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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.
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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.
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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 2 to the right. | |
| Move 1 to the middle. | |
| Move 1 to the right on top of 2. | |
| |
| Move 3 to the middle. | |
Step 2
| |
| Move 2 to the middle on top of 3. | |
| Move 1 to the left. | |
| Move 1 to the middle on top of 2. | |
| |
| Move 4 to the right. | |
Step 3
| |
| Move 2 to the left. | |
| Move 1 to the right. | |
| 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.
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Armor manufacturers
Use one of the following values with the '
giveallarmor [manufacturer name]' code:
| Manf_Devlon_Armor_Survivor | |
| Manf_Batarian_Armor_Skirmish | |
| Manf_Elkoss_Armor_Gladiator | |
| Manf_Aldrin_Armor_Onyx | |
| Manf_HKShadow_Armor_Janissary | |
| Manf_HK_Armor_Mantis | |
| Manf_Kassa_Armor_Colossus | |
| Manf_Elanus_Armor_Guardian | |
| Manf_Elanus_Armor_Duelist | |
| Manf_Cerberus_Armor_Freedom | |
| Manf_Elanus_Armor_Warlord | |
| Manf_Aldrin_Armor_Hydra | |
| Manf_Jorman_Armor_Crisis | |
| Manf_Sitta_Armor_Phoenix | |
| Manf_Armor_UCantSeeMe | |
| Manf_Geth_Armor_Rage | |
| Manf_Cerberus_Armor | |
| Manf_HK_Armor_Predator | |
| Manf_Cerberus_Armor_Hoplite | |
| Manf_Geth_Armor_Berserker | |
| Manf_Batarian_Armor_Partisan | |
| Manf_HK_Armor_Homet | |
| Manf_Elkoss_Armor_Assassin | |
| Manf_Devlon_Armor_Thermal | |
| Manf_Armax_Armor_Predator | |
| Manf_Ariake_Armor_Mercenary | |
| Manf_Jorman_Armor_Hazard | |
| Manf_Batarian_Armor | |
| Manf_Serrice_Armor_Phantom | |
| Manf_HK_Armor_Scorpion | |
| Manf_Aldrin_Armor_Agent | |
| Manf_Devlon_Armor_Explorer | |
| Manf_Spectre02_Armor | |
| Manf_HK_Armor_Ursa | |
| Manf_Jorman_Armor | |
| Manf_Geth_Armor_BattleMaster | |
| |
| Manf_Rosen_Armor_Titan | |
| Manf_Devlon_Armor_Liberator | |
| Manf_HKShadow_Armor | |
| Manf_Spectre01_Armor | |
| Manf_HKShadow_Armor_Spectre | |
| |
| Manf_Spectre03_Armor | |
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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.
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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.
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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.
Notice: 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.
-
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.
-
Overcomeing 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.
-
Easy ally achievements
Use the following trick to unlock all six ally achievements with only three playthroughs. When you begin 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.
-
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.
-
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. Begin 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.
-
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 right-most room in the Presidium Wards Access corridor. | |
| One is in the C-Sec Requisition Office. | |
| One is in the Traffic Control Room in C-Sec. | |
| One is in the hanger bay through C-Sec. | |
| |
| One is in the upper market area. | |
| One is to the right of the Med Clinic entrance. | |
| One is in the alleyway next to the market and Choras Den. | |
| One is inside Flux, by the quasar machines in the back left. | |
| |
| One is at the C-Sec Academy entrance. | |
Presidium
| One is in the back room of the Emporium, left turn. | |
| One is outside Citadel Tower to the left of Avina. | |
| One is in the Volus/Elcor office at the Embassy. | |
| Four are inside Citadel Tower. | |
| |
| One is in the rectangular room at the right of the C-Sec HQ at the embassy. | |
| One is outside the entrance of the Consort Chambers. | |
| One is on the balcony of the Embassy lounge. | |
| One is opposite of Avina, halway between the Consort Chambers and the Emporium. | |
| |
| One is outside the Wards Access entrance, very close to the arguing Preaching Hana and C-Sec officer. | |
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Character classes
-
Unlockables
Successfully complete the indicated task to unlock the corresponding bonus the next time a new game is begined. 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% Shield | Kill 250 Synthetic enemies. |
| +10% Damage Reduction | Get the 'Soldier Ally' achievement. |
| Barrier skill for new characters | Use Barrier 75 times. |
| Warp skill for new characters | Use Warp 75 times. |
| Hacking skill for new characters | Use AI Hacking 75 times. |
| Prestige Class | Reach level 34. |
| +25% Marksman reduced cooldown | Get 150 kills with the pistol. |
| +10% Stasis and Barrier reduced cooldown | Have a 75% game completion with Liara in your squad. |
| +5% Experience | Reach level 50 with a character. |
| Level 60 level cap | Successfully complete the game. |
| Stasis skill for new characters | Use Stasis 75 times. |
| Shotgun skill for new characters | Get 150 kills with the shotgun. |
| Electronics skill for new characters | Use Overload 75 times. |
| Medicine Skill for new characters | Use Neural Hacking 75 times. |
| +10% Damping and Overload reduced cooldown | Have a 75% game completion with Garrus in your squad. |
| Decryption skill for new characters | Use Sabotage 75 times. |
| +10% Health | Kill 150 Organic enemies. |
| First Aid skill for new characters | Use Medi-gel 150 times. |
| Assault Rifle skill for new characters | Get 150 kills with the assault rifle. |
| +10% Shield Strength | Successfully complete the game with shield damage greater than health damage. |
| +10% Experience | Reach level 60. |
| Lift skill (for non-Biotics) | Use Lift 75 times. |
| +10% Hardening | Have a 75% game completion with Ashley in your squad. |
| Shielding skill for new characters | Use Dampening 75 times. |
| +5% Weapon Damage | Successfully complete the game two times. |
| +10% Lift and Throw reduced cooldown | Have a 75% game completion with Kaiden in your squad. |
| Sniper Rifle skill for new characters | Get 150 kills with the sniper rifle. |
| Throw skill for new characters | Use Throw 75 times. |
| Insane difficulty | Successfully complete the game on the Hardcore difficulty. |
| |
| Regenerate 1 health per second | Have a 75% game completion with Wrex in your squad. |
| +10% Sabotage and AI Hacking reduced cooldown | Have a 75% game completion with Tali in your squad. |
| Singularity skill for new characters | Use 'Singularity' 75 times. |
| Hardcore difficulty | Successfully complete the game. |
| |
| Spectre grade weapons for purchase | Get 1 million credits. The weapons are available through the Normandy and C-Sec Requisitions Officers. |
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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.
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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.
-
Weapon that does not overheat
Get a HMWA X assault rifle with Frictionless Materials, Combat Optics X, and Snowblind Rounds X as upgrades.
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Activate Cheats
Notice: This procedure involves editing a game file; create a backup copy of the file before proceeding. Use a text editor to edit the 'BIOInput.ini' file in the 'My DocumentsBioWareMass EffectConfig' directory. Add the following line under the '[Engine.Console]' heading:
Then while playing the game, press
~ to display the game console window. Type one of the following codes and press [Enter] to obtain the corresponding effect:
| Effect
| Code |
| Flight mode when you climb stairs | fly |
| Set paragon to indicated value | setparagon [number] |
| Get one of every weapon and modifier item level 1-X | giveall |
| Teleport to pointer | teleport |
| Get more inventory space | m_nMaxInventoryItems=9999 |
Get Bioamps from indicated manufacturer (for example 'Serrice') | giveallbioamps [manufacturer name] |
| Get armor from indicated manufacturer | giveallarmor [manufacturer name] |
Get Omnitools from indicated manufacturer (for example 'Serrice') | giveallomnitools [manufacturer name] |
| Get indicated amount of experience points | givexp [number] |
| Add indicated number of talent points for player | givetalentpoints [number] |
| Walk through walls and fly | ghost |
| End game | quit |
| Disable ghostand flycodes | walk |
| Set renegade to indicated value | setrenegade [number] |
| Show game settings | show |
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Overcomeing 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.
-
Easy 'First Aid Specialist' achievement
Find a planet that has a Hazard level 1. Stand outside the Mako, and keep pressing [Heal]. 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.
-
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:
-
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.
-
Achievements
Do the following things to obtain the corresponding Gamerscore points:
| 10 Points |
| Paramour | Finish any romance subplot. | | | Pistol Expert | Register 150 Pistol Kills. | | | Charismatic | Use Charm or Intimidate to resolve an impossible situation. | | | Search and Rescue | Locate Dr. T'Soni in the Artemis Tau cluster. | | | 15 Points | | Singularity Mastery | Use biotic Singularity 75 times. | | | Stasis Mastery | Use biotic Stasis 75 times. | | | First Aid Specialist | Use medi-gel 150 times. | | | Overlord Specialist | Use Shield Overload 75 times. | | | AI Hacking Specialist | Use AI Hacking 75 times. | | | Sabotage Specialist | Use Sabotage 75 times. | | | Assault Rifle Expert | Register 150 Assault Rifle Kills. | | | Sniper Expert | Register 150 Sniper Rifle Kills. | | | Neural Shock Specialist | Use Neural Shock 75 times. | | | Shotgun Expert | Register 150 Shotgun Kills. | | | Throw Mastery | Use biotic Throw 75 times. | | | Damping Specialist | Use Damping Field 75 times. | | | Paragon | Accumulate 75% of total Paragon points. | | | Warp Mastery | Use biotic Warp 75 times. | | | Lift Mastery | Use biotic Lift 75 times. | | | Renegade | Accumulate 75% of total Renegade points. | | | Barrier Mastery | Use biotic Barrier 75 times. | | | Spectre Inductee | Become a Spectre. | | | 20 Points | | Sentinal Ally | Finish the majority of the game with the Alliance sentinel squad member. | | | Asari Ally | Finish the majority of the game with the Asari squad member. | | | Power Gamer | Reach 50th level with one character. | | | Soldier Ally | Finish the majority of the game with the Alliance soldier squad member. | | | Turian Ally | Finish the majority of the game with the Turian squad member. | | | Quarian Ally | Finish the majority of the game with the Querian squad member. | | | Krogan Ally | Finish the majority of the game with the Krogan squad member. | | | 25 Points | | Council Legion of Merit | Finish Virmire. | | | Honorarium of Corporate Service | Finish Noveria. | | | Scholar | Find all primary Alien | | | Completionist | Finish the majority of the game. | | | Rich | Exceed 1,000,000 Credits. | | | Tactician | Finish playthrough with shield damage greater than health damage. | | | Distinguished Service Medal | Finish Eden Prime. | | | Medal of Heroism | Finish Feros. | | | Geth Hunter | Register 250 Synthetic enemy kills. | | | Long Service Medal | Finish 2 Mass Effect Playthroughs on any setting. | | | Dog of War | Register 150 organic enemy kills. | | | Distinguished Combat Medal | Finish one Mass Effect playthrough on the Hardcore difficulty setting. Do not change the setting. | | | 50 Points | | Medal of Exploration | Land on an uncharted world. | | | Extreme Power Gamer | Reach 60th level with one character. | | | Medal of Valor | Finish one Mass Effect playthrough on the Insanity difficulty setting. Do not change the setting. | | | 100 Points | | Medal of Honor | Finish one Mass Effect Playthrough on any setting. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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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.
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Overcomeing 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.
-
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.
Notice: If you have already completed this assignment, this glitch cannot be done.
-
'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
Aliens: Extinct Races
Aliens: Non-Council Races
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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 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.
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Overcomeing 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 and constant gunfire.