Mass Effect 3's multiplayer was actually pretty fun, and it would be nice to see it make an updated and improved comeback.Even for many who don't enjoy playing online, it was a fun experience putting your skills to the test and getting to play different races from the Mass Effect universe. It's a bit comparable to the Call of Duty series' 'Prestige' system, in that your multiplayer level for that class is then reset to 1, and you level up again to repeat the process. Browse other questions tagged mass-effect-3 mass-effect-3-multiplayer or ask your own question.

How have you been enjoying Mass Effect 3’s multiplayer? Are you the run-and-gun Soldier, the in-your-face Vanguard or the sneaky Infiltrator? Chances are you’ve been playing one of these three classes according to recently released statistics. But before we get the the stats, BioWare’s very own Senior Combat Designer Corey Gaspur and Gameplay Designer Eric. Looks like Mass Effect 3's multiplayer mode will be on the receiving end of a substantial DLC pack. A leaked image reveals that upcoming downloadable content will unlock six new MP characters.

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I never expected to find myself getting stuck back into Mass Effect 3's multiplayer mode in 2020, but that's exactly what I've been doing over the last few weeks. The next-generation is here with the PS5 and Xbox Series X, and a barrage of great games have been hitting the virtual shelves this past month. So why am I playing the multiplayer mode of an eight-year-old game? Well, I have the Mass Effect Legendary Edition to thank for that.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that I don't play multiplayer games very often. I've always leaned more towards single-player campaigns, but something about Mass Effect's multiplayer has always seemed so much less intimidating and appealing to me. Maybe it's because of my deep fondness for BioWare's fictional universe and its characters, but for whatever reason, I ended up playing it quite a lot back in the day on my Xbox 360. Was I ever a pro? No. Did I die a lot? Sure. But I had a whole lot of fun playing it.

On November 7, better known in Mass Effect circles as N7 Day, I raced over to the BioWare blog and consumed each word of the Legendary Edition announcement like it was a gift sent from the heavens. While I squealed over the prospect of seeing how Garrus Vakarian will no doubt benefit from the enhanced visuals of the remaster, I couldn't help but notice any mention of the multiplayer mode was decidedly absent.

Could this mean it won't be carried over to the remaster? And if so, what does that mean for Mass Effect 3's Galaxy at War system? Will that even be a feature? I also start to wonder if there's much demand for it to return, if anyone's still playing it today, and if it's even as good as I remember it being. With all this in mind, I came to a decision: I'm going to jump right back into the multiplayer mode in 2020, and see for myself.

The Defender

As you may already know, the multiplayer mode in Mass Effect 3 works in much the same way as any horde mode you may have come across. Fighting off waves of enemies, you're often also tasked with different objectives like taking out a particular set of foes, or hacking into a system, before holding out at an extraction point after defeating so many enemy waves. Filling the space boots of an N7 operative, you can play as your preferred class just as you can in the main campaign; from the biotic specialist Adepts to the gun-toting Soldiers, and everything in between. Organised by tiers of difficulty, you join matches and level up to add more powers to your skillset.

The mode isn't just tacked onto the game for the sake of it, though. It also ties into the main campaign. In Mass Effect 3, a system known as Galaxy at War is introduced, where you can manage your resources to better prepare for the big final showdown against the Reapers, measured by your Galatic Readiness Rating. One of the easiest ways to increase your Readiness Rating is through the multiplayer mode that was only featured in the last game of the trilogy. There were also some now-removed apps I never personally tried out - Mass Effect: Datapad and Mass Effect: Infiltrator - that could also help boost your level. Each location you can jump into in multiplayer matches will raise your Readiness Rating in each of the systems on your galaxy map.

I often think back on the multiplayer mode so fondly because it helped stretch out my time with the final game. When I first fell for Mass Effect, I fell hard. So much so that when I came to play Mass Effect 3, I didn't want to reach the end. I was determined to make it go on for as long as humanly possible. Squeezing out every side quest, collectible, and resource I could find to keep me away from meeting the game's end, I eventually turned to focus on trying to get achievements instead. One achievement I always wanted to accomplish was called 'The Defender'. In order to earn this trophy, you're tasked with attaining the highest Readiness Rating in each theatre of war. This achievement is what initially pushed me to jump into the multiplayer mode, but I've still not managed to attain it to this day.

Galaxy at War

With so many fond memories of the mode, I did wonder if I was seeing the multiplayer side of Mass Effect 3 through rose-tinted glasses. Feeling a little rusty, and starting fresh on PC, I was surprised at just how quickly I joined a match on a weekday evening. Admittedly, joining at random was perhaps not the best choice I've ever made. Thrown into the heat of battle against Cerberus as a level one Engineer (who's packing some basic guns), I'm sure I was more of a hindrance than anything.

But just like all those years ago, I'm buoyed by the camaraderie of this group of strangers playing an eight-year-old multiplayer mode alongside me. Quick to have my back and revive me as needed, my squad are a supportive bunch, and I quickly begin to fall into the flow of battle as we take down each enemy wave. In what was my first match in years, I find myself thoroughly enjoying every second. It really is still as good as I remember.

After doing a little digging online, it didn't take me long to realise Mass Effect 3's multiplayer continues to hold a special place in so many fellow fans' hearts. Not only that, but many continue to play to this day. With Discord servers dedicated to finding other players to jump into matches with in 2020, and many expressing their fondness for the mode on Reddit, there's a lot of love for the multiplayer side of the game. Clearly, I'm far from alone in hoping it finds a place in the Legendary Edition.

Confirmation of Commander Shepard's return with the upcoming release of the Mass Effect Legendary Edition shined a little ray of light into this hell year. Just knowing I'll be able to jump aboard the Normandy ship once again and see all of the characters I hold so close to my heart is as exciting as it is comforting. Complete with enhanced graphics and a faster framerate, I haven't stopped thinking about how good everyone and everything will no doubt look.

Long story short, you better believe I'm more ready to send the Reapers packing all over again. But with no sign of the multiplayer mode in the announcement, we still don't know for sure if it will make a comeback. While it could very well be included, I do wonder what it will mean for the Galaxy at War system if it isn't, and if there'll be another way to increase the overall Readiness Rating if it is excluded. One thing's for sure: BioWare has just restored my hope, not just for Mass Effect's return, but for my chances at finally earning 'The Defender' achievement after all.

Looking for something to play while you wait for the Legendary Edition? These 10 games like Mass Effect will keep you busy.

Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer Classes

Of the Human Adept's abilities, Warp is the only one that is easily spammable from just about any distance. This means knowing when and where to use Singularity and Shockwave is key to utilizing the Human Adept effectively.
Singularity works wonders on non-armored, non-shielded enemies. It can set up a biotic explosion with Warp, and potentially multiple biotic explosions with Shockwave. The recharge time for Singularity is extremely generous, meaning any weaker enemies that sneak up on the Human Adept can be quickly caught in a Singularity and detonated. It's also possible to throw a Singularity at a shielded target, shoot the target until the shields are down, and then the target should get trapped within the Singularity, setting it up for a biotic explosion. This tactic works great when combed with a teammate using Stasis. Stasis can immediately immobilize all non-armored targets, and setting up a Singularity within a Stasis bubble means that anything caught within will be automatically picked up by Singularity after losing their shields. And finally, Singularity has a tendency to cause targets to stagger when caught in the 'black hole,' even if they still have shields. While somewhat unreliable, this ability to stagger enemies can be a lifesaver.
Shockwave packs a powerful punch when used for biotic detonations. However, it requires getting uncomfortably close to enemies, since Shockwave's default distance travels a mere 10 meters. Shockwave can travel through any kind of cover and walls, making it a much safer ability than it originally may seem. The Human Adept can peak around a corner, set up with Singularity or Warp, and then hide behind a wall or cover and detonate through the wall with a Shockwave. While the distance is limited, Shockwave-detonated biotic explosions are the most powerful in the game, and when used with a teammate using an area of effect Reave, it can trigger multiple explosions per Shockwave.
The Human Adept pairs well with other biotics, but is very difficult to use solo. It's best to use the Human Adept on a team with a variety of biotic users. The Drell Adept and Asari Justicar pair great with a Human Adept due to Reave, while the Asari Adept with Stasis works great with the Human Adept's Singularity to provide back-to-back biotic explosions.

Asari Adept

Widely considered one of the strongest classes in the game, the Asari Adept sports the powerful Warp + Throw biotic explosion combo, along with Stasis for crowd control and headshots. Unlike the Human Adept's Singularity, Stasis still works on shielded enemies (but not armored). Phantoms, Rocket Troopers, Hunters, etc are all vulnerable to a Stasis bubble, and the bubble can potentially trap numerous enemies at a time (requires the level 6 Stasis bubble evolution).
The Asari Adept obviously pairs well with other adepts, but also functions well with other classes.

Asari Adept Skills, Strategies, and Team Synergy

The Asari Adept works primarily with two main strategies. The first utilizes Stasis as the main ability, in particular, using the level 6 evolution 'Stasis Bubble' which can trap numerous targets at a time. Trapping enemies in Stasis makes headshots a breeze. There's a couple of problems with this set up, however. For starters, Asari do not get much in the way of weapon bonuses, and focusing on weapon damage in the Asari Justicar passive skill tree will make her biotic powers weaker. Additionally, most enemies on Silver and Gold will not die by a single headshot, and after enemies take a certain amount of damage they 'fall out of' the stasis bubble, which means that the Asari may have a difficult time finishing of enemies. Stasis can also cause an unfortunate glitch which makes an enemy fall out of sync, making it almost impossible for non-host players to kill.
The second strategy uses Stasis merely as a panic button against enemies that tend to flank the team (Hunters, Phantoms, etc), while primarily using the Warp + Throw biotic combo for laying waste to huge amounts of weaker enemies, and for dealing huge damage and staggering more threatening ones (Atlus, Banshee, etc). Stasis also works well for closing down choke points, and as a form of crowd control against clustered groups of weaker enemies.
The Asari Adept pairs best with other biotics, particularly those with different abilities such as Reave. However, due to Stasis, the Asari Adept also works wonderfully with Infiltrators, as Stasis can set up plenty of targets for headshots, and Infiltrators are more efficient with headshots due to tactical cloak damage bonuses.

Drell Adept

Similar to the Human Adept, the Drell Adept is highly underrated and undervalued. They do suffer from very low barriers, meaning that they simply cannot take a lot of punishment before going down. However, their fast walking speed and mobile dodge help to offset their low barriers, allowing the Drell to get out of danger faster than any other race.

Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer Class Guide

As far as abilities are concerned, the Drell Adept uses Pull, Reave, and Cluster Grenades. Like Singularity, Pull only works on non-armored, non-shielded enemies. While Pull + Reave is far more situational than Warp + Throw, the benefit comes in the form speed - Pull immediately immobilizes enemies (as opposed to Warp) and Pull has a much faster cooldown timer, meaning the biotic explosion will come out much faster. And even though the Cluster Grenades skill suffers from requiring numerous pit-stops to ammo creates, the potential destruction caused by Reave + Cluster Grenades is absolutely massive.
The Drell Adept is the speedy glass cannon of the Mass Effect 3 multiplayer universe.

Drell Adept Skills, Strategies, and Team Synergy

The key to using the Drell Adept successfully is really all about situational awareness. The Drell Adept can massacre mobs of weaker enemies in very little time with Pull + Reave, and the potential collateral damage caused by the biotic explosions can weaken shielded enemies, setting them up for a Pull + Reave, and so on. The Drell Adept also needs to be aware of his surroundings, given that a single enemy catching the Drell off guard can take down his weak barriers in no time.
Cluster Grendes are the Drell Adept's trump card. Setting up a mob of enemies with Reave, followed up with a well-placed Cluster Grenade is one of the easiest ways to get Killstreaks outside of simply launching Cobra Missiles. The grenades are also essential for Drell against armored enemies, and work especially well for dealing huge spike damage to larger targets like an Atlus.
The Drell Adept needs to be mobile and on the move in order to be used effectively. Straying too far from the team is dangerous and can potentially mess up the enemy spawn zones, but staying in one place for the entire round handicaps the Drell's ability to deal massive damage with Cluster Grenades.
The best team synergy for the Drell Adept is a team that has no other class that uses grenades. Since Cluster Grenades are essential for biotic explosions against armored targets, and since they do tremendous damage against mobs of enemies at a time, the best teammates for the Drell Adept are simply ones that let him restock grenades whenever possible. The Drell Adept also pairs well with any class with Warp, as it allows the Drell to set up and detonate biotic explosions against armored enemies without requiring cluster grenades.