Adepts are Biotic specialists, capable of disabling and killing enemies with raw Biotic power. They are outfitted with L5x implants that can spawn a micro-singularity, damaging enemies and pulling them into the air.
In battle, Adepts are strong, capable, power-heavy warriors with a talent for power combinations. Regardless of what kind of Adept build you eventually become, be sure to invest in Singularity.
Every Adept player can benefit from this power, even at its most basic. But when upgraded fully, Singularity is a benefit to every squad.
It is one of the few powers that can serve as a source power, inflict damage, and disrupt enemies in battle. This power should be the base of all Adept builds.
In order to keep your powers charged and ready to fire at a high rate, keep your weapon loadout low.
Select one or two weapons at most (like an SMG and pistol) to keep your loadout weight low, and keep your power recharge speed as close to 200 percent as possible.
POWERS
Singularity
Create a sphere of dark energy that traps and dangles enemies caught in its field.
Ranks 1 through 3 Analysis
Singularity may be an Adept’s greatest power.
This lasting effect can be used to flush out enemies from behind cover and lift them into the air (when upgraded properly), rendering them helpless, and it can even function as a source power to create explosive power combinations.
At Rank 3, a single foe can be rendered harmless for up to nearly 5 seconds. Better still, that’s nearly 5 seconds that Singularity can serve as a source power.
Even though you can stop at Rank 3 and have a significantly useful power, consider upgrading beyond this rank. Singularity should be a part of every Adept build.
Rank 4 Analysis
Rank 4 offers two very useful potential upgrades. Either increase the length of Singularity’s duration and keep enemies suspended in the air longer (Rank 4a) or widen its reach by increasing its radius (Rank 4b).
Both are worthwhile upgrades, but Rank 4a is slightly more useful since it will allow you to pick up even more enemies with a single blast. Upgrade to Rank 4 and unleash a Singularity blast near a crowded area to create a bottleneck for attackers.
Even if you don’t manage to get multiple enemies in the blast, other enemies will be forced to reroute since the upgraded Singularity will last longer.
Rank 5 Analysis
If you plan on using Singularity often, perhaps to create multiple explosive power combinations, then select Rank 5b. This will increase Singularity’s recharge speed and decrease your waiting time between blasts to less than 6 seconds.
That means that you could potentially catch enemies in a massive explosion every 6 seconds. If you want to focus on inflicting damage, then select Rank 6a. This will add 20 points of damage per second for the duration of Singularity.
If you chose Rank 4a, then that’s an extra 120 points of damage.
Rank 6 Analysis
At Rank 6, you can expand the Singularity’s field by 35 percent for 10 seconds. If you’ve chosen upgrade Rank 4b, then your Singularity field will be 2.18 meters around. Rank 6a will expand on those 2.18 meters by 35 percent for 10 seconds.
By making Singularity last longer and reach farther, you can create countless problems for groups of enemies. Your other option at Rank 6 is to detonate Singularity when the field dies, inflicting 300 extra points of damage across 5 meters.
Not only does this remove the need for a detonator power to be added in order to detonate Singularity, but it also reaches farther and causes a decent amount of damage.
If you chose Rank 5a, then you could potentially inflict up to 420 damage with one Singularity blast.
Warp
Rip your enemy apart at a molecular level. Stop targeted enemy from regenerating health. Weaken armor.
Ranks 1 through 3 Analysis
Warp is a cruel and vicious power, perfect to use against Reapers and Cerberus foes alike. Even at low ranks it can deal 300 points of damage on an enemy for up to 10 seconds.
You can stop upgrading at Rank 3 and use Warp strictly as a source power for power combinations, but its potential value reaches far beyond that so consider making Warp one of your go-to skills.
Rank 4 Analysis
At Rank 4, you can either increase damage (Rank 4a) up to 375 points of damage, a worthwhile investment, or you can augment your unique detonate ability (Rank 4b).
This benefit is gained only when using Warp as a source power and another power is used to detonate it. When it does, Rank 4b will increase all aspects of the detonation by 50 percent.
Rank 5 Analysis
Rank 5a, Lasting Damage, increases both damage and duration of Warp, making it deadlier and longer lasting. It may not be fancy, but the selection amplifies two of Warp’s three most important components.
If you plan on frequently using Warp as a stand-alone attack, then select Rank 5a. Expose, Rank 5b, increases both weapon and power damage to targets affected by Warp.
This is useful when you want to weaken enemies and allow your squadmates to inflict additional damage while your powers recharge.
Rank 6 Analysis
The final upgrade tree in Warp either increases its recharge speed to maximum, lowering the recharge time to less than 8 seconds (Rank 6b), or increases its piercing ability to weaken barriers and armor and armored targets (Rank 6a).
Like Rank 5b, the benefits of Rank 6a allow your squadmates to pour on additional damage to affected enemies.
Throw
Toss your enemy through the air with this Biotic blast.
Ranks 1 through 3 Analysis
In the hands of a powerful adept, Throw is a very useful skill. With a single blast, you can rid yourself of pesky foes and clear a path in battle for squadmates.
At Rank 3, your blast of 780 Newtons hurls foes even farther, so consider upgrading to Rank 3, even if you don’t plan on using this often.
Also, if you don’t upgrade this power beyond Rank 3, keep it in your arsenal anyway; its function as a detonator power can complement nearly any squad composition with source powers.
Rank 4 Analysis
At Rank 4, you can gain a simple force or radius increase. Rank 4a, Force, increases the amount of force exerted by each Throw blast to 1,020 Newtons.
This has the added ability of knocking foes into other enemies and disrupting enemy attacks. Rank 4b, Radius, increases the impact of radius by 2 meters, allowing you to hit more than one enemy per Throw blast.
This is especially useful in narrow corridors or battlefields where enemies bunch together into smaller groups.
Rank 5 Analysis
At Rank 5 you can increase the volatility of your Throw power (Rank 5a) or grant yourself the ability to create even more explosive combos (Rank 5b). Select Rank 5a if you want to use Throw as a damage-dealing detonator for source powers.
In fact, as an Adept, you can create your own Biotic explosions using Singularity as a source power. If you want to create these explosive combos, then select Rank 5a.
However, Rank 5b can also help if you have several squadmates who can launch source powers.
By frequently using your Throw as a detonator power, you can maximize Throw’s potential for damage output, not just enemy disruption.
Rank 6 Analysis
At Rank 6, you can either increase the amount of Throw projectiles to seek two targets (Rank 6a) or increase Throw’s recharge speed by 50 percent (Rank 6b).
If you plan on using Throw as an area-clearing disruptive power, then select Rank 6a.
The extra Throw projectile will help clear more enemies efficiently. If you plan on using Throw as a detonator power, then select Rank 6b; that way you can detonate any source powers set up by your squadmates.
Shockwave
Topple a row of enemies with this cascading shock wave.
Ranks 1 through 3 Analysis
Shockwave is another disruptive ability in an Adept’s arsenal. Like throw, it can hurl enemies out of the way and clear a path forward. Unlike Throw, however, this power doesn’t stop at affecting one or two enemies.
It also does not travel around objects or other enemies. Shockwave travels in a straight line and for a long distance, affecting all enemies in its path.
This makes it a particularly useful power for Adepts who want to focus on disruption rather than destruction.
Of course, Shockwave is also a detonator power, so it can also be used to trigger explosive combos.
Rank 4 Analysis
Like most other powers, you can either select to increase its force and damage (Rank 4a) to inflict more damage on enemies and hurl them farther, or you can increase its radius (Rank 5b), allowing each Shockwave to reach more enemies.
The choice should be made depending on whether you want to cause more damage or disrupt more enemies.
Rank 5 Analysis
If you select Rank 5a, you can increase the force and damage of Biotic combinations when using Shockwave as a detonator power. Select this if you plan to use Shockwave as part of explosive Biotic combos.
If you want to use Shockwave as only a disruptive ability, then select Rank 5b. This will let the Shockwave travel farther before it dissipates.
Rank 6 Analysis
At Rank 6a, you can increase the recharge speed of Shockwave in order to use it more frequently. At Rank 6b, you can add an additional “lift” ability to raise affected foes off the ground for a short time.
While this may not seem like a big deal, it will help combo off power upgrades like Singularity’s Rank 5a, which adds lift damage to lifted enemies.
Pull
Yank an opponent helplessly off the ground.
Ranks 1 through 3 Analysis
Perhaps one of the Adept’s most unique powers, Pull can yank enemies closer to you. This can be extremely effective for Adepts who want to focus on close-quarter combat or disrupting enemies.
At Rank 3, there won’t be much use for Pull outside of disrupting enemy movement.
Rank 4 Analysis
At Rank 4, you can increase the duration of Pull to knock enemies off balance for 60 percent longer (Rank 4a) or use its radius to affect more enemies nearby (Rank 4b).
If you want to focus on enemy disruption, then select Rank 4b. The ability to affect more enemies can help your squad in nearly any combat situation.
However, increasing the duration of the Pull effect will grant you more time to use Pull as a source power and trigger more explosive Biotic combos.
Rank 5 Analysis
Adepts have the unique ability to disrupt, and then destroy enemies. Since a lot of their powers affect lifted targets, Adepts can use these power combinations to lift enemies off the ground, then inflict damage on them as they dangle helplessly.
Rank 5a will allow enemies lifted by powers like Singularity or even Shockwave (Rank 6b) to take 20 points of damage for however long they’re in the air. Rank 5b will increase damage to affected enemies by 25 percent.
So even if they’re not in the air, they can still take extra damage with ammo powers or other types of attacks.
Rank 6 Analysis
Like Throw, Pull also has an upgrade option that allows you to affect two targets rather than one. Select Rank 6a to increase the disruptive abilities of Pull. After all, more enemies off balance means less enemies that can attack.
Alternatively, if you want to use Pull more frequently on the battlefield, select Rank 6b. The increased recharge speed will lower the amount of time it takes before you can launch it again.
Cluster Grenade (Unique)
Lob this Biotic grenade cluster at your enemies and watch them fly.
Ranks 1 through 3 Analysis
Cluster Grenades are useful in nearly all combat situations. At Ranks 1 through 3, a well-aimed grenade can serve as a great medium- to long-range weapon. Hurl it ahead of you and inflict damage on unsuspecting foes.
These grenades don’t just explode like typical frag grenades; they burst into smaller clusters of explosions that also deal Biotic damage while covering a larger radius than typical grenades.
Rank 4 Analysis
At Rank 4, you can choose to increase either the force and damage output or the damage radius. If you want to concentrate on dishing out maximum damage, choose Rank 4a.
Not only will this inflict more damage, but also its increased force will hurl enemies farther. Rank 4b will increase the impact radius of your grenades and their cluster bombs, allowing you to damage more enemies.
Rank 5 Analysis
Rank 5 allows you to either increase the amount of grenades you can carry or increase the damage dealt to lifted enemies by 100 percent. For players who want to be offensive powerhouses, consider carrying more grenades.
Rank 5a will ensure that you always have plenty of grenades for nearly all combat scenarios. Rank option 5b can also help maximize damage to targets.
Another one of the Adept’s “lift” combos, Rank 5b’s damage increase to lifted targets can stack on top of other “lift” damage bonuses.
Rank 6 Analysis
At Cluster Grenade’s maximum rank, players can either increase force and damage (Rank 6b) or increase shrapnel effects (Rank 6a).
Both options are worthwhile upgrades, so decide on whether you want to focus on enemy disruption or secondary damage through shrapnel.
Biotic Mastery (Unique)
Be an expert tactician on and off the battlefield. Faster and stronger Biotic powers. More dexterity. More charisma.
Ranks 1 through 3 Analysis
The Biotic Mastery passive power can be upgraded to benefit any number of varied Adept builds. Upgrade to at least Rank 3 if you want to increase your weight capacity and allow your Adept build to carry heavier weapons like shotguns or assault rifles.
Rank 4 Analysis
At Rank 4, you must choose whether you’ll focus on damage and force (Rank 4a), or influence and duration (Rank 4b). If you select Rank 4a, Damage and Force, powers like Singularity and Shockwave become all the more destructive.
Their effects will inflict more damage and hurl enemies farther away. Rank 4b allows you to increase the duration of all powers, including Singularity attacks. Select Rank 4b to keep foes sustained in your powers’ effects longer.
Singularity and other powers with lift effects will last longer, allowing you to use them as source powers.
Rank 5 Analysis
Rank 5a will increase the force and damage of your squad’s powers. This is helpful if you want your teammates to use their powers in combination with yours.
While this rank upgrade won’t benefit you directly, the added power damage from your squad will help when your powers have weakened enemy forces or affected them with lift effects.
Select Rank 5b to increase power damage and weight capacity. This will help increase your power recharge speed and damage, making skills like Shockwave and Warp all the more lethal.
Rank 6 Analysis
For Adepts who want to focus on power combinations, select Rank 6a. Combo Mastery will increase the recharge speed of all powers when detonating Biotic combos.
This upgrade option will allow you to become a Biotic combo expert.
Use power combinations like Singularity and Warp or Shockwave to unleash destructive Biotic combos, and Rank 6a will increase the speed at which those powers will recharge for 20 seconds.
Alternatively, if you don’t plan on executing Biotic power combinations by yourself, then select Rank 6b, Power Mastery. This will increase all of your powers’ destructive capabilities.
BUILDS
Disrupt and Destroy
With skills like Singularity, Throw, Pull, and Shockwave, an Adept can effectively disrupt enemy movement by knocking them off balance and lifting them into the air.
Once in the air, enemies are vulnerable to the squad’s attacks and to all of the Adept’s powers, which can increase in damage when applied to enemies in midair.
By using these types of powers in conjunction with one another, you can first disrupt the enemy’s movements, then inflict damage while they’re incapacitated.
Damage and Biotic Combos
Disruptive effects aside, an Adept’s powers can also inflict a great deal of damage when used properly. Adept players who want to focus on damage-dealing should structure their power upgrades to maximize Biotic power combinations.
Begin by investing in your most effective source power, Singularity. With Singularity as your base, structure the rest of your power upgrades to maximize combo power and effects.
When you do, you’ll have little need for squad members using detonate powers and will be more than capable of unleashing Biotic combos at will.
You’ll soon be the main damage-dealer in any squad you create, which will allow your two squadmates to focus on enemy disruption or other support roles.
Invest heavily in Warp, Singularity, and Cluster Grenades to create a damage-dealing Biotic combo expert.