Lieutenant Commander Ashley Williams is a career military officer with the Systems Alliance. Born in 2158 to a military family, Williams enlisted directly out of high school, splitting time between Earth and hostile environment training on Titan.
After earning numerous commendations early in her career, Williams became a platoon guide on Eden Prime, where she was the only member of her unit to survive the geth attack.
Williams then served as gunnery chief under Commander Shepard on the SSV Normandy and was promoted to lieutenant commander after the Battle of the Citadel. More recently, an Alliance tribunal called on Williams to testify about her experience with the Reapers.
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TACTICAL ROLE
Ashley is a good soldier. As a rifle-proficient squadmate, she prefers to stay between mid- to long-range, depending on which rifle is her primary weapon.
She’s well rounded enough to be a squad mainstay when carrying an assault rifle as her primary weapon, but her Marksman and Alliance Officer powers can also make her a skilled sniper if you need a specialized soldier during tough missions.
Even though she may not look as tough and rugged as someone like James, she is also capable of occasionally tanking.
Upgrade powers like Concussive Shot, Alliance Officer, and Inferno Grenades, and she’ll be able to march forward, causing damage wherever she goes.
If you want to make her a well-balanced soldier, consider upgrading her powers equally as much as possible.
She won’t excel in power damage, but her weapon damage and toughness will complement nearly any squad composition.
POWERS
CONCUSSIVE SHOT
Flatten your enemy with a precise blast at short or long range. Effective against barriers.
Ranks 1 through 3 Analysis
Concussive Shot is a lot more than just another burst from your weapon of choice. With a single blast of Concussive Shot, you can disrupt an enemy’s progress, knock them down, or deplete their protective barrier.
At Rank 3, Concussive Shot can dish out 100 points of damage and 300 Newtons of force. When paired with a source power like Incinerate, Concussive Shot is the perfect detonator.
Rank 4 Analysis
Like most other powers with explosive or concussive abilities, the first upgrade choice is to either increase the power’s effects, in this case force and damage (Rank 4a), or increase its radius (Rank 4b). Select your upgrade based on Ashley’s eventual build.
If you want to shape her into a formidable weapon damage dealer, select Rank 4a. This will inflict more damage per Concussive Shot.
By selecting Rank 4b, she can knock more enemies down per shot but inflict less damage. This option is helpful in squads that favor disrupting enemies before killing them.
Rank 5 Analysis
If you plan on grouping Ashley with Cryo-friendly squadmates, select Rank 5a. Shatter will affect only those foes that have been frozen or chilled using Cryo Blast or Cryo Ammo. If you don’t favor Cryo users in your squad, then select Rank 5b.
The increased recharge speed for Concussive Shot will ensure you’re able to knock down enemies all over the battlefield with less time spent waiting for your power to ready.
Rank 6 Analysis
Like Rank 5a, Rank 6a takes other powers into account in order to function. At Rank 6a, Amplification will power Concussive Shot with ammo powers like Cryo or Warp Ammo.
Since Ashley also has Disruptor Ammo, Rank 6a will automatically imbue Concussive Shot with disruptor abilities when Disruptor Ammo is active.
However, when paired with squadmates like James who are capable of giving squadmates Incendiary Ammo, this upgrade will also imbue those ammo effects on each Concussive Shot.
If you vary your squad composition often, then you may not be paired with squadmates like James often enough to benefit from Rank 6a.
In that case, select Rank 6b, Shredder. This upgrade adds a damage-over-time effect to every shot and increases the force of each Concussive Shot, allowing you to knock down tougher enemies.
DISRUPTOR AMMO
Bring down your enemy’s barriers and shields. Chance to stun. More weapon damage. More damage to shields and barriers.
Ranks 1 through 3 Analysis
Disruptor Ammo is a great power for a damage dealer like Ashley because it makes all weapon fire even more lethal. With Disruptor Ammo (or any Ammo power, in fact), it’s best to activate it before every mission and make sure you keep it active at all times.
When active, it adds the ability to stun foes and incapacitate them before they can attack. It also functions as a “source” power that can be detonated using other powers like Concussive Shot.
Rank 4 Analysis
At Rank 4, Disruptor Ammo can increase damage to health and armor (4a), or you can gain the ability to automatically grant it to all squadmates when active (4b).
The choice really breaks down to whether you want Ashley to tank and dish out as much damage as you can or whether she will hang back as part of the squad.
If you’re playing as a class that does not have an Ammo power (Cryo Ammo, Warp Ammo, or Incendiary Ammo), you can select Rank 4b and gain the use of Ashley’s Disruptor Ammo when she’s on a mission with you.
Otherwise, select Rank 4a and increase her ability to inflict as much damage as possible and deplete enemy shields and barriers.
Rank 5 Analysis
At Rank 5 you can select to either carry 30% more ammunition or to increase headshot damage by 25%. To make the best use of this selection, take into account what types of weapons Ashley will carry into battle most frequently.
Ashley can carry a sniper rifle and can use the Marksman power to increase her sniping skills, so select Rank 4b to make her a more deadly sniper-class squadmate.
You can also select it if you frequently task her with attacking from a distance with an assault rifle.
If you prefer Ashley to serve as the team’s tank, equip her with an assault rifle and select Rank 4a. She’ll benefit from the increased ammunition count when engaging enemies in mid- to close-range combat.
Rank 6 Analysis
Both options in Rank 6 increase Disruptor Ammo’s damage output. However, Rank 6a increases damage to health, barriers, and shields, depending on the enemy.
This makes all shots with Disruptor Ammo all the more powerful since it’s a good general increase to overall damage. Rank 6b adds an entirely new effect to shots taken using Disruptor Ammo.
Instead of simply dealing more damage to health, shields, and barriers, it stuns enemies and incapacitates them, allowing your team to take out vulnerable, stunned foes.
Your Rank 6 option should depend on whether you want her to take down enemies one at a time, or if you want to use her as a crowd-controller, weakening, and stunning enemies for the rest of the squad to finish off.
INFERNO GRENADE (UNIQUE)
Cluster-bomb a small area with incendiary munitions.
Ranks 1 through 3 Analysis
Inferno 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 explode into smaller clusters of explosions that also deal fire damage while covering a larger radius than typical grenades.
Rank 4 Analysis
At Rank 4 you can choose to increase either the damage output or the damage radius. If you want to concentrate on dishing out maximum damage, choose Rank 4a.
However, 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 by 40 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.
Ashley is essentially a Soldier, so the more ammunition and explosives she has, the better. Rank 5b, however, can also help maximize damage to targets.
The incendiary effect left by the grenade’s cluster explosions can add a significant amount of damage to enemies, especially if you’ve chosen Rank 4b—increase in impact radius.
At Rank 5b, your Inferno Grenades can potentially inflict up to 142.5 points of damage per second (if you’ve chosen Rank 4a).
Rank 6 Analysis
At maximum rank, players can increase either armor-damaging abilities (Rank 6a) or radius and shrapnel effects (Rank 6b).
Both options are worthwhile upgrades, so decide on whether you want to focus on dealing damage to armored enemies or inflicting less damage on armored enemies at the cost of damaging more enemies across a larger radius.
MARKSMAN (UNIQUE)
Boost weapon accuracy and firing rate for a short time.
Ranks 1 through 3 Analysis
The Marksman power is specifically designed to augment Ashley’s weapon skills. Since Ashley is not as adept in power-based combat as someone like Liara, this skill is perfectly suited for her, as she’ll be able to increase damage and accuracy with both types of rifles.
Upgrade this to Rank 3, at least, if you plan on ever using her in a squad. The increased accuracy, when active, will help maximize her efficiency.
At Rank 3, she’ll have nearly eight seconds of improved accuracy and firing rate.
Rank 4 Analysis
Players who want Ashley to concentrate on sniping and long-range precision shooting should select Rank 4a. This will increase her accuracy by 30 percent and make sniping all the more effective.
If you want Ashley to concentrate on assault rifle use, then select Rank 4b.
The increased rate of fire will make most assault rifles more effective and will help compensate for assault rifles with a low rate of fire.
Rank 5 Analysis
At Rank 5, you can choose to either make Ashley a better shooter for a longer period of time (Rank 5a) or increase her headshot damage by 25 percent (Rank 5b).
The choice here is simple. If you plan on using Ashley more frequently in a sharpshooter role, sniping enemies from a distance and covering the squad’s approach, then select Rank 5b. For general, all-purpose use, select Rank 5a and activate this power whenever necessary.
Rank 6 Analysis
The final upgrade, Rank 6, will increase either Ashley’s accuracy and firing fate (Rank 6a) or the recharge speed for the Marksman power (Rank 6b). If you chose Rank 4b, then select Rank 6a here. It’ll boost accuracy to an impressive 80 percent.
If you chose Rank 4a, Rank 6a will increase rate of fire to 70 percent. Helpful, but it may lead to problems with ammunition count.
Select Rank 6b if you want to use Ashley’s Marskman power frequently on the battlefield.
ALLIANCE OFFICER (UNIQUE)
Boost weapon damage, health, and shields/barriers.
Ranks 1 through 3 Analysis
At Ranks 1 through 3, Alliance Officer increases Ashley’s damage and durability up to 45 percent across the board. These three upgrades alone make it possible for her to tank a little bit during missions.
However, the increase in weapon damage also makes it possible for her to rely more on her rifles and less on power damage. If you want her to be on the front lines of battle, then upgrade at least to Rank 3 for this passive power.
Rank 4 Analysis
Players who want Ashley to tank should select Rank 4b. This will increase her health and shield bonus to an impressive 75 percent. She will be able to take more damage and last a little bit longer in heated firefights, taking some of the heat off weaker squadmates.
If you want to make her a weapon damage specialist, select Rank 4a. This increases her weapon damage to 45 percent bonus, making her even more deadly with high-powered rifles.
Rank 5 Analysis
Both options in Rank 5 increase her ability to deal damage. Rank 5a augments Ashley’s power damage by 20 percent, making powers like Concussive Shot and Inferno Grenade increasingly deadly.
Similarly, Rank 5b augments Ashley’s sniper rifle damage, making her an even better sharpshooter. If you’re going to invest in her Marksman power, then be sure to select Rank 5b here to complement her sniper rifle skills.
Rank 6 Analysis
Like Rank 5, this rank can also augment her weapon skills. Rank 6 is a squad bonus upgrade. Either increase your squad’s weapon damage (6a) or increase the damage output from assault rifles (6b).
If you want to focus on Ashley’s weapon proficiencies and selected Rank 5b, then select Rank 6b as well. Between both weapon-specific upgrades, she’ll never be at a loss as long as she has a rifle in her hands.
BUILD OPTIONS
Weapon Damage/Tank Specialist
- Inferno Grenade: 4a, 5b, 6a or 6b
- Disruptor Ammo: 4a, 5a, 6a
- Concussive Shot: 4a, 6a or 6b
- Marksman: 4b, 5a, 6a
- Alliance Officer: 4a, 5a or 5b, 6b
If you want Ashley to maximize her weapon-damage potential, invest heavily in as many of her powers as possible.
Nearly every aspect of her power trees helps augment weapon damage ratings and rate of fire. To supplement her skills as a Soldier, she also has the use of Inferno Grenades.
These small cluster grenades add another destructive element to Ashley’s arsenal, allowing her to cover a larger area with less ammunition.
TACTICAL SHARPSHOOTER
- Overload: 4a, 5a or 5b
- Disruptor Ammo: 5b, 6b
- Concussive Shot: 5a, 6a
- Marksman: 4a, 5b, 6a
- Alliance Officer: 4a, 5b, 6b
Few crew members have the powers needed to excel in long-range sniping and precision sharpshooting. Ashley is one of them. Marksman, Disruptor Ammo, and Alliance Officer all have options to increase accuracy and especially sniper rifle skills.
Select these to increase Ashley’s efficiency with the sniper rifle. While on missions, place her at elevated points or at long-range from enemy positions—preferably behind good cover—and let her pick off foes from afar.
This will let you and the rest of your squad advance as needed or execute other tactical maneuvers.
ROMANCE
Ashley is a romance option for male Shepard. She can be romanced by a new Shepard as well as a Shepard who did not romance her in previous games.
Because she is in the hospital for much of the early game, taking time to go to the Citadel and visit her is the key to building up intimacy.
KEY CONVERSATIONS
On Mars, Ashley remains distrustful of Shepard and his relationship with Cerberus. While it’s tempting to get angry with her, choosing the gentler options allows Shepard to defend himself without alienating Ashley.
Later, Shepard has multiple chances to visit her in the hospital: immediately after arriving at the Citadel for the first time (she is unconscious but will learn that Shepard came to see her), after completing the mission at Palaven (Ashley is in bed and injured), and once more before finishing the Genophage missions (after she is up on her feet, preparing to be discharged).
These conversations give Shepard the chance to build up intimacy and to build up a level of trust to ensure that she won’t force Shepard to kill her in the confrontation on the Citadel.
KEY MOMENT
Ashley offers to meet Shepard on the Citadel at the café on the Presidium Commons. If Shepard has a very high intimacy, she brings up the possibility of a serious relationship. If Shepard has been less personal with her, Ashley doesn’t bring it up, but Shepard can suggest it.