Mass Effect 3: Endings list Mass Effect 3 guide, walkthrough

Last update: 29 October 2022

On this page of the guide you will find a list of the main endings of Mass Effect 3. In addition, we have included information on how to unlock the ability to choose all endings, that is, how many points of military power you need to collect.

• Mass Effect 3 game endings - key information
• Main ending #1 - Taking control over the Reapers
• Main ending #2 - Destroying the Reapers
• Main ending #3 - Synthesis
• Additional factors affecting game endings
• Importing a character from ME3

Mass Effect 3 game endings - key information

You can choose the game ending in the final part of the main quest Priority Earth #2, which you can find on a separate page in our walkthrough.

It doesn't matter how you've resolved the conflict situation with the Illusive Man, because all three endings lead to the same outcomes - Shepard will be transported to a new place. Here you'll have a chance to talk to the Catalyst that will take a form of a small child. Sadly you don't have any real influence on this conversation, so you should focus only on listening what the Catalyst has to say. The most important moment of this conversation is the explanation of the available game's endings.

All endings are described in the following subsections of this chapter. We have also prepared information about additional factors that determine the appearance of each ending. The most common situation is that you're presented with main endings 1 & 2, however if you've fulfilled additional requirements you may also unlock ending 3.

Additional Notes:

1. If you've gathered less than 1750 points of effective military strength, then you won't be allowed to choose the ending on your own. In this case the game will make a choice for you and it depends on the decision you've made in the previous game regarding the Collectors base (whether it was destroyed or not).
2. If you want to outsmart the game and watch all three endings without having to repeat the final battles, then after you've talked to the Catalyst you should exit the game for a while, find a catalogue on your hard drive containing saved games and create a backup of a file named AutoSave.pcsav. Once you've watched one of the endings you can exit the game again and replace the current autosave file with the one you've made a backup of earlier on.

Main ending #1 - Taking control over the Reapers

If you intend to take control over all synthetic life (including the Reapers), then you must choose the left ramp (screen above).

Approach the control terminal (screen above) and interact with it.

Main ending #2 - Destroying the Reapers

If you intend to destroy all synthetic life in the galaxy (including the Reapers), then you must choose the right ramp (screen above).

Use your weapon to destroy a power channel (screen above).

Main ending #3 - Synthesis

If you intend to perform a synthesis (merge organic and synthetic life), then you must choose a path located directly in front of you (screen above).

Notice - This ending becomes available only if you've gathered at least 2800 points of effective military strength! Otherwise you will be allowed to choose only between endings 1 & 2 and the topic of synthesis won't even be mentioned during the conversation with the Catalyst.

Approach a large beam of white light and Shepard should automatically perform a jump (screen above).

Additional factors affecting game endings

The final cut-scenes played after choosing an ending may be different depending on your previous decisions, however the main factor is how many points of effective military strength you've managed to gather. All posibilities are listed in the table seen below:

NUMBER OF EFFECTIVE MILITARY STRENGTH POINTS	MAIN ENDING 1	MAIN ENDING 2	MAIN ENDING 3	LIST OF CHANGES
less than 1750 points	unavailable	unavailable	unavailable	The game will automatically choose the ending depending on the decision from the previous game regarding the Collectors base (whether it was destroyed or not). The Earth is destroyed and Shepard dies.
between 1750 and 2049 points	available	available	unavailable	The Earth will be destroyed only if choose ending #2. Shepard will die no matter how you'll decide, however the Normandy crew members may be saved if you choose ending #1.
between 2050 and 2349 points	available	available	unavailable	The Reaper attacks leaves Earth devastated no matter how you'll decide. The same thing applies to Shepard, because he can't survive.
between 2350 and 2649 points	available	available	unavailable	The only way to save the Earth from being devastated is to choose ending #1. Shepard will die no matter how you'll decide.
between 2650 and 2799 points	available	available	unavailable	The Earth will be saved and Shepard will die no matter how you'll decide.
between 2800 and 3999 points	available	available	available	2800 points is a minimum required to unlock ending #3. The Earth will be saved and Shepard will die no matter how you'll decide.
between 4000 and 4999 points	available	available	available	The Earth will be saved no matter how you'll decide. Shepard can survive only if you choose ending #2 and only if Anderson wasn't executed by the Illusive Man.
more than 4999 points	available	available	available	The Earth will be saved no matter how you'll decide. Shepard can survive only if you choose ending #2.

Importing a character from ME3

The next time you'll try to a start a new game you should notice that a new option has appeared on the list - Importing a character from ME3. This function has very similar principals to New Game Plus modes found in many other games, so you're allowed to replay the campaign using a highly developed character. The game allows you to keep your experience level, your powers, your reputation, your equipment and your credits. There's also one more important change - you can upgrade your weapons up to level 10 (level 5 is the maximum when you're completing the game for the first time).