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May 24, 2021 · The HD Remaster of the Mass Effect games makes a lot of changes - among them another reshuffle to the ending unlocks in ME3. Specifically, in Legendary Edition, the 'Galactic Readiness' mechanic ...
- Overview
- How Mass Effect 3's Endings Work (Spoiler-Free)
- End Game Charts
- End Game Chart - Legendary Edition (Spoilers Hidden)
- End Game Chart - Extended Cut (Spoilers Hidden)
- End Game Chart - Original 1.00 Release (Spoilers Hidden)
- How Mass Effect 3's Endings Work
- Effective Military Strength
- Low EMS - Collector Base Choice
- High EMS - Admiral Anderson's Fate
By Samuel Claiborn, KBABZ, Bob, +77.8k more
This page of IGN's Mass Effect 3 wiki guide details everything you need to know about the various endings of the game, including what they are, how they differ, and what is required for each of them and their variations. It will have a spoiler-free section at the beginning, as well as more in-depth sections where all spoilers are listed.
•Spoiler-Free Zone
•How Mass Effect 3's Endings Work (Spoiler-Free)
•End Game Charts
•End Game Chart - Legendary Edition (Spoilers Hidden)
There are eight different endings for Mass Effect 3: three core choices (two of which have two variations, and the other having three) and one alternative ending available only in the Extended Cut. Your options and their variations are influenced by three factors:
•The big choice you made at the end of Mass Effect 2. If you started Mass Effect 3 fresh without using the Genesis 2 DLC comic, this will have been chosen for you (unless you're playing the original 2012 release, where you can still choose).
•The fate of a character in an earlier section of the game. Depending on their fate, certain EMS requirements for specific outcomes will be more difficult.
•Your Effective Military Strength. This is the strength of Shepard's forces built up over the course of the game. It's the total strength of Shepard's War Assets with a penalty based on the Galactic Readiness Rating. The EMS required for a specific ending will be different if you're playing the original release, the original release with the Extended Cut DLC, or the Legendary Edition.
This section of the page lists two End Game Charts that show you the ending options and their results. Both will have the results hidden behind spoiler text if you don't want to know a specific outcome.
In each section, bold text is added to denote what has changed compared to the outcome listed above it.
The graph below details your various ending options and their results if you're playing the Legendary Edition of the game. These are very similar to the Extended Cut of the original release of Mass Effect 3, albeit with altered EMS requirements.
The graph below details your various ending options and their results if you're playing the original 2012 release of the game with the Extended Cut DLC, including the Wii U Special Edition.
This graph details your various ending options and their results if you play the original 2012 release of Mass Effect 3 WITHOUT the Extended Cut DLC. As such, this graph CANNOT APPLY to the Wii U Special Edition or the Legendary Edition, as they have the Extended Cut DLC pre-installed.
Spoiler Zone
There are a total of eight different endings to Mass Effect 3. These include the Destroy ending with three variations, the Control and Synthesis endings with two variations, and the hidden Refuse ending. They are influenced by three factors: your Effective Military Strength, your Collector Base Choice, and the fate of Admiral Anderson. All three ar...
The primary factor that influences the various endings is your Effective Military Strength, which is the final output of the Galaxy at War mechanic. Here's how that works.
Over the course of the game, Shepard will have picked up War Assets, which consist of various people, ships, technologies and resources. Every one of these will have a strength rating, many of which can be raised or lowered by Shepard's actions elsewhere. These numbered are added up to a Total Military Strength.
The Total Military Strength is affected by the Galactic Readiness, which is how prepared Shepard's forces are to make the final assault: by default it's at 50%. Galactic Readiness could be raised by playing the Multiplayer mode, playing Mass Effect Infiltrator, using the Mass Effect 3 Datapad iOS app, or using the N7 HQ site. As of 2021, only the Multiplayer Mode and N7 HQ can still be used with the original release of Mass Effect 3.
The Galactic Readiness would then decide the final Effective Military Strength value. For example, if your Total Military Strength is 400, but your Galactic Readiness is 50%, then your Effective Military Strength would be 200 (50% of 400 is 200). Your total EMS in particular will determine the state of the Crucible when it docks with the Citadel, and thus what options are available to Shepard and how damaging its effects may or may not be.
The second factor is your choice at the Collector Base back in Mass Effect 2, although this is only relevant if you have a very low amount of EMS.
If you're playing the original release (Extended Cut or not), this will be below 1750 EMS. If you're playing the Extended Cut, it will be below 1600 EMS. Here's what your options will be:
•If you chose to Destroy the Collector Base, your only option will be Destroy. If you started Mass Effect 3 fresh without using the Genesis 2 DLC comic, this will be the option chosen for you. You can tell because you'll have passed through the Reaper Human Heart in Cerberus Headquarters.
•If you chose to Spare the Collector Base, your only option will be Control. You can tell because you'll have passed through the Reaper Human Brain in the Cerberus Headquarters.
The third factor is the fate of Admiral Anderson in your recent confrontation with The Illusive Man. If you pick the Destroy Ending, then having a very high EMS rating will have Shepard live through the firing of the Crucible. However if Admiral Anderson was executed personally by the Illusive Man, you will need an even higher EMS rating in order for Shepard to live.
•If the Illusive Man pushes Anderson to the ground and you then ignore the Renegade Interrupt to shoot him, Anderson will be executed. As a result, you'll need to have close to the maximum EMS possible in order for Shepard to live through the Destroy Ending (5000+ EMS without the Extended Cut).
•If you shoot the Illusive Man with the Renegade Interrupt, or avoid him preparing to execute Anderson to begin with, then you'll only need 2800 EMS or more for Shepard to live through the Destroy Ending (3700 in Legendary Edition, 4000+ without the Extended Cut).
•If you pick either the Control or Synthesis Endings, Shepard will never live through the firing of the Crucible no matter what you do beforehand.
May 19, 2021 · All Mass Effect 3 Endings. The Catalyst approaches Commander Shepard and proceeds to explain the origins and purpose of the Reapers. Shepard also learns the ways the Crucible can be used to put an end to the Reaper threat. These three options are: Destroying the Reapers for good, submitting the Reapers to Commander Shepard's will or merging ...
May 22, 2024 · To get the best ending in Mass Effect 3, you need to choose the Destroy Ending by activating the Crucible. As you can see in the above video by YouTube creator Fate, Earth and the Normandy Crew will all survive the blast caused by the Crucible's destruction. In the epilogue, Shepard's love interest, if they are a squadmate, will refuse to put ...
- Matthew Danielson
Dec 8, 2022 · Mass Effect 3 ending - Control (Blue) This second Mass Effect 3 ending is available by following the left hand path in the Crucible, towards the blue light and then grabbing the two beams. This ...
The Finale. This page of IGN's Mass Effect 3 wiki guide is all about the The Finale, which is the conclusion of not just Priority: Earth, but the whole Mass Effect Trilogy as well. We'll provide ...
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Sep 7, 2024 · There are five possible endings to Mass Effect 3. Total Military Strength will determine which are available: At this level, Shepard can activate the Crucible and destroy the Reapers, along with all other synthetic life, including the Geth, EDI, and even destroying Shepard's cybernetics.
