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With Mass Effect: Legendary Edition out now, a new generation of players can finally access one of developer BioWare’s most iconic RPG franchises. If it’s your first time playing these games, you’ll need some help and insight to prepare you for the exciting journey ahead. The Legacy Edition, in particular, brings significant changes to the original games that better incorporate its various DLCs into the main experience while also creating new challenges thanks to adjustments to the way your actions impact the final game’s epic conclusion.
Due to these changes, we’ve compiled a suite of new guides to help you navigate the unique aspects with our Mass Effect: Legendary Edition guide roundup. However, if you’re keen to have a walkthrough handy to help you navigate the core experience of Mass Effect 3, then below you can find our original walkthrough, which we published at the time of the game’s original release. You can also read our Mass Effect 1 walkthrough and Mass Effect 2 walkthrough.
For more about how the collection stacks up, be sure to read our Mass Effect: Legendary Edition review in progress.
Mass Effect 3 is the climactic finale of Bioware’s penultimate sci-fi RPG series. With our walkthrough, you can join Shepard and others as they embark on a mission to save the entire galaxy. Below we provide everything you need to know to beat the game and come out of this final entry mostly intact.
Note: Our first time through was as a Paragon Engineer with no imported save game. Your personal Mass Effect 3 experience may differ.
Table of Contents [hide]Earth: CanadaMarsThe CitadelEmbassiesHuerta Memorial HospitalNormandy and PalavenMenaeSur’KeshTuchankaTurian SurvivorsLocate BombThe RachniThe Citadel AttackGeth DreadnoughtRannochGeth Fighter SquadronsAdmiral KorisThessiaHorizonCerberus HeadquartersEarth: LondonFinal PushN7: Cerberus LabGrissom Academy: Emergency EvacuationN7: Cerberus AttackN7: Cerberus AbductionN7: Cerberus Fighter BaseKallini: Ardat-Yakshi MonasteryArrae: Ex-Cerberus ScientistsN7: Fuel ReactorsCitadel MissionsAriaHanar DiplomatLiara’s FatherVolus AmbassadorWounded BatarianSpectre and Artifact DeliveryScanning ListAfter MarsAfter PalavenAfter Sur’KeshAfter TuchankaAfter Citadel AttackAfter Geth DreadnoughtEnd Game
Earth: Canada
The very first section of the game acts as a basic tutorial to combat and movement. This whole level is over all not much of a challenge. Still, there are a few tactics and tips to help speed things along. After the opening cutscene you’ll be sided with Anderson as your squad mate. You only have a basic Predator pistol, but can make use of your class abilities.
Follow Anderson and take down the Husks climbing up the wall. This will most likely deplete all of your ammo, so you’ll need to use melee attacks or powers to kill the next part of Husks below. Enter the burning room and gather up the spare medi gel. Attempt to open up the door ahead and you’ll be ambushed by another Husk; kill it and proceed on.
In the next area you’ll be up against a new type of Reaper creation: the Cannibal. They are armed with assault rifles, can throw grenades, and eat their fallen to recover health. However, they lack shields or armor so they are rather easy to kill. Your basic pistol will easily destroy the Cannibals fine as long as you stay in cover.
Head to the crash site and arm yourself with the Avenger rifle before checking the radio. An unlimited number of Cannibals will now attack from a downed shuttle. The fastest way to complete this segment is to simply deplete all of your ammo. Once things seem grim, Joker will arrive in the Normandy and save the day.
Mars
With only Ashley/Kaidan and James as your team members there is no selection of you can bring. Still, you should have a few points to improve an offensive or defensive power. For the most part just upgrade your team’s first skill that already has a free point in it.
Head down the ramps and take out the Cerberus soldiers. The basic Assault Trooper uses assault rifles but has no real defense. Centurions stick to closer range single shot weapons and have protective barriers. For the most part you should take out the weaker Troopers before going for the shielded enemies.
Enter inside the Mars base and you’ll soon switch out James for Liara. Use her Singularity to pull the next batch of Cerberus foes out from their cover and finish them off with your guns. After the fight use the vehicle lift controls to raise the stationary car. This along with some nearby boxes will create a bridge to the next area.
Take cover in the next room and stealth kill as many enemies as possible. Still after only one or two hits the rest of Cerberus will notice your presence. They won’t be much trouble either way. Head into the security room and take the Ariake Technologies Gauntlets, M4-Shuriken, and med kit before checking the security terminal.
Head outside and pick up the Kassa Fabrication Chestplate while walking between the two ladders ahead. Enter the broken airlock and read the data pad for some free XP. Hide behind the sinks and wait for the next team of Cerberus thugs to open the windows. They will be clustered enough that most all of them can be lifted with a single singularity. Cleanup the rest with your guns before entering the small room on the right. Inside here, grab the medi gel and check environmental controls to open the next passage.
In this next transition area move to the back of the makeshift barrier and acquire some SMG Ultralight Materials. You now need to fight down two long corridor shooters. It’s best to use crowd control and very long range weapons. Liara’s singularity will be very useful here, as will a sniper rifle from yourself or Ashley. The main enemies to clear out are the Guardians: similar to Troopers but instead carry a giant shield and pistol. However, they are very weak to lifting abilities and attacks from behind.
You’ll soon reach a room being sterilized. Wait for the beams to no longer block the doors and hit the controls on either side. Once inside the sterile room, take the Shotgun High Calibur Barrel, XP data pad, and medi gel. Head through the door on the left. Follow Ashley/Kaidan’s lead of ducking behind the pillars and boxes to avoid the turrets fire. If you do get hid, wait for your shields to recharge before moving on. Head into the control room and kill the next set of Troopers and a Centurion inside; the small space makes them very easy to hit with area skills. Afterwards, collect the medi gels, XP data pad, and Sniper Rifle Concentration Module.
Hit the control switch in this room and watch the cutscene. Take Ashley/Kaidan’s advice and place both of your teammates in a flanking position. Get on the other side of the room and get ready to pincer the enemy. As with the last few fights Liara’s Biotics will keep the enemy too busy to deal much damage. Get in the tram and enjoy the ride. That is until you’re ambushed yet again. There are only five Troopers so the fight will be over before their tram even comes close. Once Cerberus is taken care of jack their ride to the final combat zone.
This last fight is similar to all the previous ones, but this time the amount of foes will be rather high. You’ll mainly need to watch out for the likely number of grenades that will get tossed around the room. Outside of that try to stun and use Liar’s Biotics as much as possible. After the fight loot the small room in the center and two side shelves for some medi gel, Shotgun Shredder Mod, and M-15 Vindicator.
Enter through the door and confront the Illusive Man and his agent, Dr. Eva. You don’t really need to attack her or fend off the other Cerberus soldiers that try and assist. Just chase after her until reaching the roof. Once Eva attempts to rush you in slow motion just shoot her down to end the mission.
The Citadel
You’ll be back on the Citadel briefly to talk to the Council. You’ll start in Bay D24 where the Normandy will always Dock. While here you can gain Diana Allers as a War Asset worth 5 points. Further talking to on the ship can sometimes improve your reputation. However your main objective is to visit the Embassies and Hospital.
Embassies
There are only two places to go here. First, enter Bailey’s office and chat with Commander to gain a few Paragon or Renegade points. Your main task is to speak to Udina and the current Council. While they don’t offer much you will have your Spectre status reinstated. This is overall helpful as it will open up the Spectre Office in the southern part of the Embassies. you can’t purchase anything at the Office right now, but later on you can gain free War Assets and also buy materials for various Citadel fetch missions.
Return back to the elevator entrance and speak with James Vega for a small boost to Reputation. You may also run into Khalisah al-Jilani near the elevator. As expected you can use your Renegade prompt to take a swing at her; she’ll dodge and you’ll need to make a second one to knock her lights out. However, if you instead wait and go for the Paragon Prompt Ms. al-Jilani will join as a War Assets worth 10 points.
Huerta Memorial Hospital
There are a few things to do here to help bolster your fame. First thing to keep in mind is the Sirta Supplies store. This is where you can purchase medi gel Capacity upgrades and later on cosmetic upgrades for your private cabin (Such as books). You can recruit Dr. Chakwas if she survived the events of Mass Effect 2 or ask her to stay on the Citadel. Next talk to Dr. Michel to gain more Reputation. And of course your main goal is to visit your injured teammate, Ashley/Kaidan. Doing so will reward you with more Reputation.
That’s all there is to do on the Citadel so head back to the Normandy. Don’t worry, there will be plenty more side quests on the citadel after clearing out Palaven.
Normandy and Palaven
You’ll have some time to explore the Normandy and get to know the crew. You can gain some free Reputation, Paragon, or Renegade points by talking to various people such as Cortez and James in the Shuttle Bay, Liara and Chakwas on the Crew Deck, or Adams in Engineering.
The Crew Deck is a special place to note as you can gain extra upgrades and abilities. In the Medical Bay you can reassign ability points and a pick special powers unlocked from building relationships with your squad mates. In Liara’s Cabin you can pick upgrades from Intel you collect from scanning planets. For example you can pick up a Weapon Upgrade Kit from the planet Verush within the Kite’s Nest Cluster and then use it at the Intel Terminal. You’ll have the option to pick either an Ammo Capacity Bonus or Weapon Damage Bonus.
On the Crew Information Center you can talk to Traynor to learn about new e-mails and how the crew is doing. In the War Room you can look at your current War Assets and how the war effort is going. By default you’ll have the following War Assets: Alliance Engineering Corps (130), 103rd Marine Division (50), Admiral Mikhailovich (25), Alliance First Fleet (90), Alliance Third Fleet (90), Alliance Fifth Fleet (90). As you scan planets and complete missions, you can gain new War Assets or updates to existing ones. Your overall War Assets with help determine your possible endings. By default your military strength from War Assets will be cut in half due to the Galactic Readiness in each of the Theaters of War.
Once you’re comfortable within the new Normandy, head to Palaven in the Apien Crest cluster.
Menae
Palaven has been over run so you’ll need to land on the planet’s largest moon, Menae. There isn’t much selection as far squad members, but one thing to note is that each of your team’s appearances grants a different Armor Bonus. For example Liara has increased Power Damage in her white Shadow Broker outfit, and Recharge Speed bonus when using her armor.
You’ll face a few Husks as you land down in the shuttle. As with past games its beast to kill them with long range weapons before they can get close. Use Liara’s Singularity if they get too close or get into clusters. The fight is overall simple and will soon lead into the Turian Camp. Explore this area to find two XP Data Pads, a Credit Data Pad, two Medi-Gel kits, a M-97 Viper, Pistol Piercing Mod, Assault Rifle Piercing Mod, and M-27 Scimitar. When you’re ready talk to the General on the right side of the camp to gain some Reputation and progress to the next area.
Head towards the tower and kill the few Husks around. Once getting closer you’ll see that the tower is damaged and will need to send a squad mate to repair it. It’s better to send James as Liara’s biotics are more useful while defending the area. The second wave of Husks is basically the same except you’re down to just two people. Use what ever crowd control biotics and tech you have. If a Husk grabs your teammate be quick about punching or shooting it off. Unlike previous Mass Effect games, if your teammate is downed you can walk over to them and revive them instead of wasting First aid. After your other teammate returns, a third wave of Husks will arrive. However, you’ll further be supported by two Turians with assault rifles, making this round the easiest.
Return to the main camp and speak with General Corinthus again. At this point Garrus will join your party (Provided he survived Mass Effect 2) and Liara will head back to the ship. Head to the Airfield and defend it against the Reapers. You’ll encounter a new type of enemy: Marauders, which are the Turian version of Husks. They fight with assault rifles and have moderate shields. This means that you’ll need to take them out with weapons and Tech before they can be hit with Biotics. The Marauders will also have Husk backup, so watch your side as the enemies advance on you. For the most part concentrate on the gunners before going for the unarmed Husks. Before leaving the area make sure to pick up the Assault Rifle Magazine upgrade.
Once back at camp head to the Barricade and use the mounted turret. Your goal is to take out all of the Husks here. James and Garrus will help support you, but your heavy guns will be the bulk of the damage during this fight. After the Husk you’ll fight a giant Brute. This enemy is Armored so you’ll need to rely on strong weapons and fire Techs to deal heavy damage. Its melee attack are no joke: a single swipe will break shields and do quite a bit of health damage. On the bright side the Brute isn’t very fast and can often be avoided by rolling to the side. Keep weaving around the Brute and Husk, allowing James and Garrus to take them out for you.
Head towards Victus’ location and be sure to pick up the Medi-Gel, Data Pads and Sniper Rifle Spare Ammo upgrade. You’ll have to fight off five Cannibals a few Marauders and eventually a Brute. You’ll have some support from Turian troops standing of roofs, but for the most part its up to you. There are plenty of Medical kits ,so feel free to heal if you need to. If you manage to take out the Marauders you can actually glitch out the Brutes by heading back to the entrance. Here, the caved in entrance will be too small for them to enter, allowing you to open fire without reprisal. Repeat this little cheat again to take out two more Brutes along with several more Marauders. Pick up the Sniper Rifle Enhanced Scope before heading over to the General.
Sur’Kesh
Upon returning to the Normandy there will be a power outage preventing you from going anywhere. Head down to Medical on the Crew Deck and find what’s happening. After a short scene you will now have EDI as a party member. You can also talk to the rest of the crew to build relationships or gain Paragon/Renegade points. Some of them will also reveal side quests, such as Grissom Academy in the Petra Nebula.
You can explore the galaxy more and head to the Citadel for side quests if you want, but your main goal is to talk to the Diplomats in Annos Basin. You’ll meet with diplomats from the Turians, Salarians, and Krogans. If Wrex and Mordin survived the previous two games events will change during this mission. Upon speaking with the three advisors you’ll head straight for Sur’Kesh. Talk to Wiks and head to the labs.
Talk to Mordin and the female Krogan to score up to 6 Paragon or Renegade. Make sure to pick up the Assault Rifle Extended Barrel among the shelves before moving on. You’ll be attacked basic Cerberus Troops that deploy smoke grenades. Instead of taking them head on, loop around to the right side labs and flank them for an easy victory. In the next area jump over the wall on the left to get by the fire and grab the Shotgun Spare Ammo upgrade.
Continue on and you’ll encounter more Troopers and Centurions. In this area you’ll need to protect the pod the female Krogan is riding inside. The pod’s integrity will appear and result in a mission failure if it’s destroyed. Simply be quick with taking out the enemy and use any form of crowd control from Biotics and Techs. Grab the credit Data Pad opposite of the pod before helping Mordin advance to the next area.
More standard Troopers ahead along with a Pistol High Caliber Barrel on the left hand side. After these enemies are dealt with head up the stair and you’ll encounter an Engineer that can build turrets. It’s best to kill the Engineer first as he can simply repair damage you deal to his mounted turrets. Instead of heading straight into the fight, flank around right and get the ambush on Cerberus. Before heading on grab the credits on the right side. There will also be a medical station through the next hall.
The next room is fairly easy if you head up the stairs and kill the ground floor enemies from above. You’ll once again need to keep the pod safe, so distract and kill the Cerberus troops quickly. You can also pick a M-13 Raptor near the dead Turian and a Pistol Scope sitting on one of the desks. Head over to the power terminal where you grab a Scorpion pistol and a some more medi-gel. Take out two more waves of the same Cerberus enemies before advancing on.
The next fight takes place in a large courtyard and you’ll have an easy drop on the next set of enemies. Afterwards a huge Atlas mech will drop down. It has both shields and powerful Armor so you will first need to ware it down with rapid fire shots before switching to strong fire based Techs that can penetrate its defenses. As long as you always stay out of its weapons range the Atlas shouldn’t be too hard, just a little tedious to kill.
Tuchanka
There are various side and optional tasks you can undertake at Tuchanka, including stopping Cerberus or aiding the Turians. You can also go off world and deal with the Rachni. After completing missions for Victus and or Wrex/Wreav (see the next two sections) you will gain the new goal of curing the Genophage. Make sure you’ve completed all the mission you want on the Citadel, as several will disappear and become inaccessible after clearing Tuchanka.
Once down on the planet destroy the Husks that welcome you. Like other Husk encounters this will be very easy as long as you stay your distance. During the next transport scene you can speak up the Salarian sabotage or remain quite, which can change the outcome of the fight. Once stopped by the broken road take the Pistol Melee Stunner, Death Mask, Shotgun Smart Choke, two medi gel cases, and a Graal Spike Thrower. When you’re ready to advance talk to the Krogan Scout.
Head through the ruins and examine the three painting for big Credits. Check the dead Ravager and head outside. You’ll encounter two Ravagers and three Cannibals in the court yard. Lure them out by looping around left but instead double back right and flank them. Thankfully, the Ravagers here won’t deploy Swarmers to hunt you down. Kill off six more Cannibals and a Brute along with Husks will arrive. Take out all of the Husks first before leaping back across the chasm you just crossed. From here you can easily ware down the Brute before it can charge you with a powerful swipe.
In the next area deal with the Cannibals from behind cover. As long as you don’t advance the Ravagers on the right won’t enter the fray. After the Cannibals are dealt with a group of Husks will arrive so destroy them. With the two other enemy types gone it shouldn’t take much to gun down the Ravagers. Within the next area you’ll be against three Cannibals, followed by Husks, and last two Marauders off in the distance. Prevent a flank from the right and there shouldn’t be trouble destroy the enemies coming from the left. Grab the SMG Scope on the left, Assault rifle Extended Barrel through the next doorway, and then keep moving along to the trucks.
After the cutscene remain put and gun down all of the Cannibals that arrive from above. Head to the left up the stairs and pickup a M-5 Phalanx before continuing on. For the next zone you’ll be up against a Destroyer class Reaper and a large amount of deployed Brutes. Your goal is to activate the two hammer controls on each side of the map. It’s best to straight up ignore the enemies, run and hit the switches for a quick completion.
If you ignored telling Mordin and Wrex/Wreav about the sabotage earlier you can use a high Paragon or Renegade score to convince Mordin to give up and abandon the Genophage cure and in turn save his life. However, if you want to help the cure Mordin will go the elevator and die. It’s up to you decide the fate of the Krogans.
Turian Survivors
This is a two part mission where you will first help rescues a squad of Tuians followed by assisting them with their mission on Tuchanka. You must complete either this quest for Victus or the Rachni mission for Wrex/Wreav to advance with the plot. You can do both if you want more War Assets as well.
Upon entering the battlegrounds the Reaper forces will be too busy with the Turians to notice you. This will give you a chance to surprise kill the few Husks and Cannibals right at the entrance. However, things will start to get hectic when the Harvester arrive and you can protect the Turian drop pod from being destroyed. Climb up the ladder on the left and quickly grab the Sniper Rifle Spare Ammo among the rubble. Take out the remaining enemies with long range weapons to keep the pod safe. While the pod isn’t mission critical, saving it will grant a nice bit of XP.
Head down the ledge and grab the Credits, Phaeston, and SMG Ultralight Materials inside the ally nooks. Ahead will be another optional pod you can protect for good XP. It’s being attacked by a Marauder and two Cannibals which shouldn’t prove too much of a problem. However, after destroying those Reapers a Harvester and three Husks will arrive. Stick to armor penetrating and high damage single shot weapons to deal with them quickly. One you’re done here, drop down the broken halls to the right, listen to the flight recording, and grab the Shotgun Smart Choke.
Kill the few Husks ahead and go for the Harvester before it retreats. If it manages to escape it will deploy more Cannibals as you advance and may use its powerful cannon from long range. For the most part rapid fire weapons are best for the Cannibals and Marauders while you should switch to armor penetration to defeat the Harvester. Keep moving forward and right to gain some extra medi gel, Sniper Rifle Extended Barrel. The next area will be a big battle. The most notable enemy will be a Brute in the distance. If can kill it quick with sniper rifles it won’t have a chance to inflict any damage. The biggest danger is the sheer amount of Cannibals that will toss around grenades, forcing you to seek new cover and heal up. Several waves of enemies will arrive and toward the end a Harvester will enter on the far right of the battlefield. The best option is to grab the Reaper Blackstar sitting near it and kill the Harvester with a single destructive shot.
Speak with Lieutenant Victus to learn of Cerberus’ goals and gain Reputation. It’s now time to head back to the Normandy and plan to stop Cerberus.
Locate Bomb
You’ll drop down in the shuttle right in a heated fight with Cerberus Assault Troops and Centurions. They are further protected by shield barriers. However, you can target the shield generators to deal a good amount of area damage. Since most of the enemies are unprotected you can easily clear them out. Just be sure to get away from grenades they frequently toss behind your cover.
Head up the ramp towards the building and snag the Shotgun Blade Attachment. The next area now has Engineer that deploy turrets, but the same strategy of targeting the generators to deal area damage works wonders. Before advancing grab the Rosenkov Materials Gauntlets in the right side corner and snag the credits up the ramp to the next area. Kill the few Troops on the second floor and grab the medi gel and Pistol Scope among the supply crates.
In the next area Cerberus will drop enemies via shuttle, however their descent is so slow that you can ill most of them before they land. Once again blowing up the generators will help clear them out. This time reactivate the generators to guard yourself from the next wave of forces to the left. Destroy the enemies with Techs and Biotic powers, grab the spare credits and advance up the next ramp.
Pickup the Sniper Rifle concentrate Module up the next ladder and Pistol Melee Stunner behind the large box around the right turn. Destroy the turret below and grab the medi gel and Cerberus Automated Turret Schematics. Down the next hall you’ll meet with Lieutenant Victus. You’ll need to protect him from several Cerberus Shuttles.
The enemies don’t pose much threat to you, but they will rush Victus, making it hard to prevent mission failure. Get close to the drop shuttles and kill as many enemies before they land on the ground. Any sort of distraction and area effect ability such as singularity, Drones, and Decoy will help wonder in this battle. You can even glitch the enemies by freezing/disabling the first Troop leaving the shuttle, forcing the other Cerberus soldiers to wait until their teammate dies. First always search for enemies attacking Victus, and then focus on cleaning up the rest.
After three shuttles Cerberus will deploy an Atlas shortly followed by a fourth shuttle. While the Atlas has huge fire power it’s defense is too high to take on right now. Kill the soldiers coming out of the shuttle before gunning the mech or they will surely kill Victus if unattended. It’s even more helpful if you send a squad member to keep the Atlas busy and the other to help you kill the smaller grunts. Once its just down to just the Atlas unload everything you’ve got to finish the mission. You’ll gain the Turian Blackwatch worth 75 War Assets for your trouble.
The Rachni
Wrex/Wreav will ask for your help within the Ninmah Cluster on Utukku. This mission can change depending on the survival of the Rachni Queen and Grunt. After being greeted by who ever the Korgan commander is, head into the tent on the left and gather both a M-300 Claymore and some credits. Continue on and in the first building is a SMG High Caliber Barrel.
Drop down to the next area and take the M-451 Firestorm from the dead Krogan. You’ll use this tool to clear the webbing ahead. In the next area destroy the Spore Pods before getting close as they explode when you get close. You soon be doing battle with Husks and a new enemy called Ravagers. These enemies can deploy smaller spawn to swarm you and have mounted cannons. The best option is to first destroy their sack to stop their minions and next switch to some kind of armor piercing weapon from afar. For the extra Swarmers take them down with melee attacks.
Search the area for a new Firestorm and a Shotgun Shredder Mod. Head through the next sea of pods, burn down two webs and destroy the Barrier controls to reveal the next area. As you move along this path taking on pods, destroy the webbing on the left to gain some credits from the destroyed Reaper tech. Also behind webbing in the next large room will be a dead Krogan. Examine him to find out his last request. Stock up on another Firestorm and move ahead for another encounter with Ravagers. This time the bugs will be aided by Cannibals. The same strategy mostly applies. Due to the distance you may want to drop the firestorm and switch to either rifle.
Move ahead and grab the Shotgun Spare Ammo from the dead Krogan. Be careful as you move forward as these sets of pods not only explode but will release Swarmers. Not much of a problem as long as you smash them down. Move past the next web and pick up the medi-gel and Pistol Piercing Mod. Destroy the Barrier controls to locate Grunt/Dag. Head down the small passage to find the central lair of the Rachni. Hit the Reaper node directly above you to release the wall on the left.
Kill the Husks, Cannibals, and Ravagers in this area and destroy Reaper Node with a powerful attack. This will release the right side wall back at the main entrance. Head back that and clear out the Ravagers and destroy the second Node. You’ll be ambush by two more Ravagers at rather close range and four Cannibals further back. Quickly destroy the Rachni Reapers in front of you with the Firestorm before pecking off the Cannibals from further back.
Return to the center where you will have to pick to help the Rachni or Korgan. Whichever you pick will increase the power of your galactic army by 25 points. Be sure to check back with your crew members later as they might have more quests for you.
The Citadel Attack
Cortez will drop you off in the landing area right in the middle of a Cerberus vs C-SEC warzone. Quickly get into cover and take down the Engineer along with his turret. After that move up the left or right ramp and flank the Troopers for an easy victory. Talk ot Bailey and head through the next door.
Two fodder Troopers will be across the hall so execute them quick. Several Guardians and an Engineer will emerge from stairs to the left so be on the ready with Tech and Biotics to destroy their defensive advantages. Take down the next few soldiers that come down from the second floor. Before hacking the door, head over to the right side of the room and collect the medi gel kit and Assault Rifle Piercing Mod.
Head next into the flooded room and duck out left into the lavatories. You’ll find a M-76 Revenant by the sink and credits in the locker. Head back out into the wet room and quickly dispatch the Engineer and other goons around here. Restock at the medical station, down the hall, and then hop left through the broken window. Here you’ll gain a Sniper Rifle Extended Barrel and the controls to open the sealed elevator.
On next floor check the right side rooms for a Pistol Piercing Mod and some credits. Head through the door on the left and surprise kill the Trooper down the hall. Keep going and slink into the kitchen on the right. Grab the credits and medi gel here and get ready for more Cerberus canker sores. The enemy will drop from across the cafeteria, but for the most part this is the same old fight as before. Just flank around left to wipe the Troopers out of existence.
Cerberus shuttles will drop off a new deadly type of warrior: the Phantom. They move quickly, have barriers, cloak, and can instantly kill with their melee strikes. However, because they need to get in close to deal damage you can quickly take them down with either rifle type. Liara’s Warp Ammo will also help here if it has been upgraded a few levels. There will also be a few Troopers and a Nemesis to support these new soldiers, but for the most part concentrate on the Phantoms first before they get close to you or your allies. To keep yourself safe first jump across the chasm ahead to lure the enemy and then jump back to give yourself more distance.
Once done with the fight head forward over the broken portions of the Citadel, grab the credits along the way, and head into the next battle with Cerberus. You’ll be up against an Engineer and Atlas. Quickly kill the Engineer before he can deploy his turret before switching attention to the Atlas mech. Use the first room on the left to take cover and flank the Atlas as it gets in close. Once its shields are down and armor is depleted by half a shuttle will arrive to drop off several more Troopers. Ignore them and take the Atlas out first before sweeping up the rest of the fodder.
Ride up the elevators to find the council members. You can prevent most of the Cerberus troops from reaching you by destroying the elevator generators below their lifts. If they do manage to land on you kill the Phantoms as soon as possible to avoid being instantly killed. You don’t have to worry about the Troopers too much as you will eventually out last their elevator.
Upon exiting the elevator you must use a moderate Paragon or Renegade check or Ashley/Kaidan will die at your hands or a squad member’s. If Ashley/Kaidan lived you can speak with them as you enter the Normandy. You can decide if they should join Hackett’s fleet as a 25 point War Asset or become a squad member.
Geth Dreadnought
Head to the Far Rim and speak to the Admirals aboard the Quarian Envoy Ship. If Tali was recruited and survived the suicide mission in Mass Effect 2 she will now join the party. She will also become mandatory for this mission. If Tali died or was never saved from Haestorm, Xen will take over her role in the story, but won’t actually join you during the fighting.
Watch a few cutscenes and you’ll now be able to walk across the broken space tube and onto the Geth ship. Once inside pick up the Shotgun Smart Choke on the and then head up the ladder on the right. Open the door across the gap and pick up the Geth Data. Now, climb the nearby ladder and hit the controls to get your two party members on board. Xen/Tali will give you the Arc Pistol which can be charged for more damage.
With your party in tow head through the passageway and turn on the bridge controls. You’ll be attacked by Geth Troopers and Rocket Troopers who also have shields. If you played previous Mass Effect games these enemies aren’t anything new. However if Mass Effect 3 is your first romp, try to remember that Geth are synthetic making them weak to Techs such as Overload and Sabotage. Since you’ll likely have Tali make use of her powerful hacking abilities to temporarily gain the support of your Geth enemies.
Move around the next few room to gather up Geth Data, a Geth Pulse Rifle, and Archon Visor. Through the next room you’ll be against Geth Hunters that can make use of stealth. However, it’s not that hard to spot these cloaked enemies with either a scope or once they come into close range. Destroy them all before searching the other side of the room for Geth Data and a SMG Scope. Another wave of Geth will emerge from the left side so take care of them by hunkering down in the opposite corner. Destroy them all and head through the door, down the ladders and into the main engine.
Be careful of walking down the main hall as a burst of energy will stream through every few minutes. You’ll easily be able to tell when a new wave of energy will jet through by listening around and paying attention to the motors in the background. Both long ranged attacks such as sniper fire and area damage from grenades will prove useful in killing the Geth inside the engine room. Also remember that the enemies are still weak to Tech, namely the sabotage hacking abilities.
Bypass the next door and gather up the credits and medi gel around. Maintain the same strategy and you will soon come to the center of the ship. If Legion survived Mass Effect 2 you will find him here. Otherwise he will be replaced by a Geth VI. First pick up the Assault Rifle Precision Scope and then free Legion to start up a fight.
This is similar to the last few fights, but you’ll soon have to deal with the meaty Geth Primes. They have shields, armor, and hit rather hard. Use overload quickly and follow up with fire attacks to take down the Primes quickly. However, be sure to lay down mines or other area attacks to prevent being swarmed by the cloaked hunters. Still, as long as you keep focused on key targets the battle shouldn’t take too long.
Rannoch
To gain this mission you will need to complete one of the two side missions on Rannoch, either shutting down the fighters or saving Koris. It is recommended that you do both first as the outcome of this mission can change. If Tali is alive she will be a mandatory member of your squad, and you should pair her with EDI.
Hack the first geth you come across and allow them to destroy each other. Search their spawn point and you will gain a SMG high caliber barrel. Head up the nearby ladder and ascend to the next level.
Stick to the far left side and take out the geth with ranged powers and drones. Head up the nearby ladder and snatch up the assault rifle piercing mod and Kassa fabrication gauntlets. Climb the next ladder, destroy some rocket troopers and steal the reaper tech and SMG ultralight materials.
Take the assault rifle stability damper and quickly get into cover. There will soon be more geth that will attack from the left side balcony, but aren’t much of a problem for a good tech user. Along the left side also be sure to snatch up the geth plasma shotgun, which is among the best weapons in the game. Salvage several pieces of data and restock the med kit.
Your new geth shotgun will be just the thing to clear out the next wave of geth. It can even be charged to deal long range damage to the nasty pyros that come your way. Head towards the elevator and you’ll be ambushed by a number of geth primes. Instead of using your new shotgun, grab the nearby spitfire and quickly destroy the massive enemies.
Once the geth are destroyed, move forward and target the base ahead. It will reveal a Reaper and start up a turret chase. During this time hit the monster directly in the eye to find its weak point. You’ll be separated from the rest of the team and only have a targeting laser. Use the targeting laser to slowly deploy lasers from the Normandy. You’ll also need to be quick about running or dodging as the Reaper can kill you with a single eye laser. After four Normandy shots the Reaper should fall.
The next part depends on your imported ME2 data and if you saved Koris in the previous mission. If you saved Tali from exile and destroyed the heretic geth back in the previous game you will have a good leeway to broker peace between the races. Otherwise, you’ll have to choose either to slaughter the geth and quarians. Which ever race(s) survives will join as war assets.
Geth Fighter Squadrons
You’ll need to complete this mission or the one to save Admiral Koris to unlock the final push for Rannoch. This mission will strengthen the power of the Geth and any war assets they provide.
This is the most straight forward mission in the whole game. There are no enemies and no other form of danger. You simply have to look around the area for glowing blocks and destroy them with your imaginary brain gun; the gun even auto reloads when out of ammo. The only thing to look out for is a reaper code fragment sitting around.
In later areas the data code will be stronger along the virtual streams. You will need to find the second glowing blocks further down each stream and destroy them before going for the one directly blocking your path (or connected to data clusters).
Admiral Koris
This is the second mission you can undertake in order to advance the Geth-Quarian war. Finishing this quest has the potential to bolster the Quarians and their war assets.
Head down the narrow pathways and you’ll encounter a number of geth. They only consist of basic assault and rocket troopers, making them not at all difficult. After clearing out the enemies grab the geth parts and javelin rifle. Destroy a few more geth in the way and continue down to the next section.
At the first set of towers you’ll be able to steal some geth technology and a geth spitfire. As in past missions you’ll need to have one of your teammates fix the tower. Choose the one that is less combat savvy against geth (Vega, Kaidan, etc.). Focus on taking down the geth prime first and any others that attempt to rush you. After a few waves the tower repairs will be complete. Advance forward and gain the assault rifle magazine upgrade, medi gel, and shotgun shredder mod before moving on.
In the next area you can search around for more geth parts and a SMG magazine upgrade. Speak with the dying Dorn to learn about what happened. Fight through more geth, this time making use of the powerful spitfire. Even the mighty geth primes will only be an even match to such a strong gun. Take the Armax arsenal chestplate and head over to either AA gun to shut them down.
Assign the same character who repaired the earlier tower and get ready for a massive wave of geth. There will be too many to take on safely with just guns, but thankfully there will be a nearby turret that can easily shred through the enemy. If one of the geth gets to the turret be sure to eliminate them quickly and re-man the gun. After clearing out one AA gun you’ll need to repeat the process at a second. Outside of some extra geth pyros the battle will be the same as the last AA gun.
You’ll be picked up by Cortez and finally be able to contact Koris. If you have enough Paragon or Renegade points you can convince him to come along, otherwise you will instead have to rescue his men. Either way you’ll soon be in a turret sequence. Destroy the remaining geth to save the stranded Quarians and gain them as war assets.
Thessia
First head to the Citadel and speak with the Asari councilor to learn about the problems on Thessia. She’s located inside Undia’s old office. After the talk, fly over to Thessia and deploy along side Liara. Ashley, Garrus, or James will be work as a second partner.
Upon landing on the planet search the area for a free Umbra visor and loot the nearby supplies. Head over to the small band of Asari and speak to Kurin to find what’s happenings. Reapers will soon emerge and you’ll need to man the turret and defend the crushed barrier. Take out the smaller husks first and then concentrate on the larger brutes.
Head across the bridge and you’ll do battle with more enemies. The bulk of the Reaper forces will be marauders and cannibals, but still be mindful of the few banshees that emerge. These are the same enemies you’ve fought time and again, so stick with the same strategies from the past.
Grab the med kits, salvage the computer, and hack your way to the next area. You’ll have support from an Asari sniper that will distract a number of Reapers. For the most part stay up high, destroy the barrier engines, and order Liara to deploy constant singularities. Search the area for a shotgun high caliber barrel and move down to gain the M-98 widow.
Around the next corner you’ll gain support from an Asari fighter that will blast through a good number of enemies. Still, you should concentrate on taking on the banshees before they get in too close. Head up the ramp and take the assault rifle extended barrel. Destroy the remaining husks and marauders before moving on.
Harvesters will soon arrive and annihilated your Asari support. Destroy the barrier engines first and any husks that attempt a rush. Next take out the harvesters with your strongest weapons and take the SMG heat sink. With the Reapers down, you’ll have passage to the Asari temple.
Inside the temple, take the medi gel laying around. You need to search several statues inside to unlock the secrets of Athame. First check the center statue, followed by the artifacts on the far left, right and back at the entrance.
Kai Leng will soon attack, but isn’t a threat at all. Use any form of distraction attack such as building a turret or proximity mines and the assassin won’t even get close. Still, get in to cover quick each time the drop ship emerges to provide Leng with support fire or a barrier recharge. With Liara on your side, this fight won’t last very long.
Horizon
This mission may change depending on if Miranda survived the events of ME2 and how you’ve treated her during your past meetings. You’ll be fighting a mix of Cerberus and Reapers here, making it a good place to bring Ashley or James and Liara.
Upon reaching the front courtyard you’ll be attacked by a phantom and nemesis. Order your team to distract the sniper first while you quickly gun down the run away ninja. Enter Sanctuary and check the area for extra medi gel and XP from the data pads. Destroy the basic Cerberus troopers and loot the area for a pistol scope.
Switch off the water pump and head across the newly accessible ladders. Grab the Rosenkov Materials shoulder guard and into the building. You’ll be attacked by marauders, banshees, and ravagers. With these many enemies, quickly take them down with any grenades or keep them busy with a biotic blast.
Check the PDAs and collect research data. Clear out more Reapers (mostly Marauders) and equip yourself with both the M-12 locust and shotgun blade attachment. Climb up into the tower and take out the next wave of marauders. This time they will have plenty of barrier engines, so destroy the machines first.
Pick up the medi gel and head into the elevator. In the next room you’ll have to deal with both brutes and a banshee. The room is big enough that you can circle around and kite the enemy while your teammates destroy them. Take more medi gel and the M-99 saber.
There will be one last computer to salvage before heading into the final lift. During the cut scene you will need a moderate to high amount of paragon or renegade to save Ms. Lawson. Otherwise, you’ll be out another useful amount of war assets.
Cerberus Headquarters
This is the point of no return. Finish up all of your remaining side quests from the Citadel and collect war assets before going on this mission. You will be forced to use EDI during this mission and pairing her with a beefy fighter (Garrus, Ashley, James) will work out best.
You smash right into a Cerberus hanger so be ready to defend yourself against the waves of troopers. Take over and be ready to counter-snipe the nemesis on the upper left catwalk. After the first wave you’ll need to destroy an Atlas. Once it’s cleared out, head up the ladder to the second level.
Loop around to the other side, killing each trooper you run into, and hit the rotation controls. Search the area for extra medi gel and a PDA containing XP and cash.
Head back down to the first floor and turn on the clamp controls on the right. This will release the Cerberus fighter and clear a path to the next zone. Destroy the atlas that emerges and take the M-37 Falcon dropped in its wake.
Roll down the ladder ahead and destroy more waves of flimsy troopers. Take the medi gel and spare parts before taking the next ladder. Take the Serric Council greaves and blast down more Cerberus troopers and nemesis.
Sneak around the centurions and take them out with close range blasts. You can detonate the shield generators to take out the turrets and engineers rather quickly.
For the next wave of turrets stick to any grenades or mines you have. EDI’s decoy is also nice for distracting any form of gun fire. Take the ladder up and check the consoles to more XP medi gel, and a delumcore overlay.
The next area will contain a large number of Cerberus forces. If you failed to save Jack you will fight her as a phantom. Also, it is possible for Legion to appear if you gave him to Cerberus back in ME2. Regardless, you’ll be against phantoms and snipers while moving along a narrow catwalk.
Concentrate on the closest enemies while you order your squad to provide cover fire. Over all it should prove to be that hard. Head up to the top ladder and check the consoles for more info about the Illusive Man.
In the next room you’ll find a VI you can talk to, but none of the dialogue choices will affect anything. Kai Leng will appear again and you’ll have the exact same fight from last time. He does have a few more pals and the floor may change around, but Kai Leng is a pathetic assassin. A turret, mine, or singularity will keep all of the foes at bay and open for a spanking.
After the enemy is destroyed keep your fingers ready for one final renegade prompt.
Earth: London
This is the final battle for the universe. Head down to the Normandy’s cargo hold and buy all of the best weapons and armor from Cortez. We preferred shields and weapon damage for this battle, but go with something that aligns with your class and play style.
You can take whoever you want, but having Liara or Javik with their biotics works best. For a second teammate go for Garrus or Ashley. You’ll be up against a massive amount of cannibals and marauders with very little cover. Get into hiding and quickly snipe down as many enemies as possible.
A brute will soon emerge, so concentrate your armor piercing weapons on it before it can get in close. Climb up to the next level and Cortez’s shuttle will be attacked. If you lack enough war assets he will die horribly; he survives if your arbitrary numbers are high enough.
On the next floor you’ll be attacked by more cannibals. However, your objective is to snatch up the M-920 Cain and blow up the reaper in the background. Don’t worry, you have like three or more of these so don’t worry about ammo.
At this point you may fight Morinth if she lived through ME2, otherwise it will be a basic banshee. Both possibly enemies will be joined by more cannibals. Use any Cains that still have before switching to a good sniper rifle.
You’ll be rescued and sent to the military encampment. To all of your squad members, as well as surviving crew members from ME2. Along the way will be a turret sequence, but your only foes will be weak husks. Take them out quick and head further to speak with Anderson. Pick your final party members for the last section of the game. For us we sticked with the classic pair of Garrus and Liara.
Help escort the Alliance tanks by blasting through the first wave of marauders and cannibals. Be mindful of enemies above you who can easily shoot over lower chest high walls. A harvester will soon appear should be the focus of your ire. The only threat after that will be a lone banshee and you’ve already fought a billion of those.
Head into the garage and disable the husks with a strong singularity or well tossed grenade. Brutes will soon the tiny area so powerful area of effect attacks will do nicely. Head through the next ladder and loot the damage apartment for a small bit of medi gel.
More marauders will attack, soon followed up by a brute and several husks. As always, destroy the weaker enemies before going after the meaty brute. Destroy the cannibals that emerge around the corner and loot the area for medi gel.
Now for the last stand as you attempt to power the missile battery. Destroy the brutes quickly with any means of fire power. Around the zone will be at least four medi gel and a hydra launcher that can be used to clear out several waves of foes. At first you’ll just need to deal with cannibals, but as the hoard mode increases you’ll be up against more brutes, banshees and harvesters at once. These later rounds are when you should whip out the hydra and blow everything to kingdom come. Once EDI alerts you to the battery’s repairs, ignore the enemy and make a blitz towards the controls.
Final Push
It’s time for the final push against Harbinger and the Reapers. Don’t worry about the giant mega death laser of murder, as Harbingers shots won’t actually hit you. Just keep running forward and you’ll be blasted into a new zone, complete with charred armor. Destroy the husks and/or marauder in your way. Yup, that was the last boss, now head into the beam for talkie time.
Briskly lug your bloody corpse into the main room and get ready for dinner with Anderson and TIM. If you lack high enough paragon or renegade points you will have to be mindful of the renegade prompts. If you success in all dialogue choices, the Illusive Man will kill himself. Otherwise he may first kill Anderson, and then turn the gun on you for a game over. Just keep talking and things can flip around.
After taking the magic elevator and speaking with space Jesus you may or may not have several options ahead of you. If you lacked war assets the Starchild will block off paths and endings. If you had 4000 EMS and Anderson lived or 5000 EMS and Anderson died you will have access to all possible Mass Effect endings. If you have a high color pick A, B, or C and watch the light show.
N7: Cerberus Lab
This mission can be gained by talking to Traynor on your ship. The lab is located on Sanctum in the Decoris system. It starts easy enough by taking out a squad of Cerberus Assault Troopers and Centurions. Before grabbing the artifact you can also snag some credits, data pad worth XP, a sniper rifle scope, and Alien Medi-Gel Formula Artifact. The second wave is mostly rinse and repeat, but things will get much more hectic for the third.
Cortez will have to fly away for a short time, meaning you’ll have to wait and hold ground until he comes back. Cerberus will unleash some of their more nasty soldiers: shielded troopers and engineers. Use whatever Biotics you have against the shield holders to make them vulnerable; also concentrate on the engineers first before destroying the turrets they can deploy. Most importantly be mindful of all the grenades that will be tossed around and roll away from them right way.
After about three or four more waves, Cortez will arrive again allowing you to escape. Back on the Normandy you’ll be rewarded with Cerberus Research Data worth 50 War Assets.
Grissom Academy: Emergency Evacuation
Traynor will mention the Academy some time after clearing Palaven. Head to the Perta Nebula Cluster and find what’s going on. Parts of this mission will change depending if Jack survived Mass Effect 2’s Suicide Mission.
Kill the first few Cerberus Troops in your way and you’ll come to a locked door. Backtrack and instead head to the right to find Kahlee Sanders. Head through the previous locked door and surprise kill the two soldiers down the halls. Check the bench on the far right for extra Credits and talk to the Biotic Riley for some Reputation. Hope the left wall, read the Tactical Analysis Review for XP, and grab the SMG Heat Sink.
Head into the next room and kill the Cerberus troops by destroying the Shield Generators for extra damage. Head into the left room and take the M-22 Eviscerator off the bench before doubling back the way you came. Quickly run down the hall and turn right to save Riley’s sister Seanne. Pickup the M-96 Mattock sitting on the bench before heading through the next open door.
After chatting with Jack/Prangley you’ll need to destroy an Atlas along with two waves of Centurions and Assault Troopers. Clear out the weaker enemies first other wise they will get the jump on the Grissom students and destroy the barrier. For the Atlas stick to any form of Tech to stun or distract it, namely Drones or Sabotage. After the fight check the benches around the perimeter to gain some medi gel, datapad worth XP and disable the camera controls. Head up to the room the students are inside and check the desk for Credits, an Assault Rifle Precision Scope and the Door Override.
Through the next door will be a large fight: an Atlas, many Centurions, Guardians, and very soon Engineers with turrets. Try to bunker down where you enter from but watch your right side as the enemy will attempt to flank you every so often. You’ll want to take out the Engineers first so they don’t spawn or repair turrets. The Guardians are easily dealt with via Bitoics such as Singularity. The Atlas is actually too far to hit you with most of its weapons, but still be very careful of its power rocket launcher. Once the first two waves of enemies are cleared head down to the main floor and through the door on the right. Loot the medi gel and credits through the hall and into the other side of the atrium.
The other half of the room will be even more frantic. You’ll be assaulted by not only Guardians but three different Engineers with turrets. Use any Techs you can muster, mainly ones that can quickly destroy or disable the rapid fire turrets. If you get too overwhelmed run back to the previous room and take cover behind the incline separating the two sections. This will allow you to pop out and kill a few targets was remaining moderately safe.
Head into the next hallway and talk to Octavia to gain some Paragon or Renegade points. Down the hall will be a terminal containing Biotic Amp Interfaces. Kill the Engineer through the next room and steal the Atlas for your own private use. You can use the cannon while moving, but will have to stop to melee or fire a missile. The cannon is strong enough to kill enemies in one or two hits, making it your best option. Destroy the foes in the center, followed by waves on each side of the room. You’ll then fight a fourth wave on the second floor above. They can easily be kill by using missiles on the generators. After a fifth wave of soldiers an enemy Atlas will appear. This time around stick to launching a constant stream of missiles to detonate the rival mech hastily.
Before heading out to the shuttle grab the SMG Magazine Upgrade sitting on a bench in the room’s entrance. You’ll be rewarded with the Biotic Company and Kahlee Sanders War Assets for a combined total of 95. You can also boost your War Assets slightly by heading to your Spectre terminal and authorizing Citadel Entry for Grissom instructors and students.
N7: Cerberus Attack
This mission can be gained after completing Sur’Kesh. There will be a good amount of Cerberus enemies around, mostly Troopers and Centurion, but also a few Engineers with turrets. If you explore the area you can pick up a pair of Armax Arsenal Gauntlets, credits, and some medi-gel. When you’re ready hit the control console for the second wave.
For this next round take out the Nemesis sniper right away as they move fast and can deal close to near fatal damage. Next sweep up the Engineer before moving onto the Centurions and last the Assault Troopers. Shoot off the two latches on each Power Module to restart the cannon’s systems.
The last bout will be against Guardians and an Engineer held up inside the control room. If you can, send up your allies from the front entrance stairs or side ladder, while you sneak up from the back and take out the turrets or shield user. This will also help to avoid being destroyed by grenades.
After the mission you’ll be given a 50 point bonus to the Krogan First Division War Asset.
N7: Cerberus Abduction
You’ll gain this mission from Traynor after either helping with the Turians on Tuchanka or dealing with the Rachni. Before entering right into the battle search the first building ahead and read the Data Pad resting on the sink bathroom.
The first wave of enemies isn’t much of a problem. Just a few Troops and Engineers that stand in your way. For the second wave you’ll need to walk over to the trapped civilians being over run by Cerberus troops; still not that hard. The last wave is the most annoying as Cerberus Engineers and Centurions will constantly spawn from all directions. It’s best to bunker down in a corner to avoid being flanked by the enemy.
Eventually the enemies will stop instant respawning and Cortez will arrive to pick you up. Explore the area some more if you haven’t already. There is a Capacitor Helmet sitting near a trash bin the far right corner of the map. You’ll gain a good amount of Reputation and the Arcturus First Division as a 60 point War Asset. You can also now purchase information on Bilal Osoba via the Spectre terminal on the Citadel.
N7: Cerberus Fighter Base
You’ll get word about a Cerberus Fighter Base on Noveria after dealing with the problems on Tuchunka. As with many other N7 missions this is a spruced horde frenzy of sorts, but this time with Shepard and the gang. Finishing this mission will net you 75 more War Assets in the form of the Advanced Fighter Squadron.
Take out the first wave of Cerberus agents, mostly just Troopers and Centurions so not much to worry about. Head down below and activate the Security console. One of your teammates needs to handle the codes so they will be indisposed for a while. It’s best to have some type of crowd control for the next wave so keep EDI or Liara with you.
As long as you stay bunkered in the same room and use lots of Techs and Bitoics the enemies won’t really have a chance to hurt you. Just in case be sure to guard both doors to prevent getting flanked. For the next round head back up the stairs and be sure to snag the medi gel on the wall, several datapads worth Credits, and a Pistol Magazine Upgrade sitting on a bench.
The next stage will be against some more nasty fighters including Engineers with Turrets and quick Nemesis snipers. Use as many disabling Techs as possible to stun the turrets and concentrate on eliminating the sniper first. After that the smaller Troopers won’t last long. For a last minute touch Cerberus will release an Atlas into the main landing zone. As long as you were holed up in the center the Atlas should be too far to even shoot you. Peck away at it with heavy armor piercing shots to complete the mission.
Kallini: Ardat-Yakshi Monastery
Liara will give you this mission after hearing from the quarian fleet. Travel to the Mesana system within the Nimbus Cluster and land on planet Lesuss. You’ll meet Samara during this mission if she survived Mass Effect 2. You’ll also get some different dialogue if you picked Morinth over Samara.
Once you’ve landed pick up the Assault Rifle Stability Damper and head into the door. Descend down the ladder and move through the darkened halls. Search around and you’ll gain both a Pistol Melee Stunner and Gallae’s Electronic Signature. There will be a room on the side which contains credits within a wall safe and a Sniper Rifle Spare Ammo upgrade. Open up the door and you should be able to search a fllen Asari for some extra XP.
You’ll soon need to fight it out with a Banshee, which may likely be your first encounter with this enemy type. Banshees use powerful Biotics, can teleport, and have an instant kill melee attack. Quickly break down the Banshee’s barrier with Overload or rapid fire weapons. The Banshee has armor instead of health requiring use of stronger single hit weapons or fire damage. Also be on the look out for Husks and Cannibals that show up, but don’t let them distract you from gunning down the Reaper Ardat-Yakshi.
Once the enemies are dead, bypass the door and enter the main building. Cannibals and Marauders are inside and fight like every other previous encounter with them. Break down their shields and they won’t be able to stand for long. Search the nearby rooms to gain some more medi gel, credits, a Serrice Council Shoulder Guards, and Disciple. You’ll be attacked by another wave of Reapers including a Banshee supported by Husks. This fight isn’t much different: concentrate on the Banshee unless you’re overwhelmed by the Husks. After the fight grab the Assault Rifle Precision Scope sitting on the left. Once you’re prepared, head through the elevator and into the main hall.
Loot the two medical stations for more healing items and touch the bomb to start a new fight with the Reapers. Because of the smaller space and larger amount of Banshees, take out the Husks fast with area attacks such as grenades and Biotics. Always stay out of the Banshee’s range, using assault rifles to tear down their barriers and sniper rifles to penetrate the thick armor.
If Samara survived past this entire ordeal, you may use the Paragon prompt to recruit her as a 25 point War Asset. However, it’s up to you to decide the fate of the Ardat-Yakshi. In addition you will gain the Asari Commando War Asset.
Arrae: Ex-Cerberus Scientists
You’ll gain this mission from Traynor after hearing from the quarians. Your objective is to head over to Gellix and save a group of defecting Cerberus Scientists. Portions of this mission will change if both Jacob survived the suicide mission and you gave the Collector Base to the Illusive Man back in Mass Effect 2.
Upon landing you can get a drop on the distracted Cerberus Troopers and Centurions that are trying to gun down the scientists. As with Tuchunka, you should destroy the shield generators to cause strong area damage. Talk to Jacob/Webber and a second wave of enemies will arrive. Once again this will comprise of basic Cerberus soldiers so there isn’t much strategy.
Once inside the base talk to the various scientists to gain extra information and check the data pads for XP. On the upper levels you can also collect more medi gel, an Assault Rifle Magazine Upgrade, Kassa Fabrication Greaves, Shotgun High Caliber Barrel, and the Turian Toxin Data inside a microscope. Once you’re ready, talk to Brynn and the other, and then head up the ladder to the roof.
Quickly pick up the M-6 Carniflex. Shoot out the shield generators and concentrate first on the Engineer and his turret. Clean out the other Troops and Centurions before grabbing the SMG High Caliber Barrel off to the left side. Keep heading forward through the enemies and you’ll locate Telemetry controls. Gather up the remaining medkits and turn on the console.
Back track the other way and ascend up the steps towards the AA guns. Most of the enemy troops will deploy from a Cerberus shuttle, making them easy pickings to continuous Biotic attacks such as Singularity. As for the rest, destroying the shield generators and other area attacks are great for wiping the enemy. Once the area is clear, gather up the Sniper Rifle Piercing Mod, Shotgun Spare Ammo and the remaining medi gel. Now head up the ladders ahead and activate the AA guns.
Each time an AA gun is turned on, Cerberus will unleash more troops, including the deadly Phantoms. Luckily there is a mounted turret settled next to the AA guns, allowing you to mutilate even the beefiest enemies that come your way. At the second set of controls you’ll need to choose a teammate to man the activation. Pick one of your more offensive characters (Ashley, James) while someone with crowd control supports you (Liara, Javik). Keep on the AA guns and Cerberus won’t last for long.
Once the AA guns are working, report back to Jacob. You’ll now need to fight more Cerberus soldiers at the entrance. The enemy will once again arrive by shuttle, making them easy to disable or toss around with Biotics. Soon you’ll be up against a few Engineers and an Atlas mech. Stay far back out of the turrets’ range and you’ll be able to take out the Atlas easily with sniper shots and incinerate. If you even aim for the glass you should be able to kill the pilot, steal the mech, and eradicate the reaming enemies.
Upon completion the surviving scientists and Jacob will join as a large amount of War Assets.
N7: Fuel Reactors
You’ll gain this mission after destroying the Geth dreadnought. Be careful about moving around right away as most of the zone is contaminated with toxin. Speak to Riley near the entrance and take the nearby Medical Treatment Plans and Rosenkov Materials Chestplate.
On the other side of Captain Riley will be a set of crane controls. Use the buttons to move the crates from the left side and clear a path. Salvage the nearby parts for credits and head through the newly created path. Start up the vent controls to start a battle with Reaper forces.
You’ll mostly be up against Husks and Marauders for the first few waves. Remember to destroy the barrier engines, otherwise the Reapers may recharge their barriers. Try to hunker down in either the extration zone or the central energy core. Once the first wave is cleared, grab the PDAs for extra XP and repower the reactor to summon more enemies.
You’ll eventually have the option to send a team member to rescue Riley and her team. Do so, as her survival means more war assets. Once it’s just down to two members you’ll be ambushed by a wave of brutes. Use the two sets of ramps to run circles around them and use fire based attacks (incenerate, incendary ammo) to destroy them.
Citadel Missions
The Citadel acts as a town hub where you can pick up many side quests for extra cash, War Assets, and Reputation. some of these quests even link to past events from Mass Effect 1 and 2.
Aria
Aria from Omega can be found inside Purgatory. She wants you to unite the Blood Pack, Blue Suns, and Eclipse. If Zaeed survived Mass Effect 2 he might change this mission slightly. You can recruit these mercs in any order, with the Blood Pack being the fastest. Might as well start there.
Head down to the Commons and into the apartment area. Meet with Narl to gain some Reputation and an update to the Terminus Fleet War Asset. For Eclipse head to the Embassies and chat with Bailey. You can try to force him to release Sederis for Renegade points, but this will fail anyway. You’ll need to head to the C-SEC office in the Commons and talk to the criminal directly. She’s clearly crazy, but can released for Renegade points. For the Paragon option head down to the Docks: Holding Area and convince her second in command to take over Eclipse.
For the Blue Suns Vosque can be found in the Holding Area at Cargo Hold A. He will ask you to take care of Oraka in the Commons. Talk to the General yourself to hear his story. You can take the Renegade path and off him, or choose Paragon and find a new weapons source. Talk to Kannik over in the Market and he will agree to supply weapons in exchange for an artifact. The one he wants is in the Kite’s Nest Cluster, Vular System, on the planet Vana. With Kannik’s help you can convince Oraka to leave the Blue Suns alone.
With all three tasks complete the mercenary groups will help you in the war effort.
Hanar Diplomat
You’ll get an e-mail about this while on the Normandy. Head to the Embassy and talk to Jondum Bau. If Kasumi survived Mass Effect 2 parts of this mission may be fairly different. Move over to the Spectre Terminal and enable Hanar Embassy Tracking. Now head to the Terminal in the Embassy Offices to get the first piece of evidence. There are two more pieces of evidence in the Holding Area, one at the Security Check Point and the other over in Bay E28.
Head back to the Embassy and talk to Bau to confront the Hanar. There will be a Renegade prompt to save Bau, but if you ignore it and let him die you will gain Hanar and Drell Forces (50 War Asset). Choose carefully.
Liara’s Father
Inside the Commons you can speak to the bartender Aethyta. She will reveal her relation to Liara. You can either go the Renegade path and send her away. Alternately, you may talk to Liara at the nearby table and convince her to talk to her father. Doing so will update the War Asset Asari Fifth Fleet.
Volus Ambassador
On the Normandy you’ll get mail from Victus after the Citadel Attack. It appears that the Turians are looking for an Ambassador named Korlack last seen on the Citadel. Head to the Spectre terminal and use the tracker to locate Korlack. Head over to the Embassy Office and talk to the guard to gain access to Korlack’s office. Listen to all three messages on the terminal to find out about the mercenaries that have captured Korlack. If Zaeed survived Mass Effect 2 he will be among them. Head over to the desk on the other side of the room and listen on the head set. You’ll be taken to the Commons where you will need to check two apartments. The first will always be the wrong one, so go to the second right after. You’ll save the Volus, and possibly with the help of Zaeed. If Zaeed was loyal in Mass Effect 2 you’ll be able to gain him as a War Asset down in the Docks. However, if he was disloyal he will perish during this mission.
Wounded Batarian
You’ll gain this mission by walking around the Commons and listening in on a Turian talk about a wounded Batarian. Head down to the Holding Area and talk to the Nurse. You can choose to either kill the Batarian (Paragon) or leave him to suffer (Renegade).
Spectre and Artifact Delivery
People on the Citadel and Normandy are looking for various items. Just by walking by someone you may overhear a request to pick up an item. These fetch quests can be completed by scanning planets, searching area during missions, or sometimes buying them from your Spectre terminal.
Scanning List
While traveling around the galaxy inside the Normandy you can discover many planets. By scanning these worlds you can unlock extra Credits, War Assets and Shadow Broker Intel to boost both your squad members and the entire war effort. New Clusters unlock by progressing through the story and listening to NPCs on the citadel for clues.
After Mars
| Reward | Type | Planet | System | Cluster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Javlin Missile Launchers | 50 War Asset | Watson | Skepsis | Sigurd’s Cradle |
| Credits | Salvage | Laena | Decoris | Sigurd’s Cradle |
| Banner of the 1st Regiment | Artifact | Digeris | Castellus | Apien Crest |
| Turian 79th Flotilla | 40 War Asset | Pheiros | Gemmae | Apien Crest |
| Prothean Data Files | 75 War Asset | Zion | Utopia | Exodus Cluster |
| Alliance Naval Exploration Flotilla | 75 War Asset | Tyr | Asgard | Exodus Cluster |
| Remains of Reaper Destroyer | Intel | Borr | Asgard | Exodus Cluster |
| Alliance Cruiser Shanghai | 40 War Asset | Terra Nova | Asgard | Exodus Cluster |
| Alliance Spec Ops Team Delta | 35 War Asset | Loki | Asgard | Exodus Cluster |
| Weapon Upgrade Kit | Intel | Verush | Harsa | Kite’s Nest |
| Pillars of Strength | Artifact | Khar’Shan | Harsa | Kite’s Nest |
| Credits | Salvage | Adek | Untrel | Kite’s Nest |
| Credits | Salvage | Trebin | Antaeus | Hades Gamma |
| Special Ops Team Zeta | 103rd Marine Division Update | Nonuel | Plutus | Hades Gamma |
| Credits | Salvage | Klensal | Dis | Hades Gamma |
| Alliance Frigate Agincourt | Alliance First Fleet Update | Juntauma | Farinata | Hades Gamma |
| Credits | Salvage | Chohe | Cacus | Hades Gamma |
After Palaven
| Reward | Type | Planet | System | Cluster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Biotic Implants | Intel | Metaponto | Aquila | Ismar Frontier |
| Credits | Salvage | Pietas | Fortis | Minos Wasteland |
| Credits | Salvage | Zada Ban | Xe Cha | Shrike Abyssal |
| Prothean Obelisk | Artifact | Talis Fia | Urla Rast | Shrike Abyssal |
After Sur’Kesh
| Reward | Type | Planet | System | Cluster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credits | Salvage | Mavigon | Han | Gemini Sigma |
| Alliance Cruiser Nirobi | Alliance Third Fleet Update | Parag | Ming | Gemini Sigma |
| Shadow Broker Wet Squad | 25 War Asset | Rothla | Dranek | Krogan DMZ |
| Black Market Artifacts | Artifact | Vana | Vular | Kite’s Nest |
| Intel from the Battle of Arcturus | Intel | Arcturus Station | Arcturus | Arcturus Stream |
After Tuchanka
| Reward | Type | Planet | System | Cluster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artifact | Book of Plenix | Irune | Aru | Aethon Cluster |
| Volus Fabrication Units | 45 War Asset | Cherk Sab | Aru | Aethon Cluster |
| Volus Intelligence Archives | Intel | Oma Kar | Nura | Aethon Cluster |
| Volus Dreadnought Kwunu | 50 War Asset | Solu Paolis | Esori | Aethon Cluster |
| Volus Engineering Team | 50 War Asset | Nalisin | Satu Arrd | Aethon Cluster |
| Interferometric Array | 45 War Asset | Eletania | Hercules | Attican Beta |
| ExoGeni Scientists | 50 War Asset | Feros | Theseus | Attican Beta |
After Citadel Attack
| Reward | Type | Planet | System | Cluster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asari Cruiser Cybean | 30 War Asset | Tevura | Parnitha | Athena Nebula |
| Asari Research Ships | 35 War Asset | Egalic | Orisoni | Athena Nebula |
| Asari Cruiser Nefrane | 30 War Asset | Pronoia | Tomaros | Athena Nebula |
| Hesperia Period Statue | Artifact | Polissa | Vernio | Athena Nebula |
| Asari Engineers | 30 War Asset | Trikalon | Ialessa | Athena Nebula |
| Intact Reaper Weapon | Intel | Trategos | Pelion | Nimbus Cluster |
| Library of Asha | Artifact | Carcosa | Agaiou | Nimbus Cluster |
| Credits | Salvage | Pietas | Fortis | Minos Wasteland |
| Prothean Data Drives | Artifacts | Garvug | Paz | Valhallan Threshold |
| Emergency Fuel Pods | 30 War Asset | Elohi | Micah | Valhallan Threshold |
| Element Zero Converter | 50 War Asset | Farlas | Micah | Valhallan Threshold |
After Geth Dreadnought
| Reward | Type | Planet | System | Cluster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credits | Salvage | Mavigon | Han | Gemini Sigma |
| Alliance Cruiser Nirobi | Alliance Third Fleet Update | Parag | Ming | Gemini Sigma |
| Shadow Broker Wet Squad | 25 War Asset | Rothla | Dranek | Krogan DMZ |
| Black Market Artifacts | Artifact | Vana | Vular | Kite’s Nest |
| Intel from the Battle of Arcturus | Intel | Arcturus Station | Arcturus | Arcturus Stream |
End Game
| Reward | Type | Planet | System | Cluster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haptic Optics Array | War Asset | Canrum | Hydra | Argos Rho |
| Turian Spec Ops Team | War Asset | Pinnacle Station | Phoenix | Argos Rho |
| Fossilized Kakiosaur | War Asset | Insta’sei | Phoenix | Argos Rho |
| Advanced Power Relays | War Asset | Camaron | Gorgon | Argos Rho |
| Alliance Frigate Hong Kong | War Asset | Asteria | Hekate | Hades Nexus |
| Obelisk of Karza | War Asset | Kopis | Hoplos | Hades Nexus |
| Alliance Frigate Lipzig | War Asset | Dobrovolski | Pamyat | Hades Nexus |
| Prothean Sphere | War Asset | Gei Hinnom | Sheol | Hades Nexus |
| Terminus Freighters | War Asset | Znethu | Plotiari | Hourgalss Nebula |
| Shadow Broker Support Team | War Asset | Hagalaz | Sowilo | Hourgalss Nebula |
| Shadow Broker Starship Tech | War Asset | Alingon | Faryar | Hourgalss Nebula |
| Salvage | Credits | Erinle | Osun | Hourgalss Nebula |
| Research Data from Pragia | War Asset | Pragia | Dakka | Nubian Expanse |
| Alliance Frigate Trafalgar | War Asset | Norehsa | Quesrtassi | Nubian Expanse |
| Alliance Marine Recon Unit | War Asset | Yamm | Kalabsha | Nubian Expanse |
| Dr Jelize | War Asset | Hanalei | Kypladon | Silean Nebula |
| Rings of Alune | War Asset | Nevos | Tyoila | Silean Nebula |
| Salvage | Credits | Quirezia | Tyoila | Silean Nebula |
| Code of the Ancients | War Asset | Dekunna | Phontes | Silean Nebula |
| Elcor Flotilla | War Asset | Oltan | Phontes | Silean Nebula |
| Serrice Guard | War Asset | Hyetiana | Nahuala | Silean Nebula |
| Armali Sniper Team | War Asset | Yasilium | Loropi | Silean Nebula |
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