Black Market License (LE1)

⭐ ⭐⭐ (5,013 endorsements) 📥 158,690 downloads 📌 v1.5 📅 8/22/2021
🟡 Updated this year

By 55tumbl · Gameplay

⬇ Download Mod Source: Nexus Mods 📅 Updated: 11/8/2025 📅 Created: 8/22/2021

🔍 Analysis

  • 👍 3.2% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
  • 🏆 #11 of 389 Gameplay mods in this game by downloads

📋 About This Mod

This is mainly a port/adaptation of my Black Market License mod for the orginal Mass Effect game.

FEATURES

  • []The Black Market License can be purchased in the Normandy requisition store. The effects of the mod can be turned off in-game by purchasing the "Revoke Black Market License" item in the Normandy store. Both items have a large chance to appear in store every time the inventory is refreshed.
    • []Once this License is purchased, weapons and armors from the four hidden manufacturers (Batarian State Arms, Cerberus Skunkworks, Hahne-Kedar Shadow Works, and Jormangund Technology), as well as some additional weapon/ammo/armor mods, will be available for purchase in some stores, and may be obtained from killing enemies or opening loot containers.
      • []These items were mostly fully implemented in the loot tables, but locked behind certain conditionals. I didn't change much of that but unlocked the conditionals. You will not get more items, but sometimes obtain some of these instead of something else. Note that most items are level-locked, some will start to appear at rank IV (around classic level 18), others at rank VII (around classic level 36).
        • []The weapons from these four manufacturers (which were broken in Legendary Edition) have been fixed and rebalanced. The goal was to make them feel more unique, and to make them viable options at high levels without being broken at lower levels. I highly recommend to also use my mod Elements of Comparative Weaponry (LE1), which will make it easier to assess the new weapons, since their stats are sometimes a bit unusual compared to the vanilla weapons.
          • []The stats of the armors and ammo/weapon/armor mods have not been changed.
            • []More details about the items concerned, their properties, and where to obtain them: in this article.

              If you are feeling supportive, you can buy me some... uhm... interesting items in total discretion

              Video: Mass Effect Lorecast - The 7 Best Mods for Mass Effect Legendary Edition

              Install with ME3Tweaks Mod Manager:

              [*]Drag and drop the compressed (. 7z) mod file for Black Market License into the Mod manager window, and

🤖 AI-enhanced — based on mod data

Black Market License (LE1) is a gameplay mod for Mass Effect Legendary Edition that grants natural in-game access to weapons, armors, and mods from the four hidden manufacturers, while also fixing and rebalancing those weapons. It's for players who want to obtain exclusive gear without cheats or exploits.

✨ Key Features

Adds natural in-game access to weapons, armors, and mods from the four hidden manufacturers.
Fixes and rebalances the corresponding weapons.

📊 Pros & Cons

✅ Pros

  • Huge community trust with 5,013 endorsements and 158,690 downloads.
  • Solves the problem of hidden manufacturer gear being locked behind exploits or cheats.
  • Includes balance fixes, making the weapons more viable in gameplay.

⚠️ Cons

  • Only covers the four hidden manufacturers—other exclusive gear may remain untouched.
  • Last updated in November 2025—may not be compatible with future game patches or DLC.
🎯 Is This For You?
For Mass Effect Legendary Edition players who want to legitimately obtain the hidden manufacturer gear without resorting to console commands or mods that break immersion. Also for those who appreciate weapon rebalancing to make these items more competitive. Skip if you prefer to keep the game's original balance or don't care about hidden gear.
📦 Install:Easy· Under 5 minutes

💡 Beginner Tips

  • Make sure to install the mod using a mod manager like ME3Tweaks Mod Manager to avoid conflicts.
  • Check the mod's compatibility with other gameplay mods you have installed, especially those that alter weapon stats.
  • If you're new to modding, read the mod's forum posts for any known issues or load order recommendations.

📊 Mod Details

Game
Mass Effect Mods
Author
55tumbl
Version
1.5
Downloads
158,690
Endorsements
5,013
Category
Gameplay
Created
8/22/2021
Updated
11/8/2025

🔗 Required By 1 Mod

These mods list this mod as a dependency.

🔧 How to Install Mass Effect Mods

Download from Nexus.

📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Mass Effect →

Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.

🎮 Need cheat codes or console commands? Check ur gaming wiki for Mass Effect commands, item IDs, and more.

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