- For abilities in Mass Effect 2, see Powers.
- For abilities in Mass Effect 3, see Powers (Mass Effect 3).
The skills or abilities in Mass Effect are called talents. Available to each class are 12 talents (four starting talents and eight unlockable talents). Below is a list of talents, separated by type and accompanied by which classes can use each talent.
To advance the levels of the various talents, players are awarded 100 points between the levels of 1-60 to place where they see fit, in addition to the 2 points that are automatically assigned to two starting abilities (one point each). The player is automatically awarded additional points for becoming a Spectre, and gains points in Charm and Intimidate for advancing the Paragon and Renegade meters respectively. (See Morality for more details.)
Each character in your party, on the other hand, receives 80 points between the levels of 1-60 to place where players see fit, in addition to the 2 points that are automatically assigned to two starting abilities.
When Shepard commands a party member to use one of their offensive Biotic or Tech talents, it takes effect as if he personally had the talent. The party member need not have the usual line of sight to the intended target or target location. In this way, Shepard can take point while leaving the rest of the party safely behind.
Talent Points Leveling Progression
Shepard:
Levels 1-5: 3 points per level
Levels 6-35: 2 points per level
Levels 36-60: 1 point per level
Total: 100 points
NPCs:
Levels 1-20: 2 points per level
Levels 21-60: 1 point per level
Total: 80 points
Talents Chart: Player Character
Note: ✓= Starting ● = Unlockable x = Starting Ability w/ Extra Point | |||||||
Power | Soldier | Vanguard | Infiltrator | Engineer | Adept | Sentinel | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat | |||||||
Assault Training | x | ✓ | |||||
Fitness | ● | ● | |||||
Weapons | |||||||
Assault Rifle | x | ||||||
Pistol | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ● | ||
Shotgun | ● | ● | |||||
Sniper Rifle | ● | ● | |||||
Armor | |||||||
Basic Armor | ● | ✓ | |||||
Combat Armor | ✓ | ||||||
Tactical Armor | ● | ✓ | |||||
Tech | |||||||
Decryption | x | x | x | ||||
Electronics | x | x | ● | ||||
Hacking | ● | ||||||
Damping | ● | ● | |||||
Biotic | |||||||
Barrier | ● | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
Lift | ● | ● | ● | ||||
Singularity | ● | ||||||
Stasis | ● | ● | |||||
Throw | x | x | x | ||||
Warp | x | x | |||||
Health | |||||||
First Aid | ● | ● | ✓ | ✓ | |||
Medicine | ● | ● |
Talents Chart: NPC Classes
Note: ✓= Starting ● = Unlockable x = Starting Ability w/ Extra Point | |||||||
Power | Soldier | Krogan Battlemaster | Turian Agent | Quarian Machinist | Asari Scientist | Sentinel | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat | |||||||
Assault Training | x | ● | |||||
Fitness | ● | ● | |||||
Weapons | |||||||
Assault Rifle | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
Pistol | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
Shotgun | ● | ● | ● | ||||
Sniper Rifle | ● | ● | |||||
Armor | |||||||
Basic Armor | ✓ | ||||||
Combat Armor | x | ✓ | |||||
Tactical Armor | ✓ | ||||||
Tech | |||||||
Decryption | x | x | x | ||||
Electronics | ● | x | ● | ● | |||
Hacking | ● | ||||||
Damping | ● | ● | |||||
Biotic | |||||||
Barrier | x | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
Lift | ● | ● | |||||
Singularity | ● | ||||||
Stasis | ● | ● | ● | ||||
Throw | ● | x | x | ||||
Warp | x | ✓ | |||||
Health | |||||||
First Aid | ● | x | ● | x | ✓ | ||
Medicine | ● |
Class Specific
Base Classes
Specialization Classes
Shock Trooper - Soldier, Vanguard
Commando - Soldier, Infiltrator
Operative - Engineer, Infiltrator
Other
Spectre Training - Unlockable after becoming a Spectre
Squad Member Classes
Quarian Machinist - Tali'Zorah nar Rayya specific
Asari Scientist - Liara T'Soni specific
Krogan Battlemaster - Urdnot Wrex specific
Turian Agent - Garrus Vakarian specific