Companions in Mass Effect 3 are special NPCs that can be recruited to join the player's party. Companions fight alongside Commander Shepard, and have their unique set of Stats, Powers, Equipment, Lore, and even their own specific missions, some of them are required by potential Companions to join the team. Companions can agree or disagree with Commander Shepard's decisions throughout the game and they can also die permanently, depending on your choices while playing.
Companions in Mass Effect 3
Unlike its predecessors, Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2, there are only a few squadmates that you can choose. Regardless, here is some information you should take note of when you are continuing your story in Mass Effect 3:
- Commander Shepard's squad consists of up to three members, Shepard included, and two other companions.
- Commander Shepard and his/her companions' shields regenerate faster, allowing more frequent times to shoot out of cover.
- Shepard is capable of using any of the five available types of Weapons, while his/her companions are limited or proficient in using two distinct weapons.
- Depending on the level and your companions' Class (including Shepard's), your team can benefit from passive bonuses and effects that provide buffs, such as increasing their health, defenses, and other stats.
- Experiment! Depending on the team you've built, as well as the class that you are playing, combining everyone's Powers can result in power combos that allow the team to execute devastating damage against enemies.
- In Mass Effect 3, when you want to choose which companion you want in your squad, you can only do so when you are about to leave to start a Mission.
- When you are at the "Companion Selection Screen", players can choose which companion to take, change their outfits, view their Powers and Weapons. You can also do this from the terminal in Shepard's cabin only if you are free-roaming.
- Changing the appearance or outfit of your companion and selecting it grants various passive buffs to the companion. (ex. equipping the Alternate outfit for Ashley grants +25% Shields)
- At some important points of the main story, some of your companions will leave and will automatically be replaced by another who is available. But this only happens in some instances.
- When you are exploring the Citadel, players will get to roam on their own and they can find their companions in certain areas of the Citadel or the Normandy.
Companions' Behavior
The behavior of the companions in Mass Effect 3 works similarly to Mass Effect 2, but there are some improvements and changes that you should know in order to maximize the capabilities of the companions.
- Companions in Mass Effect 3 are more aware in combat, they utilize in taking cover, especially when they need to regenerate their shields and if they are under heavy fire.
- Your companions do not use Grenades unless you give the order to do so.
- Companions take less damage from grenades, compared to Commander Shepard.
- Companions in Mass Effect 3 will sprint along with Shepard if the player does so.
- If you Toggle On the "Squadmate Power Use" option, your companion will automatically activate any defensive skill at the start or encounter of a battle.
- Your companions have infinite ammo but they will still reload when necessary.
- They are all capable of executing a combat role and will do so if they need to reposition or avoid damage.
- If players send an order to execute their skill, your companion will perform their signature move. (ex. ordering Liara will trigger Singularity first)
All Mass Effect 3 Companions
Main Story Companions
DLC & Other Companions
David Anderson
Temporary Companion in the main story of Mass Effect 3.
Alternate Outfits
Listed below are the following alternate outfits for each main companion of Mass Effect 3. Outfits change the appearance or clothing of squadmates and it also adds a passive bonus such as Weapon Damage, Bonus Shields, Power Recharge Speed, and more. By default, each main companion has access to one "Alternate" outfit, but with other DLCs that you own, there are also a couple more alternative outfits to choose from. Players can change the outfits of the companions by accessing the terminal in Shepard's cabin on the Normandy SR-2 or when you are about to leave and choose your companion before starting a Mission. You can find each outfit of the main companions below including its bonuses.
Ashely Williams
Default Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Weapon Damage +25%
Alternate Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Shields +25%
From Ashes DLC Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Weapon Damage +25%
N7 Collector's Edition Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Power Recharge Speed +25%
EDI
Default Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Power Damage +25%
Alternate Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Power Recharge Speed +25%
From Ashes DLC Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Shields +25%
Alt. Appearance Pack 1 Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Power Recharge Speed +25%
Garrus Vakarian
Default Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Shields +25%
Alternate Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Weapon Damage +25%
From Ashes DLC Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Weapon Damage +25%
Alt. Appearance Pack 1 Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Shields +25%
James Vega
Default Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Shields +25%
Alternate Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Weapon Damage +25%
From Ashes DLC Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Weapon Damage +25%
N7 Collector's Edition Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Shields +25%
Javik
Default Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Power Damage +25%
Alternate Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Power Recharge Speed +25%
Kaidan Alenko
Default Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Power Recharge Speed +25%
Alternate Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Power Damage +25%
From Ashes DLC Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Shields +25%
N7 Collector's Edition Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Weapon Damage +25%
Liara T'Soni
Default Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Power Damage +25%
Alternate Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Power Recharge Speed +25%
From Ashes DLC Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Power Recharge Speed +25%
N7 Collector's Edition Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Power Damage +25%
Alt. Appearance Pack 1 Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Power Damage +25%
Tali’Zorah vas Normandy
Default Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Power Damage +25%
Alternate Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Power Recharge Speed +25%
From Ashes DLC Outfit
Outfit Bonus: Weapon Damage +25%
Base Stats
Listed below the table are the base stats of each companion or squadmate in Mass Effect 3 such as their unique class, health, and shield. The values indicated below are in default and can be upgraded as you allocate points to their stats or powers.
| Name | Unique Class | Health | Shield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashley | Alliance Officer | 500 | 500 |
| Kaidan | Alliance Officer | 500 | 500 |
| James | Arms Master | 625 | 625 |
| Liara | Pure Biotic | 250 | 625 |
| Tali | Quarian Machinist | 500 | 500 |
| Garrus | Turian Rebel | 500 | 500 |
| Javik | Vengeful Ancient | 500 | 600 |
| EDI | Unshackled AI | 500 | 500 |
DLC & Other Companions |
|||
| David | Alliance Admiral | 600 | 750 |
| Aria T'Loak | Biotic Boss | 600 | 600 |
| Nyreen | Turian Huntress | 500 | 500 |
| Wrex | Krogan Battlemaster | 1850 | 1110 |
| Grunt | Krogan Berserker | 1200 | 1600 |
| Jack | Subject Zero | 650 | 650 |
| Jacob | Cerberus Operative | 800 | 800 |
| Kasumi | Master Thief | 650 | 650 |
| Miranda | Cerberus Operative | 725 | 725 |
| Samara | Asari Justicar | 650 | 650 |
| Zaeed | Mercenary Veteran | 825 | 825 |
Weapon Proficiencies
Listed below the table are the various weapons that each companion is proficient or specializes in when they are in combat. There are five weapon categories in the game which are Shotguns, Heavy Pistols, Submachine Guns (SMGs), Assault Rifles, and Sniper Rifles - each companion is proficient in using two kinds of weapons.
| Name | Shotguns | Heavy Pistols | SMGs | Assault Rifles | Sniper Rifles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashley | -- | -- | -- | Y | Y |
| Kaidan | -- | Y | -- | Y | -- |
| James | Y | -- | -- | Y | -- |
| Liara | -- | Y | Y | -- | -- |
| Tali | Y | Y | -- | -- | -- |
| Garrus | -- | -- | -- | Y | Y |
| Javik | -- | Y | -- | Y | -- |
| EDI | -- | Y | Y | -- | -- |
DLC & Other Companions |
|||||
| David | -- | Y | -- | -- | -- |
| Aria T'Loak | Y | -- | Y | -- | -- |
| Nyreen | -- | Y | -- | Y | -- |
| Wrex | Y | Y | -- | -- | -- |
| Grunt | Y | -- | -- | Y | -- |
| Jack | Y | Y | -- | -- | -- |
| Jacob | Y | Y | -- | -- | -- |
| Kasumi | -- | Y | Y | -- | -- |
| Miranda | -- | Y | Y | -- | -- |
| Samara | -- | -- | Y | Y | -- |
| Zaeed | -- | -- | -- | Y | Y |
