The first inclusion in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition contains 6 unique classes with each then containing 6 specializations. This aspect of the first game’s combat, feeds into the larger focus of RPG-centric gameplay, opposed to its successors. Mass Effect adopted many of its peers’ third-person shooting, but also wore its traditional RPG foundation on its sleeve.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition’s 6 Classes Explained
On top of selecting Shepard’s background and appearance, players can also choose their classes in Mass Effect. A feature continued in later games, however in Mass Effect, classes are more defined and distinct from one another. Here, we have each of the 6 classes in Mass Effect explained, hopefully, to help you select which sounds best for you.
Soldier Class
“Soldiers are combat specialists ideal for the front lines of a firefight. Soldiers have improved health, can specialize in the use of all weapon types, start with the ability to wear medium armor, and can train in the use of heavy armor.”
The Soldier class definitely feels as if it is the most accessible pick-up and play class. If you want to play Mass Effect as a third-person shooter, you can’t really go wrong with this one. Soldiers can master every weapon in the game, whether it’s short, medium, or long-range, you can approach battles in any way you please. The Soldier’s unique class Talent has some killer bonuses as well. With this Talent, your character will have a passive health regeneration and a general increase in health.
You also have access to heavy armor, right out of the gate. So, if you want to approach battles a little more tanky, guns blazing, this is definitely the class for that.
Engineer Class
“Engineers are tech specialists. Using the holographic omni-tool, they can decrypt security systems, repair or modify technical equipment, disrupt enemy weapons or shields, and heal their squad. Engineers can only wear light armor, and they specialize in pistols.”
Essentially, Engineers are the masters of all things underneath the tech umbrella. Although, weapon wise the Engineer will have a focus with pistols, their omni-tool will come in handy against tech-enemies. This ranges from turrets, drones, and the Geth, who you will come across a lot in the game. Since the Engineer’s forte isn’t revolved around combat and shooting, you can consider this class more as support.
They have a great combination of First Aid and Medicine skills that helps further them as support. Naturally, this class will make hacking into security systems or anything locked, far easier. Lastly, the Engineer’s Talent increases your protection against other tech-based attacks. As well as drastically reducing the recharge time on your tech-based moves.
Adept Class
“Adepts are biotic specialists. Through upgradeable implants, they can use biotic powers to lift or throw objects, shield the squad, and disable or destroy enemies. Adepts can only wear light armor, and they specialize in pistols.”
Where the Soldier could be considered the combat specialist and the Engineer can be described as the support, Adept is the mage. Personally, this is one of my least favorite ones, simply because of how finicky I find the biotics to control. Yet, if you can manage the awkward controls, Biotics are a powerful tool.
Biotics are Mass Effect’s version of magic. The central skills you have access to here are moves that will fling objects at your enemies and push them far away from you. Further, into the skill, you can even unlock the ability to lock enemies in place while your squad tears them apart. Adept Class Talent raises your protection against others who use Biotics and reduces recharge on your Biotics. Like the Engineer, Adepts specialize in pistols and can only use light armor.
Infiltrator Class
“Infiltrators combine combat and tech abilities to specialize in killing or disabling enemies at long range. Infiltrators are trained to use omni-tools, focusing on decryption and offensive abilities rather than healing. They can specialize in sniper rifles and wear medium armor.”
If you wanted a mix between Soldier and Engineer, the Infiltrator is the class for you. These are distance fighters who rely on sniper rifles and their tech-based abilities to dispatch enemies from afar. Later, you unlock the ability to become proficient in pistols and medium armor, so you can mix it up and fight up close.
Shields and Tech enemies are no problem to tear through, thanks to having access to a lot of the same Engineer abilities. The Tech Skill for this class will see an increase in tech skill explosions, possibly taking out other enemies in the process. Heat reduces on sniper rifles and pistols, meaning you can fire them off more frequently.
Sentinels Class
“Sentinels combine biotic and tech abilities. Typically, they use biotic abilities and advanced healing skills to defend allies, though they can also disrupt opponents with biotic or tech attacks. They are more efficient at tech and biotics than other classes, but at the expense of combat. Sentinels can only wear light armor and receive no specialized weapon training.”
A mix of the Biotics of an Adept and the Tech of an Engineer but, this all comes at the expense of shooting. With this, you are swimming in options to pick part enemies in however way you choose. This class may have to rely on protection from squamates, more so than others. Thankfully, you can also protect yourself with Barrier and Stasis, while they do the hard part.
Pistol damage and accuracy will receive an increase with the Talent Skill. While cooldown of your Biotic and Tech abilities will receive a reduction.
Vanguard Class
“Vanguards are biotic warriors. They combine biotics and weapons to take down opponents and are especially deadly at short range. They specialize in pistols and shotguns, and wear medium armor.”
Those who are looking for some in-your-face action with a shotgun and Biotic’s in hand, look no further. This class is highly susceptible to dying thanks to having light or medium armor and being close to the action. Meaning, it’s important to bring someone who can heal on your travels. Vanguard is the class I choose for my first playthrough with Mass Effect Legendary Edition. I do find the flexibility of having powerful pistols, shotguns, and biotics at my disposal but I rarely use the latter thanks to how unintuitive it feels.
Their Biotic abilities will also help in this regard, allowing them to blindside enemies’ defenses or simply throw things at them. Vanguards have a Talent Skill that will help your defense against other Biotic users, like Asari. While also, increasing the damage you will see from your pistols and shotguns, as they are the 2 weapons Vanguards are proficient in.
