New project BioWare has a whole galaxy to explore, but to be ready to take on pioneering responsibilities, it's worth checking out our single-player guide.
Despite the fact that the game in many ways did not live up to the expectations of ordinary gamers, thousands, tens of thousands of people still play it. Even the not-so-high-quality animation and sometimes boring gameplay couldn’t push back the high-profile title, titled with the cult “Mass Effect” banner.
So, if you are planning to sign up for the next ark ship flying towards the Andromeda galaxy in the near future, then it will certainly be useful for you to know what you will encounter in this place, alien to humans and other races of the Alliance.
Forget about side content on the planet Eos (for now)
From the very beginning, the planet Eos greets the player with a very radioactive environment: movement is only possible in relatively small spaces, and going beyond them quickly kills the character and his entire team. Therefore, if you do not want to spoil your impression of exploring the second planet in the game, then leave it immediately as soon as you complete the main task of clearing the atmosphere.
Don't worry about missing something: everything interesting places will remain safe and sound and will await your return.
After completing the main mission, fly away from the planet and continue along the main plot, and after a while visit Eos again. Thanks to your actions, this planet is no longer trying to kill you. At least not as much as before. You can easily explore the entire location without damage from radiation, and the game will no longer be off-putting with the strange decisions of the development team.
Take your time with research and crafting
If you are playing on normal level difficulty, you won’t need to research new technologies and create equipment at all, but on high difficulties, especially on Madness, Mass Effect: Andromeda can seem quite difficult.
But even in this case, do not rush to spend research points and valuable resources, because they are quite limited in the game, and therefore it is worth thinking carefully about how to use them effectively. For example, some types of armor provide bonuses to biotic skills, and it will be useless to you if you are, say, a technician. Of course, no one is stopping you from creating a hybrid class, but at first it is not recommended to “spread through the tree” if the difficulty is set to high.
This is especially true for Milky Way technologies. Research in this branch is the most valuable in the game due to the small number of points available. Moreover, many very good items are concentrated in this branch. For example, the N7 armor, familiar to many from the original trilogy about Captain Shepard.
The situation is similar with craft. Most of the gear that can be crafted can actually be bought from in-game merchants without too much trouble and found in containers scattered here and there. What you really should focus your attention on when crafting items is improving weapons, since it is not always possible to quickly find the necessary “gadgets” at the nearest merchant, because there are plenty of types of weapons in Mass Effect: Andromeda.
Another reason not to waste resources on creating starting items: you will end up replacing them in the later stages anyway. And since difficulties will begin precisely there, it is worth saving resources to meet them in full combat readiness.
Don't waste your skill points
An important feature of the Mass Effect: Andromeda role-playing system is that a character can only use 3 active abilities in battle. In game menus they are marked with "circles", while passive abilities are marked with "triangles".
Due to the limit of three active skills, you need to be very careful about spending the skill points that your character gains by gaining levels. The best option is to develop three active skills from the same branch to the maximum. As a rule, skills of the same type (combat, technique, biotics) are better combined with each other, it is easier to achieve synergy with them and perform combo attacks.
Invest the remaining points in passive abilities. They operate always and under any circumstances.
Of course, no one is stopping you from pumping up more active skills for different combat situations. At later stages, the profile system can be very useful. But at first, try not to waste skill points on everything.
Use the profile system wisely
To some extent, this advice is a continuation of the previous one. In Mass Effect: Andromeda, the player can create combat profiles, each of which can have its own set of active skills. Switching between them allows you to change your character build on the fly and adapt to changes on the battlefield.
The game does not limit you in any way in selecting skills to create profiles, but this does not change the fact that the game has effective builds and not so effective ones. The most useful skills are those that allow you to carry out so-called combo links, and they, in turn, are most easily done using skills from the same branch.
This means that the most logical thing to do is to make one profile for each archetype: soldier, technician and biotic. In each of them, collect three maximally developed abilities, and invest the rest in passive skills.
If you were in a hurry and "scattered" skill points randomly and now you do not have enough points to create truly effective profiles, then return to your ship, the Tempest, and use the special redistribution station. She is located on the lower level, in the medical compartment.
Always try new weapons before giving up old ones
Mass Effect: Andromeda features a very extensive arsenal of a wide variety of weapons. There are almost all samples from previous parts, as well as completely new types of weapons.
Each “barrel” has a unique set of characteristics, as well as reloading animations in battle. And here there is a very “subtle” point: the numbers do not always allow us to understand exactly how the weapon will behave in battle.
For example, the Hoe carbine has impressive damage from one shot, but due to its low rate of fire it is not suitable for every player. The fact is that this can only be found out in battle.
At the same time, it is usually impossible to change equipment in the middle of a mission, and because of this you can end up in a very sticky situation: in two minutes there is a difficult battle with the “boss”, and you have in your hands a stick that, according to the technical passport, is powerful, but is not really it is simply inconvenient to use in this situation.
To avoid such incidents, always try new weapons before abandoning your old ones. Of course, habit decides a lot here, but even a weaker, but familiar weapon can be more useful than an untested new weapon.
It is often better to dismantle unnecessary items than to sell them
As noted above, in Mass Effect: Andromeda the number of resources for crafting is limited, which is why the creation of items should be taken seriously. This is partly why it’s also worth considering whether to sell weapons or armor that you don’t need.
Because most The player spends time in little-explored places where there is no sensible infrastructure, the conditional value of game money and credits is much lower than in previous parts of the series. Merchants are not encountered very often, and there is little point in constantly returning to the Nexus station: the “bigwigs” there have a meager assortment.
Therefore, it is often better to dismantle unnecessary items rather than sell them. It's much faster - just press one single button, and as a reward you will not receive useless loans, but valuable resources that are almost always needed.
By the way, you can disassemble not only weapons or armor, but also upgrades for weapons. In the game they are divided by efficiency into classes from 1 to 5, so if you have just changed the upgrade on your favorite weapon to the same one, but of a higher quality, then you can safely disassemble the old one - you will no longer need it.
In addition, disassembling items allows you to free up space in your inventory, which is limited to 50 slots. Don't forget about it!
Remember the weight of the weapon, it affects the cooldown of abilities
When you upgrade your character by adding the ability to carry more weapons (up to four types), do not rush to arm yourself to the teeth, because the weight of equipment plays a very important role in Mass Effect: Andromeda.
The fact is that the recovery time of activated skills is proportional to the “load” of the character. We are not talking about the number of items in the global inventory, but only about the equipped weapons. Therefore, if your character deals most of his damage with active abilities, then an advantage in taking 3 or 4 “guns” will greatly reduce the effectiveness.
That is why biotics are usually equipped with a single pistol or, at worst, a shotgun. They do not need assault rifles, massive machine guns, or snipers, since they deal the main damage with biotic skills and their combos.
Don't forget about melee combat and consumables
In Mass Effect: Andromeda, melee weapons are a separate item that can be changed throughout the game. Thanks to this, after some time your pioneer can become a real “butcher”, armed with dangerous melee weapons and picking up a special set of abilities.
At first, you will only have a basic omni-tool, which will hardly allow you to effectively deal with enemies at close range. However, don't ignore the possibility of upgrading or replacing these weapons. For example, the Biotic's special weapons are amazing with the right skills, and the Soldier and Guardian trees have upgrades that can increase melee damage by up to 140%!
Don't forget about consumable items too. These can be ammo amplifiers with various effects such as fire or freezing, shield restorers, ammunition boxes, and even the destructive Cobra charge - the ultimate solution to any problems in battle.
Well, the best part: consumables do not affect your weight, which means they do not limit the speed of ability cooldown in any way.
Always try to have something to remove enemy shields
Of course, the shield is your best friend in Mass Effect: Andromeda, but it is not only friends with you, but also with some opponents. And then knocking down shields can cause a lot of problems, because they “absorb” damage well and can gradually recover if the enemy finds cover and does not receive damage for some time.
In addition to this, the shield (blue bar above health) allows enemies to avoid the effects of many abilities. For example, a biotic push will not move an enemy if they are under a shield. In addition, many abilities deal only a fraction of their nominal damage to shields.
To avoid the need to remove shields from the same enemy several times, always keep something in your arsenal that allows you to remove them in a very short time, so that you can then finish off the enemy with your main weapon or using an ability.
Some of the latter are precisely designed to remove shields. For example, “Overload” for a technician. It deals great damage to shields, but has little impact on health or armor.
If your character build doesn't have these abilities, you can come up with something else. For example, use rapid-fire weapons or use special “electric” cartridges using the appropriate “consumables”.
If you were unable to kill the enemy while he was without a shield, then try to at least delay their recovery. An igniting weapon is best suited for this, but in general, any weapon that causes damage over a certain period of time will do, even if it is minimal.
Penetrate armor correctly
Shields are far from the only obstacle to the enemy’s “carcass”. Some types of enemies are armored and their health is yellow. There are not many of them, but battles with them can also be difficult due to the fact that the armor perfectly absorbs normal damage.
Unlike shields, armor holds up well against rapid-fire weapons, so to effectively fight against armored targets it is best to use heavy weapons that fire rarely but accurately. These are shotguns, sniper rifles and all kinds of grenade launchers.
Also, abilities that deal fire damage are very effective against armor. And if they are not at hand, then you can use incendiary and cryo-cartridges.
The fight is faster than ever
One of the most important changes to the combat system of Mass Effect: Andromeda is the noticeably increased dynamics. The character moves faster, and can also jump and make lightning-fast leaps in any direction. Opponents have also become much more maneuverable and can sometimes close the distance with you in a matter of seconds.
Old tactical schemes are outdated, and therefore you will have to learn again, using new opportunities. Try to always be higher than your opponent; to do this, jump onto high places. Remember that enemies will rarely "spawn" above you, so height will often be your saving grace.
Each of the hostile factions received special units that attack exclusively in close combat. These are the “dogs” of the kett and robbers, and small drones of the relics. They can cause a lot of problems, and to avoid being in an awkward position, look around often. If you see an enemy using melee combat, jump in the opposite direction from him.
Horse races can also be very useful when, in the heat of a firefight, your shields are removed and your health begins to drain. In this case, you need to retreat as quickly as possible in order to wait out the danger and restore shields. The jumps are very helpful with this, and a skilled trailblazer will be able to use them to move to cover almost instantly.
Return to the Tempest after every major mission
This advice is unlikely to be useful to those who have played past games in the Mass Effect series, but not every newcomer knows that many dialogues with characters are tied to the progress of the main plot.
Therefore, after completing the next story mission, do not be lazy to return to your ship, the Storm, and chat with the crew members. They will probably tell you a lot of interesting things and, perhaps, if you are courteous enough, they will offer you an affair.
Also, don't forget to return to the Nexus Station sometimes. Its inhabitants also periodically receive new dialogue lines and side quests.
Upgrade the Nomad transport and use it
The locations in Mass Effect: Andromeda are much larger than in , and it is not always effective to explore them on foot. On the planet Eos you will find a garage, and in it - the Nomad transport. With it, traveling will become much faster and more fun.
By the way, Nomad has very useful functions. Firstly, by clicking on the right mouse button, you will activate the high-traction mode, which, in turn, will increase the cross-country ability of the vehicle several times. Secondly, the Nomad can accelerate by pressing the Shift key and even jump using the Spacebar.
If you liked this all-terrain vehicle, then you can improve it by using the research center on the Tempest. The corresponding technologies can be obtained by talking with an engineer from the Angara race. It is located at the rebel base, which you will definitely visit during the main storyline.
Use shock troops and get free loot
Arriving at the Nexus, you will meet many characters and have time to talk to them a lot. One of them, a turian in charge of the station's security, will tell you about the strike force system and give you access to the interface for managing them.
Shock troops can be sent on special missions. You cannot participate in them yourself, unless they are special APEX missions for online play. Tasks are divided by rank into bronze, silver and gold. The higher the rank, the more difficult it is for the squad to complete the task, and the time required for this increases.
As a reward for completing a task, the player receives special points with which he can improve his squad. But what’s more important is that each completed task gives you several containers with free equipment.
These containers are the only way to endlessly obtain items, resources and game currency. Therefore, if you cannot progress through the game further, then you can start “farming” missions for shock troops. Sooner or later you will get enough items to strengthen yourself and still pass the difficult section.
The fact that Mass Effect: Andromeda, so to speak, “messed up” is now being examined in some detail by those who are not lazy - from disputes over facial animation to the surprisingly low ratings of the latest game in the epic sci-fi franchise from Bioware.
Beneath it all, however, is a sweet spot that you can love, but you'll have to dig a little to get to it. We can only hope for patches, updates and some additions for this game.
If you're planning on jumping aboard the Ark Hyperion and heading to the Andromeda galaxy, then there are some things you should know about the gameplay systems and mechanics of the latest Mass Effect. With this guide, you'll make your life in a new and hostile galaxy easier, and you'll also be able to smooth out some of Andromeda's rather rough edges.
Forget about side missions on Eos - leave the planet as soon as possible and come back later
Mass Effect Andromeda doesn't give any hints here, but once you're done with the Vault on Eos, you'll start clearing the atmosphere of that incredibly annoying radiation that covers most of the map. It doesn't happen right away. You'll need to go through a bit of an important mission first. But once the rad threat is gone, you'll be able to explore virtually the entire map without causing yourself constant rad damage.
Don't bother fighting radiation while trying to complete all the side quests on Eos the first time you land there. The radiation on the planet is there to stop you early in the game, not to provide some kind of challenge. Some of the missions can all be completed, but it's best to ignore them.
There will still be more missions on Eos in the future, so don't worry about it. Don't fly there until there are more missions accumulated there, and then come back. And at the beginning of the game, just fly away. Moreover, the game becomes much better after Eos.
Don't worry about research and crafting in the beginning
You don't really need to research or craft weapons and armor in Mass Effect Andromeda, but if you do, it's best to wait a bit to figure out what you need.
The reason for this advice is that crafting materials and research points are quite quickly consumed resources. So if you spend your hard-earned currency on unlocking a dozen low-level items, you will have to work hard in the future to get the points you need for high-level items at the end of the game.
This is especially true for all on-screen exploration of the Milky Way. Points for this research are the hardest to obtain, but this is where you can find the most famous weapons from the Mass Effect universe.
Most of the equipment from the crafting menu can be found as loot or picked up from stores, so there is simply no point in spending these points right away. The point of crafting is that you apply augmentations to created items. A crafted, augmented weapon of the fifth level will be better than the same gun obtained by other means, and you will decide in what aspects.
Another reason to return to research later is that all these menus will become much more understandable to you and will not make you resentful. Leave the crafting idea for later and come back later.
Spend your skill points wisely on matching skills and abilities
It is very important that you fully understand how the skills page actually works. If there is a round icon next to a skill, then it is an active skill. This means that it will take up one of your power slots in any of the profiles and can be applied with the press of a button.
Triangle skills are passive skills that give you a permanent active buff. To maximize your character, it’s easier to take a couple or three good skills than to start mixing everything up. Level up the three main active skills used in the game, and then invest all the remaining points in passive abilities that will support your play style.
Your active forces must also be perfectly matched to each other. It is a good idea to have two skills for performing a combo on the enemy and one for finishing it. You can read more about this system in the description of the skills.
Dedicate yourself to a small number of skills and profiles
On paper, in Mass Effect Andromeda you have the ability to change game builds on the fly, just like in a multiplayer game, which makes it possible to not get stuck on one path. But in reality, with such a distribution you only make things worse for yourself. It takes a huge amount of points to upgrade a skill from its basic strength to a much more powerful version of it at the sixth level. Having two or three sixth-level skills is a much more lethal match than having a dozen second-level skills.
As a result, if you try to unlock all the profiles, you will spend forever leveling each of them for their bonus to be of any use to you.
We recommend that you take one of the mixed profiles, such as Vanguard or Guardian, and invest in two of the three types of abilities (Combat, Technique and Biotics). Take three active abilities in your chosen two skill trees, buff them to maximum, and at the same time spend the saved points on the passive abilities of your skills.
If you don’t like your build, then you can go to the Reset station on the Storm, which is located in the Medbay on the lower floor.
Try new weapons before selling your old ones
There are a huge number of weapons in Mass Effect Andromeda and they are all different from each other, even within a class. It's not even a matter of different weight, clip capacity or damage dealt. Some of these guns handle really differently from each other, and yet they come from the same family.
For example, there is an assault rifle in the game that takes some time to warm up after pulling the trigger. She then fires a short burst, after which she needs to warm up again. It's not exactly what you'd expect from an assault rifle class weapon, is it?
Since you can't change your loadout during a mission, you don't want to fight bosses and heavily armored enemies only to find out that your weapon is completely useless.
It's better to disassemble equipment rather than sell it
While credits in Mass Effect Andromeda aren't as plentiful as previous Mass Effect games, they're still quite plentiful thanks to the various junk items that come your way. They do not take up inventory space and can be easily sold with one click in stores. True, some hardcore fans may want to read the names and descriptions of these items first, as there may be references and Easter eggs there.
In addition to this junk, there is your equipment and, perhaps, it is better to hold on to it rather than sell it. Once you have taken the previous advice and decided the fate of the weapon, instead of selling it, go to your inventory and use one option to disassemble it.
Guns, armor and improvements to them are all disassembled items that will give you additional resources to use when crafting. And since some crafting resources are quite difficult to find, disassembling every item you find is a wise decision.
As a bonus, you can disassemble things directly during the mission and the resources from the disassembled item will not take up space in your inventory. So this is a great way to free up some inventory space during a mission if you find yourself running short of it for the items you find.
Be aware of the weight of the weapon when lifting it
When leveling up Ryder, you will be able to wear more equipment. You can carry a maximum of four types of weapons and four types of consumable items. You may want to load yourself up with all the guns, but it’s better not to do this.
Mass Effect veterans know that weight matters. Each weapon comes with its own weight, and the heavier your equipment, the longer your skills will take to recharge. So it's simple: if you want more skills, you'll have fewer weapons. And vice versa.
Frankly, we don't advise you to load yourself up with guns, as your abilities are what make combat in Mass Effect so satisfying. So choose your weapons wisely and don't forget that some upgrades for guns can make them heavier or lighter.
Don't forget about melee combat and consumable items
One of the main innovations in Andromeda is the slot for melee weapons, into which these same weapons can be equipped. You start out with an omni-tool, but it's best to remember to upgrade this aspect of your inventory. You will find new melee weapons in the form of loot or crafted items. These can be either more powerful omni-tools or elemental swords, hammers or other weapons.
For example, the Azari Sword is the best weapon in the game. Andromeda has a ton of different melee weapons. For biotics, for example, it is absolutely delightful and incredibly destructive. Simply put, close combat is worth your time, especially on profiles that reward that “intimacy.” The Vanguard profile provides a gigantic melee bonus for high levels, which, naturally, will make the weapon much more dangerous.
Consumable items (or simply consumables) have replaced many of the skills from classic Mass Effect for all classes. Here you can find disintegrating, cryo and incendiary ammo, plus other useful bonuses, including a quick boost to your health and shields back to maximum if you are in a fairly hot spot or in a life-threatening environment, in which, for example , radiation reigns. They don't affect your weight score, so take as many of them as possible, unlock extra slots on the Tempest, and use them often, as they can turn a brutal battle in your favor.
Carry something that can penetrate shields
Shields are a lifesaver for you and your allies in Mass Effect Andromeda, but they can also be a pain when enemies use them. Just like you, enemies can recharge their shields, and they can and will run away and hide, quite quickly.
The game has special skills for destroying shields, so you may want to switch profiles when facing certain shielded bad guys. However, in general, high-velocity weapons such as SMGs or assault rifles are the best options for countering shields.
For the most effective destruction of “shield fighters”, we recommend that you buy relatively cheap consumable disintegrating cartridges. They just eat them alive. Destroy the shield, then switch to a heavy weapon to finish off. Set fire to shield warriors or apply continuous damage to them, which will lead to a decrease in shields.
...and don't forget to wear something against armor
The armor is less annoying than the shields in Andromeda, but it's still pretty damn tough. Armor is represented in the game by a yellow health bar, as opposed to red health and a blue shield.
Armor is the opposite of shields, i.e. things that work well against shields work poorly against armor, and vice versa. To inflict maximum damage to armor, use weapons with a low rate of fire, such as large-caliber pistols or shotguns. Fire abilities such as a flamethrower are also suitable for destroying armor.
Again, consumables work here too if all else fails. Cryo and incendiary rounds are ideal for destroying pesky armor.
Combat has now become more fluid
The original Mass Effect trilogy became more and more focused on cover-based gunplay over time. While Mass Effect: Andromeda does have a cover mechanic, your primary approach to combat should be more fluid, so get used to it.
Covers here aren't an active system where you have to press a button to duck behind something. In Andromeda they are dynamic. Once you get close to cover, Ryder will naturally duck behind it. Aiming around cover and blind fire will work as you'd expect from this position. Health, shields, and biotic barriers regenerate faster when you're in cover, so they'll come in handy if your shields are down and you're in a dangerous situation.
You also have to be willing to move, and quite often. A new jump pack and different evasive moves are major changes to the Mass Effect formula, giving you maximum mobility that wasn't possible in previous games. Ideally, you will need to be constantly mobile in fights, use moves to bypass opponents and approach them from the flank. Don't forget that some abilities help with movement or they can recharge your shield without cover. So use items, skills and profiles that will support your playstyle.
Explore the Tempest and Nexus after completing the main story missions
This is old news for Mass Effect veterans, but it's a must-do in Bioware's RPG, so make sure you check out important NPCs after completing major story missions or discovering a new planet.
A lot of conversations with your comrades are locked while playing through the main story, so if you want to unlock those loyalty missions or in-depth romance, then check them regularly. Sometimes various messages on the Tempest will indicate new developments, but not always. So visit each member of your crew between missions. No one will sleep with you if you forget to talk to them.
You should also go back to the Nexus and walk through the main areas of this location. Even if you think you've fully explored a location, new side missions appear there all the time, and you'll save yourself a lot of time by collecting them all at once and completing them on your first visit, rather than flying back two or three times while completing missions according to your needs. quest log later in the game.
Improve your Nomad and learn to manage it properly
The new Nomad has a few new tricks up its sleeves compared to the Old Nomad, but it's still possible to get stuck in clearings or get stuck on dangerous slopes if you're not careful.
If you find Nomad boring (or love it but want it to be even better), make sure you develop upgrades in the research center. As in the indicated location, you can get a pack of blueprints by talking to the Angaran Engineer NPC at the rebel base once you progress through the main quest. The most useful upgrades improve acceleration and provide six-wheel drive, the ability to change traction, and a bonus to the shield when exiting a vehicle.
Benefit from the Nomad's advanced capabilities, learn how to switch between primary and six-wheel drive, engage and disengage traction, and how to use boost and jump. In general, check your control settings. You can even turn the headlights on and off, which isn't useful when driving in the mountains, but is still a nice touch.
Also always look for upgrades for the Nomad after you find a new store with goods. In them you can find a bunch of interesting things for your transport.
Found a typo? Select the text and press Ctrl + Enter
Job type: Additional tasks
Required conditions: Elaaden available
Starting location: Elaaden
How to get a: talk to the krogan geneticist
Talk to the krogan geneticist
Elaaden: New Tuchanka
If Drac is with you, you can freely pass the guards at the main gate (1) on the southern side of the krogan colony is New Tuchanka. If Drac isn't with you, he'll meet you at the gate and talk to the guards to let you in. It pays to have a krogan friend like Drac.
After you enter, head left and talk to the Krogan geneticist (2) behind the counter. A terminal containing valuable scientific data obtained by the famous Okir was mistakenly sold to a junk dealer. Dr. Ganar does not care what happens to the terminal itself, but the results of the research are extremely important for the future of the krogan. Agree to help, and he gives you the coordinates, the junkman's name, and the terminal ID.
Go to the coordinates received from Ganar
Elaaden: Oblivion
Follow the navigation point (3) to the scavenger's hideout.
Hack the terminal and get data
Pay attention to the containers with ammunition and medicine around the shelter. How can you guess that there will be a battle here. If necessary, restore health and replenish ammo, then hack the terminal to download research data.
Stay in the illuminated target area around the terminal to complete the hack, and fight off multiple waves of enemies that arrive on shuttles.
Return research to Dr. Ganar
Elaaden: New Tuchanka
Return to the krogan colony and return the research to Ganar. Now he can continue the work of Dr. Okira.
Publication date: 03/21/2017 13:38:12
While it may not have received the highest scores from critics, the game isn't all that bad. Perhaps someone expected more, perhaps someone did not like some changes, but in this guide we will talk about something completely different.
Several tips revealed in this material will help you both in the initial stages and in further planning of character development and the entire colonization mission.
Don't jump at all the extra content on Eos
The game doesn't say this outright, but once you're done exploring the Vault on Eos, the atmosphere will slowly begin to clear of the pesky radiation contamination that covers most of the map. This will not happen right away - you need to reach a certain plot point, but after that you will be able to explore almost all corners of the map without receiving constant serious damage.
Do not try to find all the side content as soon as you get to the planet, this is a special restriction that was made by the developers not to challenge you, but to protect you from completing tasks ahead of time. Naturally, you can try to complete some missions right away, but it's not worth it.
In addition, additional missions will appear on the planet later, so it would be better to complete everything at once, saving time on travel. Moreover, the game opens up more fully once you get a little further into the main story.
Don't bother too much with research and crafting
In general, you can beat Mass Effect: Andromeda without learning new weapons and armor at all, but if you plan to do this, it is better to wait until later stages of the game. This way you will have a more precise idea of what you need - for example, you will understand that you like biotic abilities most of all, and you will focus on them.
The reason for this is a very limited supply of materials and research points. So if you dare to explore and create everything possible options first level equipment, by the end of the game finding resources for something more impressive can be very problematic. This is especially true for research in the technology branch. Milky Way. It is very difficult to earn points for them, but there are very interesting types of equipment that fans of the series will especially like.
In any case, most of the items in the crafting menu can be obtained as loot or purchased in stores. The purpose of crafting is that you can apply all kinds of improvements in the process of creating equipment. Thus, the fifth level weapon you create will be significantly better than a similar weapon sold in a store or obtained through other means.
Another reason to return to crafting a little later is to wait until you get comfortable in the vast world of the game and understand all the mechanics. Just follow the advice - leave crafting and researching new equipment for later stages of the passage.
How to properly level up a hero
The main thing is to fully understand the possibilities of upgrading your skills at the very beginning. Anything with a round icon is an active skill, occupying one of the three slots. This means that any such skill will take one of the three available places in the selected profile, and to activate the skill you will need to press a special button.
Skills with triangles next to them are passive abilities that act constantly. Combined with the information above, it is not difficult to conclude that you should focus on developing three active skills. The remaining points are better spent on passive abilities that will work to support your playstyle.
Your active skills should also complement each other. A good option is to use a couple of abilities that prepare the enemy for a combo, and a third that activates it. You can find out which skills are preparatory and which activate combos from their descriptions.
Then in battle you can easily carry out combinations, preparing the enemy for a combo with one ability and executing it with another.
Don't level up many classes at once
The developers of Mass Effect Andromeda provided players with the opportunity not to tie the main character to only one class, but to allow them to switch between them, as if in multiplayer mode. In fact, using this approach will only make you weaker - up to the sixth level of development, an ability requires a lot of pumping points, and having two or three skills of the maximum level is much better than a dozen initial level ones.
The same applies to profiles (classes) - it is better to choose one direction (attack or defense) and upgrade two of the three directions (fighter, technician or biotic), choosing three active skills and supplementing them with passive abilities for the remaining points.
If you realize that you messed up, you can always completely upgrade the main character on the lower floor of the medical compartment on the Tempest.
Try new weapons in action before dismantling or selling your old one
There are a lot of weapons in Mass Effect Andromeda, and even within the same class they are very different from each other. And that doesn't just mean weight, clip size, or firepower, but their uses are completely different. If necessary, you can with the best weapons in different classes.
For example, one of the assault rifles does not fire as usual, but requires a certain amount of time to charge after pressing the fire button before actually firing. After this you need to wait for the charge again. Having bought such a weapon, gotten used to using another and dismantled the past, you may not be very happy with the new product.
It is better to dismantle unnecessary equipment than to sell it
Although credits have a much higher value in Mass Effect: Andromeda than they did in previous games in the series, you can still collect enough of them thanks to all the junk you find during missions. Such items do not take up inventory space and can be easily sold in one click when visiting a store. But take note - some of these “trash” may be interesting to study before selling, especially to fans of the series - they contain many Easter eggs and funny references.
It is better not to sell the found weapon, and after you decide that you no longer need it (read the previous advice), open your inventory and disassemble it. This way you will receive additional resources for crafting, some of which are very difficult to find. So if you find something that can be taken apart, don’t be too lazy to pick it up and use it for materials. It is possible that they will be useful to you in the future, even if they are not needed now.
Another plus is that you can disassemble items right in the middle of a mission, so unnecessary equipment will not take up space in your inventory.
Don't forget about the weight of your equipment
As you level up your main character, you will be able to carry more equipment - up to four types of weapons and consumables. There may well be a desire to use all the slots, but think about whether it is worth it.
Mass Effect veterans should already know this, but again, weight matters. Each equipped weapon adds a total weight, and the higher it is, the longer the cooldown of your non-weapon abilities becomes. So the more you want to use abilities, the fewer guns you put on the hero. If you want to carry an impressive arsenal with you, be prepared for a long reload.
In general, we wouldn't recommend completely loading up a hero with weapons - it's the abilities that make fights effective and interesting, so just pick up good weapon. And, by the way, some weapon improvements can either increase or decrease its weight.
Don't forget about melee and consumables
Another good innovation in Mass Effect: Andromeda is the presence of a slot for melee weapons. You start with an omni-tool, but be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to upgrade this equipment slot as well. New melee weapons can often be found among other loot and can also be crafted. This way you can get both a more powerful omni-tool and elementally enhanced swords or hammers.
By the way, the Azari sword is perhaps the best melee weapon. Melee weapons will be especially useful for biotics.
As for consumables, they replace some of the skills previously available only to certain classes. There are freezing or igniting cartridges, and all sorts of bonuses for boosting health or shields. They do not affect the weight in any way, so take the maximum, open additional slots on the Tempest and use them during battles. They may well change the outcome of the most difficult battle in your favor.
Have something to break through enemy shields
Shields are a real lifesaver for you and your companions, but they are also a big problem if your opponents are equipped with them. Just like you, enemies can quickly reload them by running away and hiding behind cover.
However, many powerful skills have virtually no effect against shields. Consider taking at least one active skill aimed at destroying shields, and develop it well in this direction. If you don’t want to waste a valuable slot for a specialized ability, weapons with a high rate of fire will help you deal with shields very quickly.
If you want to be a god in confronting particularly strong opponents with shields, buy special ammunition and use it actively in battles. Knock down the shield, switch to a powerful weapon and finish off the victim. You can also burn or apply any other pillbox to your opponent.
And also take something against armor
Even though enemy armor does not cause as many problems as shields, it still makes it very difficult to quickly destroy enemies. Armor in the game is represented by a yellow stripe, like health is red or shields are blue.
Armor is also almost the exact opposite of shields. What is effective against one works very poorly against another. For maximum damage against armored targets, use weapons with a high rate of fire. Fire weapons like a flamethrower also work well.
Consumables will also come in handy here - freezing and setting them on fire will help you quickly deplete those damned yellow stripes from your enemies.
Movement in battles is now more important than before
The original Mass Effect trilogy gradually moved towards the need to hide in shelters, but here everything changes. The main thing is to be mobile and use the right moments to attack.
Covers now work dynamically, and their use does not require additional actions from the player - just bring the hero to a place near the cover. It may seem a little strange for users who are used to the previous control scheme, but you quickly get used to it.
Remember also that health, shields and biotic shields regenerate much faster when in cover.
If your shields are not depleted, try to move around the zone more often. Use a jump pack, hover in the air and dash - all of these are not just spectacular innovations, but also useful combat tools.
Visit the Tempest and Nexus after important story events
This should be obvious to anyone who's played Mass Effect before, but if this is your first BioWare RPG, take note - visit important NPCs after completing every major story mission or discovering a new planet.
Certain conversations with party members cannot be activated until a certain point in the story, and if you want to unlock loyalty missions or progress in romance, interact with characters regularly. Sometimes about opportunity further development will be communicated via private message on the Tempest, but not always. So take the time to talk to each group member after each task.
It’s also worth returning to the Nexus and walking around the main locations - try to visit the docks, the control room, and even the Hyperion zones. Even if you have completely completed exploring a zone, new tasks may appear in it.
Improve Nomad and use it correctly
The new Nomad has several new features that the familiar vehicles from the original trilogy did not have. Although this time you can get stuck somewhere in the gorge if you don’t drive very carefully.
Also remember that “Nomad” can and should be improved in research center. You can get more blueprints for improvement from the Angaran Engineer at the rebel base after reaching a certain point in the storyline. The most useful improvements are acceleration and six-wheel drive mode, switching traction modes and additional protection after leaving the vehicle.
New worlds to explore
World Mass Effect Andromeda created for research. Many planets, each of which can be explored, new worlds, mysteries and dangers - all this is in the game.
As a Pathfinder, you help the Andromeda Initiative settle into a new, unexplored world. You are given a personal ship and crew, which you can add interesting characters during the story. What awaits you in the new world?
●New races
●Lots of planets to explore
●Ability to create outposts and bases
●Secrets of Andromeda
●R&D system
Now let's talk about everything in order.
Access to the map, movement through outer space
The player has access to a cosmic map of the entire Eleus cluster. The cluster includes several dozen star systems, between which you can move by interacting with the map. Each system has its own name, as well as a group of objects that can be studied. Each Andromeda planet that is located within a particular system and is suitable for study is highlighted. The remaining objects can simply be examined for the presence of materials or something useful.
If you look out the window of your ship while in orbit of any object, you will be able to see an unusual space landscape. The view will vary depending on celestial bodies, next to which “Storm” is now located. So you will never see two identical landscapes.
Study of the world, features of planets
Each planet available for study under the Andromeda program has its own history, inhabitants and characteristics. Take, for example, Elaaden - a harsh, sandy planet with minimal moisture reserves. The main enemy here is the heat, which can kill even a person in a special suit. In addition, no one can survive long without water, and all the treasures scattered around the planet are well guarded, so once you get here you shouldn’t hope for the best.
The krogans were able to survive in such harsh conditions and, in fact, calmly tolerated the heat on their home planet Tuchanka, which had similar harsh conditions. Krogans are a distrustful people, so don't expect greetings or hospitality from them, but you have the power to change that. Establish relationships with the few inhabitants of the planet and further exploration of Elaaden will be greatly simplified, since it will be possible to build an advanced station.
About forward stations and bases
Since the worlds in Mass Effect Andromeda are quite expansive to explore, you'll definitely need transportation and a place to resupply without having to return to your starship. When you have explored the planet enough, you will have the opportunity to create an advanced station where you can replenish ammunition, prepare for missions and repair your “Nomad.”
“Nomad” is an all-terrain vehicle that makes it easier for the player to travel across the surface of the planet. The vehicle allows you to move faster from one point to another, in addition, it has scanning and life support systems, which is extremely important for survival in harsh conditions.
If you have explored the location sufficiently, the planet’s prospects for initiative will increase and it will be possible to create outposts for Nexus improvements. How to achieve such progress? All that is needed is to bring the prospect value of the object to 40% or higher. This is done as follows:
●Eliminate the threats that exist on the planet. Hostile fauna, alien invaders and other enemies all count.
●Forge alliances with residents, carrying out their instructions. In the case of Elaaden, you will have to negotiate with the krogans.
●Tackle climate problems, such as finding a way to beat the heat.
●Complete story missions on this planet.
●Explore as many places as possible
Having reached the required number of points, you create an outpost, what next? The prospect points gained as a result of your actions can be put to good use on developing and maintaining the Nexus space station, allowing you to open more cryopods, for example. By choosing colonists, you will receive a certain bonus. Let's say you brought scientists out of cryosleep, then you will have a bonus to researching new technologies. Also with traders, military and other colonists.
Storage
In addition to natural hazards, hostile fauna and unfavorable conditions, you can find Vaults on the planet - the remains of ancient civilization relics. Each Vault you discover may help solve the problems of the new colonizers of Andromeda, so it’s worth looking for them.
To get inside the vault you need to find the entrance, solve the code, break through the security and study everything you find inside the building.
Crafting system
Everything you find on planets and inside storage facilities can be used to create equipment and weapons. The crafting system is divided into two separate components: technology research and development.
Research represents information about the technology, creatures, and environment you are scanning. By scanning unusual equipment you will receive part of the data that can be used to create a working prototype. The more you scan, the more you receive drawings to create items.
To start the development process you will need a finished drawing and a certain amount of materials. Everything you need can be found during the journey, as well as on board the Tempest or from merchants.
The level of research development will affect the quality of improvements to available equipment.
Special attention should be paid to enhancements. Enhancements are bonuses that can be installed on pieces of armor or weapons, if they have slots. Each buff has a unique effect on the equipped item. Here short description some modifiers:
●Air stabilizer - improves weapon accuracy when in the air or enhances biotics for armor.
● Beam generator - changes the type of weapon damage to energy, replacing cartridges with a beam.
●Cooler - expands the weapon magazine used for special ammunition. Gives a bonus to the use of incendiary, disintegrating and freezing cartridges.
●Shield disintegrator - enhances the effectiveness of disintegrating cartridges, which allows you to remove the enemy’s energy protection in a few shots. If you build such a modifier into your armor, then when attacking in close combat you will deal additional electrical damage to enemy shields.
●Old heat sink - changes the weapon's ammunition to thermal, but introduces overheating. Works the same as in the Mass Effect trilogy.
And that's just short example possible upgrades that you can find and use to enhance your equipment. In addition, in the game you can find combined Relic modifications for armor. Explore more, get more!
Game idea
Mass Effect Andromeda is a game about exploring and colonizing new worlds. Your decisions will affect the development of the community in the new world, so try your best.
You will find more articles, guides and descriptions on the pages. Tired of grinding? Then take a look at the cheats and trainers section.