mass effect 1 unc assignments

Side Quests

This section of IGN's Mass Effect guide covers all of the Side Quests, known within the game as Assignments. There are over 60 different Assignments available across the game of all stripes. As such, we've grouped them across several different categories.

Citadel: Side Quests

Unc: side quests, discovery side quests, squadmate side quests, pre-service history side quests, feros: side quests, noveria: side quests.

Virmire has two Assignments that aren't listed here, as they deal with the fate of two characters and thus are considered spoilers. Head to that section if you want to learn more.

These Assignments are those that take place entirely on the Citadel. What makes them unique is that they aren't all unlocked at once: instead, you unlock one group of them after you start Citadel: Expose Saren, a second group after you complete your first Mission World, and the third and final group after you complete all four Mission Worlds.

We have bespoke pages that cover efficiently completing these Assignments as soon as they unlock, however there are also a few Assignments started on the Citadel and take you to Uncharted worlds, so they're in the UNC: Side Quests section. The three Pre-Service History Assignments have their own section as well.

• Asari Consort
• Jahleed's Fears
• Presidium Prophet
• Reporter's Request
• Rita's Sister
• Scan the Keepers
• Schells the Gambler
• Signal Tracking
• Xeltan's Complaint
• Family Matter
• Planting a Bug
• Snap Inspection
• The Fourth Estate
• Negotiator's Request
• Our Own Worst Enemy

These Assignments are those that take place primarily or entirely on Uncharted Worlds or starships. This includes a few that are started on the Citadel, and a few that are only unlocked by completing either Feros or Noveria. There is also a series of Assignments known as the "Cerberus Line", and two that are unlocked by filling the Morality Bars, which have their own sub-sections.

• Asari Diplomacy
• Distress Call
• Espionage Probe
• Geth Incursions
• Hostile Takeover
• Lost Freighter
• Lost Module
• Missing Survey Team
• Derelict Freighter
• ExoGeni Facility
• Colony of the Dead
• Listening Post Alpha
• Listening Post Theta
• Depot Sigma-23
• Missing Marines
• Hades' Dogs
• Dead Scientists
• Besieged Base
• The Negotiation

The Discovery Assignments are a unique category of Assignments that task you with collecting various objects and resources across the galaxy by finding objects in space as well as spots on the various Uncharted Worlds.

• Asari Writings
• Locate Signs of Battle
• Prothean Data Discs
• Turian Insignias
• Valuable Minerals: Light Metals
• Valuable Minerals: Rare Metals
• Valuable Minerals: Heavy Metals
• Valuable Minerals: Gasses

The Squadmate Side Quests relate very specifically to your three alien Squadmates: Wrex, Tali and Garrus. They are unlocked by talking to them after completing a Mission or Assignment, then talking to them and exploring more about them and their histories.

• Wrex: Family Armor
• Tali: Pilgrimage
• Garrus: Find Dr. Saleon

This trio of Assignments take place on the Citadel, and appear after you complete either Therum, Feros or Noveria. Significantly, they are tied to the Pre-Service History you chose for Shepard when setting up your profile at the start of the game, which means you will only ever be able to access one of these.

• Spacer: Old, Unhappy, Far-Off Things
• Colonist: I Remember Me
• Earthborn: Old Friends

The Feros Assignments are available after you first clear Zhu's Hope of the invading geth. Each one tasks you with helping out the colony by venturing into the tunnels below, but notably they will have a culmulative effect on the outcome of the main Feros storyline.

The exception is Data Recovery, which is uninvolved and takes place on the Prothean Skyway and the ExoGeni Headquarters.

• Geth in the Tunnels
• Power Cells
• Varren Meat
• Water Restoration
• Data Recovery

The two Noveria Assignments both take place in Port Hanshan. While Espionage is entirely self-contained, Smuggling is notable for being the fastest way to gain a Garage Pass and leave for Peak 15.

Up Next: Citadel: Side Quests

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Mass Effect Assignments: how to start every side quest & assignment

While you’ll be doing a lot of running and gunning across the Galaxy, Mass Effect is still a traditional RPG in many ways. That naturally means a whole bunch of side quests - or Assignments,  as they’re known officially in the game.

As with the various character classes, abilities and class specializations in Mass Effect 1, the assignments featured are pretty typical RPG tropes - various quests that offer up rewards like XP, items, gear, paragon or renegade alignment points, and of course new and unique storylines. Completing the majority of the game nets you the ‘Completionist’ trophy/achievement - so if you’re going for that, you’ll need to tidy up the majority of the assignments.

One advantage of the branching, multi-game narrative of Mass Effect is that several of these side quests and assignments can also feature choices that have consequences in Mass Effect 2 and 3 - if you do the quest.

On this page, we’ll list every side quest assignment in Mass Effect, plus where to start them and any other key information completionists will need to know - broken up by each of Mass Effect’s core locations:

• Citadel Assignments, part 1

Normandy Squadmate Assignments

• Citadel Assignments, part 2
• Story Planet Assignments on Feros, Noveria & Virmire
• Citadel Assignments, part 3
• DLC Assignments
• Collectible assignments

Uncharted World Assignments

Citadel Assignments Part 1

These assignments are available from your very first visit to the Citadel very early in the game, though some assignments unlock gradually as more of the Citadel becomes available to you. 

• Citadel: Asari Consort: visit the Consort’s Chambers on the Presidium and speak to Nelyna and then Sha’ira.
• Citadel: Doctor Michel: head to the Lower Wards Med Clinic again any time after taking down Fist in Chora’s Den as part of the main story. 
• This quest evolves into a ‘second part’ called ‘Citadel: Doctor Michel is Safe’
• Citadel: Homecoming: once Tali has joined your party, speak to Samesh Bhatia near the embassy area commons area, not far from where there’s an Avina terminal.
• This quest leads to several follow-up quests as the storyline twists and turns, including Citadel: Jahleed's Secret ,   Citadel: Jahleed and Chorban , followed by one of a number of finales such as Citadel: Jahleed Returns Materials , Citadel: Jahleed Arrested , Citadel: Jahleed Set Free . 
• Citadel: Presidium Prophet: after the council reject your claims about Eden Prime and the Citadel: Expose Saren main quest begins, find a C-Sec Officer and Hanar on the Presidium in the wide open area near the Citadel Tower. 
• Citadel: Reporter's Request: as soon as you can access the Upper Wards (once you’re working to expose Saren), find Emily Wong near the stairway to Flux. Alternatively, picking up the OSD in Fist’s office in Chora’s Den also retroactively gives you the quest. 
• This quest evolves into Citadel: Rita's Sister and Chellick and Citadel: Rita's Sister is Safe as you progress it.
• Citadel: Scan the Keepers: this assignment is dropped into your lap; after meeting the council, a Salarian is right in your path, fiddling with a keeper. A squadmate will even point them out. Chat to the Salarian, Chorban, to start the quest. If you’ve already started the Citadel: Jahleed’s Fears quest before this one, Chorban will move to the Lower Markets, where you can still get the quest from him. We’ve got a guide to the Keeper Locations to get you through this quest.
• Depending on choices you make, this assignment will change into either Citadel: Schells' Scanner Given Away or Citadel: Schells has his Data .
• Citadel: Signal Tracking: visit Flux Casino on the Lower Wards and examine a ‘Suspicious Gambling Machine’ in the upstairs corner to start this quest. We’ve got a guide on the signal tracking locations if you need help.
• Citadel: The Fan: you’ll find Conrad Verner standing in the Markets area of the Upper Wards. There are three stages to this assignment; you’ll need to visit Verner when you first gain access to the wards, then again after becoming a Spectre, and one last time after completing any of the three main story worlds.
• As it progresses, this quest changes name to Citadel: Xeltan Convinced .
• Missing Person / UNC: Privateers: get this assignment by speaking to Garoth in the Citadel Tower after your second meeting with the council. Alternatively, it can be received by hacking a computer terminal on Noveria. It will also automatically trigger if you find and scan the MSV Majesty in the Horse Head Nebula.

Once you’re back on the Normandy after your first Citadel Visit, you’ll have the chance to talk to your squadmates during down time aboard the ship. If you keep talking to them, three of your alien squad members will have requests for you.

What squadmates have to say changes each time you complete a main story mission; you may have to complete one or two story missions before they give you their request and the associated assignment .

• Garrus: Find Dr. Saleon: keep talking to Garrus and he’ll gradually reveal information about this C-Sec case gone wrong, which eventually gives you a location to head to.
• Tali and the Geth / Tali’s Pilgrimage: Tali will tell you about her pilgrimage, but this assignment only pops when you clear a Geth Base on Solcrum as part of UNC: Geth Incursions. There’s a terminal you can interact with in that planet’s Geth Stronghold, and you can then gift that data to Tali aboard Normandy.
• Wrex: Family Armor: keep talking to Wrex and talking about his past; he will ask you to retrieve his family armor, which was stolen. Alternatively, you can find the assignment goal on Tuntau in the Phoenix System of Argos Rho; finding the armor first gives you the quest, then you can turn it in by talking to Wrex. We recommend, for various reasons, that you do this quest before heading to Virmire .

Citadel Assignments Part 2

These assignments will be available the next time you visit the Citadel after completing any one of the three ‘core’ story planet missions of Therum, Noveria, or Feros .

Three of the quests that unlock this point are a branch based on your pre-service history character background - each background gets one exclusive side quest. The other three are available to all.

• Citadel: I Remember Me: only available if your Shepard has the Colonist background. You’ll automatically get a call about this quest after arriving on the Citadel and using the elevator from the docking bay.
• Citadel: Old Friends: only available if your Shepard has the Earthborn background. Find Finch in Chora’s Den.
• Citadel: Old, Unhappy, Far-Off Things: only available if your Shepard has the Spacer background. Talk to Zabaleta in the Wards Access corridor area.
• Citadel: Family Matter: near the Presidium financial district and Barla Von’s office, there's two people audibly arguing. Insert yourself into their conversation.
• Citadel: Planting a Bug: you must have completed Citadel: Reporter’s Request for Emily Wong. If you have, find Wong in the Citadel Tower to get this continuation.
• Citadel: Snap Inspection: this will automatically occur as you step off the Normandy when it first arrives back at the Citadel. 
• Citadel: The Fourth Estate: the reporter Khalisah Al-Jilani can be found at the bottom of the elevator from the docking bay; talk to her to take on this verbally-charged assignment.

Story Planet Assignments: Feros, Noveria, & Virmire

Mass Effect’s handful of story-critical planets also have a few assignments of their own - though it’s only a few for each planet, and Therum actually has no side quests at all, being a much more straightforward affair. Here’s the quests you can expect on each planet:

Noveria Assignments:

• Noveria: Espionage: as you explore the port in Noveria, you’ll be approached by an Asari named Mallene Calis, giving you this side quest. If you agree to help her, the quest continues. If you refuse, it is marked as completed.
• Noveria: Smuggling: there’s a Hanar Merchant named Opold on Noveria, in the port area. Chat to it and it’ll ask for your help smuggling an item.

Feros Assignments:

• Feros: Data Recovery: when you’re in the Mako heading from Zhu’s Hope to the ExoGeni facility, you can stop and head into ruins - speak to the scientists hiding within. 
• Feros: Geth in the Tunnels: after speaking to Fai Dan as part of the main story and then dealing with some Geth, speak to him again. You can also get the quest by heading into the tunnels and blowing up the transmitter.
• Feros: Power Cells: once you’ve met Fai Dan in Zhu’s Hope, talk to May O’Connell, who hangs out near the area entrance.
• Feros: Varren Meat: once you’ve free reign to look around Zhu’s Hope, talk to Davin Reynolds.
• Feros: Water Restoration: find and talk to Macha Doyle inside the Zhu’s Hope colony.

Virmire Assignments:

• Virmire: Assisting Kirrahe's Team & Virmire: Wrex and the Genophage : both unmissable quests that will pop part-way into the Virmire mission - with the Wrex mission only happening if you recruited him. We’ve got a full guide to the choices on Virmire that helps explain the decisions you’re making here.

Citadel Assignments Part 3

While you can go back and forth to the Citadel as much as you like, these assignments will be made available when the story takes you back to the Citadel and for a brief period you can’t leave there. 

• Citadel: Our Own Worst Enemy: once Captain Anderson asks you to meet him in Flux but before you do go to join him, talk to Charles Saracino, who is leading a group of protestors. 
• Citadel: Negotiator's Request: once Captain Anderson asks you to meet him in Flux, you’ll be able to talk to Mr. Keeler near the entrance to Flux to get this assignment.

DLC Assignments: Bring Down the Sky & Pinnacle Station

The DLC for Mass Effect adds two new locations with associated story missions - Asteroid X57 and Pinnacle Station. Note that Pinnacle Station is only available in the original releases of the game, not the Legendary Edition remaster . Bring Down The Sky is available in both.

Bring Down the Sky / Asteroid X57 Assignments:

• X57: Bring Down the Sky: simply land on the asteroid; this is the main story mission.
• X57: Avoid the Blasting Caps: will be introduced to you over comms when you turn off the first fusion torch.
• X57: Missing Engineers: either find one of the engineers out on the Asteroid or speak to Simon Atwell later in the main quest.

Pinnacle Station Assignments: 

• Pinnacle Station: Combat Missions: visit Pinnacle Station. Talk to Admiral Ahern, then Ochren. 
• Pinnacle Station: Convoy: clear Admiral Ahren’s special scenario to get this quest.
• Pinnacle Station: Vidinos: beat the high score of a challenge to start this quest.

Galactic Collectible Assignments

Each of these five assignments relate to various resources that can be found on the uncharted worlds you can land the Mako on through the galaxy as presented in Mass Effect. Each of these quests automatically begins the first time that you pick up one of these resources on any uncharted world.

Keep in mind that in most of these cases, there are more of these resources to be found than required to finish each quest. Aside from some cash and XP, there is no bonus to finding ‘extra’ resources.

• UNC: Prothean Data Discs
• UNC: Turian Insignias
• UNC: Valuable Minerals
• UNC: Locate Signs of Battle
• UNC: Asari Writings

These assignments make up the bulk of the side quests in the game - relatively random encounters you can have out in space while exploring the galaxy.

Most of these quests can be acquired in multiple ways - either through stumbling on the quest location while exploring a planet, through hacking computers and terminals, through overheard news reports and banter, or even through distress signals. Many of these quests have multiple names depending on how you first acquire them - so we bundle each quest together with its multiple monikers below.

• UNC: Asari Diplomacy / Mercenaries: after completing one story planet, talk to Nassana Dantius in the lounge area of the Citadel’s Presidium embassies area. Alternatively, the quest automatically begins if you assault a merc base on Sharjila in the Macedon system.
• UNC: Colony of the Dead / Investigate Samples: hack a terminal in the ExoGeni building on Feros - or go to Chasca in the Matano system and enter one of the planet’s research stations.
• UNC: Dead Scientists / Doctor at Risk: find a clue on a terminal on Noveria, or get it automatically when you first enter the Newton system.
• UNC: Derelict Freighter: any time after finishing the story mission on Feros, find this ship drifting in the Caspian System of the Maroon Sea Cluster, hidden in an asteroid belt. 
• UNC: Distress Call / Unusual Readings: hack the computer in Udina’s office on the Citadel, or go to Metgos in the Argos Rho cluster’s Hydra system.
• UNC: Espionage Probe / Investigate Shipments: simply take the Normandy to the Voyager Cluster’s Amazon system.
• UNC: ExoGeni Facility / Investigate Facility: obtain the quest by unearthing a transmission while on Feros, or get the assignment by landing on Nodacrux in the Maroon Sea cluster.
• UNC: Geth Incursions / Geth Activities: acquired by hacking a Geth terminal on Feros or terminal on Virmire, but it’s more easily obtained by visiting the Armstrong Nebula, where it’ll be given to you on arrival.
• UNC: Hostage: you’ll get a message from Admiral Hackett the first time you enter the Farinata System of the Hades Gamma cluster.
• UNC: Hostile Takeover / A Person of Interest: either talk to Helena Blake in the Citadel Presidium Financial District after becoming a Spectre, or decrypt a terminal in C-Sec Academy.
• UNC: Major Kyle / Strange Transmission: unlocked by hacking various terminals on Feros, the Citadel, or Noveria. Alternatively, navigate to the Century system of the Hawking Eta cluster to get it automatically.
• UNC: Missing Marines / UNC: Cerberus / UNC: Hades' Dogs: after becoming a Spectre, speak to Admiral Kahoku in the Citadel Tower to get the Missing Marines assignment. Alternatively, take Normandy to Edolus in the Artemis Tau cluster to get the assignment that way. Once Missing Marines is completed, UNC: Cerberus triggers when you next use the galaxy map, and that quest leads directly to UNC: Hades’ Dogs. 
• UNC: Listening Post Alpha / UNC: Listening Post Theta / UNC: Depot Sigma-23: after completing Noveria, go to the Styx Theta cluster. Enter the Erebus system to pick up a distress signal.
• UNC: Lost Freighter: locate the missing ship in the Gemini Sigma cluster’s Ming System. 
• UNC: Lost Module: simply enter the Hercules system in the Attican Beta cluster to be given the assignment. 
• UNC: Missing Survey Team: commonly overheard in Citadel elevators. Alternatively, just go to the planet Trebin in the Hades Gamma cluster’s Antaeus system.
• UNC: Privateers / Missing Person: talk to Garoth on the Citadel Tower after becoming a Spectre. Alternatively, find and scan the MSV Majesty in the  Horse Head Nebula. It’s near the planet Xawin.
• UNC: Rogue VI: once you reach a certain level, Admiral Hackett will call you to give you this assignment the next time you travel to a new system. This assignment is how you unlock Shepard’s specialization class .

Finally, there are two assignments that are exclusive to different moralities. They only trigger if you've amassed a certain amount of Paragon or Renegade points, and are themed around what each morality axis is good at:

• UNC: Besieged Base:  Admiral Hackett will contact you when you use the Galaxy Map once you qualify, which will require at least 80% of Paragon points.
• UNC: The Negotiation:  Admiral Hackett will contact you when you use the Galaxy Map once you qualify, which will require at least 80% Renegade points.

Finished with ME1? We've got the same guide for the ME2 side quests if you enjoyed this - just click on through!

UNC: Collection Complete

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UNC: Collection Complete can refer to one of three assignments in your journal after they are completed:

• UNC: Asari Writings
• UNC: Prothean Data Discs
• UNC: Turian Insignias
• 2 Romance (Mass Effect: Andromeda)

Mass Effect: 10 Best Assignments For Learning Lore About The Universe

Mass Effect's lore has plenty to take in, and can be a little intimidating for newcomers. These assignments should help you get acquainted with it.

The first Mass Effect game released in late 2007 and has evolved since then into a sprawling space opera. The lore is immense and cannot possibly exist in only one brain. Players looking to catch up on the history of the universe in the last few hundred years have a tall task ahead of them.

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Thankfully, Mass Effect predicted this struggle. There are tons of optional assignments in-game for players to take on as it suits them, in between the core missions of the game , in order to learn more about particular groups, places, people, and races. These ten are among the best in the first game to expand your understanding of Mass Effect lore.

10 UNC: Lost Freighter

Mass Effect may set up biotics as some kind of incredible space magic, but it doesn't go very far in explaining them. Most context the player receives about biotic users is provided in one-off conversations and optional side quests like UNC: Lost Freighter. When they do approach the subject, though, they often approach it  hard  - as Shepard ventures through this eerily empty ship, they'll discover crew logs that detail how a man, Jacob, is brain dead and going to be taken off life support, but this angered his girlfriend, Julia, and caused her biotic implants to flare up - she killed everyone onboard.

9 Citadel: Scan The Keepers

The Keepers are an insect-like race that can be spotted around the Citadel during Shepard's excursions. They're completely uninterested in other races - they only want to maintain the station, not even accepting payment in return.

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However, a few scientists are interested in gaining data on these creatures - Jahleed, a Volus, and Chorban, a Salarian. Speaking to either one will give Shepard this assignment to go scan the Keepers. If completed, Chorban sends his data to the player during Mass Effect 2 with startling news.

8 UNC: Dead Scientists

Assignments like UNC: Dead Scientists prepare the player for Mass Effect 2 without their ever realizing it. In it, Admiral Hackett asks Shepard to protect someone called Dr. Wayne, who is believed to be in danger. When the player finally reaches the doctor, he will tell Shepard about how he was kidnapped by a group known as Cerberus and experimented on. Indeed, in Mass Effect 2, a Shepard who saved Dr. Wayne will receive a message from him, describing how horrified he is that Shepard is working for Cerberus now.

7 X57: Bring Down The Sky

Mass Effect has a number of races that appear as allies and enemies throughout the trilogy. Unfortunately, a few are almost exclusively depicted as malicious and antagonistic. The Batarians are one of these races. The game's lore tells all about how these four-eyed aliens are known for their pirate gangs and slave trading. The assignment X57: Bring Down The Sky, available as part of the game's DLC, teaches the player all about this race - one of the first friendly characters that Shepard meets, Simon Atwell, explains.

6 Citadel: Our Own Worst Enemy

In Citadel: Our Own Worst Enemy, Shepard must decide whether or not to endorse a political candidate. The candidate in question is Charles Saracino, a harsh xenophobe who wants to resist alien influences on humanity.

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His platform - and the comments of whichever squadmates happen to be accompanying Shepard - help to set the stage for the big role that Cerberus will play in Mass Effect 2, as well as the divided human politics that are making progress difficult.

5 UNC: Hostile Takeover/A Person Of Interest

Crime hasn't stopped just because mankind has achieved its wildest dreams. Criminal cartels have only found more potent and dangerous drugs and activities to explore. In UNC: Hostile Takeover (also may be called A Person Of Interest), Shepard is interested in a woman named Helena Blake, a high-ranking member of a crime syndicate. Shepard may get this assignment by agreeing to help Blake take out some of her associates or because they're helping the C-Sec track her down.

4 Virmire: Wrex and the Genophage

The assignment Virmire: Wrex and the Genophage only appears if Wrex is brought on the story mission to Virmire. There, Shepard and their squad learn that Saren has come close to curing the Genophage, a debilitating biological weapon that has made Krogan prone to miscarriages for generations. The player gets to experience Wrex's fury first-hand at this injustice. Ashley and Kaidan's lives may be in the player's hands on this mission , but so is Wrex's - the player could shoot him, or talk him down peacefully.

3 UNC: Major Kyle

The quest UNC: Major Kyle confronts how biotics are treated in galactic society. An ex-Alliance officer, Major Kyle, is suffering from PTSD and seems to have established himself as the leader of a biotic commune under the name 'Father Kyle.'

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Admiral Hackett, when giving you the quest, guesses that the biotics are simply looking for someone to champion their cause, having gone so long underfoot. Shepard must go in and talk 'Father Kyle' down, if they can.

2 Citadel: Presidium Prophet

This assignment exposes the player to several different aspects of Citadel life. They interact with a C-Sec officer who is arguing with a Hanar civilian. The Hanar is preaching in an area where it isn't permitted. In Citadel: Presidium Prophet, Shepard must hear both sides of the story and choose who to support. Along the way, they'll learn a bit about C-Sec regulations and a bit about Hanar spirituality. Whoever Shepard decides to throw their weight behind, they'll have become a little more enlightened along the way.

1 UNC: Missing Marines

Nothing will teach Shepard about the dangers of the universe better than a run-in with a Thresher Maw. During UNC: Missing Marines, Shepard must investigate a distress beacon in the Sparta System. When they arrive, it's clear that the marines were killed by the Thresher Maw and nothing can be done. However, Shepard must still deal with this beast. Once it's dead, they discover that a transmitter was placed here purposefully to lure people to their deaths.

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Assignments are the name given to side missions in Mass Effect . Assignments  do not advance the story but completing them can help the player understand the inner workings of the Mass Effect's universe, the interactions between Races , etc

Assignments in Mass Effect

Shepard's background .

These assignments depend on the pre-service history the player chooses while creating the character

• Citadel: Old, Unhappy, Far-off Things
• Citadel: Old Friends
• Citadel: I Remember Me

Squad Member 

These assignments are related to your Normandy Crewmates.

• Garrus: Find Dr. Saleon
• Tali and the Geth
• Wrex: Family Armor

Citadel First Visit

These assignments are first available since your first visit to the Citadel, and remain so for the rest of the game.

• Citadel: Asari Consort
• Citadel: Doctor Michel
• Citadel: Homecoming
• Citadel: Jahleed's Fears
• Citadel: Presidium Prophet
• Citadel: Reporter's Request
• Citadel: Rita's Sister
• Citadel: Scan the Keepers
• Citadel: Schells the Gambler
• Citadel: Signal Tracking
• Citadel: The Fan
• Citadel: Xeltan's Complaint
• Missing Person

Citadel Second Visit

These assignments become available after completing one of the three major Missions (Feros, Noveria o rescuing Lara T'Soni)

• Citadel: Family Matter
• Citadel: Planting a Bug
• Citadel: Snap Inspection
• Citadel: The Fourth Estate

Citadel Detainee Visit

These assignments are only available during the time you are detained at the Citadel.

• Citadel: Our Own Worst Enemy
• Citadel: Negotiator's Request

These assignments are specific to Feros

• Feros: Data Recovery
• Feros: Geth in the Tunnels
• Feros: Power Cells
• Feros: Varren Meat
• Feros: Water Restoration

These assignments are specific to Noveria

• Noveria: Espionage
• Noveria: Smuggling

These assignments are specific to Virmire

• Virmire: Assisting Kirrahe's Team
• Virmire: Wrex and the Genophage

Galaxy Collection

These assignments require you to travel Citadel space and finding hidden collectibles.

• UNC: Prothean Data Discs
• UNC: Turian Insignias
• UNC: Valuable Minerals
• UNC: Locate Signs of Battle
• UNC: Asari Writings

Uncharted Space

Assignments from Uncharted Space in the galaxy

• A Person of Interest
• Doctor at Risk
• Geth Activities
• Investigate Facility
• Mercenaries
• Investigate Samples
• Investigate Shipments
• Strange Transmission
• UNC: Asari Diplomacy
• UNC: Cerberus
• UNC: Colony of the Dead
• UNC: Dead Scientists
• UNC: Depot Sigma-23
• UNC: Derelict Freighter
• UNC: Distress Call
• UNC: Espionage Probe
• UNC: ExoGeni Facility
• UNC: Geth Incursions
• UNC: Hades' Dogs
• UNC: Hostage
• UNC: Hostile Takeover
• UNC: Listening Post Alpha
• UNC: Listening Post Theta
• UNC: Lost Freighter
• UNC: Lost Module
• UNC: Major Kyle
• UNC: Missing Marines
• UNC: Missing Survey Team
• UNC: Privateers
• UNC: Rogue VI
• Unusual Readings

Morality-dependent

Assignments that depend on Commander Shepard's alignment.

• UNC: Besieged Base
• UNC: The Negotiation

Bring Down the Sky

Assignments for the first  DLC  for  Mass Effect

• X57: Bring down the Sky
• X57: Avoid the Blasting Caps
• X57: Missing Engineers

Pinnacle Station

Assignments for the second  DLC  for  Mass Effect

• Pinnacle Station: Combat Missions
• Pinnacle Station: Convoy
• Pinnacle Station: Vidinos

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Mass Effect Legendary Edition: 15 Assignments In The First Game You Need To Play

As an RPG, Mass Effect contains plenty of side objectives for players. With the release of the Legendary Edition, which are most worth your time?

The first Mass Effect game revolves around Commander Shepard and their quest to hunt down Saren and Sovereign to save the galaxy from destruction. However, the protagonist doesn't spend all of their time on a single quest. Alongside the game's main missions is an abundance of assignments for players to complete, all of which are included in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition .

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The side quests focus on other happenings in the galaxy, which Shepard needs to sort out. They offer a nice reprieve from the main quest and add some life to the galaxy, making it feel lived in. Some assignments can be a little repetitive, but plenty of others are worth playing.

Updated on January 16th, 2022 by Talha Bin Rizwan: The first game from the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition trilogy has players take control of Commander Shepard to save the galaxy from the Saren, Sovereign, and the Geth. In addition to the main quest, players can undertake many side quests that are found all over the galaxy. These side missions, or assignments, as the game calls them, add some variety to the gameplay allowing Shepard to help people in a more one-on-one way. While some side-quests can be tedious for players, other side missions can be just as engaging as the main quest, if not more.

15 Garrus: Find Dr. Saleon

Loyalty missions don't exist in the original game, but some assignments relate to specific companions. For instance, the search for Dr. Saleon concerns perhaps the best squadmate , Garrus. Dr. Saleon, aka Dr. Heart, is a cruel Salarian who used to clone organs inside his patients' bodies to sell, often causing complications for the victims. When he was a part of C-Sec, Garrus tried to stop the evil physician, but Saleon slipped away.

If Shepard talks to the Turian enough throughout the game, he'll tell the tale of Dr. Saleon and give the Commander coordinates to find the villain. The action in the assignment is limited, yet the compelling backstory makes up for it. Plus, it's always nice to see great characters like Garrus get some spotlight.

14 Asari Consort

Shepard can find the consort’s chambers in the southeastern part of the Citadel. Inside, they will meet Sha’ira the consort, who’ll task them with getting a Turian General to leave her alone. The general is spreading lies about Sha’ira and all Shepard will need to do is talk to him.

Once done, they can return to Sha’ira where they can get one of two rewards, either a romance scene or a Prothean trinket that leads to an easter egg on the planet Eletania.

13 UNC: Missing Marines

Relatively early in the game, Shepard can speak with Admiral Kahoku, who sends him on an assignment to find his missing marines. At the last known coordinates of Kahoku's team, the player finds only dead bodies and a huge Thresher Maw.

In the original game, fighting the giant monster wasn't too interesting. Yet, the Legendary Edition has made several exciting alterations to Thresher Maw battles. Maws now have sensory tentacles that players must shoot to get it out of hiding, which adds more variety to fights. Furthermore, their aim is incredible as they predict the Mako's movements, making their acid spit much harder to dodge.

12 Noveria: Espionage

Not every assignment in Mass Effect is about violence. In 'Noveria: Espionage,' Shepard has to keep Rafael Vargas talking while a device hacks into his personal network.

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To please the Asari who gave Shepard the job, the player has to convince Vargas that they're genuinely interested in buying something from Binary Helix. Since this is Mass Effect , there are multiple ways for the quest to play out, partially based on whether Shepard is Paragon or Renegade. It all makes for a unique and compelling assignment that players can find near the Hotel bar on Noveria.

11 Homecoming

The quest is a short one but may have an emotional impact on players. The quest can be acquired after Tali joins Shepard’s party. They will find an NPC in front of the embassy front desk at the Presidium who is trying to get the Alliance to recover his wife’s body from Eden Prime.

Shepard can intervene on his behalf and talk to the clerk responsible who will release the body. It’s a small quest that takes only a few minutes to complete, but it is one of the few which can touch the players emotionally.

10 Citadel: The Fan

Despite featuring sparingly in the trilogy, Conrad Verner is a memorable character. He's a fanatic of Shepard's, desperate to follow in his hero's footsteps. At different points during the first game, he'll be waiting down in the Citadel markets.

As part of 'Citadel: The Fan,' the Commander has several conversations with Verner. During each talk, Verner's enthusiasm and delusion is funny to watch. Shepard's reaction to their number one fan is always entertaining, regardless of the protagonist's moral alignment.

9 UNC: Geth Incursions (aka Geth Activities)

The Geth are among the most powerful races in the Mass Effect universe , so Admiral Hackett is understandably concerned that they have multiple outposts in the Armstrong Nebula. As usual, it's up to Shepard to put an end to the Synthetics' activities. The Commander must go around to each outpost and destroy the Geth forces waiting there.

The enjoyment of this assignment depends on players' feelings about the new Mako, as it features heavily in the mission. However, the main reason to do this quest is the important terminal at the final base. Shepard can give the data retrieved from this terminal to Tali, which will strengthen their relationship.

8 Rita's Sister

This side mission can be acquired at Flux where players will overhear a waitress, Rita, talking to her Volus manager about her sister. Upon exploring, Shepard learns that Rita’s sister is working on a dangerous assignment for C-Sec, and she is worried about her sister’s safety.

Shepard is then contacted by a C-Sec officer and can assist him in dealing with the matter themselves. In doing so, Shepard will complete the assignment he gave to Jenna, Rita’s sister, after which she will be free to go.

7 UNC: Rogue VI

'UNC: Rogue VI' is an assignment given to the player by Hackett. The Alliance Admiral asks Shepard to go to Earth's moon and destroy the out-of-control VI that's taken over Luna Base. During the mission, the Commander and their team shoot through an abundance of flying drones.

As players spend most of the story facing Geth or Krogan, the drones are a nice change of pace. The real reason to complete this quest, though, is because it rewards the player with a Class Specialization. If players choose the right Specialization, it can make them significantly stronger.

6 Hostile Takeover:

The mission is available after Shepard completes the main missions on the planets Therum, Noveria, and Feros. They’ll need to hack one of the terminals at the C-Sec Academy to pick this side mission up. C-Sec will be investigating a suspected criminal named Helena Blake who can be found in the Financial District.

She’ll ask Shepard to take out two of her business partners. The quest is short but fun and depending on how players complete the quest, Helena Blake will appear in the second game of the trilogy.

5 UNC: Cerberus

Players might not remember that Cerberus is barely involved in the first game's adventures. However, in the rest of the Legendary Edition , the morally questionable organization plays a significant part in the story. In fact, Mass Effect 2 feels a little weird without knowing why people hate the Illusive Man's crew.

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Admiral Kahoku gives players the chance to learn about the group, tasking them with investigating a few of their research facilities as part of the 'UNC: Cerberus' assignment. During the lengthy mission, Shepard finds out some horrifying information, helping flesh out the story.

4 Wrex: Family Armor

If players want to hear Wrex deliver great lines throughout the entire trilogy , they should do his family armor quest. Completing this assignment isn't the only way to keep this Krogan alive, but it is the easiest.

To acquire the mission, Shepard has to regularly talk with Wrex on the Normandy until he reveals that his family armor is in the hands of a Turian pirate. During the assignment, players will storm the base of the trophy hunter and attempt to kill plenty of his people in an entertaining battle.

3 Shepard’s Backstory Missions

During character creation, players select a background for Shepard out of three choices; Earthborn, Colonist, and Spacer. These allow players to determine Shepard’s origins and how they started their journey to become a galactic legend. During the game, Shepard will be prompted to pursue certain missions based on the background selection.

With Earthborn, Shepard helps a former friend help his companion escape. With Colonist, a person from Shepard’s colony needs their help in stopping a suicide. And with Spacer, Shepard will help a man who claims to be their mother’s friend. These missions are small but allow players to flesh out their Shepard as a character.

2 Virmire: Assisting Kirrahe's Team

Shortly after arriving on Virmire, Shepard will meet a Salarian captain named Kirrahe. It doesn't take the leader long to become popular with players, as he's a very likable character.

During the assault on Saren's base, the Commander can help the charismatic Captain stay alive. To do so, players have to complete 'Virmire: Assisting Kirrahe's Team'. The objective to destroy the Geth flyers is the one that really matters, but it's worth completing the entire assignment, as it's enjoyable to help out allies.

1 X57: Bring Down the Sky

Originally, Bring Down the Sky was an expansion for the first game, but now it's included as part of the Legendary Edition . The main quest is a lot longer than a typical assignment, and it sees Shepard attempt to stop a group of Batarians from destroying a colony named Terra Nova.

New enemies, fun action, and a solid story make the Bring Down The Sky assignment one of the best. In fact, if it had more connection to Saren or Sovereign, it would feel more like a main mission as opposed to side content.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

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