# Unlockables
Successfully complete the indicated task to unlock the corresponding bonus the next time a
new game is started. Once the game is completed, the "New Game +" option is also unlocked,
which allows you to use your existing character with previously earned equipment and
skills.
+10% Damage Reduction: Get the "Soldier Ally" achievement.
+10% Damping and Overload reduced cooldown: Have a 75% game completion with Garrus
in your squad.
+10% Experience: Reach level 60.
+10% Hardening: Have a 75% game completion with Ashley in your squad.
+10% Health: Kill 150 Organic enemies.
+10% Lift and Throw reduced cooldown: Have a 75% game completion with Kaiden in your
squad.
+10% Sabotage and AI Hacking reduced cooldown: Have a 75% game completion with Tali
in your squad.
+10% Shield: Kill 250 Synthetic enemies.
+10% Shield Strength: Successfully complete the game with shield damage greater than
health damage.
+10% Stasis and Barrier reduced cooldown: Have a 75% game completion with Liara in
your squad.
+25% Marksman reduced cooldown: Get 150 kills with the pistol.
+5% Experience: Reach level 50 with a character.
+5% Weapon Damage: Successfully complete the game two times.
Assault Rifle skill for new characters: Get 150 kills with the assault rifle.
Barrier skill for new characters: Use Barrier 75 times.
Decryption skill for new characters: Use Sabotage 75 times.
Electronics skill for new characters: Use Overload 75 times.
First Aid skill for new characters: Use Medi-gel 150 times.
Hacking skill for new characters: Use AI Hacking 75 times.
Medicine Skill for new characters: Use Neural Hacking 75 times.
Stasis skill for new characters: Use Stasis 75 times.
Throw skill for new characters: Use Throw 75 times.
Warp skill for new characters: Use Warp 75 times.
Hardcore difficulty: Successfully complete the game.
Insane difficulty: Successfully complete the game on the Hardcore difficulty.
Level 60 level cap: Successfully complete the game.
Lift skill (for non-Biotics): Use Lift 75 times.
Prestige Class: Reach level 34.
Regenerate 1 health per second: Have a 75% game completion with Wrex in your squad.
Shielding skill for new characters: Use Dampening 75 times.
Shotgun skill for new characters: Get 150 kills with the shotgun.
Singularity skill for new characters: Use "Singularity" 75 times.
Sniper Rifle skill for new characters: Get 150 kills with the sniper rifle.
Spectre grade weapons for purchase: Get 1 million credits. The weapons are available
through the Normandy and C-Sec Requisitions Officers.
# Hades Gamma Cluster hidden missions
To play the hidden mission in the Plutus system of the Hades Gamma Cluster, get 75%
Renegade. To play the hidden mission in the Cacus system, get 75% Paragon.
# Infinite credits
The following trick only works between the two indicated vendors. You can usually buy
items back from Expat at half the price you sold them to Dr. Michel for. First,
successfully complete the side quest involving Dr. Michel (from the Med Clinic) and her
blackmailer. After the quest is complete, you will get a discount from all the goods she
sells. Start selling her all of your expensive equipment. Then, travel to the Wards
Markets, and talk to the merchant named Expat. You can buy all of your items back for
cheaper than you sold them for. Return to Dr. Michel, and sell her all of your items
again. Repeat this process as many times as desired.
# Infinite Paragon points
Go to your Galaxy Map, and travel to the Attican Beta cluster. You will receive a message
from the Alliance Command telling you about a downed recon probe that you must retrieve a
data module from. From there, travel to the Hercules system, and continue to the planet
Eletania. After you reach the downed probe, you will discover that a monkey-like native
has made off with the data module. Get back in the Mako, and go to your map. You will see
three native colonies. Go towards the one in the middle of the three. Then, go into the
mining shaft, and proceed through the tunnels until you reach the end. Search the two
monkeys in that part of the shaft. One of them will have the data module. Save the game
immediately after getting the module. Then, reload the saved game, and continue to press A
to keep searching the monkey that had the data module. Your Paragon meter over the radar
should increase each time you select the monkey. At approximately 300 Paragon, you will
get the "Paragon" achievement. Note: If you have already completed this assignment, this
glitch cannot be done.
# Infinite Paragon and Renegade points
On the Noveria planet, go to the hotel bar, and look for a Turian named Lorik Qui'in.
Accept his quest to steal the data from his office. Once you get the data, the
receptionist will ask you to get Qui'in to testify. Tell her you will do it, and then talk
to Qui'in. Tell Qui'in that he should testify (top left option). When he refuses, select
the Charm option (top left) for Paragon points or the Intimidate (bottom left) for
Renegade points, and end the conversation. Talk to him again, and ask about the Matriarch.
When he gets done talking about her, select the "Other questions" option (bottom right).
You should now have the option to ask him to testify again (top left). He will refuse, and
you will be able to use the Charm or Intimidate option again to gain another 24 Paragon or
Renegade points. Repeat this process as many times as desired. You can also easily get the
"Paragon" and "Renegade" achievements with the glitch.
# Easy credits
In Quasar, bet Y on odd and X on even.
# Easy experience points
To gain extra experience from battles, make sure to get out of the Mako for the final hit.
You can weaken the stronger enemies from inside the Mako and then get out to finish them
off. You will only get 60% of the experience if you kill enemies with the Mako.
# Easy Mako repairs
If your Mako is badly damaged and you do not want to or cannot spend Omni-gel to repair
it, save your game, and reload it. Your Mako should now be totally repaired.
# Weapon that does not overheat
Get a HMWA X assault rifle with Frictionless Materials, Combat Optics X, and Snowblind
Rounds X as upgrades.
# Saving weapon points
If you are a Soldier, level up weapons so you can use their bonuses and no further. For
example, carnage is the shotgun's bonus. By doing this, you will have extra points for a
desired weapon and points to level everything else completely out. You do not need the
damage and accuracy bonus from the points because when you become a Spectre the best of
every weapon becomes unlocked in the Normandy or at the C-SEC requisitions office.
# Lethal sniping
Equip any good sniper rifle (powerful and accurate) with High Explosive Rounds (highest
level preferably). This combination will kill nearly every normal enemy it directly hits,
and severely damage enemies in their proximity, if not killing them as well. For fun, if
you shoot at the enemy's feet or the ground he is standing directly on top of, he will
jettison into the air. Note: High Explosive Rounds work best only with sniper rifles as
they are meant to kill with one shot. If it is used with a pistol, assault rifle, or
shotgun, the weapon will overheat in less than five shots (depending on the type of
weapon), regardless of upgrades and decency of the gun. This will make yourself vulnerable
to enemies.
# Recommended weapon upgrades
The best weapon upgrades on any gun are Frictionless Materials X (28% heat damping, +7%
damage), Kinetic Coil X (28% weapon stability, +7% damage), and Slegdehammer Rounds X (50%
weapons force, + 60% poison damage, - 20 heat damping). Overall, the weapons stats you
will end up with are 14% damage, +28 weapon stability, +50% weapon force, +60 poison, +8%
heat damping. The poison damage also prevents shield regeneration. Also, any of the
following combo of any grade is the best.
To build the most powerful weapons in the game, use the following. For pistols, assault
rifles, and shotguns, use Frictionless Materials, Scram Rail, and Inferno Rounds. Once you
can get the "X" level equipment, these will be the most powerful weapons in the game, but
the combination should be used at any point you find these materials. For the sniper
rifle, use two Frictionless Materials and High Explosive Rounds. The assault rifle will
not overheat much at all, but for an assault rifle that does not overheat, you can use two
Scram Rails and Snowblind Rounds. It is not as powerful as the first method, but is
efficient.
# Finding all elements
The best way to find the elements, minerals, and anomalies on planets that you can explore
is to drive along the edges of the operational area (the red area). Drive the Mako in a
circle around the area to where you can barely see the edge of the red line. You should
find at least two elements/minerals on each planet that can be explored. There are rare
things that will not show up on your map -- you will also have to drive around like this
to find them. There are several more items than you are required to find, but it is good
to go ahead and get them if you need the experience points. Also, if you say the correct
things to the Asari Consort, she will give you a trinket that will allow you to activate a
Prothean Orb found on Eletania, or the "monkey" planet, in the Hercules system. It
contains the memories of a Cro-Magnon that was observed by the Protheans. The Orb will
show up as an anomaly on your map, in the lower left corner.
# N7 Gamerpic
Successfully complete the game on the Insanity difficulty setting to unlock the N7
Gamerpic.
# Saren Gamerpic
Successfully complete the game on the Hardcore difficulty setting to unlock the Saren
Gamerpic.
# Character classes
Adepts
Adepts are biotic specialists. Starting out equipped with pistols and light armor,
the true strength of the adept is through the upgradeable implants that give them their
biotic powers. These powers can be used to lift or throw objects, shield the party, and
disable or destroy enemies.
Engineers
Engineers are tech specialists. Using the holographic OmniTool, they can decrypt
security systems, repair and/or modify technical equipment, disrupt enemy weapons or
shields, and heal their party. Even though they begin the game with only pistols and the
OmniTool, engineers can unlock the ability to wear light armor and reverse engineer enemy
technology. They can also learn to put up protective shields and heal the party.
Infiltrators
Infiltrators combine combat and tech abilities, and specialize in killing or
disabling enemies at long range. Infiltrators are trained to use OmniTools, but the focus
is on decryption and offensive abilities rather than healing. They can train with pistols
or sniper rifles, and can learn to wear medium armor.
Sentinels
Sentinels combine biotic and tech abilities. Typically they use biotic abilities and
advanced healing skills to defend allies, though they can also disrupt opponents with
biotic or Tech attacks. They are more efficient at tech and biotics than other classes,
but at the expense of combat. Sentinels can only use light armor, and receive no advanced
weapon training.
Soldiers
Soldiers are combat specialists ideal for the front lines of a firefight. Soldiers
begin the game trained with skills in both pistols and assault rifles, they have improved
health and the ability to wear medium combat armor. As you progress through the game, you
can unlock assault training, skills with shotguns and sniper rifles, become able to
perform first aid on yourself and party members, and wear heavy combat armor.
Vanguards
Vanguards are biotic warriors. They combine offensive biotic abilities and weapons
training to quickly take down opponents, and are especially deadly at short range. They
can train with pistols and shotguns, and can learn to wear medium armor.
# Recommended career
Play as a War Hero Soldier first. By doing this, during your second play through you will
have all of the money, weapons, and armor to use for the other careers.
# Ensuring experience points and gamerpoints
After a major plot has been played, make sure to talk to your crew. This will give you
experience points for clues and boost your crew's morale. There is also a subplot for
romance where you must choose who you want to have a relation with. You may lose the
gamerpoints if you do not talk to the crew.
# Avoiding lagging game play
Every once in a while you may encounter a slow down on graphics and game play. If you have
been playing for less than three hours and see the "Loading" text, release your controller
for faster loads. If you have been playing for over three hours and the game play slows
down, save and reboot your Xbox 360. This happens because the Xbox 360 does not have an
efficient way of clearing its memory for new information. Once the memory is saturated,
the "lagging" game play happens. Because Mass Effect is so massive and everything is
unique, it uses all of the available memory.
# Mako controls
Press RB: Fire rockets.
Press RT: Fire main gun.
Press A: Undercarriage Rockets. This is useful for getting "unstuck", setting the
Mako upright if upside down, and stabilizing from falling off a mountain.
Press X: Return to the Nomandy.
Press B: Exit Mako for on-foot exploration.
Hold LT: First person view.
Click Right Analog-stick while pressing LT: Zoom. Click it again for additional
zoom. Click it again to exit zoom.
# Scan the Keepers in Citadel
After you speak to Chorban in the Citadel Tower, he will request that you scan the Keepers
to collect data. There are 21 Keepers total throughout the compound. You will forfeit the
chance to do this sidequest if you complete Jahleed's Fears. Here is a list of their
locations:
Wards
One is in the hanger bay through C-Sec.
One is in the right-most room in the Presidium Wards Access corridor.
One is in the alleyway next to the market and Choras Den.
One is in the upper market area.
One is in the C-Sec Requisition Office.
One is in the Traffic Control Room in C-Sec.
One is inside Flux, by the quasar machines in the back left.
One is to the right of the Med Clinic entrance.
One is at the C-Sec Academy entrance.
Presidium
Four are inside Citadel Tower.
One is in the back room of the Emporium, left turn.
One is on the balcony of the Embassy lounge.
One is in the rectangular room at the right of the C-Sec HQ at the embassy.
One is outside Citadel Tower to the left of Avina.
One is in the Volus/Elcor office at the Embassy.
One is opposite of Avina, halway between the Consort Chambers and the Emporium.
One is outside the entrance of the Consort Chambers.
One is outside the Wards Access entrance, very close to the arguing Preaching Hana
and C-Sec officer.
# Signal tracking in Citadel
While in the FLux, you will see a Quasar Machine that has a strange signal coming from it.
It traces to the following place in order:
Wards Access Corridor: From the Medical Clinic, go to and up the elevator that takes
you toward the Presidium. Take this corridor to a little area where people are talking.
Check the terminal on the wall.
Financial District: Check Volus' Office, behind Volus.
Emporium: Turn right coming out of Volus' office, and go past the Emporium
Shopkeeper to a back hallway. Then, turn right again. Here you will encounter an A.I. that
threatens to blow you and itself up. After the conversation, select the A.I., and input
the following code to override: Y, X, Y, A, X, A, A. Finish before it is done Siphoning
off credits, and you will get those credits. The amount varies, but you will get more the
faster you enter the override code.
# ExoGeni PSI puzzle in Feros
In the ExoGeni facility, there are several claws that feed power that must be terminated
to continue the mission. You will come across a control panel for the Shuttle Bay Door
Controls. This panel has five switches of different pressures:
(5 PSI Valve) (7 PSI Valve) (17 PSI Valve) (11 PSI Valve) (13 PSI Valve)
The objective is to add just enough pressure to fill the gauge between the two arrows. Too
much will reset the puzzle and you will have to play with different combinations. Once a
correct pressure is reached, the bar will turn yellow and text under it will read
"WARNING, HIGH PRESSURE". Enter 7, 11, and 13, then activate. This will create enough
pressure to break the claw and deactivate the Geth power being flushed into ExoGeni.
# Puzzle solution in Noveria
On the planet Noveria, you must solve a puzzle after you enter the Core at Mira to restore
activity to the compound. The solution is as follows. There are three columns. Four discs
are in the left column. You must move all four discs to column two or three for the puzzle
to be completed. "1" indicates the upper most ring, "4" is the lowest, etc.
Step 1
Move 1 to the middle.
Move 2 to the right.
Move 1 to the right on top of 2.
Move 3 to the middle.
Step 2
Move 1 to the left.
Move 2 to the middle on top of 3.
Move 1 to the middle on top of 2.
Move 4 to the right.
Step 3
Move 1 to the right.
Move 2 to the left.
Move 1 to the left on top of 2.
Move 3 to the right on top of 4.
Step 4
Move 1 to the middle.
Move 2 to the right.
Move 1 to the right.
These steps will solve the puzzle with all four discs being in the right column.
# Defeating the giant worm in Edolus
During the mission about the missing Marines, you will encounter a large worm creature. To
defeat it, jump just before the projectile acid the worm spits, and attack it with
missiles (RB) and constant gunfire (RT).
# Defeating Thresher Maw in Edolus
The easiest way to defeat the Thresher Maw is after it has initially launched out of the
ground to drive off, stay at a relative distance, and drive circles around it while
firing. Because of your distance, it will not use its long-ranged attack or be able to
cause melee damage. It will go back underground after a time or certain amount of damage
is inflicted and will change the location it pops up. Repeat the circular attack to get
away undamaged.
# Defeating Saren (before resurrection)
Use your rifle and strafe to avoid his rocket fire. Alternately, use the following trick
to defeat Sarren without fighting him the first time in the Citadel. If you have your
Charm or Intimidation all the way up, use the new chat options. You will eventually make
Sarren kill himself.
# Defeating Saren (after resurrection)
Have your crew and yourself use biotic powers everytime Saren stops to shoot (usually when
he is hanging on the wall). Only do it once when he stops, otherwise you will be wasting
abilities.
# Reversed Earth
Once you have landed on Luna, Earth's moon, look for the view of Earth. When you zoom in
on Earth, noticed that its image is reversed. For example, Florida is where California
should be and vice versa.
# "Scholar" achievement codex locations
This achievement requires that you locate information on all primary Alien: Council Races,
Extinct Races, and Non-Council Races.
Aliens: Council Races
Asari: Speak with Captain Anderson after the first meeting with the council.
Salarians: Speak with Captain Anderson after the first meeting with the council.
Turians: If you miss it at the beginning of the game, you can get it by speaking to
people about Specters and Saran. Otherwise, it should appear after your first encounter
with Ashley.
Aliens: Extinct Races
Rachni: Speak with the VI Avina near the Consort Chambers/Krogran Statue about the
Rachni wars.
Protheans: Speak with Captain Anderson and Nihlus on the Normandy at the beginning
of the game in the Communications Room. This is your only chance in the game to get this
codex. If you miss it, you will not be able to recover it later in the game.
Aliens: Non-Council Races
Batarians: After you become a Spectre, speak with Captain Anderson about his Spectre
activities at the Docking Bay.
Elcor: Speak with the diplomat Calyn in the embassy. He is located at the end of the
hallway to the right of the Embassy Clerk next to Udina's office.
Geth: While on the mission Eden Prime you will receive this codex automatically.
Hanar: Speak with the Hanar Shopkeeper at the Emporium.
Keepers: Speak with the VI Avina in the northwest part of the Presidium. She is very
close to the Preaching Hanar and C-Sec Turian whom are arguing.
Krogan: You get this automatically by entering Choras Den. A scene will play showing
the Krogran Wrex.
Quarians: Speak with Garrus in the medical center after fighting the thugs.
Volus: Talk to the VI Avina closest to the Embassy Clerk. You will get this by
asking the VI why the Volus were the first race to get an embassy.
# Easy "First Aid Specialist" achievement
Find a planet that has a Hazard level 1. Stand outside the Mako, and keep pressing Y. Keep
track of how many times you pressed [Heal]. If you do not pay attention and run out of
Medi-Gel, you could die from the Hazard level.
# Easy ally achievements
Use the following trick to unlock all six ally achievements with only three playthroughs.
When you start the game, focus on getting all six of your teammates. Choose two of them to
play through the game with. Keep those two until you complete the majority of the game.
You will get the ally achievement for the teammate you recruited first. After you get it,
replace that teammate with another one as soon as possible. After the next assignment you
complete, you will then unlock the ally achievement for the second teammate.
# Easy skill achievements
The quickest way to get the skill achievements (Lift, Sabotage, Warp, etc.) is to stand
outside the Mako and use it for a target. Do each skill with your current character 75
times to get the achievements for each one. However, there are two things to note. First,
Neuroshock does damage to the Mako. When you see it beginning to smoke, you must repair
it. Second, AI Hacking does not apply. You will need to actually hack 75 AIs or hack a few
repeatedly before you must destroy them. The best way to get this achievement is to play
the mission where you must go to the Earth's moon, or "Luna", and stop the AIs in the
training facility. Save the game before you go into one of the bunkers, and keep hacking
them until you are finished, or reload and play again.
# Achievements
Accomplish the indicated achievement to get the corresponding number of Gamerscore points:
Medal of Honor (100 points): Complete one Mass Effect Playthrough on any setting.
Medal of Heroism (25 points): Complete Feros.
Distinguished Service Medal (25 points): Complete Eden Prime.
Council Legion of Merit (25 points): Complete Virmire.
Honorarium of Corporate Service (25 points): Complete Noveria.
Long Service Medal (25 points): Complete 2 Mass Effect Playthroughs on any setting.
Distinguished Combat Medal (25 points): Complete one Mass Effect playthrough on the
Hardcore difficulty setting. Do not change the setting.
Medal of Valor (50 points): Complete one Mass Effect playthrough on the Insanity
difficulty setting. Do not change the setting.
Pistol Expert (10 points): Register 150 Pistol Kills.
Shotgun Expert (15 points): Register 150 Shotgun Kills.
Assault Rifle Expert (15 points): Register 150 Assault Rifle Kills.
Sniper Expert (15 points): Register 150 Sniper Rifle Kills.
Lift Mastery (15 points): Use biotic Lift 75 times.
Throw Mastery (15 points): Use biotic Throw 75 times.
Warp Mastery (15 points): Use biotic Warp 75 times.
Singularity Mastery (15 points): Use biotic Singularity 75 times.
Barrier Mastery (15 points): Use biotic Barrier 75 times.
Stasis Mastery (15 points): Use biotic Stasis 75 times.
Damping Specialist (15 points): Use Damping Field 75 times.
AI Hacking Specialist (15 points): Use AI Hacking 75 times.
Overlord Specialist (15 points): Use Shield Overload 75 times.
Sabotage Specialist (15 points): Use Sabotage 75 times.
First Aid Specialist (15 points): Use medi-gel 150 times.
Neural Shock Specialist (15 points): Use Neural Shock 75 times.
Scholar (25 points): Find all primary Alien: Council Races, Extinct Races and
Non-Council Races codex entries.
Completionist (25 points): Complete the majority of the game.
Tactician (25 points): Complete playthrough with shield damage greater than health
damage.
Medal of Exploration (50 points): Land on an uncharted world.
Rich (25 points): Exceed 1,000,000 Credits.
Dog of War (25 points): Register 150 organic enemy kills.
Geth Hunter (25 points): Register 250 Synthetic enemy kills.
Soldier Ally (20 points): Complete the majority of the game with the Alliance
soldier squad member.
Sentinal Ally (20 points): Complete the majority of the game with the Alliance
sentinel squad member.
Krogan Ally (20 points): Complete the majority of the game with the Krogan squad
member.
Turian Ally (20 points): Complete the majority of the game with the Turian squad
member.
Quarian Ally (20 points): Complete the majority of the game with the Querian squad
member.
Asari Ally (20 points): Complete the majority of the game with the Asari squad
member.
Power Gamer (20 points): Reach 50th level with one character.
Extreme Power Gamer (50 points): Reach 60th level with one character.
Renegade (15 points): Accumulate 75% of total Renegade points.
Paragon (15 points): Accumulate 75% of total Paragon points.
Paramour (10 points): Complete any romance subplot.
Spectre Inductee (15 points): Become a Spectre.
Charismatic (10 points): Use Charm or Intimidate to resolve an impossible situation.
Search and Rescue (10 points): Locate Dr. T'Soni in the Artemis Tau cluster.
The following achievement requires the bonus downloadable content:
Colonial Savior (50 points): Complete the Bring Down the Sky mission.
Have fun with the unlockables!
