Understand Tainted Mag
Useful when…
- Increase the magazine capacity of an assault rifle when a longer firing interval is useful.
- Use when the reload penalty is acceptable for the weapon and build.
Effect and slot fit
At rank 0, Tainted Mag provides +6% Magazine Capacity and −3% Reload Speed; rank 5 gives +36% and −18%; rank 10 gives +66% and −33%. It is a Rare, standard Assault Rifle mod with Naramon polarity and base drain 4. No incompatible names are listed.
Rank costs and tradeoff
The listed rank 9 to 10 step costs 15,360 Endo and 741,888 Credits for the final increase to +66% capacity, alongside the full −33% reload penalty. Rank 5 is listed at +36% capacity and −18% reload speed, which may be a useful stopping point if the final step’s cost and penalty do not fit the build. Maximum Capacity offers a smaller capacity bonus with a smaller reload penalty; Loose Hatch adds Reload Speed but also Weapon Recoil, while Hydraulic Gauge reduces recoil and magazine capacity.
Use in a rifle setup
The bonus applies to assault rifles and occupies a standard slot. Assess the capacity increase together with its reload penalty; the mod does not supply damage, fire rate, or recoil changes.
Limitations and tradeoffs
- Magazine capacity rises while Reload Speed falls, with both changes growing by rank.
- The last rank has a high listed Endo and Credit cost.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Considering only magazine size while overlooking the simultaneous reload penalty.
- Assuming the final rank is an efficient investment without weighing its listed cost and added penalty.