So you’ve been running around StarRupture blasting alien bugs with your basic starter pistol, and you’re starting to realize that maybe—just maybe—there’s a better way to handle The Vermin swarming your base. Good news: weapon modding is absolutely a thing, and it’s one of the most satisfying progression systems in the game.
The problem? StarRupture doesn’t exactly hold your hand through the process. The game quietly gives you access to weapon modifications without really explaining how to get them or what they do. Let’s fix that.
What Are Weapon Mods and Why Should You Care?
Weapon mods in StarRupture let you customize your guns to fit your playstyle. We’re talking damage boosts, better handling, extended magazines, improved accuracy—all the good stuff that turns your weapons from “barely keeping me alive” to “bug extermination machine.”
Every weapon except the starting UPP-7 Pistol can be modded across multiple categories like barrels, sights, magazines, and stocks. Each mod changes how the weapon performs, so you can tune your loadout for close-quarters carnage or long-range precision depending on what Arcadia-7 throws at you.
Unlocking the Equipment Upgrade Station (Your Gateway to Mods)
Before you can start tweaking your arsenal, you need access to the Equipment Upgrade Station. This requires hitting Reputation Level 4 with GriffithsBlue Corporation. Here’s the step-by-step:
1. Set Up Resource Production
- Build a Supply Line to mine Wolfram Ore and Titanium Ore
- Construct a Smelter and Fabricator to process those ores
2. Create Advanced Materials
- Unlock either Titanium Sheet or Wolfram Plate recipes at your Recipe Station
- Start fabricating these materials—you’ll need them for the reputation grind
3. Boost Your Reputation You have two options here:
- The grind route: Use the Orbital Launch Station to send Commissions (shipments of Titanium Sheets or Wolfram Plates) to GriffithsBlue Corp until you hit Level 4
- The shortcut: Spend 6,400 Data Points to instantly jump to Level 4 (honestly not a bad option if you’ve been exploring and collecting Data Points)
4. Claim Your Reward & Build the Station
- Head to the Corporate Terminal and claim your Level 4 reward
- Gather 120 Basic Building Materials and construct the Equipment Upgrade Station
Pro tip: Don’t sleep on the Data Point shortcut if you’re already sitting on a pile of them. Getting War Bonds and materials takes time, and sometimes you just want to start modding ASAP.
How to Actually Mod Your Weapons
Once your Equipment Upgrade Station is built, interact with it to open the interface. You’ll see two tabs:
- Weapon Unlocks: Shows all the weapons you’ve unlocked
- Mod Unlocks: Displays all available modifications for each weapon
Here’s how to equip mods:
- Select the weapon you want to customize
- Browse the available mod categories (barrel, sight, magazine, stock)
- Choose your preferred mods for each category
- Equip the weapon in one of your two active weapon slots
- Pay the modification cost in Basic Crafting Materials
Important: You can carry two active weapons with their mods at any time. Every time you swap weapons or change mods at the station, you’ll need to pay a small fee in Basic Crafting Materials (made from Wolfram and Titanium Ores). It’s not expensive, but it adds up if you’re constantly tinkering, so plan your loadout accordingly.
Complete Weapon Mod List & Unlock Costs
Here’s every mod available for each weapon in StarRupture. Costs are listed in War Bonds (WB):
Mar 9 “Phantom” AR
Your trusty assault rifle becomes incredibly versatile with the right mods.
Barrels:
- Long Barrel (Free) – Better range and accuracy
- Short Barrel (50 WB) – Improved handling
- Cooled Barrel (65 WB) – Reduced heat buildup for sustained fire
Sights:
- TH Sight Mk2 (Free) – Standard iron sights
- CCS Sight (55 WB) – Close-quarters reflex sight
- 3X Optic (90 WB) – Magnified scope for distance
Magazines:
- Light Magazine (Free) – Standard capacity
- Extended Magazine (75 WB) – More bullets before reload
- Piercing Magazine (60 WB) – Armor penetration
Stocks:
- Recoil Dampening Stock (Free) – Easier to control
- Gyro Stock (50 WB) – Stability while moving
- Lightweight Stock (80 WB) – Faster weapon handling
SLAM-12 Shotgun
When you absolutely need to delete everything in front of you.
Barrels:
- Piercing Barrel (Free) – Punches through armor
- Range Mod (70 WB) – Tighter spread at distance
- Short Barrel (110 WB) – Wider spread, close-range devastation
Magazines:
- Rapid Fire Mag (Free) – Faster follow-up shots
- ALM Magazine (80 WB) – Automatic loading mechanism
- Shredder Ammo (105 WB) – Massive damage output
Stocks:
- Standard Stock (Free) – Balanced handling
- Ammo Reserve (120 WB) – Carry more shells
- Runner Stock (90 WB) – Move faster while equipped
M175 “Grim” LMG
The “spray and pray just got serious” option.
Barrels:
- Front GMS Barrel (Free) – Standard configuration
- Uplift Dampener (90 WB) – Reduced muzzle climb
- Buzzsaw Barrel (130 WB) – Maximum fire rate
Magazines:
- Hi Cap (Free) – Large standard magazine
- Light Magazine (120 WB) – Faster reload speed
- Horizontal Stabilizer Magazine (95 WB) – Reduced horizontal recoil
Stocks:
- Ergonomic Stock (Free) – Comfortable handling
- Folding Stock (110 WB) – Better mobility
- Rear Force Dampener (85 WB) – Less felt recoil
UPP-7 Pistol
Sorry, but your starter pistol gets no love in the mod department. It’s meant to be replaced as soon as you unlock better weapons, not upgraded.
How to Get War Bonds for Mod Unlocks
You’ll notice most mods cost War Bonds to unlock. There are several ways to farm these:
- Level up your reputation with GriffithsBlue Corporation (each level grants War Bonds)
- Find Secret Chests scattered across Arcadia-7
- Loot fallen colonists during exploration
The most reliable method is the reputation grind through Commissions, but exploring every nook and cranny of the map yields surprising amounts of War Bonds from hidden caches. Check out our beginner’s guide for more tips on efficient progression.
My Recommended Mod Loadouts
For General Survival (Mar 9 “Phantom” AR):
- Extended Magazine + Piercing Magazine rotation depending on enemy type
- 3X Optic for versatility
- Gyro Stock for mobility while maintaining accuracy
For Base Defense (SLAM-12 Shotgun):
- Short Barrel for maximum close-range punishment
- Shredder Ammo to delete bugs instantly
- Ammo Reserve so you’re not constantly reloading mid-wave
For Resource Runs (M175 “Grim” LMG):
- Uplift Dampener for controllable sustained fire
- Hi Cap magazine to handle large groups
- Ergonomic Stock since you’ll be carrying this around a lot
Important Things to Remember
- Modding costs materials every time: Don’t constantly swap mods unless you’ve got resources to spare
- Unlock strategically: Focus on unlocking mods for one weapon at a time rather than spreading War Bonds thin
- Two weapon limit: Plan complementary loadouts (e.g., AR for range + Shotgun for close quarters)
- Free mods exist: Every weapon comes with free baseline mods—use these while saving up War Bonds
Building a solid power infrastructure and automating your resource gathering makes the whole modding process smoother since you’ll have a steady supply of materials for both station fees and reputation grinding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mod the UPP-7 Pistol?
Nope, the starter pistol has no mod slots. It’s basically the game’s way of telling you to move on to better weapons as soon as possible. Focus on unlocking the Mar 9 Phantom AR or SLAM-12 Shotgun instead.
Do I lose mods if I change weapons?
No, mods stay unlocked permanently once purchased with War Bonds. You only pay the Basic Crafting Materials fee when equipping or changing mods at the Equipment Upgrade Station. Your unlocked mods are saved to your progression.
What’s the fastest way to get War Bonds for mod unlocks?
The most reliable method is increasing your reputation with GriffithsBlue Corp through Commissions. However, exploring the map for Secret Chests and looting fallen colonists can give you quick bursts of War Bonds. Combining both approaches works best—grind reputation while actively exploring between shipments.
How many weapons can I carry with mods equipped?
You can have two active weapons equipped at once in your loadout, each with their own selected modifications. You can swap between different weapon configurations at the Equipment Upgrade Station anytime, but remember it costs Basic Crafting Materials each time you make changes.
Weapon modding transforms StarRupture from a basic survival shooter into a genuinely customizable experience. Once you’ve got your Equipment Upgrade Station running and start unlocking mods, combat becomes way more satisfying. Whether you’re defending your base from Vermin hordes or exploring deeper into Arcadia-7’s dangers, having properly modded weapons makes all the difference.
Now get out there and make those bugs regret ever landing on this planet.
