The Galaxy is a vast and open place. It is crucial to have people beside you to make the journey easier. Especially when it comes to Commander Shepard, or maybe Pathfinder Ryder, the last hope that humanity has in its fight against the Reapers.
Shepard meets many people in their journey to save the galaxy. Some are impressive on the battlefield with an interesting backstory that piques curiosity. Others are about as useful as a banana in a gunfight and have the personality of a rock.
In Mass Effect, who is worthy of being a squad member, and who should be left on the nearest asteroid?
10 Best – Jack
The psychotic biotic, who first appeared in Mass Effect 2, might just be the teammate who demonstrates the most significant character growth in the entire series. She goes from being a murderous convict trapped aboard a space-bound prison to a biotics teacher for Grissom Academy by the time Mass Effect 3 rolls around.
Jack has much to offer in terms of support on the battlefield. Her nickname isn’t for nothing, after all. Equipped with a shotgun, heavy pistols, and impressive, upgradeable biotic powers she can level the playing field, both figuratively and literally.
Not to mention that, depending on who else is in the squad, there are opportunities for some amusing banter between Jack and the team.
9 Worst – Zaeed Massani
There isn’t really a problem with Zaeed per se, it is more that he is acquired through DLC and lacks the same amount of oomph and excitement radiated by Kasumi Goto, the other character that comes from downloadable content in Mass Effect 2.
Frankly, Zaeed’s problem is that he is not memorable, and that is not good when players paid extra for him. Though he can be entertaining, Massani runs out of lines pretty quickly.
However, when in combat, he does offer adequate support to Shepard, but it isn’t anything that the commander couldn’t find somewhere else.
8 Best – Urdnot Wrex
The original Krogan companion, Wrex, is a force of nature in the original game and can serve Commander Shepard well.
As a Krogan, Wrex is a walking, talking tank. He can both withstand and dish out impressive damage, especially through his combination of shotguns, assault rifles, and various powers. While Wrex is a permanent squad member in the first game, he appears in both sequels, as long as Shepard can manage some damage control on Virmire.
Besides his utility in combat, Shepard can form a bond of sorts with Wrex. Krogan make for entertaining companions, not that they mean to be. Keep him around, the fight to save the Krogan race can be that much more impactful with Urdnot Wrex in the mix.
7 Worst – Jaal Ama Darav
In a whole new galaxy, Ryder and their team were bound to come across new species. However, the Angara, and the Kett for that matter, were underwhelming. As a result, Jaal proved to be a somewhat lackluster companion.
Granted, he had his uses in combat but often sat on the sidelines while Drack, Peebee, and Vetra rushed to battle with Ryder.
The conversations, which should be interesting given the Angara are a new species, are in fact rather dull. Instead, it serves as a reminder of how many amazing types of alien were in the Milky Way, and how it was such a shame not to have them in Andromeda…*cough*…Quarians.
6 Best – Tali’Zorah Vas Normandy
Ah, Tali’zorah, a companion from the original trilogy that can be a squad member in all three games. As a Quarian, there is an air of mystery to Tali. Just what is underneath that mask? Well, romance her in Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 to find out!
A tech specialist, she aids either an adept or soldier Shepard quite well. Like Jack, Tali comes equipped with a shotgun and heavy pistols, on top of her a variety of drones. Not only that, but the Quarian is charming in her own way, which makes for some witty banter and amusing conversations.
5 Worst – Kaiden Alenko
It’s a toss-up here between Kaiden Alenko and Ashley Williams, both of which debut in Mass Effect, make a cameo appearance in Mass Effect 2, and have the potential to return to the squad in Mass Effect 3.
Unfortunately for Kaiden, there are many other squadmates who can do his job better, and they also don’t have the personality of a hammer. Honestly, this guy doesn’t even seem to develop as the series goes on, while Ashley shows some semblance of emotion.
Alenko has biotic abilities, but so does Liara T’soni, and the Asari happens to be better in combat.
Maybe it would be best to leave this one behind on Virmire.
4 Best – Miranda Lawson
Miss Lawson happens to be a formidable squadmate, particularly if the commander happens to be after some impressive biotic support. When it comes to firepower, the Cerberus operative is packing an SMG and heavy pistols.
Much like Jack, Miranda shows impressive character growth, and it makes her story one of the series’ best. In the beginning, she is cold. There is no denying that icy exterior, yet as Shep and the team progress, Miranda’s carefully constructed walls begin to break.
Moreover, her personal story continues into Mass Effect 3. Shep needs to make some wise decisions with this one.
3 Worst – Jacob Taylor
Perhaps the biggest problem for Jacob was that he was in Mass Effect 2, a game filled to the brim with fantastic squadmates, and he didn’t measure up. If Jack, Miranda, Thane, Grunt, Tali and Kasumi didn’t exist, he would have more of a chance.
The thing is, he may offer biotic support, but so do Miranda, Jack, and Samara, all of which are more useful than Mr. Taylor.
As for his romance, the man is persistent. Shepard can reject him, yet the Cerberus operative will come back around again later. Doesn’t take the guy too long to move on between games though! Even if Shep does accept his advances, Taylor moves on in Mass Effect 3, showing up with a wife and kid.
2 Best – Garrus Vakarian
No discussion of the best squad members in Mass Effect would be complete without Garrus. The Turian is a fan favorite among fans of the series and for good reason.
First, he is efficient in combat and can offer support to just about any Shepard build with his sharpshooter capabilities.
On a more personal level, the Turian proves to be a valuable friend, or perhaps more if the commander is a female and so inclined. No matter what, Garrus provides great banter, conversation, and has a great loyalty mission that offers a bit more insight into what Shep’s dear friend has been up to in their absence.
1 Worst – Cora Harper
If there is one positive thing to say about Cora Harper, it is…nothing, absolutely nothing. Mass Effect Andromeda struggled in a few ways, and it would be fair to say that the squadmates played a part in that. They were either a hit or a miss, and Harper was a whole other ball game.
Her personality was, well, there was no personality. She was almost robotic. She was certainly not the most entertaining member of the Tempest crew and was not worthy of a romance.
Cora’s loyalty mission was okay. The gameplay was fun, but that had nothing to do with the former Asari commando. Moreover, her performance in combat left much to be desired. There are other squaddies that deserve a spot besides Ryder. Vetra, or PeeBee for instance.
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