During the Mass Effect games, you come across many exceptional warriors, from evil villains to your own squad members. However, arguably the best group of fighters in the series are the Spectres. These are the Council’s elite collection of agents given free rein to go about the business how they see fit.
So, it’s a role that provides plenty of freedom, but not just anybody can become one. There is a rigorous selection process that only allows the absolute best to join. Yet, not every Spectre is at the same level. Some are certainly stronger than others. Although, out of the ones to appear in the games, who is the most powerful?
10 Lonar Maerun, The Failed Assassin
Very little is known about Lonar Maerun as the individual never physically appears in any piece of Mass Effect media. The only information the game ever gives about them is from a couple of newscasts heard in the background of Mass Effect 2.
They reveal that the Maerun attempted to assassinate a Sonax Industries commander named Lira Speight. The Spectre failed on the mission as they were wounded by their target’s guards. Based on that story alone, they don’t seem like the most badass Spectre.
9 Jondum Bau, Kasumi’s Frenemy
At one point during Mass Effect 3, you get to team up with a fellow Spectre. The agent in question is Jondum Bau, who you help uncover an evil Hanar plot. There are multiple ways the mission can play out, depending on whether Kasumi Goto is alive. If she is around, Bau is guaranteed to survive. Without her, though, there’s a chance he’s killed by a Hanar and its human bodyguard.
It’s an honorable death as he sacrifices himself for the greater good. But it seems as if most other Spectres would’ve survived that fight. And it’s pretty embarrassing that he didn’t.
8 Beelo Gurji, The Original Spectre
Running around the Citadel Archives is among the best moments in Mass Effect 3’s Citadel expansion. And while there, you can find out about the first-ever Spectre, Beelo Gurji.
The organization started after Gurji used 30 civilians as bait to complete his mission. That succeed-at-all-costs attitude was appreciated by the Citadel Council, so they made him their first Spectre. While his extreme methods caught the eye, there’s no way that the Council would’ve established such a group using a weakling. Therefore, he must be tough too.
7 Kaidan Alenko, The L2 Biotic
Despite there being some powerful humans in the Mass Effect universe, few earn the title of Spectre. Yet, in the third game, Kaidan Alenko is given the position if he survived. He earns it too, as the guy is a very impressive biotic. Even when he was still learning his craft in Jump Zero, he was able to kill his cruel military-trained teacher.
Years after that, he plays a significant role in saving the world on multiple occasions. As he gets the title late in the series, you don’t get to witness all his accomplishments as a Spectre, but knowing Kaidan, they likely would’ve been plentiful.
6 Ashley Williams, Eden Prime Survivor
Ashley’s military career hasn’t always been easy. She’s constantly been held back because her grandfather surrendered to the Turians in the First Contact War. However, the Council clearly sees her talent as they make her a Spectre during the third game if she survived instead of Kaidan.
It’s a role she’s well-equipped to handle as the woman is a truly excellent soldier. When all of her squad died on Eden Prime, she had the incredible resolve to survive. Then beside Shepard, she battles countless Geth and Reaper forces in the following years. And takes a lot of them down in the process.
5 Avitus Rix, Retiree Turned Pathfinder
Because of all of the dangerous missions that they go on, not many Spectres make it to retirement. That’s not the case with Avitus Rix, though. After 15 years of service, he left the Spectre life and eventually joined the Andromeda initiative.
Upon entering the new galaxy, he gets separated from his Pathfinder. Luckily, he does land on one of Andromeda’s few habitable planets. But it’s not devoid of trouble as he and some of his people constantly have to survive attacks from the Roakarr. The fact he manages to keep his fellow Turians alive with limited fortifications shows Rix’s strength and skill.
4 Nihlus Kryik, The Betrayed Turian
Nihlus is best known by fans as the Spectre who gets betrayed by Saren. Not exactly the best reputation, but within the Mass Effect universe, he’s remembered for much more than that.
Before his demise on Eden Prime, he was considered one of the best agents in the galaxy. He completed a litany of almost impossible operations. Plus, he even tangled with the incredibly powerful Asari Justicar named Samara and lived to tell the tale. If only he didn’t trust his fellow Turian Spectres so much.
3 Tela Vasir, Multi-Talented Powerhouse
The Mass Effect series has some excellent boss fights. One of the best occurs in the Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC when you go up against Tela Vasir.
This Asari Spectre is incredibly powerful as she’s equally deadly with her guns as she is with biotics. And she manages to compete against Shepard, Liara, and an extra squad member in a three-on-one encounter. What makes the feat even more impressive is that she goes into the battle while already wounded. Citadel agents don’t get much tougher than her.
2 Saren Arterius, Rogue Agent
There are plenty of strong Turian fighters in the universe, but Saren might still be the best. From a young age, he impressed everyone around him. And the council didn’t take long before making him a Spectre. Then for 20+ years, he survived all of the dangerous missions that they gave him. Eventually, though, he goes rogue during an ill-fated attempt to appease the Reapers.
His methods of dealing with the machines and his general attitude can be questioned, yet his skill level remains high. In fact, few in the Mass Effect universe would be able to handle the man in a one-on-one battle.
1 Commander Shepard, The First Human Spectre
Let’s check the scoreboard: defeats Saren, ends the Collector threat, and stops the Reapers. Commander Shepard accomplishes more throughout the series than anyone else. Yes, the human gets plenty of help on their adventures, but they’re the leading force behind every success. Plus, without Shepard, the galaxy would’ve definitely been wiped out.
While the hero’s greatest attribute might be leadership, their combat skills are impressive also. Virtually everyone Shepard has come up against has fallen no matter their size or capabilities. The first human Spectre is certainly a force of nature.
NEXT: Mass Effect: 5 Reasons Shepard Should Go Paragon (& 5 To Go Renegade)
