

Sentinel is the second mixed Class, combining Adepts and Engineers. They also have no effective way to remove shields outside of direct firepower, so having a Squad Mate with Overload is a good idea. This is a risk vs reward hit-and-run tactic however as they don't have a lot of shields or armour. Vanguards are surpremely adapted to charging into battle with a biotic ability and then executing their foes with the Shotgun. They specialize in the use of Shotguns, but in later games can use Pistols and SMGs. Vanguard is the first "mixed" Class, being a mix of Adepts and Soldiers. Their Shields can be very powerful, which serves as their main form of defense. Like the Adept Class, Engineers have a limited pool of viable weapons, meaning they rely on their Powers to weaken enemies before using what weapons they have or their Squad Mates to take them down. While they don't focus on firepower or biotics at all, they have a wide range of abilities that let them screw with their opponents and take their advantages away, such as weakening shields, disabling weapons, hacking synthetic enemies, and in the sequels deploying Combat Drones. The downside is that enemies with Shields are very resistant to these moves, requiring other solutions to get rid of them first.Įngineers are the tech trickster class. They can have a wide array of biotic moves to use on targets, including Lifting them helplessly into the air, Warping the area around them to deal damage over time, and even a shockwave over the ground. Their natural weapon is the Pistol, which can be used at any range with good enough aim but doesn't excel in any of them. Their high amount of health also makes them good choices for beginners or those seeking a more relaxed playstyle.Īdepts are warriors who use biotic abilities to hinder and debuff opponents, which then allow their targets to be taken down using their weaker firepower. If you want to play Mass Effect as a straight-up cover shooter, Soldier is the Class to go for.

That said, they struggle if a gun can't solve an issue, so remember to use biotic and tech-focused Squad Mates to balance out these shortcomings. Soldiers are also the only class to start with Assault Rifles in the first two games. The Soldier Class is the most approachable, able to use almost any weapon and absorb a lot of damage through health and armor, and have Powers that boost their health and firepower.


This allows you to take advantage of the various changes and additions to combat with each Mass Effect game, detailed at the bottom of this page in the Game-Specific Mechanics section. It's well worth noting that when importing the save of a previous game to continue the story, you're able to choose a different Class for that Shepard.
