Shattered Space Best Weapons Tier List

This is a tier list and guide on the best new DLC Weapons in Starfield Shattered Space DLC. Learn about the best weapons in the DLC, their tier list placements, pros and cons, and the best base game weapons to bring into the DLC.

Shattered Space Best Weapons Tier List

DLC Weapons Ranked

Tier Rating	Weapon	Explanation
S-Tier	Va'ruun Starlash	・A strong semi-auto laser rifle in the right hands. Suitable for marksman-style gunplay. ・Effectiveness at long range makes it a good all-rounder for exploration and Stealth Sniper builds. ・Uses the common 3KV LZR of the familiar Equinox and Orion weapons.
	Va'ruun Longfang	・A good 3-round burst laser rifle effective for both short and mid-range, general purpose combat. ・Also uses the common 3KV LZR ammo.
A-Tier	Va'ruun Quickstrike	・Viable sidearm in the DLC. Effective up to mid-range combat. ・Uses the common 1.5KV LZR for energy weapons.
	Va'ruun Penumbra	・Has a slow fire rate but deals a strong, chargeable AoE damage similar to a grenade launcher. ・Uses the new and exclusive 20mm Particle ammo type, which means ammo for it can be hard to find.
B-Tier	Va'ruun Starstorm	・High rate of fire and high magazine capacity. ・Inaccurate, full auto viable at short range, and short bursts good only for mid-range. ・Has a delay before firing.
	Va'ruun Schimaz	・Strong melee option from the DLC. ・Effectiveness is challenged by the DLC's teleporting enemies.

The Va'ruun Starlash and the Va'ruun Longfang are the best Shattered Space weapons due to strong damage output at various ranges.

Note: A weapon's overall damage depends on its tier and rarity, weapon mods, and your skills.

All Shattered Space New Weapons

Shattered Space S-Tier Weapons

Va'ruun Starlash

Weapon	Type	Damage	Ammo Type
Va'ruun Starlash	Laser Rifle	Engy	3KV LZR

The Va'ruun Starlash is the Shattered Space DLC's go-to Battle Rifle or Marksman-type weapon for middle to long-range engagements. In the hands of a skilled shooter, the Starlash hits hard on headshots and is a good fast option for Stealth Snipers and other shooters looking for a versatile long-range weapon.

It is also easy to sustain since it uses the common 3KV LZR energy ammunition of the familiar Equinox and Orion weapons.

Va'ruun Longfang

Weapon	Type	Damage	Ammo Type
Va'ruun Longfang	Laser Rifle	Engy	3KV LZR

The Va'ruun Longfang is the Shattered Space DLC's burst-fire laser rifle. This is the choice weapon to use for common engagements at close and medium range, and will accept several weapon mods (even Stealth Lasers). The Longfang is easy to use, and much like the Starlash, it uses the common 3KV LZR energy ammunition.

Shattered Space A-Tier Weapons

Va'ruun Quickstrike

Weapon	Type	Damage	Ammo Type
Va'ruun Quickstrike	Laser Pistol	Engy	1.5KV LZR

The Va'ruun Quickstrike is the new laser pistol in the Shattered Space DLC and has a significantly faster fire rate and more magazine capacity than the base game's Solstice with negligible sacrifice on accuracy. This makes it an effective, fast-firing sidearm at close quarters.

It won't solve all your problems, however. In the main portion of the fight, it's best to let your main weapon do the work first, then switch to the Quickstrike when the situation demands it.

Va'ruun Penumbra

Weapon	Type	Damage	Ammo Type
Va'ruun Penumbra	Heavy Weapon	Phys Engy	20mm Particle Rocket

The Va'ruun Penumbra is Heavy Weapon that deals both Physical and Energy damage in an area-of-effect manner similar to a grenade launcher. The projectile shot moves in a straight line and will cause an explosion on hit.

While being ideal for mobs, the Penumbra struggles with low fire rate and the scarcity of the new 20mm Particle Rocket that can be rare to find amongst Va'ruun enemies.

Shattered Space B-Tier Weapons

Va'ruun Starstorm

Weapon	Type	Damage	Ammo Type
Va'ruun Starstorm	Heavy Weapon	Phys Engy	Heavy Fuse

The Va'ruun Starstorm is the Shattered Space DLC's gatling gun, a heavy weapon to soak and destory mobs in a hail of physical and energized firepower. While it is viable for cutting down enemies without letting go of the trigger, it becomes harder to get accurate shots on enemies farther than close-mid range.

It's useful for when you're mobbed, which happens frequently in Shattered Space, but not the most all-around weapon.

Va'ruun Schimaz

Weapon	Type	Damage	Ammo Type
Va'ruun Schimaz	Melee Weapon	Phys	N/A

The Va'ruun Schimaz is a new strong melee weapon in the Shattered Space DLC and is also commonly used by Redeemed enemies. This sword sports a respectable damage up close, but one will find other options to use when you are fighting against teleporting enemies in Va'ruun'kal.

Best Weapons to Bring in Shattered Space

Best Base Game Weapons for DLC

Weapon	Explanation
Va'ruun Inflictor Best Versatile Hybrid Damage	・Often the best overall weapon in most situations when fully upgraded. ・Deals both PHYS and ENGY damage types. ・High accuracy and damage per shot. ・Strong all-rounder Particle Beam Rifle for taking down enemies at both close and long range. Unique Versions: ・Eternity's Gate ・Reflection
Orion Best Versatile Energy Damage	・Strong choice for dealing ENGY damage, and good aganist Va'ruun Zealots and enemies with a weaker resistance to energy damage. ・Effective for long range combat. Unique Versions: ・Unmitigated Violence ・Unrestrained Vengeance
Beowulf Best Versatile Physical Damage	・Highly well-rounded weapon that deals good PHYS damage, useful against general enemies such as Spacers and hostile fauna. ・Great for rapid fire assault on close-range and can fitted to be a sniper's tool at mid-range. Unique Versions: ・Hunterwulf
Magshear Best Close-Mid Range Rapid Fire	・High PHYS damage output through its extremely high fire rate, great for shredding spongy enemies. ・Great weapon for close and mid-range combat. Unique Versions: ・Revenant ・Mindtear
Hard Target Best Versatile Sniper Rifle	・A strong sniper rifle that deals PHYS damage and is suited to long-range combat. ・Produces a very high damage output, especially when paired with a suppressor and the skills of a Stealth Sniper Build. Unique Versions: ・The Last Breath

When bringing base game weapons to the Shattered Space DLC, it is best to bring reliable weapons you can use in a wide range of situations. The Va'ruun Inflictor still comes out as the best overall weapon for being highly versatile and it being able to scale with kinetic and energy-related damage perks.

Bringing energy weapons into the DLC is also recommended since most armor of Va'ruun Zealots naturally has high physical damage resistance. However, kinetic weapons or physical damage is still a viable option.

Ultimately, whichever weapon you choose, make sure to consider its quality and modifications, as well as the skills you can pair with it.

Best Weapons Tier List (Base Game)

Va'ruun Inflictor

Weapon	Type	Damage	Ammo Type
Va'ruun Inflictor	Particle Beam Rifle	Phys Engy	Heavy Fuse

The Va'ruun Inflictor still stands as the best overall weapon to have in the Shattered Space DLC due to its sheer PHYS and ENGY burst damage on each bullet. Paired with some nice mods like Skip Shot and Instigator, it becomes a very capable one-shot weapon.

This weapon is also very effective against Va'ruun enemies since it does energy damage on top of physical. Energy damage is to be desired in the DLC since Va'ruun armor has naturally high physical defense.

Orion

Weapon	Type	Damage	Ammo Type
Orion	Laser Rifle	Engy	3KV LZR

The Orion is the choice energy weapon to bring into the Shattered Space DLC. This weapon and its ammo is relatively easy to find, and is effective at close-mid range engagements.

Fully kitted out with mods such as Skip Shot, Furious, or Elemental, the Orion serves as a great general-purpose energy weapon for wiping out Va'ruun enemies, robots, and even hostile fauna.

Beowulf

Weapon	Type	Damage	Ammo Type
Beowulf	Rifle	Phys	7.77mm

The Beowulf is the versatile physical damage counterpart to the Orion and is the choice weapon to have if you want another damage type besides energy (for dealing with enemies such as Spacers). It is great at nearly all-ranges thanks to its high accuracy and wide range of attachments.

Its ammunition is also common to find almost anywhere, so for an easy to use and easy to mod gun, the Beowulf is a great go-to for even a whole playthrough.

Magshear

Weapon	Type	Damage	Ammo Type
Magshear	Rifle	Phys	.50 MI

The Magshear is an excellent close to mid-range weapon that clears groups and spongy enemies with its high damage and fire rate. If you need to clear out enemies in close quarters, this weapon will perform extremely well, especially with mods like Furious or Lacerate for bleed damage.

It is, however, expensive on ammunition, being able to burn out an entire clip in a few seconds, and is not the best for long-range combat. You will want to prepare a lot of ammo and another weapon as backup when bringing the Magshear.

Hard Target

Weapon	Type	Damage	Ammo Type
Hard Target	Rifle	Phys	.50 Caliber

The Hard Target is the most versatile sniper rifle you can bring into the Shattered Space DLC. Paired with the right skills, attachments, and mods like Instigator and Skip Shot, this weapon will one-shot most enemies, even elite enemies with tough armor.

This weapon requires a lot of investment, however, since it performs at its best in a Stealth Sniper Build where its burst damage will be multiplied by Sneak Attacks and a suppressor. You will also need to use it wisely, since it has a low magazine capacity and its .50 Caliber is not easy to come by.

Starfield Related Guides

Shattered Space DLC Guide

List of All DLC Guides