Balanced Ballistics
🟡 Updated this year⚠️ Install Order · 2 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview

🔍 Analysis
- 👍 0.5% endorsement rate
- ✅ Updated 56 days after the latest game patch — actively maintained
- 🏆 #17 of 228 Weapons mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
Weapon Changes
Individual Weapons
Grendel deals 10 base damage, up from 3.
Maelstrom deals 8 base damage, up from 4.
Kraken deals 7 base damage, up from 3.
Ballistic Pistols and Rifles
Damage differences between Semi-Auto, Full-Auto, Burst Fire, and Binary Trigger have been brought within 60-150% of base semi-auto damage.
In vanilla this ranged from 33% to 367% (the new normalization makes this second number closer to 220% in practice).
Eon Burst Fire and Binary do equal damage to semi-auto.
Some barrel characteristics have been modified for realism.
Automatic Weaponry
Note: The Mag-Storm and Kodama do not follow Automatic Weaponry rules.
Hip-Fire recoil has been significantly increased.
Weapon Cone of Fire has been increased.
Per-Shot Recoil has been significantly increased.
Recoil Damping has been significantly decreased.
Laser Weapons
Recoil has been functionally eliminated for laser weapons.
Automatic vs. Semi-Automatic no longer affects recoil or accuracy.
Full-Auto damage for Equinox has been raised from 24% of Semi-Auto to 65%.
Full-Auto damage for Solstice has been raised from 30% of Semi-Auto to 55%.
Ignition Beams re-introduce a slight amount of recoil.
Shotguns
Shotguns have moderately increased recoil.
Shotty and Breach exhibit the same characteristics as other ballistic weapons when fully-automatic.
Slug Rounds increase recoil instead of decreasing it.
If you are using mostly laser weapons it will simply upgrade your arsenal. These performed very poorly in vanilla, especially at range.
If you use mostly automatic ballistic weapons you will have to aim carefully and fire in short bursts, but you can deal far higher damage overall.
If you use mostly semi-auto ballistic weapons you will find some calibers or weapons more or less effective.
If you use Burst-Fire or Binary pistols or SMGs it will simply upgrade your arsenal. These are far more effective at point-blank range now.
Some niche weapon setups are going to be more or less effective, so experiment and have fun!
Compatibility
Auto vs Semi-Auto damage changes should be compatible with anything not doing the same exact thing.
Recoil and general balance changes are mostly made by adjusting Weapon Mod Template records.
Mods that overwrite these changes will have varying impacts on the final balance.
Auto vs. Semi-Auto damage spread was retained for balance.
Put simply, you will still not fare well if you walk into a small room
Balanced Ballistics is a lightweight rebalance mod for ballistic and laser weapons, adjusting damage and recoil characteristics. With 368 endorsements and over 71k downloads, it's a popular choice for players seeking a more balanced weapon feel. Last updated in August 2026, it remains relevant for current game versions.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Community-approved with 368 endorsements and 71k downloads.
- Covers both ballistic and laser weapons in one mod.
- Lightweight means it won't bog down your game.
⚠️ Cons
- No detailed patch notes or change list provided.
- May not suit players who prefer vanilla weapon balance.
- Compatibility with other weapon mods is unconfirmed.
For players who want a more balanced weapon experience without overhauling the entire combat system. Ideal for those who find vanilla weapons too powerful or unwieldy. Skip if you prefer the original weapon feel or want extensive customization.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Check if your game version is compatible with the mod's last update (August 2026).
- If you use other weapon mods, test in a new save to avoid conflicts.
- Consider using a mod manager for easy uninstallation if you change your mind.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Starfield Mods
- Author
- rbt
- Version
- 2
- Downloads
- 71,451
- Endorsements
- 368
- Category
- Weapons
- Created
- 2/20/2024
- Updated
- 8/6/2026
🔗 Required By 1 Mod
These mods list this mod as a dependency.
🔧 How to Install Starfield Mods
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Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
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