon	Skill	Supposed Benefit	Weight Before	Weight After
Double N7 Piranha	Shotguns	-25% Shotgun Weight	-70%	-50%
Single N7 Piranha	Shotguns	-25% Shotgun Weight	-20%	-10%
Double Hesh	Shotguns	-25% Shotgun Weight	-50%	-34%
Single Hesh	Shotguns	-25% Shotgun Weight	-10%	-2%

Shotguns

• The N7 Piranha weighs 50 before the Shotguns skill and 40 after the skill. This is a 20% decrease.
• The Hesh weighs 40 before the Shotguns skill and 32 after the skill. This is a 20% decrease.

This is not a weight point decrease but a percentage decrease. However, it is not a 25% decrease. The N7 Piranha should weight 37.5 (38 likely) and the Hesh should weigh 30 for a 25% decrease. These are not the numbers found.

Sniper Rifles

File:Weapon Weight Strategy - Double Widow.png

Double Widow

File:Weapon Weight Strategy - Double Widow With Sniper Rifles.png

Double Widow With Sniper Rifles

Weapon	Skill	Supposed Benefit	Weight Before	Weight After
Double Pathfinder Observer	Sniper Rifles	-25% Sniper Rifle Weight	-70%	-50%
Single Pathfinder Observer	Sniper Rifles	-25% Sniper Rifle Weight	-20%	-10%
Double Widow	Sniper Rifles	-25% Sniper Rifle Weight	-100%	-74%
Single Widow	Sniper Rifles	-25% Sniper Rifle Weight	-35%	-22%

Sniper Rifles

• The Pathfinder Observer weighs 50 before the Sniper Rifles skill and 40 after the skill. This is a 20% decrease.
• The Widow weighs 65 before the Sniper Rifles skill and 52 after the skill. This is a 20% decrease.

This is not a weight point decrease but a percentage decrease. However, it is not a 25% decrease. The Pathfinder Observer should weigh 37.5 (38 likely) and the Widow should weight 50 for a 25% decrease. These are not the numbers found.

Mods Results

Mods	Supposed Benefit	Findings
AR Heavy Magazine	+3% to +10% Weight	Percentage based - Numbers are close to listed amount but fluctuate plus or minus based on the specific weapon and mod level.
AR Heavy Stock	+3% to +10% Weight	Percentage based - Numbers are close to listed amount but fluctuate plus or minus based on the specific weapon and mod level.
Pistol Heavy Magazine	+3% to +10% Weight	Percentage based - Numbers are double the listed amount.
Pistol Heavy Scope	+3% to +10% Weight	Percentage based - Numbers are double the listed amount.
Shotgun Heavy Melee	+3% to +10% Weight	Percentage based - Appears to be within rounding error.
SR Ultra-Light Materials	-8% to -14% Weight	Percentage based - Numbers are lower than listed amount.
SR Experimental Materials	-12% to -25% Weight	Percentage based - Numbers are lower than listed amount.
SR Latticed Materials	-12% to -25% Weight	Percentage based - Numbers are lower than listed amount.
SR Heavy Spare Clip	+3% to +10% Weight	Percentage based - Appears to be within rounding error.
SR Tactical Scope	+3% to +10% Weight	Percentage based - Appears to be within rounding error.

Assault Rifle Mods

Single Cyclone

Single Cyclone With AR Heavy Magazine X

Weapon	Mod	Supposed Benefit	Weight Before	Weight After
Single Soned	AR Heavy Stock III	+4% Weight	-30%	-33%
Single Soned	AR Heavy Stock VII	+8% Weight	-30%	-35%
Single Soned	AR Heavy Stock VII	+10% Weight	-30%	-37%
Single Soned	AR Heavy Magazine III	+4% Weight	-30%	-33%
Single Soned	AR Heavy Magazine VII	+8% Weight	-30%	-35%
Single Soned	AR Heavy Magazine X	+10% Weight	-30%	-37%
Single Cyclone	AR Heavy Stock III	+4% Weight	-5%	-6%
Single Cyclone	AR Heavy Stock VII	+8% Weight	-5%	-8%
Single Cyclone	AR Heavy Stock X	+10% Weight	-5%	-9%
Single Cyclone	AR Heavy Magazine III	+4% Weight	-5%	-6%
Single Cyclone	AR Heavy Magazine VII	+8% Weight	-5%	-8%
Single Cyclone	AR Heavy Magazine X	+10% Weight	-5%	-9%

Assault Rifle Mods

• The Soned weighs 60 before the AR Heavy Stock III, VII, & X and AR Heavy Magazine III, VII, & X mod, and 63/65/67 after all of the mods. This is a 5-11.7% increase.
• The Cyclone weighs 35 before the AR Heavy Stock III, VII, & X and AR Heavy Magazine III, VII, & X mod, and 36/38/39 after all of the mods. This is a 2.8-11.4% increase.

These are percentage based increases and not points based increases.

Pistol Mods

Double Talon

Double Talon With Pistol Heavy Magazine X

Weapon	Mod	Supposed Benefit	Weight Before	Weight After
Double Talon	Pistol Heavy Magazine VII	+8% Weight	-30%	-41%
Double Talon	Pistol Heavy Magazine X	+10% Weight	-30%	-45%
Double Talon	Pistol Heavy Scope III	+4% Weight	-30%	-36%
Double Talon	Pistol Heavy Scope VII	+8% Weight	-30%	-41%
Double Talon	Pistol Heavy Scope X	+10% Weight	-30%	-45%
Double Hurricane	Pistol Heavy Magazine VII	+8% Weight	-20%	-30%
Double Hurricane	Pistol Heavy Magazine X	+10% Weight	-20%	-33%
Double Hurricane	Pistol Heavy Scope III	+4% Weight	-20%	-24%
Double Hurricane	Pistol Heavy Scope VII	+8% Weight	-20%	-30%
Double Hurricane	Pistol Heavy Scope X	+10% Weight	-20%	-33%

Pistol Mods

• The Talon weighs 30 before the Pistol Heavy Magazine VII & X and Pistol Heavy Scope III, VII, & X mod, and 33/35.5/37.5 after all of the mods. This is a 10-25% increase.
• The N7 Hurricane weighs 25 before Pistol Heavy Magazine VII & X and Pistol Heavy Scope III, VII, & X mod, and 27/30/31.5 after all of the mods. This is an 8-26% increase.

These are percentage based increases and not points based increases.

Shotgun Mods

File:Weapon Weight Strategy - Single N7 Piranha.png

Single N7 Piranha

File:Weapon Weight Strategy - Single N7 Piranha With Shotgun Heavy Melee X.png

Single N7 Piranha With Shotgun Heavy Melee X

Weapon	Mod	Supposed Benefit	Weight Before	Weight After
Single N7 Piranha	Shotgun Heavy Melee III	+4% Weight	-20%	-22%
Single Piranha	Shotgun Heavy Melee VI	+7% Weight	-20%	-24%
Single Piranha	Shotgun Heavy Melee VII	+8% Weight	-20%	-24%
Single Piranha	Shotgun Heavy Melee X	+10% Weight	-20%	-26%
Single Hesh	Shotgun Heavy Melee III	+4% Weight	-10%	-12%
Single Hesh	Shotgun Heavy Melee VI	+7% Weight	-10%	-13%
Single Hesh	Shotgun Heavy Melee VII	+8% Weight	-10%	-13%
Single Hesh	Shotgun Heavy Melee X	+10% Weight	-10%	-14%

Shotgun Mods

• The N7 Piranha weighs 50 before the Shotgun Heavy Melee III, VI, VII, & X mod, and 52/54/56 after all of the mods. This is a 4-12% increase.
• The Hesh weighs 40 before the Shotgun Heavy Melee III, VI, VII, & X mod, and 42/43/44 after the mods. This is a 5-10% increase.

These are percentage based increases and not points based increases.

Sniper Rifle Mods

File:Weapon Weight Strategy - Single Pathfinder Observer.png

Single Pathfinder Observer

File:Weapon Weight Strategy - Single Pathfinder Observer With SR Latticed Materials X.png

Single Pathfinder Observer With SR Latticed Materials X

Weapon	Mod	Supposed Benefit	Weight Before	Weight After
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Ultra-Light Materials III	-9% Weight	-20%	-16%
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Ultra-Light Materials V	-11% Weight	-20%	-15%
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Ultra-Light Materials VI	-11% Weight	-20%	-15%
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Ultra-Light Materials VII	-12% Weight	-20%	-15%
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Ultra-Light Materials X	-14% Weight	-20%	-14%
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Experimental Materials III	-11% Weight	-20%	-15%
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Experimental Materials VII	-16% Weight	-20%	-13%
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Experimental Materials X	-20% Weight	-20%	-12%
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Latticed Materials III	-11% Weight	-20%	-15%
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Latticed Materials VI	-15% Weight	-20%	-13%
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Latticed Materials VII	-16% Weight	-20%	-13%
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Latticed Materials X	-20% Weight	-20%	-12%
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Heavy Spare Clip III	+4% Weight	-20%	-22%
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Heavy Spare Clip VI	+7% Weight	-20%	-24%
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Heavy Spare Clip VII	+8% Weight	-20%	-24%
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Heavy Spare Clip X	+10% Weight	-20%	-26%
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Tactical Scope III	+4% Weight	-20%	-22%
Single Pathfinder Observer	SR Tactical Scope X	+10% Weight	-20%	-26%
Single Widow	SR Ultra-Light Materials III	-9% Weight	-35%	-30%
Single Widow	SR Ultra-Light Materials V	-11% Weight	-35%	-29%
Single Widow	SR Ultra-Light Materials VI	-11% Weight	-35%	-29%
Single Widow	SR Ultra-Light Materials VII	-12% Weight	-35%	-28%
Single Widow	SR Ultra-Light Materials X	-14% Weight	-35%	-27%
Single Widow	SR Experimental Materials III	-11% Weight	-35%	-29%
Single Widow	SR Experimental Materials VII	-16% Weight	-35%	-26%
Single Widow	SR Experimental Materials X	-20% Weight	-35%	-24%
Single Widow	SR Latticed Materials III	-11% Weight	-35%	-29%
Single Widow	SR Latticed Materials VI	-15% Weight	-35%	-27%
Single Widow	SR Latticed Materials VII	-16% Weight	-35%	-26%
Single Widow	SR Latticed Materials X	-20% Weight	-35%	-24%
Single Widow	SR Heavy Spare Clip III	+4% Weight	-35%	-38%
Single Widow	SR Heavy Spare Clip VI	+7% Weight	-35%	-40%
Single Widow	SR Heavy Spare Clip VII	+8% Weight	-35%	-41%
Single Widow	SR Heavy Spare Clip X	+10% Weight	-35%	-42%
Single Widow	SR Tactical Scope III	+4% Weight	-35%	-38%
Single Widow	SR Tactical Scope X	+10% Weight	-35%	-42%

Pathfinder Observer

• The Pathfinder Observer weighs 50 before the SR Ultra-Light Materials V, VI, VII, & X mod, and 46/45/44 after the mod. This is an 8-12% decrease.
• The Pathfinder Observer weighs 50 before the SR Experimental Materials III, VII, & X mod, and 45/43/42 after the mod. This is a 10-16% decrease.
• The Pathfinder Observer weighs 50 before the SR Latticed Materials III, VI, VII, & X mod, and 45/43/42 after the mod. This is a 10-16% decrease.
• The Pathfinder Observer weighs 50 before the SR Tactical Scope III & X and SR Heavy Spare Clip III, VI, VII, & X mod, and 52/54/56 after the mod. This is a 4-12% increase.

These are percentage based decreases and not weight points based decreases/increases.

Widow

The Widow weighs 65 before the SR Ultra-Light Materials V, VI, VII, & X mod, and 60/59/58/57 after the mod. This is a 7.7-12.3% decrease.

• The Widow weighs 65 before the SR Experimental Materials III, VII, & X mod, and 59/56/54 after the mod. This is a 9.2-16.9% decrease.
• The Widow weighs 65 before the SR Latticed Materials III, VI, VII, & X mod, and 59/57/56/54 after the mod. This is a 9.2-16.9% decrease.
• The Widow weighs 65 before the SR Tactical Scope III & X and SR Heavy Spare Clip III, VI, VII, & X mod, and 68/70/71/72 after the mod. This is a 4-10.2% increase.

These are percentage based decreases and not weight points based decreases/increases.

Armor Results

Armor	Supposed Benefit	Findings
Scavenger Helmet	-10% Weapon Weight	Percentage based - Numbers are slightly lower than they should be by around 1-2%.
Scavenger Armor	-15% Weapon Weight	Percentage based - Numbers are slightly lower than they should be by around 1-2%.
Scavenger Set	-25% Weapon Weight	Percentage based - 5% lower than they should be when combined - 20% instead of 25%.

Armor Pieces

Double Soned

Double Soned With Scavenger Helmet

Weapon	Armor	Supposed Benefit	Weight Before	Weight After
Double Pathfinder Observer	Scavenger Helmet	-10% Weapon Weight	-70%	-61%
Single Pathfinder Observer	Scavenger Helmet	-10% Weapon Weight	-20%	-15%
Double Soned	Scavenger Helmet	-10% Weapon Weight	-90%	-79%
Single Soned	Scavenger Helmet	-10% Weapon Weight	-30%	-25%
Double Pathfinder Observer	Scavenger Armor	-15% Weapon Weight	-70%	-57%
Single Pathfinder Observer	Scavenger Armor	-15% Weapon Weight	-20%	-13%
Double Soned	Scavenger Armor	-15% Weapon Weight	-90%	-74%
Single Soned	Scavenger Armor	-15% Weapon Weight	-30%	-22%

Scavenger Helmet

• The double Pathfinder Observer weighs 100 before the Scavenger Helmet and 91 with the helmet. This is a 9% reduction.
• The single Pathfinder Observer weighs 50 before the Scavenger Helmet and 45 with the helmet. This is a 10% reduction.
• The double Soned weighs 120 before the Scavenger Helmet and 109 with the helmet. This is an ~9% reduction.
• The single Soned weighs 60 before the Scavenger Helmet and 55 with the helmet. This is an 8.3% reduction.

These are percentage based increases and not points based increases.

Scavenger Armor

• The double Pathfinder Observer weighs 100 before the Scavenger Armor and 87 with the armor alone. This is a 13% reduction.
• The single Pathfinder Observer weighs 50 before the Scavenger Armor and 43 with the armor alone. This is a 14% reduction.
• The double Soned weighs 120 before the Scavenger Armor and 104 with the armor alone. This is an ~13.3% reduction.
• The single Soned weighs 60 before the Scavenger Armor and 52 with the armor alone. This is an ~13.3% reduction.

These are percentage based increases and not points based increases.

Armor Set

Double Pathfinder Observer

Double Observer With Scavenger Set

Weapon	Armor	Supposed Benefit	Weight Before	Weight After
Double Pathfinder Observer	Scavenger Set	-25% Weapon Weight	-70%	-50%
Single Pathfinder Observer	Scavenger Set	-25% Weapon Weight	-20%	-10%
Double Soned	Scavenger Set	-25% Weapon Weight	-90%	-66%
Single Soned	Scavenger Set	-25% Weapon Weight	-30%	-18%

Scavenger Set

• The double Pathfinder Observer weighs 100 before the Scavenger Set and 80 with the armor set. This is a 20% reduction.
• The single Pathfinder Observer weighs 50 before the Scavenger Set and 40 with the armor set. This is a 20% reduction.
• The double Soned weighs 120 before the Scavenger Set and 96 with the armor set. This is a 20% reduction.
• The single Soned weighs 60 before the Scavenger Set and 48 with the armor set. This is a 20% reduction.

These are percentage based increases and not points based increases.