M-96 Mattock: Semi-Automatic Marksman Rifle
Assault Rifle and Sniper Hybrid
The M-96 Mattock was a semi-automatic assault rifle that blended the low heat output of a standard rifle with the stopping power of a sniper weapon. Marksmen favored its punch over ordinary assault rifles, and its deliberate lack of a full-auto setting was sold as a virtue rather than a flaw.
The M-96 Mattock was a medium-range, semi-automatic assault rifle that occupied an unusual middle ground between two classes of weapon. It paired the low heat production characteristic of an assault rifle with the heavier stopping power of a sniper rifle, giving it a hybrid character that set it apart from conventional infantry arms. (Mass Effect 2; Mass Effect 3)
Design and reputation#
The Mattock was conceived as a hybrid weapon, combining the heat efficiency of an assault rifle with the harder-hitting performance of a sniper rifle. Marksmen valued its greater power over that of a standard assault rifle when the task was to bring down hardened targets at medium range. As a semi-automatic weapon it remained effective against armor, shields, and biotic barriers. (Mass Effect 2; Mass Effect 3)
Its most distinctive trait was what it left out. The Mattock had no full-automatic setting, an omission its makers advertised as a feature rather than a limitation. The argument was that denying a soldier the option of automatic fire curbed the natural tendency to spray inaccurate rounds under the stress of combat, encouraging more measured and accurate shooting in return. (Mass Effect 3)
Frequently asked questions
- What was the M-96 Mattock?
- The M-96 Mattock was a medium-range, semi-automatic assault rifle effective against armor, shields, and barriers. It was a hybrid weapon that combined an assault rifle's low heat production with a sniper rifle's punch.
- Why did the Mattock lack a full-auto setting?
- The Mattock had no full-automatic mode, and this was advertised as a feature rather than a shortcoming. The reasoning was that semi-automatic fire curbed a soldier's tendency to spray inaccurate rounds under stress, encouraging more disciplined, accurate shooting.
Sources
- GameMass Effect 2, BioWare, 2010
- GameMass Effect 3, BioWare, 2012
Spotted a factual error or a primary source we missed? Email a correction. Every flagged claim gets reviewed.
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