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Mass Effect 3 – FAQ/Walkthrough
Xbox 360
FAQ/Walkthrough by TheGum
Version: 1.8 | Updated: 04/23/12
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An update will include romances, character fate possibilities,the ripple effect of decisions from ME1 to ME3, and a few tips for multiplayer. (4/2/12) Version 1.2 - Added the four bottom sections. All are pretty light but I could see them getting no updates or major overhauls. I do want to get a list of multiplayer items, weapons, and powers, but I'm usually bad about getting to those these days. (4/12/12) Version 1.5 - Revised walkthrough and added more stuff. Didn't quite get everything in there, but will follow-up soon. (4/16/12) Version 1.8 - Just a few things missing and I'll be done. (4/23/12) ***************** Table Of Contents ***************** Use quick find (Ctrl + F) and type in the code or level. Section: Code: 1. A Brief Foreword 2. Starter Tips ( TIPS222 ) 3. The Guide ( FAQ3333 ) Starting Out 0001 Earth: The War Begins 0002 Mars: Race to the Archives 0003 The Citadel: Part 1 0004 Menae: A Primarch in Peril 0005 Eden Prime: Prothean Artifact 0006 ** DLC The Citadel Part 2 0007 Grissom Academy 0008 The Citadel Part 3 0009 Sanctum: Cerberus Lab 0010 Sur'Kesh: Eve 0011 Utukku: Missing Scouts 0012 Tuchanka: Cerberus Activity 0013 Tuchanka: Downed Vessel 0014 Tuchanka: Cerberus Bomb 0015 Tuchanka: Shroud Facility 0016 The Citadel: Betrayal 0017 The Citadel Part 4 0018 Lesuss: The Ardat-Yakshi 0019 The Citadel Part 5 0020 Gellix: Ex-Cerberus Scientists 0021 Noveria: Cerberus Fighter Base 0022 Benning: Cerberus Abductions 0023 Far Rim: The Quarian Connection 0024 Perseus Veil: Dread Not... 0025 Rannoch: Save the Admiral 0026 Rannoch: Geth Comm Hub 0027 Rannoch: Reaper Base 0028 The Citadel Part 6 0029 Cyone: Fuel Reactors 0030 Thessia: The Temple of Athame 0031 Ontarom: Communication Hub 0032 Horizon: Sanctuary 0033 Exploration and EMS 0034 The Citadel Part 7 0035 Cronos Station: Cerberus HQ 0036 Earth: Full Circle 0037 4. Characters ( CHA4444 ) 5. Critical Decisions ( DEC5555 ) 6. Romances ( ROM6666 ) 7. Powers, Armor, Weapons ( PAW7777 )** 8. Multiplayer ( MUL8888 )** 9. Author Info / Copyright ** The Prothean Artifact is the first DLC and it can be done at almost any time. *** Incomplete ***************************************************************************** * 1. A Brief Foreword * ***************************************************************************** Usually this is where you find me reviewing the game, but this time around I want to tell you how to use this guide. I don't think there is any correct way to make a text guide for this game. I have chosen to go with a pure all- inclusive walkthrough from beginning to end. You'll find that I played with an imported ME2 character who had everyone still alive from ME2 and a much higher level from the start. Pretty much you just need to watch out for when I name characters who are not in your game, or if I leave out characters like I left out Kasumi Goto. If you are completely new to this series then you'll have to adapt or just go with it. Another thing is that I purposely left out spoilers and did not go over all of the decisions with you. I may try to put a section with key decisions in the guide, but I want to leave the walkthrough as a chance for you to do as you please. Of course I will provide insight to the big decisions, but the small ones are for you to make. I will say one thing about the ending of this game: i am very disappoint. But at least up until then this was one of the best franchises ever... TheGum ***************************************************************************** * 2. Starter Tips ( TIPS222 ) * ***************************************************************************** On the 360 you can use the LEFT and RIGHT buttons to command the squadmate on the left and right of your screen to go to a spot. So if you want both to go to the same spot you will press LEFT and RIGHT in succession. Remember to turn on special ammo. Remember to equip the right weapons on your teammates. You can only have one bonus power. Shotguns are decent at range. When aiming, pick a spot ahead of where your target is moving. You have five health bars and you will regain only the bar with any damage. The other bars will refill during certain checkpoints and by using medi-gel. Using a medi-gel in single player will refill your health bars and revive any downed teammates. You don't need to target them or anything to revive at range. If you didn't see the tip, you can use medi-gel at range to revive a teammate. You can get an increased medi-gel max by buying upgrades from the hospital shop, which is always on level 5 of your ship. If you play the game one way, paragon or renegade, then you will find that on alternate runs you will have massively different outcomes if you go opposite. Some people won't die, some will join you, some will be your enemy. And of course don't forget that you can always go back and replay and import ME1 and 2 runs for slightly different outcomes. That all being said, it appears that the paragon path is the "correct" way to go as far as having everyone be loyal, your army at the fullest strength, and everyone being alive for the most part. Not to mention paragon usually leads to the romancing and the sex. With minor dialogue from allies playing you can still do stuff like open up terminals to read messages. If you want to get 10 wins in multiplayer it would not hurt, trust me. This will quickly increase your readiness rating, especially if you pick and choose the battlefields to the lowest readiness zones. If you have an iPhone or iPad then go grab the Mass Effect Datapad app. Login and you will get your accounts connected in real time, and of course you at least need to sign in to the EA servers in Mass Effect 3. As a quick note just be sure to spend your first credits on the reduced time upgrades and throw in a few readiness bonus upgrades too. Balance those out for quicker results. All of this is to increase your readiness rating in Mass Effect 3. Be sure to reload the app and upgrade before deploying fleets. *NOTE: In this game you may not see the full effect of your EMS being tops, but perhaps it will at some point...* If you have an iPhone or iPad and have the cash for it, go ahead and buy the Infiltrator app if you are impatient and want to increase readiness while on the go. As with the Datapad and your copy of ME3 you need everything online. A note on readiness rating, you don't need to max it out. With over 6000 actual war assets it will only take a few sources of increased readiness to reach your 5000 EMS rating for the best ending. If you're on the fence about the Prothean DLC, just know that the rifle you get can be almost game-breaking. 3 squadmates with those and powers is a tall order for the enemy. There is no sitting on the fence in this series. For the most part you want to keep your character to the top or bottom options. Other than for personal chats you DO NOT want to mix and match top and bottom options on key decisions. Aside from rep options you open up by sticking to one side, some decisions require this kind of consistency for the best options. Though you may think pure renegade will get you into trouble, the game is built so that "mean" decisions are pretty much equal. Discretion is always key, as is this guide. If you want a complete Mass Effect decision background to take into ME3 but can't find or don't want to play ME1 (due to the Mako I would tend to agree) then you can find a ME2 copy, buy the DLC that let's you choose the ME1 decisions, and go from there. I doubt ME3 will offer the same service for ME2, but ME2 is a game worth replaying anyway. Though with so many dead-end romances from ME2 I think a paragon FemShep Liara run and a renegade BroShep Ashley / Miranda / Ashley run seem like enough. ***************************************************************************** * 3. The FAQ ( FAQ3333 ) * ***************************************************************************** Starting Out 0001 ------------ If you played Mass Effect 2 you have the option of importing your old characters. As with ME1 to ME2, there could be issues, and you will most likely need to further customize the face of your old Shepard if you want him/her to look the same or different. You'll find that you have more tools than in previous games, so your final version of Shepard will probably be your best. And if you didn't play ME2 you will just make a new character who lacks the specific story decisions a fully-imported Shepard would have made. You will choose an origin and military service past that we have never seen, but it has come up in a few conversations - it's not a big deal which you choose. Then you can choose to kill Kaidan or Ashley or more, but it's best to just choose one to die if you want to meet everyone else (I think). Next will be your class, which are the same six from ME2, and you can change the one you may have had in ME2: Class: Soldier Summary: Best with firearms, weakest with powers Powers: Adrenaline Rush - slow motion for a short time Concussive Shot - damage power Frag Grenade Incendiary Ammo Disruptor Ammo Cryo Ammo Class: Infiltrator Summary: Stealth snipers Powers: Cloak - difficult to spot Incinerate - damage power Sabotage Sticky Grenade Disruptor Ammo Cryo Ammo Class: Vanguard Summary: Close-range weapon specialists Powers: Biotic Charge - instantly ram into an enemy knocking them down Pull Shockwave Nova Incendiary Ammo Cryo Ammo Class: Sentinel Summary: Biotic/tech combo. Powers: Warp - powerful boitic blast Overload Cryo Blast Throw Lift Grenade Tech Armor Class: Adept Summary: Best with biotics, weakest with firearms Powers: Singularity - pulls non-armored units into a void for some time Pull Shockwave Warp - damage power Throw Cluster Grenade Class: Engineer Summary: Best with tech powers Powers: Combat Drone - pet that can have a powerful missile Sentry Turret Incinerate - damage power Cryo Blast Overload Sabotage Pick any class you want, but new players should go soldier and it's just my opinion that vanguard is pretty fun and powerful. Engineer is interesting as you basically have a constant pet. On replays you will get to apply one bonus power, but first games won't have this option from here. Earth: The War Begins 0002 --------------------- As the game starts you get to choose a few minor chat options, as well as see an old face. As the game starts in proper, pause to turn on subtitles, adjust camera sensitivity, and it's best to turn off helmets in conversation. You may notice you can turn off decision-making, but that is very, very bad. *NOTE: When you run into the husks, looks down to the right and you'll see a very interesting sight (it's the kid).* Follow Anderson as you get introduced to the fluid controls. You'll run into six husks climbing to a roof, so test your aim and climb down to kill three more. When you run out of ammo you can melee from a good distance and you will rush up to strike automatically. You can also hold melee to use a power attack. Go into the room for a med kit and bash the husk through the next door. Grab ammo on the other side of the cutscene and feel free to run the rest of the way, espeically since you have to at the gap. Hop down for a scene before meeting enemies called cannibals. If you are unfamiliar with shooting then you need to learn the "pop and shoot" technique to gunplay. You simply stay behind cover while focusing on an enemy, pop up, and shoot at it a bit before returning to cover. Simply repeat as your shields and health get hit. There is plenty of ammo so we will have major problems if you can't beat these three guys. *NOTE: You have powers, so use them. Bring up your power wheel (hold RB on the 360) and you can set shortcuts. Remember, you have to apply ammo to each gun when you first use them.* Cross the bridge and there will be a bunch more enemies around the corner. Just do your best to keep focus on one target. You do have control over Anderson, but there isn't much reason to use it as he does a good job of finishing off whatever targets you start on. There may be one or two more around the corner on the right, and then grab ammo and the rifle before using the radio. Then you just have to keep fighting off the cannibals for abount a minute until you are saved. In the next conversation you may get a chance for a quick-time chat option, but you'll need to push it while the other dude is speaking; of course it's more points in that path (Paragon or Renegade). *NOTE: The PARA/REN choices won't have a huge impact on the game, but it will shape how other characters interact with Shepard. Obviously, it's easier to get someone to like you if you treat them kindly, but sometimes a little fire is needed to get what you want.* Mars: Race to the Archives 0003 -------------------------- *NOTE: It will either be Kaiden or Ashley, which only one can be alive if you didn't play the previous games.* Once you land you can upgrade your squad, and if you imported then you will have many more talent points to spend. Each talent has mini trees where the first three choices are cut and dry, while the last three give you many choices in team composition. It usually boils down to survivability versus offense, and you should favor offense. For melee and close-range characters you may want to go for more survivability. Don't overlook reduced times and recharge speed bonuses as those equal more damage output. *NOTE: Feel free to set your quick-power uses from the power wheel (hold the shoulder buttons on the 360).* *NOTE: For you and your squad you should favor putting points into the bottom talent (the "special" talent) but don't forget to at least get the first level or the strongest abilities too. It's a balancing act to start for sure.* As you move forward there is a new weapon to pick up and around the corner will be a gang of enemies to test you team composition on. Don't forget that you can pause the game to pull out your weapon or power wheels. You can move the camera while in these wheels to set targets for your allies' powers, or change weapons to the range of your enemies. Don't be shy about using these wheels and powers often; so long as a power isn't on cooldown you should probably use it. Once you kill the first group there is another, and feel free to play aggressive and flank them from the side or back, or just sit back and use range - just whatever your class favors. Head into the building for a scene, and after you will have a new teammate and drop James. As the next battle picks up be sure to pause and give her talents. Power up her singularity because you will have a hard time hitting these enemies without it. You can't get up there, and the lift to the left is broken, so just spam her sings until they are all toppled. After the fight grab the med kit and find the computer console by the vehicles. Use it and climb up there to reach the door above. Through the door are several more agents, so get the jump on them while they are talking. In the control room ahead you will find armor, ammo, a med kit, and a new weapon. Use the console and head out. Drop down and hold the "see" button to watch the tram roll by. Grab the armor at the next ladder and go up. Hop the gap and you will enter a cafeteria where you will use flashlights. There is a datapad on the floor and when you get to the lowest level the window covers will reveal Cerberus agents on the other side. You can blast through these windows and they can't see you in the dark. You can then hop through the window to hit them close up. Don't miss the armor upgrade at the counter in the cafeteria. Hop over, grab the items, and use the console. Through the door will be a few items, a datapad, and a weapon bench where you can change weapon layouts and modify if you have upgrades. It's a little confusing how to work with it, but you should try to take only the minimal weapons you need as increased weight will result in slower cooldown times for your powers. Through the next door will be a pack of agents prime for a sing, but beyond them are guardians who have shields that require getting around them baiting them for another to hit their backs, or the use of powers like singularity to just wipe them away. *NOTE: I'll refer to singularity as sing, so when I say "sing them to death" you will know what I really mean.* Then you begin a long fight down three portions of a hallway to reach the other side. There are plenty of agents and guardians in your way, so spam all your powers to get through quickly. It would be best to move left, down and around so you don't get flanked at each portion. At the end watch the orange beams through the glass and stand by the control. Press it when the beams are pointing the farthest outward so you can go in for the items, datapad, and so you can use the door to get out. Follow the path to face a turret. This is essentially a lesson in how to move while staying in cover. Just follow the objective markers and for the most part you just need to hold the cover button and you will be okay. When you reach the half-covers you need to point the camera to the turret and then press over to roll in cover. At the corner be wary of the button to turn in cover (click LS on the 360), and then you are home free in the corner by the door. Open it and go in heavy as these troopers will hit you hard. After the fight be sure to grab the item, datapad, and use the console. Set your team either on the circle or behind cover up top. Cerberus will enter from the middle of the floor level, so have a sing ready for them and slowly pick the rest off. Enter the tram and use the controls. You'll get ambushed, but if you use some powers you may take them out a bit quicker as a sing may hold them in air as the tram moves away from them. Clear out the enemy train and jump on to take it the rest of the way. *NOTE: Don't forget to level up, or to check for talent points if you overlook the notices.* The next fight is another big one. If you want, you can quickly clear the immediate area and then hop into one of the pits so you can easily hit all areas of the room with powers. Just be ready to roll away from grenades and careful of flankers. When you clear most of the first group another massive wave of enemies will rush in, so have those sings at the ready. After the battle claim the two weapon mods, med kit, and head out. After the scene just follow the target and when it goes behind a door just open and use the console to open the windows for you to jump over. Just keep following, taking some care to avoid the attacks. When you reach the top just be ready to aim for the head. The Citadel: Part 1 0004 ------------------- You will hear Diana Allers blabbering, so feel free to talk and there is no harm in agreeing to her request and in fact you should. Feel free to talk to the Avina program and then go to the elevator beyond the security fields. Go ahead and visit Huerta. Recruit Dr. Chakwas, and then talk to Dr. Michel who was in the first game. Enter the hospital and there is just a doctor talking to someone at the back, then just go see Kaiden/Ashely in the room on the right. Now head for the embassies. Go left to pick up an overheard journal entry, and then go right where an old lady is talking to a clerk if you want to hear. You can enter the first room on the left to see your old reporter friend. You can then talk to Bailey after for quite a few bits of info. Enter the next door down the hall to get the show started. And of course you hear nothing but good news... Speak to Udina after it all ends and after you can enter the Spectre area where you have an email terminal and store to very powerful and expensive weapons. As you leave for the elevator you will be interviewed and the renegade quicktime options are there for you if you want them, but it's better not to and hit the quick paragon option. James is also by the elevator. Return to the Normandy. There is a sequence where all you need to do is follow. The Normandy: Part 1 -------------------- The War Terminal is used to assess the military might you've accumulated for the final fight. Without knowing much about the final fight it is safe to assume you want to be as much a completionist as possible until then. You can start with the people on your ship, to gain rep and make them like you. You can talk to Joker at the front of the ship, there are messages in your terminal, and you can get acquainted with Ms. Traynor. From there you can take the elevator to any of the other four decks: Captain's Cabin - Armor locker where you can change your Normandy outfit and modify the colors of your combat suit. In time you can change your armor, but there are only two options now. Crew Deck - In the first four rooms you'll only find a model ship in the first room on the right. Liara is roomed left of the crew eating area. Chakwas is in the opposite room where you will also find some benches to reassign points and bonuses; we don't have bonuses and it's too early to reassign points. Engineering - Adams is an old face, there are two ships where Jack used to sleep, and Diana will offer you a chance for a little extra rep. Shuttle Bay - Talk with Cortez to learn of his retail service of more expensive merchandise from shops you visited, you can buy weapon upgrades, use the armor and weapon stations, and there are quite a few models tucked in the corners here. I say buy the upgrades for the weapons you specced for and apply any upgrades you've found and want. Then go talk to James and get ready for a quick bout. You have chances for rep, so take the ones you want but I believe they will all cancel out if you take the same number of red and blues. *NOTE: If you were not aware, there is a romance factor in this game and the previous two. Liara and James are current flirts if you want, but be aware that imports could weave a tangled web if not careful as more characters old and new are sure to appear.* Once you've done all there is to do, hop on level 2 and get on the Galaxy Map. Not really anything to do outside of going to save the Primarch in the Apien Crest system. If you are not sure about the scanning feature then don't bother trying it now. *NOTE: If you want to be an early completionist, refer to section 23 and 34 at this time. 23 is the Prothean DLC which you will have access to now if you downloaded it. 34 is about space exploration which is only something to think about doing now for the sake of the minor upgrades you will find. But since the space exploration is boring it is at the end. Also, Javik will need time to rest before going into combat if you get him early, so all you are doing that mission now for is the free gun.* Menae: A Primarch in Peril 0005 -------------------------- Exploration - Apien Crest Gemmae: all three on or around Pheiros, the two floaters being fuel supplies Castellus: Digeris, fuel right of star *NOTE: Exploration means within the nebula you can scan planets for creds, war assets, fuel, or upgrades. I don't have you go over all exploration at once, and you can even do it at the end, but while in the nebulas or systems you could go ahead and explore. It may be better than and grand exploration adventure before you start the final levels.* As you land feel free to use a distance weapon or abilities on the husks, and then you will engage them once you land. Clear the waves and hop up to go around the fortifications to the base camp. You'll find items all over, including a new guns and many weapon mods; one gun is on the rocky area in the upper left corner and the other is in the middle lane on some supplies next to a datapad. Speak to Corinthus when ready and after you have fully searched for items you can leave through the side. *NOTE: You want to stay on the straight and narrow paths here as you can get an instant death if you walk too far off the trail; like if you try to find the edges of the walking space.* After you pass the pair of soldiers you will soon be attacked by husks from ahead, so clear the wave that rushes you. At the tower you can send either member to repair while you and the other fight off a few mobs of husks. Once the tower is fixed your team is back to full strength and you will fight more husks as you can head back to base after the fighting ends. Return to Corinthus and you pick up an old friend. Remember to give him talent points before taking the gate to the next fight. You will run into several marauders along with many husks. It's best to send your strongest attacks at the marauders as they bolster any of their allies; use frags and big powers to down them quickly. You'll fight several of them before the fight ends. There is a mod near the front and creds to the right. Return to base and climb the forward ladder to man a turret. It has only so many bullets, and you only need a burst to kill a husk anyway. They should all favor one side to climb up, but occassionally one or two may take the other side. You can always get off the turret to clear the barricade, but your team should be competent enough to do that on their own. At the end you will face a brute on foot. All you do is bullfight with him, meaning you let him charge and step aside. Burn all your powers on him, keep your distance, and roll away from his charge. It's a long, long walk to the next objective, with a single husk ambush and three items by some soldiers along the way. When you reach the camp quickly start on the marauders before starting on the brute. The first big guy won't be hard to down - just fall back to the left and kite him to death. But the next pair of brutes will be a different story. You will have to switch strategy and kill them first before the marauders simply because you don't have the luxury with them cloggin the middle lane. There is a rocket launcher down the middle alley, on the ground to the right, but you have little time to pick it up before or while the brutes are bearing in. It's very powerful, so you will want some distance from the target. Kill one brute, then the other, and clear the area of hostiles before moving up to meet Victus. The Normandy Part 2 ------------------- Turn and use the console to speak to Hackett. Victus is by the war terminal, and when you go out you are needed on deck 3. Go there and enter the AI core through the medical bay. You can speak to everyone now and Garrus is in the middle of the crew deck at his old spot. After you visit everyone be sure to look at any new email, speak to Traynor, Joker, and the new girl. Get on the galaxy map and leave the system through the mass relay. You have many objectives blinking all over. With the emails you read it seems like a good time to meet some people at the Citadel. *NOTE: Now is a better time to go to Eden Prime if you have the DLC. All other players should skip the next section. If you get the DLC later then refer back to this section.* Eden Prime: Prothean Artifact 0006 ----------------------------- *NOTE: Must have the Prothean DLC or have the code that came with a special edition version of the game.* Set a course for the Exodus Cluster and land on Eden Prime in the Utopia system. Remember, Liara is an archeology buff, and I say bring EDI. Head down into the camp and go right to loot the shack. Use the elevator and you will be thrown into a fight after. The nemesis at the back are top priority. Go up and make your way to the right where a group of engineers will be waiting. Clear it out and go in to view the first video. *NOTE: You have one chance to clear the side mission here. There is one intel to the far left in a building, and one intel sort of in the middle. Those two will pop your achievement. And the quest began in one of the first buildings as you entered the area.* When you go out you can take the right side path through a living area to reach the third fight, and feel free to take the ladder to the roof for the high ground. When clear head into the final shack for a computer. When you come out there will be a pack of troops waiting, so clear and be sure to loot each shack as you make your way back down the right side path. However, you will be somewhat stuck if you do, so it may be wiser to go back through the middle path and after the fight you can investigate the other shacks you missed. The fight will have engineers, guardians, and turrets, so focus on a type of enemy one at a time. Drop down where the bridge was and go left to climb up and get across. The enemies will land where you came from at the start, so you can just defend from the pod. The fight will be at an end when they come through the buildings. As you have time before the second wave, run into the buildings as an atlas will drop next to the pod and troops will drop in the open area; meaning the buildings are the only safe places. Another batch will drop further down the path you started from, so the buildings won't be completely safe either. Just burn the mech down quick and keep your allies with you. Go to the pod after and you will begin a long set of scenes and chats. At the end of it you will have a new rifle and bonus power. * Since this was DLC content and the regular players have no need for this, we will just make the rounds of the Normandy ourselves. Feel free to upgrade that new rifle, and FYI you can only have one bonus power. Liara and Garrus have the most to say in passing, as will the people on deck 2. You will also get a new email from the new guy. *NOTE: It's very worth it to upgrade and have someone use that plasma rifle.* The Citadel Part 2 0007 ------------------ Huerta Memorial: Thane - He will be near the left window. He will not join your team. Sirta Supplies - Buy all the gifts in shop, and go ahead and grab the medi-gel upgrade. Ashley/Kaidan - They will accept a gift. Two minor quests to overhear. Purgatory Bar: Aria - She offers a chance to gain war assets. James - Renegade quick trigger. Embassies: Osoba - Info on a minor quest. Jondum Bau - Offers an investigation quest. Bailey - Best to suggest to see Sederis. Udina - Just some dialogue. Spectre Office - Use the terminal to authorize hanar tracking and two engineers to join the Normandy. Terminal - Check the terminal left of the elevator on your way out. Holding Docks: Terminal - For the investigation quest. Front desk argument. Batarian State Arms - Mostly a shotgun shop. Overhear a minor quest. Kelly Chambers - If alive from ME2. Suggest she change her identity. Sales Clerk / Shepard VI - For lulz. Garrus Darner Vosque - Part of Aria's quest. Terminal - At the end for the investigation quest. Terminal - Revisit the same first one for the investigation quest. Presidium: visit all the shops and you can access them from the Normandy Kanala Exports - Don't waste money on fish. Minor quest from a volus. Elkoss Supplies Barla Von - Nothing at the moment. Businessmen - Get war assets. Narl - In the aparments you will complete another leg of Aria's quest. Minor quest you will pick up from Sellea near C-Sec offices. Sederis - If you choose to speak to her, the officer in the C-Sec room will let you speak to Sederis. Best to find another solution. Aeghor Munitions Cipritine Armory Nos Astros Goods Kassa Fab. EDI Joker Arguing Couple General Oraka - Part of Aria's quest. He sends you to the corner shop. Kannik - He asks you for an artifact. Liara - She sends you to Barla Von. Barla Von - Now he will talk (though you may need to leavea and return if he is glitched and not talking). He gives you a minor quest. Sayn - Go back to the Holding Docks and get him to take over the gang, which doesn't require him killing her. Return to the Embassies and meet with Jondum to the left. You only decide if you pull the renegade trigger or not. It seems better not to, but it's your call. When ready, return to the Normandy and there isn't much to do other than refit your new weapon mods and maybe speak to EDI. Since we are on the task of getting Aria's gangs to help, get on the galaxy map and set a course for Kite's Nest. You'll need to leave the system through the green outer border and then consume fuel to reach the Vular system to the lower left. Exploration - Kite's Nest Harsa: Khar'shan, Verush, north of Dezda is some fuel Untrel: Adek, left of Adek is some fuel Vular: Vana, fuel NW of star Fly over Vana and press the scan button and a meter indicating Reaper Alertness will begin to fill and it will fill up more if you keep pressing the scan button. If you do alert the Reapers you should quickly leave the system and run from the ships before they grab you. But once you scan and the planet shows something is there, enter orbit and go into the detailed scan. This scan doesn't alert the Reapers, so hold it and move the cursor around until you close in on the bright white spot. Launch a probe and you'll have artifacts. That is it. You'll notice a few percentages by names of planets, systems, and nebulas as you leave, but those are just for overall progress of finding stuff - you got what you needed so you should leave. You'll have enough fuel to return to the mass relay. From there you should go back to the citadel, speak to Kannik, and then Oraka to complete the trio of gangs on your side. But you don't have to, and if you do you won't need to speak to Aria after. You could complete some side missions before going back to the Citadel if you want. If you don't, just remember to conclude the quest at that time. I say go save the students now. This is also a good time to go to Eden Prime if you have the DLC. Grissom Academy 0008 --------------- *NOTE: If you don't come here quickly enough, like you do other side missions, then you will fail this mission.* Enter the Petra Nebula and land on the Grissom Academy station. Feel free to test out EDI in combat or whoever. Once you are in just move up and kill the two agents to enter the room. After the scene, go through the doors and move up to run into two more agents who have a student pinned down. Kill them and talk to the student. There is an item if you go through the door next to the one you came in from. Come back and there will be plenty of things to grab in the first classroom. In the second you will run into a pack of enemies, so take cover and use the explosives on the ground against them. Go left to get a new gun. Through the right door will be more items, another student in the left corner, a locker, and a gun on some chairs. Move forward to run into another old buddy. Take cover and get around the smoke so you can send powers at the robot. It seems strikes from behind are more powerful, but however you get your hits in will work. Blow it up and you can explore the area. There are many items tucked away, including up where the students are, and then talk to Jack. You can use the laptop before going upstairs because the next computer is in the top room after you use the laptop. Head out and this fight is a big one. You start with a near endless stream of Cerberus and a huge robot firing on you. Best to quickly go to the right and engage the guardians that come out of the door in the corner. From this corner you don't have the best sights on the enemies below but you are pretty safe, and you are out of view of the robot. Just keep blasting the engineers and their turrets when you see them. Once the enemies stop appearing, check below for more through a doorway and then finish off the robot before moving on. Take the door below to find a few items in a hallway that leads to the second part of the area. This half is even tougher despite not tossing a big enemy at you. There is no safe place for you to hide here except for maybe the stairs just above the doorway you enter from. Anywhere else and you are putting your neck out. Watch for guardians to come out of the doors to the left of the top of the stairs. This fight will last a while if you are not a ranged fighter. *NOTE: Opposite the tech students is a terminal with creds.* The doors open after the battle. Kill the next two agents and use the top option in chat for a quick solution. Hop over the debris in the hall and blast the engineer to read a datapad on the ground. Jump in the mech and note that you have a missile, single-shot gun, and a melee strike. Move forward and engage anything on the ground that isn't one of your squadmates. The enemy will come from all corners of the area after you blast the first group. Just know that the missiles will fire low to the ground, so you need a mostly clear shot to get a hit. There is nothing you can do but survey the area until you see targets and squeeze; you may want to aim a little ahead of moving targets. When the infantry are done and Jack tells you to watch your ass, turn to the way you came in and another mech will challenge you. You have help, so just get off a missile and pop bullets at it. Feel free to use the middle barrier as strafing cover. You are free to exit the mech after. There is a mod on a chair near the entryway, and then head for the corner door. Feel free to decide if they are used as support or artillery, but remember they were recommended as support... (plus you get a cool scene much later if you send them on support, and I imagine it's a sad scene if you send them to their dooms) The Citadel Part 3 0009 ------------------ The war terminal is more populated now if you want to browse. No one on deck 2 has much to say, but feel free to get the passing dialogue. Read your email to hear from an old squadmate and your injured friend on the Citadel; both asking you to see them. Deck 3 won't have much of interest other than passing chats. Deck 4 has a space hamster you can catch on the lowest area (patience is key), the two old pals you saved, and sorry to say but Jack is not in her old pad. The only person with a meaningful conversation is Cortez on deck 5. Take the chance while down here to swap, modify, and upgrade weapons (upgrades are cheap). You can also buy mods from the shops you've visited for a slightly higher price. Don't forget you have armor pieces too. Javik would be at the lowest level of deck 4. With emails read, return to the Citadel and don't take a transport. First Dock: Miranda - Y U NO JOIN MY TEAM. U AN UR GODDAM SISTER! Hospital: Asari Scientist - Will complete minor quest from intel you grabbed at Grissom. Ashley/Kaidan Minor quest from the doctor in the other room. Presidium: if you turned in the artifact and don't want to shop you can skip Kannik - Turn in the artifact if you didn't before. Oraka - Complete his quest if you didn't already. Holding Dock: Preacher - Turn in artifact if you have it. Kelly - She has a new look if you told her to change. Return to the Normandy and a plot a course for Sigurd's Cradle at the top. Head to the Decoris system and land on Sanctum. *NOTE: Don't forget to use Liara's terminal if you have any minor upgrades.* Sanctum: Cerberus Lab 0010 --------------------- Exploration - Sigurd's Cradle Skepsis: Watson, fuel left of the relay Decoris: Laena, fuel south of star Go right for credits and a journal in the corner of the control area. Then try to go up the ramp at the back of the room and you should run into enemies up top. They are defending the computer, and you need to clear them so you have time to open it and reveal the artifact. Once you have it, be sure to explore this room for credits, a mod, and salvage, and then take the left exit out and you should find a tiny room overlooking the floor where there is an item. *NOTE: Be sure to reload at the ammo piles in the major areas.* When you return your artifact to the ship you will have to go back and get another. For me, the second one was in the corner of the room on the right, but I would not doubt the placement could be random. You will run into resistance on the way there, and be wary of drops from above. Just go slow until all is clear and then make a break for the artifact. *NOTE: Just be sure to get the medi-gel item as it completes as side quest.* When you try to come back you will hear the ship leave and you should run into heavy resistance. I say cut through the big lab area and make your way to the left side of the landing pad area. From there you will just need to fend off the attackers until Cortez arrives, and then make a break for the ship to exit, regardless of if the coast is clear. The artifacts don't go back to Kannik, but the medigel thing you found will go to a doctor in the hospital at the Citadel if you have the time to waste, but you know you will go back in the flow of the game so it's your call. Sur'Kesh: Eve 0011 ------------- *NOTE: By about now you may notice some rep options appear on the left side of the chat wheels. Feel free to use those as they are best.* Enter Annos Basin and head for the ship. Depending on prior history you may or may not run into an old, old friend. When Shepard is walking away you will have a chance to grab some renegade points, though it is optional. Depending on if that certain old friend is with you, you may want to take Garrus and Liara to almost completely reunite your old team in the opening scene of this mission, as well as some nice dialogue. *NOTE: If Wreav is here and you destroyed the research then you won't have much to talk to him about.* So if Wrex is with you you can talk to him down the steps for more insight on the situation, but if it's not Wrex then it's another Krogan. There is also a Major Kirrahe who was from the first game who will pledge support. Speak to Padok and you'll go down the elevator. After meeting another old friend you will meet the objective. When in control, go to the back wall for a mod and log. You'll find the first exit is blocked, so take the opposite door and go up the ladder. *NOTE: Major Kirrahe may be replaced by a Tolan who will not be so welcoming to you either way. If Mordin didn't survive ME2 then Padok will replace.* The Salarians will be blasted and replaced with Cerberus, so be ready. Move up to run into another pack of soldiers and dispatch them quickly before they take cover in the lab. Enter the lab and the area outside the right side doorway for three pickups. When you open the door you will need to hop left and jump the gap to reach an item. Up ahead will be a meter of the pod, but you just need to clear the enemies out quickly and it won't be an issue. Have them focus on you, not the pod. When clear, go use the controls. Blast the Cerberus on the ship, then go out the opening to face more enemies on the balcony. Cut through them and make your way to the next fight where you meet Kirrahe. Go right to flank but be sure to thin their numbers a bit first, and to keep your team on your tail. Take out the engineers and then the turrets so line of sight the turrets until then. Head through the door to the animal lab where a lone subject is free and will be taken out. It's best to immediately go up and engage the shooters on the second level, and once clear you can rain lead down on the guardians below who should be fighting your allies. However you do it, there is a mod, salvage, and an armor piece on the lower level. *NOTE: If you dilly dally at the final area and don't use the computer in time you will face more troops.* Bypass the door on the top level to quickly save the pod from enemy fire. There is an item, log, and weapon in the furthest right corner. Use the power terminal in this corner and then go defend the pod from another wave. After that, use the computer in front of the pod. You will get hit again. Clear them out and take the door near where you entered. Hop the gap and go up the ladder to stop the assault on the pod. Clear them out and use the console. A huge mech will show up, so if you can blow it up without having to move to new cover that would be great, otherwise just fall back and finish it off. Once it is out of the way you need to clear a few soldiers and that is it. The Normandy Part 3 ------------------- *NOTE: If it's Wreav, he will now talk to you despite how he felt before.* Feel free to look over the army you've assembled, then talk to Victus to get his mission. The Krogan (whoever it may be) will have much to say along with the mission he gives you. Almost everyone on the ship is willing to talk, and feel free to click the map to see where people are. EDI will talk twice; Eve and Mordin will talk after the scene when you enter med bay; Garrus has a few lines to recite; Liara doesn't add to her bit with Wrex (if it is Wrex); Allers is having a spat with a crewman so I think you want to target him to side with his argument; Cortez is up to the right of his normal spot; and don't forget to buy upgrades for new weapons or improve old ones. You have the choice of the scouts or the three objectives on the Krogan planet, but let's get the scouts out of the way first. Utukku: Missing Scouts 0012 ---------------------- *NOTE: Javik has an interesting bit to say to start if you bring. You want to bring Javik if Grunt lives.* Head to the Ninmah Cluster, the Mulla Xul system, and land on Utukku. There are a few items in the room on the left. Head up for items in the next room before talking to Dagg/Grunt if you want. Move up and you will arrive at the tunnel entrance. Pick up the flamethrower and when the cursor turns orange you are in range of the webbing. Burn through it and make your way inside. Around the corner will be pods that explode on contact, so burn them to move on. More pods will be up ahead, so burn your way through and move on. *NOTE: If you have the Prothean DLC you don't need the firestorms, and the particle rifle works faster and webs, sacs, and bugs.* You will run into a lit cavern where a new enemy type appears, a ravager. They are walking turrets, so you will need some planning to down it. First you will need to take out the husks that guard it, so run to the right and out of sight of the ravager while you burn the husks and the little bugs. It will continue to spawn swarmers, so kill them quickly. When the ravager is burned down it will explode into swarmers. There is a weapon mod on the left near where you entered. Use up your remaining firestorm on the eggs and webbing, then go grab the fresh one, or the one up ahead. There will be a reaper console to burn and when you burn the next web a scene will run. It's easier to cut through the lower path, and there is some salvage through one of the webs on the left. Around the corner is a husk, on the left is a corpse with a minor quest, and grab a fresh firestorm on the right before moving on. Up ahead will be a ravager, husks, and cannibals. Blow up the little device that is in the middle and burn away the enemies while out of sight of the ravager. Then strike swiftly to finish it off. When you move up around the corner you will be hit hard by another ravager and many more cannibals. Best to stay in the pits, but they may toss frags and cause you to run away, but it's best to run backward. After the fight, grab the mod by the wall. *NOTE: Some sac clusters hide salvage.* The pods up ahead will pop out a swarmer. Use your pistol ammo when out of fire and just move slowly and use powers like singularity on groups. There is a firestorm along the way and a mod. When you reach the krogan group, burn your way to the room ahead and pop the console for a scene. Grab the mod and firestorm to clear the pods ahead before examining the passage. The node you need to burn is up, and when you hit it the panel opens to reveal a pack of enemies. Burn the smaller ones and then the ravager. Just push forward to burn the next node as enemies appear behind you. Pick up the fresh firestorm and head back to cut through more enemies. One your way to the next node more enemies will spawn with a power barrier. Blast it first and then burn the rest. Best to keep your distance and not try to flank. When you pop this node you will have a heck of a fight with many smaller enemies and two ravagers at once, all while swarmers are at your feet. You can't really flank or get up close, so best to keep your team at distance. When clear, move up and the scene pops. *SPOILERS: These are decision spoilers and there are a few possibilities depending on backstory.* If the queen is artificial then you want to leave her to die, else she will not be a reliable war asset. If the queen was spared by you in ME1 then you may be best served to spare her yet again. If Dagg is your krogan then he will die if you save the queen. If Grunt is your krogan then he will survive even if you save the queen. I can only assume at this point that letting the real queen die will result in some improved krogan war assets. The Normandy Part 4 ------------------- Go back to speak to Anderson on the vid comm, all on deck 2 have minor things to say, Garrus is in the lounge, Liara will talk after a few rounds of silence, Mordin only has new insights on the shroud, Eve has nothing, Allers has a minor blurp that is not really worth the time, and Cortez and James have little to say. Head to the Krogan DMZ cluster to enter Tuchanka for the first of three quests. Put your cursor over the Cerberus site. Tuchanka: Cerberus Activity 0013 --------------------------- To the right will be three guards doing a bad job of guarding, so feel free to set powers to blast all three at one time. Make your way right so you can grab some salvage. Any last enemies will be in the control room, so blast them and the turret to clear it out. The rest of the area beyond this room does not have items, so grab the mod, items, and plans on the console before using the giant cannon. Power will cut off, so go out the front of the control room to retrace your steps - going out the back way will be hard to get up the ladder. You will run into a new enemy type called a Nemesis who is a sniper and requires a priority kill. Slowly make your way inside the structure until all enemies are clear. Blast off the locks of the power generators and use them to power back the controls. When you try to return to the control room a guardian and friends will be in the way. Best to just go back up the front ramp to the control room, blast your way in, and use the controls to end the mission. The Normandy Part 5 ------------------- Didn't want to put this here, but there are a few people of interest. Deck 2 has the usual minor chats from all, and there should be a new email for you. You should know that sometimes the passing dialogue may take a moment to trigger, so always wait before you engage someone or else you will miss that chat. Garrus has nothing to say, but the email should and may have been from Liara, who will ask to meet you in your cabin after. Adams on deck 4 should have a new task for you. James and Cortez should chime in on Tuchanka, but other than weapon or armor mods you don't really need to stop by. Head to your cabin and invite Liara. *NOTE: If Adams is not on deck 4 then you don't need to see him.* Get on the map and put the cursor on the vessel site. Tuchanka: Downed Vessel 0014 ----------------------- Best to bring Garrus for small dialogue insights, and anyone else but Liara is fine. There is a mod around the corner of the start, and up the ladder use an explosive on the husks for a quick clear. Grab the salvage and there is a weapon up the ladder. You then will have the jump on four unsuspecting cannibals, so make quick work of them to trigger a giant harvester to appear. Just tear into it with armor damaging attacks, and maybe try to hit it in the blue spots. After the fight, there is mod up the ladder. There is salvage straight ahead, a weapon in the corridor, and a mod around the corner to the right. Hop down the ladder and move up to get the jump on three enemies and a harvester will drop in. Quickly disrupt its attack and it may just fly away, or kill it for more XP. Down the path will be armor, a log, and salvage past the husks. A batch of troops will be in front of a harvester ahead, but the giant will be chased away easily. Around the corner will be marauders in front of the giant this time. You can try to slip left and flank them after you chase away the harvester. Down the path is a mod to grab as you hop down the final battle. As the fight starts just focus on the smaller troops, basically hitting whoever is closer. Focus fire on the brute when it gets in range. Move to the left corner as a harvester will drop in. It should be weakened, so focus fire on it before it causes damage and clear the rest of the area. Approach the turians and you will get a follow-up mission. The Normandy Part 6 ------------------- Oddly, you return back to the Normandy. All decks are full of just minor talks, so feel free to ignore or listen; Garrus and Liara are in the lounge with a few bits of dialogue. Maybe Allers has something, but I didn't take the time. Now hit the ruins to go after this bomb. Tuchanka: Cerberus Bomb 0015 ----------------------- You start in a dogfight, so just focus fire and push up. I say push up the left side, but do whatever works - slow and steady is an option. Once clear, up the ramp will be a gun and then more enemies through the ruins. Hit the engineers in both waves of enemies. Stay to the right side to blast the second group from their flank. There is some salvage ahead, and after you climb up the rubble you will face a squad. Past them is a med kit and a mod. Drop down and feel free to get the two soldiers before they zoom away. Some items are where they vacated and then just move your way up the contested roadway. You'll look at the bomb and then take the ladder to the right. Grab the mod and head down the path. You can let the Cerberus guys go and they will only leave a turret behind. Grab the items and head for the next ladder. *NOTE: As with all final fights, use all grenades.* You must now keep all the waves of troops at bay. You should just keep to the area you begin, but you'll need to keep watch of both sides. The left seemed to have less, so keep mostly to the right. After the first few waves centurions will drop in, and once those are gone an Atlas will appear. It will not be alone as more centurions will drop in, so don't go too far from home. Pick up the missile launcher on the right and try to get the atlas and all of them in one big blast. Mop up and you're done. The Normandy Part 7 ------------------- Everyone on deck 2 has minor chatting, and you smay have a mission in an email. There honestly isn't much else to do but maybe visit Garrus for the most interesting minor chat. You may also want to check and upgrade newer weapons - just don't forget to actually use them in combat. Set a course for the Shroud. Tuchanka: Shroud Facility 0016 ------------------------- *NOTE: If you alert the krogan of the betrayal you won't be able to betray them, duh. If Wreav is alive feel free to not alert and we'll decide later. If Wrex is alive you should let them know of the sabotage.* You'll notice there will be a major decision to make, so be ready with your choice. I say bring Garrus and Liara as you face armor and non-armor. You will start the mission by fighting off waves of husks, which should not be too much of a problem. After a few long scenes you will be on the road. Grab the mod by the forward truck and the weapon to the left, then talk to the scout. After the next scene there are three items by the dead bodies. Jump the gap and you can drop down the left side. Straight ahead in the corner room is a nice piece of salvage off the wall. Come out and take the path down to the next room where there is another wall salvage, and there is one more painting down the tunnel. When you reach the ruins feel free to pause as your squad talks. When you move up a group of enemies appear. Be sure your team is in line of sight of the enemies to be useful. Either go big enemies to small or the opposite. After you clear that group and cross the bridge you will face two separate waves of brutes and friends. You can either retreat back across the bridge or take cover in either corner beside the bridge, just make sure your squad isn't exposed. At the next fight you have best go left up the steps and stay there because after you clear the cannibals two ravagers will appear. Clear everything and move up to the memorial site. Once you reach the area where husks attack, stay behind the first cover because once the husks are cleared two marauders will appear to the left. Clear them out, grab the mod, then another in the corner on the left ahead, and then drop down the right side to get away. *NOTE: You may level up.* A paragon moment in the scene with Wrex. You will start with a huge cannibal assault, so hit cover and be ready to pop singularities all over the place. Up the steps will be a new weapon. When you hop the gap ahead you will be in the sights of the reaper. Just run and duck behind cover if you need to, but the monuments will not be cover you can stand behind - it may be more cosmetic than I realize but oh well, just run forward if nothing else. After the scene you will have at least one brute coming at you. The reaper can step on you, so watch where it steps and don't go there or it may crush you. Now I believe the number of brutes you face depends on your level. On my first game I only faced 3, but on my second game I faced 7; the second one having three waves of 1, 2, and 4. So whatever straw you get from the hat just be ready to move out of the way. Hit the hammer on the left, clear any more brutes that appear, and hit the hammer on the right. *NOTE: It could have been that on my soldier that by using rush I was giving myself time enough to be stepped on by the reaper, because on my other character I was never close to being stepped on. Something to consider.* If you have the old research, don't sabotage, and Wrex is alive you will lose your pal. In which case it was best to reveal the sabotage during the chances before, or do so now. If you destroyed the research, do sabotage, and Wrex is dead you can save your pal. You will need to choose "Delay him" or else he dies regardless. Then with high enough renegade rep you need to choose "Why?" The paragon rep option may have worked, but oh well. If you mix and match anything in between, such as Wrex being alive and still doing the sabotage then you will end up with less than if you go with the other options. So if Wrex is alive you better go through with the cure. And you can't save Mordin without doing all the above. The Normandy Part 8 ------------------- *NOTE: Adams will speak to you about a minor quest if he didn't already.* You should get a summons to the Citadel, and after you can speak to Hackett about the war effort. Through email you may gain war assets (though it may only be by playing the past games). Garrus and Joker will be talking, and after their jokes you can have a scene with them. EDI is back in the AI core on deck 2, and though I couldn't talk to her at first I talked to Liara and came back to EDI and she spoke. Go speak to Allers for an interview and if you are positive toward the krogan you will gain some war assets. James has something to say, but it's minor stuff. Javik has a full chat. Head to the Citadel. The Citadel: Betrayal 0017 --------------------- *NOTE: You'll be up against heavy shields, so Liara is a no-go.* You land hot, so clear all the enemies out and move up one of the side paths. If you can reach the sides of the door you can blast troops as they drop from above, otherwise just clear them out. Speak to Bailey and after the scene just move up to run into two unsuspecting enemies. Kill them an you'll have sentinels and more in the lobby nearby. Take cover and clear the turret first. After the fight grab the mod and look at the other items near the counter. In the next room you can get the jump on a few enemies, including an engineer on the right. Clear them and move up to hit another clueless troop. Grab the mod and turn on the elevator with the panel to use it. Move up to find a gun on a body, and use the two computers in the top right room to open the doors behind you. Now go back and check each room for mods, a gun, and a datapad. In the next hall will be two enemies. In the next area there are creds and a med kit to the right, and ahead two enemies will drop from above and more will be in the dining area. I say take covere in the alcove on the left, but there aren't too many enemies to face. Grab the med kit on your way out. After the long scenes you will be facing a bunch of nemesis snipers with phantoms. You have to keep out of their sights and watch for when they cloak. So if you see them go one way and disappear, chances are they are cloaked in the area. You're best bet to to stay right and on the low ground and just aggressively engage them before they can hone in on you. If you see a bright red light you had better roll to the side or take cover. When clear you will have to hop over and take a side path where you will find some creds on a barrel. An atlas will greet you on the other side, so take cover in the room and just pelt it before it gets too close. Finish off the enemies behind it and take the door when done. Hopefully you have two insta-hit abilities like concussive shot and carnage because twice you will want to pop power sources on enemy elevators and these kidns of ablities will ensure quick falls. The second one will have enemies, so drop it to not fight them. The third one will be quick and troops will drop onto your elevator quickly. The final elevator you need to jump to. During the scene just be ready for a few rep triggers and I say it's best to hit them all but maybe you don't want to - it's your call, but you should hit them all. The Citadel Part 4 0018 ------------------ Embassies: Authorize training at Spectre office. Turian in the corner at the back of the hall has a minor quest. Minor quest in the waiting area. Presidium: Elkoss - Buy the conduit for Adams. Minor quest from the area left of the elevator, and another as you walk down the hall. C-Sec Officer - Item you picked up from Tuchanka will be turned in. Two people arguing. Officer Noles - By the C-Sec office. She gives you a quest. Two more people arguing in the office. Sommers - Also in the office. With high enough rep you can resolve his concern on the spot. Two merchants arguing. Liara - With nothing to say probably. Ereba - Turn in a journal you found. Kassa - Consider buying the Inferno armor set. Minor quest from a guy in the middle waiting area. Arguing people at the cafe. Minor quest from the turian in the corner by the cafe. Purgatory: Minor quest from elcor near elevator. Jack - Will be waiting and hopefull has good news if you put the students to support. Maybe choose paragon here. EDI - On the dance floor. Minor quest from asari at bottom of steps. Joker - You should encourage him. Embassies: Return to the Spectre office and authorize the four new items. Hospital: Minor quest picked up from girl near elevator. Sirta has more medi-gel upgrades. Use the console. Minor quest in the left room of the hospital. Minor quest in the research room. Conflict at the back. Thane is in the back room. Dock 1: Use the console. Cortez - At the viewing with one quick rep chance. Minor quest from soldier nearby. Holding Docks: Solik - He asks you to take some pictures for him. Photo #1 - Near the memorial wall. Photo #2 - At the wall. Photo #3 - Guards as you go to docks. Nurse - Let's you speak to Ghorek, where letting him live is mean. Photo #4 - In the second holding area. Doctor - Gives you a quest to repair the medi-gel dispensers in this area. Kelly - She will be here alive if you had her change her name. Dispenser #1 - On your way to the third holding area. Dispenser #2 - In the third holding area. Minor quest from the people at the end. Dispenser #3 - At the end. Console - At the end as well. Use a rep option to gain war assets. James & Photo #5 - At the card table. Doctor - Return to him once you repair the dispensers. Solik - Return to him after all five shots. On your way back to the ship you will have a chance to recruit another old friend. The Normandy Part 9 ------------------- *MOTE: In short, do everything, see everyone, and do anyone you can, lol. Also, don't forget to equip armor if you bought.* *NOTE: I think maybe Ashley doesn't have anything to say here, but Kaidan just won't shut up.* Traynor wants to speak, and there are many emails waiting for you. Traynor, James and Allers should want to meet you in your cabin, and Jack should also send an email saying she's at Purgatory - which we already did and she is not there anymore. Garrus is in a new spot and your new friend is left of the elevator - quick rep opportunity and a few things to say after (you may want to skip renegade rep as you get a bonus power if he/she likes you). Go speak to Chakwas for a quest. The engineers will update you on the part you bought on the Citadel. Not much chatting on deck 5, but you can examine any new mods, equipment, and weapons. Now go to your cabin and if you got those three emails (and possibly if you've been playing nice) you can ask up Traynor, Allers, and then James. Respond as you see fit, but you gain war assets if you are nice with Allers. Play nice with James and you should get his bonus power. Finally, when you hit deck 2 you should get a call from Anderson in the comm room. You are free to pick any of the many quest objectives on the galaxy map. The main one is way up top, but we have so many lesser ones that we should start clearing them as well. *NOTE: You could go right back to the Citadel as we did pick up a few things to do there, but let's wait.* Lesuss: The Ardat-Yakshi 0019 ------------------------ Exploration - Nimbus Cluster Pelion: left of star for a fuel recovery site, Trategos, near Trategos is another fuel site, some fuel near the relay Agaiou: Carcosa Kallini: fuel left of star *NOTE: I say Garrus and whoever is the new squadmate, but it's your call.* Head to the Mesana system in the Nimbus Cluster and land on Lesuss. Look at the shuttle, grab the mod to the left, and hop down the elevator shaft. In the room you will find a console ahead, a note on the table ahead, go left first for items in a room, then go right to loot the other corner room, and then examine the corpse. Hop over the barrier to reach the door, and go right to pass the door. *NOTE: You can roll to avoid banshee blasts at the last second because they will track you down if you move just a little.* After the scene, go right to grab a note. In the courtyard be ready for a new enemy to appear on the right side. Banshees are tough and slow, and they launch a big blast that appears to cause damage over time. It is best to keep distance from it to give time to avoid the blast. Burn it down, stay away, and then you will have a few waves of cannibals come from the door. After the scene you can go left for a pointless look at a damaged door. On the right is a computer and then go through the door. There is a cannibal ahead and one in an area on the right where you will find a few items as well, and there are more in the opposite room across the way. Down the steps will trigger another banshee, and it may be a good idea to retreat up the steps to at least reduce LOS of the cannibals. Burn down the banshee at range and mop up the troops. In the next room will be a mod and corpse before you take the elevator. There is medi-gel on either side that you may want to save for the fight, and then go to the bomb control. You will fight two banshees at once with a few husks. Burn the husks firsts as you don't want them all over you, and then have your team focus fire on one banshee at a time. You will most likely need to run all the way around the room, a few times even, and don't forget about those medi-gels. It's also just as key to keep your squad moving with you or anywhere away from the banshees. Use the bomb after and during the scene be quick to hit that rep moment so that you can recruit your friend to the war effort by telling her not to stay. If you let her off herself then you can do as you wish to the daughter. *NOTE: If Samara died in ME2 or you spared Morinth in ME2 I'm not sure how this plays out. Most likely just a random person helps or no one does. Morinth will not replace Samara here.* The Normandy Part 10 -------------------- You can speak to Hackett, but he has little new to say. Traynor tells you to meet Adams, and you should have a ton of emails from people wanting to relax on the Citadel (apparently they all want to take a break, lol). The nomadic Garrus should be in the lounge, and you should have found a special signature on the last mission. Use it at the intel terminal in Liara's room and choose one of the two bonuses. Adams will conclude the part quest and you will gain war assets. Since all want to go to the Citadel, let's go. Just be ready to break some hearts in the process. The Citadel Part 5 0020 ------------------ You cannot take on more than one romance, so now is the time to choose to deny all but one. Presidium: Asari Widow - Near the steps leading to the mid-low shop area will take the fallen troops note. Kassa has a ton of new items. Liara - She will offer you the chance to hook up. Kaidan - Would be at the cafe trying to hook up. You can pick up a minor quest from a guy at the apartments. Embassies: Javik - Will be just left of the elevator. (remember, he's is DLC) Samara - Opposite side. Use the Spectre terminal to begin a quest. (if you had Zaeed in ME2) Miranda - Use the new terminal in the office. Embassy Guard - Now he will be by the office to the left of the elevator. Go in, play the recordings, and find the bug in the corner. (only if you had Zaeed in ME2) You will then be in the Presidium, so go to the apartments and check both doors to find him. Use a rep option to get both. Kasumi Goto ? I don't know, but maybe this is where you will also run into her. Either here or some time soon. She was DLC in ME2 and I did not get it. Perhaps it was also in the Spectre terminal. Just check your map to find a point of interest. Purgatory: Joker & EDI - Sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.... Trainer - If you explored the last nebula you may have her artifact. Otherwise no worries. Minor quest picked up from some nearby soldiers. Holding Docks: Ashley - She will be at the memorial wall. Positive if you want to romance her, so hit the quick rep. Cortez - As will he. Hit the quick rep if you want a bonus power. James - He's in the first holding area. Zaeed - He will become a war asset if you did the previous mission. Kasumi Goto - I guess she will too if she's here or wherever. Tactus - Complete the quest for Chakwas. Kelly - Nothing new. Dock 1: Garrus - He will have a moment with you, which I guess is the time you ladies can make it official. With all that done, return to the ship - feel free to flip through the map for any points of interest you may have missed. Only Chakwas has anything useful to say, and she will send you to Liara's special terminal to pick either a +5% health bonus or heal any scars you may have. I believe the scars are only involved if you didn't heal them in ME2. Either way, the health bonus is the way to go. Again, you have many lesser objectives, and you are always free to break from this guide and do as you wish. I say let's get more "side quests" done. *NOTE: You may want to hit Eden Prime now as it is the DLC content you may have purchased.* Gellix: Ex-Cerberus Scientists 0021 ------------------------------ Exploration - Minos Wasteland Fortis: Pietas, fuel near the relay Head to the Arrae system in the Minos Wasteland and land on Gellix. You may want to bring Garrus for the old friend you may run into. You have a few to clear as you approach the fighting area. There are shield generators if you want to blow those up quickly, but it may be faster just to kill the enemies. It's a simple fight and after just go up to speak to Jacob if he is alive. Inside, speak to Dr. Brown, grab the two datapads, and the speak to Dr. Archer. There is a mod through the door and medi-gel through the next door. After you meet Brynn you can speak to her again and grab two more datapads. Jacob is in a room on the side with four items. There is a mod by the door as you exit, and don't miss the turian poison data in the cornerfor a minor quest before you leave. Ahead you get the jump on three enemies, so pop the generator and burn the engineer first. When you drop to the next part you will have enemies rappel from above and you won't have many safe places to hide. You could run to the right and even take cover on the raised area for complete protection. When all is clear go turn on the satellite. Then you must turn and head for the roof. There will be a ton of enemies pour from the upper rooftop, so lay low and out of sight of the turret and mow them down. Hop up there when all seems safe and then make your way forward quickly. Your team may clear any guys above who cross the bridge, grab the mod behind the crates, and go up to finish any enemies off. Go right to turn the first valve and on your way to the second you should drop down the ladder behind the turret to grab a mod at the dead end. Grab the datapad and gel before using the second valve. Put your weakest ally on the repair and then get on the turret. It should go enemies are put on the roof, down to the left, roof, down, and roof again, so just pan over the area. Fire in bursts and reload between volleys. Use the valve when repaired. You can choose to wait which allows you time to find any items you may have missed, such as those in the med room, and when ready you can use the console. You then start under fire by a few soldiers, so clear and head back the way you came. There are three more enemies in the bay, and outside are many more waiting for you. Clear the quickly and set up a defensive position near the bay doors as enemies will land on the pads above you to the left and right, so you don't want to advance. You will have many waves to endure, and toward the end a phantom will appear with many centurions. Once all seems quiet an atlas will drop in as your final test, so lay low and burn it down. Mop up any troops and you will be done. The Normandy Part 11 -------------------- You can make the usual rounds, including someone who may be waiting for you in the crew quarters. You can run to and from James and Garrus to hear their chat go on and on. Chakwas offers you something, and that's pretty much all there is to do. I say continue knocking out the smaller quests. Noveria: Cerberus Fighter Base 0022 ------------------------------ *NOTE: Ashley and Javik with grenades make these N7 missions a breeze. There is no reason to save medi-gel, so use recklessly.* Land on Noveria in the Horsehead Nebula. You got heavy incoming, so you may want to clear left down on the lower pad and then go right. From there you can either take the left or right way; right being safer but you could also corner yourselves. I say just stay outside taking the left path and clear the final room. Then explore the area for items, and not using the computer console until you have. Once you do you will be down an ally and have to fend off attackers. You may find it best to leave your partner by your other partner and then go right to the outer area, though you will need to be very aggressive and not let your other guy get swarmed. Then you must make a heavy retreat back to the landing pad and it's best to this time go through the building, which means going down the left path or else you will find it hard to go up the ladders. There will also be a nemesis in with the group. Once you make it back to the starting point an atlas will drop nearby, but if you are at the very point you came in from then you can take cover and never get hit. No use wasting time on the Normandy, just check your email, maybe visit EDI, and head to the next mission. Benning: Cerberus Abductions 0023 ---------------------------- Exploration - Arcturus Stream Arcturus: Arcturus Station, fuel near Themis Euler: left of star is some fuel *NOTE: Ashley and Javik with grenades make these N7 missions a breeze. There is no reason to save medi-gel, so use recklessly. Well, with 3 particle rifles they make all missions easy.* Go to the Euler system in the Arcturus Stream and land on Benning. This is a simple fight, just circle the perimeter for items and go where the fighting is taking place. The key item is an armor piece at the very back. The fighting will be thick, so just keep you back to a wall and move quickly so you aren't swarmed. Enemies will continue to pour in, so just hold whatever safe spot you initially occupy. Once you clear the first fight scour the area for items. *NOTE: Don't miss the dog tag in the middle of the ground near the back where you found the armor piece.* Next you must fight your way to some civilians. Shouldn't be hard to fight your way to them, but getting them to the landing pad will be difficult. I don't think you need to hold their hands, but stay near them and pick off any Cerberus forces you see. They can come from anywhere at all times, so watch your backs. The landing pad will be the toughest, but taking cover in a building is your best tactic, such as the one on the right. After the long fight is over just get in your ship. Nothing new on the Normandy. *NOTE: If you don't have the Prothean DLC, now is a good time to get it and still get a good deal of use out of it. And I can confirm that to this point there isn't much you've missed without it. Now is a good cut-off point as we head down the home stretch.* Far Rim: The Quarian Connection 0024 ------------------------------- Head for the Far Rim and visit the Quarian ship in the Dholen system. Choose how the Quarians will proceed and that's it. Perseus Veil: Dread Not the Dreadnought 0025 --------------------------------------- In the adjacent cluster will be the Tikkun system with the reaper ship. You're bringing Tali (if alive) and anyone else (I say Garrus, if alive, lol). Be sure to upgrade Tali's final talent and her combat drone, as well as her sabotage ability. But the mission starts with you walking. Just find the solid surfaces and twist and turn your way to the other side. When inside go left for a mod and head straight to the ladder. Hop the gap and through the doors you can go left for some creds. Go up the ladder to use the controls. Grab the pistol and just know it's strong against shields and armor if you want to equip it. Look the the computer, grab the mod, and use the bridge controls ahead to get in a fight. Clear the first few and move up so you can flank or them from the left. Drop down the ladder for another fight and when you move up watch out for the hard-to-see trip mines on the floor. Grab the date at the end and head out through the door. In the next few rooms are some consoles and two items including a geth rifle. In the control room you will run into hunters, geth that can stealth. Hit them hard, watch for cloaks, and careful for a few mines around the room. Grab the mod and salvage before you use the main computer. Many more hunters and geth will pour into the room, so burn down the visible targets as the hunters move in; use Garrus' mines if you got em. *NOTE: Your squad is immune to the cannon fire.* Make your way to the cannon. You don't have a ton of time between blasts, but you do want to quickly move up to the point where you can go right and through a side area so you don't have to worry about the cannon, and don't worry about the area to the left as there is just a few credits over there but you are too vulnerable to take a cannon blast. You need to be directly behind cover to be protected from the cannon. There are tons of hunters and rocket troops, so use your medi-gels or keep your team close; the ramps are good points. When clear, move up and use the console between blasts and more through the tube quickly. The next fight has two halves; both hard to conquer. To the left and up is another ramp and this might be the best place to park your team and defend against the machines. Whittle them down and then go out to finish them off. When you hop down the ladder you should consider climbing back up as there is nearly no cover to speak of down this final area. Just push through the buzzsaw and go up to the door. *NOTE: I found a nice glitch on the above part. When you reach the ladder to hop down for the last group to fight, try not to "take" the ladder down. Try to back up or stick a squadmate at the top so you don't trigger the animation. I believe without the animation trigger you can skip the fight. Or it could have been some other factor that caused the glitch, but it was more than welcome.* There is some salvage around the lift and then go up. Be ready to run to safety. At the top you should save your old friend if it is there. Grab the upgrade nearby and then take the lift up and just use the controls. Now begins a long fight as you move around to reach the ladder. In your way are a few hunters but most notable are the prime units which are very strong and will require a lot of firepower to down. Best to clear the minions first. You will fight one halfway and one at the end. As always, keep your distance and keep your team close. Drop down the ladder and then follow the doors out. There is always a path, so just keep ahead. The Normandy Part 12 -------------------- *NOTE: Of course if Legion and Tali did not make it from ME2 then you will have dealt with generic characters and those two or one won't be here.* Attend to the distress call so it shuts up. Legion is in the war room and has much to say, then go see Tali, and Raan has a bit to say too if you care. You may have a few emails, and EDI and Joker have a few things to say. Garrus has a good chat for you and Liara and Joker should be having an small argument. James should finally be ready for a long talk. Javik will have quite a bit to say about the geth. *NOTE: Don't forget any upgrades at Liara's terminal.* Tali should have asked you to meet in your cabin, so do that to unlock her bonus power. Then land on Rannoch. Rannoch: Save the Admiral 0026 ------------------------- *NOTE: It will be dark and there are some mines in your path, so be ready to roll away if you hear a high-pitched buzz. Also, best to bring a few overload allies. Javik's lift grenades are good too.* You are free to take anyone, but it's still geth you are fighting so Tali is a good choice - plus, you never know if she will stay with you... As the mission starts you will climb up the path to run into a few geth. Examine the corpse and watch for the mine in front of the new gun up ahead. You have to go all the way to the end of the path to get down, or a biotic charge to reach the next group. More will show up, so kill the ones with rockets first. Further up will be the first AA gun, and it is heavily defended. You have to focus fire on the white units who usually have the rocket launchers, and hope your team or their powers will catch the weaker geth as well. Don't rush up because more will appear from the right side by the gun. After the fight just grab the Geth Spitfire, the salvage, and send your weakest ally to disable the gun. You and the other will have to fend off a small group led by a prime unit. Wipe them out, your other ally will rejoin, and finish off the hunters. Up the path will be a mod and gel on the left, there is another mod ahead, some salvage, and a dying quarian. Grab the mod up the path. Go left for no real reason. As you begin to take fire you can either flank from the left or right. Right seems like the best answer since you won't have to climb a ladder. Clear them out from behind, send someone to the console, and get on the gun to mow down the incoming geth with ease. A pyro and friend will emerge from the door to the third gun, and when you head for the console a small group will appear. One more time you need to split up and man a turret. This time it will be pyros and a prime with a few weaklings. With the turret in the middle you will just have to target what you can see and go from there. Exit to trigger a scene. The mission will conclude with you either saving the admiral or his people. I think you need to save Koris, but it's up to you. You'll be on a gun fighting off the geth at the front, and then at the back. The Normandy Part 13 -------------------- The war room won't be too chatty, and feel free to make the usual rounds for minor talks with everyone. Javik should be in a spat with EDI in the AI core. Read an email and head down to do the following mission which can only be done now. Rannoch: Geth Comm Hub 0027 ---------------------- It matters not who you bring. You will see why. Just follow the path as it forms and shoot the orange in your way. At the third stop you need to blast the side orange areas and "eat" away the blockage. In the second zone you will run into a dead end. You will need to turn around and clear the big solid block of orange. The orange will pop up in new spots as you take it out, so just find the orange on the big block until it goes away. Click the view button to roll the footage. Move up to the next solid block to clear it like the first. Watch the scene, go up for another, and head to the next zone. In the third zone the first blockage will regenerate, so look up and hit that spot before completely blasting away the part blocking you. At the first block you will need to look to the left side for the weak points, and for the remaining orange parts you'll need to hit two weak points. The next data block will be the same as the last. View the final vision and head back to reality. * *NOTE: Ashley should want to see you if she's here. She's on the floor...* On the Normandy you have an email and feel free to make the usual rounds. Javik and James should be yucking it up in the mess hall, and at Liara's terminal you should have two upgrades from the geth consensus. I went with the power bonuses, but it's your call. Then head back to the final Rannoch mission. Rannoch: Reaper Base 0028 -------------------- *NOTE: Be sure to check your weapons as you start because mine were messed up for whatever reason.* Tali is coming, so bring another anti-shield player. You start out under fire, so fight out of the corner and move down the slope, popping all your anti-tech powers against the 16 or so geth. In the very corner by the wall will be a mod. Go up the pipes on the side and climb up to meet a waiting geth, and then more further back. There is another mod and when you climb up the ladder you may need to quickly dispatch another waiting enemy. Hop up to the higher area and the pro thing to do is find the ladder on the left, go up, and either shoot the rocket geth from above or drop down for a close quarters flank. Grab the salvage through the door, and outside there is a mod to the left after you kill the lone geth. Then start cutting your way down the path as there are just mounds of geth coming at you. Don't miss another mod in an alcove on the right. When you get to the tunnel watch the left for a rocket platform. There will be a new gun, salvage, and more salvage at the end. *NOTE: The geth shotgun can be charged up, but it's more like a rifle as you can't really move around well with it. It's powerful and worth trying in my opinion, especially if you have a backup sidearm.* *NOTE: The best way to use drones is to set them out just before a fight breaks out, or at the very start. They can't be deployed during non-combat times or they fade away.* At the next area you'll run into resistance down the middle path, so clear it and just know that there is a gel opposite the console if you need it. When you use the first console you will spawn enemies down the left path, so hit them hard. Use the second console and the elevator will come down bearing a prime. Hit him hard and hopefully his minions won't cause trouble. Up the elevator you will run into three primes and a weaker geth. Grab the spitfire and burn down one of the primes, then another with the same gun. There are spitfires to the left and right where two of the primes came from, so move around to get one to finish off the last prime. The drones can get annoying, so pop those when you see them. After the fight just run up to the platform. When you fall just run to the hovercraft. You don't actually do anything on the turret, so feel free to fire as you wish. After the stop you are tasked with painting the red spot 4 times. The first one is not too hard as you can just avoid the first beam and then target. The key is that the focusing of your orbital strike will maintain progress, so after the first hit you will have to run back and forth to dodge the reaper beams and then resume focusing your beam. It gets quicker in the last two strikes, so you'll have to wait for the reaper to swing by you and then fire, and you will see the indicators of when you can focus; so if you can't target then you can't target and should be running around. Also, staying to the back helps ever so slightly. Finally, after four hits it will be right on top of you so you just look up and aim for one final hit. You should have a renegade quick trigger, literally. * In the scene you will decide the fate of the Geth War. Will you kill the Geth; save the Quarians; or try to save both? You will need high rep to have the rep options appear, but I will let you know that you would want to start by giving your geth pal the okay to upload, and then you will have a second chance to stop the upload. This is the key when you have the second chance because if you have an imported character but no rep options appear here you will only be able to save one side. If you kill the quarians then you will lose Tali. There is no reason to not let Legion begin the upload other than you want to spare the quarians and see Legion die another way. Short of that curiosity which you can see on youtube, it is best to get to the second chance. Other possible factors for peace: Koris was saved and you did the server mission Killed heretics in ME2 Used a rep option to not get Tali exiled in ME2 Got both Legion and Tali to like each other in ME2 You will know if you can get peace if when you have the second chance to stop or allow the upload there are no rep options. If so and you want to save Tali then end game and replay from the last save. I know on my renegade import something must have been done to not give me the chance, because I know I had high enough renegade rep for a rep option. I will say that if you are rolling renegade it is of my opinion that sparing the geth seems like a good moral call as the quarians made the mistake to create the geth and then kill the geth, while the geth could have destroyed them all if they wanted. So it's more a question of if you really want Tali on your team. The Normandy Part 14 -------------------- Hackett will have a few things to say if you know what to ask, and if you haven't been a complete failure you will have a ship stacked with people to meet from top to bottom, and then back in your cabin. Check your emails, make sure you call Allers up to your cabin, and then head back to the Citadel. *NOTE: You should ignore Aller's advances should you wish to romance another I believe. Otherwise it's at your own risk. Youtube anyone? Also, no one seems thrilled if Tali is dead.* *NOTE: Now is another good time to go explore for resources. Refer to section 34 or just wait for later. Either way is fine.* The Citadel Part 6 0029 ------------------ Now is the time to tie off a few more romances if you didn't before, well, if you've got Miranda and Ashley on your radars. There is also Kelly if she lives. You could always make a save file if you want to see both play out. If you want the "pleasure" or turning people down, or just want to know if you even have options, visit the girl you want last. Presidium: Miranda - She will be waiting in the apartments. If you loved her in the last game now is the time. Remember, once you "lock in" a romance you can't change your mind unless you reload a prior save. Ashley - She will be at the cafe with her chance to seal the deal. Tali - I suppose if you didn't kill her she will also seal the deal now. Sellea - Quest turn-in. C-Sec Officer - Quest turn-in. Holding Docks: Kelly - I think she will now offer a chance to hook up. Should be some new stuff in Batarian State Arms. Hospital: Jacob - He will be here if you want to speak. Doctor - Turn in a quest item you found a while ago. Embassies: Elcor ambassador will give you a minor quest. Spectre Terminal - Buy some things if you want or can. Should include three upgrades I think. Asari Councilor - Meet with her to take up the next priority mission. Purgatory: Cortez - At the upper bar. I think maybe you could seal the deal with him if you so choose. So fellas, be careful - don't let your niceness up to this point unintentionally lock you in, lol. EDI & Joker - Same spot by the lower bar. No one should anything to say, and that includes any romancers you picked up. We have a few options, and on the galaxy map there should be one more blinking place in the Silean Nebula. Don't forget to apply and upgrades at Liara's terminal. Cyone: Fuel Reactors 0030 -------------------- Exploration - Silean Nebula Kypladon: Hanalei Loropi: Yasilium, fuel south of wreckage Nahuala: Hyetiana, SW of star is fuel Phontes: Dekuuna, Oltan, fuel to the right of star Teyolia: Nevos, Quirezia, right of star for fuel *NOTE: Ashley and Javik with grenades make these N7 missions a breeze. There is no reason to save medi-gel, so use recklessly. Consider trying some new weapon and power tactics.* Land on Cyone in the Kypladon system in the Silean Nebula. To the left of start is an armor piece, and up to the left is a note, but don't go into the gas in the area below. Go meet Riley and the path will open. Go up and to the right to the crane control. Open it and move it to the right, use the middle control, move it left, use the middle control, and then send it to the right to move the blocks. Use the vent and then go to the fuel rod control and grab the pda before activating the fuel rods. Go back up the ramp as husks and a marauder appear from the start of the level. Wipe them out and then go hit the two seals down the way; there is a pda at the very end. Use the control after and then you can send an ally to help with the other team, but that leaves you with one to face a brute and two marauders. Whether you send someone or not, put your team as far back as you can and you get to some other far away point. Focus fire on the brute first and hope the collateral damage hits the marauders. Turn on the reactor after and return to start where your other ally saved the other team from total death. * The Normandy is mostly devoid of interesting things, and Tali didn't have anything to say either. If you've been lazy before then now would be a time to make the rounds of the ship to catch up with the dialogue, or you may still be lazy and possibly still don't want to. Thessia: The Temple of Athame 0031 ----------------------------- Exploration - Athena Nebula Parnitha: Tevura Orisoni: Egalic, fuel far right of star Ialessa: Trikalon, fuel to the right of star Tomaros: Pronoia, fuel SW of star Vernio: Polissa, fuel NE of star Set a course for the Athena Nebula and land on Thessia. Grab the armor piece on the ground (check for more as you don't get a chance when you get on the turret), and then go speak to Kurin. Get on the turret and mow down the brutes. But you should keep an eye on the barrier as husks appear near it throughout. You would have time to just kill the brutes and still mow down the husks, but however you want to juggle them is your call. Down the bridge will be some cannibals and a marauder, so blast them and move on. In the courtyard you have a long fight to the other side, so stick to the left and move up slowly. When you get to the end a banshee will appear after some pop out of a hole in the wall. When she appears just get your team and retreat a bit while blasting powers on her. Follow the path to the courtyard where snipers will help you kill the three enemies, and to the right will be salvage on the ground and look up to grab two more items. Up on their perch is a mod and new weapon. Take cover and blast the waves of incoming before heading out through the opening to the outpost. After the scene stay behind cover and just focus fire on the banshee and hope the marauders die by other means. Hopefully the banshee stalls in a semi-glitch if you stay still, otherwise you'll need to make her eat powers before she closes in on your position. Once she is down you can let the chopper kill the ravager ahead - it is providing good help. Up the path will be a mod when you reach the balcony and a few waves of husks. At the end when the harvesters appear you should fall back and hope your teammates get to cover quickly. You can kill both harvesters, but start on the marauders, try to hit the barrier generator between the harvesters, and just try to avoid the ravager shots. Also it's wise to set your team behind the long piece of cover on the right and you take the small, vertical cover in the middle/left. You don't have to kill the harvesters, or you may not kill them in time before they fly away on their own. Finish off the ravagers and then go forward for a mod by the temple entrance. Inside you can look at everything but the statue up the middle to learn about asari history. Go to the statue to roll the scene, then go revisit each of the objects until you have four link to the statue. When you begin the fight just pour everything into him, and when he retreats to recharge you will be stunned. From then on you just repeat until he ends the fight. The Normandy Part 15 -------------------- Funny how you are given credits for failure... Read your troll email and make your usual rounds. A nice talk with Garrus should give you his bonus power of proximity mines, and at 800 max damage it seems like a no-brainer but it's your call (remember, only one bonus power and it's in the med bay). You may want to go see Javik (if he's here) first and then come back up to see Liara so you can hear Tali speak twice. Speaking with Liara should give you her bonus power which is stasis and not too good in my opinion. Traynor gave you a side mission, which is in the Kepler Verge near the main mission, so let's go there first. Ontarom: Communication Hub 0032 -------------------------- *NOTE: Ashley and Javik with grenades make these N7 missions a breeze. There is no reason to save medi-gel, so use recklessly. Last chance to "test" out different weapons. I say try a sniper, one of the widows would be good.* *NOTE: Find the codes after the first wave. They are on a terminal on the left and are for a minor quest.* You'll start under fire, so cut your way up the right side, kill the turret, and mop up any troops remaining. No need to explore the area as you will cover it all. Just use the controls and then come out to the ground level where many enemies will appear, or if you want to avoid them as long as possible you can go up through the building path but you will face them all eventually. If you go to the ground you can grab some items to the right on a support column, and once you clear the ground you can go back and through the building to clear any hiding enemies. There will be salvage on the right side of the map, and more by the hacking point, including codes on a side terminal for a side quest. You will then make a final push to the building which is guarded by some heavy troops, so be careful and ready for close quarters combat. An achievement should pop saying you finished all N7 missions if this is your first game. * On the Normandy you can make another round for minor chats, though at my progress I only got something from Cortez about the last mission and it wasn't exactly worth it. So feel free to see EDI and just go to the Shadow Sea. Horizon: Sanctuary 0033 ------------------ Up ahead a few phantoms and a sniper will be on you, so move between cover and to the right for a safe spot and salvage. Kill the sniper from range and go through the door. There is gel to the right, and in the middle of the area are a few logs on the desks, so check all and the one on the left. Head down the steps at the back and to the left by the car are two logs. And in the next room are a few live troops. Enter the hallway and on the console you could hear from a familiar person (unless dead), and grab the salvage nearby. *NOTE: There are barrier generators in most fights, but in most cases you can just kill the enemies through the barriers.* Use the water pump and follow the path to find salvage and an armor piece. In the control room just use the middle computer. In the next room there is a pda and in the corner you can use another terminal. Through the next door a pack of husks will be waiting for you. Listen to the two logs before going out to the middle corridor where a banshee and friends are waiting. Fall back into the room and let them come to you, and when you clear the big targets you can take out the marauders who spawn on a walkway to the left. Further up will be a room with two more logs and a creepy banshee looking at you through the window. Use the terminal in the next room and then grab the pda and salvage nearby. Next will be two paths where most of the enemies will be down the right side but some will slip through the left way, so watch your flank. Clear them out and grab the gun down the right path, a log on the left, a terminal in the left corner, a pda nearby, and then up the ladder. Move up to the top level and start picking off targets, but you may want to start with the barrier generators on the ceiling. Pick off closest targets first and advance until clear. Nothing is in this area, but there is salvage and logs in the next. Hop the gap, shoot off the cover on the tram, and use the control. Hop over and in the next area you will have two brutes incoming, a third after, and a banshee. Fall back to either corner to survive the banshee, and kill the brutes with haste. Remember you can run all the way around the area to avoid the banshee. There is a gel, salvage, and use the model pod to open a pod in the room for a new gun. Take the elevator up and try to resolve the situation with a rep option. The Normandy Part 16 -------------------- You should make a complete round of the ship. EDI should give you her bonus power after a talk, and decoy can be fun, though I find the mine too useful to drop. Tali should have a most interesting chat in the lounge, and Javik too who should give you his second bonus power. Feel free to upgrade your new guns. The Beginning of the End (Minor Quests and EMS) 0034 ------------------------ At this point you should make a save file and keep it. If you've already got 5000 units (check the terminal in the war room) then you only need to raise your readiness rating and would not need to explore. Feel free to fully explore, but beyond 5000 is not needed. The endings of this game are varied depending on the army you've gathered, decisions you make in the final missions, and decisions you've made prior. The degree of that difference is up to you to decide after, but I won't spoil my thoughts on it now. Suffice it to say, if you just want to end the game with whatever ending you want, then feel free. There is really only one "good" option in my mind and over 5000 EMS is the way to see it. EMS refers to your effective military strength. Readiness is a tricky stat that relies on three factors currently: your success in multiplayer, your play in the iOS game Mass Effect: Infiltrator, and what you do in the iOS app Mass Effect Datapad (this is free, hint: buy upgrades). Word on the street is that you need 5000 army strength to get the best ending. One option would be to just fill that bar and get all the assets you can and go forward and see what happens. Worst thing that can happen is you see some of the good endings. Or you could just play your game and use this thing called youtube - I don't know if you've heard of it but it would save you the time of playing hours of this game just to see slightly different outcomes. The best thing you can do is to have started on the Datapad app from the beginning, play a few multiplayer games, and get as many assets as you possibly can. Having all assets requires a ton, and I mean a ton of work that by this point is too late to change. But the below exploration will help you tip the scales. Whereas a 100% readiness and less assets would be just as effective, it really all depends on your ME3 situation. And again, at this point in the game it's too late to change anything prior. If you have followed this guide you will know that we did not once go outside of the main, side, and N7 missions. So if you open your journal you should have a ton of quests. I will call these minor quests and all they involve is you exploring all the star systems you can. Below I will include a complete list of every nebula, system, and the minor quests. *NOTE: If you have the Eden Prime Resistance minor quest and already have Javik it is a glitch that you still have the journal entry.* Here are some tips for successful exploration: -Once reapers are on your tail you can still scan while running away -You can use fuel depots while running from reapers "no time to stop, just throw it in the back!" lol -You don't need to fill up on fuel all the time, 800 seems good -Once a system has reaper alertness it won't lose it, so you'll have to either forget what you missed or get them while running from reapers. I think if you explored and played core missions it would go away, but at this point it will not. -Fuel is cheap, and can be paid for off of what you salvage during exploration. -You can avoid the reapers almost on contact so long as they haven't chased you for more than a few seconds at which they are moving too fast to avoid. -If you think you can't grab something in time try popping in and out of the system to get a new spawn point. -If you are in a reaper alert system and don't like the spawn point, just hit the border behind you to leave, duh -Fuel Depot locations: Annos Basin, Apien Crest, Athena Nebula, Krogan DMZ, Horsehead Nebula, Ismar Frontier, Ninmah Cluster, Silean Nebula. *NOTE: I'll say this a few times below, but if you find any special upgrades you apply them at Liara's terminal.* Hades Nexus ----------- -Prothean Sphere In Sheol system on Gei Hinnom -Obelisk of Karza In Hoplos system on Kopis Hakate: Asteria, fuel near relay Hoplos: left of star near border is fuel Pamyat: Dobrovolski, fuel south of star Sigurd's Cradle --------------- Skepsis: Watson, fuel left of the relay Decoris: Laena, fuel south of star Hourglass Nebula ---------------- Osun: Erinle, fuel south of star Ploitari: Zenethu Faryar: Alingon, near Alingon is something Sowilo: Hagalaz, north of the star is fuel Valhallan Threshold ------------------- -Prothean Data Drives In the Paz system on Garvug. Micah: fuel right of star and something else too, Elohi Paz: right of star is some fuel Shrike Abyssal -------------- -Prothean Obelisk In Urla Rast system on Talis Fia Xe Cha: Zada Ban, fuel south of star Urla Rast: NE of star is something Ismar Frontier -------------- Aquila: Metaponto Minos Wasteland --------------- Fortis: Pietas, fuel near the relay Nimbus Cluster -------------- -Library of Asha In the Agaiou system, on Carcosa. Pelion: left of star for a fuel recovery site, Trategos, near Trategos is another fuel site, some fuel near the relay Kallini: fuel left of star Athena Nebula ------------- -Hesperia-Period Statue In the Vernio system on Polissa Parnitha: Tevura Orisoni: Egalic, fuel far right of star Ialessa: Trikalon, fuel to the right of star Tomaros: Pronoia, fuel SW of star Vernio: fuel NE of star Silean Nebula ------------- -Rings of Alune In Teyolia on Nevos -Dekuuna: Code of the Ancients In Phontes system -Dekuuna: Elcor Extraction In Phontes, on the moon of Oltan Kypladon: Hanalei Loropi: Yasilium, fuel south of wreckage Nahuala: Hyetiana, SW of star is fuel Phontes: fuel to the right of star Teyolia: Quirezia, right of star for fuel Apien Crest ----------- -Banner of the First Regiment In the Castellus system on Digeris Gemmae: all three on or around Pheiros, the two floaters being fuel supplies Castellus: fuel right of star Aethon Cluster -------------- -Book of Plenix Head to the Aethon Cluster and in the Aru system scan Irune Aru: Cherk Sab, fuel NW of star Esori: Solu Paolis, right of star is fuel Nura: Oma Ker, fuel north of star Satu Arrd: Nalisin, fuel south of Nalisin Arcturus Stream --------------- Arcturus: Arcturus Station, fuel near Themis Euler: left of star is some fuel Exodus Cluster -------------- Utopia: Zion, SE of star Asgard: Tyr, Borr, Loki, Terra Nova, fuel way NW of star Kite's Nest ----------- -Pillars of Strength In Harsa system on Khar'shan Harsa: Verush, north of Dezda is some fuel Untrel: Adek, left of Adek is some fuel Vular: Vana was where you found the Prothean artifact a long time ago, fuel NW of star (you don't need to return here if you already got the artifact) Hades Gamma ----------- Antaeus: near the relay is some fuel, Trebin Plutus: Nonuel Cacus: Chohe, fuel near the marker to Dis Farinata: fuel north of star, Junatauma Dis: fuel right of star, Klensal (you can hit both with one scan) Gemini Sigma ------------ Han: Mavigon, near the relay is some fuel Ming: Parag, fuel just right of star Argos Rho --------- -Citadel: Kakliosaur Fossil In Phoenix system on Intai'sei Hydra: Canrum, south of star is some fuel Gorgon: Camaron Phoenix: right of Intai'sei is some fuel, Pinnacle Station Attican Beta ------------ Hercules: Eletania, fuel south of star Theseus: Feros, fuel left of Feros Nubian Expanse -------------- Dakka: Pragia, fuel SE of star Qertassi: Norehsa, north of Norehsa is some fuel Kalabsha: Yamm, NE of star is some fuel The Citadel Part 7 0035 ------------------ And here is a quick list of where the quest-givers were as you and I have most likely forgotten, as well as anyone else of interest: Commons: Volus left of elevator, bank teller nearby, asari scientist nearby, researcher on the top courtyard, a C-Sec officer at the cafe, and a salarian in the apartments. Holding Docks: Refugee at the end and the preacher in the first alcove. Embassies: Diplomat to the left, elcor ambassador to the right, asari near the elcor, and Officer Dellk at the end of the hallway. In your Spectre office you can authorize Riley if she survived the fuel mission a while back. *NOTE: The quest for the cerberus codes can be bought at the Spectre terminal if you missed them in the last N7 mission. You can also buy out the Reaper Code Fragments and Target Jamming minor quests the same way.* Huerta: Consultant near the elevator, may as well get all the medi-gel upgrades speak to Dr. Silon, and another doctor further back. Purgatory: Elcor near the elevator, turian officer in the lower bar, asari near the dance floor steps Dock Level 1: A soldier by the Normandy door. If you didn't meet all the people to turn in quests then it means you didn't get the artifact from the exploration above. It's okay to come here after some exploration because the Citadel refuels you. You can also run around to the shops as upgrades move around once bought, or just eat the 10% markup and hit the Normandy terminal. When all minor quests are complete (that one Eden Prime quest is glitched), and you have all but some fuel nodes from exploration, you are pretty much done with everything in the game and are ready to finish the fight. And if you did all that exploration you should have a ton of upgrades in Liara's room. * Feel free to make a last run through your crew if you didn't make rounds every time before. They shouldn't have anything new if you have. Go ahead and buy/modify weapons and armor as that money won't do any good in your pocket. Go ahead and assess your war assets one last time. You should easily have 6000 total, but at only 50% readiness you won't be in line for the best endings. Though it's a rumor you can get the best endings in single-player only, feel free to hit up some multiplayer or the iOS games if you want. Otherwise just make a save file, keep it there, and head out. *NOTE: It took me a good solid weekend of multiplayer to go from 50% to 100%. I had a little bit of the Datapad going, but all I did was rotate around to the sectors with the least readiness and in time the overall readiness went up as well. Again, you don't need 100%, I just did it so I could get the achievement.* Cronos Station: Cerberus HQ 0036 --------------------------- Head to the Horsehead Nebula and enter the Anadius system and land on the Cronos Station when ready to go. You will also seal a romance here, so be ready for action! Not a bad idea to bring your bed buddy for at least one part, but it's just minor. *NOTE: I believe the second atlas you face you can snipe the glass to hijack the mech for the hijack achievement. Or you could come back after you beat the game as this is the point you return to.* You will bring EDI so bring almost anyone else, but range would be nice. You start out under heavy infantry fire, so slowly peek out and clear targets. An atlas will drop in, so blast it quickly. At some point you need to hit the sniper up to the left. When clear go up that ladder and use the controls. Three troops will try to ambush you, and further down the path another pack will be waiting for you to cross the walkway. Clear them, use the controls, grab a pda, and drop down. After you use the controls on the floor to make an entrance, an atlas will show up, You should be able to clear it yourself, but know that there is an atlas suit to the left that you can take. It will be useful in handling the one to the opposite right. Blast it away and hop out. *NOTE: If you lose health bars don't be shy to using gel to regain them.* Go through the opening is a door and drop down the ladder. A few troops will zero in on you, and there is a sniper at the end so flank from the right. There is salvage in the corner and then go up the ladder. Then you just fight through a ton of engineers and troopers. As always, flanking is a good idea. There is a pda and ammo through the next door, and then be sure NOT to jump down the hole in the wall and continue into the nearby room for an armor piece and another terminal. Then go back and drop down the hole. Ahead will be a bunch of strong soldiers, such as phantoms and nemesis, so either keep or close the distance and keep your line of sight on them. Up a ladder you will run into a small group. Before you take the exit door, turn around for some items on the walkway, and then there will be the same items in the room. Head up to the main room. This fight has three phases, and at all times you want to avoid him until you have nothing else to do. As it starts pump lead into him while moving away. He will go to the top of the room and smash the floor, so get away and be ready to blast a few troops first. Burn him down again and he will run to the right of the room and bring down more troops. Again blast them first and have your team occupy that foxhole for when the boss runs to the left. This time he will summon two phantoms who need to die quickly. Remember they will be vulnerable to biotic powers when their health bars are showing. Then blast away the boss' shields and he will die quickly when his health is exposed. During the scene be ready for a quick renegade save. The Normandy Part 17 -------------------- *NOTE: You can't make a save, so it's all autosaves from here. And don't worry if you want to play a different character you've made, all career saves are separate. So you don't have one autosave file for all.* Hit up everyone: Traynor, EDI, Joker, Liara, Kai/Ash, Chakwas, Tali & Garrus (who should be together if you weren't romancing either), Javik, each engineer once, Allers once, James, and then you may as well buy everything you can from the Normandy's shop connection, and go over all of your weapon and armor options. One last time, don't forget any upgrades you may have found while exploring the universe. They can be applied at Liara's terminal. And then you have only one place you can go: earth. Earth: Full Circle 0037 ------------------ For my squad selection I took Javik and Garrus, both with particle rifles, but feel free to mix it up a bit more. If you are saving any talent points, now is the time to blow them all unless you are fairly close to a level up and want a big final perk. Otherwise just spend all you got. You start at the bottom of a slope and need to fight your way up. Move up to the right and clear the steps so you can get up. It's best to set up shop at the very top of the steps rather than going to a side. You want as much time as possible and with as much time to have a line of fire on the two brutes that will be incoming from the right; one after the other thankfully. It's a tough fight, but just stay alive and pop your powers as often as possible. Watch the right for the brutes and burn them fast. Once the brutes are dealt with you can then move up the left side. As you approach the corner a few cannibals will come down the rubble. Scour for ammo if you need and go up the rubble. A few enemies will be standing between you and the crash site. Fight your way to it and once clear pick up the gun on the ground. Go back to where you entered the rooftop and fire at the huge reaper from there; just squeeze and hold at it's body and it will fire automatically. There will be a long pause and you just need to wait until enemies appear at the other end. You simply hold the change weapon button to drop that depleted gun (hold X on the 360 or use your weapon wheel), and clear the banshee and friends. When the shuttle arrives quickly cut a hole and just make a dash for it, blowing any gels you must in the process. A biotic charge comes in most handy and however you get to the shuttle just run to leap to it. * Inside there is a quick rep option and you will soon be in a safe place. James will be on the street below and Kaidan or Ashley will be at the other end by the door. Inside you can talk to a number of old squadmates at the terminal; with added dialogue from those you were nice to. Now go up the rubble of the building to find Victus and Garrus, and with Garrus is a quick rep moment. Through the door you will get on a turret where you just fight off a few enemy forces. Then you will meet Liara through the next door, and then grab the gel nearby. There is a pda in the next hallway, and your Krogan ally through the door. In the last room you will find more gel, Tali, and EDI. Then speak to Anderson. *NOTE: You cannot make a save file. And Javik was somewhere, possibly behind Wrex.* Now you make your final squad selection. You'll be fighting brutes, cannibals, harvesters, and marauders, so just make sure to bring a good mix of allies. You start with a small group, and after the tank is destroyed you will fight another small group. Further up you will face a harvester with a tougher group on the ground. A banshe will join in and more enemies show up, so it's best to fall back a bit. Clear it all out and go into the parking garage. You will face a few husks and then two brutes at one time, so fall back as needed. Up the ladder you will get the chance to ambush some ravagers and turret gunners, so hit them hard and clear them out. There is gel and ammo. The door will have husks on the other side, and in the street just hang back as a ravager will be on the mound of rubble at the other end. Just move up slowly and stay out of the ravager's line of sight while you deal with the waves of marauders first, or the other way around if you like. When almost done a brute will show up with some husks. Clear them out and then you must fight your way through a grocery store. Start by out-flanking them to the right and then just power up the middle. You have to fight out of the hole in the street and into the corner of the building. Through the door will be a huge group of enemies waiting, so sit back and be patient. There are many more in the alley, capped with a brute. Use the gel here if you must and push forward to run into two brutes at the end. Fall back and hit them hard. There is a pda and ammo before you take the door to watch a scene. A few cannibals are spread out. Use the first missile controls and get ready for a big incoming from the direction of the reaper. It's a bunch of marauders, cannibals, and some husks, and I say to the right of the missile is a good place to set up shop. Now you have to defend the left side from just small troops at first, but soon a constant stream of banshees will be incoming. Fall back as far as you want and survive the banshees. When clear, go use the back missile controls. Now it all goes to shit. You have at least four brutes honing in on you, so I say clear the left side and fall back to it. After you clear the brutes then an endless steam of banshees and marauders will converge on you. Be sure to call your team to safety and the key here to just survive. Roll to dodge banshee blasts and just try to avoid the marauders as best you can. After you kill several banshees you should wait for the order to get on the forward missile control. A biotic charge will help, but do whatever you must to run to that console to end this - pop all gels if you must. The final sequence is mostly on you. Run, shoot, walk, pretty much all scripted from here. You should be ready for a quick trigger. When you get to the final decision you are limited to certain choices unless you got over 5000 EMS (effective military strength), in which case all choices are open to you. And skip the credits to see a final scene. *NOTE: It is of my opinion that the 5000+ destruction ending is the "best" you can see for a tiny bit of footage during the end scene.* *NOTE: You can load up a restart of the end to see the other endings, or just watch youtube. That restart goes away if you load up your last saves and go anywhere.* *NOTE: And then you can research the many things on the internet devoted to the terribleness of all endings lol.* *NOTE: You will then return back to the autosave file that was made before you made your final assault on the Cerberus HQ.* *NOTE: You can now start a new game and import this character to start over with everything you have from the last game for whatever reason. I say just role a new class and go after the new and improved Ashley if you didn't already, lol.* *NOTE: Not sure if this will last for a while, but as of 3/27/12 this link is currently correct: http://www.herostrike.com/2012/03/mass-effect-3-ending.html* *NOTE: As of early April we learned that a new free DLC is planned that will "expand" on the terrible endings. Until it comes out we can cling to hope of indoctrination theory holding up, though it seems that BioWare is actually just really dumb to have greenlit these middle finger endings.* *NOTE: Now google up Marauder Shields and enjoy.* ***************************************************************************** * 4. Characters ( CHA4444 ) * ***************************************************************************** Here is a list of all the characters you can interact with in each game. Useful mostly for players who just joined us in ME3. THIS SECTION AND THE ONES TO FOLLOW ALL HAVE SPOILERS SO IF THOSE UPSET YOU THEN STOP READING EVEN IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THIS IS AT THE END OF THE GUIDE AND THEREFORE YOU SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEATEN THE GAME BUT I DIGRESS AND SHALL STOP TYPING IN CAPS NOW. Mass Effect 1 ------------- In ME1 we had just 6, then 5, and possibly only left with 4. Ashley Williams - Human female soldier. Romanceable by males. She or Kaidan will have to die on Virmire. Reminded me of a Michelle Rodriguez character. For my fellow bros out there, this one gets much improved as a love option in ME3 ;) Kaidan Alenko - Human male biotic. Romanceable by females. He or Ashley will have to die on Virmire. Didn't seem very notable, but then again I'm not a female. Garrus Vakarian - Turian male tech/sniper. Easily the "best" character in the series. Can't go wrong with him in your squad. Liara T'Soni - Asari female biotic. Romanceable by anyone. Hide your lesbians, lololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololol Urdnot Wrex - Krogan male soldier. He can die on Virmire as well, which is a bad decision. Tali'Zorah nar Rayya - Quarian female tech. Never tickled my fancy, but she's certainly interesting. Mass Effect 2 ------------- As far as characters go, ME2 is where the pool is filled for the ME3 roster. There were a bunch of love angles and two who you had to pay for. Pretty much every ally can die in the final mission if you don't do their personal loyalty missions before then. I don't think all will die if you fail to do the missions, but everyone's name is in the hat I would imagine. But you want everyone alive for ME3. Only Tali and Garrus will be allies in ME3, so everyone else can die and you won't lose squadmates in the next game. * Squad * Garrus Vakarian - Romanceable by females. I hear the romance is awkward, and if you know Garrus you know that means it's probably pretty funny. Youtube Garrus romance scenes anyone? Tali'Zorah vas Neema - Romanceable by males. Go... get... em... tiger??? Miranda Lawson - Human female biotic. Romanceable by males. )) <--- enough said if you know what I mean... Jacob Taylor - Human male biotic. Romanceable by females. Like Kaidan this guy didn't ignite my inner gayness. It's inside all of us you know... and he also finds another woman in ME3 so a romance here really goes nowhere. Jack - Human female biotic. Romanceable by males. There is an early option for a romp in the basement, but that ends any romance. You have to fight off the demons of temptation and go paragon to get a true romance. In ME3 you don't really get much out of this romance. Grunt - Krogan male soldier. Essentially replaces Wrex. If he dies you probably won't miss him much. Mordin Solus - Salarian male tech/biotic. Another funny guy. He can be teased with the idea of a romance, but it doesn't happen. Thane Krios - Drell male biotic/soldier. Romanceable by females. His life is at an end, so obviously the romance doesn't go far in ME3... Samara - Asari female biotic. She teases the idea of romance, but the Code forbids it of course. She can be killed if you choose Morinth, but that is a bad choice. Morinth - Asari female biotic. Daughter of Samara, and deadly in bed. You can have her join your team, and you can even romance her, but romance results in death and she will merely be a lowly enemy in ME3. Legion - Geth tech. He followed Shepard after ME1 and at the Normandy crash site used some of Shep's armor to repair itself. You can sell him to Cerberus, but that is a bad decision. Zaeed Massani - Human male soldier. A DLC character that most probably got for free. He was not too inspiring. Kasumi Goto - Human female infiltrator. A DLC character most probably do not have or are not aware of. * Allies * Urdnot Wrex - He will be the leader of the krogan and will not join you. He will be replaced by Wreav if he died in ME1. Ashley Williams - Met on Horizon if alive. Kaidan Alenko - Met on Horizon if alive. Liara T'Soni - Met on Illium. She becomes a notable side character and will keep a romance alive if not in the most pleasing way. She will also be heavily involved in the Shadow Broker business. If you want to ensure her survival in ME3 better kill the heretics, resolve her court hearing with a rep option, and make her and Legion like each other. Kelly Chambers - The last-place prize for anyone without an active romance in ME2, and I believe this applies to anyone who stayed loyal to Liara from ME1. You can be nice to her the whole game, have dinner, and at the end you can have a little fun in your room. This is not an official romance, and won't affect any you have later, but she can be pursued to a degree in ME3. Mass Effect 3 ------------- If you played this game then you should know these, but if you completely failed in ME2 you could be unaware of these characters' roles. I believe all the romances can be resumed, dropped, or you can start new ones if you wish. It may require ME1-ME3 loyalty, but I know Ash/Kai will dip their toes at least. You are guaranteed to have Liara, Ashley or Kaidan, EDI, and James. I believe most fresh ME3 runs will include Garrus and Tali. * Squad * Liara T'Soni - She rejoins you on Mars. Ashley Williams - If alive to this point, she can die during the Cerberus attack on the Citadel if you can't resolve the matter peacefully. She will join you after and you can continue a romance or you can start anew. The "new and improved" Ashley, lol *NOTE: I'm not sure what happens with Ash/Kai if Thane/Kirrahe fail to stop the council assassination. I would only assume they survive.* Kaidan Alenko - If alive to this point, he can die during the Cerberus attack on the Citadel if you can't resolve the matter peacefully. He will join you after and you can continue a romance or you can start anew. He can be romanced by males in ME3... why exactly I am not sure... but I choose not to crack wise about it. EDI - AI "female" tech. She and Joker "hook up" with your help. James Vega - Human male soldier. Though a big flirt with the ladies, he is not a romance option. Garrus Vakarian - He will be met on Menae if he survived ME2. Tali'Zorah vas Normandy - She will join you when you enter the Geth/Quarian war theater. She will die if when you reach the upload part and you do not stop the upload when you are given a second chance and do not get rep options to ensure peace on both sides. Otherwise, even on an import character, you will lose Tali if the upload goes through. Javik - He is a DLC character who has much more depth than Zaeed and Kasumi. He offers insights between missions about what is happening, but you can of course youtube all of that. He gives you a nice rifle and he's a solid fighter. * Allies * Eve - I put her first because she is a war asset who can die if you chose to destroy Maelon's research in ME2. Mordin Solus - He can survive the cure if you sabotage the cure, did not save the research from ME2, and Wrex is not alive. Under those circumstances you can tell him the truth before he goes up the tower and he will live. But without all of that he will die I believe. I think you also need high renegade rep. Urdnot Wrex - He will remain the leader of the krogan. If you sabotage the cure he will find out and you will lose the krogan war assets. Urdnot Wreav - If Wrex is dead he will not discover the sabotage if you do it. Miranda Lawson - She chats with you throughout until you meet her on the Citadel late in the game to rekindle any romance. Jacob Taylor - He will be met on Gellix where he has a new love interest and then you will realize you will have to find a new soul mate. Jack - She is at the Grissom Academy, and while you can play puppy love with her throughout the game there isn't much payoff to keeping the fires of love ablaze. Grunt - He will be on Utukku if alive, or replaced by Urdnot Dagg. If he was loyal in the last game he will survive regardless of your choices, but if he was not loyal in ME2 then he will die. He will be a minor war asset. Thane Krios - He will die through no fault of yours. If he is not spoken to before the Cerberus Citadel attack, or if Captain Kirrahe did not survive Virmire, then the assassination on the council will be successful. Samara - You will run into her on Lesuss where her surviving daughters are at an Ardat-Yakshi monastery. I can only assume if she died in ME2 then she just won't be present and no one replaces her. If she is there then you will have a chance to prevent her suicide which you should. Legion - He could have died in ME2, or have been sold to Cerberus. If sold he will be an enemy you run across and nothing more. If he lived he will be a primary figure for the Geth/Quarian war, but he will die regardless of outcome. Geth VI - The Geth VI replaces a dead Legion in almost mirror fashion, but the fluff dialogue may be worth hearing in youtube. Morinth - She will be a banshee you run across if you spared her in ME2. That is all. Zaeed Massani - A minor war asset. Kasumi Goto - A minor war asset. Diana Allers - Be sure to pick her up when you first hit the Citadel because there is no reason not to. During the interviews she will offer a chance to heat up the relationship. Samantha Traynor - Romanceable by females. She is a minor romance option, but she could be your only option if you don't follow-through with other romances timely enough. When she comes to your cabin take the shower option or don't, but I'm thinking you can change to another romance option after. But she can be your major romance I believe. Steve Cortez - Romanceable by males only. We'll just leave it at that... Kelly Chambers - She is the final romanceable option for anyone who take up no romances. She had to have survived ME2, was taken to dinner, invited to the cabin at the end of ME2, and you had her change her name in ME3. If she changes her name in the docks then after the Cerberus attack she will still be there and advance the mild romance. ***************************************************************************** * 5. Critical Decisions ( DEC5555 ) * ***************************************************************************** This section highlights the decisions you make in the series that affect the events in ME3. I know I will end up leaving out many of the lesser events, but we will at least go over the major points. Spoilers, duh. And something to keep in mind, though there are some obvious "bad" choices or even choices you don't want to make, there is usually a lot of extra dialogue from squadmates on all outcomes. So even bad choices give you something different. Mass Effect 1 ------------- I don't know if it's good or bad, but it seems like people who want to import a character is probably better off just playing ME2. There are only four decisions. None of which have a huge affect on ME3. Decision: Rachni Queen Choices: Kill or spare Effects: She returns in ME3 and can be an ally. Replaced by: Artificial Queen who will promise war assets but does not follow through. Decision: Council Choices: Save or sacrifice Effects: Won't be a spectre in ME2 so easily, but honestly I don't think they have much impact on ME2 and less on ME3. Replaced by: New councilors (big whoop) Decision: Kaidan or Ashley Choices: One or the other must die Effects: You can either have a male or female romance option here or in ME3. I almost say go Ashley regardless, but it's up to you. Replaced by: Kaidan or Ashley, lol Decision: Wrex Choices: Let live or kill for no reason Effects: He is not an squadmate past this game, so Replaced by: Wreav in ME2 as krogan leader Mass Effect 2 ------------- Decision: Maelon's Research Choices: Destroy or save Effects: Can increase war assets in ME3 by bolstering krogan forces by saving the data or having a chance to spare Mordin with destroyed data. Replaced by: N/A Decision: Legion Choices: Sell or keep Effects: Lose squadmate. Happens soon after recovery. Replaced by: Geth VI in ME3. Decision: Tali's Trial Choices: Lie for Tali, tell the truth about her dad, or use a rep option Effects: You can lie to keep her happy and so that she lives, but in order to have geth and quarian peace in ME3 you want to use a rep option. Exposing her dad effectively kills her no matter what. Replaced by: N/A Decision: Geth Heretics Choices: Kill or rewrite Effects: It's unclear whether you must kill in order to have the geth and quarians reach peace in ME3. I believe the correct choice will always be to kill. Replaced by: N/A Decision: Collector Base Choices: Destroy or save Effects: None that I can discern. Replaced by: N/A Decision: Loyalty Missions for each character Choices: Complete or not Effects: Potential death of the character in ME2, or loss of war asset in ME3. Replaced by: All roles in ME3 will be replaced or just left out. Mass Effect 3 ------------- Obviously being the final game the decisions here are less impactful as all you can get in return are war assets. The list of potential war assets is large, so this will just cover the key points. Decision: The Genophage Choices: Administer or sabotage, Maelon's data and Wrex being the wild cards Effects: Data/Wrex - Eve survives, cure, full krogan army, Mordin dead No data/Wrex - Eve dead, cured, incomplete army, Mordin dead Sabotage/data/Wrex - Eve dead, no cure, incomplete, Mordin dead, Wrex further reduces war assets and will also die Sabotage/no data/Wreav - Eve dead, no cure, more krogan war assets than if Wrex is alive, Mordin ALIVE as a minor war asset Decision: Geth/Quarian War Choices: Kill either or save both Effects: Legion will ask to upload the reaper upgrades to the geth while the two sides are about to attack each other in space. Here are the outcomes: Legion will die regardless. If you upload then he will die to finish the upload. If you deny the upload he will die by you or Tali, and thereby choosing the quarians over the geth. You can also upload the codes, use rep options to have the quarian fleets stand down, and this will result in having both as war assets. If you upload the codes watch for that second chance to stop the upload and if you have no rep options you then have a choice to either have the geth join as war assets or lose Tali by not stopping the upload. Decision: The Final Decision Choices: Red, Green, Blue Endings (lol) Effects: Of all the times I could have inserted youtube videos, this time I will defer to a link rather than provide insight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPelM2hwhJA Copy and paste to see what "differences" you are buying into. Refer to the end of the walkthrough for insight on EMS and it's effect. * There may be more, and I could be flubbing a few details, but as far as big decisions I think I got most of them. Feedback is welcome. ***************************************************************************** * 6. Romances ( ROM6666 ) * ***************************************************************************** This is just a recap of the romances in the series. I may expand it, but highly unlikely. Protip: paragon all the way! The best thing you can do is to investigate and learn everything you can about the partner you want. Usually it's in those extra chats that you kindle a relationship. Mass Effect 1 ------------- No much to add to these three other than don't kill the one you want to romance which seems obvious but you never know with some people. It also kind of seems like a faithful relationship to ME3 doesn't really amount to much difference. This furthers the idea to start all import games from ME2 - just tragic. Ashley - Males only. Kaidan - Females only. Liara - Anyone. Mass Effect 2 ------------- Slate is pretty much clean with ME2. The only key to note is that you can stay faithful to your ME1 mate and still get to fling with Kelly. Don't forget all can die except for 2/3 of the ME1 people. Garrus - Females only. The only "correct" option for females? Just a thought. Jacob - Females only. Dead-end romance in ME3. Thane - Females only. Dead-end due to the death in ME3. Tali - Males only. She can die in ME3. If you want to ensure her final romance in ME3 you have better kill the heretics, use a rep option at the end of her hearing, and make her and Legion like each other. Short of these you may lose her or you'll have to lose the geth army. Miranda - Males only. Though not on the squad in ME3 there is "payoff". Jack - Males only. Don't take the early bait. Patience. Though there isn't much done in ME3. Chambers - Anyone. A minor fling you can have if you have no ME2 romance. It can even escalate to a heavy minor fling in ME3. One key is to go to the Collector Base ASAP so you get there in time to save her. Morinth - Anyone. She kills you - 'nuff said. Ashley - Males only. You can stay faithful, though there appear to be no real consequences to playing around or swinging both ways in this game. Kaidan - Females only. You can stay faithful, though there appear to be no real consequences to playing around or swinging both ways in this game. Liara - Anyone. You can stay faithful, though there appear to be no real consequences to playing around or swinging both ways in this game. Mass Effect 3 ------------- Honestly, all of the ME2 romances who are just allies in this game don't seem very fruitful. I'm not telling you to cheat or trade-up, but I'm telling you to cheat and trade-up. * Payoff * Garrus - Females only. Cannot make new romance. A very tame love scene by any standards. Tali - Males only. Cannot make new romance. I suppose extra incentive to not genocide her species. But see the ME2 entry on her above to think about the fact that in this game that if you want to ensure she's alive you'll need to either call off Legion's upload when you have the second chance or else she will die. Ashley - Males only. One last time, the new and improved Ashley. Disregard all other females. It may require getting all books for her in the hospital from the Sirta shop. Kaidan - Anyone *coughs*. No comment submitted. Liara - Anyone. No real consequence for having a ME2 romance, or start anew. Traynor - Females only. You may think she is just a "fling", but there is a love scene near the end if you take the shower and don't take up anyone else. Cortez - Males only. Okay then. * Meh * Chambers - Anyone. "Romanced" in last game, not romancing anyone in this game, and you have her change her name to survive the Cerberus attack. She will then offer a minor fling. Better than nothing I guess, but it is pretty lame. Allers - Anyone. I would just say avoid and not risk trying to have her and another. Miranda - Old flame. Cannot make new romance. Love scene. Jack - Old flame. Cannot make new romance. No love scene. Jacob - Old flame. Cannot make new romance, and he has another woman. Thane - Old flame. Cannot make new romance. No love scene and he dies. ***************************************************************************** * 7. Powers, Armor, Weapons ( PAW7777 ) * ***************************************************************************** ==================== Powers and Abilities ==================== Single-Player Classes --------------------- All classes have two additional powers at the bottom, with squadmates getting a single passive power at the bottom. These passive powers are stat increases, but you need to get them, especially the one with rep increases. You need to get the passive ones, so early in the game you will spend your first few levels with a single point invested in each combat ability, and then focus and save to get the passive bonuses quickly. Import characters don't have to worry about that; they can get all the passive talents fully unlocked and get three tiers into each combat ability, or almost. Almost all powers have a 1 sec stun/knockback or whatever you want to call it. It could even disrupt them before they do some ability of their own; such as stopping a pyro from using fire. Class: Soldier Summary: Best with firearms, weakest with biotic powers Powers: Adrenaline Rush - slow motion and boost weapons for a short time Concussive Shot - instant shot Frag Grenade - basic grenade Incendiary Ammo - slight damage over time, weaken armor Disruptor Ammo - good against barriers and shields Cryo Ammo - chance of slowing and freezing target Class: Infiltrator Summary: Stealth snipers Powers: Cloak - difficult to spot Incinerate - powerful fire against armor Sabotage - attempt to turn a tech unit against the enemy Sticky Grenade - grenade that sticks to surfaces Disruptor Ammo - good against barriers and shields Cryo Ammo - chance of slowing and freezing target Class: Vanguard Summary: Close-range weapon specialists Powers: Biotic Charge - instantly ram into an enemy knocking them down Pull - make an enemy float in air Shockwave - send a wave of energy forward Nova - use shield energy to create a Incendiary Ammo - slight damage over time, weaken armor Cryo Ammo - chance of slowing and freezing target Class: Sentinel Summary: Biotic/tech combo. Powers: Warp - powerful boitic blast Overload - disable shields and cause a little damage otherwise Cryo Blast - a direct blast to freeze an enemy Throw - blast the target away Lift Grenade - a powerful grenade that may lift enemies into the air Tech Armor - increase protection and use to blast nearby enemies Class: Adept Summary: Best with biotics, weakest with firearms Powers: Singularity - pulls non-armored units into a void for some time Pull - make an enemy float in air Shockwave - send a wave of energy forward Warp - powerful boitic blast Throw - blast the target away Cluster Grenade - a cluster of grenades of course Class: Engineer Summary: Best with tech powers Powers: Combat Drone - pet that can have a powerful missile Sentry Turret - create a stationary turret Incinerate - powerful fire against armor Cryo Blast - a direct blast to freeze an enemy Overload - disable shields and cause a little damage otherwise Sabotage - attempt to turn a tech unit against the enemy ================ Squadmate Powers ================ This is just a rundown of what each has, what you should get them, and how to best deploy them. Remember to activate their more passive abilities between combat, when you don't have line of sight on an enemy, but not when you need their damage abilities on live enemies. Don't be shy to use their grenades on clusters of enemies early and often. It's usually best they buff their own power types Liara - Singularity, Warp, Stasis, Warp Ammo Handguns Best used against reaper forces where her sings will eat up husks. James - Carnage, Frag Grenade, Incendiary Ammo, Fortification Rifles and Shotguns He's not good against shields, so bring an overloader and he works anywhere. Garrus - Concussive Shot, Overload, Prox. Mine, AP Ammo Sniper Rifles and Rifles He is more notable for his sniper rifle, and with overload he is the most solid option you have. EDI - Incinerate, Overload, Defense Matrix, Decoy Handguns Despite her overload she isn't strong against much else but shields, so she is a poor option all around. Tali - Combat Drone, Energy Drain, Defense Drone, Sabotage Handguns Her combat drone effectively gives you another squadmate, so keep one up at all times. Her drain is very effective against geth. Ashley - Concussive Shot, Inferno Grenade, Marksman, Disruptor Ammo Sniper Rifles and Rifles Similar to James, but without carnage she is a bit less versatile to deploy. Her sniping ability is what gives her more usability. Kaidan - Cryo Blast, Overload, Reave, Barrier Rifles and Handguns He's has the most utility, and he has a barrier. Javik - Dark Channel, Lift Grenade, Slam, Pull Rifles and Handguns Hard to tell how effect he is with DC, but he's one of the few with true biotic powers. He's more notable for his plasma rifle, which you can give to anyone who can use. ============= Bonuse Powers ============= These are unlocked by chatting with your squadmates between missions. They usually lean toward being nice, so paragon is the surest way to go. Not all of the more involved chats happen after key missions, so always roll through your crew unless it's an N7 mission you just finished. Warp Ammo, Liara - more damage to "floating" enemies; good for biotic powers Stasis, Liara - stop an enemy for a time Fortification, James - more protection Carnage, James - powerful direct attack; best in my opinion Armor Piercing Ammo, Garrus - more damage through armor Proximity Mine, Garrus - shoot a mine in a direct line to a surface Defense Matrix, EDI - more protection Decoy, EDI - creates a decoy to absorb enemy fire Inferno Grenade, Ashley - splash fire at a location Marksman, Ashley - better rate of fire and accuracy for a time Barrier, Kaidan - create a barrier over your shield Reave, Kaidan - damage enemy Defense Drone, Tali - shocks enemies who get close Energy Drain, Tali - powerful tech blast, better against barriers and shields Slam, Javik - lift the enemy up and slam to the ground Dark Channel, Javik - damage over time that will move to a new enemy if the first dies ======= Weapons ======= One thing to keep in mind is that guns usually trade damage per "round" for number of rounds per reload. Some guns are not viable without upgrades. Heavy Pistols ------------- These are normal handguns which should not be completely dismissed. If you can pull that trigger rapid fire you can do some serious damage. Name: Predator Locaton: Default Summary: Basic pistol, don't under-estimate viability. Rating: 7 Name: Scorpion Locaton: Sur'Kesh Summary: Powerful little bomb you shoot that sticks. Interesting choice if you can master it, but slow. Rating: 6 Name: Phalanx Locaton: Tuchanka - Genophage Cure Summary: Powerful gun, but smaller clip than the Arc. Rating: 8 Name: Talon Locaton: Citadel Cerberus Attack Summary: Handheld shotgun. Very nice choice. Rating: 9 Name: Carnifex Locaton: Gellix Summary: Very powerful, but inaccurate and tiny clip. Rating: 4 Name: Arc Pistol Locaton: Geth Dreadnought Summary: If you squeeze the trigger fast enough you have a very powerful weapon here. You can also charge up for handheld shotgun blasts. Rating: 10 Name: Paladin Locaton: Spectre Requisition; 200,000 creds Summary: A much more powerful Carnifex. Rating: 7 SMGs ---- These are fairly reckless, but if you can get a lot of the bullets to land you could have a formidable weapon. Name: Shuriken Locaton: Mars Summary: Basic SMG. Rating: 7 Name: Tempest Locaton: Tuchanka - Turian Squad (Downed Vessel) Summary: Bit stronger than the Shuriken. Rating: 9 Name: Hornet Locaton: Citadel Cerberus Attack Summary: 3 burst weakling. Rating: 2 Name: Locust Locaton: Horizon Summary: Almost no recoil, but weak. Rating: 3 Assault Rifles -------------- The easiest weapon to fall back to. Name: Avenger Locaton: Default Summary: Smooth RoF, quick reload, solid Rating: 7 Name: Vindicator Locaton: Mars Summary: You can fire 8 bursts of 3 bullets. Powerful, quick reload, and smooth handling. Rating: 8 Name: Mattlock Locaton: Grissom Academy Summary: Only 16 shots to reload, and you have to squeeze each round, but it's very powerful and if you can master it you will be effective. Like a mini- sniper rifle. Rating: 9 Name: Phaeston Locaton: Tuchanka - Turian Squad (Downed Vessel) Summary: Basically an Avenger with a bigger clip. Rating: 8 Name: Revenant Locaton: Citadel Cerberus Attack Summary: Very strong, but highly inaccurate. Mod to make better. Rating: 7 Name: Geth Pulse Rifle Locaton: Geth Dreadnought Summary: Large clip, a bit weak, but solid. Rating: 8 Name: Saber Locaton: Horizon, hidden, use test tube controls Summary: Very powerful, but long reload on 8 shots. You can shoot like 2 each second if you want. Rating: 7 Name: Falcon Locaton: Cerberus HQ Summary: Mini grenade launcher, but not as powerful as you think a direct hit should be. Rating: 6 Name: Particle Rifle Location: Earn by retrieving Javik from the Prothean DLC. Summary: A laser beam with unlimited ammo, a large clip which will run out if you hold too long and cause a long reload. It will refill without the reload if you let it cool off before it reaches zero. Possibly gets stronger and shoots faster over time. Rating: 10 Sniper Rifles ------------- Very difficult to use without adrenaline rush and mods. You almost have to have a backup pistol or up close you'll only have powers to use. Name: Mantis Locaton: Mars Summary: 1 shot per reload, but quick reload Rating: 7 Name: Viper Locaton: Palaven Summary: 5 shots to reload, not too powerful, but the reload is quick so this is a solid choice. Rating: 8 Name: Raptor Locaton: Sur'Kesh, or Batarian Arms if missed Summary: Like a long range normal rifle with a decent clip and quick reload. Not terrible, but may as well get an assault rifle. Rating: 7 Name: Incisor Locaton: Tuchanka - Cerberus Bomb Summary: 3 burst weakling, terrible. Rating: 1 Name: Javelin Locaton: Rannoch - Koris Summary: Powerful, but a weird 1 sec hold to shoot. Rating: 5 Name: Widow Locaton: Thessia Summary: 1 shot nuker with a long reload. Better not miss. Rating: 6 Name: Black Widow Locaton: Spectre Requisition; 250,000 creds Summary: 3 shots to a reload makes this the best by far. Rating: 10 Shotguns -------- Don't think they are completely useless at medium range. Like a handgun you could get a big clip and rapid fire. If you get a small clip then you could be better off with a sniper rifle. Name: Katana Locaton: Mars Summary: Decent clip, fast reload, solid. Rating: 7 Name: Scimitar Locaton: Palaven Summary: A bit weaker than the Katana, but bigger clip and good reload. Though it's not rated high, this is the best option for non-gambling players. Rating: 8 Name: Eviscerator Locaton: Grissom Academy Summary: Extremely powerful, but just 3 shost per reload. With quick reload time and great distance it is not a bad choice. Rating: 9 Name: Claymore Locaton: Utukku Summary: It's like crushing a rocket and splattering it at an enemy if you know what I mean. It's an insta-killer, but single shot and long reload. You better not miss. Rating: 6 Name: Spike Thrower Locaton: Tuchanka - Genophage Cure Summary: You can fire 3 spikes at enemies each reload, and they are basically insta-kills. If you hit it is deadly at range, but too unreliable. Rating: 6 Name: Disciple Locaton: Lesuss Summary: Very similar to the Claymore, but 3 more shots per reload, bit faster reload, and more shots total. Rating: 10 Name: Geth Plasma Shotgun Locaton: Geth Dreadnought Summary: Not bad with regular shots, but you can hold to charge up. The recoil kills any hopes of a high rate of fire, so it's more of a medium ranged shotgun. Rating: 5 Name: Wraith Locaton: Spectre Requisition; 250,000 creds Summary: A more powerful Eviscerator, but only 2 shots. Rating: 6 ===== Armor ===== Unlike past games there is no longer a difference of heavy and light armor. In ME3 there are only 5 pieces of armor or a complete set. Armor Sets ---------- Bonuses listed first, Citadel shop location listed second. Remember, all armor can be bought on the Normandy later, but they will be very expensive. It's best to get some price reduction upgrades and buy on the Citadel if you really want one of these. The reason why these are not completely useless is because you get a little more for your money in terms of numbers. I say Inferno is the one to get. I believe in all cases it's the one power that works for any character build. Blood Dragon - 20% SH, 30% PD, 10% PR; Kanala Cerberus - 20% HP, 10% SH, 20% WD, 10% AC; Elkoss Collector - 20% HP, 20% SR, 20% SH; Nos Astra Inferno - 30% PR, 30% PD; Kassa Terminus - 15% MD, 15% AC, 30% SH; Batarian N7 Defender - 10% HP, 10% SH, 10% WD, 20% MD; pre-order Reckoner Knight - 10% HP, 10% SH, 10% WD, 20% MD; Kingdoms of Amalur demo Armor Pieces ------------ *coming soon* ***************************************************************************** * 8. Multiplayer ( MUL8888 ) * ***************************************************************************** I'm not sure if I want to expand this section as the multiplayer is not hard to grasp at this time. You run around, kill stuff, everyone does nothing but cause damage, and you will only lose if everyone splits up. The main reason to do multiplayer is to increase your readiness rating in the Galaxy at War system. It's simple, you win in a sector and that sector's rating goes up by a fair amount, which then increases the overall rating. By the end you will want to pick your setting to tap out your lowest areas. Multiplayer is composed entirely of 4 player co-op in a Left 4 Dead style of just fighting enemies. However you only choose from a few arenas that you run across in the story. They are decent in size, but after a few games you will likely be sick of them. You just need to survive 11 waves to successfully complete the mission and get max rewards, but you will also earn XP and readiness rating for failure. These waves can be simple kill counts, capturing nodes, defending a node, and the final wave is survival at the extraction point. In all waves but the last you must fully kill all enemies before you can move on. Since there are no healer or tank classes, you are encouraged to go all out to get kills and play recklessly smart. You only get XP you earn, so you have to inflict damage to get XP and money. Credits are spent in the store for packs that give you random items based on the cost of the pack. You can earn and spend credits you earn, or you can pay real money for the better packs (please don't). Look out for weekly specials on packs for better rewards. XP levels you up for more talent points in your abbreviated talent trees. The level cap is 20. All level 20 characters can be promoted to war assets for your story modes for 75 strength. You will lose the levels for that class and be reset to 1, but you keep the items of course. You promote from the character screen in multiplayer, which is done with the X button on the 360. If you're curious about that number by your name in the lobby, that is your N7 rating which is based on a number of factors. You can increase this by performance or you can promote level 20s which adds 10 to the N7 rating which you will never lose. The time it takes to reach level 20 is about a day or two, depending on your skill and items unlocked. Eneimes: Cerberus - The easiest of the three factions. Only phantoms can insta- kill you. Their big enemy is the atlas, which is slow, easy to hit, and easy to evade. Geth - Their pyros are very powerful, plus they have cloaked units with shotguns. Their big guys are primes which seem fairly easy to down. Reapers - The toughest of the types. Though they bring the least number of units with shields and barriers, they have three big enemy types. Ravagers are deadly if they have clear line of sight, and they even pop those bugs. Brutes are not terribly hard to kill, but in groups they are. Banshees will insta-kill you if close and seem to be the toughest enemy to kill. Levels: Dagger - A bright, compact map. Ghost - A more spread out map with many buildings. Easy to get lost or lose enemies or get ambushed. Giant - A fairly simple map, but easy to lose enemies in either building. Glacier - Very compact map with choke points. Reactor - Another simple map with two ends, a high road, and a low road. White - A compact map where it is easy to get ambush if you aren't watching your sides. Condor - Resurgance Pack (free). A very large, dark map. Hydra - Resurgance Pack (free). A very large, bright map, similar to Dagger. When you create and host a match it's best to choose random everything except challenge level so you can get bonus XP. Don't worry so much about boosting areas of the Galaxy at War map, but you are welcome to pick and choose. Tips: I like just using an Arc Pistol and having faster power recharge time for powers. Works with any class. Melee works. Krogan are especially good at it. Tech armor and other "detonate" powers just require you to re-use the power to do the detonation. And don't underestimate their usefulness. Though they are reckless they can prove very useful in the right hands. Speaking of which, your powers matter more than your guns. Unless you are super accurate you will likely lean on powers. Smash the button displayed when down to stay alive longer. When you see someone down you should defend them as a curb stomp will take that player out for the wave. Players revive at the end of each wave. Don't underestimate the power of melee. When you are low level you won't be too competitive, but with more talent points you will be a force. It's that simple. Between waves you get about half of your total ammo capacity back. But there are plenty of ammo stashes all over. Find them and frequent them. Each pile only has so many grenades. Carry the least amount of weapons you need. A rifle with a big ammo capacity is all you may need. The less weight you have means more powers. While weapons are great, powers are better in most cases. Always spec into your class talent, get 1 point in each other power, and then focus on one of your "heavy hitting" damage abilites. It's just easier to rely on one power and the harder it hits the better. The single button powers are good choices (carnage, singularity, incinerate, etc.) Hopefully everyone will cover spots as a wave is about to begin. As greedy as it may sound, you kind of don't want to be focusing on the same targets unless it's a big one like an atlas or banshee. When facing bigger foes you can either run and hide, somewhat ignore if it's not focused on you, or have everyone focus fire to kill it as quickly as possible. Focus fire is best, but not everyone will help and those big enemies have a lot of health. Follow the sounds of war. Your best way to know where the action is is if you listen for fighting to begin. Enemies usually spawn in two or three spots in a short area, which will always be away from the players. But if you are running around solo between waves you are at risk to get ambushed. Due to lag and also to the single-player game as well, you should aim for in front of moving targets. To maintain readiness rating I believe you must either disconnect from the grid, play multiplayer from time to time, or keep up with the apps like the Datapad or Infiltrator game on your iPhone/iPod. The Datapad is easy to keep tabs on, and you can simply go for the fleets and big missions so you have the least time spent on it. Remember, there is DLC to come and if you play new games you will want a high readiness rating I would think (maybe it doesn't matter in the end). And once you get the 100% readiness achievement you most likely won't need 100% again, just a high number. However, once you reach 100% you will gain bonus XP. So if it's not a bother feel free to keep tabs on the Datapad or play an online game every now and then. Store Packs ----------- Please DO NOT spend real money on these. Think about it, for $2 $3 $5+ you could buy complete app games on your phone or virtual console stores. But here not only are you buy maybe one or two items you could use, but you might not get anything useful. The multiplayer is fun, but most of the stuff you earn will go unused. Recruit Pack - small chance for an uncommon item You should buy 4-6 recruit packs after a few victories, just so you don't have to get them later. Veteran Pack - 1 uncommon or small chance for better Go ahead and buy these when Spectre Pack - 1 rare with small chance for better [Special Pack] - I've seen quite a few different ones. They are usually a better value than the Spectre pack and guarantee rares. I may list the contents of these packs as the final thing I add to this guide. Multiplayer Classes ------------------- The thing about multiplayer classes is that there isn't as much concern with the armor / shield / health damage as you never know what kind of enemies you will face. You have only 3 powers and their shortcut buttons are set (maybe you can change them on the PC), so rather than max all of those powers you should instead at least get all powers and from there focus on one - maybe two - and max your passive powers. Your passive powers at the bottom are not as sexy, but they are equally as important as your damage powers. The class decision here is not too important because you can always switch to another if you want. The only decision to make is to swap out character skins which may swap out a power for another of the same class. Also note that you can to use ammo packs to apply the special ammo. ***************************************************************************** * 9. Author Info / Copyright * ***************************************************************************** ----------- Please contact me if you need any help, if you want to thank me, if you want to talk, or if you want to ask a question. Efforts to get in a guide need to be exceptional. My email: firstname.lastname@example.com Title of your email should be: ME3 PS - To GameFAQ's users, if you like the guide, click "recommend" at the top of the guide, but only if you like it. PPS - I cannot fix bugs, glitches, or achievements/trophies not hitting. ----- ----------- I have other guides floating around too. They are: Resident Evil 4 Dead Rising Gears of War Lost Planet Crackdown GRAW 2 Rainbow Six Vegas TES IV: Oblivion Shivering Isles Knights of the Nine The Darkness BioShock Halo 3 Half-Life 2 HL2: Episode One HL2: Episode Two Call of Duty 4 Assassin's Creed Mass Effect Advance Wars: Days of Ruin Perseus Mandate Sam & Max Episode 203 Devil May Cry 4 God of War: Chains of Olympus Rainbow Six Vegas 2 Okami Grand Theft Auto 4 Condemned 2: Bloodshot Metal Gear Solid 4 Alone in the Dark (360) NCAA Football 09 Madden 09 Dead Space Gears of War 2 Prince of Persia (2008) Call of Duty: World at War FEAR 2 Resident Evil 5 GTA IV: TBOGT Modern Warfare 2 Assassin's Creed 2 World of Warcraft Mass Effect 2 Heavy Rain Dead Space 2 LA Noire Dead Rising 2 FEAR 3 Gears of War 3 TES V: Skyrim -------------- ---------------- Here is my list of sites: GameFAQs (main host site) GameSpot IGN OCModShop.com chaptercheats.com GamersTemple (http://www.gamerstemple.com/) TheGameReviews wiredgamingcommunity.com neoseeker gametower.org SuperCheats GamesRadar CheatPlanet CheatCodeCentral (cheatcc.com) My360.com.au gamerevolution.com and many more and even a few foreign ones too! *NOTE: There are many more with single guides, and then others with a few, and some that I just don't keep track of.* All other sites must ask permission if they want this. All I ask is that the guide be ad-free and in this text format. And if you want to make a donation at my site for hosting a guide, that is fine too. ------------------- -------------- Here is my website: www.herostrike.com You'll find all my other guides here too and perhaps something else you may like. ------------- --------- COPYRIGHT --------- This guide may not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly without advance written permission. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their respective trademark and copyright holders. Copyright 2012 Brad Russell
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