In Starfield, weapons can be enhanced with various legendary effects, each adding unique capabilities or boosts. These effects significantly influence combat strategy and effectiveness. The tier list for these effects is based on their utility, impact on gameplay, and overall effectiveness in various combat scenarios.
The criteria for ranking these effects into tiers – S, A, B, C, and D – consider factors like the frequency of use, situational advantages, and the potential to turn the tide in battles. This tier list serves as a guide for players to understand which effects might best suit their playstyle and tactical preferences.
Starfield: Legendary Weapon Effects Tier List
| Tier | Effect | Description |
| D | Bashing | Double damage when hitting an enemy with the butt of the gun. |
| D | Demoralizing | Causes enemies to flee. |
| D | Space Adept | 30% more damage in space, -15% on planets. |
| D | Oxygenated | More efficient breath-holding when using scopes. |
| C | Berserker | More damage with less armor. |
| C | Frenzy | Causes enemies to attack each other. |
| C | Med Theft | Higher chance of enemies dropping med packs. |
| C | Concussive | Increases chance of knocking down enemies. |
| B | Handloading | Bullets do random amounts of damage. |
| B | Cornered | More damage with less health. |
| B | Incendiary | Random chance to light enemies on fire. |
| B | Lacerating | Causes bleeding. |
| B | Poison | Random chance to poison enemies. |
| B | Radioactive | Chance to irradiate enemies. |
| B | Staggering | Chance to stagger enemies. |
| B | Tesla | Chance to trigger electricity and deal damage over time. |
| B | Corrosive | Deals corrosive damage and weakens enemy armor. |
| B | Elemental | Random chance of triggering various elemental effects. |
| A | Antipersonnel | 10% more damage to humans. |
| A | Disassembler | 20% more damage to robots. |
| A | Extended Magazine | Doubles magazine size. |
| A | Exterminator | 30% more damage to aliens. |
| A | Hitman | 15% more damage when aiming. |
| A | Rapid | Increases rate of fire by 25%. |
| A | Shattering | Ignores a certain amount of armor. |
| A | Titanium Build | Makes weapons lighter. |
| A | Crippling | 30% more damage after hitting a limb. |
| S | Explosive | Random chance for explosive damage. |
| S | Furious | Increased damage with consecutive hits. |
| S | Instigating | Double damage to full health enemies. |
| S | One Inch Punch | Converts weapon into a shotgun style. |
| S | Skip Shot | Every fourth shot fires two projectiles. |
Bashing (Tier D)
Bashing effect doubles the damage when striking an enemy with the gun's butt. This effect is rated D tier due to its limited practical use in combat. It requires close proximity to the enemy, which is often risky and less effective compared to shooting. This effect might occasionally be useful in desperate close combat situations, but generally, it's not a preferred tactic, especially considering the range and power of firearms in Starfield.
Demoralizing (Tier D)
The Demoralizing effect causes enemies to flee from combat. It's placed in D tier because while it can provide a tactical advantage by scattering enemies, it often prolongs combat by forcing you to chase down fleeing opponents. This effect can disrupt enemy formations, but it's less effective than directly damaging or incapacitating them. It's more of a situational tool than a consistently beneficial combat effect.
Space Adept (Tier D)
Space Adept increases damage dealt in space by 30% but reduces damage on planets by 15%. This effect is in D tier due to its limited applicability. Most combat in Starfield doesn't occur in space, making this effect a detriment in the majority of scenarios. While it can be advantageous in space combat, the negative impact on planetary combat significantly reduces its overall utility.
Oxygenated (Tier D)
Oxygenated allows for more efficient breath-holding when using scopes. This effect is rated D tier as it offers minimal practical benefits. In most combat situations, especially at the ranges where scopes are used, breath-holding is not a critical factor. The effect might slightly improve stability for long-range shots, but the improvement is marginal and often unnecessary, given the accuracy of scoped weapons in the game.
Berserker (Tier C)
Berserker increases damage output when wearing less armor. This effect is in C tier, reflecting its risky nature. It encourages a high-risk, high-reward playstyle, where reducing your defensive capabilities can significantly boost your offensive power. This effect suits aggressive players who prefer mobility and high damage over protection. However, the inherent risk of taking more damage makes it less appealing for cautious or defensive playstyles.
Frenzy (Tier C)
Frenzy causes enemies to attack each other, creating chaos on the battlefield. Rated in C tier, this effect can be tactically useful to disrupt enemy groups. It temporarily reduces the number of enemies directly attacking you, but its effectiveness varies. The induced chaos can sometimes be beneficial, but it doesn't directly contribute to eliminating enemies, which limits its overall utility in combat.
Med Theft (Tier C)
Med Theft increases the likelihood of enemies dropping medical packs upon defeat. This C tier effect provides a steady supply of health recovery items, beneficial for sustained combat scenarios. It's particularly useful in prolonged fights or when exploring without immediate access to other healing resources. However, its utility is situational and depends on the player's need for frequent health replenishment.
Concussive (Tier C)
Concussive enhances the chance of knocking down enemies. Positioned in C tier, it adds a crowd-control element to combat, allowing for temporary incapacitation of targets. This effect can be advantageous in managing large groups or buying time against tough opponents. However, its impact varies and doesn't always guarantee a significant advantage, especially against enemies resistant to knockdown effects.
Handloading (Tier B)
Handloading makes bullets deal random amounts of damage. This B tier effect introduces variability in damage output, with a chance for significantly higher or lower damage per shot. It's more beneficial for weapons with high rates of fire, where the variance averages out favorably. For slower-firing weapons, the inconsistency can be a drawback, making it less reliable for precise, high-stakes shots.
Cornered (Tier B)
Cornered boosts damage output when health is low. Rated in B tier, this effect activates in critical situations, providing a potential comeback advantage. It's useful for players who can skillfully manage combat at low health, turning a disadvantageous position into an opportunity for increased damage. The effect's activation at low health adds an element of risk, making it less suitable for players who prioritize consistent health management.
Incendiary (Tier B)
Incendiary offers a random chance to ignite enemies, causing fire damage over time. This B tier effect is valuable for its damage-over-time (DoT) capability, effectively weakening enemies even after the initial attack. It's particularly useful against groups, spreading damage across multiple targets. However, its randomness means it's not always reliable for consistent strategic planning in combat.
Lacerating (Tier B)
Lacerating causes enemies to bleed, inflicting additional damage over time. Rated in B tier, this effect is effective for steadily draining an enemy's health. It's especially useful in prolonged fights, allowing you to inflict continuous damage. The bleeding effect can stack with direct damage, making it a solid choice for a sustained offensive strategy. However, its impact might be less noticeable against enemies with high health or rapid healing abilities.
Poison (Tier B)
Poison randomly poisons enemies, dealing damage over time. This B tier effect is similar to Incinerar and Lacerating, offering a DoT mechanism that weakens enemies gradually. It's effective in whittling down the health of tougher enemies and can be particularly advantageous in crowd control scenarios. The randomness of the effect, however, can make it less predictable in combat.
Radioactive (Tier B)
Radioactive has a chance to irradiate enemies, causing ongoing radiation damage. Placed in B tier, this effect is useful for its DoT capability and can be particularly effective against specific enemy types vulnerable to radiation. It adds an extra layer of damage in combat scenarios, but like other DoT effects, its impact can vary based on enemy resistance and the randomness of activation.
Staggering (Tier B)
Staggering increases the likelihood of staggering enemies, disrupting their attacks. This B tier effect is valuable for crowd control and interrupting enemy attack patterns. It can create openings for offensive maneuvers or provide a momentary respite in intense combat situations. The effectiveness of Staggering depends on the enemy type and their susceptibility to being staggered.
Tesla (Tier B)
Tesla offers a chance to trigger electrical damage over time. Rated in B tier, this effect is similar to other DoT effects but with the added utility of electrical damage, which can be particularly effective against certain enemy types. It's useful for passive damage accumulation, allowing you to focus on maneuvering or targeting other enemies while the affected target continues to take damage. The randomness of the effect's activation is a factor to consider in its overall utility.
Corrosive (Tier B)
Corrosive inflicts damage and weakens enemy armor. This B tier effect is particularly effective against heavily armored foes, reducing their defensive capabilities while dealing damage. It's beneficial in battles where breaking through enemy armor is crucial. The corrosive damage adds a strategic advantage, making subsequent attacks more effective by softening the target's defenses.
Elemental (Tier B)
Elemental randomly triggers various elemental effects. Placed in B tier, this effect offers versatility in combat by applying different types of elemental damage, such as fire, ice, or electricity. This randomness can be advantageous against a range of enemy types, but the lack of predictability can also make it less reliable for specific combat strategies.
Anti-Personnel (Tier A)
Antipersonnel increases damage dealt to humans by 10%. This A tier effect is straightforward and effective, especially in scenarios where human enemies are predominant. The consistent damage boost against human targets makes it a valuable asset in many combat situations, enhancing your overall offensive capability against one of the most common enemy types.
Disassembler (Tier A)
Disassembler enhances damage against robots by 20%. Rated in A tier, this effect is highly effective in encounters with robotic enemies. The significant damage increase makes it easier to take down these often heavily armored foes, making it a key asset in areas or missions where robots are a primary threat.
Extended Magazine (Tier A)
Extended Magazine doubles the size of your weapon's magazine. This A tier effect significantly enhances your combat endurance, allowing for longer firing periods before needing to reload. It's particularly beneficial for weapons with typically small magazines, greatly improving their usability and effectiveness in sustained firefights.
Exterminator (Tier A)
Exterminator provides a 30% damage increase against alien enemies. As an A tier effect, it's extremely useful in encounters with extraterrestrial foes. This substantial damage boost can be a game-changer in battles against tougher alien species, enhancing your ability to deal with these unique threats more efficiently.
Hitman (Tier A)
Hitman increases damage by 15% when aiming. This A tier effect rewards precision, offering a significant damage boost for aimed shots. It's especially beneficial for players who rely on accuracy and prefer taking time to line up shots. This effect enhances the lethality of each aimed shot, making it a valuable asset for sharpshooters and players who engage at medium to long ranges.
Rapid (Tier A)
Rapid boosts the rate of fire by 25%. Rated in A tier, this effect significantly increases your weapon's firing speed, allowing for more shots in the same amount of time. It's particularly effective for weapons with already high rates of fire, amplifying their damage output. This effect is ideal for aggressive playstyles and situations where overwhelming firepower is key.
Shattering (Tier A)
Shattering allows weapons to ignore a certain amount of armor. This A tier effect is crucial for penetrating the defenses of heavily armored enemies. It increases the effectiveness of each shot by reducing the enemy's armor mitigation, making it easier to deal significant damage to tough opponents. This effect is highly valuable in encounters where armor penetration is a major factor in combat efficiency.
Titanium Build (Tier A)
Titanium Build makes weapons lighter. Placed in A tier, this effect improves mobility and handling by reducing the weight of your weapon. It's particularly beneficial for heavy weapons, enhancing ease of use and agility in combat. This effect is a quality-of-life improvement, allowing for quicker movement and faster aiming, especially when using bulkier firearms.
Crippling (Tier A)
Crippling deals 30% more damage after hitting a limb. As an A tier effect, it rewards targeting specific body parts, offering a substantial damage increase. This effect is particularly effective with weapons that can precisely target limbs, such as sniper rifles or precision firearms. It's valuable in tactical combat situations where disabling or impairing enemy movement can provide a strategic advantage.
Explosive (Tier S)
Explosive grants a random chance for explosive damage on hit. This S tier effect significantly enhances combat effectiveness by adding area damage to attacks. It's especially powerful in situations with clustered enemies, as the explosive damage can impact multiple targets simultaneously. The randomness adds an element of unpredictability, but when it activates, the effect can be devastatingly effective.
Furious (Tier S)
Furious increases damage with each consecutive hit on the same target. Rated in S tier, this effect is ideal for weapons with high rates of fire. It progressively boosts damage output during sustained fire, making it extremely effective against tough, single targets. This effect rewards consistent aiming and tracking, making it a top choice for players skilled in maintaining focus on their target.
Instigating (Tier S)
Instigating deals double damage to enemies at full health. As an S tier effect, it's particularly effective for initiating combat, allowing for a powerful opening attack. This effect is highly valuable for sniper rifles and other high-damage weapons, enabling players to potentially eliminate a target with a single, well-placed shot at the start of an engagement.
One Inch Punch (Tier S)
One Inch Punch converts a weapon into a shotgun style, firing multiple projectiles. This S tier effect dramatically changes the weapon's functionality, making it highly effective at close range. It's ideal for clearing rooms or dealing with multiple enemies at close quarters. The transformation into a shotgun style allows for a versatile approach to combat, adapting a single weapon to various scenarios.
Skip-Shot (Tier S)
Skip-Shot makes every fourth shot fire two projectiles. Placed in S tier, this effect effectively doubles the damage output every fourth shot. It's particularly beneficial for weapons with a high rate of fire, where the fourth shot occurs frequently. This effect adds a significant boost to the weapon's overall damage potential, making it a powerful choice for sustained combat.
More Starfield:
- Hard Target: The Ultimate Sniper Rifle in Starfield
- Starfield Best Rifles Tier List
- Starfield Weapon Tier and Weapon Rarities Explained
- What is a Ballistic Weapon in Starfield?
- Starfield: What Happens to Cargo When You Change Ships