Hunting the Archon | Priority Ops Mass Effect: Andromeda Guide

This section contains a walkthrough for Hunting the Archon - one of the Priority Ops (storyline quests) found in Mass Effect Andromeda. Our goal is to get access to Vehn Terev, one of the prisoners held in the Outcast headquarters on Kadara. Terev has access to information that will be very useful in determining the location of Archon's vessel, the flagship of the Kett army.

• Finding a way to locate the Archon's ship
• Salarian Ark's exploration
• Kett Flagship infiltration
• Escape from the Kett ship

Finding a way to locate the Archon's ship

Go to Kadara in Govorkam system

Govorkham can be found in the northern part of the Andromeda map

Completing A trail of Hope has unlocked new star systems in Heleus cluster - one of them is Govorkam, which is your new destination. Enter the system and land on Kadara. Choose to deploy on the surface - you'll find yourself in the Kadara Port, which is a safe location (the ability to travel freely around the surface of the planet will be unlocked later). During your landing, you'll be contacted by Evfra, who will give you the meet location given to her by the local resistance.

Talk with your resistance contact in Krallia's Song.

Visit Krallia's Song and find your way to the bar. Hold the interaction button to interact with the resistance contact. You'll be talking to one Reyes Vidal (you can have a drink with him later to begin flirting with this character). The party will learn of Sloane Kelly, the leader of the Outcasts, and the imprisoned traitor Vehn Terev who is supposed to be executed soon.

Meet with Sloane Kelly in the Outcast headquarters

The entrance to Outcast headquarters can be found in the northern part of the spaceport. You'll meet up with Sloane Kelly, who expects some answers following your wish to see Terev.

Variant 1 - Use Reyes Vidal to access Vehn Terev's cell

You can use the opportunity to disarm one of the thugs

This variant takes action if:

• During your meeting with Sloane Kelly you'll refuse to name your reasons why you want to interrogate Vehn Terev. You can use the opportunity to disarm one of the outcasts, but this won't change the final outcome of the meet.
• You've disagreed with Sloane Kelly following her suggestion to place Vehn Terev in the death row following your interrogation.

Approach the ventilation shaft found behind one of the stalls (shown on the screenshot) and unlock it by accessing the console. The tunnel will lead you to the prison. Meet up with Vehn Terev and ask him about the Archon's ship. You'll learn of a device that can be used to help establish the location of the sought vessel. The party will also leave the item that help Vehn in escaping the prison.

Variant 2 - Ally with Sloane Kelly to get access to the cell

Consider allying with Sloane Kelly to get the location without having to worry about the prisoner

You can choose to share your reasons for visiting the outcast hideout AND agree to Sloane's plan to interrogate Terev without letting him go (he will still await execution). Once you've finished your scheming, make your way to the prison located west from Kelly's room (you'll be free to access the site) and talk to Vehn Terev to learn of a triangulation device that will help you locate the Archon's ship.

Retrieve the Kett trasponder from the badlands

Use the console to get to the Slums - you can access the surface from there

This objective will be unlocked regardless of the chosen approach, as both variants saw you meet up with Vehn Terev to learn of the transponder and its current location. Find the transport console in Kadara Port to travel to the Slums. Then, find the exit leading to the wastes (you may encounter The Warden along the way, but this is a completely optional encounter). Once you're outside, you should find the first transfer station - you can now board Nomad and begin the exploration of the planet.

Warning - Water on Kadara is toxic. The water basins around the surface of the planet are filled with sulfur - your hero can die within seconds after entering one of them. If needed, jump or the board Nomad to avoid getting in contact with the water. However, be warned, as Nomad also takes damage if submerged.

Proceed west from the slums and follow the marker to reach the location shown on the screenshot above, which is also located north from the first Initiative site on Kadara (a part of Colonization of Kadara - one of the side quests). The marker will lead you underneath one of the residential sites. Approach the area to find the transponder and begin a new cut-scene.

Speak with Gil in Tempest's Engineering room

Return on Tempest and find Gil in order to speak with him. Together with him you will determine that you should look for Archont's ship in Tafeno system.

Find the Kett Flagship in Tafeno system

Find a place for docking

Tafeno system is in the north part of Heleus Cluster. When you get there locate the marker that informs about the whereabouts of Kett Flagship. When you get closer to it you discover that the ship is connected to Salarian Ark Paarchero. Turn the camera around and find the place where you can dock on the Ark. After that confirm the mission (you can't go back to the Tempest or change your team until you finish this mission). You will also have a brief conversation with Moshae Sjefa.

Salarian Ark's exploration

Connect SAM to Ark's systems

When you regain control over your team you find yourself onboard Salarian Ark, in its medical section to be precise. During the exploration of the Ark (and later the Kett ship) you can focus only on the mission's main goals or search the area carefully. You can find datapads, check out interactive terminals and discover chests with valuable items. The console that allows you to connect SAM is close to the starting place, north from it. When you connect SAM you can choose one of the three options but the one that is important is the first command about the mission's status (the others can be checked after interacting with the console again).

Find the Salarian Pathfinder: Zevin Raek

Begin the linear walk through the Ark Paarchero's hallways. In one of the medical rooms you can find a Salarian corpse. Check out the console next to the body. Then, scan the corpse and you learn that the dead Salarian was not a Pathfinder. Use the nearby medical terminal to identify him.

Find the dead Salarian's Cryogenic Stasis Pod

You must go back to one of the previous hallways where the Stasis Pods are. Use your scanner there. The Pod that you are looking for is presented in the picture above and you can find it by following the displayed information about your distance from the mission's target. Interact with the nearby console and wake up Zevin Raek. After that you can talk with him. After watching the cutscene you will appear onboard the Kett Flagship.

Kett Flagship infiltration

Infiltrate he Kett Flagship

Begin your exploration of Verakan Kett Starship. The first battle with Kett will take place after entering the bigger room. It's not difficult to win but remember to quickly eliminate the Destined so the rest of the Kett will not be hidden from your team.

Connect SAM to the Kett Ship system

The interactive console is close to the place where the battle took place. By connecting to the system you can locate Archon's private chamber. Additionally, you can learn more information about Kett defense systems. After using the console you must escort the Salarian Pathfinders team. It's an easy task - go to the marked place and use the new console.

Go to the Archon's private chamber

Begin the long walk to Archon's chamber. When you get to the bigger room on the Flagship you must fight another battle with Kett. As before, search for Destined and eliminate them first. Also, expect reinforcements to arrive - a good idea is to use an explosive surprise right after they leave their transporter. After winning the battle you can continue the walk. You get to another bigger room with giant cannons. Your attempt to escape results in failure and the team falls into a trap.

Find the Ascendant during the second battle and destroy his spheres before you start attacking him

In the beginning of the battle you can defend yourself near the closed door but later you should move closer to the center of the chamber in order to have more room. Besides looking for new Destined you should also wait for the Ascendant. A quick reminder - don't try to attack this Kett when he's surrounded by the force field. Instead, focus on attacking the spheres flying around him. When they are destroyed switch to your best weapons, abilities and powers and use them on the Ascendant. Try to kill him before he surrounds himself by the force field again.

The hallway leading to the palce where you can meet the Archon

After the fights use the newly unlocked alternative passage that leads to the private chamber. Soon, you meet with Pathfinder Raeka and you must use the interactive console. Keep moving further. When you get to the new closed door you should scan the reader, use it and choose the right dialog option in order to unlock the passage.

In one of the next rooms you can find Kett experiments, you can take a closer look at them. Keep moving towards the private chamber and defeat new Kett that will stand on your way. After opening the nearest door a new cutscene, during which you meet with Archon, will play. He will temporarily imprison the team. You don't have any control over how the meeting goes.

Escape from the trap

Use the hole after you unlock it in the side room

Find the door that leads to the side room on the upper level. There, you can unlock the hole. Go back to the main room, find the newly unlocked exit and get to the big hole and jump down. Follow the dark corridors and await the Wraith monsters that uses camouflage. Soon, you arrive at your target destination, the Archon's private chamber (here, you must watch a short cutscene).

Find the artifact

The Remnant artifact is at the end of the private chamber. When you try to examine it a new cutscene will play. During it you will speak with the Archon. After that you must prepare yourself to face the Behemoth.

Escape from the Kett ship

Kill Behemoth and the exalted Krogan and Kett

The fight with Behemoth is rather difficult because the creature is very durable and has a few special attacks. The most unique one is when the monster sends a some sort of energy cage (example in the picture above) which can destroy all your shields and start to deplete your health points. Try to react quickly and move away from the cage or dodge to the sides.

The Behemoth, besides the range attack described above, can also use powerful melee attacks. In those cases you should also use dodges because when his attacks reaches you, you can receive a lot of damage. The boss should be attacked from a long range, if the weapons and the powers allow you to do that.

Quickly eliminate Behemoth's "helpers"

In order to weaken the Behemoth you should use ammo, abilities and powers that can destroy armor (the boss has a yellow energy bar). Initially, in the Archon's private chamber you have to face only the Behemoth but in the later stage of this battle you will also have to deal with Kett. When this happens you should stop attacking the Behemoth and focus on Kett (again, eliminate the Destined first). Warning - try to keep an eye on the Behemoth when you fight with Kett because the boss can get dangerously close to you or use one of its special attacks. Continue the fight until the boss loses all of its armor points and dies.

Escape from the Kett ship

The moment of making the decision

After the fight you must search the Behemoth's corpse (you can find valuable items) and head to the exit. There, a new cutscene plays during which you must make a decision:

• You can rescue the Krogan scouts from becoming exalted but during that Pathfinder Raeka dies. This will worsen your relation with Kallo and other Salarians. The advantage of this option is that the rescued krogan can help you in the game's finale. Apart from that, Nakmor Drack will be happy with your decision.
• You can rescue Pathfinder Raeka but, in return, the Krogans will become exalted. This worsens your relation with Krogans, especially with Nakmor Drack (don't be afraid of him leaving the party or other "extreme" actions, he will simply reproach you on several occasions because of that).

You must kill a new Ascendant

When you return to the Tempest a new conversations awaits you (the dialogs can differ which is based on who you helped: the Krogan or the Pathfinder). The quest is now completed and a new Priority Op, called Journey to Meridian, is unlocked.

Rewards for finishing the quest: XP, Andromeda Viability Points, a new Priority Op Journey to Meridian unlocked, Liberation trophy unlocked.