Mastering System Shock: The Ultimate Guide to Weapon Locations

After almost seven years, Nightdive Studios has finally released the highly anticipated remake of the 1994 classic, System Shock. Despite facing numerous delays and changes in development, the faithful remake boasts of updated level design and weapons that are fitting for the 2023 standards. System Shock is reminiscent of the classic Doom-style run and gun shooter, where players must explore each level of the Citadel, defeat enemies, and solve challenging puzzles to acquire weapons. Here is a comprehensive list of all the weapons players can expect to find in the System Shock remake.

Lead Pipe

Upon awakening in the Citadel, the Hacker's initial weapon is the Lead Pipe, which can be found in a nearby storage closet. This basic weapon, along with other essential items, is crucial for the early stages of the game. However, as soon as the Laser Rapier is obtained, it is recommended to drop the Lead Pipe. Although it may not be the most effective weapon, it serves as the player's primary means of defense during the medical level, where ammunition is scarce.

Monkey Wrench

The Leap Pipe and Monkey Wrench are virtually identical weapons, with the latter dealing slightly more damage but having a shorter attack range. Players can find it next to a corpse located in the northwestern corner of the medical level, and picking it up will unlock the Gut Wrenching achievement. However, unless the player is attempting a "wrench only" playthrough, there is little reason to use this weapon beyond a certain point in the game.

ML-41 Minipistol

The ML-41 Minipistol, a common weapon in System Shock, can be discovered in various locations throughout the game such as dead bodies, armories, and secret rooms. However, the first one the player is likely to come across can be found in the central room on the medical level. Adjacent to the switch that unlocks the large gate leading to the elevator, there is a small storage room below the main area accessible through a door.

The Minipistol can be found on the floor next to a mutant quietly snacking on a nameless medical worker's corpse.

TB-05 Sparqbeam Sidearm

The Sparqbeam proves to be a reliable weapon during System Shock's campaign as it boasts an ammo supply that is easily replenished through the player's power meter. This makes it a practical choice for players who prefer to conserve their resources. Furthermore, the Sparqbeam can be found in multiple locations throughout the Citadel, making it a readily available weapon option for players.

The medical level in the central hub area houses Dr. Nathan D'arcy's room, where the player can easily find a particular item. This room is conveniently located and can be accessed through the lift situated on the right-hand side of the "BETA" sign, which is clearly visible from the main floor.

JW-74 Mag Pulse Rifle

In order to acquire the Pulse Rifle, players must venture to the Delta quadrant of the medical deck and locate the armory. The door to the armory is easily identifiable by a yellow symbol on the wall. However, access to the armory is only granted by utilizing the cyberspace terminal located at the far end of the room.

The Pulse Rifle in System Shock is a formidable weapon that can deal an impressive 60 damage, making it a valuable asset when facing off against robot enemies. Its unique feature of ignoring 100% of armor makes it even more effective. However, it's important to conserve its limited ammo for crucial battles, particularly when fighting shielded opponents.

Magnum 2100

Comparable to the Desert Eagle in System Shock, the Magnum 2100 is a robust pistol that packs a punch, making it a suitable primary weapon despite its small magazine size and limited ammo. Although most players come across it on the maintenance level, it can also be discovered in a concealed area on the medical deck if the security level is lowered to zero.

The concealed entrance can be located on the Eastern side of the expansive chamber, situated across the laser bridge at the Southeastern extremity of the map. Regrettably, the firearm is not equipped with ammunition, thereby compelling the player to scavenge for bullets throughout their journey.

SK-27 Shotgun

No old-school style FPS is complete without a reliable shotgun, and in this aspect, System Shock does not disappoint. The SK-27 is widely available within the Citadel, along with its ammunition supply that includes both standard and Dragon's Breath rounds.

DG-04 Laser Rapier

Located in the alpha quadrant of the research floor, the SK-27 Shotgun can be easily found in the contaminated room opposite Dr. Nathan D'arcy's office, near a lifeless body. Although not the most common, the ammo for the shotgun is plentiful enough to justify its inclusion in the player's arsenal.

The Laser Rapier is renowned in System Shock for its impressive damage output and effortless handling. This melee weapon stands out as the strongest in the game, and requires only the player's energy reserves to operate.

KF-18 Scorpion

There are a few locations on the Citadel where you can find Laser Rapiers, but it's important to note that they are not all identical. For instance, the one on the maintenance level, which can be accessed by going through the door to the left of the elevator and climbing up the ladder, emits a blue laser. On the other hand, the one on the executive level, located in the square room to the far southeast, emits a laser color that changes based on the color of the player's HUD at the time of pickup.

For those starting out in the game, the Scorpion is a great choice for a fully automatic weapon. It uses the same type of ammunition as the Minipistol, which is widely available. This compact submachine gun is capable of dealing a decent amount of damage per second and has the added benefit of being able to take both regular and Teflon-coated rounds.

The player can acquire the item at the storage deck, but it requires solving a series of puzzles to unlock the door located on the left side of storage bay five.

Navigating the use of grenades in the System Shock remake can be a bit tricky. Luckily, players can come across the EM-83 Grenade Launcher on the storage level with some careful searching. This powerful weapon has the ability to launch a variety of grenades including frag, gas, smoke, and EMP.

The launcher has the ability to propel grenades at a greater distance than a player's throw and ensures that they detonate upon impact instead of rolling around. To locate it, head to storage bay 1 and look for an open cubby situated on the wall below the laser bridges.

Mark III Assault Rifle

Throughout the game, players will encounter cyborg enemies wielding the deadly Assault Rifle. However, it's not until the flight deck level that players themselves can acquire this formidable weapon. They'll need to complete a few minor puzzles and defeat a Cortex Reaver in a challenging boss battle (Tip: EMP grenades and Berserk patches can be particularly effective in this fight) before they can seize the coveted Assault Rifle for themselves.

The player can discover an Assault Rifle on a shelf behind one of the doors after the intense battle. The rifle operates in burst fire mode at first, but it can be enhanced later to become fully automatic. In addition, the magazine size can be increased from 24 to 30 rounds through upgrades.

MK-84 Accelerator Railgun

The MK-84 railgun is a high-powered weapon that provides an exhilarating experience for players. Although its ammunition is scarce and it requires a longer charge-up time, the raw power of the weapon is unmatched. With a modkit, the charge-up time can be reduced, making it a formidable choice for taking on some of the game's toughest enemies. Its ability to deal 350 damage while ignoring all armor makes it a valuable addition to any player's arsenal.

The Railgun, along with some ammo, can be located in the large circular room in the Delta and Gamma quadrant of the executive level lying across a few chairs.

RW-45 Ion Pulse Rifle

Compared to the Sparqbeam, the Ion Pulse Rifle is like a bigger, more powerful sibling that relies solely on the player's energy. While it does take up more space in the Hacker's inventory, it can be upgraded to be just as energy efficient as its smaller counterpart.

Located on the executive deck in Alpha Grove's northernmost room, this weapon serves as a powerful mid to late-game alternative to the Sparqbeam. Its easy accessibility makes it a must-have for players exploring the area.

LG-XX Plasma Rifle

The Plasma Rifle is an incredibly powerful weapon in System Shock, and players will likely only come across it towards the end of the game. Even without any upgrades, it packs a serious punch and can make quick work of even the toughest enemies.

The Plasma Rifle in System Shock boasts two modes of attack: the default "low" setting, which unleashes automatic purple plasma projectiles, and the plasma orb attack, which utilizes the plasma core as ammunition. This second mode is especially destructive, as it ricochets around any room it's fired in, inflicting damage upon anything in its path (including the player). If you're looking to obtain this weapon, it can be found within the security level, safeguarded behind a shielded case in the "Experimental" room. System Shock is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.