Biotic skills mainly focus on movement and close combat, using the environment to deal extra damage. Biotic-based skills generally recharge over time unless otherwise noted. No biotic skill requires power cells, eliminating the need to visit ammo crates!
Powers
Annihilation
| Prime: Yes | Detonate: No | Characters: Asari Adept, Krogan Gladiator |
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Weaves rapidly shifting mass effect fields to slowly damage nearby enemies. Enemies caught are primed for combo detonations.Other powers activated while Annihilation is in use suffer reduced recharge speed. |
Radius +50% Damage Radius |
Damage Attractor Enemies affected take 20% additional damage from all sources. |
Draining Field Partially restores shields for all allies (including the user) within 8m when an enemy affected by Annihilation dies. Shields Restored: 30% |
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Annihilation Effect Radius (m): 3 DPS: 55 Power Recharge Penalty: 100% |
Recharge Speed Reduces the recharge speed penalty on other powers. -10% Power Recharge Penalty |
Damage +15% Damage |
Recharge Speed Reduces the recharge speed penalty on other powers. -50% Power Recharge Penalty |
Biotic Wind Increases movement speed for all allies (including the user) within Annihilation’s radius. Movement Speed Bonus: 25% |
Vortex Unarmored, unshielded, normal-sized enemies are lifted into the air for 8s. Each enemy can only be affected once every 15s. |
Tips
- Annihilation remains active until you’re knocked out or you choose to deactivate it. Only use this power when in close range of enemies. It allows you to prime them instantly.
- It also drags along smaller objects and explosives with you if you move slowly. This can allow you to carefully place an explosive in a room to use as a trap later.
Backlash
| Prime: No | Detonate: No | Characters: Asari Sentinel, Asari Duelist |
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Generates a frontal biotic aegis barrier that reflects most projectiles and reduces the damage of other enemy attacks. |
Durability +35% Aegis Health |
Durability +35% Aegis Health |
Shield Resurgence Restores shields over 3s after release. Restores up to 50% of shield strength, scaled to damage absorbed by the aegis. |
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Backlash Aegis Health: 350 Projectile Damage Returned: 150% Frontal Damage Protection: 75 |
Recharge Speed +25% Recharge Speed |
Durability +25% Aegis Health |
Recharge Speed +30% Recharge Speed |
Reflection +100% Projectile Damage Returned |
Damage Aftermath Increases damage inflicted for 3s after release. Scales with the amount of damage absorbed by the aegis. +35% Gun Damage Bonus +30% Power Damage Bonus +30% Melee Damage Bonus |
Tips
- Hold the button assigned to this power to keep the shield active. Letting go early immediately drops the shield.
- A well-timed initial activation interrupts melee attacks. This skill can be used while moving, allowing you to help cover a teammate who’s being revived, getting ammo, or defusing an objective.
- Point your shield in the direction of the enemy; the shield only protects damage dealt from the front.
Charge
| Prime: No | Detonate: Yes | Characters: Asari Duelist, Human Female Vanguard, Human Male Vanguard, Krogan Vanguard |
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Alters the biotic’s mass, launching the user at an opponent. Restores some shield strength at the charge’s end. Charge detonates combo primers on targets. |
Damage and Force +25% Damage +25% Force |
Weapons and Melee Improves weapon and melee damage for 3s after charging. +15% Gun Damage +30% Melee Damage |
Shock Trooper +100% Recharge Speed |
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Charge Damage: 250 Force: 500 Recharge Time (s): 8 Shields Restored: 50% |
Recharge Speed +35% Recharge Speed |
Damage and Force +20% Damage +25% Force |
Radius Damages enemies within a 3m radius at the end point of the charge. |
Power Synergy Enhances all powers for 5s after charging. +25% Skill Damage +25% Skill Force Bonus |
Bastion Fully restores shields and reduces incoming damage for 5s. Protection Bonus: 75 +50% Shields Restored +35% Damage |
Tips
- Exhibit caution when using this power against enemies, like Outlaw specialists, who use close-range weapons. If they’re not killed by the charge, they can make short work of you.
Lance
| Prime: No | Detonate: Yes | Characters: Asari Adept, Asari Duelist, Asari Huntress, Human Kineticist |
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Devastates a small area with a swiftly thrown shaft of energy. Inflicts bonus damage against enemy weak points, such as heads. |
Damage and Force +20% Damage +20% Force |
Focused Blast Increases bonus damage against heads and other weak points. +25% Headshot/Weak Point Bonus Damage |
Knockdown Enemies within 1.5m of the blast’s impact are knocked to the ground. Only unarmored, unshielded, normal-sized enemies are affected. |
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Lance Impact Radius (m): 1 Damage: 350 Force: 400 Recharge Time (s): 10 |
Recharge Speed +10% Recharge Speed |
Damage and Force +15% Damage +15% Force |
Radius +100% Damage Radius |
Anti-Shield +40% Damage vs. Shields |
Shield-Powered Lance has no recharge time, but consumes 33% shields when used. |
Tips
- Lance does not track any enemies and fires out of your hand much like a standard projectile, meaning you need to be accurate to inflict damage.
- To make the most of Lance, take your time aiming for the head or other weak points of an enemy. A successful hit grants bonus damage.
- Research the Shield-Powered Rank 6 upgrade to use Lance with no recharge at the cost of your shield. This completely changes the role of your biotic character as you’ll need shield regenerations much more frequently. This side effect pushes you out of the close-range attack style and forces you to play a bit more passively, launching biotic lances from behind cover at greater distances.
Nova
| Prime: Requires Rank 6 Seismic Nova | Detonate: No | Characters: Human Female Vanguard, Human Male Vanguard, Krogan Gladiator, Krogan Vanguard |
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Redirects biotic energy to produce a point-blank shockwave, inflicting high damage and sending nearby enemies flying. |
Damage and Force +20% Damage +30% Force |
Anti-Armor +60% Damage vs. Armor |
Seismic Nova Knocks enemies to the ground and primes them for combo detonations. Only unarmored, unshielded, normal-sized enemies are affected. +20% Damage +30% Force |
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Nova Effect Radius (m): 4 Area Damage: 350 Force: 450 Recharge Time (s): 12 |
Radius +25% Damage Radius |
Damage and Force +15% Damage +25% Force |
Radius +40% Damage Radius |
Anti-Shield +60% Damage vs. Shields |
Shield-Powered Nova has no recharge time, but consumes 50% shields when used. |
Tips
- Nova can be used mid-jump, causing the player to produce the Nova upon impact with the ground. Use this method to leap from tall buildings or cover and land a Nova on unsuspecting enemies.
- Upgrade to Rank 6 Seismic Nova to instantly prime unshielded and unarmored, normal-sized enemies. Follow up this area-of-effect prime with a couple of detonating attacks like Lance. With help from your team, you’ll eliminate a group of enemies, dealing heavy damage to any not affected by the initial prime.
Pull
| Prime: Yes | Detonate: No | Characters: Human Female Adept, Human Male Adept, Human Kineticist, Krogan Gladiator |
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Tap Button: Lifts an unshielded, unarmored enemy helplessly into the air and primes the target for combo detonations.Hold Button: Drags the target enemy or object along with the user.Combine with the Throw power to hurl a held target. |
Duration +50% Duration |
Crushing Grip Targets take damage while in the air. DPS: 35 |
Anti-Shields Drains enemy shields on initial hit (but targets whose shields endure still cannot be lifted or held). Shield Damage Bonus: 360 |
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Pull Duration (s): 5 Recharge Time (s): 8 |
Recharge Speed +20% Recharge Speed |
Duration +40% Duration |
Radius Pull affects up to two enemies within a 4m radius. |
Expose Affected targets take more damage from all sources. Defense Debuff: 30% |
Biotic Drain Restores shields while Pull is maintained to hold an enemy. Shields Restored per Second: 5% |
Tips
- If your Throw ability is recharging or you just want to toss an enemy softly off the edge of the map, press the Melee button to throw your enemy a short distance. This is great for moving explosives and quickly killing enemies while conserving your other powers.
Shockwave
| Prime: Requires Rank 6 Lifting Shockwave | Detonate: NYes | Characters: Human Female Adept, Human Female Vanguard, Human Male Adept, Human Male Vanguard |
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Blasts enemies with a line of explosions that proceeds through walls and other solid objects. |
Damage and Force +20% Damage +20% Force |
Recharge Speed +25% Recharge Speed |
Anti-Armor +50% Damage vs. Armor |
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Shockwave Area of Effect Radius (m): 1.5 Damage: 225 Force: 525 Recharge Time (s): 15 |
Recharge Speed +10% Recharge Speed |
Damage and Force +15% Damage +15% Force |
Radius +50% Damage Radius |
Reach Increases maximum Shockwave distance by 50%. |
Lifting Shockwave Affected enemies are briefly suspended in midair and primed for combo detonations. |
Tips
- Shockwave’s ability to pierce through objects is perfect for dealing with cover takers like the Assembler.
- Have you primed an enemy, but they end up behind a wall or cover? No problem—the Shockwave rips right through cover, detonating any primed enemies it comes in contact with along the way.
Singularity
| Prime: Yes | Detonate: No | Characters: Asari Adept, Human Female Adept, Human Male Adept |
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Creates a gravity well that traps and dangles unshielded and unarmored enemies caught in its field. Singularity also inflicts damage over time and primes enemies for combo detonations. |
Duration +40% Duration |
Anti-Shield +150% Damage vs. Shields |
Exploding Singularity The Singularity explodes after the effect ends, dealing damage within a 7m radius. Area Damage: 350 Force: 700 |
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Singularity Radius (m): 3 DPS: 35 Duration (s): 8 Recharge Time (s): 24 |
Recharge Speed +10% Recharge Speed |
Damage +25% DPS |
Radius +25% Effect Radius |
Recharge Speed +25% Recharge Speed |
Expanding Singularity Radius expands by 200% over the lifetime of the Singularity. |
Tips
- All targets within the vicinity of the Singularity are instantly biotic-primed.
- Shielded and armored enemies aren’t disabled through biotic effects but still take damage over time and are slowed. The slowing ability makes this skill useful against larger units—slow them, apply damage, and gain distance from them.
- End the Singularity early by tapping the same Skill button.
Throw
| Prime: No | Detonate: Yes | Characters: Asari Huntress, Asari Sentinel, Human Female Sentinel, Human Kineticist, Human Male Sentinel |
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Blasts your target with a biotic projectile, throwing it away and detonating combo primers. |
Damage and Force +30% All Damage +30% All Force |
Duration Enemies float for a longer time. +400% Duration |
Double Throw Launches two projectiles that seek separate targets. |
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Throw Damage on World Collision: 225 Force: 850 Recharge Time (s): 8 |
Recharge Speed +10% Recharge Speed |
Damage and Force +20% All Damage +20% All Force |
Radius Throw affects nearby enemies within a 2.5m radius. |
Recharge Speed +25% Recharge Speed |
Swift Detonation +30% Combo Detonation Damage +25% Recharge Speed |
Tips
- When using Throw with targets currently affected by the Pull power, all held targets fly forward, seeking any available soft targets.
- Thrown targets are temporarily unaffected by gravity, causing them to float for a short time. This allows them to be thrown farther.
- Enemies can be damaged by any thrown objects, including other enemies. Use this tactic to damage two units instead of one.
Skills
Barrier
| Prime: No | Detonate: No | Characters: Asari Adept, Asari Duelist, Asari Huntress, Human Female Adept, Human Female Vanguard, Human Kineticist, Human Male Adept, Human Male Vanguard |
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The biotic creates a mass effect field that bolsters normal shields. |
Unyielding Barrier +30% Max Shields |
Biotic Link Increases maximum shields while at least one biotic effect is active on an enemy. Max Shields with an Active Biotic Effect: 40% |
Active Barrier Partially restores shields after taking down an enemy with a biotic power. Affects all allies within a 6m radius. Shields Restored on Biotic Kill: 15% |
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Barrier +25% Max Shields |
Barrier Regeneration +25% Shield Regen +25% Health & Shield Regen Delay Reduction |
Biotic Melee +30% Melee Damage |
Recuperative Barrier +30% Health & Shield Regen Delay Reduction +30% Shield Regen |
Barrier Drain Partially restores shields with each successful melee attack. Shields Restored by Melee: 33% +50% Melee Damage |
Saving Barrier Reacts to low health by automatically restoring shields to full strength once every 10s. Shields Restored at Low Health: 100% Low Health Threshold: 25% |
Tips
- Rank 6 Saving Barrier allows you to be a little more aggressive in your play style. This upgrade instantly replenishes your shield when you reach low health, once every 10 seconds. Using this upgrade may provide the extra time you need to revive a downed teammate or disarm an objective.
Biotic Ascension
| Prime: No | Detonate: No | Characters: Human Kineticist |
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Accumulate charges by killing enemies and then activate Ascension. While ascended, all powers consume shields but have no recharge times. Ascension ends when shields drop. |
Power +15% Power Damage +15% Power Force |
Exposure Affecting enemies with biotics causes them to take increased damage from all sources. Defense Debuff from Biotic Effects: 20% |
Devastating Ascension +25% Power Damage While Ascended +25% Power Force While Ascended |
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Ascension Charges Required To Ascend: 6 +100 Damage Protection While Ascended |
Biotics +15% Power Damage +15% Power Force |
Improved Electrical Charge -1 Required Charges to Ascend |
Duration +35% to All Power Effect Durations |
Combo Detonation +30% All Combo Damage +30% All Combo Radiuses |
Efficient Ascension -1 Required Charges to Ascend +30% Power Shield Cost Reduction While Ascended |
Tips
- Hold the Melee button to consume all charges and activate Biotic Ascension.
- The Human Kineticist is the only character with access to this skill.
- When Biotic Ascension is activated, stay behind cover and use Throw and Lance to deal enhanced damage. Keep an eye on your shield to avoid letting it drop completely.
- Once your shield drops, you must acquire new charges to activate this skill again.
Offensive Biotics
| Prime: No | Detonate: No | Characters: Asari Adept, Asari Duelist, Asari Huntress, Asari Sentinel, Human Female Adept, Human Male Adept, Krogan Gladiator |
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Training to maximize biotic damage to enemy targets. |
Power Enhancement +10% Power Damage +20% Power Force |
Expose Affecting enemies with biotics causes them to take increases damage from all sources. Defense Debuff: 20% |
Biotic Expert Increases power damage and force for 3s after using a power. +30% Biotic Damage Bonus +30% Biotic Force Bonus |
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Power Augmentation +10% Power Damage |
Weapon Training +5% Weapon Damage |
Power Augmentation +10% Power Damage +20% Power Force |
Power Efficiency +15% All Power Recharge Speeds |
Combo Detonation +30% all combo damage +30% All Combo Radiuses |
Biotic Warrior Increases weapon and melee damage for 3s after using a biotic power. Melee attacks knock down unarmored, unshielded, normal-sized enemies at all times. +30% Weapon Damage Bonus +50% Melee Damage Bonus +50% Melee Force |
Tips
- Upgrading to the Rank 5 skill Expose causes enemies affected by your biotics to take increased damage from all sources, including your teammates’ weapons and abilities.