The known galaxy plays host to a wide variety of adversarial forces. Here are summaries of those documented from numerous conflicts with the Alliance. Other entries are based purely on speculation from field operatives.
For Alliance training purposes, resistance units are classified in standardized ways to assist in your assimilation of their documented characteristics.
Enemy Ranks (from easiest to most challenging when faced in combat:
- Minion
- Elite
- Sub-Boss
- Boss
- Elite Boss
Enemy Unit Tactics:
Specific units are prone to certain behaviour and tactics. The summaries contained herein list observed tactics, but enemy units may not consistently utilize all tactics in all situations.
Flanker: Possesses the ability to move quickly around the environment to advantageous positions; includes geth recon drones and sappers.
Tank: These are elite or higher units with high survivability. They distract allies or remove useful cycles from squad members who engage them.
These units don’t have high powered weapons but are capable of withstanding extensive combat damage. Examples include krogan warlords or krogan battlemasters.
Spoiler: These units attempt to ruin a squad’s capability to fight at peak efficiency by utilizing attacks or abilities that affect weapon stability, cause recurring toxic damage, or shut down tech and biotic powers. Units include geth hopper variants and asari commandos.
Killer: This unit type is designed to punish opponents with massive amounts of damage.
Left unchecked in combat, they represent a very real threat to small squads through continued use of their highly varied special abilities. Examples include geth shock troopers, armatures, and destroyers.
Support: Enemy support units that are able to improve combat performance or survivability for others within their numbers.
Eliminating these units removes significant combat support for the opposition. Examples include geth repair drones and juggernauts.
Siege: Rush assault units that are able to quickly bypass allied cover or shields and deal damage directly to the individual.
Their presence often forces allied units to abandon cover and seek a better position, effectively flushing them out for other enemy units to engage them in the open.
Examples include geth armature, asari commando, and biotic fanatics.
Traitor Forces
Asari Commando
Type: Sub-Boss
Tactics: Killer, Siege
Resistances: Biotics and Tech
Weaknesses: None
Powers: Warp, Barrier, Throw, Lift, Marksman
Notes: A rogue company of commandos under the command of Matriarch Benezia has broken away and is now actively working with the geth and Sovereign
Saren
Type: Boss
Tactics: Flanker, Tank, Killer, Spoiler
Resistances: Biotics (Physics Immune), Combat, Tech
Weaknesses: None
Powers: Shield Boost, Disruption Rocket, Sabotage, Damping, Hover
The Avatar
Type: Boss
Tactics: Flanker, Tank, Killer, Spoiler
Resistances: Tech, Combat, Biotics
Weaknesses: None
Powers: Wall Jump, Carnage, Sabotage Beam, Overload Beam, Damping Beam
Matriarch Benezia
Type: Boss
Tactics: Killer, Siege, Spoiler
Resistances: Biotics and Tech
Weaknesses: None
Powers: Warp-Throw, Barrier, Lift, Stasis, Marksman
Notes: Instead of Warp and Throw, Benezia has a Warp-Throw ability that does both if it hits the player.
Alliance Heavy Turret
Type: Elite
Tactics: Killer, Tank
Resistances: Biotics (Physics Immune), Combat
Weaknesses: Tech
Powers: None
Notes: Attached to the ground, so they are immune to Throw, Lift, and Singularity. These are the two small turrets Fist uses in his fight.
Kaira Stirling
Type: Sub-Boss
Tactics: Killer
Resistances: Biotics
Weaknesses: None
Powers: Warp, Lift, Barrier, Carnage
Fist
Type: Sub-Boss
Tactics: Tank, Killer
Resistances: Combat
Weaknesses: None
Powers: Marksman, Shield Boost, Immunity
Turian Assassins
Type: Elite
Tactics: Siege, Flanker
Resistances: Tech,
Weaknesses: Biotic, Combat
Powers: Carnage, Immunity
Krogan
Krogan Trooper
Type: Elite
Tactics: Tank
Resistances: Combat, Biotics
Weaknesses: Tech
Powers: Immunity, Shield Boost, Krogan Regeneration, Melee Attack, Overkill
Notes: Krogan often charge into melee range if you wound them or approach them too closely.
Krogan Warlord
Type: Sub-Boss
Tactics: Tank, Killer
Resistances: Combat, Biotics
Weaknesses: Tech
Powers: Immunity, Shield Boost, Krogan Regeneration, Carnage, Melee Attack, Overkill
Krogan Battlemaster
Type: Sub-Boss
Tactics: Tank, Killer, Siege
Resistances: Combat, Biotics
Weaknesses: None
Powers: Barrier, Krogan Regeneration, Carnage, Lift, Warp, Melee Attack
Jax (Criminal)
Type: Sub-Boss
Tactics: Tank, Killer
Resistances: Combat
Weaknesses: None
Powers: Krogan Regeneration, Krogan Smash
Undead
Reaper Husk
Type: Minion
Tactics: Siege, Tank
Resistances: Combat
Weaknesses: Tech, Biotics
Powers: Tesla Pulse (Ignores target’s cover), Melee Attack
Notes: Tesla Pulse ability does extra damage against shields. Husks still count as organic creatures.
Thorian Creeper
Type: Minion
Tactics: Tank, Siege
Resistances: Combat
Weaknesses: Biotics
Powers: Vomit Attack (short-range, extremely toxic cone that lowers target’s damage resistance), Melee Attack
Notes: Toxic Vomit slows healing; it doesn’t make you more vulnerable to future attacks.
Rachni
Rachni Brood Warrior
Type: Sub-Boss
Tactics: Tank, Siege, Support
Resistances: Biotics, Tech
Weaknesses: Combat
Powers: Melee Attack, Acid Spit (ranged attack that lowers your damage resistance), Warp, Stasis, First Aid
Rachni Soldier
Type: Elite
Tactics: Tank, Killer
Resistances: Tech, Biotics
Weaknesses: Combat
Powers: Melee Attack, Acid Spit
Rachni Worker
Type: Minion
Tactics: Killer
Resistances: None
Weaknesses: Combat
Powers: Explosive Attack
Geth Forces
Stealth Forces
Geth Sapper
Type: Minion
Tactics: Flanker, Spoiler
Resistances: None
Weaknesses: Biotics
Powers: Wall Jump, Radiation Burst, Sabotage Beam, Radar Jamming 3
Notes: Sabotage Beam overheats the weapons of one enemy. Radiation Burst is a gun that does toxic damage. (Toxic damage slows healing.)
Geth Stalker
Type: Elite
Tactics: Flanker, Spoiler
Resistances: Tech
Weaknesses: Biotics
Powers: Wall Jump, Sabotage Beam, Overload Beam, Damping Beam, Radar Jamming 7
Notes: Sabotage Beam overheats the weapons of one enemy. Overload Beam damages the shields of one enemy.
Damping Beam resets the Tech/Biotic power cooldowns, of one enemy. Stalkers don’t have any gun or direct-damage attack[em]they just disable targets
Geth Ghost
Type: Elite
Tactics: Flanker, Killer
Resistances: Tech
Weaknesses: Biotics
Powers: Wall Jump, Sniper Beam, Overload Blast, Radar Jamming 5
Notes: These are black hoppers. They flank enemies and quickly take them down with their Sniper Beam. Overload Blast is an improved version of the Overload Beam, with splash damage
Troopers
Geth Trooper
Type: Minion
Tactics: Tank
Resistances: None
Weaknesses: Biotics, Tech
Powers: Geth Barrier, Shield Boost
Notes: The geth have more shields and less health than equivalent organic soldiers, which makes then very vulnerable to attacks that bypass shields
Geth Rocket Trooper
Type: Minion
Tactics: Killer
Resistances: None
Weaknesses: Biotics
Powers: Disruption Rocket, Scram Rocket
Notes: Disruption Rocket is short range (<100m) with heavy splash damage. Scram Rocket is long range (100-400m) with much less splash
Geth Shock Trooper
Type: Elite
Tactics: Tank, Killer
Resistances: None
Weaknesses: None
Powers: Geth Barrier, Carnage, Shield Boost
Geth Sniper
Type: Minion
Tactics: Killer
Resistances: None
Weaknesses: Biotics
Powers: Sniper Beam, Radar Jamming 1
Notes: When you see the red sniper beam, you have a few seconds to duck behind cover before they fire
Heavy Troops
Geth Destroyer
Type: Elite
Tactics: Killer, Siege
Resistances: Combat
Weaknesses: Tech
Powers: Charge, Melee Attack, Carnage
Geth Juggernaut
Type: Sub-Boss
Tactics: Killer, Siege
Resistances: Combat, Biotics
Weaknesses: None
Powers: Auto Disruption Rocket
Notes: Disruption Rocket can fire twice between reloads. (It’s a distortion Rocket, so short range heavy splash damage
Geth Prime
Type: Boss
Tactics: Tank, Support, Spoiler
Resistances: Combat, Tech
Weaknesses: None
Powers: Combat VI, Overload, Damping, Shield Boost, Geth Barrier, Radar Jamming 9
Notes: Combat VI boosts the combat abilities of all nearby Geth through their networked intelligence. They’ll shoot more often, more accurately, and do more damage
Drones
Geth Recon Drone
Type: Minion
Tactics: Flanker
Resistances: Biotics (Physics Immune)
Weaknesses: Tech
Powers: Hover
Notes: The mass effect field used by Drones to hover makes them immune to Throw, Lift, and Singularity. They do possess light shielding
Geth Assault Drone
Type: Elite
Tactics: Flanker, Killer
Resistances: Combat, Biotics (Physics Immune)
Weaknesses: Tech
Powers: Hover
Geth Rocket Drone
Type: Elite
Tactics: Flanker, Killer
Resistances: Combat, Biotics (Physics Immune)
Weaknesses: Tech
Powers: Disruption Rocket, Hover
Geth Repair Drone
Type: Minion
Tactics: Support, Flanker
Resistances: Biotics (Physics Immune)
Weaknesses: Tech
Powers: Hover, Repair
Armatures
Geth Armature
Type: Sub-Boss
Tactics: Tank, Siege, Killer
Resistances: Combat
Weaknesses: None
Powers: Siege Pulse
Notes: Siege Pulse has a large splash-damage effect
Geth Colossus
Type: Boss
Tactics: Tank, Killer, Siege
Resistances: Combat
Weaknesses: None
Powers: Siege Pulse
Alliance Assault Drones
Type: Elite
Tactics: Flanker, Killer
Resistances: Biotics (Physics Immune), Combat
Weaknesses: Tech
Powers: Hover
Note: Basically the same as the Geth Assault Drone, but with less shielding and more armor. Advanced versions exist with more armor and shielding.
Alliance Rocket Drone
Type: Elite
Tactics: Flanker, Killer
Resistances: Biotics (Physics Immune), Combat
Weaknesses: Tech
Powers: Hover, Disruption Rocket
Notes: Basically the same as the Geth Rocket Drone, but with less shielding and more armor. Advanced versions exist with more armor and shielding, and armed with an assault gun in addition to the rockets.
Geth Heavy Turret
Type: Sub-Boss
Tactics: Tank, Killer
Resistances: Combat, Biotics (Physics Immune)
Weaknesses: Tech
Powers: Disruption Rocket, Scram Rocket
Notes: Disruption Rocket is short range (<100m) with heavy splash damage. Scram Rocket is long range (100-400m) with much less splash.
Attached to the ground, so they are immune to Throw, Lift, and Singularity. Geth version has more shields, Alliance version has more armor
Beasts
Thresher Maw
Type: Boss
Tactics: Tank, Killer, Siege
Resistances: Combat, Biotics (Physics Immune), Tech
Weaknesses: None
Powers: Melee Attack, Long Range Acid Spit
Varren
Type: Minion
Tactics: Siege, Killer
Resistances: None
Weaknesses: None
Powers: Melee Attack
Humanoids
Thug
Type: Minion
Tactics: Tank
Resistances: None
Weaknesses: Biotics, Tech
Powers: None
Notes: Criminals, scientists, and civilians. Typically Human, Turian, or Salarian. Pistol or Shotgun, No Armor.
Soldier
Type: Minion, Elite, Sub-Boss
Tactics: Tank
Resistances: Combat
Weaknesses: Tech
Powers: Overkill, Shield Boost, Immunity (E), Health Regen (E), Carnage (SB)
Notes: Guards, Mercenaries, Pirates, Criminals and Assassins. Typically Human or Turian. Assault Rifle, Shotgun, Heavy Armor.
Sniper
Type: Minion, Elite
Tactics: Tank, Killer
Resistances: Combat
Weaknesses: Tech
Powers: Sniper Beam, Adrenaline Burst, Shield Boost (E)
Notes: Guards, Mercenaries, and Pirates. Typically Human, Turian or Salarian. Sniper Rifle, Pistol, Light Armor.
Rocket Soldier
Type: Minion, Elite
Tactics: Tank, Killer
Resistances: Combat
Weaknesses: Tech
Powers: Disruption Rocket, Scram Rocket, Shield Boost, Immunity
Notes: Guards, Mercenaries, and Pirates. Typically Human or Turian. Assault Rifle, Heavy Armor.
Infiltrator
Type: Minion, Elite, Sub-Boss
Tactics: Killer, Spoiler
Resistances: Tech
Weaknesses: None
Powers: Sniper Beam, Overload, Sabotage, Shield Boost (E), Damping (SB)
Notes: Mercenaries, Pirates, Criminals and Assassins. Typically Human, Turian, or Salarian. Sniper Rifle, Pistol, Medium Armor.
Engineer
Type: Minion, Elite, Sub-Boss
Tactics: Spoiler, Support
Resistances: Tech
Weaknesses: Combat
Powers: Overload, Sabotage, First Aid, Damping (E), Neural Shock (SB)
Notes: Mercenaries, Pirates, Criminals, Scientists and Assassins. Typically Human or Salarian. Pistol, Light Armor.
Vanguard
Type: Minion, Elite, Sub-Boss
Tactics: Killer, Siege
Resistances: Biotics
Weaknesses: None
Powers: Carnage, Warp, Barrier (E), Lift (SB)
Notes: Mercenaries, Pirates, and Biotic Terrorists. Typically Human or Asari. Pistol, Shotgun, Medium Armor.
Adept
Type: Minion, Elite, Sub-Boss
Tactics: Killer, Siege
Resistances: Biotics
Weaknesses: Combat
Powers: Lift, Throw, Warp, Barrier (E), Stasis (SB)
Notes: Mercenaries, Pirates, and Biotic Terrorists. Typically Human or Asari. Pistol, Light Armor.
Sentinel
Type: Minion, Elite, Sub-Boss
Tactics: Support, Spoiler
Resistances: Biotics, Tech
Weaknesses: Combat
Powers: Barrier, First Aid, Throw, Sabotage (E), Neural Shock (SB)
Notes: Mercenaries, Pirates, Scientists, and Biotic Terrorists. Typically Human or Asari. Pistol, Light Armor.
Miscellaneous
Chorban
Type: Elite
Tactics: Tank
Resistances: Biotics
Weaknesses: Combat
Powers: None
Notes: Ambitious and misguided scientist
Chorban’s Guards
Type: Minion
Tactics: Flanker, Support
Resistances: None
Weaknesses: Combat, Biotics, Tech
Powers: None
Notes: Hired guns
Colonist on Feros
Type: Minion
Tactics: None
Resistances: None
Weaknesses: Combat, Tech, Biotics
Powers: None
Notes: Victims of circumstance
Dr. Saleon
Type: Minion
Tactics: None
Resistances: None
Weaknesses: Biotic, Tech, Combat
Powers: None
Notes: Criminal scientist; Dr. Saleon dies in one shot.
Helena Blake
Type: Boss
Tactics: Siege, Killer
Resistances: Biotic
Weaknesses: Tech, Combat
Powers: Throw, Barrier
Notes: Crime boss
Lord Darius
Type: Boss
Tactics: Seige, Tank
Resistances: Tech
Weaknesses: Biotics
Powers: Carnage, Health Regen
Mercenaries
Type: Minions
Tactics: Flanker, Killer, Siege
Resistances: Tech
Weaknesses: Biotics
Powers: Immunity, Carnage
Notes: You will encounter several types of Mercenary units, to include different races as well.
Pirates
Type: Minion to Sub-Boss
Tactics: Includes Tanks, Spoilers, Killers, and Siege troops
Resistances: Differs
Weaknesses: Differs
Powers: Includes power from all specialization classes
Notes: Pirates employ various species including Humans, Turians, Salarians, and Krogan.
Nodacrux Scientists
Type: Minion
Tactics: None
Resistances: None
Weaknesses: Combat, Tech, Biotics
Powers: None
Notes: Exogeni black ops researcher