ABOUT MASS EFFECT

As Commander Shepard of the SSV Normandy, take your elite recon squad across a galaxy in turmoil in a desperate race to stop the return of an enemy without mercy. Your only imperative is to preserve the safety of civilized life in the galaxy – at any cost. You must become the tip of the spear of humanity, for you alone know the full extent of what is at stake if you fail.

Two years after Commander Shepard repelled the invading Reapers bent on the destruction of organic life, a mysterious new enemy emerges. On the fringes of known space, something is silently abducting entire human colonies. Shepard must work with Cerberus, a ruthless organization devoted to human survival at any cost, to stop the most terrifying threat mankind has ever faced.

You are Commander Shepard, the only one who can save Earth from annihilation – but you are not alone. At your side is a team of elite, battle-hardened soldiers ready for your command. Use cover, or go in guns blazing. Unleash tactical assaults from a distance, or go toe-to-toe with enemies with the deadly omni-blade.

URDNOT WREX

Homeworld: Tuchanka
Race: Krogan

Wrex is a seasoned warrior, a bit of a curmudgeon, and a very good ally in a firefight. He and Shepard may not always see eye to eye, but they respect one another despite their differences. Krogan can often be written off as brutal "killing machines", but Wrex is more inclined to think things through. While he has spent many years as a mercenary, Wrex's first priority is always his people and their welfare.

MIRANDA LAWSON

Homeworld: Earth
Race: Human

Miranda Lawson is a high-ranking former Cerberus operative and a human biotic. Lawson is herself an example of the achievements possible through genetic engineering. Brilliant and well-traveled, Miranda has access to a vast network of contacts that can be extremely useful to Commander Shepard.

TALI'ZORAH

Homeworld: Liveship Rayya
Race: Quarian

Tali'Zorah, a brilliant quarian machinist, was born in 2161 on the liveship Rayya. Driven from their home system by the geth nearly three centuries ago, most quarians now live aboard the Migrant Fleet, a flotilla of 50,000 vessels ranging in size from passenger shuttles to mobile space stations. She is the daughter of Rael'Zorah, a member of the Admiralty Board, and though young, Tali is a mechanical genius and invaluable member of the crew.

DR. LIARA T'SONI

Homeworld: Thessia
Race: Asari

Dr. Liara T'Soni is an asari information broker with a background in scientific research on Prothean culture and technology. Born on Thessia in 2077, she's only 106 years old – quite young by asari standards. Aside from being a gifted researcher, she's also a powerful biotic, making her an excellent choice for even the most dangerous missions.

GARRUS VAKARIAN

Homeworld: Palaven
Race: Turian

Garrus Vakarian is a noted turian sharpshooter and combat engineer. Tenacious, deadly, and smart Garrus is a benefit to any squad – but his dry, sarcastic wit makes him a favorite squadmate and (arguably) Commander Shepard's best friend.

ASHLEY WILLIAMS

Homeworld: Earth
Race: Human

Lieutenant Commander Ashley Williams is a career military officer with the Systems Alliance. Born in 2158 to a military family, Ashley has strong beliefs, and she isn't shy about sharing them, especially when it comes to working with alien races – which can make her a challenging crew- and squadmate.

THANE KRIOS

Homeworld: Kahje
Race: Drell

Thane Krios is a drell assassin, said to be the deadliest in the galaxy. He prefers close combat to long-distance sniping, utilizing a mixture of stealth, firearms, hand-to-hand combat, and biotic abilities. But Krios isn't just a killing machine, he's a deeply spiritual man who both prays for the success of each mission and for the souls of those whose lives he's taken.

LEGION

Homeworld: Rannoch
Race: Geth

Geth are a network intelligence; a single entity in myriad bodies. However, Legion is the name taken by the gestalt consciousness formed by 1,183 geth programs inhabiting a unique geth "mobile platform". Legion can use an assault or sniper rifle, and has the valuable AI Hacking and Combat Drone powers that make it a valuable squadmate on many missions.

JACK

Homeworld: Unknown
Race: Human

A notoriously violent criminal, Jack is also one of the most powerful human biotics in the galaxy. What she lacks in subtlety (or self-restraint), she more than makes up for in fearlessness and sheer destructive capabilities. If a mission calls for a human wrecking ball, Jack should be at the top of the list.

KAIDAN ALENKO

Homeworld: Earth
Race: Human

Major Kaidan Alenko is a human biotic and an officer in the Systems Alliance assigned to the SSV Normandy. He heads the Marine detail aboard ship. Alenko suffers from severe headaches because of the early-model L2 biotic implants that he was given as a child. The L2 implants have since been discontinued due to the risk of crippling neurological damage.

KASUMI GOTO

Homeworld: Unknown
Race: Human

Kasumi is the galaxy's most enigmatic thief. With enemies on both sides of the law, she sticks close to the shadows and is a master of both stealth and infiltration. Any mission requiring infiltration, sabotage, or agile close combat would definitely benefit from her inclusion.

GRUNT

Homeworld: Korlus
Race: Krogan

Grunt is a genetically engineered krogan super soldier bred and educated in a tank. Lacking a standard krogan upbringing, he's both impulsively violent and impatient, which can make him a highly unpredictable squadmate.

ZAEED MASSANI

Homeworld: Unknown
Race: Human

Zaeed is the galaxy's most feared bounty hunter and veteran mercenary soldier. This former leader of the Blue Suns balances a hot temper with decades of experience and is rarely seen without his beloved rifle, Jessie.

SAMARA

Homeworld: Unknown
Race: Asari

As an asari justicar, Samara lives by a strict moral code in pursuit of justice. And after nearly a millennium of life she's highly skilled in a variety of weapons and techniques but tends to rely on her powerful biotic skills in combat.

DR. MORDIN SOLUS

Homeworld: Sur'Kesh
Race: Salarian

Dr. Mordin Solus is a master geneticist and former operative for the salarian Special Tasks Group. Dr. Solus is well known for his work in perpetuating the genophage, a biological weapon that almost completely sterilized the krogan species. Brilliant, coldly logical, and a great believer in the ends justify the means – Mordin tries to never let his emotions cloud his judgment.

JACOB TAYLOR

Homeworld: Unknown
Race: Human

Born in 2157, he began his career as a Systems Alliance marine but became disillusioned and left the Alliance to join Cerberus. Jacob is a highly experienced fighter, and is skilled in the use of weapons and biotics.

JAVIK

Homeworld: Unknown
Race: Prothean

Javik is a powerful warrior with a strong moral code – though those morals don't always mesh well with Shepard's. This "man out of time" was awoken from stasis after thousands of years with one burning desire, revenge on the Geth. The last of his species, Javik lives and fights like someone with little left to lose.

JAMES VEGA

Homeworld: Earth
Race: Human

Lieutenant James Vega is a human Systems Alliance Marine, a tough fighter, and talented soldier with a deep loyalty to Commander Shepard. Always reliable on any mission, Vega is a little politically naive and it can make him a bit short-sighed.

EDI

Homeworld: Unknown
Race: AI

EDI stands for Enhanced Defense Intelligence, and is an AI created by Cerberus. She's originally installed in the Normandy and later takes over the body of a Cerberus synthetic infiltration unit. Her body is resistant to modern small-arms fire and temperature extremes in addition to having excellent balance and agility.