Mass Effect: Hero - character classes Mass Effect Guide
Last update: 22 May 2021
Before you start playing and immerse yourself in the world of Mass Effect, I propose to familiarize with some tips and comment for the beginning.
Character
I won't suggest you to choose a specific class, because you travel most of the time with the squad, so what your character can't do could be complemented with talents of its members. It's best to choose one of the basic classes though, which are specialized in one of skill area: combat, tech or biotic. Only them can achieve a true mastery in a specific field. Mixed classes are more versatile but they lack good progress possibilities.
When you spend points to upgrade talents, remember to concentrate on chosen specialization rather than divide them evenly. It will help you to quickly develop a strong character. The same goes for the other members of the squad. It's better to make three specialist in different skills than three generally developed ones.
Here's a list of all classes and skills available for them:
Soldier
Talent | Ability |
Assault rifles | Overkill |
Assault training | Adrenaline burst |
Combat armor | Shield boost |
First aid | First aid |
Fitness | Immunity |
Pistols | Marksman |
Shotguns | Carnage |
Sniper rifles | Assassination |
Charm | Store discount |
Intimidation | Motivated buyer |
Spectre Training | Unity |
Soldier | - |
Shock Trooper (after completing assignment 13.11.1.1. Rogue VI) | - |
Commando (after completing assignment 13.11.1.1. Rogue VI) | - |
Engineer
Talent | Ability |
Basic armor | Shield boost |
Damping | Damping |
Decrypting | Sabotage |
First aid | First aid |
Electronics | Overload |
Medicine | Neural shock |
Pistols | Marksman |
Hacking | Hacking SI |
Charm | Store discount |
Intimidation | Motivated buyer |
Spectre Training | Unity |
Engineer | - |
Agent (after completing assignment 13.11.1.1. Rogue VI) | - |
Medic (after completing assignment 13.11.1.1. Rogue VI) | - |
Adept
Talent | Ability |
Barrier | Barrier |
Basic armor | Shield boost |
Lift | Lift |
Pistols | Marksman |
Singularity | Singularity |
Stasis | Stasis |
Throw | Throw |
Warp | Warp |
Charm | Store discount |
Intimidation | Motivated buyer |
Spectre Training | Unity |
Adept | - |
Bastion (after completing assignment 13.11.1.1. Rogue VI) | - |
Nemesis (after completing assignment 13.11.1.1. Rogue VI) | - |
Infiltrator
Talent | Ability |
Damping | Damping |
Decrypting | Sabotage |
Electronics | Overload |
First aid | First aid |
Fitness | Immunity |
Pistols | Marksman |
Sniper rifles | Assassination |
Tactical armor | Shield boost |
Charm | Store discount |
Intimidation | Motivated buyer |
Spectre Training | Unity |
Infiltrator | - |
Commando (after completing assignment 13.11.1.1. Rogue VI) | - |
Operative (after completing assignment 13.11.1.1. Rogue VI) | - |
Sentinel
Talent | Ability |
Barrier | Barrier |
Decrypting | Sabotage |
Electronics | Overload |
First aid | First aid |
Lift | Lift |
Medicine | Neural shock |
Stasis | Stasis |
Throw | Throw |
Charm | Store discount |
Intimidation | Motivated buyer |
Spectre Training | Unity |
Sentinel | - |
Bastion (after completing assignment 13.11.1.1. Rogue VI) | - |
Medic (after completing assignment 13.11.1.1. Rogue VI) | - |
Vanguard
Talent | Ability |
Assault training | Adrenaline burst |
Barrier | Barrier |
Lift | Lift |
Pistols | Marksman |
Shotguns | Carnage |
Tactical armor | Shield boost |
Throw | Throw |
Warp | Warp |
Charm | Store discount |
Intimidation | Motivated buyer |
Spectre Training | Unity |
Vanguard | - |
Shock Trooper (after completing assignment 13.11.1.1. Rogue VI) | - |
Nemesis (after completing assignment 13.11.1.1. Rogue VI) | - |
If you choose to play an adept - class with great potential, you should take with you Ashley - very good soldier and Tali, who specializes in tech skills. As soldier, you should cooperate with Tali and Liara, who is biotic. As engineer on the other hand, use the help of Ashley and Liara. This way during the combat you can not only use (directly or indirectly) a wide range of weapons, but also biotic and tech skills. It will make you prepared practically for everything.
When exploring new places, it's good to check all objects which will catch Shepard eye (they are marked with blue circle). Some of them will unlock new information in encyclopedia, which apart from gaining knowledge will give you experience points. This way you could also find containers and lockers with various useful things.
Hint 1! After finishing the game once, you can play again with your character on the same experience level and with the same equipment as when you was finishing Mass Effect for the first time. This is the only way to achieve 60 level (achievement). But it isn't as easy as it may seems - the game adjusts difficulty according to our advancement so combats become really challenging.
Hint 2! Alternative, but no less interesting idea is to finish the game second time but with completely new character. In Mass Effect, after gaining achievement for using given skill many times or killing specific amount of enemies with one type of weapon, you could create character with additional talent (the one related to the achievement). This way nothing stands in the way of becoming an adept who can use assault rifles for example.