Mass Effect, one of BioWare’s most popular franchises, fell from grace with the release of Mass Effect: Andromeda on PS4 and Xbox One in 2017, but it wasn’t long before that when the trilogy of Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3 garnered near-universal acclaim from critics and fans alike.
With a story spanning three enormous games and one expansive universe, there are many characters who stand out as series highlights. However, with the timeline of the series being as long as it is, the characters at the start of the trilogy look quite different than those at the end, and as such, the strongest characters at the end of the series are not the same as those at the beginning.
10 Jack
Jack, one of Commander Shepard’s companions introduced in Mass Effect 2, is an infamous criminal known as “Subject Zero”. Beyond that, she is a biotic (meaning she’s able to telepathically move things around to her advantage), and perhaps one of the most powerful human biotics in the galaxy.
Prior to meeting Shepard, she was captured and kept in cryosleep for being deemed too dangerous a threat to be allowed to exist otherwise.
9 Tali’Zorah Nar Rayya
Tali’Zorah nar Rayya, a member of the quarian race, is one of Commander Shepard’s earliest teammates, being introduced in the first game of the trilogy. However, while she’s introduced as a young woman on her pilgrimage in the first game, she is quickly developed as a character through the second two games and grows into a very powerful person.
After a successful suicide mission in Mass Effect 2, Tali is trusted by the Admiralty Board with joining a team intending to retake a planet called Rannoch from an enemy force of geth. After this, she is officially given the title of admiral, moving in the footsteps of her father.
8 Eve
Eve, otherwise known as Urdnot Bakara, is a female krogan known primarily for being the sole survivor of an attempt to cure the genophage on planet Tuchanka, the krogan homeworld.
Introduced in Mass Effect 3, Eve is considered to be a powerful character due to her resilience, both mental and biological, with direct dealings of the genophage. Though it is possible for her to die before the end of Mass Effect 3, her willingness to let such a thing happen in the name of reversing the effects of the genophage is an intensely powerful moment, nonetheless.
7 EDI
The Enhanced Defense Intelligence (otherwise known as EDI, especially to the crew of the Normandy) is an AI program developed by the evil corporation Cerberus. Introduced in Mass Effect 2 as more of a voice system within Commander Shepard’s ship, EDI is further developed into a character of her own in Mass Effect 3, primarily through giving her a body simulating that of organic life.
However, she still exists as an extension of the ship, but is able to interact more intimately with the members of the crew through her new body. She is quite literally able to exist in two different places doing two separate things at the exact same time, making her quite powerful.
6 Kasumi Goto
A stealth master, Kasumi Goto is a notorious thief in the world of Mass Effect, however, very few who are affected by her actions actually know her name. First introduced in Mass Effect 2, The Illusive Man (the head of the evil Cerberus) orchestrates Commander Shepard’s first meeting with Kasumi Goto, and in fact, she even makes another appearance in Mass Effect 3 where she provides critical information to Shepard.
Kasumi’s natural knack for stealth, thievery, and infiltration, as well as her incredible level of efficiency, make her one of the galaxy’s most dangerous figures.
5 Grunt
Introduced in Mass Effect 2, Grunt is a member of the krogan species who was genetically engineered from birth to represent the krogan at their peak. A very proud species, the krogan underwent an enormous tragedy with the genophage, a disease made by the turian race that has wiped them out to near extinction.
Grunt was created to show the potential of the krogan in terms of brute strength and general fortitude, and as such, he is one of the most powerful members of Commander Shepard’s team in Mass Effect 2. He was designed to be the physical peak of perhaps the strongest race in the galaxy.
4 Aria T’Loak
A member of the asari race, Aria T’Loak is known as the “Pirate Queen” of Omega, a space station where many underground deals and black market trades are made. While not powerful in terms of sheer strength, her unofficial title as the ruler of Omega makes her a dangerous enemy.
Her connections and unrivaled control of the space station make her a person with whom not to be messed. The men who work for her are incredibly loyal and would do anything to protect her, as well as Omega.
3 Javik
Javik, introduced in Mass Effect 3, is notable for being the only known living member of the Prothean race, the most ancient of all known intelligent species. He is awakened from cryosleep after thousands of years to aid in fighting off the Reaper threat, not only because of his personal connection with the Reapers, but also because of his power.
Some members of the Prothean race were considered “Avatars”, in that they possess a single trait that’s meant to be representative of their entire society, and as an Avatar, Javik’s virtue was vengeance, making him the perfect person to take on the Reapers.
2 Garrus
Garrus Vakarian, a strong member of the turian race who used to work security for the Citadel (where the council of elites known as Spectres is located), is one of Commander Shepard’s earliest allies. Introduced in the first game, Garrus quickly bonds with Shepard over their shared interest in taking down the rogue Saren, another turian who secretly turned coat against the alliance due to the Reaper threat.
By the end of Mass Effect 3, Garrus is no longer employed with the Citadel, has been deemed the “Archangel menace” on Omega, and perhaps most importantly, has managed to save the galaxy through his alliance with Shepard and his crew.
1 Commander Shepard
Throughout the entire trilogy, no character has done more for the galaxy than Commander Shepard. Through thick and thin, he stuck by his crew and the allies he made along the way and was able to take down the Reaper threat (which, it should be remembered, hardly anyone believed him about in the first game). While only a human, he remains one of the strongest characters in the history of Mass Effect.
His social skills, military experience, leadership game, and ability to rally the entire galaxy all add to up make him the most powerful character in the entire Mass Effect trilogy, and although he may not make it to the very end, everything he fought for was worth it due to his persistent hard work and unwillingness to give up.
NEXT: Mass Effect 3: Everything You Need To Know About The Crucible
