Mass Effect 3: Priority, Sur'Kesh - walkthrough Mass Effect 3 guide, walkthrough

Last update: 11 October 2022

On this page of the Mass Effect 3 guide you will find the walkthrough for the main quest Priority - Sur'Kesh. Our guide tells you how to meet the Salarian diplomat, where Sur'Kesh is located, where Mordin is located, how to eliminate Cerberus forces, how to protect the krogan woman and how to destroy the Atlas mech.

• Meeting with a salarian diplomat and a krogan chief
• Conversations with NPCs and an optional meeting with Mordin
• Sur'Kesh Base Exploration
• Protecting the capsule with the krogan female
• Confrontation with the Atlas Mech
• Final battles with Cerberus soldiers and return to Normandy

Meeting with a salarian diplomat and a krogan chief

Received from: Primarch Victus [Menae: Command Base]

Unlocked by: Received automatically after completing Priority: Palaven.

You can theoretically move to the war council held by Primarch Victus, though I'd suggest taking interest in the newly unlocked missions first, especially Normandy SR-2:EDI, connected with EDI's strange behaviour (you will find a detailed description of this task in the Mini-tasks section).

In order to begin the new mission, open the galaxy map and travel to Annon Basin. After getting there (Pranas system), fly the Normandy to the Salarians diplomatic ships and land.

The action will take place on board Normandy, as the Salarian and Krogan representatives will enter it.

Apart from those two, the summit will also include Shepard and Primarch Victus. The main topic will be the Krogan help, which depends on curing the genophage by the Salarians. Wreav/Wrex will mention the experiments taking place in one of the Salarian bases, which will definitely anger the Krogan representative. You will be able to choose how to react to her aggression and one option implies using the special Renegade behaviour (left mouse button). Regardless of the chosen dialogue option, you will head to the research lab on Sur'Kesh to free the imprisoned Krogan females, resistant to the genophage.

Conversations with NPCs and an optional meeting with Mordin

The game will soon move to [Sur'Kesh: STG Base], where under rather unpleasant circumstances you will be greeted by Padok Wiks (or Major Kirrahe, if he's still alive), who will offer full cooperation in returning the females who were experimented on. Regardless of the chosen dialogue options, Wreav/Wrex will stay beside the ship and you with your team will be able to explore the base. You can either head to the lift at once or take a look around the area. In the latter case, I'd recommend speaking with Wreav/Wrex and Lieutenant Tolan. In the end speak to Padok Wiks/Major Kirrahe again and he will grant you access to the underground part of the facility.

Approach the lift and interact with it to realise that the bas in under Cerberus attack. You won't take part in the fights just yet, so wait for the lift to take you to a new location.

Here you will speak with your old friend Mordin (if he didn't die in the previous game), during which it will turn out that he was the one to inform Wreav/Wrex about the imprisoned Krogan females. Mordin will also tell you that only one females has survived the experiments. Listen to the conversation with the female and Wreav/Wrex, who will demand her being taken onto the shuttle.

Sur'Kesh Base Exploration

Start off by looking around the lab. You can listen to two Mordin recording left in the Research Log and also take the [Assault Rifle Extended Barrel]. Trying to use the lift again will end with failure, as the Cerberus soldiers have planted a bomb in it. As a result you need to turn around and head to the alternative passage which will get unlocked pretty soon. After reaching the small room, use the ladder.

Be ready to come across the first group of enemies soon. Cerberus soldiers will arrive on a shuttle and if you fast enough, you might be able to damage or even kill them before they land. Troopers will participate in this battle, so dealing with them shouldn't be too hard. However look out for the second wave that will appear in the distance eventually. After the battle, examine the area to find the [Shotgun Blade Attachment], med station [150 EXP] and a Research Log with a new recording.

Protecting the capsule with the krogan female

Move onwards, towards the only possible door. Watch a quite interesting cutscene and afterwards head into the room on the left. Jump above the hole and pick up the [Shotgun Spare Ammo] upgrade. Head on, using the stairs.

Soon enough you will have defend the pod in which the Krogan is transported for the first time. Don't get fooled by the integrity bar, as it will have to be enough for the whole mission. As a result you have to deal with the nearby Cerberus soldiers very fast (look out for new Troopers who will arrive by shuttle!). The only advantage is that most of the enemies will focus mainly on attacking the capsule.

As I have already mentioned, you need to eliminate all the enemies as fast as possible, especially those attacking the capsule. Afterwards you can take a look around the area, finding a Datapad [2500 credits]. Having explored the area, approach the quarantine checkpoint console and activate it [750 EXP]. The lift with Mordin will head onto the next floor and you will need to fight some more Cerberus soldiers. Just like before, try to kill them before they can jump off the shuttle.

Use the newly unblocked passage, i.e. the hole in the wall. Be ready to eliminate more Cerberus forces here, placing Shepard and the rest of the team in such places so that you cover both paths and no one can surprise you. After eliminating the enemies, look around for another weapon upgrade [Pistol High Caliber Barrel]. Head towards the only possible passage, continuing through the base.

After you reach the new location a cutscene should start, showing the enemy engineers placing turrets in the area. Hide your party members behind covers and follow the game's instructions to flank the enemies. As for the turrets, I'd suggest using the shotgun or the proper type of grenades. Just be sure not to let any of the soldiers surprise you and don't lean out of the cover for too long. Deal with the Cerberus soldiers and traditionally spend some time on exploring the area, as you can find some spare parts [3750 credits]

Interact with the terminal to open the passage to another room. Use a med station [150 EXP] on your way and enter the bigger, two-level room. Start off by placing your team members behind covers, while you yourself should head onto the upper floor. It's protected, but defeating the enemies there shouldn't cause you much trouble. Choosing the upper floor will give you a great opportunity to shoot at the enemies on the lower level, especially the ones behind shields. Try to clear out the whole area.

Just like before, I'd suggest carefully examine the location. On the ground floor you will find a piece of armor [Armax Arsenal Greaves] and in the lane below the upper balconies some spare parts [3750 credits] and another piece of armour [Sentry Interface]. Return upstairs and interact with the locked door to bypass its security system. Once again you will have to protect the pod with the female. Quickly place your whole team behind covers and start attacking the Cerberus soldiers, only looking out for your own health bar. Help yourself with grenades and offensive powers, especially that many enemies are standing beside each other.

Be sure to explore the area, as beside one of the corpses you can find the [M-13 Raptor I] sniper rifle. apart from that there's also a Research Terminal with a recording and the [Pistol Scope] upgrade. Resume the exploration, soon enough reaching a Power Terminal which you have to activate. While you're at it, take interest in the med station [150 EXP] and the [Scorpion] pistol lying on the ground.

Return to the pod and note that new Cerberus forces have appeared in the area from where you came. As a result you need to act quick, placing your team members behind covers and stopping the enemies from coming near. After the battle, approach the Quarantine Checkpoint terminal and activate it.

Listen to a conversation with Mordin [750 EXP] and start attacking the Cerberus forces. Luckily this time you don't have to protect anyone, so you can just focus on consecutively eliminating the enemies. Examine the area where the enemies have been appearing to discover a previously inaccessible door. Use that passage and be sure to save your game, as you're nearing the final battle of this mission.

Confrontation with the Atlas Mech

Jump above the hole and go up the ladder, reaching a landing zone. Once again you will have to protest the pod, though the fact that the enemies should be by default looking into the other direction. It's worth to use grenades here, as well as special ammo types, though I'd recommend keeping some for later on.

After the battle, try to quickly reach the Quarantine Checkpoint terminal. It's important, as if you don't make it in time, another shuttle with Cerberus soldiers will arrive, the battle will be prolonged unnecessarily and the pod will get under fire again.

It's not the end, as you're in for one more battle, including the large Atlas Mech. If you have already complete the Grissom Academy: Emergency Evacuation side quest, it should be a familiar sight for you. Otherwise, it will be something completely new for you.

Above all you should remember to use covers, as the Mech shoots rockets and getting hit might damage your party member seriously. In this case, you first need to destroy the Mech's shield and only afterwards attack its body. I'd also suggest aiming at the pilot in the glassed cabin, which might lead to a faster victory.

Final battles with Cerberus soldiers and return to Normandy

Apart from the Mech, you will also have to eliminate the last group of Cerberus soldiers, though they shouldn't be too hard for you [1500 EXP]. Now you just need to watch a series of cutscenes ending this quest. It's worth to notice that the game will unlock a couple of new quests, with Priority: Tuchanka playing the main role. You will be able to begin it after completing two mission for the Krogans (Attican Traverse: Krogan Team and Attican Traverse: The Rachni) or a mission for the Turians (Tuchanka: Turian Platoon). Of course it's in fact worth to complete all three before resuming the main campaign.

Prizes for completing the mission:

1. Mission unlocked: Priority: Tuchanka
2. Mission unlocked: Attican Traverse: Krogan Team
3. Mission unlocked: Tuchanka: Turian Platoon
4. New Normandy crew member: Doctor Mordin Solus
5. New Normandy crew member: Wreav or Wrex
6. [12500 credits]