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Disambiguous This article is about classes in single player Mass Effect games. For classes in Mass Effect 3's multiplayer mode, see Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer/Character Customization. For classes in Mass Effect: Andromeda's multiplayer mode, see Mass Effect: Andromeda Multiplayer#Character Selection.

Classes determine what abilities and proficiencies a player character can take to the field. In Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3, player characters are chosen from one of six classes: Adept, Soldier, Engineer, Vanguard, Sentinel, and Infiltrator. Depending on the game, these can be further focused into unique specialization classes.

Overview

Each class has distinct proficiencies in three main areas: general combat using firearms or melee strikes, tech attacks, and biotics. Each class has a unique pool of available abilities plus a corresponding unique class ability that improves attributes important to that class.

In the original Mass Effect, abilities are referred to as talents, whereas in Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 they are referred to as powers. In all three games abilities can be upgraded through the allocation of points that are gained from leveling the character. Newly-created or imported characters begin the game with points already allocated in certain abilities by default; these vary by class.

NPC squad members have their own classes that may or may not draw from the same ability pools as player classes; for more information see talents, or the powers pages for Mass Effect 2 and for Mass Effect 3.

Class Traits

Classes have unique attributes and can be further specialized to have even more intense focuses or proficiencies:

Mass Effect

Mass Effect 2

  • Unlike in the first game, each class has a unique active power not available to the others that provides special advantages in combat.
  • Each class possesses a unique passive power that can be further specialized in one of two ways at maximum rank (rank 4).
  • The Soldier has a slightly higher amount of base health than the other classes and can storm (sprint) faster. It also gains a time dilation effect while storming in combat. It is the only class whose class power, Combat Mastery, does not increase power recharge speed.
  • The Infiltrator's class power grants it a time dilation effect while zoomed through the scope of a sniper rifle.
  • The Engineer's class power Tech Mastery can lower the cost of Research projects in the Normandy Tech Lab.
  • The Sentinel's Tech Armor has the unique ability to instantly recharge squadmate powers when activated (Tech Armor ranks 3 and 4 only).

Mass Effect 3

  • Each class has two unique active powers not available to the others that provide special advantages in combat.
  • The class passive works much like it does in Mass Effect 2, only now ranks 4-6 all have two different options for specialization, as do ranks 4-6 on all other available powers.
  • There is no unique "title" or named identity for any of the specializations like there is in the previous two games.
  • The Infiltrator's class power grants it a time dilation effect while zoomed through the scope of a sniper rifle (single-player only).
  • The melee-oriented evolutions of the Fitness passive power have unique class-specific effects.
  • The damage of heavy melee attacks is greatly boosted by the Rank 6 Tech Vulnerability evolution of Sabotage for the tech-oriented classes (Engineer, Sentinel, and Infiltrator) in single-player and also for several classes in multiplayer. The heavy melees of most of the classes also have some other unique attributes in either game mode.

Class Equipment

Class also influences what weapons a character is proficient with and also what other armors and equipment it may use:

Mass Effect

  • The more combat-oriented classes (Soldier, Vanguard, Infiltrator) can wear heavier types of armor (medium and heavy) and therefore have better resistance against sources of damage that can bypass shields.
  • Classes less proficient in general combat may not even have the option to train with a particular weapon type and cannot aim as effectively with those weapons (e.g. the Engineer cannot zoom through the scope of Sniper Rifles). Some of these restrictions are eased in Legendary Edition.
  • Certain classes are able to equip advanced omni-tools or biotic amps that can provide substantial bonuses to power recharge speeds, First Aid cooldown, and shield strength.

Mass Effect 2

  • Class can determine if a particular category of weapon (e.g. shotguns) can even be equipped at all.
  • The more combat-oriented classes gain special weapon upgrade options not available to the other classes about halfway through the story.

Mass Effect 3

  • Weapons and some equipment have weight attributes that can impact how often powers can be used. The more combat-oriented classes can generally carry heavier gear without penalty compared to the more tech/biotic power-oriented classes.

Classes

Adept Class Image ME LE Soldier Class Image ME LE Engineer Class Image ME LE
Adept
(Guide ME, Guide ME2, Guide ME3)
Biotic Specialist
Soldier
(Guide ME, Guide ME2, Guide ME3)
Combat Specialist
Engineer
(Guide ME, Guide ME2, Guide ME3)
Tech Specialist
Vanguard Class Image ME LE Sentinel Class Image ME LE Infiltrator Class Image ME LE
Vanguard
(Guide ME, Guide ME2, Guide ME3)
Biotic / Combat
Sentinel
(Guide ME, Guide ME2, Guide ME3)
Tech / Biotic
Infiltrator
(Guide ME, Guide ME2, Guide ME3)
Tech / Combat

Specialization Classes

Mass Effect

See also: Talents#Specialization Classes
Codex ME - Biotics Codex ME - Kinetic Barriers Codex ME - Medi-Gel
Bastion

Adept / Sentinel

Commando

Infiltrator / Soldier

Medic

Engineer / Sentinel

Nemesis Specialisation Shot Codex ME - First Contact War Operative Specialisation Shot
Nemesis

Adept / Vanguard

Shock Trooper

Soldier / Vanguard

Operative

Engineer / Infiltrator

Mass Effect 2

See also: Powers#Class Powers
Singularity ME2 Codex ME - Kinetic Barriers Combat Drone ME2
Bastion/Nemesis

Adept

Commando/Shock Trooper

Soldier

Mechanic/Demolisher

Engineer

Codex ME - Biotics Tech Armor ME2 Operative Specialisation Shot
Champion/Destroyer

Vanguard

Guardian/Raider

Sentinel

Agent/Assassin

Infiltrator

Squad Member Classes

Mass Effect

See also: Talents#Class Specific
Liara Classes Shot Wrex Classes Shot Tali Classes Shot Turian Agent
Asari Scientist

Liara T'Soni

Krogan Battlemaster

Urdnot Wrex

Quarian Machinist

Tali'Zorah nar Rayya

Turian Agent

Garrus Vakarian

Mass Effect 2

See also: Powers#Squadmates
Morinth Character Shot Samara Character Shot Liara ME2 Character Shot Mirandanew
Ardat-Yakshi

Morinth

Asari Justicar

Samara

Asari Scientist

Liara T'Soni

Cerberus Officer

Miranda Lawson

Jacob Character Shot Thane Character Shot Legion Character Shot Gruntcharactershotnewdesign
Cerberus Operative

Jacob Taylor

Drell Assassin

Thane Krios

Geth Infiltrator

Legion

Krogan Berserker

Grunt

Kasumi Character Shot Zaeed Character Shot Talinewme2
Master Thief

Kasumi Goto

Mercenary Veteran

Zaeed Massani

Quarian Machinist

Tali'Zorah vas Neema

Mordin Character Shot Jack Character Shot Garrus ME2 Character Shot
Salarian Scientist

Mordin Solus

Subject Zero

Jack

Turian Rebel

Garrus Vakarian

Mass Effect 3

See also: Powers (Mass Effect 3)#Squadmates
Ashley ME3 Character Shot Kaidan ME3 Character Shot James ME3 Character Shot ME3-Aria-Squad
Alliance Officer

Ashley Williams

Alliance Officer

Kaidan Alenko

Arms Master

James Vega

Biotic Boss

Aria T'Loak

ME3 Liara Character Shot Tali ME3 Character Shot ME3-Nyreen-Kandros Garrus ME3 Character Shot
Pure Biotic

Liara T'Soni

Quarian Machinist

Tali'zorah vas Normandy

Turian Huntress

Nyreen Kandros

Turian Rebel

Garrus Vakarian

EDI ME3 Character Shot ME3 Javik Character Shot
Unshackled AI

EDI

Vengeful Ancient

Javik

Mass Effect: Andromeda

Main article: Profiles

Mass Effect: Andromeda no longer uses the class system, and any Ryder is able to learn any skill. However, they are attached to training groups and focusing on a training group provides access to a class-like mechanic known as a Profile. Of the seven Profiles, six of them roughly correspond to the traditional trilogy classes, and one is unique to the game.

Trivia

  • According to gameplay statistics for Mass Effect Legendary Edition as of July 27, 2021, 40% of players are Soldiers, followed by 21% Vanguards, 15% Infiltrators, 11% Adepts, 8% Sentinels, and only 5% Engineers.[1]

References

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