Mass Effect is one of the greatest sci-fi epics of all time, with Bioware’s capabilities as a gaming studio being at their absolute peak during this trilogy’s run. This is precisely why people are hyped for the Legendary Edition, which is bound to be quite a blast to play through indeed.
The series is full to the brim with some of the most memorable characters in any video game, with Thane Krios being one such companion who can prove to be a massive asset in battle. Of course, it certainly helps that Thane is quite intriguing and mysterious in his own right as well, to the point where most fans of the series might not even know some of the following things about this character.
10 He Embarked Upon His Dark Path At An Early Age
Given just how skilled Thane is as a contract killer, it wouldn’t be surprising to find out that Thane’s life as an assassin started at an early age.
This is absolutely correct — Thane started training as an assassin at the age of six and killed his first target ever at just twelve years old.
9 He Was The First Mass Effect 2 Squadmate To Be Revealed
One thing that most people might now know about Thane is the fact that he was actually the first member of Shepard’s new squad to be revealed for Mass Effect 2.
Given the elaborate nature of his backstory and the alluring nature of his character, it’s easy to see that Bioware definitely had some time when it came to fleshing out the kinks of Thane’s story.
8 The Origin Of His Character Design Is Quite Odd
As per the development team, Thane’s character design was meant to be a cross between a bird and a fish — both of which were exotic, to boot.
Given how odd these design guidelines sound, it’s surprising that this particular facet of Thane’s design didn’t end up getting cut.
Speaking of which…
7 Parts Of The Cut Design Were Featured In His Alternate Outfit
There was actually a particular aspect of Thane’s design that didn’t make it to the final cut — namely, three metal rings that were embedded on the right side of his head.
However, this accessorization wasn’t completely scrapped — the alternate outfit for Thane has these piercings.
6 He Was Originally Romanceable by Either Gender
In Mass Effect 2, Thane is a romance strictly reserved for the Female Shepard… but, as per the game’s audio files, this was not to be the case originally.
In fact, Thane was originally planned to be a romance option that the player could go for regardless of their gender. However, during development, this idea was nixed, and Thane became an exclusive romance for the Female Shepard instead.
5 Oral Contact With Drell Skin Can Cause Hallucinations In Humans
A rather interesting thing to note about Thane — and all of the Drell, in general — is the fact that humans can start hallucinating if they end up having oral contact with the skin of a Drell.
It’s a rather amusing fact that is given by none other than Mordin Solus himself, after he catches wind of Shepard and Thane in the event that they both decide to go forward with their romance.
4 His Romance Path Can Be Quite Heartbreaking
That being said, signing up to be with Thane is pretty much opening the doors for a ton of heartbreak for the player if they genuinely get attached to this brilliant character.
In Mass Effect 2, he can easily die during the Suicide Mission. Shepard will receive a letter from him courtesy of the Shadow Broker if they happened to be together before their death.
However, if Thane manages to survive… then he’ll end up dying in the third game anyway at the hands of Kai Leng. The scene following this — provided that Shepard didn’t change romantic interests — is especially heartbreaking, with Shepard having an imaginary conversation with Thane during the Citadel DLC before breaking down in tears.
3 He, Like All Drell, Can Recall Everything He’s Ever Done
A rather odd fact about Thane is the fact that his species has a perfect memory that allows them to remember and recall everything that has happened in their life.
Of course, this isn’t as amazing as it might sound — the memories that can be recalled can be both good or bad, which is especially painful for some like Thane, who has suffered so much pain and suffering in his life.
2 His Achievement is a Reference
Upon securing Thane’s loyalty, the player receives an achievement called “Cat’s in the Cradle” — a song by Harry Chapin about a father who tries his hardest to provide for his son but isn’t available for him as a result. However, after finally getting the time to rest with his son, it turns out that the son himself has no time for his father anymore.
It’s a perfect allegory for Thane’s relationship with Kolyat, with the father-son duo going through a similar journey of their own.
1 Thane Is A Complete Liability During The Suicide Mission
Given how effective Thane portrays himself, one would assume that he would be a massive help during the iconic Suicide Mission from Mass Effect 2. However, this isn’t even remotely the case.
Instead, what ends up happening is that Thane is good for pretty much none of the special actions at the end of Mass Effect 2, with his death being a guarantee if the player assigns him to any task during the mission.
NEXT: 15 Games To Play If You Like Mass Effect
