Everyone always seems to be asking the same question...
Why are my attack and defense staying the same when I buy more weapons?
The answer is pretty easy to explain, but there are some things you need to keep in mind before the answer is explained:
1. You are allowed to take 500 mafia members into battle with you.
2. Since you're only allowed to take 500 mafia into a fight with you, that means you're only allowed to take 501 weapons, 501 defensive items, and 501 vehicles with you into battle. (500 mafia plus yourself = 501)
3. The highest-level items you can buy are Rocket Launcher, Night Vision Goggles, and Towncar.
4. The system will automatically add your highest attack and defense items together to form your overall attack and defensive stats. For example, if you have 100 mafia, and only buy 100 bonus weapons, then your total attack and defense score will be 200/200, since each bonus weapon has 20 attack and 20 defense.
So, with these things in mind, if you have been buying more weapons but your attack stats aren't going up, then one of the following things might be wrong.
1. Do you have 500 mafia members? If you only have say, 100 mafia, then the system is only going to be adding your attack and defense stats from weapons for the 100 mafia members you have. If you add more mafia members, and buy more weapons, your attack and defense stats should go up.
2. Are you buying the very best weapons, defensive items, and vehicles available to you? If you are buying weapons that are less in attack or defense power than what you currently have, then those numbers won't be added to your total stats.
[Via Mafia Wars for iPhone forums]